Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Rising Sword Hero
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Judging solely by his appearance, he was utterly ordinary.
However, that frivolous smile carried a lightness that seemed to belittle the world, laced with absolute confidence.
He was the kind of man who made onlookers wonder, 'What the hell makes him so cocksure?'
The master of the Fourth Sword.
The hero candidate, Felix.
He stared intently at the man before him, Rishir.
The new master of the Rising Sword.
"…"
Felix's expression as he gazed at Rishir turned profoundly subtle.
It perfectly mirrored the turmoil churning inside him.
'He doesn't seem like a bad guy, at least…'
If he'd met Rishir in any normal setting, Felix would have genuinely taken a liking to him.
That easygoing vibe was more than enough to inspire goodwill.
But the problem was that this man was the new Rising Sword Hero.
Felix remembered the previous Rising Sword Hero.
Brimming with ambition, backed by an overwhelming presence.
A man who perfectly embodied the title.
But what about the guy standing before him now?
He couldn't even properly handle the holy sword's energy, living his days with it strapped to his hand in bandages. Immature through and through.
No shred of the dignity befitting a hero.
Could he really bear the fate of the Rising Sword that even the previous hero couldn't handle?
Hmm.
A skeptical smile crept across Felix's face.
In the end,
Felix reached one conclusion.
'Maybe Jane should be the Rising Sword's master after all?'
The Rising Sword was notoriously tricky to wield, even among holy swords.
They couldn't imagine him—who couldn't even adapt to its energy—mastering its power.
At this point, Jane's claim that he was "on a whole other level" started to feel suspicious.
Maybe this good-natured hero had handed over the Rising Sword to Rishir out of pity.
"You two done with the introductions?"
Just as Felix was lost in thought with Rishir right in front of him, Jane approached.
Felix finally spoke to Rishir.
"Name's Felix. Heard about you from Jane. Sounds like you pulled off something insane in the holy sword trial?"
"Thanks for the kind words. I'm Rishir."
Felix's eyes were still fixed on the holy sword strapped to Rishir's hand.
He barely tore his gaze away and turned to Jane.
"So, Jane. What's the plan? Thought about my proposal?"
"Hmm... So, you came to Bondales for that?"
"Bondales was my destination because of that 'oracle,' same as you. But yeah, that's my top priority right now. I was planning to scout the talent collector staying here, or maybe the Gray Tower... but with you around, no need to go the long way."
"…"
Jane mulled over Felix's words, then glanced at Rishir.
"Why not ask Rishir while you're at it?"
"Huh?"
Felix looked at Rishir and let out a deflating chuckle.
"Jane. I told you—this isn't something to share with just anyone. I trusted you."
"I appreciate that. That's why I'm telling you—Rishir's trustworthy. In credibility and ability."
"Trustworthy? Didn't you just meet him yesterday?"
"Yeah."
"So what makes you so sure?"
"…"
Ha.
Recalling the memory, Jane burst into laughter.
"If I tell you, will you believe me straight up?"
"How big a deal can it be?"
Jane excitedly recounted yesterday's events.
"...Wielded the Rising Sword's power without the holy sword's help, and the Trial of Nobility nearly exploded?"
"Ah."
Then it hit her—too late.
Spelled out like that, it sounded utterly unbelievable.
Jane nodded vigorously at Felix's distrustful expression.
If she were in his shoes, she'd react the same.
She should've exaggerated a bit to make it believable. Big mistake.
'What now…'
That enhancement ability Rishir used looked like it came with massive side effects.
She couldn't very well say, 'Believe me? Show him once.'
In the end, Felix had no choice but to settle for Plan B.
"Anyway, I'll vouch for Rishir's skills and reliability."
"…"
If the Independence Hero went this far, there had to be something to it.
'Rishir…'
First thing after this—look into that name.
Felix committed it to memory and nodded.
Only then did Rishir ask Jane what was going on.
"Jane. What's this about?"
"Short version: Felix's party found an ancient relic in a dungeon. Looking for someone to use it with."
"Someone to use the ancient relic... with?"
"It's called the Inquiring Left Hand."
Felix cut in.
"It grants the user's wish with the power inside."
"...So you're recruiting people to wish together?"
Rishir shot Felix a look.
The kind you'd give someone pitching "Easy money, right?"
"Obviously not the whole story. To demand something from the Inquiring Left Hand, you gotta solve the problem it poses first."
"Ah, so you're looking to share risks and rewards."
Finally sounds less scammy.
Rishir nodded in understanding.
"Honestly, the risk is minimal."
"Pardon?"
"Our intel says the problems it gives are pretty tame. You might not even need to lift a finger—just watch us and twiddle your thumbs."
"Then why ask for help?"
"Better safe than sorry. Plus, sharing a rare chance to witness an ancient relic up close."
"Ah."
What to do?
Felix glanced at Jane.
She huddled with her party members for a quick discussion.
It wrapped up fast.
"We're in. Bellota and Kalia say it's a rare shot at seeing an ancient relic like that. They wanna check it out."
Now those two eyed Rishir.
'An ancient relic intriguing the hero party's scholar and elf.'
That piqued Rishir's curiosity too.
Might yield unexpected gains.
"Yakrak. Feeling better now? Can I join in?"
"Oh, nice. Let's go then."
Rishir unwound the bandages and sheathed the holy sword.
Felix gave a wry smile at the sight.
'Asks the holy sword's permission every time he moves...'
What exactly had Jane seen in this Rishir guy?
Felix shelved his growing doubts and left the mansion where Rishir's group was staying.
A short while later.
Felix returned to the mansion with his party members.
In his hand was a long, rod-like object wrapped in purple cloth.
Rishir's group guided them to a prepared spot inside.
A spacious room.
A table stood at its center.
Felix set the object down and unwrapped the cloth.
The Inquiring Left Hand.
A withered, monkey-paw-like thing revealed itself.
The two hero parties and Rishir gathered around it.
"Ready?"
Everyone nodded at Felix's question.
He signaled his mage companion.
The petite woman flipped back her hood and approached the Inquiring Left Hand.
Mysterious silver hair and eyes, like stars captured whole, came into view.
"…"
She began chanting in an unknown tongue with her small lips.
The ritual proceeded in an ordinary atmosphere.
Based on their research, the problems were tame. They were confident.
Soon, the woman's chant ended.
Crack.
The Inquiring Left Hand twitched to life.
Crack.
Snap.
Dry, branch-snapping sounds emanated from its joints nonstop.
Over and over.
Endlessly.
"W-Wait—"
The woman, calm throughout the eerie ritual, showed alarm.
"What is it, Tilla? Problem?"
"S-Something's off...!"
"What?"
"This reaction... this power... It's not like the records!!!"
The room's air grew heavy by the second.
The Inquiring Left Hand.
Empty as dry wood moments ago, now brimmed with power.
At last, the hand spoke.
In the same unknown language the woman had chanted.
Rishir's group didn't know it.
Yet they understood.
They grasped the gravity of its words.
"W-Wait...! What the hell?!"
Ignoring the woman's cry, the Left Hand continued.
The previous user's immense wish.
And its price.
An unknown power from the Inquiring Left Hand swam among them.
It was a race against time, but their bodies and minds froze in unison.
"Dawn with sword, noon with... So, bring someone who masters all four powers!?"
No point flailing around.
This was the price for annihilating a city.
An absurd demand, squarely in the realm of impossibility.
"Gahk...!"
Then the ritual woman clutched her throat and collapsed.
Black marks spread from her neck across her body.
"Urk...!"
Felix grimaced, checking his left hand.
The black marks infecting her were spreading to him.
That inexplicable force slowly infected everyone present.
"Damn it all...!"
They instinctively knew.
Fail to meet its demand, and unspeakable doom awaited.
But what could they do?
How do you fulfill that insane request?
'Dammit, think! Think! Maybe it's a riddle. No, it has to be! No way it'd demand the impossible outright! Felix! Figure it out!!!'
As Felix thrashed for an answer in desperation,
"Wait, Rishir!?"
Rishir timidly raised his hand.
'Did he figure it out!? The riddle's answer!?'
Felix's trembling eyes locked on Rishir.
They waited for the answer from his lips.
The Inquiring Left Hand let out an uncomfortable groan.
"Huh...?"
Felix checked his left hand.
The black spots were fading.
'What?'
He hadn't even said the answer yet?
Felix struggled to make sense of it.