Chapter 241
Chapter 241
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Demon Sword
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First, he was surprised.
If one had to distinguish whether he was surprised or not, Rishir was clearly in a state of shock.
The sight the sword had shown. That power.
It far exceeded his wildest expectations.
'A sword possessing that much power in and of itself... No matter how I look at it, it transcends the realm of mere tools. Is a demon sword something fundamentally different from a typical ego sword?'
However, regardless of that—
The moment Rishir witnessed the sword's power, he lost all interest in it.
In this regard, things had gone exactly as expected.
The demon swordsmanship the sword spoke of was vastly different from the 'demon swordsmanship' he pursued.
Rishir had taken interest in the ominous-looking sword at a glance because he hoped it might aid his own achievements in demon swordsmanship.
Moreover, even if it truly could help with his demon swordsmanship, he had no intention of casually claiming it.
'How many people around me have nearly ruined their lives by picking up the wrong object?'
Even if it perfectly fulfilled his desires, he'd only consider it at best!
In a situation where it couldn't even meet those desires?
There was no room for hesitation.
Rishir eliminated all possibilities of becoming the demon sword's master.
With that, his dilemma entered a new phase.
'So, what do I do with this demon sword?'
Rishir pondered.
This demon sword.
Leaving it behind just because he didn't like it would invite serious trouble—it was the kind that would cause a massive disaster.
Right away, the memory of it showing off its power by attacking the Green Tower Master came to mind.
And the nature of that power, too.
'It kept growling about beasts, and it really treated people like animals...'
He agonized.
What was the best course of action he could take at this moment?
For now—
'Dangaleon. Do you know anything about this sword?'
'A beast?'
'What...'
Rishir let out a wry chuckle in exasperation.
'Another night? Isn't my life dark enough already?'
It hadn't been long since he barely survived a near-death encounter with the forest and deception, and now he was crossing paths with night again.
'Did meeting Grand Master open that vein? Or has this Ilradein place got some bad karma?'
The silver lining was that the demon sword didn't seem to be a complete form of 'night'.
'Dangaleon. So, the three great demon swords imbued with night's will means there are two more like that, and only when they're all together does it become worthy of night's name, right?'
Rishir nodded at Dangaleon's words.
Following the spirit(?)'s advice, he decided to focus less on being intimidated by the name of night and more on the fact that it wasn't whole.
'Since this demon sword appeared before my eyes out of nowhere, it's no surprise if that Sword Night shows up and causes chaos anytime. So—'
Rishir resolved to 'deal with' the demon sword.
Taking it to the elf elder or the Green Tower Master would surely yield a proper solution!
'Now, the issue is how to transport this demon sword—'
Rishir gazed at the dark sword embedded in the ground with his reverse grip.
The same sword that, until moments ago, had taken the form of a black woman and boasted horrific power.
'Is it safe to even touch that? Will it even come out? Dangaleon. What happens to an ordinary person who grabs it?'
'...So, the moment I grab it, I'll be the one getting wielded?'
Rishir shuddered, recalling the humans turned into beasts.
From what the demon sword said, it seemed to grant him the power to command those beasts—
But to him, it all looked the same in the end.
'Wait a second?'
At that moment.
Rishir's eyes widened.
The images of certain objects flashed in his mind.
Objects containing tremendous energy.
Humans overwhelmed and wielded by that power.
'The moment I grab the demon sword, I'll be the one getting wielded...'
Perhaps.
He might be able to neutralize this demon sword more easily than thought.
As Rishir organized this idea in his head—
The demon sword, which had been silent, spoke again.
The demon sword concluded that Rishir had escaped the temptation of demon swordsmanship.
Because he now feared becoming its master.
Thump!
Thump!
Suddenly, the demon sword began to pulsate.
The vibrations from those pulsations slowly spread throughout the area.
At the same time, Rishir felt the space around him narrowing.
As if being crammed into a mold.
That pressure forced action upon him.
Before he knew it, Rishir was approaching the demon sword, reaching to grasp it.
It was a different kind of restraint from mental interference.
A literal feeling of being wielded, perhaps?
'Damn, is this okay!?'
Rishir suddenly doubted his plan.
If the demon sword's domination came not from mental interference but this unknown suppressive force, then relying on the 'power of purification' made the plan exponentially riskier.
At that moment, Dangaleon shouted.
'Dangaleon!? Authority? Do you even know exactly what my ability is!?'
'...!'
It was utterly baseless encouragement.
However, it served its purpose well enough.
'Right. In a situation with no other options, doubting myself is worse than blindly believing like that...!?'
Rishir surrendered his body to the suppressive force moving it.
'This really feels like being gripped by someone else's hand and swung around.'
With that sentiment as his last—
Rishir's hand finally touched the demon sword's hilt.
Grip.
Strength entered his hand against his will.
Rishir's eyes fixed on the dark blade.
The blade slowly pulling free from the ground.
The demon sword's blade began emitting an ominous dark glow.
That light clung to Rishir's body, forming armor.
The dark flow wrapped around him from the limbs upward, finally becoming a helmet that completely covered his face.
Thus, Rishir was fully consumed by the demon sword's energy.
Demon swordsman.
The beast under the demon sword's control spat out ragged breaths.
It screamed, vomiting saliva and tears.
The demon sword's voice became the beast's will, moving its body.
Clank.
One step forward.
One step.
Another step.
And that was it.
A sudden, unnatural twitch halted its movement.
The demon sword could clearly feel it.
The sense of wrongness in the body now under its control.
Drip.
Something flowed from the eyes and mouth.
Not just there—from the nose and ears too.
At the same time, in Karoer.
She was taking action to resolve the not-insignificant disturbance in Ilradein.
It was caused by a group of异種 that had appeared at Ilradein's main gate.
Humans.
Dwarves.
Even 'that race'.
The diverse group had caused a commotion by properly going through entry procedures at the gate.
Karoer immediately sent people to guide them to her.
The watchers who had tracked them from the forest had already reported their identities.
"Shattered Glass Shuon. What brings you to Ilradein?"
Karoer was openly wary of the one sitting across from her.
Shattered Glass Shuon.
She was a being who occasionally glimpsed the future, and the futures she saw were, true to her name, mostly dire and unfortunate.
"Crack. We followed that rift to your city. To deliver a warning."
Her heavily lidded eyes looked almost like slits.
Could she even see with eyes like that?
It was the impression anyone would get, but—
Facing her, Karoer felt as if she herself were exposed naked.
She was a woman shrouded in truly mystical aura.
A female dwarf attending Shuon brushed aside the hair covering her face.
"..."
Karoer confirmed the faces in the group, starting with that dwarf.
Shattered Glass drew many followers due to the nature of her ability.
They were usually heroes seeking to avert ominous futures revealed through her power.
Heroes. Swordmasters. Even grand magicians.
Karoer pushed aside their legion-like force and turned her gaze back to Shattered Glass.
"Shattered Glass. You must know. Ilradein does not heed outside voices."
"..."
As heavy sighs leaked from the group—
"However."
Karoer added.
"That can be decided after hearing your story."
Surprise flickered across Shattered Glass's face.
She never imagined the elf elder and World Tree guardian would respond with such flexibility.
What change of heart had occurred?
Shuon set aside her questions and spoke to Karoer.
"Right now. A human is staying in Ilradein."
"..."
Human.
At that word, clear emotions surfaced on the aloof elf's face.
Curiosity. And concern.
"That human is in danger."
"..."
But at those following words, the elf let out a scoff.
The laugh, as if dismissive, fit perfectly with the elves' characteristic arrogance.
One in the group bristled and rose, but Shattered Glass raised a hand to stop him.
"My warning is unwelcome, it seems."
"...No, it's not quite that."
"Then...?"
"..."
A brief silence.
Karoer stared meaningfully into Shattered Glass's slit eyes and said.
"I thank you for the warning."
"Then...!"
"However. Separately from that, I must ask you to leave Ilradein immediately. Ilradein has no need of your aid."
"...Why?"
"Because the possibility of the future you saw coming to pass doesn't seem plausible at all."
"You doubt my precognition...?"
Karoer seemed lost in thought for a moment before scoffing again as before.
"This time, your foresight might be wrong."
"Must be frustrating."
The man with a greatsword on his back kicked back his chair and stood.
"Hey, elf. We don't have time for this. Even now, that—'demon sword'—might be corrupting that poor human."
"Demon sword?"
The elf elder reacted to the word.
"Why is a fragment of Sword Night in Ilradein?"
"How should I know. What's certain is, the moment that demon sword finds a suitable vessel and breaks free, the aftermath won't be Ilradein's alone."
"..."
"I know one human's fate means nothing to your noble kind, but think about it. If this goes wrong, what backlash will hit this green city."
The elf fell into anguish.
They thought her heart moved only now, with the city's crisis mentioned.
It wasn't entirely wrong.
Right now, the elf elder was indeed worried about the city.
"Rishir..."
His safety was tantamount to the city's.
"I'll guide you."
No matter how much she thought, she couldn't imagine it.
But just in case.
With those two thoughts coexisting on her face, the elf elder led the group.
"Ha! What was that? 'This time, Shuon's prophecy might be wrong'?"
Shattered Glass's companion spat with a sneer.
Upon arriving, they were greeted by the worst situation they feared—
The very future Shattered Glass had warned the elf elder about.
Sword Night.
The demon sword had gripped a new human and revealed itself to the world once more.
A suffocating despair washed over them.
Demon sword.
It never released the 'human' in its grasp until it was ruined.
"How the hell... do we separate that...?"
To the cautious murmur, came a dry reply.
"Impossible. Once synchronized with the demon sword, the only way to save the host is to completely destroy the flesh. Especially in the case of such a powerless host unable to resist."
"Damn, no choice then."
And so.
As Shattered Glass's followers gathered their resolve to destroy the demon sword's host—
"Wait, hold on!"
Elf elder Karoer stopped them.
They were briefly surprised that a high elf cared for a mere human's well-being—
Tsk.
Someone clicked their tongue in frustration.
"Didn't you hear!? Give up! Once synchronized to that degree, it's too late! The demon sword won't release it until the host is utterly broken and unusable!"
"Trust us! This is for his sake! He's still alive! That means his body and mind are still vividly linked to the demon sword! Even now, he's suffering under its tyrannical power! We must save him as soon as possible!"
At that moment, the demon swordsman screamed in agony.
As if responding to their words.
Viscous liquid oozed from the helmet's slits.
Its whole body convulsed in torment.
"Karoer..."
Shattered Glass appealed, looking at the demon swordsman.
"He's in such pain. If you truly care for him, please—"
"..."
"...Karoer?"
At that moment.
Shattered Glass sensed something off about Karoer.
It wasn't a worried expression or one pained by a friend's ruin.
"Ha."
Sure enough.
Karoer, who had seemed hesitant until now, finally scoffed.
Once more, viscous liquid oozed from the helmet's slits.
Crimson liquid—blood.
As if tormented by some abomination refusing to release from its hand.
Demon swordsman.
It was now suffering from something gripped in its hand that wouldn't let go.
Precisely, from the power it wielded.
Whoosh!
Black flames erupted around the demon swordsman.
Gale winds howled.
At the same time, the demon swordsman's body accelerated.
Rishir.
He was now defying the demon sword's control, unleashing 'demon swordsmanship'.
Using the demon sword's power he had temporarily accepted into his body.
For example—
Rishir willingly let himself be gripped by the demon sword's clutches.
Thereby becoming the demon sword that would destroy its wielder.
He had become the demon sword's demon sword.