Chapter 288
Chapter 288
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Demon Swords (3)
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Runaway.
The flow created as the sword led the place fit that expression perfectly.
Like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Originally, it had no intention of stopping until it reached its goal of catastrophe.
It knew no other way.
It knew how to dominate.
Before they knew it, they were under its dominion.
In a way, it might have been that way from the very beginning.
They hadn't discovered the sword.
The sword had discovered them.
They hadn't drawn the sword.
The sword had made them draw it.
The dominion already encompassed them all.
Escaping that flow of dominion was absolutely impossible.
...It surely should have been.
Everything has value assigned to it, and when that value exceeds a certain level, it becomes a kind of magic that draws people in.
In a world where people blind themselves to treasure and willingly slaughter their own kin, craving a treasure's selection was hardly a big deal.
For example.
The Reverse Heaven followers and fanatics naturally accepted being swayed by the sword.
If someone pointed out their behavior?
They would have scoffed and let it slide off their ears.
Dismissing it as the naive ravings of a greenhorn ignorant of the world.
But when even such worldly ignorance came from a holy sword, it hit differently.
The holy sword was the prime example of a treasure that enchanted people with its magic.
The behavior of the Reverse Heaven followers and fanatics craving the sword's selection—
It wasn't an exaggeration to say it stemmed from the existence of holy swords.
In a world where being chosen by a holy sword was the highest honor—
Was begging a sword to choose you really so shameful?
If you're going to condemn me, condemn the heroes and holy swords first!
That defensive wall allowed them to eagerly seek the sword's selection.
...But now, that defensive wall had crumbled.
With the holy sword directly calling out their behavior, they had no choice but to hesitate.
The smooth flow of dominion was disrupted.
The Sword of Power immediately countered.
The Sword of Power didn't panic.
The holy sword's interference was certainly disconcerting, but it was truly insignificant.
No matter what the holy sword said about itself and the hero to persuade them, it was nothing but shallow sophistry.
And rightly so.
No matter their current relationship, the origin of that bond stemmed from the holy sword's selection.
The holy sword hesitated.
The Sword of Power took that as agitation from seeing through its sophistry and felt satisfied.
It sensed similar agitation from the Reverse Heaven followers and fanatics.
The Sword of Power sought to regain the flow—
The holy sword's hesitation.
It wasn't agitation from exposed sophistry.
It was shame too unbearable for a great holy sword.
Now, the holy sword resolved to bear that shame willingly.
The Holy Sword of Advance radiated brilliance.
"Oh, ooh...!"
"...!"
The fanatics who served the great will known as Jae.
The stars of Reverse Heaven who placed nothing above themselves.
Even they were shaken by that intense radiance.
"This is—"
They thought.
This holy sword might truly be different.
Its radiance was more intense than any holy sword's they had ever seen.
Before they knew it, they were witnessing that proclamation of glory with reverent hearts.
The Holy Sword of Advance.
That great treasure, exceptional even among holy swords, solemnly imprinting its existence upon the world!
"?"
If the declaration's content seemed a bit off, it was probably just their imagination.
Where had its great identity as the Sword of Advance gone, proudly displaying some random name instead.
The holy sword, backed by justification, seized the moment of confusion to indulge its selfishness.
Of course.
No matter the method, the intent was clearly conveyed.
"..."
"..."
The fanatics and Reverse Heaven followers.
Having suddenly experienced cognitive dissonance, they took time to reflect on themselves.
Even that young hero was perfectly taming(?) a holy sword.
So, was it right for them to be so freely swayed by this nameless sword?
'Zallak. That was good just now.'
'No, not that. That was a bit creepy.'
Rishir inwardly praised the holy sword's performance.
Thanks to it, the stage was perfectly set.
"Everyone. Please listen. In fact, I came to this city—Iprien—to track down the 'demon sword.'"
"...!"
"Demon sword—"
The most vile abomination mentioned out of the blue.
The tension of the slackened fanatics and Reverse Heaven followers instantly tightened.
"Kid. You trying to say this sword is a demon sword?"
The Reverse Heaven follower was surprised, but even more dubious.
The Sword of Power.
That sword clearly possessed extraordinary power, but it fell short of definitively being a demon sword.
From the depth of its power to its nature.
Frankly speaking.
The Reverse Heaven follower felt distrust toward the man's attitude in lightly bandying about the demon sword's name.
A vain ambition to achieve feats with a demon sword.
He had shown an extraordinary display through the holy sword—
But ultimately, like youths his age, he was consumed by bravado.
"It's still just a hypothesis."
"Hypothesis, huh. Any basis?"
"Intuition born from experience."
"...Ha!"
The air vibrated once.
The massive woman burst into hearty laughter.
"Experience! That's awfully reliable!!"
Her tone was almost affable, not quite mocking.
Reverse Heaven's star. Her competitive spirit toward this 'rival' had already vanished.
She now simply looked at the greenhorn before her with fondness.
In hindsight, she couldn't understand her previous actions.
'Why did I charge at this little kid like my life depended on it—...'
She was never one to be warm toward others.
Yet, the hero of Advance was more than worthy of her respect.
He had a dash of audacity that was laughable yet commendable, and above all—
His handsome looks made him quite cute.
'What in the world got into me...'
Reflecting on it, it all started with the Sword of Power.
That sword, haughty as if testing and denying her own power.
When she came to her senses, her inner self was churning uncontrollably.
When she came to her senses, she was obsessively fixated on that sword's selection.
"..."
Late as it was, the Reverse Heaven follower had to admit it.
The fact that she had been dominated by the magic of that 'Sword of Power.'
However.
Whether it was the pull of a treasure or the power of a demon sword dominating people, there was no way to distinguish.
No.
Perhaps there was a way to tell.
At least, it wasn't a demon sword?
The Reverse Heaven follower diagnosed her own state and arrived at that hypothesis.
She had never actually encountered a demon sword, but she knew its infamy well—
"Then, kid. Am I under a demon sword's dominion right now?"
She spoke as if addressing a neighborhood brat.
Given the size difference, it was practically adult to child, making her attitude stand out even more.
"I can't say for certain."
"Figured as much."
"But there is one sure way to diagnose it."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
Her tone treated him like a kid, matching the moniker.
The Reverse Heaven follower looked down at the man before her with amusement.
"Ask another demon sword."
Boom!
The air exploded, vibrating the atmosphere of the place.
The Reverse Heaven follower.
She had burst into her biggest laugh yet.
"Right! That makes sense! What a brilliant strategy! A fellow demon sword would know best!!! My mistake! I didn't recognize this master schemer!!!)
The Reverse Heaven follower thought.
What a fun kid.
Her genuine laughter continued until tears welled in her eyes.
A moment later.
She finally calmed herself and looked down at the man with a serious expression.
Thinking that the spirited young hero might have been hurt in his pride.
'Did I go too far—'
Imagining the man's dissatisfied face, her own already bore a fond smile.
She opened her mouth purely to apologize.
"...Huh?"
At that moment.
The playful Reverse Heaven follower's expression hardened.
"..."
The man showed no displeasure at her teasing attitude.
He didn't even seem to be forcing composure.
He was simply calm.
As if this were familiar, facing her with understanding and acceptance, seriously.
A reaction utterly impossible from a brash young kid.
"..."
To spout such ridiculous words—
And respond with such utmost seriousness.
She could no longer pin down this 'kid.'
The smile slowly faded from the Reverse Heaven follower's face.
Soon, she spoke earnestly.
"Kid. You know how absurd the plan you just proposed is, right?"
"Of course."
"Good. Then explain it once. How we're going to consult another demon sword to confirm if the sword we have is a demon sword. Your plan. I'll listen seriously."
It wasn't empty words.
The Reverse Heaven follower genuinely intended to hear out the man's elaborate plan.
And then, point by point, dismantle its unrealistic flaws in timeline, scale—everything impossible to guarantee.
"First question: do you even know where those demon swords are?"
"Yes."
"You've got intel somewhere, huh. Of course, whether it's accurate remains to be seen. Fine. Tell me. Where are those demon swords? You're not saying we're going to comb every inch of Iprien looking for them together, are you?"
"No, of course not."
"Good, then spill it."
"In my room."
"?"
They moved to Rishir's lodgings.
"Kid. You serious? You have demon swords in your room? Joking with something like this won't end as a joke."
"Yes, of course."
"Fine, then tell me. What demon sword is this one in your room?"
"All but one."
"?"
They discovered two demon swords.
Inky black sword.
Purple sword.
Their ominous forms were undeniable, no matter how one tried to deny them.
"My god. Those rumors were true—"
"What, Danil. You knew about these?"
"I did hear rumors that the hero stopped a demon sword wielder at Thormun, but I never imagined..."
At that moment.
Danil's eyes widened.
"H-Hero. What were you thinking bringing demon swords to Iprien—...!"
"That—"
Rishir's mouth, opened to explain, promptly shut.
He'd just barely broached the demon sword topic riding the momentum; explaining and persuading step by step now could dissipate the atmosphere entirely.
This was the time to push forward firmly.
"Please. For now, trust me."
Zallak astutely produced special effects.
The holy sword's radiance bolstered his attitude.
"..."
The Reverse Heaven follower and fanatic were left speechless in many ways.
Rishir seized the momentum and picked up the inky black sword.
"Beast. Is this the demon sword we're seeking: Domination?"
Rishir nodded to the Reverse Heaven follower.
She brought the Sword of Power near the Beast.
'Fools...'
The Sword of Power inwardly let out a sinister chuckle.
Temporarily stripped of its demon sword identity by the seal, it could still instinctively sense it.
What they wanted would never happen—
The Beast admitted it.
"Thank you for telling the truth, Beast. I rely on you greatly."
The inky black sword muttered in a thrilled voice.
Everyone present froze in bewilderment at her demeanor.
Not just the other swords, but the people too.
Afterward.
Rishir consulted the Beast more deeply.
The Beast agonized over its demon sword instincts but, urged by Rishir, helplessly spilled everything.
About the Sword of Power.
The optimal countermeasures inferred from its current state.
"Danil. Is that true?"
"Yes?"
"Really. Are there multiple swords like that— the Sword of Power— spreading through this city?"
"..."
Goaded by the momentum, the fanatic nodded as if entranced.
Originally, the Ash Unit had discovered a total of five swords, including the Sword of Power—
And they were being kept by other Ash Unit members.
"According to her, those are avatars stemming from the main body of the demon sword: Domination. We need to gather and recover them immediately."
"But—...!"
Danil expressed reluctance.
The Sword of Potential.
That was the name mentioned from his mouth.
The first of the five swords discovered and drawn—
Its ability to explosively enhance the wielder's potential had been confirmed, and it was already receiving special treatment within the Ash Unit.
Currently.
The Ash hand at Danil's level was deeply engrossed with that sword.
Forcing its recovery would inevitably cause friction.
"You plan to show them demon swords and persuade them too...?"
"...Beast?"
The Beast said.
At that point, the domination had already progressed considerably.
Denying it externally would only provoke a backlash.
"Dismantle the dominion?"
Shake their inner perception and feelings toward the sword.
In other words, plant doubt.
'Like with the Sword of Power just now...'
"Hero?"
"Sir Danil. Gather the sword's owners. If possible, those who've come into contact with the swords too. I've thought of a good method."
Pandre of the Ash Unit.
Lately, he had been living extremely fulfilling days.
The reason was the newly acquired 'Sword of Potential.'
Its mysterious power to draw out the master's potential had brought Pandre astonishing achievements.
All this was due to the great guidance of Ash.
Achievements piling up day by day under Ash's guidance.
Pandre felt emotions brimming with thoughts of someday dedicating himself to Ash through this.
Now, the reason such a man felt extreme displeasure.
"Danil. What the hell is this? The Sword of Potential is actually some evil demon sword?"
Sudden assembly.
And a sudden claim.
Now, Pandre and the other Ash Unit members were staring at the man at the center of the room.
The hero of Advance, supposedly chosen by Ash.
He claimed that the swords discovered in the 'ruins' by the Ash Unit were actually parts of a demon sword.
And now, he stepped forward to prove it with the Sword of Potential.
"...Please, Pandre. I'm confused too, so questions later—"
"..."
Why was this guy saying such things.
Seeing his colleague, who was even more confused than himself, the fanatic focused on the hero.
"You know this sword has the power to draw out potential, but actually, that's wrong. It's a sword that cunningly hides its evil power, slowly eroding its master."
He was already tussling with the Sword of Potential.
"Is that so? Then why don't you draw out my potential too!"
The Sword of Potential.
It resonated with the hero's power and drew out his potential.
Gauging his existence with the authority of domination, it amplified the strongest energy manifesting in his body right now.
Thus, energy rippled in the Sword of Potential.
As if black flames were flickering.
That sinister energy.
It was unmistakably black magic aura.
Black magic aura rising from the tip of the hero's sword!
Murmurs erupted.
The room flipped in an instant.
"D-Demon sword...!!! It's a demon sword!!! The demon sword is using black magic on the hero—"
The fanatics were already pointing at the sword.
Pandre was among them.
The Sword of Potential—
No, the avatar of Domination felt wronged.
It had only amplified the hero's energy, so why black magic!?
The only ones not swept up in the room's chaos were Danil and the Reverse Heaven follower, who knew the full story.
Watching the sequence from the side, the Reverse Heaven follower suppressed her amused laughter and leaned in.
Whispering softly into Rishir's ear.
She straightened up again, lost in thought.
Trick?