Chapter 326
Chapter 326
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Seven Swords
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"W-Wait a second...! Do I not understand what you're all talking about right now?"
The imagination of the Sealed Hero, Shelroa, had reached its limit.
Thanks to her connection with Rishir, she had managed to link the two topics of hero and demon sword.
But anything beyond that was the problem.
"Three demon swords? And purifying them? You don't mean—... some kind of metaphor, do you? Or a plan for the future?"
The reactions of the other heroes only confused Shelroa further.
Why?
Why are they looking at me with those expressions?
Why am I the only one confused here?
"Sealed One. Calm down first. We need to start by explaining about Rishir. This is going to be a very long story."
"No, no! Gensik! I know about him too! I have a connection to Yakjin as well—"
"I understand your feelings."
The man with clear eyes interjected at that moment.
"I, too, feel no small amount of confusion and doubt, just like you."
The Unyielding Hero, Kuzan.
He retained his usual clear gaze.
'This atmosphere... If it continues like this—'
But inwardly, he was gripped by immense anxiety.
Until just before—
The mood in the room had been tensely balanced among the heroes, subtly tilting in his favor.
As equals all heroes, but he alone possessed two holy swords—a natural flow.
If he followed that flow, he—the Unyielding One—would claim a peerless position among the heroes.
However.
Yakjin's appearance had completely shattered that natural balance.
The heroes, who had always pushed to uphold their ideals and convictions, had vanished without a trace.
Now, they acted as if they would gladly hand over their holy swords the moment Yakjin reached out.
Even—
'Purifying demon swords with holy swords? What on earth—... Ah, no! Pull yourself together! This isn't the time to worry about that—'
He himself felt the impulse to lend his holy sword to Yakjin.
How much more so for the other heroes, who had been favorable toward Yakjin from the start?
Kuzan thought.
To reverse the flow, now was his last chance.
The moment he resolved himself, temptation followed.
'Yakjin's hero...'
Kuzan, like the other heroes, already understood.
That Yakjin had reached a realm beyond his reach.
His achievements and realm were not just incomparable—they were dizzyingly distant, even to look up to.
But.
Kuzan had faith.
Faith that, in terms of pure hero qualifications, he would not lose to him.
"First, Yakjin. May I ask one thing?"
"Ah, yes. I'll answer with all sincerity if it's within what I can say. Please, ask freely."
"In that case, accepting the goodwill— you're too late."
Kuzan seemed to organize his thoughts before suddenly blurting it out.
A question without malice but blatantly pointed.
The heroes looked at him with unkind gazes.
The Unyielding One paid no mind.
He considered it a fully justified question.
"Surely you received the notice yesterday without exception. An important gathering where all heroes would convene. The purpose: to discuss the oracle. A matter of utmost gravity for any hero. Yet you— arrived late to that gathering. Even though the meeting place was your own residence..."
A hero must be present at the place and time where they are needed.
That was Kuzan's creed.
He asked politely.
"Was there a reason for that?"
"Ah, I had a mild headache—"
"A headache? Making the other heroes wait for something so trivial—"
"I took care of one demon."
"?"
Kuzan, who had been pressing Rishir aggressively, was at a loss for words.
With demon subjugation spoken of as casually as headache medicine, it was inevitable.
"Headache? Oh, you mean that from yesterday?"
"Huh? Ah, yeah. Roera, that one. The headache lingered, so I checked it out, and there was an aura of chill lingering around me."
"And?"
"Dangaleon tipped me off. Said it seemed like a demon called 'Embrace of Frost' had cursed me. So I was going to take measures— but apparently, it poured everything into the curse and died on its own?"
"...What? So the demon self-destructed while trying to curse you, and you just shook off the curse?"
"Pretty much."
"How did you shake off a demon's curse?"
"Uh... like this?"
Rishir swung his arms clumsily in the air.
As if swatting away a fly buzzing around him.
It looked utterly ridiculous—
But if the result was demon subjugation, that changed everything.
"Embrace of Frost...?"
"Huh? Felix, you know the name?"
Not just any demon, but a high-ranking one.
"...Ah, I see. So, no more headache now?"
"Yeah. All good."
"Good then. Huh? Wait. What were we talking about again?"
"..."
Kuzan's clear eyes trembled faintly as he watched the exchange.
Late to a gathering discussing the gravest matter for heroes.
And the reason: subjugating a high demon.
In that case.
Was it a lack of hero qualifications, or—
"D-Demon... swords...!"
Growing urgent, Kuzan suddenly shouted.
"It's been coming up since earlier— no, it's something I've been wondering from the start! Yakjin! Are you, by any chance, accepting the power of demon swords!? A hero of all people!?"
"No. The demon swords are accepting my power."
"?"
At this point, Kuzan's clear eyes shook mercilessly, like a carriage on a rough road.
"The demon swords accepting your power? What does that—"
"More precisely, you could say the demon swords are bearing the overload that I should shoulder instead."
"Overload...!?"
Kuzan's eyes widened at the unexpected application of demon swords.
Forgetting his original intent, he revealed pure curiosity.
"Isn't that— too dangerous!? What if something goes wrong and the demon sword doesn't bear your overload? What happens then!?"
"Big trouble."
Yakjin's expression turned grave.
Kuzan matched his seriousness, leaning in to listen.
"I'd have to rest for about a day."
"...Ah—"
"Anything else you're curious about?"
Of course.
There was still plenty to press on.
"Th-That purification of demon swords with holy swords— how does that work?"
He decided to shelve it.
Before someone who subjugates high demons for headaches and rests a day if overload becomes an issue, what meaning was there in debating hero qualifications?
Kuzan's clear eyes, which had stared straight ahead, now cast downward.
The heroes waited vulgarly, expectantly.
For Rishir.
For the moment they handed him their holy swords.
More precisely, for the moment when multiple holy swords filled his hands.
Holy swords and demon swords fusing, unleashing an awe-inspiring energy that could upend the night sky.
A purification ritual achieved thereby.
That tale, more fanciful than a child's delusion, set the heroes' hearts racing.
They thought.
If such a phenomenon truly existed, they needed to experience it at least once.
"...Damn. If Pocheona were awake, she'd be making a huge fuss in excitement."
"Yeah. Elisica— she'll be okay, right?"
Gensik and Isang gazed bitterly at their holy swords.
"No, think positively."
"Shelroa?"
The Sealed One offered meaningful comfort to the two.
"Think positively? What does that mean?"
"Think about it. If the holy swords were awake and willingly went into Rishir's hands—"
Shelroa looked down at her own holy sword, recalling past memories.
"And moreover, showed an even happier expression than when in their own master's hands—"
"...Up to there—"
They imagined it.
Gensik and Isang forcibly halted the terrifyingly realistic imagining.
They too recalled past memories, remembering how Rishir's demonic nature particularly affected the holy swords.
"The problem starts now. Holy swords that recognize only one master... Will the other heroes' holy swords so readily go into Lord Rishir's hands?"
Amid that, the Unyielding One was serious for a different reason.
The seniors(?) gazed steadily at Kuzan.
"Ah, everyone— any ideas coming to mind?"
"Believe firmly."
"Pardon? Believe what, Felix?"
"Our holy swords go into Rishir's hands so readily because they've lost their minds."
"...?"
At that moment.
The closed door opened.
"Shall we move now?"
Rishir had returned after scouting a location for the so-called holy-demon sword show.
"I asked Gus, and he gladly offered the space. The mansion's inner courtyard— the wide open area usually used for outdoor events. That should work."
The heroes began following Rishir at the lead.
"Does it have to be outdoors? Sounds pretty flashy from what I heard."
Someone broke from the group to walk beside Rishir.
The Blessed Hero Roera tapped his arm and asked.
"I'd prefer indoors if possible— just in case."
"Just in case? In case of what?"
"It might be too flashy, even."
Rishir murmured while gazing into the distance.
"I can't guarantee what'll happen when performing the ritual with six swords—"
Only then did the heroes harbor another unexpected thought amid their anticipation.
Come to think of it.
What exactly would happen?
If multiple holy swords and demon swords were in his hands—
"...Ah! That reminds me, a sudden thought—"
"Jane?"
"Rishir, how are you going to hold six swords at once? One in each hand, say— one in the mouth, two under the arms, and the last one between the legs?"
"...I pray it's at least not that sight."
Soon.
They arrived at the inner courtyard.
"Huh?"
Guests already there welcomed Rishir.
Core members of the expedition, led by Karoer.
Further, the frozen-breath Palrag and talent collector Drey.
An unexpected gathering of comrades.
Rishir smiled, feeling reassured.
"Everyone, how did you know to come here—"
"Heard from Gus, Rishir."
"Lord Palrag...! You didn't have to go to such trouble to help...!"
"Help?"
"Hm?"
"How exactly are we supposed to help with that outlandish ritual?"
"...Then?"
They were spectators.
Word of the holy-demon sword show resuming had already spread.
"We were keeping watch in case, since heroes including you were gathering— thanks to that, we get this rare experience. Well then. Let me see that rumored ritual!"
"..."
"...Ah! But if you need any help, just say so! I'll assist wholeheartedly within my abilities—"
They belatedly checked Rishir's expression.
While smoothly taking their seats.
"Yes, if help is needed... I'll let you know then."
As the conversation ended, the other heroes gathered around Rishir.
Rishir showed confusion at their actions.
They had suddenly placed their holy swords before him.
"Everyone, this—"
His confusion was brief.
Rishir realized the meaning behind the heroes' actions.
They weren't just following to cooperate with his demon sword purification ritual.
This moment.
The unified opinion of the heroes was expressed.
Jane stepped forward and said to Rishir.
"If it's you, Rishir, even He would acknowledge it."
"He—"
"Yes."
Jane looked at Rishir.
Then at the swords gathered before him.
One hero.
And seven holy swords.
"To the first hero, Lindal."
The other heroes followed her forward.
Felix spoke next after Jane.
"Whatever path you take, we'll follow behind you. Yakjin's hero Rish—... no."
The true hero, Rishir.
Then, Felix gave Rishir an awkward smile.
"So, Rishir. How does it feel?"
Felix looked at the holy swords gathered on the ground.
After the oracle.
The sleeping holy swords were in a state of depleted energy, hard to recognize as their former selves.
In contrast— Rishir's holy sword.
Hidden beneath the gray cloak, it emanated a distinct aura proclaiming it a holy sword even without revealing it.
Truly worthy of the true hero's holy sword?
Felix continued with deep emotion.
"How does it feel to be the second in history to gather all holy swords in one place?"
"All holy swords? Ah, everyone, that's—...!"
Sudden bewilderment appeared on Rishir's face.
The heroes never asked what it meant.
"Wh-What's that...!"
The distant spectators(?) shouted.
"Oppa!?!"
Followed by Roera's startled cry.
"This is—"
Light rising from where the holy swords gathered.
It slowly expanded, beginning to engulf the surroundings.
A moment later.
Rishir found himself alone in a space of light, separated from the previous location.
"...!"
Rishir hurriedly looked around.
The vast world of light vibrated, the resonance reaching even his inner self.
In that instant.
His head turned upward.
—...Descendant.
Rishir hastily stepped back.
Directly above him, a mass of light in human form was speaking.
—You have received the acknowledgment of all holy swords.
"...!"
Rishir's eyes widened.
The calmly uttered voice filled the entire vast world of light and more, overflowing to fill his inner self completely.
—Thus, now you must know the truth.
"W-Wait a moment...!"
—No. There is no reason to hesitate. No reason to waver. You are already prepared.
The figure of light alternately pointed at the stacked holy swords on the ground and Rishir's waist.
—The seven holy swords accompanying you prove that fact.
"No, that's—"
The figure of light had no intention of waiting for Rishir's continuation.
No matter what he felt, all pieces were already assembled, and the wheel of fate had begun to turn.
The hero urgently drawing his holy sword.
The figure of light ignored him and opened its mouth.
—You are—
"This!"
Rishir flung back his cloak.
He held up the sword at his waist.
Emitting a holier aura than any ordinary holy sword—
"This isn't a holy sword, it's a demon sword!!! Zirak isn't here right now! We're still missing one!!!"
Demon sword, Beast.
—...
The figure of light.
Its opened mouth slowly closed.
Silence descended upon the vast world of light.