Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Blue Lotus
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'What now.'
All situations had resolved smoothly.
But Rishir still harbored one lingering anxiety.
The fact that everything rested on a flimsy expedient he'd improvised on the spot.
No matter how you sliced it, Rodan remained the true owner of the Blue Lotus.
And with the ego sword in his possession, disaster could strike at any moment, exposing the truth.
'What if Rodan realizes the truth?'
Even just pretending to draw the sword had filled him with the terror of death.
If that human calamity ever got his head straight, death was all but guaranteed.
That was why Rishir was devising a way to completely eradicate his unease.
A method to fully transfer ownership of the Blue Lotus, which was already bound to him.
-This sword is bound to me now.
-Oh, well then, it's yours now.
Unfortunately, it wouldn't be that simple.
The Blue Lotus was a famed sword imbued with magic.
It was his beloved blade, a symbol of outer swords, laden with memories of his master.
Even if Rodan believed the master's ego within was gone, the sword's value wouldn't vanish entirely.
On the contrary, as the last remnant left by his master, it might feel even more precious.
'Argh... how the hell am I supposed to handle that...'
Rishir was inwardly agonizing as he stared at the fallen Blue Lotus.
"..."
Rodan approached the dropped Blue Lotus and picked it up.
"Rishir."
He then carefully sheathed the Blue Lotus and handed it to Rishir.
The meaning behind the gesture was crystal clear.
"Rodan?"
Rodan nodded in response.
"How could I possibly..."
Rishir trailed off in flustered confusion.
...Or so it appeared on the surface.
'Oh, sweet Rodan.'
Things had worked out just like that?
Rishir barely suppressed the grin tugging at his lips.
Separately, a nagging doubt crept in.
Even fortunate turns had their limits.
Before rejoicing, he needed to gauge Rodan's intentions.
Meeting Rishir's probing gaze, Rodan nodded as if understanding.
He then spoke with a bittersweet smile.
"My master probably would have wanted this too."
*Crunch.*
Rodan's grip tightened on the Blue Lotus, but he forcibly relaxed it.
"Ah..."
Only then did Rishir understand Rodan's actions.
Naturally, Rodan was deeply attached to the Blue Lotus.
Attached enough that he'd never want to hand it to anyone else.
Yet he was letting it go because the place his master occupied in his heart was even greater.
Rodan could no longer hear his master's voice or sense his presence.
So he could only speculate on his own.
What would Master have done?
How would things have turned out with Master there?
In that sense, handing over the Blue Lotus could be seen as following his master's will within him.
-You fool... What swordsman in the world would hand such a famed sword to another...? They'd sooner spill blood to claim it—that's the way of true swordsmen...
"..."
Rishir thought to himself.
Whoever that master was, he must have been a fine man.
"Don't you think so too?"
Either way, with the opponent laying out the board, there was no reason to refuse.
How could he steer this situation in the most favorable direction?
After a brief moment of thought, Rishir spoke.
"I don't know him as well as you do. The only experience I shared with him was that short conversation. And most of it was about you, even."
"..."
Rishir clearly saw it.
Rodan's protruding lips drawing back in.
The twitch at the corners of his mouth.
As expected, Rodan seemed quite jealous of the attention his 'master' had shown Rishir.
'He's probably thinking, "Why talk to me through that guy's mouth instead of directly?"'
Rishir felt the need to soothe that jealousy.
And for good reason—
Looking back on recent events, and digging deeper, there were more than a few oddities.
Dissatisfaction bred suspicion.
For now, Rodan was handing over his beloved sword to honor his master's will, but if resentment built up and he reflected on events?
It was only a matter of time before suspicion ignited into an inferno.
So—
"What did Master say... about me?"
Rishir decided to satisfy Rodan.
No one would nitpick and raise doubts after dredging up fond memories.
"He talked about you and..."
Rishir chuckled softly.
It was the look of someone fondly recalling a doting parent gushing over their child.
"...how different you were from 'us,' until his mouth went dry."
"Us?"
"Yes. Your master referred to himself and me that way."
"..."
Rishir wasn't lying.
He'd merely tweaked the tone and inflection.
Thus, the spiteful cur cursing his absent disciple became a stern yet affectionate true master doting in private.
The process repeated several times—
"..."
And with each iteration, Rodan's expression softened bit by bit.
The swordmaster reluctantly parting with his blade was gone.
In his place was a man simply delighted and at a loss for what to do.
'This should do it.'
Time to wrap up.
Rishir voiced the line he'd prepared.
"Seeing him talk about you like that made me think... Maybe someday, someone will feel that way about me too..."
Rishir trailed off uncertainly.
His vow to never lie outright held to the very end.
*What a guy...*
The murder ghost watching from his inner world clicked his tongue in disgust.
This fresh-faced kid looked honest enough, but his tricks could fool gods and demons alike— no different from some corrupt high priest.
"Rishir."
Rodan grasped Rishir's shoulder.
His face was that of a superior basking in praise before his juniors.
"You'll definitely find someone like that someday."
"You think so?"
"Of course. Why else would he have borrowed your body?"
Rodan handed over the Blue Lotus once more.
Unlike before, his joyful grip was light as a feather.
"Rishir. Please accept this sword."
It was no longer merely following his master's will.
His eager demeanor brimmed with personal intent.
The swordmaster had resolved to pass his blade to his lovely junior from the same master.
"...Understood. I'll strive not to bring shame to him or you."
Rodan’s smile deepened at Rishir's solemn nod as he accepted the sword.
There was no room left for other interpretations.
It was unmistakably the face of a man gazing fondly at his precious junior.
*Grab!*
Rodan seized Rishir's shoulders with vigorous strength.
His one good eye overflowed with goodwill.
"Rishir, did you know? You might not realize it, but he was endlessly strict with me. Maybe to keep me from getting arrogant, but he never even offered a word of praise in my presence. He never once called me his disciple. In that sense, you're a better man than me, wouldn't you say? Since he called you his disciple directly."
Rodan pulled something from his bosom and handed it to Rishir.
It was a notebook brimming with handwritten care.
"This is...?"
"It's my notes on the core movements and principles of my swordsmanship, approached from a surface level and put into words. Traces of my struggles to gain insight, you could say. It's served its purpose for me now, so I'm giving it to you. No guarantees, but it might help."
"...!"
Rishir's eyes widened.
'He's talking like it's junk, but this is essentially a swordmaster's personal manual. And one of a kind—'
Having come from a swordsmanship family himself, Rishir knew the value of what Rodan handed over so casually.
If he'd shown his past self this manual, his eyes would have bulged right out of his skull.
It wouldn't have mattered if he were a bastard or a full knight—the story would be the same.
It was treasure enough to rob any swordsman of their reason.
Hell, if he tossed this into Bendel and declared, "Fight to the death for it," he might end up with just one knight left standing.
"If you're offering, I'll gratefully accept!"
As Rishir pocketed the manual, a thought crossed his mind.
'But if I study this, where do I fit in the lineage? Disciple of Rodan's master, disciple of Rodan... and impersonating Rodan's master makes me his master too...'
Rishir cut off his thoughts as his brain began to knot up.
"Hahaha! That's the spirit fitting the vessel. Yes! A man like you needs that fire! I like that about you! Alright, since you're grateful—hey, Pyu. Give this guy something fitting."
Rodan tossed a pouch carelessly onto the desk.
And before leaving the shop, he said to Rishir,
"Rishir. It was good seeing you. From now on, I plan to organize the insights I've gained. The first step is reflecting on the path I've walked so far. In that vein, let me thank you once more. Rishir, if you hadn't thwarted the cultists' plans, if you hadn't persuaded me there... I would have crossed an irreversible river. I wouldn't have had the face to meet my master. Pass on my thanks and apologies to your friends too. Ideally, I'd go myself, but—"
Rodan let out an awkward laugh.
"That's not something I'm used to."
"..."
Rishir responded with a smile.
He had a point.
If he barged in to apologize, they'd be terrified rather than pleased.
Though seeing him now might change their minds.
"So, Rishir. Let's meet again if fate allows. Under even better circumstances."
The swordmaster departed.
At the same time, someone approached Rishir with frightening momentum.
The dwarf girl Pyu.
The armorsmith shop owner strode up to Rishir on her small frame.
'A chance to outfit a genius swordsman acknowledged by Outer Sword and granted an ego sword!!!'
Hey, big bro!
She shouted energetically.
Looking up at the human man before her with sparkling eyes.
"You heard Outer Sword, right? If you want anything, don't hold back—tell me! Look around all you want!"
"..."
Rishir began surveying the shop interior, dazed but compliant.
'Please, please!!!'
Pyu prayed fervently.
Please take interest in the gear I made.
"Um, by any chance—"
"Yeah! What do you want!?"
"Do you happen to carry magic staves or anything?"
"?"
Afterward, Rishir hurried back to City Councilor Ran's mansion to report.
"Rishir!"
Ran and the three magnates rushed out to greet him.
"You okay!? That lunatic didn't pull any crap, did he!?"
Shakan and the others stared at Rishir like he was a ghost.
Swordmaster Outer Sword.
For someone dragged off by that madman to return so casually.
The sight was beyond astonishing.
"Huh...?"
Then, their eyes drifted to Rishir's waist.
A sword hung there that hadn't been before.
As far as they knew, Rishir was a mage.
So why the sudden sword?
And what a sword it was—far from ordinary.
The scabbard, embossed with an antique blue lotus motif, was artwork in itself.
"...Hold on."
In that instant.
A certain sword's name came to mind.
Blue Lotus.
The name of Swordmaster Outer Sword's beloved blade, symbolizing his 'outer.'
"No way that sword... is the Blue Lotus...?"
"Oh, you recognize it?"
"...!"
The young mage dragged off by the swordmaster had returned.
Wielding the swordmaster's most treasured possession, akin to his own life.
"Everyone?"
City Councilor Ran and the three magnates.
Even the butler and servants nearby.
They all unwittingly backed away from the young mage.