Chapter 17
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Black Fang Awakens
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17.
And then... it went quiet.
"...?"
"...?"
-...?
Eirana, Silver Fang, and Dris all wore puzzled expressions as they stared at the sword gripped in Eirana's hand.
It was a stark contrast to the fierce reaction when Eirana first grasped Silver Fang.
Eirana let out a light breath as she gazed at the sword, which showed no sign of even twitching.
"No reaction at all?"
She muttered in confusion, then swung the sword lightly—whoosh! whoosh!
Still nothing.
Dris looked flustered, while Silver Fang watched the sword in fascination.
It was then, as Eirana eyed the blade with a weary face.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the sword whipped through the air.
"Gah! Lady Eirana! What if you swing it like that without warning?"
Dris recoiled in shock from the unannounced swing, and Silver Fang's eyes went wide.
But unlike Dris's shout, Eirana's face twisted in frustration.
"What the hell is this?!"
She bellowed, tightening her grip on the hilt.
The sword thrashed wildly, like a living creature desperate to escape her hand.
Eirana's body was dragged this way and that, unable to withstand its force.
Her face scrunched up at the sensation of her arm nearly being yanked off. She channeled her inner energy into her left arm.
Then, using gravity magic, she increased her own weight.
Regaining her balance in an instant, Eirana yanked back on the sword.
A brief tug-of-war ensued.
But soon, her body began sliding toward the sword once more.
"What kind of..."
Eirana gritted her teeth and gripped the sword with both hands, pulling hard.
Yet she couldn't overcome its power and was dragged along.
The sword flew straight out through the open window, pulling Eirana with it.
Flailing from the sword's momentum, Eirana ground her teeth and poured inner energy into her legs.
Thud!
Her feet sank deep into the ground, bolstered by gravity magic and inner energy.
In that stance, she poured even more force into her left arm and suppressed the sword.
The balance of power teetered evenly once again.
Kiiing—
The sword emitted a strange, displeased hum.
Eirana flinched and immediately let go.
The sword didn't fall to the ground but floated in the air.
Frowning at it, Eirana glanced lightly at her left hand.
A faint, thread-like cut had appeared, blood seeping through.
If she'd held on any longer, her hand would have been severed.
Unlike Silver Fang's sleep-talking, this sword was clearly warning her not to touch it.
Silver Fang, who had been approaching his master, spotted Eirana's murderous glare at the inky blade and backed off without hesitation.
In stark contrast, Dris examined Eirana with a startled look.
Dragons were the strongest race in the mortal realm.
Even a young hatchling possessed an innate intimidating presence that threatened other beings.
That was Dragon Fear.
But what Eirana exuded now wasn't the natural aura of a dragon.
As she glared at the sword, Eirana shuddered suddenly.
The floating sword had turned its blade toward her and shot forward at tremendous speed.
Eirana slapped its flat with her right hand.
Clang—!
The heavy clash of metal rang out loudly.
The ground beneath Eirana cracked with a crackling sound.
Gritting her teeth, she pushed harder with her palm, shoving the sword away.
The repelled blade growled with a woong—, letting out a resonant hum.
Eirana muttered at the sight.
"If we fight here, the whole area might end up in ruins for some reason."
But taking the sword somewhere remote didn't seem easy either.
As Eirana placed a hand on her hip with a troubled expression, Silver Fang approached and asked.
- Should I just move that thing somewhere else?
"Huh?"
Surprised by the sudden question, Eirana turned to Silver Fang.
- I can take it somewhere else.
"You?"
When Eirana asked skeptically, Silver Fang nodded.
After staring at him for a moment, Eirana said.
"Give it a try. As far from the village as possible."
- Got it. Then, borrow some of Master's mana.
With that, Silver Fang stepped forward, crouched, and drew in a deep breath.
Then he straightened up and roared.
- ROOOAAARRR!
It wasn't a child's shout but a beast's roar.
A whirlwind of snow erupted around Silver Fang's body.
Eirana's hair whipped in the gust.
Silver Fang's form shimmered silver-white, then transformed into a massive silver tiger—four or five times the size of an adult man.
The great tiger butted his head under Eirana's rear, tilting his head back to let her ride on his back.
Then he charged at the sword.
Krunch!
Black sparks flew as he bit down on the blade.
Ignoring them, he assumed a leaping stance and vaulted upward.
With immense leaping power, a few bounds took him out of the village and into a secluded forest.
Spotting a clearing of decent size, Silver Fang spat out the sword like discarding trash and put distance between them.
He glowed faintly, then pop!—returned to the form of a boy around ten years old.
- Ow!
Eirana, riding on his back, naturally landed butt-first on the ground.
- Move!
As Silver Fang flailed and yelled, Eirana stood silently, looking at him with slightly dazed eyes.
She'd thought he was just a fool, but he was surprisingly useful.
Correcting her assessment from "fool" to "useful fool," Eirana turned to the sword.
The blade, fresh from Silver Fang's mouth, exuded a vicious demonic aura, as if offended.
Silver Fang made a pouty face, covering his mouth with both hands and whining.
- Waaah~ My mouth!
It seemed to hurt quite a bit.
Eirana sighed deeply at his carefree demeanor and shifted her gaze back to the sword.
Suddenly, it changed.
The sword, emanating demonic energy, hummed woong— and pulsed with dark qi.
Then it spat out inky energy that coalesced into a human shape.
Contrary to Eirana's expectation of a child like Silver Fang, the sword spirit manifested as a young man a year or two older than her.
A handsome youth with black hair and obsidian eyes stared silently at Eirana.
His aura matched Silver Fang's level, but the pressure was distinctly greater.
Silver Fang glared at him sharply, but the youth ignored him completely, gazing at Eirana with an expressionless face.
Then, furrowing his brow in annoyance, he spoke.
- Why are you bothering me?
"You're not planning to spout the same nonsense about sleep-talking, are you?"
Recalling what happened with Silver Fang earlier, Eirana asked irritably. The youth sighed shortly.
- You caused all this over something so trivial?
Eirana glanced at Silver Fang, who was still clutching his mouth, and said.
"You're nothing like him."
- Of course. That one's rude, but I'm cute.
Eirana shook her head at the completely off-topic response and turned back to the youth.
His face seemed to regard her with emotion, almost pity.
Stepping closer, Eirana said.
"I'll get to the point."
- What is it?
Folding her arms as he asked in a bored tone, Eirana declared.
"From today, I'm your master. So just contract with me obediently."
-...
The youth stared arrogantly at Eirana without batting an eye, then turned away as if she wasn't worth his time, intending to dissolve back into black energy.
Eirana watched the dismissive spirit silently, then conjured a fireball and hurled it at the back of his head.
Boom!
The explosion rang out.
His fading form sharpened again.
Eirana smiled at him.
The youth stared wordlessly before speaking.
- Your power is still too weak to contract with me.
"Is that so? Then how'd I contract with this guy?"
Eirana placed her hand atop Silver Fang's head as she spoke. The youth's impassive gaze shifted to him.
Silver Fang stuck out his tongue at the spirit.
It seemed these two swords didn't get along, much like Elencan and Rakan.
After eyeing Silver Fang briefly, the spirit turned to Eirana.
- You're making a decision you'll regret.
With that, he extended his hand, and his main body—the sword—flew into his grasp.
A peculiar sight: a sword holding a sword.
Eirana asked.
"I've got a question. If I beat you here, does that make me your master?"
- So it would.
At his nonchalant reply, Eirana smirked and gripped Silver Fang.
- Master, you gonna fight?
"Yeah."
- Then I won't lend you my power.
Eirana looked at Silver Fang.
- This is a test of sorts. You have to pass it with your own strength.
It seemed Silver Fang meant for her not to use his power in this fight.
"Doesn't matter."
Eirana replied, facing the youth.
Silver Fang nodded, dissolved into silver-white energy, and merged back into his body.
Eirana swung the sword lightly, murmuring inwardly.
'Impressive.'
Despite it being her first time holding it, there was no awkwardness.
Perfect weight and balance.
Admiring the blade's inherent quality anew, Eirana lowered it and approached the spirit.
Her muscles tensed, eyes narrowing.
The spirit raised his sword and charged.
Clang!
A sharp metallic ring echoed.
Blocking the strike aimed at her throat, Eirana deflected his blade and drove into his body, slamming her shoulder into his chest.
Thud!
The sudden body blow sent the spirit flying into the air.
As he lost balance, Eirana swung at him.
Swish! Clang!
His desperate block stopped the strike at his neck.
Watching his movement, Eirana's eyes twitched.
'He knows swordsmanship?'
Both Silver Fang and this spirit had egos.
So they likely had learning ability too.
But they were newly born.
Had this spirit had time to learn swordplay?
Ching—!
Their blades crossed with a sharp clash.
In their struggle, Eirana smoothly redirected his sword.
But the youth regained his footing instantly and thrust at her throat.
Against his unexpected recovery targeting her vitals, Eirana urgently leaned back.
A few strands of her bangs sliced off amid the whistling wind.
'Feels pretty feral.'
Not refined technique, yet no openings.
Eirana narrowed her eyes.
He didn't know swordsmanship.
But he knew how to cut, thrust, block, and dodge—with perfect timing.
'Because he's a sword spirit.'
Not just fast and strong.
The essence of swordsmanship was flow.
Disrupting the opponent's rhythm and exploiting the break.
And this spirit mastered it instinctively.
'I wonder if this one does too.'
Her gaze flicked to the sword in her hand.
Different vibe from the spirit before her, but Silver Fang held equal power.
So he should know the same things.
Her attention on Silver Fang for a split second, Eirana leaned back from the incoming black blade slicing into her view.
Twisting counterclockwise, she punched his side with her fist.
The spirit's body jerked to a halt.
Eirana frowned at that.
It would hurt a normal creature, but physical blows didn't faze a spirit.
And the sensation felt off.
'Sticking strictly to sword attacks means this is part of the test too, huh?'
The pressure from the sword was in no way inferior to Eirana's.
If he'd truly meant to kill her, the area would be devastated.
Yet they could have a proper duel because he was testing her within certain 'rules.'
Realizing that, Eirana pointed her sword at the spirit.
He spoke.
- Interesting.