Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Unfamiliar Guest (3)
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Master.
The absolute being known as a true superhuman, capable of facing an entire nation alone.
Every knight aspired to become a Master. Yet, the number of knights who reached that level was fewer than specks of dust.
Out of the hundreds of thousands of knights born across the continent each year, only a handful of geniuses could achieve it.
Upon reaching Master, one transcended the pinnacle of swordsmanship and forged a new path.
That path was called a 'realm.'
The Sword Saint's Universal Flow Insight and the Soul Wanderer's Sword Killing Sword were prime examples.
“You hid all your energy perfectly, so how did you know I'm a Master? Even the young lady didn't notice my identity.”
As he said, Demian hadn't sensed any energy from David.
It was unavoidable. No matter how much of a genius Demian was, he couldn't bridge the gap to a Master yet.
“You look like the daughter of a noble house at first glance. I got suspicious since it didn't seem like you'd be traveling alone.”
“And you guessed Master?”
“I didn't feel even a trace of mana no matter how much I checked you out, so I took a shot in the dark. Didn't expect it to be true.”
In truth, calling it a shot in the dark was a lie.
Demian couldn't sense energy, but he had experience and knowledge.
He could see the unique lightness and precise movements that only a Master possessed.
It was a subtle detail only Demian could pick up on, so even David couldn't have hidden it completely.
“This is embarrassing. To have my identity exposed by some junior.”
David scratched the back of his head vigorously as he spoke.
“Should I call you senior?”
“I'm not in the mood to hear empty flattery.”
David grumbled as he sat down next to the Sword Maiden.
“Anyway, your skills are insane. To take down the young lady so quickly, and without even touching her. I've never seen anyone like you in the Empire.”
It was only natural. There couldn't be another talent like Demian in this world.
If there were, Demian wouldn't have been able to bring humanity to ruin in his previous life.
“If I'd hurt the young lady, you wouldn't have let me off easy, right?”
“Well, I wonder what I would've done.”
David stared silently at Demian. Then, suddenly, Demian realized it.
The entire world had gone quiet.
No sound of birds flapping wings, no chirping insects—nothing. Not even the rustling of trees.
Only then did Demian realize David was dominating the area with his energy.
He hadn't noticed until the space was completely overtaken.
This was why Masters were called true superhumans.
They casually produced phenomena far beyond human limits.
“Even then, you wouldn't have killed me.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I don't sense any killing intent.”
If David had even a shred of murderous intent, it would have come flying from all directions, shredding Demian's mind.
But the world remained serene. It meant he harbored no ill will toward Demian.
Tsk.
David clicked his tongue and withdrew his energy. The silent world instantly grew noisy again.
“To even notice that much. You're too competent; it's no fun.”
David shrugged as he spoke.
“The young lady was the one who challenged me first. She has no grounds to complain if she got hurt.”
Though he was her guard, he had no intention of coddling the Sword Maiden.
“On the contrary, she'll have learned a great deal from this—a fine stroke of fortune.”
David was right on that point.
The Sword Maiden had only known victory her whole life. In her eyes, the world must have seemed like a smooth plain without obstacles.
But meeting Demian had shown her a wall. The world she saw from now on would surely change dramatically.
“I'm Artus Verber. A Master serving the young lady's house.”
Artus Verber.
It was a name Demian had never heard in his previous life, not from David or anyone else.
‘This is strange. I should know any Master under the Sword Maiden.’
Perhaps he'd retired for some reason, or died before Demian's active days.
“Why is a Master acting as a guard?”
Considering a Master's stature, it was a waste of talent for escort duty.
Even for a precious talent like the Sword Maiden, it was the same.
“I owe the lady of the house... no, the young lady's mother an immense debt I can never repay. To return even a fraction of it, I volunteered for this role.”
As he spoke, Artus Verber gazed at the Sword Maiden with incredibly gentle eyes.
“I'd appreciate it if you kept my identity secret from the young lady. She thinks she's traveling on her own power.”
“Must be tough playing along.”
Artus Verber burst into loud laughter at Demian's words.
* * *
“Ugh!”
The next day, the Sword Maiden finally regained consciousness. She bolted upright the moment her eyes opened, shouting.
“How did the duel go? Why am I lying here?”
Demian and David, who had been sipping tea by the campfire, turned to look at her.
“Young lady! You're awake!”
David tossed his teacup aside and rushed to her. The Sword Maiden shoved him roughly to the side.
“Demian Haksen! What was that? How could you move so fast? How did you break through my protective technique?”
The Sword Maiden sat in front of Demian, firing off questions. Demian sipped his tea with an annoyed expression.
“You think I'll just hand over my techniques that easily?”
“You're right... Then how about we trade? I'll teach you all the techniques I know!”
“N-No, young lady! You can't do that!”
David shouted urgently. Demian could only be appalled for entirely different reasons.
‘Is this girl trying to make me an enemy of her house?’
The Sword Maiden hailed from the Empire's ducal house of Richteauer. Naturally, her techniques belonged to the Richteauer family.
No house would sit idly by if their secrets leaked. They'd send assassins immediately.
Besides, Demian already knew most of her techniques.
He had absorbed them all in his previous life while fighting her.
“No need.”
At Demian's firm refusal, the Sword Maiden deflated.
“I noticed your footwork was sloppy when you swung your sword. Focus on lower body training for a while.”
“Huh? Really?”
“And you're so focused on speed that all your attacks are too light. There are mana cultivation methods that temporarily increase weight. Look into those.”
David's eyes widened at Demian's advice.
As a Master-class, he'd noticed. Demian's points were spot on.
No, it wasn't just spot on. Demian was showing her the path.
The path the future Sword Maiden had walked.
Even refined with Demian's own improvements.
“B-But the family instructors said...”
“Their words must've been confusing most of the time, right? Didn't swinging however felt natural work better?”
“Y-Yeah. H-How did you know?”
The Sword Maiden was a genius among geniuses. Ordinary instructors couldn't teach someone like her.
“Forget everything the family taught you except the basics. From now on, think of forging your own path.”
Demian spoke with utter conviction. The Sword Maiden nodded vigorously.
Then her expression suddenly turned fierce.
“Wait a minute. Why am I taking advice from you?”
“Isn't it something to be grateful for?”
“Grateful? You're the guy I have to beat! Cut the nonsense and fight me right now!”
The Sword Maiden tried to stand, but collapsed back to the ground.
“Huh? Wh-What?”
She stared at her body in utter confusion.
She was currently paralyzed by the meridian-sealing golden needle technique.
It would wear off in time, but for now, she couldn't move or circulate mana.
“Th-This can't be... J-Just wait a second!”
Demian ignored her and stood, packing the blanket and storing the utensils in his pocket space.
“H-Hey, wait! Where are you going?”
“Morning's here. Time to move again. Still a long way to go.”
“Where to?”
“The Holy Order.”
At those words, the Sword Maiden's face grew urgent.
The Holy Order was outside the kingdom. She was heading to Apple Kingdom—their paths diverged.
“Guess this is where we part ways.”
“B-Before that, fight me one more time!”
“In that state?”
Demian looked down at her condescendingly. Her face flushed bright red.
Suddenly, the Sword Maiden removed a ring from her finger.
It was a plain silver ring, worn smooth from age, without any decorations.
“Here, take it!”
She tossed it at Demian. He caught it without knowing why.
“Y-Young lady! That ring...!”
“Be quiet, David.”
David shut his mouth at her sharp cry.
“Demian Haksen, listen well. My name is Rachel Richteauer! Heir to the Richteauer Ducal House, one of the Empire's great seven families!”
Demian already knew her name and house.
But what followed even surprised him.
“Our house has a tradition: when someone bestows a great favor, we give them an item symbolizing our house! And this ring proves the wearer is the family heir!”
If Rachel Richteauer's words were true, this ring held tremendous value.
“I'll head straight home after finishing my business in Apple Kingdom. Bring that ring, and I'll ask my father to reward you!”
“Rematch included?”
“Of course!”
In her previous life, the Sword Maiden had wandered the continent seeking strong foes before returning to the Empire.
She seemed intent on cutting her journey short this time.
“Well, can't turn down a reward.”
Demian stored the ring in his pocket space and mounted his horse.
“Ugh... You better come! You absolutely better!”
“I will.”
“If you forget, I won't let you off! I'll chase you forever!”
Demian left the forest amid her shouts.
* * *
After that, Demian crossed the border and headed for the Holy Order.
The Holy Order was practically a nation unto itself.
It boasted territory rivaling a mid-sized kingdom and housed a vast population.
Thus, even after entering Holy Kingdom lands, Demian had to travel quite a bit more to reach the main headquarters.
A week later, he finally arrived at his destination.
“Finally here.”
Demian looked out from a hilltop. In the distance stood a fortress.
The fortress was enormous. It seemed twice the size of Apple Kingdom's capital, which he'd recently visited.
Towering walls encircled it, high and sturdy as cliffs. Inside, even taller walls layered in multiple rings.
This was the Holy Order's headquarters.