Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Warning (1)
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Sword Control with Qi.
The technique of freely manipulating a sword floating in midair according to the user's will.
At first glance, it might seem similar to flying swords, but it was a far more advanced skill.
Historically, there weren't many Master Class users who wielded Sword Control with Qi.
It wasn't a matter of skill, but of direction.
To use Sword Control with Qi, one had to attain the corresponding realm. Like the Sword Saint's Universal Flow Insight or the Ghost of Slaughter's Robbery Killing Sword.
Realms related to Sword Control with Qi were exceedingly rare, so even Demian had only heard of them—he'd never seen one in action.
Stories of flying swords slicing through dozens of knights or coordinating attacks with their masters abounded.
From the records, it was clear that Sword Control with Qi was an incredibly versatile and powerful realm.
'Was someone trying to replicate Sword Control with Qi using a relic sword?'
They probably hadn't succeeded perfectly.
The Master Class was a position that only the most genius among geniuses could barely reach after honing their skills for a lifetime.
Even ancient civilization's technology couldn't fully replicate a Master Class realm.
Still, judging by the tales of Sword Control with Qi, even a mere imitation would wield tremendous power.
'It seems this is the relic sword Lady Frieze is after.'
Demian was lost in such thoughts while peering at the paper.
Then, footsteps echoed from deeper inside.
Two ancient golems were approaching Demian.
Judging by the blood covering their bodies, they had just finished massacring the Obter Mercenary Group.
"Victor! Ancient golems!"
Tibo shouted as he fled backward. Demian set aside his interest in the relic sword and gripped Dawn.
The ancient golems that appeared this time differed in many ways from the ones he'd fought before.
They were larger in size, but more importantly, their weapons were different. One held an axe, the other a spear.
Demian smiled at the ancient golems' weapons.
"These'll fetch a nice price."
The moment Demian spoke, the two ancient golems charged.
As soon as they closed the distance, Demian swung Dawn in a wide arc.
Dawn traced a semicircle, severing the necks of both ancient golems in succession.
The decapitated golems crumpled to the floor.
"......Huh? What?"
Tibo asked Demian with an incredulous look.
"V-Victor. Are ancient golems supposed to be this weak?"
They had charged first, yet they couldn't even dodge a single swing from Demian and got their heads chopped off.
To Tibo, who knew nothing of swordsmanship, it looked like the ancient golems had simply offered their necks.
"No way. My sword was just too fast for them to react."
Demian said dismissively.
It might sound arrogant at first listen, but Tibo had no choice but to nod.
He had witnessed Demian's strength with his own eyes all this time.
"Anyway, hurry and load them up. Time to head inside."
At Demian's words, Tibo sprang into action.
* * *
Afterward, Demian thoroughly explored every corner of the fifth floor.
Being the researchers' offices, he found all sorts of items.
Books, blueprints of unknown purpose, equipment under construction.
Unfortunately, most of the equipment was ruined from being left abandoned too long.
'That's why even when you find ruins, it's hard to get good stuff.'
Ruins were relics of an unimaginably distant past. Most artifacts were damaged or destroyed.
Still, it wasn't a total loss. He found several intact relics that could still be used.
'Even so, after wandering around this long, I can't believe I haven't run into anyone.'
Faint sounds from afar and the occasional whiff of blood in the air confirmed people were on the fifth floor.
But the floor was so vast they hadn't crossed paths.
'At this rate, Gasdal should show up.'
Contrary to Demian's expectations, Gasdal made no appearance.
'Why not? Is he wary of me?'
Demian was deep in thought when—
"V-Victor... I can't carry any more."
Tibo said from behind in a strained voice. The handcart Tibo was pushing was piled mountain-high with relics Demian had found.
"Let's head back for today."
No sign of Gasdal, so Demian decided to withdraw.
* * *
As the two emerged outside, nearby people's gazes focused on them.
"Look at that. I've never seen so many relics at once."
"Forces bragging about exploring the fifth floor could barely snag one or two weapons... How the hell did they do it?"
The people gawked at Tibo's handcart in shock.
"That ancient golem buried at the bottom! Isn't that a captain-grade?"
"Nah, no way... Captain-grades are tough even for Mid-Class knights, and with just two people...? Wait, that really is captain-grade!"
From their perspective, Tibo's handcart was a treasure trove.
They crowded around, admiring the haul.
"A captain-grade golem with zero damage. Mages would lose their minds."
"Mages? Look, they even have weapons used by captain-grade ancient golems. Knights would kill for those."
But unlike the first day, no one tried to haggle.
"They encountered three ancient golems and lived..."
"Don't approach recklessly. You saw what happened yesterday. He beat Sir Hayden like a dog."
Thanks to yesterday's incident, everyone feared Demian.
He walked the path unhindered, with no one blocking his way.
That was when—
Three men blocked Demian's path. All wore armor and exuded considerable mana.
"What do the knights want with me?"
Demian said to the three. The man in the center stepped forward.
He wore thick glasses and a checkered flat cap.
"I'm Sanchez, in service to Sir Dufelis."
The knight Sanchez said, lifting his chin slightly. His attitude was quite haughty.
Demian just stared blankly at him, so Sanchez repeated himself.
"I serve Sir Dufelis."
"So? Spit out your business."
Demian said curtly. Sanchez scowled.
"...Even after hearing Sir Dufelis's name, you show no respect. As rumored, you're an insolent cur. Fine. I don't care to bandy words with you either, so I'll just relay Sir Dufelis's message briefly."
Sanchez pulled a scroll from inside his coat and unrolled it.
"I, Dufelis, am greatly enraged by yesterday's incident. Considering the humiliation you inflicted on Sir Hayden, it would not be enough to behead you this instant and feed your corpse to the pigs."
The grim words made the onlookers pale.
Demian, the subject, just listened with a bored expression.
"However, I've heard your abilities are exceptional. I have no intention of wasting talent frivolously. Thus, I grant you one last chance. Come to me, atone for your wrongs, and serve until your bones shatter. Then, I shall forgive your crimes."
Sanchez rerolled the scroll and tucked it away. Then, with an awestruck tone—
"Isn't his lordship's mercy as vast as the sea? To forgive a sinner like you. Sir Dufelis truly is the epitome of nobility, a lord worth serving..."
"What if I don't?"
Demian cut in. Irritated at the interruption, Sanchez glared at him.
"I can't fathom why you'd ask that..."
Sanchez stepped closer to Demian and whispered in his ear.
"If you don't come... Sir Dufelis plans to mobilize all his connections to ruin you."
"Yeah?"
"Indeed. Sir Dufelis is one of only two High-Class in the kingdom. Can you imagine the breadth of his network? He could crush a wandering swordsman like you without lifting a finger."
Sanchez smirked mockingly.
"You might get a stray blade in the ruins. Or entry to the ruins might be banned outright. You won't even rest easy outside."
The longer he spoke, the more a meaningful smile crept onto Sanchez's face.
"If you don't want that, you'd best meekly beg Sir Dufelis's forgiveness."
Sanchez probably thought he'd delivered a terrifying warning, but to Demian, it was just annoying.
'Busy hunting Gasdal, and now some random punk...'
Threatening with mere High-Class status was laughable.
'I can't publicly reveal I'm High-Class either.'
Not as rare as Master Class, but High-Class were still only a handful per nation.
If word got out Demian was High-Class, his identity might be exposed.
Then, an idea flashed through Demian's mind.
'...Hang on. If I play this right, I might even lure out Gasdal.'
Gasdal was currently collecting souls for his research.
For good results, he'd need souls from superior warriors.
'With Gasdal's personality, even holed up deep, he'd have ways—one or two—to gather outside intel.'
Clashing with Dufelis's faction would boost Demian's fame inevitably, drawing Gasdal's interest.
'And as a bonus, I could bait Dufelis into the ruins' depths.'
No eyes in the ruins—he could smash Dufelis there easily.
"Why no reply?"
Demian snapped out of his reverie at Sanchez's question.
"You want an answer, huh?"
"Obviously. Speak quickly. Will you accept Sir Dufelis's mercy, or...?"
Demian opened his subsace and pulled out the club.
Sanchez and the other two knights recoiled in horror.
"...Why'd you pull that out?"
"Oh, curious about that?"
Demian chuckled, slapping the club against his palm.
"This is my answer."
Sanchez and the two knights hurriedly reached for their sword hilts.
But Demian's club struck their heads first.