Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Esther's Challenge
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Murmurs filled the air.
A noisy procession.
They were all merchants and travelers heading out of Trista.
"What's going on?"
"Word is there's an apostate around. Look, those are Heretic Inquisitors from the Valterus Church."
A crest of crossed red twin swords.
The symbol of the Heretic Inquisitors.
"Who's the apostate? They're searching everyone."
"Damn it all. If we don't cross the mountains soon, we'll be camping and freezing our asses off. Why the hell are they checking so thoroughly?!"
"Yeah, shouldn't Inquisitors be able to spot them at a glance with their holy power?"
"That's why the Empire keeps getting the better of them."
"Hey, keep it down over there!"
The soldiers finally shouted, and the whispers died down.
"My lord, are you all right?"
"I'm fine, so shut it. Brans."
"Yes, sir."
The inquisitor pointed at the hooded man and asked.
"Hold on, you there. Identification?"
"Here."
The inquisitor checked the ID and nodded, handing it back.
"Take off that hood for a moment."
"Why do you want him to take off his hood, sir? My lord doesn't like showing his face!"
"One trait of apostates is their eyes. They have rare gray ones, so take it off."
"No, but this gentleman...!"
"It's fine, Brans. I'll just remove it."
He pulled the hood back.
Clear features and black eyes came into view—a handsome young nobleman type.
"Hmm... You've got fine eyes."
His black pupils sparkled unusually bright.
"It's genetic."
"Ahem, you're clear!"
Kallias pulled his hood back up and passed the inquisitor.
A short while later.
In the northern forest beyond Trista's vast plains, Kallias stopped and held out his hand to Brans.
"Here you go, sir."
"Mm."
Brans handed him a vial. Kallias opened it and reached into his eye, removing something.
"Are you okay, sir?"
"My eyes feel dry. Guess it's not meant to be worn for long."
He placed two lenses into the vial.
Black lenses made of glass, specially requested from Dexter.
‘Not something I could do twice.’
They said medieval people made lenses by grinding glass, so he tried it, but it hurt more than expected.
This era lacked concepts like silicone, so glass lenses were the only option.
Thanks to Kallias's superior physique, he could manage, but an ordinary person would've scratched their cornea immediately.
"Let's go. We have a long way to travel."
"Yes, sir!"
That was when it happened.
"So it really was you."
A voice cold as frost, accompanied by an eerie presence that enveloped Kallias.
He immediately drew Arsando.
Ching!
‘Ugh.’
Screeech! Screeeeech!
Sparks flew from the clashing sword strikes.
Bushes rustled, and the enemy's water-blue hair whipped in the air before him.
"You may have fooled the hardliners' inquisitor, but you can't fool these eyes that know your face. That Twilight Cape. It really is you."
"......Esther Sol Silia."
The next Paladin.
A genius among geniuses, spoken of as the next Saintess. A woman whose swordsmanship, holy power, beauty, and virtue demanded praise in all aspects.
Esther.
Her faintly glowing water-blue hair resembled an apostle sent personally by Valterus, and her blue eyes held the depth of the ocean.
"I've never forgotten your voice, your face, or the look in your eyes, not for a single moment."
"For the next Saintess to say so much, what an honor."
It might sound like a love poem at first glance, but the atmosphere made it anything but.
He couldn't fathom why she glared at him like he was her parents' murderer.
Was there some grudge between Kallias and her that he didn't know about?
He had no idea.
It was something he didn't know.
Something not in the setting.
That made it all the more confusing.
"Three years ago, I told you, Pilgrim Kallias."
"What did you say?"
"Have you forgotten? Then I'll say it again."
Esther's sword descended.
She assumed her stance.
She lowered the sword held in both hands diagonally downward.
"I clearly told you then. If I, as a pilgrim on the pilgrimage path, should encounter you."
I will definitely kill you.
"Pilgrim Esther hereby challenges Pilgrim Kallias to a duel of swords."
The duel would not end until one died and became the other's sword.
"Pilgrim Kallias. Please don't die too easily. I've been awaiting this moment for so long!"
Swoosh!
With a sharp whistle of wind, Esther vanished.
‘Fast.’
Shaaa!
Her sword path sliced through where Kallias's neck had been.
Fast.
And fluid.
That was her sword.
Swift and precise.
The first strike approached so fast he barely registered it, then she drew and slashed in an instant.
Swipe.
In the blink of an eye it took others to swing once, she struck two, three times.
Quick Sword. A sword so fast it was hard to even follow.
Clang! Slash!
Boom! Kwang!
Brans, who had fled into the forest, couldn't make sense of what was happening.
He hid among the bushes and peeked at the fierce battle between Kallias and Esther through the trees.
Sparks flew between invisible sword strikes, and trees were felled in an instant, crashing down.
Gulp.
That was a true pilgrim's fight.
"Not the time to be impressed. Ah, I really shouldn't be watching if my lord ordered otherwise."
But all he could do was watch from afar.
Clang!
‘Her strength is insane too.’
Not just speed.
Her power matched it.
Her holy power's quality was exceptionally pure.
Having appraised the holy power in spirit stones, he could gauge her level at a glance.
Her holy power was rank 3.
No, nearly rank 2.
Her purity was unmatched.
"To reach this level in just three years. Impressive."
"You've grown too, I see. I didn't expect you to block my sword so well."
"Time is fair to everyone."
He acted nonchalant, but his sword-gripping right hand trembled.
‘If not for Dexter's gauntlet, my grip would've shattered already.’
Her sword was that fast and heavy.
Lithe movements. And calm holy power mirroring her demeanor.
His enhanced physique and her unique quick sword created the illusion of blades coming from all directions.
Like standing in a downpour.
He tried to dodge, but couldn't.
When he barely parried, it struck faster at another spot.
"Hoo—"
Dozens of shallow cuts on his arms and thighs from the brief exchange.
"Is it because of the cape?"
"Not at all. I do want it, but I wouldn't start something like this over that."
"Then what?"
"......Don't you remember?"
"No clue. I forgot all about the past."
She lowered her raised sword and slowly closed her eyes.
Her long lashes quivered—she was clearly furious.
"You have a genius-level talent for pissing people off."
"What did I do to you?"
"You did! You did!! Things no one else would forget, especially not you!!"
She vented uncharacteristically.
That wasn't Esther's personality.
She didn't rage or grieve openly. Cold and rigid.
Merciless to demons and beasts, gentle to children.
That was Esther Sol Silia.
"Hmm......"
Honestly, no idea.
Kallias the wastrel wouldn't have sat still in the church, but he had no clue about Esther.
‘How could he mess with Esther?’
As that thought crossed his mind.
Esther spoke.
"You approached me at first, but when you learned I wasn't noble-born, you started scorning me."
"Uh......"
"And for some reason, you began tormenting the commoner aspirants around me."
"Uh... I see."
"That's not all!! You challenged me to a sword duel, lost, and then pulled all sorts of petty tricks!"
Like hammering nails into her wooden sword hilt or sticking needles in her shoes.
Petty stuff.
He banded with noble aspirants to bully commoners and punish anyone who spoke to Esther.
That's what he'd done.
"I kept apologizing to you, even though I did nothing wrong. But you tormented me even more."
"Mm... I guess..."
"I'll kill you. Your very existence is evil. No different from monsters."
"This is......"
Nothing to say.
It wasn't him, but it was him, so what could he say?
Even ten mouths wouldn't suffice.
‘Is Kallias insane? Anyone else maybe, but even Esther......’
But he could guess why.
His heart had fluttered like a fish jumping at water the moment he saw her. That was Kallias.
He probably.
‘Liked Esther.’
Few didn't. Beautiful and strong.
Strong enough for next Paladin talk, compassionate enough for Saintess rumors.
Now sharp as a blade, but after crossing many lines of death, she'd grow into a true Saintess.
So Kallias couldn't help but like her.
He was human. No interest, no such torment.
He liked her but couldn't accept her lack of noble blood.
‘That must be it.’
He had the "Church Wastrel" trait from the start. No woman untouched.
Foolish Kallias.
But now, that was him.
"Why did you do it?"
She shifted her stance.
Her sword thrust in soon after.
He raised Arsando.
Her sword connected.
But in that instant, the trajectory twisted.
Screeeeech!
Her sword slid up Arsando's flat.
Slash.
He jerked his head back, a thin red line appearing on his neck.
Drip.
Blood beaded along the line.
The moment it flowed.
Thud!
"Gah!"
Her kick slammed into his abdomen like a crossbow bolt, exploiting his lapse.
Boom!
Swoosh!
Another thrust incoming.
Aimed at his head.
Crack!
"Your eyes have improved since then. You're dodging my sword quite well."
He twisted his head to evade.
Esther's sword embedded in a tree.
"Is this the power of a relic too?"
"Did you come searching for relics?"
"My mission is to find relics."
"And killing me?"
"Personal matter."
"Seriously."
A hollow laugh escaped.
He should be tense, death breathing down his neck, yet laughter bubbled up oddly.
"What's so funny?"
"Just amusing. You being here, wanting to kill me—it's unbelievable."
"This is no joke."
"Yeah, I suppose. Hoo—"
Kallias exhaled roughly and met Esther's eyes.
"No relic. If I had one, I wouldn't be struggling like this."
"Is that so."
"Yeah. The church couldn't find it—a miracle relic isn't this weak."
"......I figured as much."
"You believe me?"
"The you I know prided himself on being noble. Nobles don't lie, you'd spit so rudely."
Grateful she believed him, even so.
"Shame there's no relic."
"But you'll still kill me, I see."
"Yes. I've made up my mind."
So she would.
Simple and clear.
Of course. By her account, the torment started when they were aspirants. How deep the grudge?
Justified.
Swordsmanship no match, yet flaunting noble status and acting cocky before her.
Even he'd want to kill that.
But he couldn't die.
Not so easily.
"Dying by your hand would be an honor."
"Is that so."
"But I can't die yet."
"That's not for you to decide."
Her drawn sword aimed at his neck.
"I'll decide that."
Her sword swung.
Just before his head fell.
He unclasped his bracelet.
Click.
With the bound holy power released.
[Trait, [Death-Time Awakening - Realization in Death] activates.]
Death-Time Awakening. Kallias's unique trait.
Triggered by Esther's sword as death neared.
Holy power overflowed like a broken dam.
And insight from the trait.
All harmonized.
The holy power in his dantian swelled. But not just in size like before. It compressed, strand by strand.
Slowly, densely stacking. Solidly forming shape.
Layer upon layer of silver flower buds.
Swipe. Kallias's ashen eyes gleamed silver.
[Late Bloom Six Peaks reaches One Peak.]
[Late Bloom Six Peaks (晩花峰六)]
Rank – Unique
Achievement - One Peak
-Six buds blooming in late season.
The holy power on Esther's sword.
He could see right into the structure within her sword aura.
"Blossom."
Kaaaaang!
A sharp metallic ring.
Esther's sword bounced away.
Her blue eyes widened.
The sword aura shattered.
The exploding aura scattered like petals.
A sword that broke the opponent's holy power and sword aura.
Beautiful like silver petals—hence the name.
"Silver Flower Sword Wave......"