Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Flower Breaking Path
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Far from the village.
Two men in black robes stood before a bloodied orc.
A spear was slung across one man's back. The other held a staff made from an ancient dead tree.
"Flower Breaking Path..."
Sword marks swept by a wave of petals.
The staff-wielding man stared blankly at the traces of Flower Breaking Path, as if recalling some ancient event.
"To think I'd see Stella's sword again after all this time... Life is full of cruel jokes."
"Ramatu. Why did you let him go?"
"A flower in bloom is beautiful."
The spearman threw back his robe, revealing his face.
A handsome man with striking blond hair.
The apostate, Luteon.
"I've staked my life on this mission. If those dozens of knights and paladins you spared become inevitable obstacles to our success, even you, Ramatu of Crasion, will answer for it..."
Ramatu shrugged.
"Do it if you can."
Ramatu of Crasion.
One of Crasion's representative figures, said to have lived for hundreds of years.
He was no human, but an ancient monster itself.
Luteon clicked his tongue.
"...Fine. Why did you save this orc?"
"Keltuk and I are acquainted. It would have been a shame to leave him."
Wasn't it?
He prodded the orc lightly with his staff.
The orc spasmed and cried out.
"Արդյո՞ք դա խանգարում է մարտիկի պայքարին!!!"
The orc's thunderous roar echoed.
Deep wounds marred his face and chest, spilling red blood.
Yet that rage at the interruption of his battle could not be quelled.
"Ramatu, what did he say?"
"He's asking why you interrupted his fight."
The staff-wielding man called Ramatu soon shook his head.
"Great Warrior Keltuk. It's not your time to die yet. Didn't we make a pact? I apologize for making you forsake a warrior's pride, but it couldn't be helped. You have your promise with us as well."
Keltuk ground his teeth, ignoring the blood flowing from his face and chest as he raised his axe.
As one of the men raised his spear in alert—
Thud-!
Thump. Groooowl.
Keltuk, groaning in pain, severed one of his own arms.
"Stubborn barbarian..."
"What? Why cut off his own arm?"
"He considers fleeing battle a disgrace, so he's punishing himself and showing respect to his foe. Tsk tsk."
This is why orcs are...
Thud. The black-robed man tapped the ground with his staff, and blood rose like living water.
It soon adhered to the orc's severed arm stump, fusing it solidly with the axe.
"Luteon. You said you'd ambush House Jerban. How did it go?"
"It failed, of course. They were bait anyway. When he shows a fatal opening later, that'll be the day he dies."
"Elbton. I doubt his head will fall so easily. Good luck."
"You're not helping?"
"I've done my part by bringing the orcs. Crasion merely returns what it receives—be it favor or vengeance."
Tap. Ramatu vanished in an instant. Luteon glanced toward where Kallias had been.
"Kallias... You're House Jerban through and through, aren't you?"
Luteon pictured the sword he'd glimpsed in his mind for a long while before it faded.
* * *
Creeeak.
Having finished speaking with Bernard, Kallias emerged from the lodge and surveyed the camping traces scattered everywhere.
Seven had died fleeing the Great Warrior.
The survivors numbered around thirty now.
"Lord Kallias!"
"Lord Kallias is awake!"
"Lord Kallias!"
Allen and Aron.
And nameless sturdy knights rushed toward him like children.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-Your wounds were so severe, and already..."
"As expected of him..."
"Lord Kallias! Remember Knight Lennon! I didn't run!"
"Pilgrim!"
"Your body..."
Kallias ignored the knights chattering freely and called for Brans.
"Brans."
"Yes, my lord! Hup!"
He'd raised his hand to pat his shoulder.
But Brans flinched, thinking he was about to be struck.
"......"
Kallias's hand, meant for praise, lowered again.
"Prepare to move."
"Where to, my lord?"
"You're asking the obvious."
Their destination: Jerban Castle.
Jaybarshu.
"But your body is still..."
Brans glanced warily at the knights as he spoke carefully.
Kallias knew his concern, but time was short.
They'd already wasted four or five days resting. No more delays.
They had to hurry, slay the orcs, stop the mastermind behind this war—only then could rewards increase and quests be cleared.
'The Wheel still turns.'
And this wheel would change Kallias's future.
Even knowing it was a thorny path, he had no choice but to press on.
Kallias glanced back.
Behind his Twilight Cape fluttering in the wind, the knights following him gazed with resolve.
"Not bad."
Kallias approved of his knights' appearance.
But their gaunt, exhausted looks from lack of proper food and washing left much to be desired.
"Lord Kallias!"
Allen appeared from afar.
He approached with a single horse and a bright face.
"I've got horses!"
Like a child seeking praise, Allen grinned widely.
The sight didn't suit a knight at all, nearly drawing a chuckle from Kallias.
"Fine horse."
At a glance, its glossy mane and well-muscled brown frame stood out.
"Try it. Since your body's not fully healed, ride this to Jaybarshu."
"Allen, you sneak! Slipping off alone to score points!"
"Just got lucky."
"Hahaha! Acting humble!"
Amid the knights' cheerful banter, Kallias fell into thought.
'Kallias can't ride horses.'
The original Kallias, hopeless at everything, couldn't wield a sword or ride.
Even now, as a busy modern man, he wasn't familiar with horses.
He'd had chances before.
But failed every time.
'Should I try?'
It might be different now.
One worry, though.
'If I fall off...'
A noble who couldn't handle a single horse? The shame.
Kallias feigned nonchalance, eyeing Allen and the knights with expectant gazes.
"Hmm."
Then he drew his sword from his waist.
Sching.
Thud.
"Gasp!"
"N-No, Lord Kallias..."
Kallias severed the horse's neck.
In a single stroke.
The horse likely died without knowing what hit it. His blade was that sharp and swift.
Most knights saw only the draw and sheathing.
The motion in between was omitted; his sword was that fast.
His swordsmanship had shed all excess, reaching a higher realm.
"L-Lord Kallias. Why... Did my gift displease you?"
But for another reason, Allen teared up.
He'd beheaded the horse Allen gifted him—had he done something wrong? As Kallias pondered an excuse—
"Our lord rewards the knights who guarded his side! You couldn't sleep or eat for him, so he's telling you to at least eat well. How could you not see his deep intent? Right, my lord?"
Brans, you rascal.
Your meddling proved useful for once.
Kallias nodded.
"To think he cares for us so..."
"I didn't realize...! I failed to grasp Lord Kallias's will. Forgive me!"
"Just eat."
"Yes!"
The knights quickly drained the blood, skinned, and butchered the horse.
'Come to think of it, I'm hungry.'
Kallias rubbed his stomach and headed for the forest.
"Where are you going?"
"Thirty heads, one horse won't satisfy. Right?"
Better to hunt some game while loosening up.
Also, if he found a beast, feed its blood to Roas to restore the blade.
"I'll accompany you."
"Mm."
Walking into the forest with Brans, Kallias plucked grass blades, fashioned a leaf whistle, and blew.
Tweet.
He felled approaching deer and boars as they came.
Brans flattered him endlessly—"As expected!"—while bundling the game into [Eldora's Double Bag].
"There it is."
"What?"
"Beast presence. Hide."
"Yes, sir!"
Sensing the approaching beast, Kallias set down Lucen and gripped Roas.
As it charged from the brush, he drew and slashed.
Splash.
Kallias bisected the wolf-like beast and startled at Roas in his hand.
"What is this?"
The surely broken sword now boasted a more perfect blade than before.
Ignoring the new regular patterns etched into it, the blood-red blade was unmistakable.
"When did it change?"
After breaking?
Or after he lost consciousness?
Unclear, but Kallias couldn't hide his joy.
Because—
[Predatory Sword - Roas]
Grade: Spirit.
Dwelling Soul: Mixed Soul.
- An experimental culmination of Logeris's research.
His final demon, now a sword by Kallias von Jervan's hand.
Unique Ability: Predation.
Predatory Sword - Roas had ascended to spirit sword rank.
The red blade denoting a spirit sword gleamed more brilliantly and beautifully than any light.
It reeked stronger of blood than before, but the sword's power had grown immensely beyond that.
"It's real."
Roas had become a spirit sword.
The moment he gripped it, he knew.
Masters sense a sword's state and level upon holding it—or so they say. Kallias felt it too.
"Slicing beasts felt too easy."
Bisecting the beast with barely any resistance meant the edge was absurdly sharp.
Kallias gripped the hilt tightly.
'This changes everything.'
Great Warrior Keltuk hadn't died.
A spirit sword was vital for their rematch.
Without wits from his trait and spirit stone? If Bernard hadn't arrived? If the orc hadn't toyed with him?
Even with Death-Time Insight's enlightenment, Kallias would have died.
It wasn't a battle with assured victory. But with a spirit sword, he wouldn't have lost so easily—that lingering regret wasn't small.
"The divine power's quality has risen too."
Now he had a spirit sword.
He no longer feared Orc Great Warrior Keltuk.
He anticipated it.
Rising Full Blossom Staff and Silver Flower Sword Wave's first form: Flower Breaking Path.
He could even use the second: White Mist.
Unstable techniques still, but with higher-grade divine power and greater vessel, he wouldn't fall easily next time.
"If we meet again."
He would fell him with his own sword.