Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Demon, the Witch, and the Demon Sword (7)
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[You have gripped the Longsword of the 'Goblin Fighting Evil.']
Material: Steel, silver
Quality: Superior Sword (Sealed)
Owner: Kishin (4-Star)
Memory Preservation Rate: High
Note: Just by holding it, your body feels like it will be strengthened. When fighting evil, your obsession with justice will directly become your power. You might not receive power in fights without cause.
"Hmm..."
It felt pretty good. He could feel his senses throughout his body sharpening even more. The problem was that this wasn't even Kishin's power fully unleashed. If he stood before someone truly evil with a just cause, what would happen then? At that point...
"Hey, you asleep?"
Kishin didn't respond. He didn't know what forced isolation meant to him, but judging from that final scream, it wouldn't be strange if it took a few years for a reply.
"Senior. Why can't you do stuff like this? This sword feels amazing."
— ...Shut up.
"I'm kidding."
Ban grinned.
He already knew the demon sword—no, holy sword—would try to claim his soul. After all, Yuri wasn't the only one who'd encountered a goblin-possessed superior sword.
Some of them had tried to influence him negatively. From bizarre tastes to twisted ideals they tried to implant in his mind.
Not a single one of their attempts had succeeded. The Voice of the Sword boasted near-perfect defense against that kind of mental attack, at least.
He sheathed the broadsword and trudged along gripping Kishin. Brown, slumped on the ground, looked up at him trembling in terror. Ban crouched down and grinned.
"Client. You went through the trouble of hiring me, but lying like this is a problem..."
"S-S-Sorry! I-It was... I was scared, y-you were too scary...!"
He honestly didn't want to see the man's tears.
Brown's explanation went like this. The day he fled the mine, he was immediately caught by the lookouts. Dragged to a spot far from the mine and threatened, that's when Kishin appeared and slaughtered the men.
'Hmm, you... You don't smell of the night. Don't worry. I won't kill you. But you'll help me from now on. Those guys you saw at the ritual... Every one of them. Spill it all.'
In a way, Brown was partly responsible for the string of murders plaguing the village. Only then did Ban confirm that the corpses at the mine weren't just random 'brethren.'
"Sniff... Honestly, honestly, I didn't want to get involved in something like this. I just..."
"Whatever. That's not for me to hear."
Ban stood up, signaling he had no more interest. He didn't care if Brown's actions were right or wrong. Brown had just done what he had to do to survive. That was Ban's entire impression. What torment came after wasn't his concern.
"They won't arrest you for serial murders, so don't worry. Either way, you've contributed to taking down the kingdom's enemies. You might even get a reward. Should I tell the mine owner about your contributions? You might get that reward."
"...No. I just want to forget this ever happened. Please... Drive out the night and the revolution from this village."
"Hmm... From your perspective, this revolution isn't so bad, is it?"
"If it succeeds, maybe."
Brown spoke in a resigned voice. There was no optimistic hope that things would somehow work out. He spoke like an adult. Like someone whose dreams and youth had died.
"A failed revolution just kills pitiful commoners. I don't want to be one of them."
"...Yeah. Well, people think differently."
"Sorry, knight. For deceiving you like this, I have no face..."
"It's fine. I got this guy. As for this one... Get him back on his feet and take responsibility for feeding him. He won't be in his right mind for a while."
Ban pointed at Kishin's empty husk. Brown nodded with a stiff expression, and Ban grinned. All in all, not a bad day. He'd fought to his heart's content, easing his frustration, and acquired a superior sword like this...
"The hero wielding a holy sword, huh..."
Now if he just had a princess, his childhood dream would be complete.
§
"...You win?"
"As you can see."
Ban shook Kishin and grinned. Jeo leaned against the wall and smiled weakly. In that short time, his wounds had healed considerably.
"As expected, my nemesis. So strong."
"To call you my nemesis, I've gotta be way stronger, right? Losing to a total nerd like this."
"Urk... No argument there. I'll do better."
The two chuckled. Ban plopped down next to Jeo and glanced outside. Anya and Yeoryeong should be back soon...
"Can you walk? We need to head to the inn. Want me to help?"
"No thanks. I'm Jeo. This is nothing...!"
Jeo forced a tough smile and stood. His face immediately paled, and he nearly collapsed. Ban shook his head with a hollow laugh.
"Shut up and let me help. Don't make it annoying."
"...Sorry."
Jeo bowed his head with a sullen look.
On the way back to the inn, Ban gave a rough rundown of the situation. Whether from pain or deep thought, Jeo listened silently and sighed.
"The spark of rebellion has reached even this remote border..."
"Borders feel it the most. They know better than anyone this world isn't peaceful."
Hadn't Ban himself only realized after visiting the border that the world was like a sandcastle that could crumble anytime?
Even at the inn, Yeoryeong and Anya hadn't returned. Had things not gone as planned? No matter how formidable a witch was, he couldn't imagine someone hiding in this backwater beating Anya and Yeoryeong.
"What now?"
"Dunno. Report to the academy... And notify the mine owner."
"...Gonna be chaos."
"When do you live without chaos?"
If there were those staking their lives to change the world, there were those staking theirs to protect it. Ban frowned at the window.
"By the way... They're late, huh?"
"Yeah. Sunrise soon."
"Sleep for now. I'll take watch."
"...You sure? You fought all day."
"Better than the beat-up guy."
"You're gonna milk this forever..."
Jeo sighed but closed his eyes. Honestly, Ban wanted to sleep too, but he couldn't. No matter their skill rivaling knights, ambushes were unbeatable. Exhausted like this, he'd sleep so deeply a child could slit his throat unnoticed.
So he sharpened his senses further. Room temperature, dust and scents on his nasal membranes, the damp air on his skin. Listening to insect chirps, he could even pinpoint their locations.
How much time passed?
Ban sensed a presence slowly approaching his room. Not Yeoryeong's. Footsteps silent, the unavoidable aura at least knight-level.
'Who sent them? The pastor's men? Demon Ghosts? No, none of them were this strong. Revolution... No, rebels' reinforcements?'
Thoughts raced. Ban smiled wearily but gripped his broadsword. What a long night. Or rather, dawn was breaking...
An odd silence fell. The opponent realized Ban had noticed them, and vice versa. In the heavy quiet, as Ban flicked his broadsword to draw it...
"Ban."
A voice rang out. Familiar somehow.
'Who...? First strike, then think...'
"It's me. Shade. Opening the door."
As Ban stared in bewilderment, the door opened. Under red hair, the usual blunt face devoid of social graces looked at him.
"...Why are you here?"
"Met Yeoryeong and Anya. We have a mission here too. The one you tried to intercept."
"Mission? Intercept what...? The witch?"
"Before that, you need to hear this."
Shade sighed.
"Anya and Yeoryeong got caught."
§
"...What do you plan to do with us?"
Anya asked. Contrary to Shade's phrasing, she wasn't exactly 'caught.' Before her sat a sandwich stuffed with lettuce, ham, and tomato, alongside pretty-colored tea.
Yeoryeong was the same. She held her teacup, staring aside. Her furrowed brow showed she wasn't thrilled with this unexpected tea time.
"You heard the question. Answer, humanely."
"Thinking about it. What to do."
A languid voice replied. She was young. Brush the dust from her hair, and it'd sparkle gold. Add some life to her dark-circled face, and it'd bloom brightly like any girl her age.
But she had no intention of brushing her hair or brightening up. She carefully rolled a cigarette, muttering.
"Such a hassle. No matter where I hide, they track me. Why this time? I haven't even contacted people, just lived quietly."
"...Living quietly is the problem. Unknown people always become targets of fear and whispers."
"Tricky. So tricky. Like this cigarette."
She licked the paper to seal it. Satisfied with the shape, she smiled faintly. Then looked at Anya.
"Nahar Clan lady. Light it for me? Nothing beats a White Flame-lit smoke."
"No."
"Then differently. —Light it."
In an instant, her aura shifted. Her words poured out, and the world seemed to grab Anya by the collar and shake. She resisted submission, but before she knew it, a strand of White Flame flowed from her extended finger to light the witch's cigarette.
"Ah, this taste. Missed it... With a White Flame jar, no worries like this."
Smoke fogged from her mouth with each word. She grinned.
"Ah, no need now. Drink your tea. It's rare stuff."
The moment her words ended, Yeoryeong and Anya resumed sipping. The witch propped her chin.
"Don't take it too hard. I can't conveniently burn just the entrance of my barrier like the Cho Clan lady. White Flame's too OP."
"...Planning to run again?"
"Have to. Location exposed again. Being popular's tiring. Right?"
"Not popularity. Responsibility. Something to accept from birth as a princess."
Anya emphasized each word. The witch—no, princess—sighed and shook her head.
"If I say I didn't want to be princess, you'll call me immature?"
"Yes."
"Do what you want. Anyway, you got dragged into an immature princess's runaway... I won't release you till I'm packed. Hope I hurry. Unless more Nahar retainers come, this barrier won't break..."
Then it happened. The princess frowned. She gazed into the distant forest and pouted.
"...Hmm, you have some decent allies."
"Pardon...?"
As Anya started to ask back.
A roar shook the forest.