Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Back to the North (5)
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"That's not right. After sleeping that long, shouldn't something have changed? You're just spouting the same old nonsense as before."
— Hah! You think this young pup from the Seonwoo Clan can make me submit so easily? You're dead wrong! This old timer has been fighting the night since before you were even born!
"That's impressive for an elder. So why haven't you grown up at all?"
After dealing with Ropo, Ban no longer felt particularly intimidated by Kishin's age. If anything, he just seemed pathetic. All that time lived, and all he ever talked about was blood and slaughter.
Kishin had started speaking again since last night. When Ban had sensed something strange and gripped the sword, it had been muttering in a dying voice.
Give me blood, blood!
No one would call that the speech of a holy sword.
"Did you wake up because we're in the north? I thought you might sleep forever."
And maybe that would have been for the best. At least then he wouldn't have to carry around this yapping blade. Kishin snorted.
— Hmph. I never imagined the Seonwoo Guardian would be such a sorry sight, but you won't put me to sleep again.
"You won't be putting me to sleep either."
— You wanna try me?!
"Let's make peace."
Ban smiled quietly.
"Like it or not, you're my sword in the end. You don't have legs, so you can't run off anywhere. And there's no reason for us to fight, right? I'm no minion of the night. If anything, I'm their enemy. If you and I become friends, I bet we'd make a great team."
Kishin was special. Ban didn't know the exact mechanism, but its power grew stronger every time it faced something tainted by the night... In the north, it could be used almost like a treasure.
— ...Kid, you've changed.
Kishin belatedly noticed Ban's transformation. The Ban he remembered had been more hot-blooded, more simple-minded.
— How much time has passed?
"About a year."
— A year... Enough time for a kingdom to fall. Enough for a man to change.
"Then why haven't you changed?"
— Great ones like this old timer don't shift with just a year or two! Foolish brat.
Kishin snapped in anger. Yuri muttered in a weary voice.
— Ban, why not just toss this sword away? It's too noisy to keep around.
— Heh, listen to this little goblin whelp who hasn't even tasted blood on the hilt yet!
— You'll rust away in no time yourself.
— R-r-rust? You insolent...!
Kishin's ghostly energy flared up. Ban calmly suppressed it. As his qi subtly flowed in and restrained Kishin's power, the sword groaned and turned toward him.
— You blocked my ghostly energy...?
"Please don't forget where we are. I don't want to cause a scene at the lighthouse."
— I knew guardians grow fast, but damn.
Kishin let out a hollow, incredulous voice. Such overwhelming qi.
"I'm planning to head north soon. You'll get all the blood you want, soaked to your fill. So how about playing nice for now? Then I won't have to turn into a wolf myself."
— Heading north...? Do you even know what that means?
"Walking into the jaws of death?"
— It's beyond that.
Kishin chuckled darkly.
— I don't know what aspects of the night you've seen so far, but in its deepest darkness, even the sun couldn't shine.
"I have a reason to go."
— The Guardian's Sword?
"..."
Ban narrowed his eyes. He'd never breathed a word about the Guardian's Sword. Kishin spoke in a haughty tone.
— Hmph, this old timer knows everything. I've seen a Seonwoo Guardian before. That's why I didn't think you were one. But it's strange. How is a Seonwoo at the lighthouse? Your clan should be mortal enemies with the Nahar Clan.
"I have no interest in old grudges."
— Quite forward-thinking. Your ancestors would be thrilled.
Kishin mocked openly. Ban narrowed his eyes.
"I did say let's be friends."
— This is how I treat friends, you punk! And quit with the 'friends' crap. I'm several times older than your old man!
"Then act your age."
— Insolent brat...!
It went on like that. Ban had hoped that Kishin, with all its experience fighting the night, might offer some valuable advice. But whether out of dislike for Ban or because it truly knew little, the sword didn't share anything useful.
Before long, Ban lost interest in the conversation. He decided to spend his time on something more productive instead.
Like talking with Anya.
"When will the permit come through?"
"It's complicated. You heard the rumors, right? The rebels' headquarters are in the north."
"...Just idle gossip? Or is there some solid basis?"
"I'd prefer gossip, but actually... there's quite a bit of evidence."
"Isn't the north uninhabitable?"
"If you're not under the night's protection."
"But those guys wouldn't be under the night's protection."
Ban frowned. The revolutionaries' goal wasn't just regime change—it was to drive out the night that constantly tried to steal human lands.
For them to ally with the night and accept its protection? That was thinking from the kingdom's perspective. Anya sighed and shook her head.
"We're frustrated too. We send scouts north often, but we can't claim proper reconnaissance with our manpower issues."
"How far do the scouting parties usually go?"
"Embarrassingly, not even half as far as you have."
Anya placed her nail on the map and drew a straight line. Parallel to the lighthouse wall, about 100 miles further.
'Kalsmori Library... just a bit beyond that line.'
Ban stared intently at the line Anya's finger had drawn. She crossed her arms and said,
"It's not that no one's gone beyond. But most don't return intact—body or mind. The night corrupts people one way or another."
"...I see."
"I've requested a special investigation team."
Anya spoke in a measured tone. Ban's eyebrow rose at the unfamiliar term.
"Two from the White Flame unit, one Shiraz for communication, one Drampo Clan teleporter for emergencies, and others. We can slot you and your group in."
"...Go north together?"
"No need to apologize. We were already getting investigation resources. Just the two of you... you'd be lucky to come back in one piece. But together, it'll be a bit safer."
Ban chewed his lip. Seeing Anya always made his chest ache. He still wasn't sure if it was guilt over her feelings or something else.
"The favors you do me... are always heavy."
"Good heavy?"
"Half and half."
"So the bad half is that my favors feel burdensome?"
Anya glared at him, arms still crossed. Her eyes were too hot for a woman fond of a man, yet sadly cold. Her forced composure was admirable—and guilt-inducing.
"It's not burdensome... more like a debt. How to repay it, how long to stick around this person to settle it."
"You owe nothing."
Anya leaned forward, hand on the desk. Her body drew closer. Close enough to see the soft down on her pale cheek.
"You were the only one who saved me at the training camp."
The Nahar Clan's brilliance, the enviable White Flame—none mattered then. When the world seemed to turn its back, leaving her helpless, Ban had stood before her.
"I'm the one who should worry about repaying that debt for how long."
"In the end, Dein saved me that day."
"You kept me alive until he could."
"...No need to stubbornly deny the debt. Fine. So you'll come along because of it?"
"I told you. We were already getting resources. If it wasn't because of you, that'd be a lie... But I have a reason to go with you. Do you? A reason I shouldn't?"
"No."
"I vaguely hoped time would fix it. That your feelings for me would fade, or my stubbornness would. Whichever faded, it'd get easier. But no."
Anya blinked fiercely. Her pale eyes held Ban, shining transparently.
"Time just makes the lingering thicker. And now, after so long, you're drifting further. I can't stay indecisive anymore. Come with me. So I can be by your side when you need help."
Hadn't Anya wanted to grow strong in the first place to stay by Ban's side?
White Flame bloomed like spring flowers from her soles, spreading toward her. Ban watched silently. He already knew the White Flame, which could burn anything, could also be a flame that burned nothing.
"I'll light your path. So the night doesn't devour you. Don't talk about going separately."
"...Who said that?"
"You always did. Always."
Acting like she'd stay by his side forever, but when it mattered, Ban was always alone. Anya had no intention of repeating that cycle.
Now it was time to break the wheel.
§
"Long time no see, Ban. We remember you."
"Good to see you too, Lady Shiraz."
Shiraz gazed at Ban with an expression that was angry, excited, dual—no, multifaceted. Just looking at her face, most would realize no single personality dwelt within.
"Did you catch Kane?"
"...Unfortunately not yet. Slippery as an eel, that admirable bastard."
Shiraz grinned. Fortunately, their grueling pursuit continued. A familiar face appeared beside her: Drampo Ilak, the man from the Seonwoo Clan.
"Good to see you again, Ban."
"Ilak. Didn't expect to meet here."
"I told you we'd meet soon."
"You two know each other?"
"Ah, we ran into each other by chance."
Ilak smiled quietly at Shiraz's words. Ban felt a bit uneasy conversing with Ilak in front of her. Of course, he knew she wouldn't 'break' someone without resolve and avoided mind-reading otherwise... But Shiraz was Shiraz.
'Two from Nahar Clan, Shiraz, Drampo, and two from Seonwoo...'
If they knew not one in this group came from lesser houses, what faces would they make?
The lighthouse door creaked open. Toward the darkness.
Their goals were many. To delve deeper into the night's domain. To scout the rebels' headquarters. And for some, to run an errand.
'No.'
Ban stared into the darkness. Just looking into it felt fearful, as if the darkness itself stared back. Feeling his heartbeat, Ban smiled quietly.
They were waiting. All the swords in this world, anticipating only what he would give them.
The blade that could cut all things in this world was not far off.