Footprints (3)
Sand-laden wind sliced through as the sword began to move.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind—it had been ages since he'd last pointed a blade at another person—but—
"I'll thrust deep toward your throat."
It was just a fleeting distraction.
Kirian advanced straight at his opponent's center line.
Ledroy slowly stepped back with one foot and declared,
"I'll place my left foot behind to deflect it, then spin around into a reverse grip."
A clever maneuver, but its counter was obvious.
Kirian laid his blade flat, targeting Ledroy's lower body.
"I'll slice up from your legs while twisting the hilt upright."
"In that case…"
Once, twice, three times.
With each exchange of strikes, Ledroy sought a counterattack, but he was gradually pushed into a defensive posture.
Kirian relentlessly pressed forward.
Hierniorn, watching from the sidelines, muttered,
[Good, very good. Your swordsmanship theory is as sharp as ever—no rust there.]
'Rust forms in the mind only one way. Arrogance.'
The blades intertwined in complex arcs, their exchange dragging on somewhat, but it meant nothing.
Kirian saw through every one of Ledroy's moves, overwhelming him utterly.
'Now I see why he stalled at 4-star.'
True to his Spellmaster rank, Ledroy was adept at mana clashes.
But he lacked true insight into the essence of martial techniques.
In bladed combat, there are times when you must offer flesh to claim bone.
Ledroy never managed it.
Of course, Kirian stripped away both flesh and bone.
"…This time, I'll pull back my right foot, draw my sword behind for defense."
"Then I'll wrap my blade around yours as it catches, and go for your throat. Like this."
"Hmm…"
"So, how will you block?"
Kirian's blade rested against Ledroy's throat.
Ledroy fell silent, unable to respond.
A heavy shadow fell over the remnant's face.
"I've lost."
With a soft hiss—like scattering sand—the remnant, defeated in the wooden sword duel, crumbled wordlessly into a handful of grains.
Even accounting for the degradation from inhabiting the replica Nirvana, it had been no match for him.
[Tch. Dull. I was hoping to witness Ulfrik's flashy swordplay after so long.]
"What are you talking about? If Ulfrik's remnant had appeared, it would've ended even quicker."
[Eh? Why?]
"That's how martial arts work at the peak. Matches often end abruptly."
Now, only Nirvana's blade remained atop the dune.
As Kirian approached cautiously and grasped the sword—
◈ You have become the new owner of the Divine Sword 'Nirvana'.
◈ Limited use of Transport, Collar, and Iron Ridge functions available.
In the blink of an eye, he was back in the Tomb of Books and Swords.
Simultaneously, his Transcendental Eye activated.
Magical traces lingering on Nirvana began to reveal themselves one by one.
"This is…"
[Something's showing up? What do you see? Can you figure out how that fool ended up as Nirvana's master?]
"Quiet for a sec."
Hierniorn flapped his wings furiously, bombarding him with questions, scattering his focus.
After scolding the spirit perched on his shoulder, Kirian heightened his concentration and traced the remnants.
Regrettably, Nirvana was like an empty shell—barely any mana traces remained.
'As if someone deliberately erased them.'
But one thing.
Faintly, almost imperceptibly, a single line of text lingered.
It was a command.
When crossing the Red Mist, always carry ■■■ with you.
It was Ulfrik's directive.
The crucial part was damaged, but he was certain of that much.
No ordinary matter.
"Hiern, tell me everything you know about Ledroy Kirchheis's exploits."
Fortunate that this outskirts area was beyond the spectators' sight and hearing.
He might have glimpsed one of the Kirchheis family's hidden secrets.
[Hmm, let me think. That one challenged for the family head's seat, then abruptly quit and secluded himself in the north for training. I know nothing of his actions then.]
"He trained in the north? What about founding the Extremism school?"
[He founded Extremism after returning to Kirchheis Castle from the north. That's how he ascended to Spellmaster and earned the moniker 'The Almighty Hermit.']
"I see… so that's how it is."
A moment later, Kirian briefly shared his realization with the guardian spirit.
Hierniorn's face hardened.
[What? What did you just say? Say it again!]
"You heard me fine."
[No! Impossible! Absolutely not! If that were true, I would've known!]
"Hiern, you were powerless for ages. You couldn't track everything happening in the Kirchheis family."
[No way…]
The phoenix shook his head in dazed denial.
His suspicion was that perilous.
Ulfrik, reigning as Demon King in the unseen north beyond the fog.
Perhaps—
'His minions are active within this family.'
In other words, Ulfrik's demonic influence had crossed the Red Mist to operate covertly.
And Ledroy Kirchheis might be one of them.
Otherwise, there was no explaining the message etched into Nirvana.
'Played. Completely played.'
Decat had no choice but to admit it.
The kids who'd followed him were all visibly exhausted.
Chasing Kirian's footprints had trapped them in a massive maze.
"Decat, we can't even tell footprints apart anymore. Get it?"
"Ours mixed with everything we passed."
"No clue how to get back!"
"…"
Decat, who'd led them so confidently, had nothing to say.
Then, one kid stepped forward slyly.
Lumil, who'd appeared suspiciously late.
"Guys, we can summon guardians and zip back to the center. Everyone's got Return or Flight spells, right?"
That again.
Decat nearly yelled for him to summon his own guardian and scram.
But the kids began nodding along to Lumil.
"Yeah, true. Can't be helped."
"Can't quit the exam over this."
"Second trial hasn't even started. Back quick, grab the return token!"
"Ah, no…!"
Before Decat could stop them, the kids scattered.
They sent their signals; flashes erupted as guardians dropped beside them.
The guardians sighed at being summoned just to return to start, but it was done.
"I'll cast immediately. Hold my hand, young master."
"We'll fly. Hop on."
"I'll Teleport near the return token. Better that way, right?"
With full-fledged mages appearing, the situation flipped instantly.
They had 30 seconds max.
The kids vanished to squeeze every second; Decat could only watch blankly.
His elaborate plan, in ruins.
Then, a mocking tongue-click from beside him.
"Tsk tsk. What now, Decat? Total bust?"
Lumil again.
The kid smirked unnaturally, taunting him.
"Told you to listen first. Look at this mess. Embarrassing."
"Shut up!"
Decat figured a bully would suffice for the timid type.
But a twist.
"Know what? My token was nearby by chance. Made the exam easy. Thanks, Decat."
"What…?"
A hefty medal gleamed in Lumil's palm.
The exam's objective: the return token.
Lumil had pretended to chase Kirian while completing it solo.
"You filthy cheat!"
Enraged, Decat lunged with a roar.
Too late, by a beat.
A young female mage emerged from a rift in space.
Lumil's guardian, 'Nerra Senurin,' snapped sharply.
"Step away from our young master!"
Forehead lacerated. Shoulder fractured.
Decat crumpled against an invisible wall.
Full-force charge tore his forehead; pain surged as his shoulder shattered.
Direct hit on a defensive spell.
The boy, who'd feigned meekness, finally revealed his true grin.
"Thanks. No penalty now, Decat. You're a real gem."
"…!"
Summons outside emergencies incurred penalties.
But Lumil dodged it—thanks to Decat's near-attack.
Now, just submit the token.
"Let's go, Lady Senurin."
"Yes. Casting Return."
"Thanks for the generosity, Decat."
"Hey! Lumil! You bastard! Stop right there!"
Whoosh!
Lumil vanished without a glance.
Alone, Decat wiped blood trickling from his brow, grinding his teeth.
His arm wouldn't move. Despair hit.
"Damn it all…"
Where'd it go wrong?
Chasing Kirian?
Gathering the kids?
Ignoring Lumil?
"Don't know. Damn it."
Decat forced himself up, teeth clenched.
One option left.
Summon his guardian—maximize it.
But not to retreat like the others.
"Kirian, Lumil. Even if I fail, I'll crush you both."
Revenge, his only path.
The bloodied boy summoned his guardian, jaw set.
"Young master Decat! You alright? Healing first…"
"Lord Corteo, find Kirian. Smash him. Now!"
Anyway, Nirvana was his.
No telling how long Ledroy had held it, but Ulfrik's traces hadn't fully faded.
Too potent an Allmaster's presence for a 4-star to erase.
Details later, outside the tomb.
[Now, decide. Parade Nirvana like a trophy? Or sneak it out like a thief?]
"…"
Hierniorn seemed eager to flaunt his acquisition publicly.
Not Kirian.
"Thief, obviously."
[Why!]
"Think, Hiern."
[About what!]
"If Ulfrik's lackeys lurk in the Kirchheis ranks, and they learn I have this sword? Good times ahead?"
[…]
He already drew enough eyes.
No need for extra risk. Hide Nirvana.
He placed his hand on the blade, infused a touch of mana, and murmured,
"Transform."
The sword flashed, shifting form.
Divine Sword Nirvana's 'Transport' function engaged.
Ornaments vanished; blade shortened.
Identical to the dagger he'd taken from Mihaden.
Perfect disguise.
[Sigh. A divine sword, reduced to painted bread.]
Hierniorn sighed like dying embers.
Kirian pocketed Nirvana, chuckling.
"Don't worry. I'll use its functions."
[Really? But shortened like this…]
"Power halves. Still better than painted bread, right? Half a loaf?"
[Tch. Fine.]
Time to hunt the return token.
No first in round two, but top three at least.
Prep needed.
Then—a prickling killing intent at his back.
A shout followed.
"Found you, Kirian! You rat!"
Decat, face blood-smeared—what happened?
His guardian—a man charging bull-like.
"Lord Corteo! Give that punk a taste of hell!"
"Yes, young master!"
Insane?
Rules forbade guardians harming participants directly.
Basic protection; violation meant heavy penalties.
Yet Decat ordered it anyway.
[Insolent! Manifest me! Now!]
Hierniorn moved to block, yelling.
But Kirian withheld mana.
Like a black thunderbolt striking earth.
A shadow cloaked in inky darkness appeared.
"…Young master."
Jenice, face stern.
Her twin blades carved into the foe without hesitation.