Chapter 66
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Blood of the Last Descendant
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"For now, there's no easy fix."
"...Pardon?"
"This isn't your ordinary sword. You knew that, right?"
"I had my suspicions."
It was the blade once wielded by Karen, the ancient knight.
Time had whittled it down to just the hilt and a sliver of the blade, but it was enough to imagine its original splendor.
"It's a finely crafted piece. And it bears a resemblance to that other sword we worked on before."
"You mean the Moonlight Sword? But that one was fully restored to its former glory..."
"The circumstances are entirely different this time. We're out of materials for reinforcement. Besides, this sword's in such bad shape that you'd have to rebuild everything except the hilt."
"Materials, materials..."
Kang Seol pondered Hawmun's words for a moment before speaking up.
"So, if I can procure the right materials, you could repair it somehow?"
"That's not wrong. But to restore its energy without distorting it would be an arduous process."
"What kind of..."
"I have no idea what material its blade was forged from. I've had people scour records, but nothing matches so far."
"How did you restore Breath, then?"
"Breath isn't the sword in its true form either. It's just an imitation that mimics its power. The original must have been far greater."
"...I see."
Breath, a weapon of unparalleled grade.
Kang Seol was probably the only player who possessed one—and the only one to hand it over to a summon.
'Breath is just a mere imitation? How incredible was the original, then?'
The sword's immense original power was tantalizing, but it also brought complications that gave Kang Seol pause.
'The materials are the issue...'
Kang Seol turned to Karen.
"Karen, have you ever used any swords besides the Crimson Lotus Blade?"
"Of course! I often used training swords during practice."
"Good, then that's..."
"They all burned up."
"...What?"
"Didn't you hear me? Any other sword I use turns to mush after one swing. The balance warps, the edge dulls—little problems like that."
"Those aren't little problems at all."
"They were minor to me. Oh, during training in the capital... They said I wrecked more gear in a month than all the other trainees did in a year combined. Funny, right?"
Funny.
If it had happened to someone else, not him.
"So without the Crimson Lotus Blade..."
"What choice is there? I'd just have to switch swords every fight."
"You'd be out on the streets."
"Is this my fault?"
"No, but still. Hawmun, no other options?"
Hawmun rested his chin on his hand, thinking, then spoke to Kang Seol.
"Ore infused with intense heat isn't exactly common..."
"What about lava ingots? I saw some up for auction."
"They wouldn't suit this blade. The ore's energy would smother the sword's spirit."
"Fire spirit stones?"
"Durability issues. Assuming what this lady says is true, it'd collapse after two swings."
"Ugh..."
Kang Seol furrowed his brow.
Karen was now a knight without a sword.
Her words about being a knight without a lord to serve echoed in his mind. It felt like a red bean bun without the filling.
"I'm still strong without a sword. I get your concern, my lord, but..."
"We can't keep going like this forever."
"True enough."
Karen scratched her head, glancing at Kang Seol as he fretted over her.
Hawmun's eyes widened.
"Lord? What kind of relationship..."
Whoosh...
As Karen's heat aura licked at her face, shadowy black energy seeped out.
"This kind?"
"Remarkable... I noted the fairy had an unusual aura, but shadows? Perfectly concealed."
"Kahaha, thanks for the praise."
"Hmm... shadows... In that case, there might be one method left."
Kang Seol latched onto the hopeful note.
"Really?"
"Yes. For something used by shadows, there could be a way."
"Tell me."
"Have you heard the legend of the Burning Queen Spider?"
"Anakindria."
"...Exactly. Your insight never ceases to amaze me, Snowman."
"It's a famous legend from the southern regions."
Eh? It's popping up right away?
What's Anakindria?
Checked the lore book—some massive spider thing.
Spider Hate 'em; still alive?!
Nah, ancient monster.
Kang Seol seemed to realize something and turned the question back on Hawmun.
"You're not saying you need Anakindria's blood..."
Anakindria's blood was said to have mystical properties, drawing many to hunt the beast. But as an ancient legend, no one had laid eyes on it.
'Why bring up Anakindria out of nowhere?'
It wouldn't come up unless they were targeting it—or its kin.
"Heavens, no. It's been ages since Anakindria was declared dead."
"That's a relief."
"What we need is the blood of its final descendant."
"...Pardon?"
Kang Seol blinked in confusion at Hawmun's words.
"Anakindria has descendants? Is that true?"
"Precisely, rumors point to that. We'd have to verify."
"...So, combining fire spirit stones and spider blood?"
Kang Seol's question pierced Hawmun's intent. Hawmun asked in surprise,
"How did you know?"
"I've heard of such a method."
"Haha... Talking to you is refreshing. Yes. Spirit stones absorb vital fluids to offset their durability flaw. Spider blood pairs especially well with them, as you know."
"But using them together risks mental corruption in living beings... Ah! That's why you mentioned it."
"Exactly. Shadows aren't living things. No corruption risk if you're wielding it."
"Spirit stones aren't easy to come by either, though."
"Better than sitting idle. The sword's urgent, but this lady's armor is an issue too, no?"
Kang Seol glanced at Karen.
"Ta?"
Karen smiled and nodded.
"The armor's holding up better, but it'll be a problem eventually."
"Good lord."
"So, shall we go with my proposal?"
Hawmun demands the blood of the monster rumored to be Anakindria's last descendant.
How will you respond?
1. This is insane.
2. I'm not wasting time on unverified info.
3. Let's find another way.
4. Where can I get that monster's blood?
Kang Seol sighed and replied.
"Tell me where that monster was sighted."
"Excellent choice. Travelers have been vanishing left and right—likely its doing."
Her Last Descendant
Kang Seol and Karen walked toward the bustling streets under Hawmun's farewell.
"Couldn't make heads or tails of it... Not a word."
"No need to understand. It was about your gear, if anything."
"Ugh... That's troubling..."
"Troubling?"
Karen blinked wide-eyed.
"I'm not your knight yet, am I?"
???
Sis... wasn't today day 1 for us?
I was the only one deluded again, damn world...
(Awkward)(Embarrassed)(Disillusioned)
I was even planning our wedding! Scoped out silver towns for retirement...
Kang Seol brushed it off casually.
"What, thought it was something serious. Gear's necessary, so I'm planning ahead."
"Already?"
"No point dawdling and hitting snags later."
"You sound so sure I'll serve you in the end."
"With Karuna around, isn't that a safe bet for now?"
"...Annoying, but not wrong."
"Take your time thinking it over."
"Yeah..."
Karen pressed her lips shut and walked quietly.
Passersby stared at her, but she kept her eyes on the ground, lost in thought.
"What's wrong?"
"Anakindria... the name rings a bell."
"You know the monster?"
Anakindria was a fire spider from oral legends.
It spewed sulfur flames from its maw, drained prey's fluids to kill, and stored cocoons in its nest.
Its massive size and troublesome abilities made it infamous.
'In Pandea, most legends turn out true.'
Oral tales meant eyewitnesses, and they usually proved factual in time.
As a player, Kang Seol loved uncovering those truths. It kept him ahead of the curve.
"That Anakindria spider... did it have twelve legs?"
"Uh... rumors say so. Known as the Twelve-Legged Devil."
"Then it's definitely that one."
"You know it?"
"Just rumors. Lurked in a canyon in imperial territory, swallowed merchant caravans whole."
"Ancient tale. Did you fight it?"
"Nah, just heard stories. Subdued or escaped? Too long ago to recall."
Generational gap...
This is what they call an era difference...
Karen suddenly looks ancient lol
Conversations like this reminded Kang Seol how ancient her era was.
'Anyway, Shade Canyon... That's gonna be a pain.'
Shade Canyon.
Even seasoned guides and merchants detoured around it, no matter the rush.
The terrain was rugged, monsters lurked everywhere, and its scale was immense. Worst, it was far from Novira—round trip would take over a month.
'Bad memories from Shade Canyon...'
Kang Seol tried to recall what it was.
Then Karen nudged his side.
"We here yet?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
"Don't zone out more than me. Honestly..."
"You were zoning out too?"
"Obviously!"
Obviously??
Was it obvious??
Lmao discipline's shot without Karuna.
They stood at the entrance to the mansion Cao had rented.
As always, he planned to check for clues.
"Anything important here?"
"Info. Dropped by a couple times but found zilch. Might give up if nothing this time."
"Give up? But how'd you get in before?"
Karen stood by the fence and front gate, puzzled.
The gate was solidly locked, no signs of entry.
"Oh, not there. Through that window."
"Knights don't sneak like thieves. Cover your ears."
"What...? Wait..."
Boom!!
Karen's kick shattered the front gate.
She'd held back enough that it didn't splinter completely.
This is the way of men!
No path? Make one!
Info) Path exists.
Kang Seol felt a twinge of anxiety—someone might come running at the noise—but what was done was done.
"Did you break in like this on missions too?"
"First time only."
"Why now?"
"Fresh start vibe. Too much?"
"...Let's look around before anyone shows."
Kang Seol sighed heavily, heading for Cao's study inside.
But—
He stopped.
Karen blocked his path with one hand.
"Why?"
"Killing intent. You feel it?"
Grrrrr...
Wolf's Warning activates.
The wearer is in a dangerous situation.
Suddenly, Kang Seol's ring reacted.
"Step back, my lord."
Kang Seol tried to make sense of the abrupt danger.
'What? Killing intent?'
Then, from the supposedly empty mansion, a voice echoed—one that shouldn't exist.
"Not a hunter, then?"
Karen glanced at Kang Seol.
Her eyes asking if he recognized it.
Something clicked. Kang Seol called into the darkness.
"Cao! Is that you?"
A response came soon after.