Chapter 161: Lake of Swords (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 161: Lake of Swords (5)
Crunch.
The sound of snow being stepped on. Startled by the sudden noise, I opened my eyes.
– ?
It was the sound of my own footsteps. I immediately looked around. Snowflakes were fluttering, making my vision incredibly blurry.
Still, thanks to the cold wind blowing intermittently, the snow cleared, and my surroundings gradually came into view.
A moment later, once my vision had cleared to some extent, I gasped in surprise once more.
A sharp breath escaped my lips. Before me lay an endless world of pure white. It was a vast, empty plain that looked like a snowy mountain range at first glance, with ridges forming a curved horizon.
The color was whiter than white. If "colorlessness" existed, it would look like this. This alone made me realize that this was not reality.
And once the snowy mist cleared completely, I became absolutely certain. This place was undeniably unreal.
Sashimi knives were densely packed into the snow, their blades half-buried. Countless knives, too many to even estimate, stood in neat rows.
An overwhelming landscape that exuded a majestic atmosphere. To use a metaphor, it was a grave of swords. The sashimi knives were tombstones, and the snowy mountain was the cemetery.
Crunch, crunch.
In stark contrast to my dazed mind, my feet moved forward on their own.
My body was moving without my consent. Regardless of my will, I was climbing the hill.
– But why am I here?
Having had a few surreal dreams before, I knew. By nature, dreams usually have unclear origins.
However, the events of just a moment ago were vivid in my mind.
I had left the election hall, drawn my sashimi knife, and confronted the 3rd Corps Commander, Vesna.
I was dodging spears that rained down like cherry blossoms, looking for an opportunity to strike. I was about to exploit her opening and attack—and the very next moment, I was here.
Still, if I had to guess based on the circumstances... the possibilities of what this place was narrowed down to just one.
...The afterlife?
Had I somehow let an attack through and died in the heat of that fierce battle? I shook my head vigorously.
No. I hadn't felt anything like that. Even though Vesna's spells were all threatening, they weren't completely unavoidable. In fact, she had looked surprised when I kept dodging them.
Did I slip for a split second, get hit by a spell, and die instantly? That was still strange. Even if the spells were fired at supersonic speeds, there was no way I wouldn't remember the moment of my death.
Besides, why does my voice echo in my skull every time I think? And why is my body moving on its own?
While my mind retraced the situation, my legs diligently marched forward, crossing the grave of swords toward the summit of the hill.
My mind and body were completely out of sync. The cognitive dissonance was insane. My hands and feet were freezing cold like blocks of ice, yet I couldn't even rub them together of my own free will.
An uncomfortable feeling and anxiety washed over me simultaneously. Of all times, wandering around an unknown place in the middle of a fierce battle with a Corps Commander.
I imagined myself getting blasted by magic at this very moment. A scene of my body being minced by supersonic spears, turning into minced meat patties and sinking into the water with a splash.
Damn it, this is driving me crazy.
Lost in these ominous thoughts, climbing the snowy mountain with no concept of time, a status window suddenly popped up before my eyes.
Flash!
[Hello.]
...?!
My eyes widened. I was even more shocked by this than by walking up a suspicious snowy mountain. After all, the status window was talking to me. Is this what it feels like when a ghost greets you in a nightmare?
[How about a chat to wake up your mind a bit?]
[Would you like to accept? ☞ (Y/N)]
The status window, which usually only appeared when I muttered in my mind, was suddenly trying to have a conversation.
Had this ever happened before? First 'G.M.', then the 'God of Sword', and now even the 'System' was talking to me. I wasn't thrilled, but I sure was getting a lot of attention.
But did I really have time to exchange Zen riddles like this? I had plenty of questions, but I didn't even know where I was or what I was doing. Just then, as if reading my anxiety, text appeared.
[For your information, you are not dead. You are still fighting hard in reality. In fact, you have the upper hand, so you don't need to worry.]
It kindly relieved my anxiety. What this action meant was that it desperately wanted to talk to me. I could feel its clear intention.
I didn't think too deeply about it.
Unlike 'G.M.' or the 'God of Sword', hadn't I already decided that this 'Status Window' guy was on my side?
I nodded—not physically, but in my mind. Since my body wouldn't move as I wanted, I had no choice.
[Y/N]
▲
[Thank you for accepting.]
Skip the pleasantries. Get straight to the point. Where is this open field, and why am I walking up a snowy mountain against my will? Looking at the situation, you must have summoned me here.
[As always, you are quite impatient. Even after I went out of my way to reassure you, you still don't trust me. Well, fine. Being cautious is something that deserves praise, after all.]
...
Its tone was strangely teasing. There was even a faint chuckle mixed in.
[First, let me correct one thing. This place you are walking on is not a snowy mountain.]
There's snow everywhere, and you're telling me this isn't a snowfield?
[Yes. This place is originally a lake. At the same time, it is a world projected from your inner self. Although it is currently frozen over due to the raging frost, the fact that its essence is a lake remains unchanged.]
Hearing that, I lowered my gaze slightly. The ground visible through the covering snow was a translucent, bluish color. The entire surface beneath my feet was a sheet of ice.
[You might not have noticed because you're quite dense, but this place has been frozen for a while now. Every time, I clearly warned you that your 'Humanity Rank is falling.' But you completely ignored it and swung your knife whenever anything happened. When someone speaks, you should at least pretend to listen.]
Someone?
Beep!
[That is a foolish question. You do not have the right to speak yet.]
...
The status window's blunt nagging continued. It seemed the request for a conversation was just an excuse, and nagging was its main purpose.
[You became so completely intoxicated by the sword that you eventually lost your self-awareness. Even if you defeat your enemy while losing yourself, would that lead to the outcome you desire?]
I felt a narrowed gaze directed at me from somewhere.
[Keep this in mind. Your main enemy is not others. It is yourself. At this rate, your mindscape will freeze over like this lake. Eventually, it will become a perpetual snowfield that never melts, and you will degenerate into a machine that does nothing but swing a sashimi knife.]
A deep sigh followed.
[But fortunately, you were lucky. Your 'Humanity Rank,' which normally would have drained away like water in a leaking pot, was barely replenished by those around you. And... that is still the case, tbh.]
Tbh?
Sssss.
Before the words could even finish, the cold wind that stung my skin dispersed. Soon, the gray sky cleared up, and the snow stopped completely.
I turned my head. The sun rising from beyond the ridge cast a brilliant flash of light. At the same time, a warm sensation touched my back—soft and squishy.
I squeezed my eyes shut at the sudden burst of light. Then, straining my vision, I managed to open them.
Swoosh.
As the snow melted away, the original landscape revealed itself.
A vast, majestic lake. Gentle ripples shimmered as if caressing the infinite swords.
At that moment.
[Conditions met due to external intervention.]
[Initiating user personality adjustment using the Counterforce.]
Whirrrr.
[Humanity Rank increases.]
[Blessing of the Sword God — Heart is manifested.]
* * *
Inside the election hall.
Amidst the chaotic crucible, Se-in wiped the beads of cold sweat from her forehead.
"I seriously thought we were done for."
While anxiety and terror filled the air, she alone remained relatively calm.
In the first place, the nature of Se-in's anxiety was different from that of the other cadets.
Narrowing her eyes, Se-in gazed into the distance. In the middle of the battlefield, she saw a girl with sky-blue hair hugging Kang Geomma from behind.
"...But thanks to you, we got past the crisis."
Se-in smiled faintly. It was a smile of relief.
Soon, she turned off her phone and blended back into the crowd of cadets.
* * *
"Haa... haa..."
Her breathing was ragged. Blood flowed incessantly from the wounds scattered all over Saki's body.
She had barely managed to get here by stepping on the debris floating in the lake, but dodging spells fired at supersonic speeds was simply impossible.
Fortunately, because the target of the magic was Kang Geomma, she had narrowly avoided a fatal blow, but her condition was disastrous.
She had only avoided her vital spots; it wouldn't be surprising if she fainted at any moment.
Saki coughed up a mouthful of blood. Only after spilling a torrent of fresh blood did her head cool down. As if air was escaping a balloon, the lack of oxygen calmed her brain activity.
"...I really do the most ridiculous things."
Saki self-deprecatingly muttered through her pale blue lips. Right now, she was being incredibly foolish. To put it bluntly, she was a complete idiot.
This impulsive action was practically suicide. To make matters worse, she had rushed over here without being of any help to Kang Geomma.
Even she found herself pathetic. But still...
She couldn't just stand by and watch Kang Geomma, who was taking attacks and swinging his knife while completely unconscious.
If left like that, he would never return. That single thought had driven her all the way here.
"..."
Vesna stopped her relentless barrage of attacks and watched the scene unfold.
It was also the perfect time to recharge her magic power. She needed at least a minute to gather her mana. Vesna gathered her magic power while organizing her thoughts.
The girl's presence was so faint that Vesna hadn't even noticed her approach. Just as one doesn't pay attention to every single ant crawling on the street.
The girl's presence was outside Vesna's range of perception. Had she known, she would have snapped the lowborn's neck with a single glance.
Yet, such a wench was hugging Kang Geomma, completely ignoring her own blood-drenched body.
After a brief moment of disbelief at this sudden display of youthful romance, Vesna's temples throbbed violently.
"How dare a mere insect interfere in my battle!"
Vesna shrieked. The echo reverberated throughout the entire Academy. At that, the cadets all shrank back in fear.
"Fine, you lowborn wench. Your foolish actions have snapped me back to reality. I might as well exterminate all of you annoying bugs once and for all."
As Vesna flicked her hand, a dark red energy flowed from her arm. Sinister magic power dripped from her fingertips, contaminating the lake.
Vesna moved her hands in front of her chest, her lips continuously chanting an incantation.
At this, the surface of the water began to boil and thicken like a swamp...
Screeeeeeech!
A giant water snake emerged from the bottom of the lake. Although it was an incomplete summoning, its size was three times that of an annex building. Her faint smile deepened.
A familiar summoned from the Demon Realm by completely exhausting her magic power. The world-devouring sea serpent.
「Jörmungandr」
Leaping high into the air, Vesna landed on the snake's head. She caressed its scales and whispered to her familiar.
"My sweet baby, I'm sorry for summoning you all the way here from Gehenna. But there is plenty of prey, so eat to your heart's content."
A cold smile played on Vesna's lips. Her vertically slit eyes gleamed dangerously.
"工으후루꾸十卞丁下丁卞十꾸루후으工으후루꾸十卞丁下丁卞十꾸루후으工으후루꾸十卞丁"
Jörmungandr let out a bizarre, eerie cry. The beast turned its maw toward the cadets. The heavy snorts exhaled from its nostrils blew the wind in the opposite direction.
"A-Ah, ah..."
A male cadet looked up at the monster with eyes filled with despair. Resigned to his fate, he couldn't even cry anymore. He wanted to turn away from reality. It was at that moment, as his life flashed before his eyes, intersecting with reality.
Ching— Ching— Ching—
Ching— Ching— Ching—
The clear, resonant hum of blades echoed repeatedly.
"...?"
The male cadet felt a slight twitching sensation at his waist. He looked down, and his eyes widened to their limits.
The Daixo sashimi knife he had playfully strapped to his waist when heading to the election hall this morning—its blade was vibrating all on its own.
And he wasn't the only one.
The Sashimi Squad, supporters of Candidate No. 7. The Daixo sashimi knives strapped to the waists of all 1,457 members throbbed as if they were alive.
The wriggling blades soon slipped out of their sheaths. In an instant, over a thousand sashimi knives floated into the air.
"...What is this?"
The cadets watched with pale, ghostly faces, as if they had seen a specter. Their minds went completely blank at the phenomenon unfolding before them.
"Screeech?"
The bewildered monster tilted its head with an innocent look. Just then, a low voice drifted from the side. The monster perked up its non-existent ears.
"Sword Control."
No sooner had the words been spoken than the blades shot forward all at once like arrows released from a bowstring, moving at an incredible speed.
Slash! Slash! Shlaaaaash!
Jörmungandr let out a bizarre shriek that was half-scream, half-roar. It resisted violently, but it was nothing more than a death throe.
Beams of light struck Jörmungandr's scales, slicing it into tiny pieces. Blue blood erupted like a fountain. The more it struggled, the more the blades accelerated. The monster had to bear the full brunt of the dizzying storm of sword strikes.
Screeeeeeeeeeech!
Jörmungandr's massive body swayed helplessly like a candle in the wind. The ground shook with the thrashing of the monster exposed to the blades.
Her sneer completely gone, Vesna collapsed onto the snake's head. She stroked her baby's forehead and called its name sorrowfully. Splat! Sticky blood splattered and clung to her face.
"My baby...!"
Suddenly, her heart pounded. Her cheek stung.
Creak— Vesna stiffly turned her neck. Her pupils shook violently as if caught in an earthquake.
! ! !
Amidst the warped axis of the earth, a black figure approached.
With his languidly glowing eyes fixed on her, he walked with an arrogant stride, hands shoved into his pockets. His once snow-white hair had now turned pitch-black.
Step.
The sound of footsteps echoing through the chaotic pandemonium.
Step.
The black-haired figure was reflected in the tear-filled eyes of the crowd. The cadets' faces melted with joy. Unable to contain themselves, someone burst into a cheer.
"It's Kang Geomma!"
With that single shout, hope began to spread.
On the other hand, after a succession of shocks, Vesna's face turned as pale as a corpse. She realized instinctively: she had messed with the wrong person.
She had only looked away for a moment. What on earth was this completely transformed atmosphere, and what was this sudden, mysterious power? With a single gesture from Kang Geomma, the sashimi knives tore into Jörmungandr.
Right then, a gleaming blue blade reflected in her eyes. A faint gasp of "Ah..." was her last sound.
Slash!
A storm of blades rushed toward Vesna, and the entire scene was reflected like a mirror on the surface of the lake.