Chapter 205: Traces (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 205: Traces (1)
The succession ceremony finally came to an end. After that, I dragged myself through a dull, tedious schedule of press conferences, informal talks, and banquets. Naturally, Medea and the Sword Emperor’s support was a massive help.
'If not for them, I would have made dozens of slips of the tongue today.'
Even though they looked haggard from lack of sleep just like me, they took care of me as best as they could. Offering them a silent thank-you in my heart, I kept moving my legs forward. My destination on this dark night road was my dormitory building.
Truth be told, a celebratory banquet had been scheduled for later, but I simply canceled it. "Celebration" was just an excuse; it was obvious I'd just be surrounded by crowds of nobles receiving empty greetings.
So, thanks to my refusal, the evening schedule was canceled on the spot. With just a single word, prominent nobles smacked their lips in disappointment and vanished. Was this the power of status?
Exposed to this long enough, a person's brain structure really would change. Honest, upright people didn't go off the deep end after rising to high positions for no reason.
"I need to stay on guard so I don't turn out like that..."
Returning to my room, I stripped off my clothes and threw myself onto the bed. I pressed hard around my eyes to rub away the fatigue settled under them like grime.
'...As I thought, this place is the most comfortable.'
The President of South Korea had offered a 7-star hotel near the academy as a temporary residence. He had even said construction on my personal "official residence" would begin starting tomorrow.
I flatly rejected it. And so, I immediately returned to my cozy nest. Living in a lavish hotel or an official residence would corrupt me in no time.
Above all, this tiny, ten-square-meter room was comfortable beyond measure to me. Even if the heating and cooling were terrible, and the facilities looked shabby...
Still, since it was the residence of a new Seven Star Hero, they'd at least remodel it, right? I intended to make a strong case for that.
It wasn't like I was demanding it just for my own benefit. Every cadet living in this dormitory building would benefit from it.
Rubbing my face against the pillow with those thoughts in mind, I felt the dry, rough touch of the cheap fabric. Thanks to that, my dazed feeling faded slightly.
I turned my head halfway in that position. With my left eye buried in the pillow, I stared blankly into space with my right eye.
I was tired—extremely so. I had sliced through all kinds of fiendish bastards, but it felt like there was no foe stronger than the Sleep Demon.
How many days had it been since I last slept properly? Today was almost the third day.
"Still, I can't just fall asleep right away..."
There were things left to do. First, formulating future plans. I intended to sketch out just a general framework rather than detailed plans.
First, I had announced in front of everyone that I would continue attending Joaquin Academy. Everyone who heard it was utterly stunned.
Naturally. Continuing academy life as a Seven Star Hero with the flashy epithet "Heavenly Sword"? Their dumbfounded expressions were only natural. Even if I were a third party, I would have had the exact same reaction.
Yet, I chose to remain at Joaquin Academy. The reason was gut feeling.
Even I thought it was a ridiculous reason. Basing a decision that decides one's future on mere instinct? If I told anyone else, I’d undoubtedly just get a hollow laugh in return.
But I had relied on this intuition to get to where I was today. What's more, my intuition was slightly different in nature. That was because mine was deeply connected to the 'Status Window'.
'And that instinct is fiercely telling me to stay at the academy.'
It might be a flimsy basis, but I hardened my resolve to push forward with the guiding principle I had followed so far.
Besides, if I left the academy, I would definitely get dragged into all kinds of official events. Truthfully, I also just wanted to avoid those bothersome ceremonial duties if possible.
Experiencing today made me realize it. I'm just not built for that kind of stuff.
However, there were schedules I absolutely had to attend. The World General Assembly taking place in a month, and the following month, a tour of various countries around the world—including the Hero Association Headquarters.
"If it's the Hero Association Headquarters... will I get to meet the Association President too?"
If asked who the most secretive person in this world was, it would undoubtedly be the Association President.
A figure who hadn't been mentioned even once in the game. Aside from being male, nothing—age, name, residence, or combat power—was known about him.
Rumor had it he was an eccentric on a completely different level... Then again, had I met anyone normal so far? At least the Sword Emperor acted like a reasonable person.
Medea, the Spear Saint, the Archery Saint, Al'tair... No, leave out the Archery Saint. Anyway, regardless of whether they were good people, every single one of them had a screw loose somewhere. But if I had to face an eccentric even worse than them...
'...How on earth am I supposed to handle that?'
Anxiety washed over me. I only knew one way to deal with lunatics: the Sashimi knife. Aside from that, I really had no idea.
I shook my head lightly. Useless thoughts seemed to be rushing in because I was tired.
I'll think about it when the time comes. My head was already throbbing with exhaustion anyway.
I decided to put this small doubt on hold for now.
I picked up my phone lying by the pillow to skim through news articles as a final routine. Given the significance of today, articles about me were bound to be pouring out.
Earlier, I saw all the reporters' eyes gleaming like wild beasts. The one who had suffered greatly at their hands was me, Kang Geomma.
Sleeping could wait; checking the headlines was essential. Since I now had the power to personally handle articles that crossed the line.
Tap, tap.
I touched the screen. A single beam of light faintly illuminated the pitch-black room. I read down through the headlines with half-lidded eyes.
『[Exclusive] The Sashimi Sword Saint's New Epithet: 'Heavenly Sword' (天劍).』
『[Photo] Heavenly Sword Kang Geomma... Expected to Mark a Milestone in History.』
『[Commentary] The All Too Young New Seven Stars. Time to Prove His Qualifications.』
『[Interview] Immediately After US President's Arrival in Korea: "Is this the nation of the Heavenly Sword? I truly wished to visit. He is the hope of humanity."』
"..."
I turned off my smartphone and closed my eyes. The world went dark. Only then did my accumulated drowsiness pour out like a burst dam. Sleep was sweet.
* * *
[NEW! Emergency Quest Triggered.]
[Due to the single use of the 'Evil Eye of the Loop' previously, a readjustment of Causality is underway.]
[…….]
[…….]
[Tip: In this Emergency Quest, you can infer a clue regarding one of the remaining three fragments.]
* * *
...I slowly opened my eyes. My vision was blurry, as if a film covered my eyes.
I blinked slowly, repeating the action several times. At the same time, I awakened my dulled senses. One by one, my five senses opened up, absorbing the surrounding environment with my entire body.
A bleak wind brushed past my cheek. The smell of the air was alien—pungent and dank. These sensations were entirely different from the memory my body held of my dormitory room.
Even before my vision fully returned, I could tell this wasn't my room. A foreign landscape was reflected in my eyes.
"..."
The first thing I saw was the horizon. I strained my eyes and looked up. Before me spread a desolate wasteland, looking as though heaven and earth had been completely severed.
A lawn bleached like marble undulated, stained crimson by a slurry of tangled flesh and bones.
I rolled my eyes to look around further. A bluish dusk draped over the carnage like crimson silk. I felt both awe and horror at the sight.
'Where on earth... is this?'
Confusion flickered in my eyes once more. My voice lingered only as thoughts, unable to form words. Furthermore, no matter how I tried to twist my body, I couldn't move an inch. Beyond a feeling of complete lethargy, a deep emptiness enveloped my entire body.
'Dammit, what kind of bolt from the blue is this?'
Stripped of my free will, I was tossed into the middle of a barren wasteland. Colorless debris rose around me like mounds. Try as I might to figure out what was happening, the situation was utterly incomprehensible. The bleached landscape continuously gnawed at my hazy mind.
Still, one thing was certain... I was currently in a state of excitement. I even felt a strange, idyllic serenity amidst this scene of slaughter.
Right then.
Step.
A sound of faint footsteps, barely audible. With my nerves on high alert, my ears reacted sharply.
This time, too, my body moved regardless of my will. However, having regained my composure, I decided to surrender myself to the flow. Thus, my gaze shifted toward the source of the noise.
Thud.
The source of the sound revealed itself. It was a human male. Silver armor flowing with light, paired with a matching golden cloak. In his right hand, he held a sword emanating white light.
'...!'
Soon, a gasp of shock escaped me involuntarily. Had I ever been this astonished? Absolutely not. Not in the past, nor ever in the future. Because...
Black hair and black eyes.
...Those black features alone would have shocked me greatly. But that no longer mattered—not from the moment the man's features came clearly into view.
Thud.
The man walked forward with eyes steeped in killing intent, scattering a single ray of light across the hellscape. Approaching within arm's reach, he spoke heavily.
"In the end, it comes to this kind of conclusion regardless..."
The man looked around the area as if paying a silent tribute. Stained clumps of flesh lay messily scattered about. The stench of blood and meat churned in my nostrils.
Watching the hellscape, the man's eyes sank deep. For a moment, he seemed to groan softly in pain.
After a moment of silence, the man broke the quiet and called my name.
"...Lycan, you and I truly share a tragic, ill-fated destiny."
The man's face contorted as if in agony. Yes, that face. The face I knew all too well. Even though he had grown younger, those traces seeped clearly through his gaze.
My chest tightened. A poignant longing shook my soul. Yet the voice that escaped my lips was utterly murky.
"I have waited long for you, mortal. Now is the time to settle this tedious war."
To the man—no, to you—I spoke, a smile I did not want hanging on the corners of my mouth.
"It is merely a pity. I have clashed swords with you countless times before. Perhaps because of that, I felt closer to you than to my own brother. Is it not the same for you?"
Strength flooded the grip of the man holding the sword. His blade radiated a brilliant light in all directions.
As he did, the man replied in that low, deep voice that had once scolded me.
"A sword is a mirror that reflects both oneself and one's opponent simultaneously. So I cannot help but know. Lycan, your goal is not the extermination of humanity. What you wish to erase is the existence beyond them—the 'Celestial Beings' who bestow blessings upon mankind, is it not?"
I smirked softly. Then I opened my hand wide before clenching it back into a fist.
Crackling...!
Lightning burst from the space within my fist, soon shaping itself into a sword.
Slice—
Indifferently, I swung the blade clad in lightning. The mountain range rising to the west dissolved into nothingness. Quite literally in the blink of an eye. Beyond the sheared mountain ridge, the setting sun sank.
With a nonchalant air, I spoke.
"To know even that, it is truly a pity for you to remain mortal. Yet, it is beautiful and wondrous. That is why we can strike down those arrogant bastards who view the conflict between demons and humanity as mere entertainment."
"..."
"Therefore, eliminate me and step onto the first stair. Promise yourself a distant future. For then, the one who will severely punish the Celestial Beings shall arrive."
"Is this truly the only way?"
"Look not at the present, but promise yourself the future. For then, the one who will severely punish the Celestial Beings shall arrive from the distant past."
"In that case... Lycan, I shall subjugate you in this very place."
At that declaration, the corners of my mouth curled into a smile.
"As a demon, I shall eradicate mortality. Furthermore, in this moment, I acknowledge you—a mere human—as my sole rival and friend."
Finally, I spoke the man's name.
"Come, Balor Joaquin. Great One."
The man's eyes flickered black. The sunset of Gehenna shattered below the horizon. The twilight of the Demon Realm was a deep, dark blue.
The man took a step forward. To slay the great evil in which his disciple resided.
He comes.
My Master, the Hero of the Origin.