Chapter 67: Sword Emperor Siegfried (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 67: Sword Emperor Siegfried (2)
A week had passed since I was discharged from the hospital.
However, I still hadn't returned to school. This was due to a message from Academy Principal Medea, requesting that I refrain from attending until she gave her permission.
'I suppose it makes sense. It’s like Majins appear out of thin air the moment I show my face anywhere.'
Most people wouldn't encounter a Majin once in their entire lives, yet I was running into them about once a month. To make matters worse, the second encounter wasn't just any demon; it was one of the Corps Commanders, the Demon King’s greatest assets.
'I really almost died back there.'
Still, the two weeks I spent hospitalized allowed me to organize my thoughts in many ways. The fact that I didn't have to worry about hospital bills played a huge part in that.
As the second hand in the hospital room ticked slowly, I was able to chew over various memories.
Memories of when I first manifested the Blessing of the Sword God, the midterm exams, and the events in the Buffalo Dungeon flickered through my mind.
'But I still don't know what happened on Avalon Island.'
No matter how hard I tried to recall the sensations of that time, they wouldn't return. The memories of the events were vivid, but the physical sensations were lost. It was an unpleasant feeling, as if that specific part had been forcibly carved out.
"Just when I thought I was starting to get a handle on things... I'm even more lost now."
The Blessing of the Sword God is a mysterious power.
Whenever I am pushed to the brink of death, it manifests as if by fate, pulling me back from the edge.
Looking at it that way, it’s a blessing I should be incredibly grateful for.
However, the more it manifests, the more my humanity seems to fade.
I traced back the memories and sensations of when I slaughtered the Undertakers.
At that time, I hadn't even knitted my brows.
Even as the life faded from the enemies' eyes, my hands never faltered.
If anything, it felt as though the blade was quenching its thirst by taking lives.
'To think I didn't feel even a shred of regret...'
Lost in thought, I mentally recited the command for the status window.
Flash—
*
[Blessing of the Sword God]
If you strike, it will be cut.
◎ Body Rank: (9 ▶ 12) ▷ The specifications of the sword are relaxed.
◎ Mental Rank: (5 ▶ 8) ▷ Intimidation dwells within your words and actions.
◎ Armament Rank: (3 ▶ 5) ▷ Upon manifestation of the blessing, pain is reduced by (1 ▶ 2) levels.
☆ Synchronization Rate: 12.7% ▶ 17.9% ▷ (1) line of 【???】’s lines can be read.
→ [NEW! Synchronization Rate of 15% achieved. Unlock conditions met.]
★ 【???】
[※ The blessing only activates when using a sword with a length of (39+1) cm or less and a width of less than (10+0) cm.]
*
"The growth rate has become quite steep."
Checking the status window for the first time in a while, I saw a significant increase in the numbers. The three Ranks at the top, which used to crawl up bit by bit, had changed noticeably.
"The Armament Rank and the pain reduction rate have gone up by a level, too."
Lowering my gaze slightly, I saw that the synchronization rate had already reached the unlock condition. I extended my index finger and touched the text.
Flash—
*
☆ Synchronization Rate: 17.9%
▷ (1 ▶ 2) lines of 【???】’s lines can be read.
▷ Faintly perceive the voice of 【???】.
→ [Next unlock condition met at 25% Synchronization Rate.]
*
"Hmm."
I let out a low groan, narrowing my eyes. As expected, the number representing the red lines was variable.
But what stood out most was the new phrase.
「Faintly perceive the voice of 【???】.」
I chewed over those words several times.
'I can perceive a voice...'
At first, I thought those three question marks represented some kind of abstract concept. However, the word "voice" presented a new possibility that hadn't crossed my mind before.
'Those damn question marks might actually be a living creature or some kind of entity.'
Many thoughts were still swirling in my head. I rubbed my forehead and let out a sigh. Then, I turned on my phone to check the time.
"Ah, is it already this late?"
I had received a sudden call from Medea last night.
She said she would explain the details when we met.
Medea’s tone had been stiffer than usual, so I had reflexively agreed to visit the Principal’s office today.
"I had something to ask her anyway, so this works out."
If the Sword Emperor happened to be there as well, I could offer him my thanks.
I owed him a great deal.
I knew he had rented out the entire hospital ward for me and had personally looked after me while I was unconscious.
It was a debt of gratitude that couldn't be measured in money. While repaying it was realistically impossible, I could at least express my thanks as a decent human being.
I straightened my clothes and hurried out of the dormitory.
Tick, tock.
The second hand of the wall clock moved quickly, as if urging me on.
* * *
The Sword Emperor sipped his tea, savoring the aroma. Medea watched him, her eyes blinking slowly.
A satisfied smile played on his lips, as if the taste of the black tea was to his liking.
'...That old geezer is doing just fine even without an arm.'
The Seven Star Heroes were those who stood at the very front of the battlefield. They were always prepared to lose a limb or two.
The Archery Saint, Saki Kojima, was one-eyed, and the Spear Saint, Richard de Myura, had deep scars etched across his back.
'...And me as well.'
Medea stroked her dantian with a bitter expression. It felt particularly heavy and tingly today.
'What on earth happened to that old man on the island?'
Medea glared at the Sword Emperor, swallowing her words. When Siegfried returned from Avalon Island having lost an arm, Medea had been struck dumb with shock.
As the man called the strongest of humanity, no mediocre magical beast could even leave a scratch on him.
The fact that his limbs had remained intact into his seventies was a testament to his strength. Yet, such a man had returned with one of those limbs severed. It went beyond puzzling; it was unbelievable.
'And I only sent him to Avalon Island to protect a student...'
She had tried using her unique blessing, the "Poet's Blessing," but it was useless. Things that transcended perception could not be captured by the blessing. She could only guess that it was no ordinary occurrence.
The Sword Emperor rarely spoke about what had happened on the island. He simply smiled genially and postponed the explanation, saying they should wait until Kang Geomma woke up.
Harsh words almost escaped Medea’s mouth.
The Sword Emperor had returned from Avalon Island in a hurry, carrying Kang Geomma on his back.
Kang Geomma had been hovering between life and death.
There were no visible scars, but he was rotting away on the inside. Every muscle fiber and nerve was snapped like a rubber band, and his pupils were clouded.
That day, Medea felt her own sanity snapping. She had issued a stern warning to all the medical staff and healer heroes at the affiliated hospital.
She told them that if they couldn't save Kang Geomma, they would be the ones lying in those hospital beds.
'Well, thanks to that, our Geomma regained consciousness.'
Medea glared at the Sword Emperor with narrowed eyes.
Immediately after returning from the island, the Sword Emperor had also undergone a thorough examination.
There was no telling if he had other injuries.
However, the specialist in charge of the Sword Emperor had shaken his head in disbelief and said:
—...I’ve seen countless patients over thirty years, but I’ve never seen anything like this, Principal. Ah, I don't mean there's a problem with the Sword Emperor. It’s actually the opposite. He is remarkably clean. Even his pre-existing minor ailments have vanished as if they were scrubbed away. I can only describe it as a divine miracle.
The doctor had spoken with a look of awe. While Medea was deeply relieved, she was also fuming.
The Sword Emperor certainly bore some responsibility for Kang Geomma returning as a total wreck. And yet, she couldn't say anything.
It was because of the Sword Emperor’s subsequent actions. He had emptied his own pockets to rent out an entire ward.
Given the astronomical prices at Joaquin Academy, it must have cost a fortune.
'That penny-pincher who trembles even when buying a 50,000-won fishing rod...'
Not only that, but the Sword Emperor never left Kang Geomma’s side while he was hospitalized. He provided all sorts of nursing care and barely slept.
Even a biological parent would find it hard to show such devoted sincerity. Seeing that, Medea practiced patience and waited for him to speak.
But her patience was running thin today.
Tap, tap.
Medea crossed her legs and tapped the armrest with her fingernails. The Sword Emperor slowly opened his eyes, savoring the tea, and finally spoke.
"Mmm, Medea, it seems your tea-brewing skills improve with age. Twenty years ago, just drinking the tea you made would give me a stomachache."
As he spoke, a thick vein popped on Medea’s fair temple, and she let out a sharp shriek.
"Hey, you old geezer! Do you think this is a tea house? Geomma is coming soon! How long are you going to keep putting this off? I need to know what's going on too!"
"Ho ho, what’s the rush? Try to mellow out that temper of yours."
"Ha! Did you leave your brain on the island along with your arm?! I’ve been too easy on you, and now you're just taking advantage!"
Medea glared at the Sword Emperor with a fierce expression. He just hummed a tune, showing no reaction.
Medea’s brow furrowed even deeper.
She grabbed a box of tissues from the table and threw it. The Sword Emperor dodged it without even opening his eyes.
"Slow."
"You senile lunatic!"
A "harmonious" exchange of words continued between the two for several minutes. Eventually, a defeated Medea held her forehead and caught her breath. After letting out her frustration, her head cooled down.
Then, a wave of deep fatigue washed over her. It was a moment of "Sage clarity."
"...Hey, Sieg. Seriously, what happened? Just tell me. Do you know how much the world’s media is hounding me? I haven't been able to sleep lately because of you."
At her sobbing mumble, the Sword Emperor glanced at her. He fell into thought for a moment before setting down his teacup. The relaxed air he had been projecting vanished.
"I needed time to organize my thoughts as well. It took me quite a while to understand what happened on that island myself."
"Just what on earth happened there...?"
Before they knew it, the clock's second hand pointed to five minutes before noon. It was almost time for the appointment with Kang Geomma. The Sword Emperor stroked his now-empty right sleeve and spoke slowly.
"Agor, the 5th Corps Commander, appeared on Avalon Island."
"What?"
The Sword Emperor’s tone was calm. There wasn't a shred of a lie in it. Medea’s eyes flickered for a moment before shaking violently.
"T-That’s impossible."
The Sword Emperor shook his head, negating Medea’s denial of reality. Medea’s lips trembled.
"It’s hard to believe, but it’s the truth. She was the one who took my arm."
"...Is that why Kang Geomma ended up like that?"
The Sword Emperor nodded in affirmation. Medea leaned back deeply into the sofa, feeling a sudden surge of exhaustion.
In her mental shock, she repeated what she had just said. It took a long time for her to regain her composure. Only then did she startle and ask again.
"Then what happened to Agor?"
"She was subjugated. It’s too early to announce it to the world, so I’ve held off, but I saw it with my own eyes. There is no doubt."
"Did you subjugate her alone, Sieg?"
"Hahaha, do you really think that’s possible?"
The Sword Emperor let out a hollow laugh, his face darkening. Medea felt the back of her neck stiffen as she watched him.
'Sieg has finally lost it.'
Agor was a Corps Commander skilled in mental magic. Sieg might have lost his mind as a side effect. As his laughter grew louder, her suspicion turned into certainty.
"Sieg?"
As Medea’s brow smoothed out in concern, the Sword Emperor stopped laughing.
"......"
A brief silence fell. Time flowed quietly in the Principal’s office.
However, Medea felt a chill run down her spine.
In the Sword Emperor’s silence, the fragments of her thoughts were slowly taking shape.
"N-No way... The one who subjugated Agor was—"
Just as she was about to speak.
Knock, knock.
A cheerful knocking sound drifted into the room. Medea looked back and forth between the Sword Emperor’s face and the door. Beads of sweat that had gathered on her fine jawline began to drip.
Creak.
Someone entered the Principal’s office, guided by a staff member.
"That’s right."
The Sword Emperor finally answered with a serene smile.