Chapter 71: Blessing of the Sword God
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 71: Blessing of the Sword God
“#@$$!#%!@#@#☐☐&*(”
My ears are ringing intensely. A stinging pain, as if someone is hammering on my eardrums.
—...What is this?
My voice only hovers around my throat, echoing inside. Feeling a familiar sensation, I slowly opened my eyes and looked around.
Hummmmm.
The scenery is stark white. Everywhere I look, it is a blinding expanse of white that feels as if it might suck me in.
A world like a blank sheet of paper, without even a fingernail's worth of pollution, lay before my eyes. But my panic ended in an instant. Because I knew where this was.
—A dream.
Yes, I had dreamed a dream like this before. Although it had vanished like a mirage the moment I woke up, perhaps because it was the same dream, it remained vividly etched in my mind. A sense of floating and lethargy, similar to back then, wrapped around my entire body.
However, the location was different.
—I think it was outer space last time.
Unlike before, when nebulae, star clusters, and suns were embroidered like dots, this place was a world without a single blemish.
There was no distinction between up, down, left, or right. Furthermore, all my senses seemed to have shut down, save for my muffled hearing, as if any external stimuli that I should have felt were completely blocked.
Honestly, I couldn't even tell if my eyes were open or closed right now.
Even in the midst of this, a ringing that felt like it was scratching the inside of my eardrums continued to echo.
—What a fucking unpleasant dream.
This dream would probably be wiped from my brain once I woke up, too. Even so, I tried my best to remain calm.
This dream was likely a clue from someone trying to convey a message to me. I could feel the will of an indescribable existence, rather than just a mere thought.
That entity was probably...
—'G.M.'
The moment I said that in my mind, the ringing that had been torturing my ears abruptly cut off and stopped.
Then, like ink spreading on drawing paper, black dots and lines began to appear, painting a new landscape onto this world of nothingness.
Black outlines cast themselves over the blank sheet, and the vast, empty world of nothingness gradually began to take shape.
As I stared blankly, in a posture where I couldn't even tell if I was standing or sitting, a soundless sound reached my ears. Hearing something despite the absence of sound—what did that even mean?
But my eyes were already chasing the source of that sound. Soon, as I turned my head back, a human figure reflected on my retina.
—...What on earth is that?
Standing there was something that looked like a white shadow, devoid of any facial features. An existence with a featureless face, outlined only by black lines. It looked like a drawing at first glance, but it felt like a solid, complete mass. It was a truly bizarre appearance.
Even when I narrowed my eyes to focus on its shape, I could only see it hazily. After I stared at it for a long while, it opened its mouth.
"It's been a while."
I could see its lips moving, even though it had no mouth.
A bizarre, eerie voice that sounded like a delicate woman, yet also like a gruff, hearty man.
As I stood dumbfounded by this hyper-cognitive phenomenon, it bared its teeth and smiled.
"Ah, this is your first time seeing me here, isn't it? My mistake."
—...Are you, by any chance—
Before I could even finish my sentence, it shrugged and shook its head.
"Sorry, but I'm not G.M."
—...
It felt as if my mind had been read entirely. It curled the corners of its mouth up even further into a smile and spoke.
"But in a way, we might not be all that different. Or maybe we are? Strictly speaking, we might even be opposites. Well, anyway, I could be him, and he could be me. Kang Geomma, just think of it however is easiest for you."
What is it talking about? Not quite understanding what it meant, I replayed the words of the entity in front of me.
Perhaps because it spoke like some philosopher, I couldn't decipher the meaning at all.
Yet, every single word carried an overwhelming pressure incomparable to anything else. The incomprehensible sensation made my stomach churn. Forcing down the urge to vomit, I asked it.
—...What are you?
When I said that, it burst into a chuckle. Its shoulders shook as if something was incredibly funny, and tears welled up in the corners of its eyes.
What is so funny?
Then, my mind forced me to perceive that 'it seemed to have no facial features.' I frowned, feeling as if my mindscape was being manipulated.
—...How long are you going to keep laughing?
"Sorry, sorry. I just remembered the old days. I apologize if I offended you. Well, it's only natural for you to be curious about me, Geomma. But—"
It suddenly jerked its chin up. Floating where its gaze directed was a large clock drawn in lines.
Tick, tock.
A clock with only a minute hand and a second hand moving, but no hour hand. After staring at it for a moment, it turned its head back to me.
"Explaining who I am would take too long. Since we don't have much time left, I'll give you a brief explanation."
It composed its expression. As a slight movement rippled across its featureless, boiled-egg-like face, it added in a murmuring tone.
"I am called by many names by people. To some, I am disaster, or nature, the universe, and God."
—...God?
It nodded.
"Yeah. But not just any god. To be precise..."
Its two eyes opened halfway. Not perceptually, but physically.
At the sight of its swirling, whirlpool-like pupils, spasms began to rush up from my extremities.
A mixture of instinctive revulsion and terror froze my body.
"The God of Sword."
—...?!
"I might not be the kind of god you're thinking of, but just call me God for convenience. If that feels weird, call me whatever you want. Well, in the end, that will still be 'me'."
As I stood utterly shocked, the God of Sword smiled brightly. There was an immense discrepancy between him and the image of a god I had always envisioned.
"Well, I'll leave it at this for now. I'd like to explain more, but it seems we don't have much time."
—Why are you only showing up now?
"My restriction was lifted not too long ago. Don't you remember?"
As I reflected for a moment, a phrase suddenly flashed through my mind.
`[The Blessing of the Sword God — False Appellation is lifted.]`
It was the voice that had echoed in my ears when Agor tried to tear through my mindscape with mental magic. At my reaction, the God of Sword chuckled softly.
"You're thinking of the right thing. Still, it hasn't been completely lifted, which is why I've appeared before you in this incomplete state. It's a miracle I can even convey my words to you like this. Anyway."
Dong, dong, dong.
The clear chime of a clock bell rang out three times.
Crack—
A small crack starting from beneath my feet instantly spread across the landscape like a spiderweb. This dream—no, this world—was beginning to collapse.
In my urgency, I took a giant step toward him. My footwork was light and swift. Yet, as if I were running in place, the distance between us wouldn't close at all.
At my struggle, he smiled gently and turned on his heel. Then, without even looking at me, he simply waved his hand lightly and spoke.
"Ah, and while it's great that you're slashing and cutting things up, don't do it too recklessly."
The distance widened further, and the God of Sword's figure began to fade from my sight. I reached out blindly. My breath was ragged. My outstretched fingers trembled slightly.
Crack—
Even then, the cracks were rapidly collapsing the white background. I cried out in desperation.
—Damn it, I have so many things to ask!
"For your information, the power you wield is... Well, even if I tell you now, you probably won't understand."
The God of Sword spoke without even looking back. His voice echoed inside my skull, laced with a smirk.
"Anyway, don't make a mistake this time."
At that moment, the paper-white world split apart.
Boom!
A pitch-black darkness, devoid of any light, swallowed my entire body.
"I'm counting on you, Kang Geomma."
* * *
The moment I woke up, the status window opened on its own.
Flash—
* * *
[NEW! The Synchronization Rate has been readjusted from (17.9% ▶ 21.3%).]
* * *
I blinked as I stared at it, when suddenly my eyes began to sting.
"Ugh..."
As I rubbed my aching, stinging eyes—which felt as if they had been exposed to incandescent light—they calmed down a bit.
I sat up abruptly in bed and began writing down the contents of the dream in a notebook.
Scratch, scratch.
The sound of the pencil moving busily, then pausing.
I wanted to recall it in detail, but it slipped away like grabbed sand.
The harder I tried to grasp the sparse fragments of memory, the more they scattered and dispersed.
`[God of Sword]`
`[G.M.]`
In the end, only two words were written in the notebook. As I tapped the notebook with the tip of my pencil and stared down at them, even the remaining fragments of memory completely vanished.
"Hmm."
Frowning, I looked to the side. A hazy sky was visible beyond the window frame. Murky, grayish-white clouds filled the sky to the brim.
"Is it already the rainy season?"
A breeze blew through the slightly open window. The humid scent that drifted in with it lingered at the tip of my nose.
Shaking my head once, I closed the notebook.
Gathering clues one by one like this is what's important.
Though the suddenly spiked Synchronization Rate is a bit bothersome.
At least so far, I haven't suffered any disadvantages from the Synchronization Rate rising.
I pushed the window halfway open and perched on the sill. A breath of wind carrying the scent of rain cooled my sweat. Since long ago, I had preferred overcast weather to clear, sunny days.
People here often compare life to the sky. Although it might sound a bit superstitious, this world is strictly a place overflowing with gods, blessings, and magic.
That is why they look up at the sky as a mirror to reflect upon themselves. They only lift their heads when the weather is clear. When there are dark clouds, they don't even spare a glance. But the value of clarity only stands out because of the weather that is not.
"...What one wishes for and reality are different."
I muttered bitterly, took off my shirt, and hung it over the back of the chair. The sweat-soaked top hung limply. Liking cloudy days and being hot were two entirely different things.
"Somehow, my body looks even better."
I traced my abs with my fingers. A splendidly defined eight-pack.
I hadn't really worked out during my hospitalization, yet my physique had improved.
I stared at it with a pleased smile for no reason, then quickly wiped the grin off my face.
My room is on the second floor. Someone might see me groping my own body shirtless. I'm already a frequent topic of gossip among the cadets; I might end up being framed as a pervert.
"...Let's not make a fool of myself."
Rollin'~
My phone vibrated along with a casually ringing tone. Wondering who it could be this early in the morning, I tilted my head and soon lifted myself off the windowsill. Since I had to wash up and get ready anyway, the timing was perfect.
"It's probably Ryozo or Weapon."
Yesterday, the club members offered to treat me to a meal. It was to celebrate both my discharge from the hospital and the founding of the Travel Club. For that purpose, Ryozo, Weapon, and Chloe had apparently chipped in together. They said some newly opened sushi place inside the Academy was famous or something.
At first, I flatly refused. No particular reason, just that my personality isn't accustomed to being treated by others.
But since they thrust their phones in my face with sparkling eyes, I had reluctantly agreed. Besides, they were strictly from high society, so buying a single meal would be nothing to them.
"But I'm a bit picky when it comes to sushi."
I let out a short chuckle and checked my phone. Contrary to my expectations, the sender was not one of the club members.
[Medea: Geomma, did you sleep well? It's nothing major, but I looked into what you asked me to find out before. That's why I'm contacting you.]
"What I asked her to find out...?"
I tilted my head for a moment, then clapped my hands.
"Ah, when I asked her to look into my family relations and personal information."
Since what Ray Shan had said before she died kept weighing on my mind, I had personally requested it when I visited the Principal's office.
I swiped the screen with my index finger. A few more messages had arrived.
[Medea: I was originally going to tell you in person... but I wanted to be careful. I've attached the file below. Check it and contact me when you're free. Oh, and I heard a new member joined your club?! Aww, I'm so proud of our Geomma! Later, this big sister will secretly give you a special reward—]
I scrolled down a bit further.
[Medea: Cadet Kang Geomma Information.xlsx]
A message in the form of an attached file. It was secured, allowing only viewing. Feeling needlessly nervous, I wiped the sweat from my hands onto the hem of my shirt and tapped it firmly.
"...What the actual fuck."
At that exact moment, the curse word slipped out of my mouth on its own.