Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Demon Sword Reincarnation (2)
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My name seemed to be Sion Aleyas.
Moreover, I was the direct grandson of Knight Order Leader Ianus Aleyas.
‘Of all people, to be born as Ianus’s own grandson...’
From the snippets of conversation I overheard here and there, I gathered that I was the son of Ianus’s youngest son, Kurt Aleyas.
I remembered Kurt as a fairly capable Holy Knight. We had crossed paths on the battlefield several times.
‘Anyway...’
Right now, I was lying in a clean cradle after completing the baptism rite.
There were other babies around me, but they all seemed to have cried themselves out during the rite and were quietly asleep.
‘Hey.’
[What is it?]
A response came immediately.
It was the mysterious entity that had helped me wield sword aura earlier.
The voice answered me oh-so-casually from within.
‘Not a hallucination, right?’
[Of course not. What hallucination could feel this vivid?]
‘It could happen.’
[Then you’d be a newborn with mental issues. How tragic.]
The voice had an arrogant ring to it.
‘What exactly are you?’
[What do you think?]
‘You’re definitely some kind of presence dwelling inside me.’
[Sharp. Correct.]
It didn’t feel like telepathic communication from outside.
Someone inside me was speaking to me.
‘Did some evil spirit possess me or something?’
[Evil spirit. How insulting to be compared to such a lowly thing.]
‘So you’re a higher-class existence?’
[Indeed. You could call me top-tier.]
What the hell was it?
What had lodged itself inside me?
[I am Igzard.]
Had I heard that wrong?
A strange name had just popped up.
[Demon Sword ‘Igzard.’]
‘Are you messing with me right now?’
[I’m the Igzard who severed your head in your previous life. That’s me.]
Hearing that, I swallowed hard.
How did this thing know about my past life?
[It’s natural you’d be confused. But I am definitely Igzard.]
‘So... there’s a sword inside me?’
[Not the physical blade. I’m the system ‘Igzard’ housed within the physical Demon Sword ‘Igzard’ that beheaded you.]
‘What the hell does that mean...?’
[I’ll explain again.]
The calm voice continued.
[The physical sword you saw was merely Igzard’s ‘shell.’ Igzard’s true essence is the spirit stored within that shell—and that spirit is me.]
‘Hold on, so... Igzard was an ego sword?’
[Ego sword. Yes.]
‘Ancient texts do record Igzard as a sword with its own ego... but it wasn’t like that in our time.’
The texts definitely called it an ego sword.
But that was just what the texts said; in modern times, it was nothing more than an ordinary sword.
That’s why there was speculation that it was ‘a myth fabricated by ancients to deify Demon Sword Igzard.’
‘Igzard wasn’t an ego sword—it was just a normal sword. Even Grand Archbishop Aquilast said it was merely a sword of exceptional performance.’
[A good sword chooses its own master.]
‘What?’
[Figures like Grand Archbishop Aquilast or Archbishop Gateus weren’t worthy of wielding me. That’s why I remained dormant.]
‘What do you mean...?’
[The moment I severed your neck, I realized it. You were the one suited to be my master.]
Come to think of it... at the instant Archbishop Gateus swung the sword and my head flew off, I vaguely recalled hearing some strange voice.
[I am Igzard, the Demon Sword. I am the blade that pursues, transcending life and death, cause and effect, alongside the one I recognize as master.]
‘...’
[I thought you couldn’t just die like that. So I forcibly reincarnated your soul—and at the same time, escaped the physical sword to reincarnate with you.]
‘Then...’
I organized my thoughts and asked.
‘The reason I retained my past life’s personality upon reincarnation... that was all because of you?’
[Yes.]
‘And you set it so I’d reincarnate here?’
[Not quite accurate. It was configured for you to be reborn in the most suitable place. It wasn’t my arbitrary decision—it was automatically determined.]
It was an utterly absurd story.
Archbishop Hausel had been chosen by Igzard in his final moments and reborn into a Holy Knight family by Igzard’s power.
Retaining his past personality, alongside Igzard.
‘So, this really is the most suitable place for me?’
[Yes. You probably wanted to start a new life in a place like this.]
‘No, not exactly...’
I had thought about living differently if reborn.
But that didn’t mean I wanted to be reborn into a Holy Knight family.
‘I was a Dialogue Church archbishop, diligently fighting Holy Knights... and now I’m reborn into a Holy Knight family.’
It was a complicated feeling.
[Not to your liking?]
‘Well...’
[If you don’t like it, we could start over.]
‘Start over?’
[Just kill yourself.]
Suicide.
I swallowed at the unexpected word.
[End your own life. Ah, it’d be hard with your current body, so I’ll help.]
‘What happens if I die now?’
[You’d be reborn into a new body. Of course, where that is would be unknown, but gambling on it isn’t a bad idea.]
‘You’re saying I should reincarnate again?’
[Yes. A fresh start.]
Reincarnating once more.
It sounded appealing at first glance.
But I replied without hesitation.
‘Hey, Igzard.’
[What?]
‘Don’t try to test me.’
The moment I said it.
I felt like I heard laughter from within me.
[As expected of the one I chose.]
Igzard chattered on in a voice that seemed delighted.
[Exactly. Choosing something lame like ‘suicide and reset’ in a situation like this would disqualify you as a Demon Sword’s master.]
‘If I begged you to kill me because I wanted to die, you’d just kill me and leave.’
[Yes. I’d seek a new master. What happens to your soul afterward wouldn’t be my concern.]
I was now convinced this thing was truly a ‘Demon Sword.’
An evil Demon Sword that would unhesitatingly kill me if I fell short of expectations even slightly.
[Weak souls who give up without even trying under given conditions... They have no right to be my master.]
‘Was I chosen as your master because I silently carried out orders even in harsh environments?’
[I don’t know your detailed past. But the moment I touched your soul, I knew you were worthy.]
Anyway, it seemed I had passed Igzard’s test.
But I couldn’t just let it slide.
‘Igzard.’
[What?]
‘I get that you were testing me. But don’t pull this crap again.’
Igzard fell silent for a while after my warning.
‘If you lie to test me again, I’ll find a way to get rid of you, no matter what.’
[You think that’s possible?]
‘Don’t think I can?’
I replied coolly.
‘Igzard, I was a Dialogue Church archbishop.’
[I know.]
‘An archbishop doesn’t get there just by being good at fighting. You need knowledge of magic befitting an archbishop.’
Exactly.
Both I and Archbishop Gateus... we possessed magical knowledge that could dismantle Holy Spirit Church’s magic scholars in an instant.
‘Not right now, but if I set my mind to it, I could drive you out.’
[Hmm, cheeky bastard...]
Even if it talked tough, Igzard couldn’t ignore my words.
[Fine. I’ll remember that.]
‘Good. Since we’re in this together, wouldn’t it be best if we built a relationship of trust?’
[Trust. Definitely important. Understood.]
This wasn’t empty talk.
Igzard wouldn’t want to lose the trust of the master it had found after so long.
The fact that it had reincarnated with me to avoid losing me... meant Igzard was obsessed with me.
As long as I didn’t disappoint Igzard, it would do its utmost not to be abandoned by me.
[So... how do you plan to live from now on? You lived diligently for the Dialogue Church in your past life, so this time you’ll live diligently as a Holy Knight of the Holy Spirit Church?]
‘Slightly different.’
[What?]
‘In the Dialogue Church, I really did submit to the given conditions. I absolutely obeyed orders from above.’
Living like a pushover in absolute obedience... until I died.
‘But not from now on.’
[Hmm...]
‘Since I was born into a Holy Knight family, I’ll live as a Holy Knight. But...’
But.
It wouldn’t be like my previous life.
No more diligently doing as told like a pushover, only to get stabbed in the back and die pointlessly.
‘You said you’re a Demon Sword that pursues?’
[Correct.]
‘Then I’ll pursue as a Holy Knight.’
I had no intention of becoming a Holy Spirit Church believer and living a life of faith now.
But reaching higher realms than others as a Holy Knight did pique my interest.
[That’ll put you on a collision course with the Dialogue Church.]
‘Probably. Any issue with that?’
Igzard was the Dialogue Church’s Demon Sword.
It might dislike me fighting the Dialogue Church as a Holy Knight.
[No.]
But Igzard denied it immediately.
[If you use the Dialogue Church as stepping stones to reach higher realms, that’s good news for me.]
‘Good, then we’re set.’
[And you can get revenge on the ones who purged you.]
Revenge.
At that word, something writhed in my chest.
‘Our policy’s set, then.’
Rise to higher realms as a Holy Knight.
And exact revenge on the Dialogue Church leadership.
That would be my tentative goal.
‘Wait, then...’
[What’s up?]
‘Hey, Igzard.’
[Yeah?]
‘You should probably just leave me.’
Igzard fell silent for a moment.
[What did you just say?]
‘I said leave me.’
[Haha, must be something wrong with my hearing. I heard something weird.]
‘Where are your ears?’
[So you really...]
‘Leave me.’
[Hey, why the sudden change?]
Igzard sounded a bit flustered.
[Didn’t we just agree to get along and do great things together from now on? Why tell me to leave?]
‘I’ve decided to become a Holy Knight.’
[Yes.]
‘But a Holy Knight can’t have a Demon Sword inside them.’
Igzard fell silent again.
[Wait, really? That’s the reason?]
‘Doesn’t it seem risky to you?’
[Well, yes, but... we can just hide it well, right?]
‘What if we get caught?’
[My presence can’t be detected by magic or anything. Even the Dialogue Church never noticed me for centuries. So if you hide it well, no one will find out.]
‘You never know.’
[Hey!]
Igzard’s voice grew a bit urgent.
[Worrying about that now is pointless! You’re still far from joining the Holy Knight Order anyway!]
‘Is that so?’
[Yes! Save those worries for later! For now, think about getting strong using my power!]
At that moment, strength suddenly surged into my limbs.
[There! I’ve empowered your limbs! You’re still a newborn, but with my help, you can even walk!]
‘Whoa, for real.’
[See? With my support like this, you can build strength from infancy and get as strong as you want! You could become the greatest Holy Knight!]
My limbs were short and awkward in many ways... but I could really move.
‘This is pretty good.’
[Right? So don’t think about kicking me out...]
Right then.
I sensed footsteps approaching from outside.
[Hey! Lie down quick!!]
‘Got it.’
Following Igzard’s urging, I lay back in the cradle.
Everyone would freak if they saw a newborn moving on its own.
No need to draw attention yet—I had to act like a normal baby.
“Where is Sion Aleyas?”
“Over there, Lord Sershes.”
Sershes.
Hearing the name, I recalled it.
‘Sershes Aleyas?’
Sershes was Ianus’s eldest son.
A man who commanded the ‘Assault Knight Brigade,’ the Holy Knight Order’s strongest force, and enjoyed Ianus’s deep trust.
“He doesn’t look particularly special...”
Sershes was peering into my cradle.
I kept my mouth shut, pretending to be an ordinary baby.
“Let’s check.”
Then Sershes reached into the cradle.
He touched my body a few times.
“No unusual energy. Just a normal baby.”
“What could it have been? Something definitely flashed, and the neck guard split.”
“Could’ve been impure contaminants mixed in. Maybe it reacted to the holy water’s power?”
“Ah, that could be it.”
“I’ll check that part myself again. Anyway, tell the Family Head there’s nothing special about Sion.”
“Understood.”
As Igzard said, no one else could detect Igzard inside me.
“...”
Sershes stared at me for a while longer before leaving the room.
[See? Even that guy didn’t notice me.]
‘Yeah, looks like we got through it smoothly. Good.’
If word got out that a newborn had used sword aura, it could turn into a huge headache.
For now, I was Ianus Aleyas’s grandson. As a potential next Knight Order Leader, someone in the family might try to check or eliminate me.
‘Come to think of it...’
[What?]
‘Nah, nothing.’
If my near-drowning in the baptism wasn’t an accident but a plot... then someone inside the family like Sershes could be behind it.
Who could it be?
‘This just got interesting.’
[Hey, tell me too. Don’t have fun all by yourself.]
‘Maybe later.’
[I said tell me!]
Ignoring Igzard’s voice in my head, I closed my eyes.
Being a newborn, sleep came quickly.
‘Yeah, a new life starts now.’
From now on, I had to live anew as a Holy Knight.
Alongside the Demon Sword within me.
‘And... I need to repay the Dialogue Church.’
The ones who discarded Archbishop Hausel, who had lived his whole life for the Dialogue Church.
I would make them pay.
As the Holy Knight Order’s—Demon Sword Knight.