Chapter 80
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: A Blade Dyed Blue
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Kiiing.
A faint tremor emanated from the Origin. Confirming that the inheritance ceremony was drawing to a close, Miles turned his gaze toward the golden sword qi that Jake was maintaining.
'About 90% retention rate. Compared to Aria... no, it's rude to even make the comparison.'
Aria had been the first in the family to maintain an ancestor's sword qi at 100%. When it came to talent in swordsmanship, she possessed ability that was practically off the charts, so it was only right to consider her an exception.
'Either way, this is more than enough to aim for S-grade.'
A potential that was on a completely different level from his own, stuck at A-grade. Impressed by that talent, Miles examined the Glorious Sword once more.
'And at this level, no need to make a custom sword.'
Just as Miles was feeling satisfied that everything had gone smoothly, contrary to his worries...
"...Hm?"
A young man suddenly climbed onto the sparring arena.
Recognizing him as Lee Se-hun, the friend who had forged Jake's sword, Miles wore a puzzled expression.
'What's he doing all of a sudden?'
Did something urgent come up?
Watching him approach with purposeful strides, Miles suddenly noticed the object gripped in Lee Se-hun's right hand.
'A... hammer...?'
While Miles was flustered by the incomprehensible sight, Lee Se-hun, now on the arena, narrowed his eyes at the Glorious Sword.
'Just as I thought...'
Not just the blade, but the Origin's golden sword qi had seeped deep inside. At a glance, it might look like the sword was simply brimming with qi, but the reality was different.
'It's been tainted by the sword qi.'
A sword was meant to cut down everything except itself.
Thus, it must never be tainted by what it holds or what it cuts.
If even a little of something else mixed in, it would become an entirely different sword from the start.
'Even if that something is an ancestor's sword qi.'
Having decided on how to repair it, Lee Se-hun moved behind Jake. At that sight, Miles's eyes darkened deeply.
'No killing intent, but...'
For whatever reason, if he touched Jake, the control over the sword qi could slip, and everyone could get hurt.
Even with safety measures in place, it was risky, so the moment Miles resolved to subdue Lee Se-hun...
[Just let him be.]
A calm voice rang in his ear.
Turning his gaze at the sound, Miles looked perplexed at Aria, who was watching from below the arena.
'Let this just happen...?'
If it were anyone else, he would have dismissed it as nonsense, but since it was Aria—who had never spoken idly before—he hesitated.
As Miles pondered, Lee Se-hun positioned himself directly behind Jake and swung the Black Flame Hammer back.
Kaang!
He struck the hazy blade of the Glorious Sword with all his might.
"Kuh?!"
A powerful vibration rang out, feeling like it would tear his grip apart.
Jake, fully focused on absorbing the sword qi, was startled but instinctively gripped the handle tight.
Craaaack!
A massive crack spread across the entire blade, with blue light leaking from the fissures.
Jake's face paled at the precarious sight, as if it would shatter any moment—but what actually happened was different.
Wuuung—
The mana particles sparkling like stars across the Glorious Sword's blade connected through the cracks, naturally growing brighter.
And the moment that blue light pushed out all the golden sword qi that had dyed the Glorious Sword...
Sususu.
The Origin's sword qi began to turn blue.
"Wha..."
The Origin, which passed down ancestral sword qi to anyone.
The family emblem and guiding light—seeing that sword dyed in a distant descendant's color, blue sword qi, made Miles's eyes widen in shock.
'What in the world just...'
Frozen in disbelief at the unimaginable scene, Miles was at a loss. Jake, holding the Glorious Sword, was the same.
"Th-this is..."
A sensation on a whole different level from when he had taken in the Origin's sword qi.
His arms trembled from the overwhelming fullness that filled his hands to the bursting point.
Because the Glorious Sword, which had felt much lighter than a similar-sized two-handed sword, suddenly felt hundreds of times heavier.
'Wait...'
No matter how strong his grip strength, bearing the weight was another matter.
Before the crushing heaviness could topple him, he reflexively loosened his grip.
Pakang!
The Glorious Sword's blade shattered into pieces.
"Ah..."
Blue particles scattered into the air.
As the immense weight that had weighed on the Glorious Sword vanished like a lie, Jake realized what had happened.
'I couldn't handle my own sword qi...?'
He, who had naturally accepted an ancestor's sword qi said to be near Summit Climber level, couldn't withstand the one he created himself.
As he stared blankly at the hilt alone, dumbfounded by the absurdity...
"Tsk..."
Lee Se-hun, standing beside him, wore an ambiguous expression.
"That's strange... This shouldn't have happened..."
Muttering with a puzzled look. Just as Jake was about to ask what he meant...
"You!"
Miles, belatedly snapping out of it, approached Lee Se-hun and grabbed his shoulder with his bare hand.
"What did you just do to Jake's sword? Did you create that blue sword qi? How in the world..."
Still unable to sort his thoughts, Miles spoke excitedly. Naturally, strength entered the hand gripping his shoulder, distorting Lee Se-hun's expression at the pressure.
'This guy's grip control...'
Had he forgotten he was an A-grade hero and the other was a cadet? As the pressure increased instead of letting up, just as Lee Se-hun was about to move...
Slap!
Miles's hand was swatted away, pulling Lee Se-hun's body back.
"Are you alright?"
A hand gently supporting his waist and Aria standing in front like a knight shielding him. Seeing her stance, Lee Se-hun looked awkward.
"Yeah. Seems... nothing's broken."
"Good. That's a relief."
Aria smiled softly, released her hand, and turned to Miles, who still hadn't grasped the situation.
"Uncle, you should calm down a bit."
"What? What do you... Oh."
Looking alternately at his swatted hand and Lee Se-hun's shoulder, Miles finally realized and looked flustered.
"S-sorry. I got too excited..."
"It happens. I'll look after our guest until you've sorted your thoughts. Jake?"
"Y-yes!"
Jake, who had been watching the exchange, quickly responded to Aria's call.
He knew better than anyone that the smile on his sister's face meant she was quite displeased.
"Come up once Uncle has calmed down."
Understanding that she wanted to talk to Lee Se-hun alone, Jake nodded promptly.
"A-alright."
He had many questions about what just happened, but bringing them up now insensitively would make life hell.
Satisfied with her brother's response, Aria smiled and turned to Lee Se-hun.
"Shall we go up and talk then?"
Having neatly taken control of the situation and ready to lead him away, Aria made Lee Se-hun realize anew who held the highest position here, forcing a wry smile as he replied.
"Sure, let's go."
Lee Se-hun emerged into the rear courtyard of the villa and sat across from Aria at a round table.
"Hmm..."
Aria propped her chin on one hand, staring intently.
Her long hair shimmered gold in the sunlight, and her deeply set eyes gleamed like carved gold.
An appearance that inspired admiration and intimidation in any beholder.
But every time Lee Se-hun saw her, memories from before his regression overlaid the scene.
'This one's just another worthless sword.'
Aria looking down at him with bored eyes and a weary mutter. And his own hands stained with blood.
That loathsome sight made Lee Se-hun's eyes narrow slightly—
[Awakening Dream has activated.]
Whoosh—!
A chilling sensation swept away the clutter in his mind.
Confirming the overlaid memories had vanished, Lee Se-hun sighed inwardly.
'This is a sickness too.'
He had to separate pre-regression events as much as possible, but some parts were hard.
As Lee Se-hun organized his slightly jumbled thoughts...
"During the exchange meet, I thought it was ambiguous."
Watching him, Aria smiled softly.
"You really do dislike me, don't you?"
"..."
He tried to hide his emotions as best he could, but it wasn't easy in front of someone as perceptive as Aria.
Since it was a situation he'd half-expected, Lee Se-hun pulled out his prepared response.
"I have my pride as a blacksmith too."
"Pride?"
"How could I like someone who treats a sword I made like a mere stick?"
"..."
Aria's eyes widened slightly at Lee Se-hun's answer before she covered her mouth and let out a small laugh.
"I see. I overlooked that."
A reason even she had to acknowledge—Aria smiled contentedly as she looked at him.
"Then I'll have to refine myself more. I don't like being hated by someone I fancy."
"...Yeah, you should."
Lee Se-hun snorted inwardly at Aria openly pointing out her own lack of skill.
'If you really liked it, a bond would have formed. Lies...'
Her reaction when first praising Jake's sword was the same—Aria's responses couldn't be judged at face value.
'That's why I didn't want to show her anything.'
Wondering if even what he'd just shown hadn't backfired, as Lee Se-hun pondered...
"That sword you made earlier."
Gauging his reaction, Aria gave a faint smile.
"It was quite intriguing."
A lukewarm response compared to Miles's shock. But Lee Se-hun realized this one was genuine, unlike before, and looked surprised.
'That's all it gets?'
He'd only tinkered because he spotted a flaw while glancing at it, yet to receive such a favorable review for a hero-grade weapon.
As Lee Se-hun felt awkward, Aria continued.
"The 'fragment' contained in the Origin is a highly fluid power. It fills what's empty in the opponent, and conversely, when full, it seeks to fill its own voids."
Aria explained the ancestral sword qi—more precisely, the source of the power that created it.
Lee Se-hun pondered briefly before asking.
"So, the blade of the Glorious Sword that Jake first created had voids in it."
"Exactly. Though if we trace the cause, it's our foolish little brother, but..."
"That's what a craftsman's skill compensates for."
Aria looked at him intrigued as he perfectly intercepted what she was about to say.
"You're fascinating. We've barely met, yet you feel familiar. Is this what they call good chemistry?"
"I'm just used to dealing with people."
Lee Se-hun refused to agree even politely to the notion of good chemistry.
His appearance—like a wild dog on a leash, unable to move yet baring teeth and growling to the end—made Aria chuckle unwittingly.
'He's really fun.'
How long had it been since she'd thought this while talking to someone? Growing more curious about Lee Se-hun, Aria brought up the most fitting topic.
"Anyway, I have a proposal for you."
"A proposal?"
"Jake finally got a decent sword, but at this rate, he'll keep using it sloppily. Can you help?"
"Hmm..."
After pondering Aria's proposal, Lee Se-hun asked calmly.
"What's the compensation?"
"Anything within reason that I can provide."
A rather vague answer, but if Aria said that much, it meant she'd accommodate almost anything.
"Then I'll do it."
Aria smiled satisfied at Lee Se-hun's straightforward acceptance.
"He's a lacking brother, but please take care of him."
"Don't worry. I'll head out now."
"Alright. Take care."
Bowing his head slightly and turning toward the villa interior, Lee Se-hun suddenly remembered something and asked without turning.
"What happened during your inheritance ceremony, senpai?"
How had the fragment in the Origin reacted to Aria's talent? Silence fell briefly at the question.
"Great-grandfather's sword qi."
Aria's bored reply came.
"It was a bit brighter than yours."
The ancestral sword qi had long been replaced by a superior swordsman's. Lee Se-hun muttered inwardly at the answer surpassing his expectations.
'What luck.'
Confirming once more that he and Aria just didn't match.