Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Wretchedness
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"Then."
Iven headed straight back to wash up like that, while Bulki brushed the dirt off himself and sat down to rest on a nearby stone staircase. But there was no way Riu would let it slide.
"Are you drunk on that Hero talk from blabbing away in the market, Bulki? You're not even fit to take along on this Sun Forest investigation mission."
"Haha, well, it has nothing to do with the former Hero, and besides, this isn't even my sword..."
"Your sword? You're still a babe who doesn't even know how to hold a sword properly. No matter if a Hero wielded it, can you call it a sword when a babe like you picks it up?!"
Bulki pulled out his own sword from the corner and said,
"Well, it seems like a one-handed sword, but there's this long blade at the base of the hilt, so I can't grip it with two hands. And if I try grabbing the upper part, the hammer head is too heavy to keep my balance."
"If you can barely lift a sword and manifest some ability, does that make you a knight? You'd be better off carrying a staff!"
As Riu said, Bulki still couldn't properly handle his own sword.
"It's not about skill. Your grit is rotten to the core."
Riu glanced around the original spot, then drew her own sword. Bulki paled, stammering excuses, but Riu barked at him.
"Take your stance."
"I, uh, I should go now..."
"Your hometown friend, Iven, was it? Why did you deliberately lose to him?"
"Huh? No, it's not like that."
Riu narrowed her sharp eyes even further at the sheepish Bulki and asked again.
"You can't fool my eyes, Bulki. Your friend came at you with everything he had, ready to win. But you didn't. Whether it's brotherhood or whatever, that's insulting to someone who gave their all!"
From Riu's sturdy build-which no one would peg as a woman in her early thirties once armored-battle spirit burned red-hot. Bulki trembled under it.
"Pick up your sword! You babe knight from Brnaun. Before this mission, I'll rip out that rotten grit root and stem."
"Ah, please spare..."
Bang!
***
-There were times I wished you were a worthless, wicked human.
-But the more I did, the curse of wretchedness fell on me.
-That's why I...
"Iven?"
"Ah, sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment."
Iven was getting his swollen arm-bruised from blocking Bulki's sword-treated by Hyeon. Hyeon eyed him disapprovingly and said,
"You've blown your entire salary on demon exploration reports, sword attribute studies, and those maps hanging in the office. And meeting me here at the infirmary every morning before work? It's time to stop, Iven. Even if not quitting outright, think about your body and cut back."
"Thank you, Captain. But this is all I can do. Did you look over my request for a new sword from a few days ago?"
"Sending a formal request between the same 3rd Knight Order is pretty audacious, but the research topic is valid. Studies on sword attributes by color have existed for a while, but research on omens and ability manifestation was practically impossible."
Hyeon's expression soured as he said it. Iven sat up and replied,
"Knights manifest abilities too quickly and vanish. Captain, I believe all knights can manifest before real combat. It's just a matter of time. Not even first battles after knighting anymore-now even squires who haven't drawn swords are being drafted..."
"The number of demons hiding in Helred has grown since the second demon invasion. To cut to the chase, Iven: your sword's omen hasn't changed clearly yet. The sticky fluid secreted from the pale purple blade hasn't increased in volume, and no other changes. Regrettably, you'll stick to document duty until the next omen."
"That's fine. I'm gathering info my way."
Iven gave a bitter smile. Hyeon patted his back lightly and continued,
"Iven, in all research and study, impatience is defeat. That's how the 3rd Knight Order fights. I claim you're my favorite regular knight, so for your sake, I'll make sure the test happens this time."
There were no clear rules in the order for switching roles once assigned. After all, knights got drafted and died before then. Moved by Hyeon's promise to push the delayed test for his sake, Iven could only muster a wry smile.
"Thank you for always thinking well of me. I'll be going now, Captain."
"As always, it's Hyeon. I'm just another researcher like you."
Iven didn't want to sit and research-he wanted the front lines, not some mere researcher spot. Hyeon's words stung his heart more than the arm Bulki hit.
"Oh, Iven-File Sub says to hurry and return those books."
Iven dragged his even more wretched steps away.
***
Bulki stumbled back. His helmet, which had withstood a single blow, lay torn like paper, rolling on the ground.
Suddenly, Bulki exhaled roughly, slammed down his hammer-shaped sword, and lightning crackled along its arc-the ground erupted. But Riu dodged lightly as if expecting it, her red blade tip aimed at Bulki's left shoulder.
"Hup!"
Bulki ducked urgently, readjusted his hammer, and thrust the blade at the hilt base toward Riu. The instant the surged earth crumbled and dust hung frozen in the air, his thrust path cleared. But in that split second, Riu's eyes gleamed murderously,
Bang!
A massive explosion followed.
"Ha, I lost. I kept saying I lost!"
Riu sheathed her sword gracefully, smiling in satisfaction at Bulki, who lay sprawled without knowing what hit him.
"It was the moment. A single moment decides victory. Think about what made you hesitate when you aimed for my shoulder. Your friend might know."
"Iven? Yeah, he's amazing. He's the real Hero material."
Bulki lay spread-eagled, catching his breath. He swallowed and said,
"That guy's... gonna be an even greater knight than me."
"But that knight Iven is twisted somehow. Do you know?"
"What do you mean, Captain?"
Riu turned her head and answered,
"Rahav. Look where your friend's sword tip points."
"The sword tip?"
She approached Bulki again, holding her sword before his eyes. Bulki flinched back in surprise but pondered her words.
"In that moment, all you need is the will to cut the enemy. A sword with that will never wavers, always aimed true. That's a knight's fate. But Iven's sword always points at you. That's his truth."
"That's fine by me."
"No, listen well. You've accepted your fate, and before becoming a Hero, you're my knight and trusted subordinate. That's my sword-its tip forever at your foes. But Iven's ignores enemies entirely. It doesn't think ahead. It only truly seeks to surpass you alone. You want to make him wretched?"
Despite the grave advice, Bulki grinned again.
"That's why it's fine, Captain. Since we were kids, that guy's always right. He knows right from wrong in everything. Whenever I lost my way, Iven always led me with justice. My friend, Iven-he's my sword."
"Your sword?"
"My good sword likes saving people more than cutting enemies. So if Iven's aiming at me, I'd gladly die. That'd be right. You wouldn't get it, Captain-it's a promise we made as childhood friends under a tree."
Riu withdrew her sword meaningfully and said,
"Is that so? Then even Hero-elect is twisted somehow."
She assumed a perfect sword draw stance, eyes filled with killing intent, and shouted,
"Fine, then! Go ahead and act like the babe you are. On your feet-sword up... Knight!"
"Please!"
Bang!
***
Iven was leaving the barracks then, heading for the southern wall. His handmade leather bag bulged with today's borrowed books, but the messenger pouch on the right chest of his 3rd Knight Order light armor was stuffed with letters.
Compared to the 1st or 2nd Orders' armor, it used far less steel-simple pauldrons, greaves, and gauntlets-but the messenger pouch was forged as tough as the 2nd Order's shields.
"Knight sir, thank you again today."
"Yerutsa Rahav."
"Headed to the wall? Mind delivering this wine?"
"Hey, mister! How about arm-wrestling at the tavern later? Looks like our chance for commoners to beat a knight order."
"This flower, for you, Knight sir."
"Thank you."
Humans, elves, beastkin, dwarves-amid cheers, affectionate jabs from all races, Iven headed east through the market.
To where he belonged.
Unaware his wretchedness was about to explode.