Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Wandering Knight
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Gil couldn't help but think of one woman upon seeing the man's sword.
"Elis..."
Elis Hope. The promising young knight of the 2nd Knight Order, a genius even Graveheim had high hopes for.
She had been part of the Hero party during Gil's first Hero adventure, but they encountered the worst Demon King, and she died-exploding right before his eyes, with no chance for him to save her.
"Elis!"
Gil leaped forward with such speed that not even his shadow could keep up under the moonlight, slashing down at the man who looked like the Demon King, rage consuming him without him even realizing it.
[Exploding Justice].
Boom!
The hard ground erupted in Gil's flames, dyeing the black night in fire.
As ash and dust exploded outward, Gil confirmed his sword blocked by the Demon King once more and gripped it with both hands, pressing down again.
"Remember Elis, Demon King!"
[Justice Burning One].
Boom!
A massive flame explosion sank the earth with a thud. Bison, hurrying down, couldn't approach the surging blaze recklessly and barely blocked it with his sword. The ground was melting. The night was burning. But his justice failed to burn the enemy.
"Ugh?"
The man in black rags swung some invisible something, and in that instant, Gil's flames swirled and got sucked toward one spot.
Right next to Gil's face.
Bang!
Fortunately, Gil twisted his sword to block the explosion, but he had no idea what had just happened.
Nor did the opponent standing leisurely before him. His black rags had burned away completely from Gil's flames, finally revealing his face-but both Gil and Bison could only stare in confusion. For he wore armor emblazoned with the Empire's crest.
Specifically, it was custom-made for captains only-like Riu the 1st Knight Order Captain's-with the left owl-shaped pauldrons chained to the lance rest, and the right arm completely bare, exposing skin. Unlike Gil the senior knight or Bison the regular knight.
"Well, damn."
Moreover, his hair shimmered red, but his skin was snow-white. The man, who looked about Gil's age or a bit older, had loosely hanging hair and red eyes that gave off a vibe similar to Riu's.
"Who's Elis?"
But his sloppy posture and expression lacked any of Riu's noble dignity. Everything about him just felt playful. Not a shred of seriousness.
"Hey, you look like knights... What's with the sudden attack?"
Plus, though muscular, he was shorter than even Bison, and the sword he now pointed at Gil had no blade. Just the hilt.
How had he blocked Gil's massive sword with that? How had he redirected the flames? How had he sliced the exploding heretic leader? Who the hell was he?
Gil pointed his chin at the Empire's crest on the man's strange armor, readjusted his grip on his sword, and asked.
"Are you an imperial knight like us?"
"I figured as much when you charged calling me Demon King. You're Graveheim's subordinate, right? And who's the shorty? A beastkin?"
"I, senior knight Gil of the great Sonain Empire, ask again. Are you a knight?"
"What, you gonna believe me if I say so? Sheesh, freezing my ass off-gotta find some clothes."
This enigmatic man turned to head toward Godel from the inn without a backward glance. Bison glanced back and forth between Gil and him, then whispered to Gil.
"Looks like he's heading to Godel."
Gil watched the man stride past him, trying to sort his bursting thoughts. Clearly a knight on Riu's level, and from the south, including Godel. Yet he'd taken out heretics sent to hunt knights from the south?
And blocked his strongest strike?
"Wait, I'll believe you! And apologize first. I, senior knight Gil, swung my sword in a daze because he wielded a sword just like hers."
Gil planted his sword in the shattered ground, bowed his head, and apologized formally. The man seemed somewhat appeased, stopping in place and turning only his head.
"Eh, forget the apology. And senior knight? You're higher rank than me. Ah, I'll accept it as wandering knight Gaon. If you're heading to Godel after the kin of sin, come along."
"Kin of... sin?"
Gaon looked more shocked at Gil, who exchanged baffled glances with Bison.
"Huh? You really don't know? Then why'd you come here?"
"We're here to find Agagthul, the Inferno Mir in Godel."
"Just you two? Alone? Insane. What the hell are the empire's big shots thinking?"
Gaon laughed like a drunk at the moon, then asked the two in their undergarments amid the swirling sandstorm.
"But hey, same road-wanna keep each other company?"
"I'm knight Bison. You seem skilled and know Godel well, so sure. But why'd you kill the hunters?"
"They were a nuisance. Killed my horse too."
"Then why do you look southern and wear knight armor? What's this kin of sin? And why say our path to find Agagthul is the same?"
Gaon flashed thin, crescent-moon eyes at Gil's question and countered.
"Nah. What you're dying to know is how I blocked your sword. Right?"
Gaon's red eyes pierced Gil's thoughts. Gil averted his gaze slightly. In that moment when his justice wavered again, he recalled his most furious days and made a poor judgment.
But most crucially, Gaon had blocked it with a bladeless sword, as if mocking the shaky justice in Gil's blade.
"My dear friend always said: Rahav, a sword's tip must never waver."
Sheathing the bladeless sword at his waist, Gaon continued in his sloppy stance.
"Fate brought us together-help me out? I'll teach you some swordplay."
"Not buying it."
Gaon nodded at Bison's doubt, then merely gripped the hilt at his waist.
"The sword's name is Shav."
And he sliced.
Shing.
"My name is Gaon."
Without swinging the bladeless sword, heaven and earth split in an instant. The pinnacle of swordsmanship that rent even space, just like the Demon King.
"Both names were once called the 'Sword Emperor,' who bested the empire's greatest sword."
***
In the past, a single trial had produced three talents worthy of becoming knight order captains.
All drew red swords, but one had no visible blade, another changed its color. Truly inheriting that sword was but one.
"I'll become the empire's greatest sword."
"You're still far, Riu."
The man once called this era's true Hero had trained those three.
And back then, he was certain: the three he taught would become swords to change the world. Leading and protecting it more rightly, ultimately becoming Heroes themselves.
"Empire's greatest? Then I'm the Sword Emperor!"
Eden Sonain smiled at the young Gaon like the sun.
"Yeah, you could right now."
He was a genius one with his sword from the start, needing no basic instruction. That was Gaon.
"But you've got more to learn."
Thus, the previous Hero vanished into the witch's forest seeking a Mir, and Gaon left the knight order.
"So, where to now?"
Gaon, still relaxed, answered Riu rolling on the training ground dirt.
"Dunno. Captain's gone, order's stale-gotta head back where I came from, right?"
"I know what you want. I haven't forgotten our vow when we three left there. But we're still weak, exiles of Godel with red hair and white skin."
"That's why we became knights. For the order-no, the empire's help. But I'm sick of it here. Look outside, Riu. Skies are shut, bards sing of sin."
"For promotion, I could..."
He'd never been assigned to any order due to his bladeless sword, so no regrets leaving. Besides, the orders were too small for his sword.
His sword had already reached its pinnacle.
"Nah, forget it. I'm off, Empire's Greatest Sword."
Thus, he became a wandering knight, departing to uncover the world's truth. Dreaming one day of returning to Godel.
***
"So, uncovered the world's truth, wandering knight?"
Gil, fully armored and trudging the Tohou Desert, asked after hearing his tale. Bison covered his mouth against sand, gazing as morning returned. The veiled sky without sun burned red again, and Gaon, walking ahead in that light, replied.
"Just one thing: Before the gods died, things opposing them already existed. The 'kin'."
He gazed at the vast Tohou Desert ahead, somewhere hiding Godel's secret entrance, and continued.
"And one of them has been in Godel since ancient times."