Chapter 20
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: I Won't Allow It
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In the Holy Kingdom of Hellite, besides Luke Seid, there were two more knights in the Crystal Realm.
Even if they couldn't match Luke's divine power and skill, those two combining forces would have no trouble passing through the rock.
The moment they did?
A righteous and holy interrogation awaited me—a pleasant premonition.
"Let's hurry."
"We'll follow you, Holy Knight sir."
Our footsteps quickened.
I split Requiya and the backpack between us, and took both wooden staves myself.
I handed Bong's unbroken sword to Requiya.
"Do you know how to use a sword?"
"It'd be faster to find a weapon I can't use."
Requiya grinned.
His old-man way of talking and phrasing—I'd gotten used to it by now.
"I should go first. That way they won't get suspicious."
"Won't they suspect you once the bonds are undone?"
"I'll say I undid them to search the rock for the Insight Ability. If Reyes sticks his face in to check, I'll kill him first."
Requiya held up a large leather pouch.
It was the one with Bong's head inside.
"Five escorts, right? Be careful."
"Thank you. Please come up slowly."
Smart, even without the Insight Ability.
A demon I'd met just hours ago.
My head couldn't trust him.
But my heart was leaning on him.
Probably because I'd heard his story.
'That demon spoke no lies.'
As if forcing myself to trust Requiya once more, I patted my chest with my palm.
While Requiya climbed the rope, I looked around the Sanctuary.
Heels together in attention stance, I saluted the altar.
'Rest well.'
Finally.
Finally, escape.
"Dokdo is my land..."
I stroked the characters 「Dokdo」 one last time, then grabbed the rope.
Requiya had climbed so fast he'd already exited the hole and vanished from sight.
"Silver Star, you asleep?"
I called out to Silver Star while climbing the rope.
Silver Star was snoring away soundly.
How exhausted must it have been to sleep sprawled out for days? It wouldn't notice even if carried on someone's back. Though I was already carrying it.
What a pitiful thing.
It had slept far more than the time we'd spent talking since we met.
"We're going outside now. Wake up. Time to see the world."
The passage was nearly vertical, but not quite.
Hands pulling the rope, feet bracing against the walls.
Mechanically repeating the motion, I surged upward fast.
Moving my body made my heart pound.
That heat fought off the cold.
The pounding quickened again.
Expectation and hope for a new world...
Chaeeng-!
And an ominous premonition.
Kagagak-!
Metal groaning.
Kyang-! Chaek! Kaeng!
The sounds drawing closer.
My heartbeat went doot doot doot doot.
Requiya's plan must have failed.
The bond forged in the Sanctuary might vanish outside it—a premonition.
- "Thank you. Please come up slowly."
His last farewell...
The start and end of a bond depends on how I respond. Tend it sincerely and it lasts; neglect it and it fades naturally.
The thought tightened my grip on the rope.
'Even if it's his personal revenge.'
No fitting shoes, so I was barefoot.
My feet felt like they were digging into the rock.
'It's my bond.'
Still, Requiya seemed to be holding his own.
If one of the escorts was sharp, wouldn't they have cut the rope first?
'Maybe Requiya's fighting a tough battle just to protect the rope.'
I focused my strength on my arms and legs.
My heart froze as if on cue.
Jjeojeok- A hallucination of freezing.
"Uhuk-!"
Kakak-!
Requiya's scream and the sound of blocking a blade came simultaneously.
Idiot.
One against many is never easy.
I'd expected more from a demon, but he wasn't some grand demon.
Come to think of it, he didn't seem very demonic at all.
A grandfather who'd lost his grandchild.
A father who'd lost his son and daughter-in-law.
A husband who'd lost his wife.
...A pitiful demon, better defined as a victim. Just one man.
Heok- heok-. Frost puffed from my mouth.
How many meters left?
Almost there.
I yanked the rope with all my might and kicked off.
Kwaaang-!
Huduuk-!
I leaped up in one go, taking in the battlefield.
A white and beautiful world unfolded.
Maxing out Blue Eye made time flow slowly.
'Stupid demon bastard.'
Maybe Requiya didn't care about revenge at all.
The perplexity in his upturned eyes proved it.
Eudeuk- I ground my teeth, and my left canine cracked. Better avoid mirrors for a while.
【Protector..., why are you so angry?】
The ability within me stretched lazily.
Silver Star's drowsy voice from its nap made the tip of my nose tingle with joy.
My body warmed faintly.
'You planned to sacrifice yourself for my escape.'
Heh heh heh. I told you to come up slowly.
In the halted time, I seemed to hear the demon's voice.
A young man's face, setting revenge aside to repay a debt—his eyes said it all.
Blood flowed from his left arm, cleanly severed at the shoulder.
No lingering attachments to life left, the fresh blood freely stained the pristine snowfield.
'How agonizing was your life?'
Requiya gave no answer.
He just swung his crude sword at the enemies' necks.
Requiya was exhausted, and the enemies' swords were faster.
"Die, traitor!"
"I'll chop off your limbs and feed them to the snow wolves!"
"Accept your death!"
The two wooden staves on my back were a nuisance.
The backpack got in the way too.
Just cumbersome.
Seureung-.
I drew Charles' greatsword anyway.
'I command you—all powers dwelling in my body—.'
...Come to me.
Slowed time reclaimed its dignity.
I had to save him.
If we'd bonded enough for me to hear hallucinations, that is.
Demon or not.
"I—!"
Keureureung-!
Before my roar could shake the peak and echo back.
"I won't allow it!"
I kicked off the air and dove ferociously.
Not quite as fast as when I'd parasitized Luke's body, but plenty quick.
Vision blurred, but I didn't lose sight of my fixed target, swinging the sword with all my might.
Kwaaaaang-!
The quietly piled snow couldn't withstand the impact and scattered to pieces.
A blizzard thicker than fog rose, obscuring the people.
The fierce clash's aftermath shook my innards.
'Too bad.'
The first attack was blocked by a shield raised in time.
Now I knew why intruders in the Sanctuary had been so few.
Reyes' escorts were clad in plate armor and shields.
Kwaang-!
Barefoot, I shoved the shield and kicked to create distance, then checked on Requiya.
'Too late...'
An escort's sword was buried in Requiya's heart.
Requiya gripped the intruding blade with both hands, glaring at his stabber.
Blood trickled from his grinning mouth.
Blood dripped from his steadfastly clutching hands.
His eyes dimmed all the more.
Half-lidded eyes formed a triumphant smile.
"Kuhuhu. You die before me."
A signal to me.
"Eek-! Let go!"
Kung-.
I shoulder-charged the escort blocking my path, barreling through. A gap opened.
"Uuk-!"
Reaching Requiya's side, I brought down the high-raised sword.
His arm lay in the sword's path.
The stabber released his sword and staggered back.
'I predicted that move, you bastard.'
Waist, shoulder, elbow, wrist—all twisting as one muscle. The sword I'd aimed at his arm bent vertically toward his neck.
Swish-!
The greatsword cleaved where his neck had been. A spot unprotected by plate armor.
I felt a sword raised high behind me.
No time to turn.
"Hap!"
I ducked till my head nearly touched the ground, leg shooting straight out. My foot blade precisely kicked his neck.
"Guk-!"
The sharp thrust at my side—I spun my body and smacked it away with the greatsword.
Kkaang-!
Using the spin's momentum, I swung repeatedly.
My folded arm extended, adding power.
Target: empty flank.
Kwang-!
The escort struck in the side by the sword staggered sideways messily before barely halting.
'I can't slice plate yet.'
Still.
One beheaded, three shocked.
The escorts, eyes wide in horror, couldn't muster a charge.
"This, this— Acting all high and mighty, where'd you drag in a freak like that?"
A guy in an expensive fur coat sat where the voice came from, jeering.
The fresh red wound on his cheek showed Requiya's plan had failed by a hair's breadth.
"Hey, what mercenary outfit you from? Come under me—I'll treat you like palace escort—."
"Shut your trap, bastard. Before I rip it."
"Wha—what! You dare! Do you know who I am?!"
I ignored his continued yapping.
Fumbling in my pants pocket, I grabbed whatever and tossed it to Requiya.
"Eat."
Scraped-up Toolsep.
Different race from me or not, wasn't this my first bond in this world?
I hoped those glazed eyes didn't fade.
"Yaa-!"
"Haap-!"
I couldn't afford to focus solely on Requiya.
Three swords thrust in unison.
Movements honed through long pincer training.
'Haa—getting stronger ain't easy.'
In that brief instant, unable to find a way through, I noticed my frozen body and let out a light sigh.
【Protector! Silver Star likes you, but you don't have to be you in a fight! Become the great Holy Knight Luke Seid and fight!】
As I rolled every which way to dodge and block, Silver Star—still groggy from sleep—offered advice.
【The great Holy Knight Luke Seid ain't some shit-tier nobody! No need to refuse! You've been fighting just like Luke so far!】
Angry tone and voice, but better than snide mockery.
I chuckled.
'You're right.'
I'd relied on Blue Eye to read their intents and predict paths ahead, wielding a sword I wasn't used to.
Even that was just basics honed from the stone wall inscriptions.
"Huuu—."
Sword in midguard, I exhaled long.
I didn't deactivate Blue Eye. It was my lifeline, my last bastion.
Relaxing my body, I lowered the raised sword.
I read the bluish phantoms showing how they'd come at me.
Layered my senses atop them and focused.
'I can feel it.'
The tingling on my skin forewarned threats. Enemy mana surged like tentacles.
Sword plunging diagonally at my left neck—I charged right into its path.
Luke's instinct for destructive swordplay infused the footwork.
'I was Luke.'
I weighted the thrust under his arm and slashed horizontally.
'I am Luke.'
Kwa jj eoek-!
"Keueuehe-!"
Waist roughly severed—he'd die soon.
Ignoring the scream of shock and pain, I charged the next.
The sword tried to move on its own.
'I am Luke, and I am not Luke.'
Luke's body wielding non-Luke swordsmanship.
Imposing my will made the sword's path waver faintly.
Kwa jak-!
"Kraaak-!"
The arm in the greatsword's path fell off.
"Su-suddenly!"
"Kill him! I said kill him!"
The escort floundered in panic, mouth agape; the spectating prince fell on his ass. The fur coat pointed at me, screaming like a colosseum spectator.
One escort left.
I spun with my crouched legs as pivot, sweeping the floor with my extended other leg.
"Ubeok-!"
Kung-!
As the ankle-kicked bastard flailed trying to stand, I cleaved his neck.
The snowfield stained red.
"That bastard da-dares against palace escorts..."
"Who the he-hell are... guk-!"
Reyes and the escort clutching his severed arm opened their mouths at once; I shoved a sword into one.
"Overlapping audio's annoying."
I stared indifferently at the wide-eyed bastard foaming as he died.
"In Luke Seid's name, I command you to perish. Got it?"
"Gruk-, aruruk-."
"Answering with foam like a king crab? You're talented."
It was my masterpiece gag, but no one laughed.