Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Black Dragon Sword
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I ran my fingertips over the scabbard of the Black Dragon Sword.
To think the decorative sword went up for auction as a precious item, while the one actually used is just lying around in a place like this.
Its shabby, abandoned state felt like I was looking at myself.
Hiding my complicated feelings, I asked the merchant a question.
I had to buy it, no matter what.
"How much for this sword?"
"Ah, that one? The price is five geld, but it already has a buyer."
"It's on the display stand. What do you mean, it has a buyer?"
"Someone reserved it yesterday..."
The price of the Black Dragon Sword was a mere five gold coins.
Barely more than an ordinary iron sword.
It seemed the merchant had no idea of the sword's true value.
I immediately tried to negotiate.
"I'll pay double."
"Even so, how can I sell an item that's already been sold?"
"You can just make an excuse and give the buyer his money back, can't you? Here, triple."
"Ahem!"
As I held up another finger, the black market merchant's face flushed.
A serious conflict was clearly raging in his mind.
"I don't know when I'll put my fingers down. Just remember, you don't have much time. Four times the price!"
"Ugh!"
The merchant suddenly reached for the Black Dragon Sword.
He looked like he was about to hand it over if I haggled just a little more.
But then the black market merchant's face contorted, and he snatched his hand back.
"I'm sorry, but I can't sell it."
"What? Why?"
"Because the buyer just arrived."
Following the merchant's gaze, I turned my head and saw a handsome boy with a slender build.
His hair, the color of the clear blue sky, and his green eyes gave him a mystical air.
The boy walked straight to the stand and greeted the merchant.
"Hello."
"Ah, you're here. I've set the item out for you."
"Thank you."
"Heh heh! Well then, take care."
Before I could say anything, the black market merchant quickly handed over the Black Dragon Sword.
It seemed he wanted to get rid of the item before he was swayed any further.
Just like me, who had just left the VIP auction house.
I had no choice but to follow the blue-haired boy and stop him.
I couldn't let the Black Dragon Sword fall into the wrong hands.
"Wait!"
"Huh? What is it?"
Startled by a stranger suddenly speaking to him, the boy looked slightly wary.
The black market was relatively secure, but one could never be too careful.
Villains who covet others' belongings exist everywhere.
His guarded reaction was only natural.
"Don't be alarmed. I just called out to you because I have a proposal."
"A proposal for me? I'm sorry, but I'm bound to my family."
"No, not that kind. Aren't you a bit full of yourself? I just started talking to you, and you think it's a recruitment offer?"
"Oh... Then what is it?"
"Would you consider selling that sword to me?"
"I only bought this because my spirit likes it."
"Huh? Why are you suddenly bringing up spirits?"
"Because..."
"Ah, never mind. I get it, hold on. You're from the Ties family, aren't you?"
On the continent of Rivius, the mention of spirits should bring only one place to mind.
The Ties family, a clan of spirit contractors nestled in the northwestern corner of the continent.
'The Ties family doesn't use weapons.'
Recalling that fact, I had a feeling this would be easy to resolve.
"You people don't use weapons anyway. I'll pay you handsomely for it, so how about selling it to me?"
"It just has a unique color; it doesn't seem like a particularly special sword. Why do you need it?"
"..."
The boy's question left me speechless.
The incident from eighteen years ago suddenly came to mind.
I couldn't explain everything that happened back then, and it wasn't like he would understand anyway.
Thinking fast, I started to fabricate a plausible story.
First, I placed a hand on my forehead to create a somber mood.
Was my once-in-a-millennium talent manifesting in acting as well?
As I gathered my emotions, a voice soaked in sorrow emerged naturally.
"There's a very, very deep story behind it."
"A story?"
"Actually, that sword is a memento left by my mother."
With a wistful look, I pointed toward the hilt of the Black Dragon Sword.
Then I drew some curvy letters on the ground.
"If you look below the guard, you'll find these ancient characters. They say, 'In memory of my son, Ray.'"
"Then, the person named Ray is...?"
"Yes. That's me. I lost it due to certain circumstances and have only just found it again. *Sniff*!"
"Ah..."
The boy looked into my teary eyes and held out the Black Dragon Sword, scabbard and all.
"I almost took your mother's memento. My spirit might be upset for a moment, but it will understand my heart soon enough. Please, take it."
"Thank you, little spirit contractor. I'll be sure to pay you for it."
I immediately offered a handful of gold coins, but the boy shook his head.
"I can't accept this much. Please just give me what I paid for it."
"Then I'll have to repay you in some other way, won't I?"
I made the empty offer, bickering back and forth with the boy from the Ties family.
"No. I think it's best if I just leave now. I'll see you again sometime."
"You should at least tell me your name. How else can I repay this kindness later?"
"I am Mac of the Ties family. Well then."
As soon as he revealed his identity, Mac hastily walked away.
Seeing his troubled expression, it seemed his spirit was giving him an earful.
He was only walking slowly, but the boy's figure was swiftly carried far into the distance.
'Oh! It was an earth spirit. Anyway, he handed over the Black Dragon Sword so readily. I can't just let him go.'
I used the Art of Distant Voice Transmission on Mac Ties, who was now far away.
This was a secret art of the Rantzverger family that could transmit one's voice without any trace.
—I am Ray of the Rantzverger family. If you need help, contact me through an Assassination Guild branch.
Startled by the clearly transmitted voice, Mac Ties spun around.
He was shocked by the name Rantzverger.
Leaving the thoroughly bewildered Mac Ties behind, I disappeared into the crowd.
* * *
'Heh! Have you been well, my precious?'
Wuuuuung!
The Black Dragon Sword in my hand hummed incessantly, as if in greeting.
This sound was completely inaudible to ordinary people.
Still, this was a black market under the heavy influence of the Rantzverger family.
There was no telling what kind of skilled individuals might be hiding here.
I quickly headed northeast to leave the Luberick territory.
'No pursuers.'
Fortunately, it seemed no one had heard the Black Dragon Sword's resonance.
I had left without properly recovering from my journey, but it wasn't a major issue.
The Empire had plenty of safe houses to support an agent's travels.
"No one's around. This is the perfect spot."
After traveling for several days far from the trade routes, signs of human life grew sparse.
A forest close to the Vertos Empire, yet bordering the former territory of Riverune.
Because the Riverune family was no longer active here, it had become a lawless land teeming with monsters and bandits.
My return route for the mission happened to be this way, bringing back bitter memories of the past.
Clink!
I stopped walking and turned the Black Dragon Sword over to examine the area below the guard.
There, written in an ancient language, were the words 'Fang of the Black Dragon.'
The inscription I'd told Mac Ties about was a lie from the start.
How could the name Ray be inscribed on a sword used by the Young Lord of Riverune?
"Acting nice is damn hard."
Shhhwing!
I carefully drew the Black Dragon Sword.
A dark, unkempt blade was revealed.
It looked like a worthless iron sword, but I paid it no mind and channeled my aura.
Its current form was merely how the Black Dragon Sword chose to appear.
Its true form was something else entirely.
Tssssssss!
As a pale blue energy flowed along the blade, the caked-on rust flaked off.
At last, the Black Dragon Sword returned to the valiant form it had eighteen years ago.
A sinister sharpness lingered on the sleek blade, and the black hilt fit snugly in my palm.
It exuded an extraordinary air, worthy of being called a masterwork among masterworks.
While I was at it, I decided to test out a sword technique.
Giiiiing—!
As I merged aura and mana, the brightly shining blade instantly darkened.
As if a lunar eclipse were occurring.
When I turned the Black Dragon Sword toward the forest, a ghastly flash of light began to bloom from its tip.
Fwoooosh!
With a sound like escaping steam, a blue disk of light flashed into existence.
The energy erupting from the sword's tip had sliced horizontally through the space before me.
Everything within the flash's range was sheared apart.
Swoosh. Craaack! Thud!
Not only towering trees, but also massive boulders were split and sent tumbling.
The power of the Heaven-Severing Nine Harmony Sword's third form, the Heaven-Severing Lunar Eclipse, was as formidable as ever.
'As expected of the Head's son, his physical constitution and aptitude for martial arts are quite good.'
They were excellent conditions, but I still hadn't fully recovered the martial prowess of my past life.
This was because the surveillance was so strict that I couldn't properly train in Riverune's secret arts.
"This is enough of a test. Shall I head back now?"
Shnk. Click.
I immediately sheathed my sword and was about to walk past the pile of cleanly severed vegetation.
But then, I suddenly heard the thunderous sound of warhorses galloping.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
'Why is a knight order in a place like this?'
Looking beyond the meadow, I saw a group of riders in matching armor and sigils, galloping on horseback.
Upon closer inspection, the knights were being pursued.
Amazingly, their pursuers, armed with only a single sword each, were overwhelming them in mounted combat.
I immediately recognized the identity of the men in blue armor.
The grudge was seared into my very soul.
"Felton...!"