Chapter 176

Chapter 176

HEL SCANS

[Translator Peptobismol]

[Proofreader Demon God]

A garden of steel stretched out before them. Weapons sprouted from the ground, casting a chilly light. The entire crater seemed filled with them, with enough to number in the tens of thousands, at least.

It was just as Navirose had described. Inexperienced participants began to murmur in confusion, unable to contain their astonishment.

Wh-what is all this? Are we supposed to find the Holy Sword here?

Is this magic?

It feels like weve been possessed by ghosts. But seriously, theres something off about these weapons, isnt there?

Ronan was equally bewildered. Despite living two lives, he had never witnessed such a sight. After a while of fidgeting, he asked Allogin.

What kind of magic is this?

Um just wait a moment. It seems I never quite get used to it, even after all these years.

Fatigue was evident on Allogins face. The other elders and even Zaifa were in a similar state. They all looked worse for wear, as if they hadnt slept for three days straight. Allogin took a deep breath before speaking.

Sorry about that. Calling forth the Sword Spirits is no small feat. It requires all seven elders to perform rituals and stay at the Holy Land.

Sword Spirits?

Ronan cocked his head. It was a new term for him. Judging from the context, it seemed to be related to the rumored weapons possessed by spirits, occasionally whispered about. Weapons that could fly to you out of nowhere and stab your enemies, for example. Allogin explained further.

Yes. Simply put, Sword Spirits are souls imbued within weapons.

Ah like those weapons that move and talk on their own? Is it related to that?

Ah, you mean Ego Weapons. Yes, indeed. When Sword Spirits become exceptionally strong, such artifacts are born. What youre seeing before you are the Sword Spirits of the weapons dedicated to Parzan. Theyre manifestations of the Sword Spirits, beings akin to ghosts, dreaming without departing from the world, even after losing their physical forms.

Upon hearing the term ghosts, Ronan frowned. Allogin explained that all the blade tips standing before them were ethereal. No wonder the atmosphere felt even more eerie, with the wind blowing chillier than before.

Whats the principle behind this? Frankly, it feels rather unsettling.

The exact nature isnt fully understood. We elders speculate that it stems from the bond and attachment with the owner. But experiencing it firsthand would be quicker than explaining. Want to give it a try?

Allogin pointed at the longsword standing before Ronan. Ronan hesitantly gripped the hilt.

!

In that moment, sensations akin to electric shocks surged through his mind as scenes flashed before his eyes. A man charging through a battlefield, a sword piercing through enemy armor, screams and clashing of metal reverberating from all sides. It was like watching someones entire life unfold before him.

What the hell?

Startled, Ronan flung the sword away. As the vision abruptly ended, his vision returned to normal.

Though only a few seconds had passed in reality, it felt like an eternity had gone by. It was a sensation similar to what he had experienced in the Mental World. Swaaah! The wavering sword collapsed, dissipating into wisps of gas. Allogin chuckled, stroking his beard.

Thats the Sword Spirit, the dreams harbored by these weapons. They reminisce about the days they shared blood with their owners. Now, lets get started.

Wait a moment. So, the ritual?

You guessed it right.

Ronan was about to say something, but Allogin and the other elders lowered their weapons simultaneously. Allogin addressed the participants.

You all just need to wander around this Holy Land and pick up any weapon you suspect to be the Holy Sword. If its not the Holy Sword, it will soon turn to vapor and disappear, so theres no need to worry about confusion. Youre free to try as many times as you want, but be careful, every time you touch one of them, the memories of the sword will come flooding in, so choose wisely.

Allogin explained that the ritual would continue until the sun completely set today. Judging from the color of the sky, they had roughly two to three hours left. He also emphasized the importance of caution when choosing a weapon. One of the participants raised their hand to ask a question.

What does the influx of memories have to do with how many times we draw?

Once you grip it, youll know right away. Bearing the weight of a single history comes with surprisingly immense fatigue. There have been several participants who, by rashly touching the swords, ended up with their own identities damaged, so please handle with care.

Indeed, Ronan felt a fatigue akin to having just sprinted outside. It was fortunate he let go promptly; otherwise, he would have suffered unnecessarily until fully drawn out.

Geez, you scared me.

Arent you looking for the Holy Sword?

Lynn smirked. Her characteristic poker face and dry tone were subtly annoying. Ronan turned his head back to look below the mountain.

Mind your own business. If I were the chosen one, I would have found it long ago.

Your attitude is terrible. Even if you succeed in life, you wont be able to call yourself a gentleman.

I have no interest in listening.

Ronan waved his hand dismissively. He had no interest in searching for the Holy Sword in the first place, so he planned to waste time and then leave. Looking at Ronans back, Lynn approached him at a slow pace. Then, naturally, she sat down on Ronans lap.

Im baffled by you.

Ronan chuckled. This was another unexpected turn of events. Ronan lowered his gaze to see her casually resting the back of her head against his chest.

Your behavior is quite unbecoming of a lady.

The meaning of life lies in doing what you want.

I see. Its heavy, so get down, lady.

Lynn didnt budge. Ronan sighed as if he had expected this, then gently grabbed Lynns hips and lowered her to his side. It wasnt heavy at all, but he was bothered by the fact that she always ended up staining his pants with blood. She stuck her tongue out slightly, as if pouting.

Youre mean.

Noisy. If you were looking for the Holy Sword, why did you come here?

Because of my heart.

Ronan chuckled incredulously. Lynn said she hadnt touched a single one, and Ronan replied that it was the same for him. Sitting side by side, the two of them watched the sunset in silence.

The day was coming to an end. The setting sun contrasted with the pale full moon, creating a surreal scene. Clouds scattered like torn wool seemed to ripen like autumn leaves. Lynn took a deep breath and spoke.

I guess you like sunsets.

Hmm maybe. I used to dislike them, but now theyre not so bad.

Ronan nodded. For him, the sunset wasnt just a simple natural phenomenon. It was the last scenery he saw before his death. Lynn asked.

Why?

Just someone I know once gave a unique explanation that I liked. They said it was the final struggle of the dying sun.

Final struggle? Interesting.

Yeah. They said the sun burns red because its struggling to stay alive, like searching for firewood to keep the flames going. I dont know why, but I liked that explanation.

It was a conversation shared on the hills of Sagye in Adeshan. It was a memory of late summer youth that he hadnt experienced in his previous life. It was hard to believe that it had already been two years. Ronan joyfully explained what had happened at the time. Lynn, seeing his determined eyes soften slightly, chuckled.

Hmm. So thats the person Navirose was talking about. It wont be easy.

What are you talking about?

Never mind. I guess its better than some guy who flirts around. But theres something Im curious about. A very, very important question.

She suddenly turned her head and faced Ronan. Her eyes, as white as her hair, felt transparent beyond clarity. She had always seemed mysterious to him. But why did she want to ask such an important question, even using very, very twice? Lynn spoke up.

The Holy Sword. Would you like to have it?

[TL/N: can I have her instead? :3]

HEL SCANS

[Translator Peptobismol]

[Proofreader Demon God]

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