CH 28

The Cursed Holy Sword

Translated by SoundOfDestiny

Edited by Zil

“Your Highness! How could you do such a thing!”

Raidorl left the audience hall and strolled through the palace. Following behind him was Darren Garst, the Thousand Horsemen of the Royal Army. 

Raidorl continues on his way, glancing sideways at Darren as he questions him.

“Why, I was just making sure that…… the contract would not be broken.”

“That’s not an explanation for that. You can’t put a curse on the king…… and face whatever punishment comes your way!”

“Punishment, I suppose, is impossible while the curse is still on.” 　

Because of the curse of the oath, Granard cannot take any action that would harm Raidorl. Until the curse is lifted, Raidorl’s safety is guaranteed.

“The curses of the covenant will soon be broken by the court magicians! Then His Majesty’s anger will be unrelenting and will be directed at you. Please, please apologise to him……”

“Oh, you care for me? That’s very kind of you.”

Raidorl blinked his eyes in surprise.

Darren’s father was Bazel Garst, a general in the kingdom of Zain. Bazel was a close confidant of Granard and was one of the main supporters of the expulsion of Raidorl.

“……It is true that my father was one of the people who were involved in His Highness’ exile in no small part. But it was only to prevent a succession struggle from breaking out when His Highness became the holder of the Holy Sword, not because of any grudge against you.”

“I see. That’s no reason to forgive General Garst, though.”

“…… My father is aware of that. My father was very saddened by the idea of having His Highness driven to the frontier to fight for our convenience.”

“…… I see.”

Raidorl nodded his head in agreement.

When the curse was placed on Granard in the audience room, the knights who were there attacked Raidorl. But Darren, who had been there, stood motionless.

The fact that Darren didn’t take any active action to harm Raidorl may be because he had his own thoughts on the matter.

“Is it sympathy, …… or another emotion? Either way, if you end up on Granard’s side, I won’t spare you.”

“The castle gates are not that way.　Where are you going?”

“…………”

Darren was suspicious of Raidorl, who seemed to be heading in the wrong direction, thinking he was leaving the castle.

Raidorl walked on in silence, without looking back at Daren, until he came to a room.

“This is …….”

This is the room where the national treasure, the holy sword ‘Dáinsleif’ is enshrined.

In front of the room, there are two knights, wide-eyed and surprised by the sudden appearance of the king’s brother and the thousand knights.

“Your Royal Highness, ……! I’m sorry, this is …… without Your Majesty’s permission.”

“Looks like it’s locked. The key is…….”

“No!”

The knight tried to stop Raidorl, who put his hand on the door of the room, Raidorl then proceeded to punch the knight’s face without mercy. The knight was struck with such force that he spun around and fell to the floor in a heap.

Raidorl takes the key from the knight’s waist.

“What …… are you doing ……?”

The other knight hurriedly put his hand on his sword. Darren taps the knight on the shoulder. 

“…… Enough. Stop.”

“Garst,! But this is obviously…..”

“It’s okay. I take full responsibility for what happened, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

“…… I see. We didn’t see anything. I’ll take my colleague who fell asleep to the infirmary.” 

Seeing Darren’s resigned face, the knight seemed to have some idea of what was going on. 

He lets go of the sword at his hip and drags the unconscious knight away, disappearing down the corridor.

Using the key he had taken from the knight, Raidorl opened the door this time.

This is the first time he has visited the Hall of the Holy Sword since his coming of age ceremony. In the back of the room, the holy sword is still stuck in the pedestal as it was five years ago.

“Is that…”

Darren groans in dismay.

The black torrent that rises from the holy sword becomes a whirlpool, churning the air in the room and raging like a miniature tornado.

Darren falls to his knees as he is hit by a gust of black wind.

“kh!, my …… strength is ……”

“Take it easy. It’s a wind curse that takes away your strength. If you try to stand, you will die from it.” 

“Your Highness, Raidorl…..!”

Through the black storm coming from the holy swords, Raidorl walks without hesitation. The wind’s curse slowly slipped into his body, but the young king’s brother walked on without moving an eyebrow.

In the end, he reached the pedestal and grasped the holy sword Dáinsleif, which is spraying a black storm.

“You’re very excited. Did you want to see me so badly?”

As if in protest, the holy sword unleashed a particularly strong wind. A whirlwind of blades slashed Raidorl’s cheeks, splattering him with blood.

“Your Highness!”

“Welcome to my hand after five years, Dáinsleif!”

Ignoring the blood running down his cheek, Raidorl pulled the holy sword from its pedestal.

The black holy sword, which no one had been able to pull out since the first king, was once again in Raidorl’s hands.

The storm that had been raging in the room ceased to blow. Instead, a jet-black aura that seemed to congeal in the darkness of the night swirled around the Dáinsleif.

“Oh……”

A voice leaks from Darren’s mouth.

The emotion in his voice is fear and admiration.

“Am I witnessing a passage in a…… heroic tale? Is this the moment when a new hero is born?” 

Shaking his shoulders, Darren bowed his head as if praying to God.

This was a man who had put a curse on the king he served, a man who was a traitor. Even though he knew this, he could not help but show respect.

The soul of the knight, the pride of the warrior, demanded with all his might the highest salute to the hero born before him.

With the gaze coming from Darren on his back, Raidorl raised his Dáinsleif high above his head.