Volume 26 - CH 50

Almost a month has passed since I suffered humiliating defeat at the hands of Emperor Gilan.

We've challenged the seven trials set forth in the grimoire "The Poetry of Welgilius", and only one remains, the "Gordian Knot" passed down in the city of Freesia.

「This is the city of Freesia.」

The town we visited by carriage was a very ordinary countryside. As we walked down an alleyway that was not even cobbled, we saw a large sphere of strange ivy entwined in front of a reasonably magnificent temple.

「Is this it?」

「Maybe it is.」

「Well done, O new hero. I am the head of this temple, and I'm the one who delivered the oracle」

An old priest came out of the building and said.

「Let's hear it.」

「Hmm. There is a sword sleeping here. However, no one has ever seen it. Whoever unlocks the ivy and takes the sword will be the new king.」

「So you're saying it's okay for us to solve it and take the sword?」

「Of course. But of the thousands of people who have tried to do this, not one has ever untied the knot or even seen the sword inside. There is no way to know if the sword is really there or not. If you don't want to waste your time or lose your name, it would be wise not to try.」

「Hmph,  if you come this far and run back, that would be a disgrace. I'll do it.」

「Wait, Alec. I'd like to try something first.」

Lily said. Well, I guess we don't have to worry about who's going to solve it at this point. The purpose of the trials should be to get the sword that's in here.

「Fine. Do what you want.」

「All right!」

「Brother, I want to do it too!」

「I want to try it too~!」

Jouga and Marilyn said they wanted to try too.

「That's fine. Do what you want.」

Lily immediately grabbed the ivy with both hands and started pulling, but the ivy seemed to be frozen like a rock and didn't budge.

「Hmmmm!」

「Haha, get out of the way, Lily, my turn now.」

「Don't wanna, Lily's still doing it!」

「I'll do it. You're not strong enough, no matter how you look at it. It's my turn to show off my strenght here, and this is where I come in. Ouryaaaaa!」

「Thanks for the meal!」

Jouga pulled it and Marilyn bit it, but ......

「Mwooh!? It's hard. It won't budge. ......!」

「Kkuhh, my teeth won't penetrate it ......?」

「Step aside guys, If you can't push it, try pulling it.」

「It's a circle of wisdom.」

Luka, Yulia and a few others tried, but they still couldn't get the ivy off.

「What's going on with this ivy?」

But if it's a living thing, it'll be easy to win with 【Starlight Attack】.

「Serina」

「Yes, leave it to me. Hey, everyone it'll be dangerous, so stay away from there.」

「What, that's it after all?」

「How boring!」

「As long as you feel good about your special moves, you'll never be able to improve your normal skills, and that's a good thing to remember!」

「It's the idea of an ordinary person with no ingenuity or originality!」

「Hey, there, shut up. Here I go! 【Starlight atta――what?」

The moment Serina slashed at the mass of ivy, the ivy moved languidly and avoided her slash.

「You! 【Starlight Attack!】 Kuhh! 【Starlight Attack!】【Starlight Attack!】」

Serina chases the ivy ball around, but the ivy is quite quick.

「I-I can't hit it. ...... *pant pant*!」

「Think a little. I'm sure you can handle it, Serina. Well, I'll take care of it. You just rest there.」

「Yeah, but how do you ......」

I have a specific skill to use here.

「【Dimensional Slash!】」

When I used my special move, the space distorted lazily and the ivy that was trying to avoid it was pulled towards it by itself. I slash at it again. Well something like that

「 KYIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!」

With a high-pitched scream, the ivy disappears in a cloud of green smoke.

「Clear.」

「Ohhh! Yaaay! Nihihi, Serina is lame~」

「Yes-yes. As expected, Alec.」

「Well, I guess...」

I'm the leader. You have to make up your mind when you make a decision.

And――

After the ivy disappeared, I found a sword on the ground.

The black lacquered scabbard was covered with water droplets, and you could tell at a glance that it was a work of art.

【Appraisal】 here.

〈Name〉 Murasame

〈Type〉 Sword

〈Material〉 ?

〈Attack Power〉 100,000~???

〈Magic Attack Power〉???

〈Weight〉 2

〈Description〉

This sword is six feet and one inch long, with a drop of water constantly floating on the blade.

It's a cursed sword that calls forth blood and mist, and when pulled out, it disperses beads.

It repels demons and evil.

It has a freezing effect.

Unbreakable

.

I knew I could use it.

「Ohhhh, I never thought I'd see someone untie the Gordian Knot here. A new king for a new age is born!」

All seven trials have been overcome.

Will this be enough to defeat Emperor Gilan?