Chapter 8

[Proofreader – Prøks]Chapter 8: Owner of the Evil Sword (2)

August 12th, 999 of the Genesis Era.

The demon army occupying Belias was finally expelled.

However, contrary to expectations, their military strength was formidable, and the morale of the allied forces was significantly low after experiencing it.

It was a tense situation, not knowing when the demon army would invade again.

Humans began to feel the limits of their power and finally raised the need for divine intervention.

Despite the continent being wiped out by the Divine War 300 years ago, there were still some traces left untouched.

Humans quietly gathered these scant pieces of information and soon discovered that relics imbued with divine power from ancient times were hidden throughout the continent.

Among them, the most needed was undoubtedly the Holy Sword Durandal, blessed by the protection of the God of Light, Lumendel.

Because of the vulnerability of the light-fearing demons, Lumendel’s power could be fatally effective against them, so it had to be found.

The problem was not knowing where the sword was dormant.

We could only speculate that it might be somewhere in the western part of the continent where the Temple of Light was believed to have existed.

Well, eventually, we found it.

And it was me.

It was truly a coincidence.

While surveying the area around Belias, which had been liberated from the Demon King’s army, I suddenly felt the urge to visit the back mountain of the mansion.

It was a place where I could soothe my tired mind and sort out my thoughts after the battles with the demons, but what happened next?

As I reached the summit and lay down on the grassy ground, I sensed something unusual.

The flow of mana around me was abnormal.

It felt as if something beneath the mountain was absorbing the energy of the entire area.

I was now convinced that there was something below this mountain that I hadn’t known about before.

Could it be the legendary Holy Sword?

Out of curiosity, I gathered people to investigate, and to everyone’s surprise, a Temple of Light containing the Holy Sword was found beneath the mountain.

It was truly a remarkable coincidence.

Regardless of who found it, the sword was taken by Aschel.

No one objected, as if it were a natural process for him to possess it.

I felt the same way.

The sword wasn’t suitable for me to use, and I didn’t believe I was qualified to wield it.

I simply felt fortunate to have stumbled upon it by chance.

But it didn’t end there.

Just as I was about to complete the mission of retrieving the Holy Sword and return, I sensed an unknown energy emanating from behind the altar where the Holy Sword was embedded.

Where there is light, there must be shadows.

However, no one pays attention to those shadows.

Another energy coexisting within the shadow of the Holy Sword.

Drawn by that energy, I ventured alone into the temple and ultimately discovered the hidden chamber of darkness, along with the Holy Sword.

That’s how I found the Dark Sword, Kaeram.

It was another divine artifact, alongside the Holy Sword Durandal, responsible for maintaining the balance of the world, meant only for those who grasp the truth within endless darkness.

The black gem embedded in the hilt seemed to beckon me to draw it out.

I succumbed to that temptation and pulled out the sword, and in that moment, my destiny changed once again.

* * *

[Hey, you? What in the world? How can you lay hands on my body?]

“You’re not asking because you don’t know, right? There’s only one reason why this situation is possible, isn’t there?”

The Dark Dagger embedded in the altar and the black-haired woman connected to it by a veil of black mist.

She wasn’t a living organism; grasping her with bare hands was absolutely impossible.

Yet, my hand firmly held her by the neck. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NøᴠᴇlFire.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

That meant I had a special power to control her.

[Why does the aura of ‘Aeru’ come from you? Wait, are you the successor of that bastard?]

“I was a successor… Actually, I still am, in a way.”

[That’s nonsense! The mark he left is clearly visible all over your body!]

Honestly, my current state is hard to define with certainty.

Despite her outburst of anger, she couldn’t know that, could she?

I’m clearly stating the truth right now.

“Take it easy, Kaeram. I’m still not sure about the situation, so explaining everything is a hassle, you know? How about you just quietly follow along?”

Her eyebrows furrowed deeply.

[Has that bastard’s spirit finally left? Hey, kid! You keep crawling up, but you could really end up dead…]

“Shadow arts 9th: Dark Sword Control.”

[Gah!]

As I uttered the command, she grimaced in agony, clutching her head tightly.

[Urgh…]

She suddenly sank to the ground, gasping for air.

*Swish*

As I pulled out the sword stuck in the altar, Kaeram simultaneously separated from the mist, transforming into a perfect human form.

“Sorry, I lost control; it’s been a while…”

Feeling like I might have been too harsh, I immediately apologized.

Even if I bring myself to my senses with this, she’s not my child after all.

I refrained from flicking my finger again with a merciful heart.

This woman’s identity is the soul imbued in the Dark Sword Kaeram.

In other words, she’s the living personality of this sword.

“By now, there’s no need for further proof, right? Following the successor of Aeru is your purpose. Stop clinging to me and go out already, will you?”

She, who was catching her breath, suddenly stood up as if nothing had happened.

Then she sat on the altar and looked me up and down with a haughty gaze.

[Are you really the one I’ve seen?]

I nodded.

Well, it’s not entirely wrong, is it?

[Despite looking like a mere ten-year-old kid from the countryside, why do you seem so mature inside? There’s no gap for me to pry into?]

People are not always what they appear to be on the surface.

That’s a lesson I learned painfully in my past life.

I looked at my reflection in the sword’s blade.

On one side, there’s a boy of about ten, representing my current self,

while on the other side, the face of my previous life, full of regret just before death, is reflected.

Which one could be considered my true self?

There’s no need to deny anything.

In the end, both are me.

“Let me explain briefly. I’m someone who has already died once.”

[Someone who died once?]

Her eyes widened.

“To put it simply, it’s like reincarnation. After being betrayed and killed by a sword in my past life, I was inexplicably swept back to the past. In that one lifetime, I was chosen by Aeru, fought alongside you on the battlefield.”

[Are you asking me to believe that now?]

[A mere little kid like you controlling me?]

Kaeram hesitated, unable to articulate her thoughts.

Certainly, it’s not easy to believe something you’ve only heard once.

But if you assume my words to be true, the current situation where I can control the divine artifact is also clearly defined.

After some contemplation, Kaeram asked again.

[What’s your name?]

“Cyan, Cyan Vert…”

[A name I’ve never heard in my life. So, you were chosen by Aeru?]

“Yeah, without that, having a conversation like this with you right now wouldn’t be possible.”

The main reason why inept me from my past life could control Kaeram.

That was because of the protection of some god.

Aeru, the god of the black mist, even rejected by the divine realm.

He was also the main culprit who completely changed my life.

“Well, as eccentric as he may be, he’s not foolish enough to choose just anyone…”

Actions speak louder than words.

She wouldn’t completely dismiss my words as nonsense.

With the secret techniques I just demonstrated along with the aura emanating from my body right now, she must clearly feel his presence…

[But I don’t get it. If you can control me to this extent, it seems like you’ve mastered all of his power from the beginning. So why did you perish early in your past life?]

Ouch, that hits a sore spot.

Well, it’s not something I can’t talk about now.

“It’s nothing special. Just betrayed by someone I trusted.”

[Betrayal? Ah~ You got stabbed in the back? Quite an unremarkable end for the master of the cursed sword, isn’t it? Well, what can you do against betrayal, even an ordinary human like you had no chance against it, right?]

Mocking me with a wave of her hand, she then solemnly adds,

[But remember this. Whether you’ve reincarnated or whatever you’ve done, I don’t care about that stuff. If I see even a hint of weakness or vulnerability in your eyes, I’ll devour you right away! Got it?]

Kaeram’s finger traced my lips.

I tried to pass it off lightly, but is my true personality showing through?

My heart, which had been indifferent to mockery but stirred slightly at the provocation, laughed and said,

“I assure you, the only one on this land who can truly handle you right now is me…”

[Huh? On what basis do you make such a statement? Why would such a remarkable figure meet an untimely end…]

– Bam!

My left hand, which had been empty, swiftly grabbed her by the hair.

Caught off guard and unable to use her hands, Kaeram was suddenly at my eye level.

“So, just crawl up a bit, Kaeram. You can’t survive by picking fights with every master who crosses your path, can you?”

Don’t misunderstand.

I’m simply offering her advice with a boundless, merciful smile on my face.

I’m certainly not issuing warnings or threats.

Isn’t my face proof enough, smiling endlessly?

[That remains to be seen… Whether you’re a master who can satisfy me!]

Kaeram responded with an intriguing smile.

Indeed, she’s just like my cursed sword.

“But, you know…”

She suddenly furrowed her brow.

She seemed quite displeased about something.

[Is that brat still out there somewhere?]

“Brat?”

Turning around, I saw the light of the Holy Sword filtering through the open door.

In this empty temple, there was nothing else to call a ‘brat’ but that.

I cradled Kaeram in my arms and stepped outside.

Emerging from the darkness, the light of Durandal seemed much brighter now than before.

[Wow! So he’s still asleep, huh? The master hasn’t shown up yet?]

She asked, puzzled by the sight of the Holy Sword.

“If they never show up, probably that’s for the best…”

I thought about just destroying it here and now, but I knew it would cause a huge headache if I did.

I shook my head slightly, considering the consequences.

Kaeram stared at me again, then suddenly threw out a remark.

[The guy who killed you in your previous life, he’s the owner of that brat out there, right?]

I didn’t show it, but I felt a jolt inside for a moment.

Turning away silently, I asked,

“Why do you think that?”

[Probably because you’re the only one in history to look at the Holy Sword with such a shitty expression. It’s written all over your face, ‘He’s my enemy from past lives.’ But seriously, only a fool wouldn’t recognize it.]

I thought I was maintaining a poker face, but apparently, I must have slipped up somewhere.

It just goes to show how strong my hatred for this sword and its owner really is.

“Guess being nonchalant isn’t really my thing, huh?”

[You’re trying too hard to act indifferent. So, is this lifetime about seeking revenge against the owner of that Holy Sword?]

“No, that’s not enough.”

With renewed determination after a moment of hesitation, I strode confidently towards the Holy Sword in front of Kaeram.

-Clang!

With a loud noise, the Holy Sword tilted to one side.

-Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sword, deeply embedded in the altar, didn’t come out easily.

After several attempts, the Holy Sword finally came loose from the altar and fell to the ground with a thud.

It didn’t matter anymore who took the sword or who its owner was.

The supposed savior guided by the light of life?

I, who thoroughly know the true face of that savior, have no reason to serve this sword and its owner again, even if I die.

What I desire is not revenge, but submission.

[…?!]

Kaeram’s eyes, which had been silently observing, widened in surprise.

“Isn’t that how it should be?”

Unconsciously, my feet were now trampling on the dazzling brilliance of the Holy Sword.

The golden gem embedded in the hilt seemed to glare at me with resentment.

A true savior doesn’t rely on the power of others.

-Pluck

With little force, the gem easily came loose, and simultaneously, the radiant light of the Holy Sword dimmed by half.

I pocketed the gem.

[What do you plan to do with that?]

Kaeram asked, puzzled.

“Well? Even if I can’t do anything with it right away, wouldn’t it be interesting later?”

Whether it’s puzzling over its purpose or fighting tooth and nail to keep it from being taken away, it’s intriguing to me.

And if it’s the latter, well, that’s even more exciting…

[Proofreader – Prøks]