◈ Episode 197. The Appearance of a Legend
[?]
[Grade: Legend]
[Restriction: Unknown]
[Effect: Unknown]
[Description: An Ego Sword with a noble self.]
Its name was a question mark.
Its restrictions and effects were unknown……?
After that long, long wait.
What kind of ridiculous Ego equipment had been made?
I might have started by lamenting.
If its grade hadn’t appeared, that is.
‘Legend……?’
As far as was known,
the highest item grade in Arcana was [Epic].
Befitting items of the highest grade, [Epic] items were anything but common.
Only something on the level of a Demon King’s spoils would be classified as [Epic].
‘L-Legend?!’
And yet, [Legend].
As if to prove I hadn’t seen things,
a message appeared before my eyes.
[Achievement: One Who Writes a “Legend”]
[Effect: Affinity with all “Legend”-grade items increases slightly]
[Duration: Permanent]
Simply by holding the item in my hand,
I had achieved a feat.
Only then did it feel real.
‘Gwicheol, you really……!’
You made legendary trouble, and now you’ve actually become a legend.
Well, when I thought back on Gwicheol’s course thus far,
I almost found myself nodding without realizing it.
Hadn’t Gwicheol been made from materials that became Ego equipment to begin with?
On top of that, the finest dwarven blacksmith, Walswile, had handled the forging.
And the finishing touch on that extravagant tempering had been the magic tool coveted by the Sword Saint, the [Milky Way Whetstone].
Indeed, it had no choice but to be a precious body.
But, wait.
This wasn’t a message I could simply look at with satisfaction, was it?
‘……Affinity?’
The effect of the achievement was somehow extraordinary.
Judging from the nuance……
Could it be that [Legend]-grade items chose their users?
‘To the point that you can’t even use them if your affinity is too low?’
But there was no need to worry.
Other Legend-grade items, perhaps, but
that wouldn’t apply to Gwicheol.
[Affinity has already reached its maximum value.]
That was right.
I hadn’t chosen Gwicheol.
Gwicheol had chosen me.
As if to prove my confidence,
Gwicheol’s voice rang out.
—I have waited for this moment alone. My master.
Indeed, even the feeling of it in my hand was different.
‘Gwicheol’s voice is being transmitted into my head.’
The vibration, the pulse, the resonance that came from my right hand gripping Gwicheol……
It truly felt alive.
I felt as though I understood why Shegwin had spoken to his sword.
‘……It’s not as if the sword I used before was lacking.’
[Unnamed Blacksmith’s Posthumous Work — Longsword].
It was equipment restricted to level 280, but it was still [Unique]-grade equipment.
It even had a [Bleeding] effect, so when I emitted Sword Aura, I hadn’t felt lacking even against monsters in the level 500 range.
‘This is on a different level.’
If only I could wield it properly,
I felt certain I could cut down anything.
Indeed, was it because he was the Sword Saint that he recognized a sword?
“……!”
A tremor appeared in Shegwin’s eyes.
I knew, through Granfell’s aesthetic eye, that your Atlas was an exceptional famed sword. In terms of performance and from an aesthetic standpoint as well.
But now, our Gwicheol looks several moves above it.
“……Haha.”
A hollow laugh rang out.
“My thoughts were correct. You were no common, run-of-the-mill mage. Not only magic—you were a monster with enough swordsmanship to be acknowledged by such a sword.”
Shegwin chuckled, chokingly.
“That must be why you accomplished such an absurd feat and entered Spacetime by unanimous decision. Damn it all, I was a frog in a well, Shegwin. What unique Grand Sword Master? What Sword Saint?”
……No, I’m sorry to interrupt your pitiful lamentation.
But who is calling whom a monster right now?
Shegwin was deeply mistaken.
Entering Spacetime by unanimous decision—I appreciated it, but
was that achievement something I had accomplished with my strength alone?
The defeat of the high-ranking Demon King, Gamigin.
That was, quite literally,
thanks to heavenly fortune.
It had only been possible because the “Gate of Hell” opened through the Demon King succession war, because I summoned the Akshan seniors from that hell, and because I received their help.
However.
‘At least pretend to be a little embarrassed.’
Needless to say, Granfell’s neck remained perfectly upright.
Still, it was a relief that his mouth stayed shut……
Why, just look around the spectator seats.
‘There are this many eyes watching.’
To spout outrageous nonsense in front of the crowd?
Just imagining it was utterly dreadful……
However, I had overlooked it.
Another one of my alter egos, following Hiel and Diend.
—What are you babbling about, whelp?
……What’s with the sudden outburst?!
‘More importantly.’
Did you just call Shegwin a whelp, Gwicheol?
He may look like that, but do you know how old he is?
Even Granfell doesn’t spit out words that provocative.
It would have been better if Shegwin hadn’t understood.
Just as a user of sword energy recognizes sword energy,
and just as Shegwin had been able to hear Atlas’s voice,
it seemed he could understand Gwicheol’s words as well.
“……You called me a whelp?”
In that instant, killing intent surged up.
But Gwicheol was not the least bit intimidated and continued speaking.
—Whelp, do you mean to say you cannot hear the screams of your sword?
“……!”
—You cannot even hear those terrible screams, yet you pity yourself. The years you spent gripping and swinging a sword are meaningless. As expected, you walked the wrong path, whelp.
Sword against sword.
With my pride.
I would break Shegwin’s pride.
My resolution was rendered meaningless.
Gwicheol had already said everything I wanted to say.
Truly, who did you take after to become so eloquent?
Of course, I was always the one who had to deal with the aftermath.
“Shut your mouth.”
Grind!
With the sound of gnashing teeth, Shegwin rushed in.
As I had emphasized many times,
[Natural Enemy Relationship]
was not something that could be easily overcome.
Even Greed, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, born as a great evil by nature,
could not overcome that relationship without experience.
Tat-tat-tat!
However, in this moment, there was no fear in Shegwin’s movements.
His own sword path, which he had walked by making a contract with a demon and even abandoning his humanity. The rage at having that path insulted by Gwicheol must have swallowed even his fear of his natural enemy.
But keep this in mind, Shegwin.
I chased the scent.
I raised my sword toward the direction from which the scent was coming.
“Everything was your choice.”
They were humans who would have died anyway?
No, if it had been you, Shegwin, you could have saved them and more.
You merely weighed them on a scale and chose.
The worst path.
As I thought that, Gwicheol spoke to me.
—I have a request, my master.
Clang!
Gwicheol and Atlas collided.
Gwicheol’s voice sank even lower.
—Would you entrust this duel to me?
Truly, there were no words more reassuring.
Because even right now,
I had completely lost track of Shegwin’s movements.
A murmur rose around us.
“He’s fast……!!”
“It’s the Sword Saint in his prime. I can’t even guess how strong he is!”
“And yet Lord Hoyeol blocked that strike perfectly!!”
Indeed, the eyes of the watching players were accurate.
If one considered only explosive power, Shegwin’s body had become stronger than in his prime.
Blocking that lightning-fast movement by chasing only the scent?
That was impossible for me.
‘You saved me, Gwicheol.’
That was right.
Everything was thanks to the Ego Sword, Gwicheol.
It was not that I had raised the sword; Gwicheol had guided my arm.
In other words, those were welcome words indeed.
However.
“What is your purpose?”
Even if I didn’t mind,
our Lord Granfell would never grant permission so easily.
Still, thanks to that damn procedure, I was able to understand Gwicheol’s thoughts.
—I wish to save the whelp’s sword.
Indeed, what a purpose befitting Granfell’s alter ego.
Just as Granfell saved humanity and the Arcana Continent,
you, Gwicheol, wished to save a fellow sword.
Naturally, with such a purpose, even Granfell could not oppose it.
“I permit it.”
A pulse came from Gwicheol.
—I express my gratitude for your generous mercy, my master.
I looked around the Colosseum.
“It seems like a fine debut stage.”
Then I emitted Sword Aura.
A silver spirit flowed along Gwicheol’s blade.
Soon, Gwicheol, wrapped in Sword Aura, guided me.
“You may run wild as you wish.”
We accelerated.
‘……But, wait.’
I did say you could run wild.
‘Isn’t this way too fast?!’
How am I swinging the sword right now?
This is so fast that I can’t even tell!
As expected, I knew this would happen.
Gwicheol, you’re even worse than Vivace……
Swift Sword.
Shegwin’s swordsmanship, which placed emphasis on speed.
The foundation from which that swordsmanship arose was the body.
For it was the swordsman’s body that swung and withdrew the sword.
That was the reason Shegwin had longed for youth.
—“This is a contract. A contract that will allow you to seize youth.”
The demon had said so.
At those words, Shegwin looked down at his aged body.
His own sword path.
To reach its end, he still had far to go.
Yet there was little life left to him.
—“Shut that wicked tongue before I cut it out.”
Sword Draw.
Even the speed with which he drew Atlas from its scabbard
had become so slow it could no longer be called a Swift Sword.
That was why he had no choice but to waver.
—“Do you not know as well? There is no food in this castle to share with those pitiful humans. They will either starve to death or die after having their human dignity trampled by demons. Sir Shegwin is merely showing mercy!”
Shegwin clenched his fist.
In the end, the silver-haired man’s words were correct.
He had merely made the worst judgment as a human being.
Yet once he had chosen, he resolved that he would not regret it.
He had sworn to himself that he would do anything if he could reach the end of the sword path.
‘And yet, in the end, you are the one abandoning me, Atlas.’
Shegwin looked at the man’s sword.
A blade being dyed black.
Silver Sword Aura.
The man’s Sword Aura facing him was far too radiant.
Shegwin could guess the reason.
For all that he was, he was still the Sword Saint.
At the crossroads of life and death, sword energy gains its own unique color.
The moment he saw the man’s Sword Aura, he could tell.
How many life-and-death crises he had passed through.
And why a man with such monstrous abilities
had faced so many life-and-death crises.
Yes, he had leapt into those crises himself.
His Sword Aura, beyond radiant and reaching the point of being “noble,” was proof of that.
Shegwin thought inwardly.
‘I will acknowledge it. You had the right to speak to me.’
However, to turn back because of your words,
I have come too far.
And on a path from which I can never return.
Shegwin kicked off the ground and charged.
‘So I will entrust everything to you.’
My disposal.
The title of Sword Saint.
And Atlas, you as well.
However, I will not hand them over easily.
“If you can take them, then try.”
This was the paltry pride of an ugly swordsman.
Shegwin squeezed his muscles until his nerves screamed.
Now that he could not emit Sword Aura,
the only thing he could utilize was his superior physical ability.
However, the man responded to that speed.
Clang!
Tsrng!
Clang!
Not only that, he followed his swift movements and matched him exchange for exchange.
The more he watched, the more absurd the man seemed.
His attire was no different from when Shegwin had seen him at the Spacetime social hall.
To think he could move like that while dressed in such an uncomfortable outfit, almost like formal wear.
But what was most astonishing was the man’s sword.
Clang!
It was powerful.
Enough for Atlas to be pushed back in a head-on clash.
‘Just what is that sword made of?’
The moment Shegwin repeated that question,
a voice burrowed into his mind.
—Do not dare attempt to fathom this body, whelp.
“……!”
He could not help flinching.
How could a mere sword see through his mind?
Shegwin created distance.
Then the voice continued.
—Can you still not hear it?
What in the world was it talking about……
—The sound of your sword crying out.
“!”
—I did not read your mind.
“……Then.”
—I merely conversed with your sword.
“……!!”
Shegwin, startled, looked at Atlas.
He still could not hear Atlas’s voice.
But the man’s sword relayed the words in its stead.
—To think you cannot even hear the sound of your own sword howling in rage and resentment. Your realm of Unity of Body and Sword is meaningless. Whelp.
……Atlas was howling in rage and resentment?
“!”
Only then did Shegwin realize.
That was right, it was the sword path.
Because it was the path of the sword,
it was a path that had to be walked together with the sword.
But I was arrogant.
It was a sword path I could not walk without you.
Atlas, I treated you merely as a weapon to be swung.
“…….”
Only then did Shegwin raise his head.
The wrong path.
He understood that it was a path he could not return from, no matter how much he regretted it.
Finally, he recalled the man’s words.
—“A vain pride upheld even at the cost of abandoning your humanity. How does it feel to have that denied by your sword, Shegwin? However, I too shall deny it. With my sword.”
‘You had no need to take up a sword yourself.’
At last, he understood the meaning of those words.
And why the man’s Sword Aura
shone with such a noble light.
Shegwin opened his mouth.
“This foolish me has understood your will.”
That was right.
Everything had been the man’s consideration.
Salvation for the Sword Saint—no, for a good-for-nothing old man.
“I will answer that will with all my strength.”
Then the man’s sword spoke.
—Come. Today, I shall cut down the Swift Sword, and my master shall cut down the Sword Saint!
And the match was decided.
Slice—