◈ Episode 425. A Story I Don’t Know (3)
High Demon Kings, Great Evils, dragons……
Powerhouses strong enough to trigger appearance messages.
If they simply possessed strength of a different “caliber,”
the apostle of the Shadow God was a little different in that regard.
Because there was still something human about it.
Whoosh.
It was agile, but it didn’t summon thunderstorms like a dragon when it moved. Nor could it blend harmoniously into nature and erase its presence like an elf.
Swish.
They were simply techniques that had honed the human body to its limits.
Know your enemy and know yourself, as they say.
Perhaps it was because I, too, knew the limits of humanity well.
I could recognize that extraordinary realm. ‘This definitely won’t be easy. It’s a worthy opponent.’ The moment I thought that, Gwicheol moved.
—It is one who has walked a sword path solely for killing, Master.
Clang.
Gwicheol knocked away the dagger digging toward my side.
A perfect blind spot that I hadn’t witnessed.
As you can see, if Gwicheol hadn’t guided my arm,
I’d probably be clutching my blood-soaked side by now.
However.
“An ambush aimed at the blind spot of vision, is it.”
In any case, since I had blocked it, I brazenly evaluated it.
“It cannot be called swordsmanship, but it is sharp.”
Slide.
And shamelessly.
I copied it as if it had been mine from the beginning……!
How could I copy it?
It was the same principle as when I grasped the structure of magic the moment I saw it and manifested it in turn.
“Good. I shall teach you a move.”
Grip.
How to hold the sword.
In what direction to move the bones.
How much strength to apply to which muscles.
I had no need to agonize over it.
My body moved on its own.
Click.
Just as the apostle had done.
My body, too, slipped into the apostle’s visual blind spot. I used the right arm it reflexively thrust out to restrain my movements as cover instead. Hiding my body, I accelerated.
“To you who cannot be bizarre, I shall show the bizarre.”
Words once spoken must be realized.
Since I had openly declared that I would teach it a move,
shouldn’t I demonstrate a technique that had advanced one step further?
[Tenacity is converted into “Strength.”]
[Tenacity is converted into “Agility.”]
Ten points of Tenacity, five points each.
I converted them into [Strength]
and [Agility].
At the same time, I circulated mana through every joint of my body, through every fiber of muscle.
It was a familiar process by now. ‘It’s a manifestation I’ve practiced ever since I created the circle.’ Ever since I acquired the title [Transcendent] as a mage.
I had strengthened my body with mana.
But I had grown even more since then. ‘Enough that I can say levels are nothing but numbers.’ The master of the Ten Thrones. Because I had succeeded in fully controlling mana of a different “caliber.”
It meant that my body, enhanced with mana,
could also display movement of a different caliber.
Swish.
Faster and stronger than the original. Gwicheol sliced cleanly through the apostle’s nape. Thud. As the apostle sank to its knees and slowly collapsed, I recited.
“An unseen sword, is it.”
This time, too, I had completely acquired the apostle’s technique.
“The name ‘Invisible Sword’ would be fitting.” ……
Fitting, my ass!!
—Indeed, it is a name that does not disgrace even me, Master.
Don’t play along with him, Gwicheol. ‘Even I’m embarrassed just hearing it.’ If it had only been Invisible Sword, I wouldn’t have even brought it up.
Because every time I defeated the endlessly resurrecting apostle, I acquired one technique, advanced it in my own way, and slapped on a damned technique name.
Writhing, writhing. ‘……Anyway.’
What the hell is that thing?
I had come face-to-face with countless powerhouses of the Arcana Continent, and even with High Demon Kings, rulers of the Demon World, a completely different world. ‘Isn’t infinite resurrection a bit much?’ Even if its strength remained at the level of the human realm.
Continuing to revive over and over was cheating.
Why, just imagine if I were an ordinary player.
There was no need to assume much. ‘If I didn’t have the blessing of the First World Tree right now.’ Resurrection after resurrection after resurrection……
In the end, after an endless war of attrition, it wouldn’t have been strange if my health and mana had long since bottomed out, would it? I had said I wasn’t in a position to be picky, but that didn’t mean I welcomed wasting time. ‘Acquiring techniques is good, but I have no time right now.’ The Valley of the Forgotten.
I had to find Diend, who had vanished somewhere.
The apostle of the Shadow God.
It was worthwhile in its own way to exchange blows with an unidentified creature, acquire techniques, and develop them, but the main objective and the side objective must never be reversed.
I opened my mouth.
“Is that truly your best?”
But then again, that didn’t mean there was a proper solution.
Why, look at the apostle charging at me again
the moment it revived.
“How rash.”
Clang.
A dagger, and next an axe?
You use every kind of weapon despite not being a weapon master.
Unlike a dagger, its destructive power upon collision would be considerable.
Gwicheol responded tactfully and began changing its appearance on its own.
From a sword
to the broader form of a saber.
But perhaps thanks to Granfell’s aesthetic stat being reflected in it, even though its size had grown and its blade had curved, an elegant beauty flowed from Gwicheol. ‘It’s coming.’ However, there was no time to be distracted admiring Gwicheol’s change.
I said it was at a human level, but I’m human too, aren’t I?
Moreover, [Natural Enemy Relationship]
wasn’t active either.
It wouldn’t be strange if a moment’s carelessness led to death. Yes, if nothing else, every attack aimed at a vital point and was extremely threatening. One slip was clearly going to lead to a fatal wound.
“Far too rough.”
Slice.
Of course, Granfell’s talent perfectly surpassed the apostle again this time.
So after the dagger, the axe, next was a longsword?
No, to be precise.
“A sword dance.”
The resurrected apostle.
This time, it seemed as if it were dancing.
Following the apostle’s swaying movements,
my own stride also widened in turn.
But don’t expect me to dance along with you. 『In the high society of the past, Granfell’s existence was like an oasis in the desert, or a mirage. He did not enjoy social gatherings, so there were not many days when he showed himself……』 Our Lord Granfell did not enjoy social occasions.
Would such a Lord Granfell ever dance!
Granfell’s talent even pioneered the sword dance in his own way.
“There is no need for me to move.”
If graceful movements like a dance are required,
“then the world need only move to match me.”
It was a simple matter to make the earth I stepped upon dance. ‘How many years of construction-site experience do you think I have?’ It was so-called construction magic, refined to the extreme while restoring the cities of the Empire. In other words, making the ground shake and undulate was something I could immediately manifest even while swinging my sword.
Rumble.
The ground rose.
Click.
Click.
Click.
As I stepped on the rising earth in sequence, my stride became unpredictable, like a sword dance. Don’t look at me with eyes asking where in the world such a sword dance exists, apostle.
“……?!”
Now that I had developed it,
this was no longer a sword dance.
My mouth, as always, demonstrated its naming sense.
“This is none other than ‘Gaia’s Dance.’”
Thrust—!
It was the moment I finally spat out the technique name and felled the apostle once more.
All of a sudden, my vision flickered.
First of all, it definitely wasn’t a level-up message.
Writhing, writhing.
Because the creature was reviving without even getting tired.
Needless to say, it had not dropped experience even once.
So there was no reason for my level to rise……
[The techniques you have created have surpassed one hundred.]
……
Wait, what?
I’ve already created over a hundred techniques? I hadn’t defeated the apostle of the Shadow God a hundred times. At most, I think I killed it about twenty times…… ‘Could it be.’ Did all the techniques I had created until now count?
If so, it made sense. If it calculated all the techniques I had used while desperately struggling
in the name of [Bizarre]……
‘……It seems like it would be enough, a hundred?’ The system did not lie. If it said it had surpassed one hundred, then it really had. So what are you trying to say? The moment I turned my eyes to check the next message.
—Master, it comes again, never tiring of it!
Gwicheol warned me.
As expected, the apostle came rushing in armed with another technique.
But my vision was different from before.
Until now, I had merely copied what I saw.
But from this moment onward, the apostle’s actions.
It felt as though I was beginning to see their essence.
To compare it to magic.
“……!”
It felt as though, beyond seeing through the structure of magic, I could see each and every particle of mana that manifested that magic. To put it simply, it was the sensation of having reached a realm one step higher.
It wasn’t just my imagination.
Because messages flickered one after another.
[Your great achievement of creating one hundred techniques transcends the boundaries of sword and magic, and you are worthy of being called a master in every field.]
[The Arcana Continent looks up to you.]
[You have acquired the title, “Great Grandmaster of the Bizarre.”]
That was right.
In order to stand against enemies that were beyond what I could handle,
the desperate struggles I had waged
had become the foundation of the Bizarre and begun to bloom.
[Great Grandmaster of the Bizarre]
By receiving the recognition of the Arcana Continent and obtaining the title, I had finally become a vessel capable of fully utilizing Granfell’s talent.
And such eyes of mine could not be deceived,
even by the apostle of the Shadow God.
That was right.
Only now.
At long last.
I had grasped the creature’s true identity.
“How familiar.”
A fragment flashed through the apostle’s movements.
It was the unmistakable spirit of an assassin.
Yes, it was the same as the unique movements Kichi had shown.
“Perhaps because it can never be forgotten.”
The suitable mana of the area slowly began to boil.
I could sense it.
This place guarded by the apostle of the Shadow God.
[Valley of the Forgotten]
was the holy land of the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
And so I could no longer turn away.
[Skill, “Heaven Above, Heaven Below, I Alone Am Supreme” is activated.]
Silver hair began to obscure my vision.
I.
No, Granfell opened his mouth.
“Through you, I shall receive it.”
An extreme beyond an instant.
A strike of Granfell like lightning,
so fast that not even sound could be heard.
“My sister’s peace.”
The apostle scattered into the air, and my vision flashed.
[You have defeated the Guardian of the Holy Land, “Apostle of the Shadow God.”]
[Your level has risen.]
[Your level has risen.]
[Your level has risen.]
…….
*
Thud, thud.
Ulrich strode through the Orc Auction with heavy steps.
“An insolent little piglet.”
Just who decided
that you were the wealthiest man on the Arcana Continent?
We stayed quiet in the underworld, and now you run wild without knowing how fearsome orcs are.
“The times have changed, Gamond. How long do you think I will keep catering to your whims? Our Orc Auction will endure no longer. We have no intention of merely crouching forever.”
The continent had been overturned. That meant the shadows could not remain shadows forever, and the light could not remain light forever either. Ulrich looked at the orcs moving diligently.
Clatter.
Treasures being loaded onto carriages.
Ulrich could say with certainty.
The continent of the new era would surely welcome them.
It was also because he had something he believed in, in his own way.
“I shall come to see you soon, Claudi.”
Even if there were still questions that had not been perfectly resolved, they were not enough to affect Ulrich’s boundless trust in Claudi.
However.
“Ahem.”
Ulrich’s displeased gaze turned toward Kichi, who was sprawled on the floor.
The connection with the Shadow Mercenary Corps might perhaps become a needless complication that the Orc Auction had brought upon itself. Why, the Shadow Mercenary Corps had committed a wrong that could only incur Claudi’s wrath.
That was why, in an unprecedented move, he had returned the auctioned item.
“Kichi, do you really have the leisure to sleep sprawled out like that?”
Tap, tap.
Ulrich nudged Kichi’s side with his foot.
At least you have some conscience.
It was the moment Kichi let out a yawn and sat up.
“Hm?”
Ulrich noticed the change in Kichi.
It wasn’t difficult.
Because he was used to underground life.
He had no choice but to react quickly to a sight that should not exist underground.
Ulrich stammered.
“Kichi……”
“What? Why are you even stammering?”
“I cannot see your shadow……!”
At those words, Kichi’s complexion changed abruptly.
Under the electric light.
Only her shadow had vanished completely.
“!”
Kichi, too, knew what that meant. ‘The apostle died……?’ The apostle of the valley, akin to the Shadow God’s close servant, had died.
At the hands of some unknown uninvited guest who had stepped into the holy land.
An uninvited guest capable of killing the apostle……
“……No way.”
Even if she considered the entire Arcana Continent,
at this moment,
only one person came to Kichi’s mind.
Claudi.
Slide.
Kichi immediately grabbed the jewel box on the table.
Then she rose from her seat.
Ulrich asked Kichi carefully.
“Where are you going in such a hurry all of a sudden, Kichi?”
Kichi gave a strangely relieved smile.
“Because the time has finally come to pay for my sins.”