Chapter 134
Chris approached Callias, who stood lost in thought.
"Mister."
"……."
"You're a Pilgrim, right mister? Then why don't you have a spear? Pilgrims all carry spears. Or is it a mace?"
"……."
"Which is stronger, spear or mace?"
"……."
"The spear is stronger, right?"
He tried to ignore him consistently, but realized this kid wouldn't be swayed by that.
Callias replied moderately.
"A spear is merely easy to use."
"Isn't a mace easier to use?"
You just swing it, right?
At Chris miming swinging with both hands, Callias's eyebrow twitched.
"Easy to use does not mean strong. Whether spear or mace. All weapons can be used easily or with difficulty depending on how they're wielded. Once you reach a certain level, it's not the power of the weapon but the power of the one who holds it that determines the outcome."
"The uncles at the Spear Hall said the spear is the best. And that the sword is trash."
"……."
That was quite an irritating remark.
A statement hard to overlook.
'Oh God.'
Is this too a trial of the pilgrimage?
As a Pilgrim who wields a sword, there are words that absolutely cannot be tolerated.
This brat had committed that very taboo. Callias's brow furrowed.
"The sword is not weak."
"You said all weapons are either for swinging or thrusting. The sword's thrust can't compare to the spear, and its swing can't compare to the mace, right? That's why it's trash."
"……."
That sounded quite logical.
However, there was plenty of room for rebuttal.
It's true that the thrust is lacking compared to a spear. The length is short, so it can't be helped.
It's also true that the swing is weaker compared to a mace. Given the difference in weight, when simply swung, the mace is stronger.
However.
The sword is not weak.
Shorter than a spear, weaker than a mace.
But the sword is light, and can cut swiftly.
Once you surpass a certain level, there are no limits to cutting.
"If the sword was strong in the first place, they wouldn't have lost to the Empire!"
He was about to say more, but Chris's words momentarily stopped him.
Just as Callias's hand was about to move while looking down at the kid in silence.
"Huh? Wait a minute!"
Chris ran off.
'Good sense.'
If he had been a little slower, he would have smacked him.
"Hmm?"
But something seemed unusual.
The expression of the kid who had been talking with the Spear Hall's spear-woman was changing moment by moment.
"Mister…!"
Eventually, the kid whose face had turned completely pale ran toward Callias.
* * *
Step, step.
"Oppa, want to play with me for a bit?"
"How about me?"
Ignoring the flirtatious looks thrown here and there, Callias walked on.
Toward the highest and deepest place.
He walked and walked again.
The women he met tempted him with a word each, but he paid them no mind.
Normally Esther or Helena.
To Callias, who had seen Queen Clara's beauty, their temptations were meaningless.
Moreover, Callias had been traveling with an elf lately.
Having seen Serena's appearance every day, there was no way their looks could catch his eye.
"Hey, you can't come in here. Go back."
Fierce-looking men blocked Callias's path. But Callias didn't stop walking.
Crack.
Crunch!
"Kuaaaah!!"
He twisted and broke the hand reaching out.
The sound of bones was chilling to hear.
Local thugs had no chance against Callias's trained body.
"What the hell are you, you bastard!"
Another one rushed in.
He grabbed and broke that one's fingers too.
With a crunching sound, pig-squealing screams echoed through the Spear Hall.
"Kyah!"
The women shrieked in surprise, and thanks to the screams, thugs came out in droves.
But they were no match for Callias.
After breaking an arm and a leg for each and every one of them, they screamed for their lives.
'Save Veronica!'
Chris's voice lingered in his ears.
He hadn't thought the insolent brat's voice could change like that.
'I lied! Veronica was waiting for Philip! Because she found out Philip was dead, she might do something!!'
It's a common story.
Callias had become a Pilgrim and traveled to many places, seeing many stories.
Before the Main Quest began to stir, the only way for him to grow stronger was through divine favor, so it was even more so.
He had witnessed many deaths, and seen many resentful souls and those with circumstances.
A love affair between a spear-woman and a man?
That much isn't particularly special.
Yes.
It's just a common story.
Common as can be in this world.
Nothing special.
Thwack!
After slugging the last guy's face, he pulled the doorknob.
Creak.
In the dark room.
In the room embroidered with red candlelight, there was Veronica, fallen and crying, and a man slicking back his oiled hair.
"…Who are you?"
Veronica's hair was tangled and her cheek was swollen.
Seeing bruises forming on her back and arms, it seemed she had just been beaten.
Callias immediately drove his fist into the man's face.
Crunch!!
"Kuhack!!"
Crash, clang!!
Watching the man collapse while destroying the desk, he asked Veronica.
"Is Philip's death related to him."
She didn't answer. She only nodded her head, suppressing her grief.
Flowing tears and blood soaked the floor.
That was enough.
"Philip probably wished for your happiness. That's why he…… showed me the Spear Hall and you."
In Philip's memory, Veronica, at least in front of him, smiled quite brightly.
Despite not usually smiling much, in front of Philip, she smiled warmer than sunlight, more fully than a flower in full bloom.
Philip loved that smile.
Her smile that she showed only to him.
He loved it, and wished for it.
Enough to come to mind before dying.
'You, who remained after he died, probably can't smile like that again.'
That bright smile he'd want to see once more, he wouldn't be able to see anymore.
"Keukeu, the pure love of a spear-woman, how ridiculous. Right? I don't know who you are, but if you were bought by that bitch, I'll give you twice the amount."
Callias looked at him with emotionless eyes. The man's voice was trembling.
He tried hard not to show it, but he was afraid. A cornered beast has nothing to lose. When Callias took a step forward.
Creak.
The floorboards screamed under the retreating Rupad's foot.
"I, I'll give you three times! I, if you kill me, Baron Gehalt won't stand for it! He'll kill you! And that bitch too! Everyone will die!!"
Callias looked back.
"What do you want to do."
"……."
Veronica's eyes trembled.
It seemed the mention of the Imperial noble had planted hesitation in her.
"Revenge is sweet. There's nothing as sweet and satisfying as revenge. If you want me to kill him, I'll kill him. You make the decision."
"…No. I'll do it."
Veronica, rising with a limp, gripped the sword again.
A mediocre-length sword made from Philip.
With both hands wrapped around it, Veronica's eyes looked only at Rupad.
"You crazy bitch! You're insane? Because of some farmer bastard? If you kill me, you'll be chased for the rest of your life!"
"I don't care. You trash bastard!! Die!!"
Rupad thrashing about.
Veronica pouncing on him.
Even taking Rupad's kicks and punches, Veronica closed in and drove the sword into his back.
But a woman's weak strength couldn't completely pierce Rupad's back.
She drew and stabbed again and again.
Shlick, stab! Stab!
Hot blood splattered.
The bedroom in one corner of the office was soaked in blood.
Crackle.
A candle knocked over during the struggle soaked the floor and set the bedsheets ablaze.
Veronica trembled as if savoring the blazing flames.
Rupad's movements stopped.
At his death, Veronica bowed her head and smiled.
"Thank you."
"……."
"Can I ask one favor? I'll give you all my possessions."
"……."
"Please take care of Chris. He's a foolish child, but he's my son."
Stab.
A flinch.
He tried to rush to Veronica who had stabbed her own heart, but was too late.
Slide. Thud.
"Ah…."
Veronica understood the meaning of the sword disappearing only after stabbing her heart.
The form of a soul liberated from the corpse, scattering into silver currents, was visible to her.
"Philip……"
Slide.
Callias's eyes wavered as he watched the expression that reached a peaceful death.
Crackle, crackle-crackle.
The gray eyes reflected by the burning flames soon stopped wavering.
'It's a common thing.'
Just a common thing in this world.
In a world of killing and being killed.
Common as can be.
Just such a thing.
Callias barely managed to tell himself again.
Otherwise, he would be swept away.
"Haa."
Callias, who had been looking at one corner of the burning office, turned his back.
The flames were gradually gaining strength and growing in size. Large enough to completely cover the tragedy that occurred here.
Large enough to make all the sad stories seem like they never existed.
The fire spread and spread.
* * *
Kyaaaaah.
The Spear Hall burns.
As the fire illuminates the darkening night sky, it's no different from broad daylight.
Among those looking at the scene with hollow eyes, there was a tearful child. A child more beautiful than a girl, even more girlish. The child with long brown hair ran out upon seeing the man emerging from the burning building.
A ray of hope shone in Chris's eyes.
"What about Veronica?"
But it was a vain hope.
Callias didn't answer.
'I didn't know it was a boy.'
He passed the eyes of the tearful boy.
Comforting the boy and such, wasn't permitted for him.
"Is it you? I came with quite the expectation……"
In front of the burning Spear Hall.
An unknown noble, accompanied by knights and soldiers, had been waiting for him.
It seemed the noble Rupad mentioned was this one.
Soon, a knight quickly ran over and whispered something to the noble.
"Oh ho. That guy?"
The noble's lips curved into a circle.
"So the Pilgrim the Princess is looking for is that guy. What a windfall. I was just leading soldiers to join the Princess anyway."
A chance to monopolize the merit.
"Capture him. Seeing his meager divine power, he's nothing special!"
The soldiers' bows targeted him.
The spears aimed at Callias.
"Mister……"
Callias faced the great army waiting for him.
Callias was about to bring out his grief, but seeing the burning Spear Hall behind him, put it back.
"Chris."
"……."
"You asked before. That the sword is nothing compared to the spear and mace."
"……."
"I'll show you."
Slide.
The sword that appeared from within the robe.
A scabbard and hilt that seemed dyed with blood.
It was the Devouring Sword, Roas.
"Capture him alive!"
Click.
Boom!
Dust spread like ripples around Callias, who had stomped on the ground.
That moment.
His figure changed like a streak of light.
A powerful aura of divine power enveloped him.
The surrounding scenery blurred in an instant, and the sword drawn from the scabbard in his grasp cut everything in a single stroke.
Silver Flower Severing Sword.
"Hundred Severed Flowers."
Shwaaaaaaah!!
"What…!"
The world split in half.
A sword technique that explosively releases concentrated power in a single moment. A sword-drawing technique that instantly draws the sword from the scabbard and annihilates the enemy.
True to the name of the severed flower.
The bodies of the Imperial soldiers present were bisected and collapsed, spouting fountains of blood.
A sword that cuts a hundred with one stroke.
The fourth sword technique of the Silver Flower Severing Sword.
Hundred Severed Flowers.
Click.
Callias, who cut a hundred and sheathed his sword again, let out a long breath.
White steam stretched long from his robe and fluttered in the wind.
The silence he created.
It was broken again.
By him.
"Flower of the Other Shore."
Squelch!
Blood-dyed flowers adorned the area.