Chapter 17
Clang!!
A piercing screech of steel tore at the eardrums.
Both their arms rose high into the sky.
Yet the hand gripping a sword was but one.
Whirrrl.
A single sword whirled through the air.
And then drove into the ground.
Thud.
Silver petals crossed between them like shattered glass.
"How did you……."
Esther's eyes were filled with bewilderment and shock.
And overwhelming exhilaration.
A myriad of emotions were tangled together.
There was no sword in her hand.
A single strike.
Felt like lightning, yet appeared as a beautiful sword path.
Long ago.
The sword of Saint Stella who righted the Order with a single blade. A realm no one since her had ever awakened.
Manhwa Bongyuk — Eunhwa Pagyeom.
Esther could not speak for a while.
And the same was true for Callius.
‘What did I just do.’
In a fleeting moment, he attained enlightenment.
It was thanks to his unique characteristic that only manifested at the brink of death.
Of course he knew.
He intended it.
He unsealed Bibi's bracelet at the right moment, and tasted the sudden enlightenment born from the divine power that explosively erupted and the realization that came with it.
But that enlightenment was fleeting.
A fleeting moment beyond words.
Yet the marvel it produced compelled much thought.
The ground behind Esther split open in a long line.
Trees and forest all severed.
It was a sword trace as though a giant's blade had cleaved the earth and passed through.
"It is your defeat, Esther."
I don't quite understand what happened.
My head is still hazy.
It feels like dreaming.
But it is no dream.
Esther before me has lost her sword, and I am the one holding a blade.
Then it is right to clarify the facts.
‘What happened to my arm…….’
Seems like it's a wreck.
In this state, I haven't the strength to move even a fingertip.
I clearly just unsealed Bibi's bracelet, yet there's little divine power remaining.
It was because most of it was consumed in that single strike just now.
Perhaps because I crossed the line, fatigue rushes in at a rapid pace.
A debilitating exhaustion overtakes me, such that I would pass out if I relaxed even slightly.
But even so.
Therefore.
Callius had to speak.
"How did you, that sword……."
"Esther Sol Cilliad. The defeated have no right to ask questions."
She clenched her lips tightly.
And slowly closed her eyes.
"Go."
"……?"
All he could manage was simple bluster.
Nothing more.
"As you said, I have lost. Are you not taking my life?"
He must not kill the woman who would become the Order's strongest sword.
Because it is thanks to her that they can endure the Empire even a little.
"You must live."
"…What do you mean."
Her face scrunched as if to say those were nonsensical words.
But she must live.
When the main quest begins, and the kingdom shakes.
The one to hold it together would be Esther.
Because she is the one who would ascend to Master in the future.
Without her, my own survival would also be like a candle before the wind.
She must live.
"Esther, stay by Silivian's side. Her death is not far off."
"You—!"
Esther was startled.
Silivian was a Cardinal of the Valterus Order, an esteemed Holy Gold Alchemist, and simultaneously a Prophet.
The very person who took care of Esther, the one destined to become her sword.
After her death.
Following her wish, Esther would forge Silivian into a sword—a Phantom Sword that bestows miracles upon allies and calamity upon enemies.
She would bear the Phantom Sword, Silivian.
She was not a woman who had the leisure to waste time here.
"Go."
There wasn't even the strength left to stand any longer.
Though a feeling of regret rose within, sending her away was the right thing to do.
Something called aristocratic dignity was gripping onto his fraying consciousness.
Esther seemed to want to say something more, her lips moving slightly, but eventually she clenched her fist and turned her back.
‘Is she not taking the sword?’
Given her personality, since she lost yet didn't lose her life, she must be leaving behind the sword she carried.
A short while later.
Only after sensing her presence fade far into the distance, Callius collapsed onto the ground with a thud.
"Almost died."
I really almost died. To think I almost died at Esther's hands.
It was so absurd that only laughter came out.
"Fucking hurts……."
Cough! Fresh blood spurted out.
Seems I sustained internal injuries.
Well, my whole body is covered in wounds.
It was a state where being alive was a miracle.
Dozens of sword wounds and taking that excellent roundhouse kick must have burst my innards.
But even so.
‘I survived.’
Keuk. Kuhahaha!
Callius pressed his forehead and laughed wildly. Blood spurted from his mouth each time he laughed, but he couldn't hold it back.
Survived against Esther Sol Cilliad, the candidate for the next Paladin.
Completed the first level of Manhwa Bongyuk, and swung Eunhwa Pagyeom. Shattered Esther's sword aura and bloomed silver flowers.
The swordsmanship dullard, the rakehell, survived against the genius among geniuses, Esther.
This fact made him maddeningly happy.
"Ha……."
The efforts of the past three years were not in vain. They were not pointless actions.
A peculiar sense of fulfillment from that.
And the relief made Callius's eyelids heavy.
‘Did I bleed too much?’
With the Twilight Cloak, it shouldn't be cold, yet strangely it was cold.
It seemed he shouldn't delay any longer.
Callius immediately took out a bottle of holy water he had stored in the Sacred Seal.
He gulped it down in one breath and sprinkled the rest over his entire body.
And a moment later. A loud scream echoed through the forest before it finally fell dead silent.
***
A few days later.
The outer castle of Karpe Royal Castle.
There lay a middle-aged woman in a beautifully decorated bedroom.
Esther, approaching her side, held her hand tightly.
The room was filled with strange objects unbefitting the Karpe Royal Castle.
All were artifacts and items necessary for Holy Gold Alchemy, bearing the touch of her hands.
She was of the Karpe royal bloodline, a woman carrying the blood of the Brights, distant cousins.
A cousin of the current King, and an Honorary Cardinal of the Valterus Order.
Holy Gold Alchemist and Prophet.
Silivian von Olid Bright.
"So, he wielded Saint Stella's sword……. It must have been beautiful."
She was Esther Cilliad's patron and sole guardian.
"Yes. It was beautiful."
"The prophet might not be me, but him. Callius, was it?"
"Yes."
"He said he foresaw my death."
"Yes. He told me to stay by your side."
"My death, I could not see it. But he saw it."
Silivian remained unperturbed even at the mention of her foreseen death.
Her condition was the utmost of secrets.
Those who knew were only Esther and a few of the royal family. It was not something Callius could have known.
"Esther."
"Yes."
"Keep him close."
"Why?"
"Didn't he say he couldn't kill you?"
An opponent who could not kill her.
Such a person had learned the Saint's sword.
Being close to him would benefit Esther.
"That's…."
"Don't turn away from it."
Esther tilted her head with a thoroughly bewildered expression.
"Do you think he holds me in his heart?"
"It seems so to me."
Nonsense. All his actions had been utterly vicious.
Because they all hated her.
She thought it was because he loathed her as a commoner. But all of that was mischief to get her attention?
"Men are creatures who like to play pranks even as they age. But when they must speak, they speak more reliably than anyone in the world."
"……"
Maybe.
"Perhaps he strove to become a man worthy of you, and became so."
"But……."
"He may be atoning. You don't have a single wound on your body. No matter how much he learned Saint Stella's sword, subduing an expert of your caliber without inflicting any injury would not have been easy."
Esther had no words.
"What did he look like?"
"It was…… devastating."
"And what about you?"
"……"
Other than a slightly torn palm, she was completely unharmed.
Come to think of it, that's true.
Even though he could use Eunhwa Pagyeom, he had silently only dodged her sword. Even though he could have done it if he tried.
But he didn't.
Only at the very last moment, right before the blade reached her neck, did he bring out Eunhwa Pagyeom.
"That's how men are. With a small catalyst, a foolish child becomes an unrecognizable adult. Usually, when they shoulder something upon their shoulders, they change like that. What does he carry on his shoulders?"
"…I don't know. I'm not sure."
Then.
"Finding that out would be the first step."
"……"
"I've known you for a long time. You who loved the Saint's oral traditions…. You must want to cross swords with him again."
However.
"For now, do as he says."
Her remaining lifespan was short.
"Because there is too little time left for me to let him steal you away."
* * *
Crackle, crackle.
Between the flickering campfire and the popping firewood, a dark shadow could be seen.
A shadow in human form was roasting something over the fire.
The fellow with his face completely smeared in soot, alone stuffing something into his mouth, was Brance.
Callius's attendant, Brance.
"Eating…… all by yourself."
"Ah! My Lord! Are you awake!?"
Startled, Brance tossed aside the meat skewer he was eating and rushed over.
‘I feel like I'm dying from lack of energy.’
There were no wounds on his body.
His divine power had returned somewhat, and his internal injuries seemed to have been healed by the holy water.
Seeing not a single scar, the effect was certainly real.
Even though, because it was imperfect holy water, he had passed out from the pain that surged during the healing process.
‘Did this bastard endure that?’
He surprisingly didn't go mad.
"Please try some porridge first, My Lord."
Slurp.
Callius took a mouthful and immediately spat it out.
"What did you put in this, you bastard."
It was spicy, salty, and bitter.
What did he put in to make it taste this bad.
No, how could anyone create such a diverse and filthy taste.
My body is already not in good condition, and now heat is flaring up.
"S-should I boil it again?"
"Forget it. Just give me meat."
With the Big Eater trait, he couldn't fail to digest anything anyway.
Only after chewing and swallowing dozens of meat chunks that Brance roasted for him did Callius pat his stomach.
"I can't believe you ate all that."
"What did you say?"
"Ah, nothing! Is your body feeling a bit better, My Lord? I was truly surprised. At first, I thought you had passed away……."
"Hmm. Was that so."
Well, he must have collapsed covered in blood, so it was understandable.
Having roughly filled his stomach, Callius leaned his back against the wall and surveyed his surroundings.
This was a deep cave somewhere in the forest.
Brance said he had been staying here for over a week, tending to him.
Thanks to that, all the meat they brought from Trista was completely gone, and they would need to procure food and water.
"Why did you eat all my meat?"
"E-excuse me!? Th-that's because I need to eat and live to take care of you……."
Brance pleaded his grievance.
"Hunt as much as you've eaten."
"You're too harsh……."
"I'm saying this because it seems we'll need to stay here another day or two."
"Is your body very unwell?"
The fatigue was great.
Esther had left, but the Inquisitor of the Heretic Judgment was still chasing him.
If he encountered him in this condition, he wouldn't even be able to flee properly.
"You talk too much. Do you want to die?"
"I'll be back right away!"
Watching Brance scurry off, Callius clicked his tongue.
The food they brought was enough for fifteen days, yet ten days' worth was already gone.
"How much did he stuff himself."
Tch.
Clicking his tongue, Callius closed his eyes and quietly observed the inside of his body.
A small bud seated in the lower abdomen.
Its presence felt more certain than before.
「Callius von Zervan」
「Class」 – Pilgrim.
「Divine Rank」 – 4th Class
「Divine Power」 – 2571/4251.
「Talent」 – [Bard's Blessing - Supreme(最上)]
「Traits」 - [Corpse Grace(屍恩)] [Noblesse Oblige] [Count House Rakehell] [Dead Time Past Wrong(死時昨非)] [Order's Prodigal Son] [Big Eater] [Tricolor Eyes]
[Stats]
Strength – 22 > 26+(10)
Agility – 15+(10)
Dexterity – 8 > 12
Health – 15 > 17+(10)
Faith – 21 > 23
Perhaps from learning Manhwa Bongyuk, overall stats and divine power had increased significantly.
All stats +2 except Agility.
And the amount of divine power had increased by about a thousand.
It was the effect of attaining realizations related to divine power manipulation upon completing the first level of Manhwa Bongyuk.
‘Have I only just taken my first steps now?’
Three years.
Only now had he barely taken his first steps.
This was only the beginning.
Now, finally, he stood at the same starting line as them.
It was so joyous it could bring tears, but he deliberately calmed his mind even further.
"Huu—"
The road ahead is long.
It's still early.
The bud of divine rank settled in his dantian was but one. Creating six and making them all bloom—only then could it be called complete Manhwa Bongyuk.
There are far too many strong ones in this world to rejoice over just one.
‘I leaned too much on luck.’
Even in the duel with Esther, he relied mostly on luck. He trusted his unique trait, but it was far too precarious.
If he had made a mistake, he might have died before the trait even activated.
Callius grasped one of the two swords in a corner of the cave.
‘I can't use Arsando anymore.’
Arsando. He could use it if he wanted to, but it had lost many teeth.
If it were the only one, he would just use it, but there was no need for that now.
Because Esther's sword was here.
[Lucen]
Rank – Famous Sword
Imbued Soul – Lucen du Valus.
-A sword imbued with the soul of Lucen.
A sword that missed the ranks of a Spirit Sword by a slight margin.
A famous sword counted among the top five that had long been stored in the Order.
"There's almost no wear."
Perhaps because it was a sword close to a Spirit Sword, its weight and balance were well-adjusted.
Because she dropped her sword, there was almost no trace of it being chipped away by Eunhwa Pagyeom.
"Is there no Corpse Grace?"
There was no imbued Corpse Grace.
As expected, it seemed it didn't manifest unless it was a sword one had personally made.
He nodded slowly and gripped Arsando again.
It was time to send this one off.
Callius deactivated Arsando's Corpse Sword Transformation.
The light of divine power shimmered brilliantly around the sword.
Like a saint praying to a god, his figure appeared to be that of a devout believer.
[Guided a soul to the side of God.]
[Offered a Famous Sword. A reward is given.]
[Dexterity + 1]