Chapter 23
Thunder Azure Sword - Rakan.
As the name suggests, Rakan's innate ability is blue lightning.
In other words, it is a sword that wields lightning.
Even among Spirit Swords possessing elemental-type innate abilities, the Thunder Azure Sword - Rakan exhibits exceptionally outstanding performance.
Since it is not a manipulation type, it cannot drop lightning bolts or shoot out lightning.
Even so, the advantages of a sword containing lightning are immense.
‘Most knights would die from electrocution just from crossing swords with it.’
Of course, the presence of divine power can drastically reduce its effect, but in a life-or-death battle decided in a split second, Rakan's innate ability is a tremendous advantage.
And if one pushes it a little, it is a sword capable of area-of-effect attacks.
Specs that inevitably vie for the top even among swords of the same rank.
And a sword possessing versatility.
That is the Thunder Azure Sword - Rakan.
"It's been a while, the scoundrel of Zerban."
"It has been a while. Bernard. You've taken good care of my sword. Seeing Rakan puts my mind at ease."
Kalias had coveted that Rakan viciously for three years.
With his skills back then, he could neither find nor craft other swords, but the Thunder Azure Sword was different. An elemental type renowned for its power even among Spirit Swords.
Among them, a Thunder Sword that wields lightning bolts.
"If anyone heard you, they'd think you had left it with me for safekeeping."
With their swords crossed.
Bernard chuckled as if it was absurd, even hearing it again.
"It will be mine soon. So it's not a wrong statement."
"Haha, will you pester me to have another duel for the sword like three years ago?"
"There's nothing wrong with that. Aren't you at the age to slowly retire? How about handing over Rakan and comfortably spending the rest of your life as an old man in the back room?"
If it were before, maybe.
Now, he had confidence. All sorts of possibilities began to emerge in his head.
"You speak so rudely. Tsk tsk, how have you not changed at all?"
Rakan's lightning seeps in.
His right arm tingles.
However, the first bloom of Manhwa Bongyuk slowly blooms from his dantian. The damage is mitigated by the blooming divine power.
Kalias's aura, which had been lowered by [Bibi's Bracelet], grew unrecognizably larger.
His pupils were dyed silver before he knew it, and the crossed swords leaned to one side. Deep wrinkles etched themselves around Bernard's mouth.
"It seems you haven't been idling away your time. You seem to have quite a few hidden cards."
"Don't suffer for nothing and just give me the sword. Rather than in the hands of an old man, it's better for Rakan to be in my hands flowing with young blood."
"Your insolence reaches the sky."
Clang-! Whirl.
Bernard's body, having flicked the sword away, spun swiftly.
And struck down like lightning.
‘I must not block it head-on.’
Boom-!
Kalias kicked the table and immediately threw his body backward.
Crack-!
Slash-!
Along with the table being sliced off in an instant, Bernard's sword rushed in.
Bzzt-!
The blade was dyed blue.
Lightning flashed.
In an instant, Bernard's figure disappeared.
Kalias's eyes looked up.
In mid-air, Bernard, holding his sword with both hands, dyed his surroundings blue as he dropped down like a lightning bolt.
Kaboom-!
Bernard's specialty of specialties.
It was Falling Thunder.
"Ugh."
As if real lightning had struck, the restaurant floor burst open.
The blue lightning that burst out in all directions like a spiderweb chased him as if chasing prey.
Slash! Kalias's sword, having drawn a single strike, drove away the stray lightning.
Swish-!
Piercing through the explosive smoke, Bernard's lightning-like thrust aimed for him once again.
Screech! Boom-!
By raising his sword and barely changing its trajectory, Kalias's bent neck avoided Rakan.
Behind him, the wall had burst open violently from Rakan's lightning.
The remaining blue lightning.
The charred log wall was pierced right through, and a snowstorm howled—hwiing.
"What is that ominous sword."
In Kalias's hands, which had blocked the Thunder Azure Sword - Rakan, were two swords.
Lucen in his left hand.
And the Predation Sword - Roas in his right hand, crossing them to barely block the Thunder Azure Sword - Rakan.
If he had been a little later, Rakan's red blade would have torn Kalias's neck.
Whoosh-!
Whirl, tap. Bernard, who had dodged Kalias's sword by doing a backflip, landed on the halved table.
"It's a sword with too thick a smell of blood. Carrying it will bring you harm."
"Then hand over Rakan."
"How could I. We have affection from spending time together over the years."
Shing- clack.
Kalias sheathed Lucen and tightly gripped the Predation Sword - Roas with both hands.
The bud of Manhwa Bongyuk bloomed.
The high-purity divine power embedded within rampaged through Kalias's body.
Creak-!
Kalias's eyes flashed silver as he gripped the Predation Sword hard enough to break it.
Soon, the sword aura of Silver Flower Breaking Sword formed on the blade of Roas.
‘I'll end it with one strike.’
Dragging it out any longer would only benefit Bernard wielding Rakan.
Kalias now had no hidden cards, and there was only one thing he could trust.
It was Manhwa Bongyuk - Silver Flower Breaking Sword.
‘Recall the duel with Esther.’
The one strike he had thrust out with a momentary realization.
With that one strike, he had defeated a genius.
So here once again, once again he would show it.
Thump- He stepped on the floor as if to break it.
Unlike his heavy step, his figure swiftly headed towards Bernard.
At the same time, Bernard's Thunder Azure Sword flashed. The movement was momentary.
Kalias and Bernard clashed.
Boom-!
A roar hard to believe came from swords clashing.
Craaack- snap!
But that was a moment, and he and Bernard were already on opposite sides of each other. Silver petals and blue lightning fluttered at the same time.
A situation where it was unknown who had won. But soon, a single broken sword sliced through the air.
Whirl, thud.
The broken sword stuck into the floor.
It was a notched sword possessing a blue blade.
Predation Sword - Roas.
It was Kalias's sword.
"...Tsk."
It was a defeat.
A little blood flowed from his left shoulder.
But the wound was shallow.
It was only a shallow sword wound on the shoulder.
Kalias glanced back and gathered his divine power.
Rattle, clack.
Kalias sheathed Roas and looked at Bernard with a dissatisfied face. Bernard was laughing heartily with his deeply wrinkled face.
"Hahahaha!"
"What's so funny."
"How could a master not laugh when 'that' scoundrel of Zerban has grown this much!"
At the word master, Kalias's face crumpled fiercely.
"Stop your nonsense. Since when was I your disciple."
"Keukeukeuk, today is a truly pleasant day! Yes yes, even the gods would not leave out alcohol on a day like this!"
Pop! Bernard took out a liquor bottle from his chest and gulped it down.
"Kya-! This is holy water."
A robust physique unlike an old man's.
A husky voice. And a paladin with a rather bold personality.
But Kalias clicked his tongue at Bernard's classless behavior.
‘The scent is good, though.’
However, the scent of alcohol brushing past his nose was enough to captivate Kalias's nose and gaze.
"I won't give it to you, so give up. If I give it to you, even a jar of alcohol wouldn't be enough."
"...I didn't even ask for it."
He was inwardly disappointed, but Kalias didn't dwell on it any longer.
"Bernard, you're still as insidious as ever. What was that guy earlier."
"I wanted to gauge my disciple's skills to see how much he's grown as his master. If you had just wasted your time, I was going to spank your bottom."
However. Bernard was satisfied.
He had certainly grown stronger.
‘He's like a different person from when he couldn't even hold a sword properly.’
Bernard desperately hid his trembling hand and repeatedly brought the liquor bottle to his mouth.
"Keukeukeuk! But you failed to take my sword again this time. Scoundrel."
"My name is not Scoundrel."
"I know, I know. What parents in the world would name their child Scoundrel. The one who gives such a name is not the parents, but yourself."
He's an old man with a truly top-notch knack for sarcasm.
Kalias looked at him with sullen eyes and asked.
"...What is it you want to say."
"If beating you up makes me a master, then I am one. It was quite hard work beating you without killing you when you kept pestering me to hand over Rakan and picking fights every single day. You should roughly know that too, right?"
"Tsk."
Of course.
How could he not know.
Three years ago.
Approaching Bernard was an extremely intentional act.
He is the most affectionate and righteous existence among the beings who become the masters of all players starting in Carpe.
His skill is one thing, but his ability to teach someone is extremely outstanding.
From the start, his very stats and traits were specialized in teaching others, so it went without saying.
Thus, Kalias sought out Bernard as soon as he became Kalias.
Because if one learned from him, even the dullest fool would inevitably improve their sword skills.
‘Due to Kalias's twisted personality, he had never properly been kind to him.’
For three years, he had quite a headache because of the Scoundrel and Noble traits granted to his body. He was enduring it well now, but he had suffered hardships more than once or twice due to Kalias's temperament popping up every now and then.
‘At first, I almost really died.’
It was turbulent, but coming to this point, the one in this world who could be called a reliable existence to Kalias was Bernard.
His master alone.
Outwardly, he stubbornly denied it, but inwardly, he considered him his master.
It was just the Scoundrel trait and the Noble's pride denying it.
"Kalias."
Bernard's gaze changed. At that sight, he let out a sigh involuntarily.
"Every time I duel you with the sword, I always wager my lifelong partner."
"I wagered my body."
"This time is also your defeat, so you must grant me one request."
"...Don't make me do strange things. If it's another annoying chore like going into some weird ruins to get alcohol, I won't do it."
Kalias wants his sword.
Bernard duels such a him.
But it is always Kalias's defeat.
Every time that happens, Bernard gives Kalias an errand.
"No. Wouldn't it be too easy for the current you? I don't give such unfair tasks."
"Then what is it this time."
"You met Emily, right?"
"Do you know Emily?"
"She is a child with a deep story."
"Her Holy Bloodline was blocked, though."
But why would he care about a child of Zerban... He was curious, but soon erased the thought.
Because that wasn't the important thing.
"Is it related to Zerban?"
"Yes. The hunting tournament in a few days. Fatalite's Wheel. You must participate in it."
"Me?"
"Yes. Participate there and protect Emily a bit."
Fatalite's Wheel.
In the past, a female knight named Fatalite, who was a saint of the Order and a paladin, came here.
The single word she spat out after fighting a fierce battle in the White Forest of the North.
Wheel.
She said the White Forest was like a wheel rolling endlessly.
With those final words, she disappeared, and when the breeding season of magical beasts arrives, the Zerban family holds a hunting tournament under the name of Fatalite's Wheel.
The original purpose was to find the vanished Fatalite, but now, hundreds of years later, it has simply become an annual event to reduce the number of magical beasts.
"If you give me Rakan, I'll think about it."
"Hmph, you're still far from it. You rascal."
Bernard didn't even say why he had to protect Emily or why he cared about that child.
He just demanded it of him, and Kalias had no justification to refuse. Bernard, who had arrived like lightning, drank all the alcohol and disappeared nonchalantly, while Kalias just silently kept his place.
A moment later.
"Keok! M-My lord! Are you alright? This Brans is perfectly fine!"
Brans, who had regained consciousness at some point, ran over panting and blurted out things that weren't even asked.
Kalias looked at him with exhausted eyes and opened his mouth.
"Brans."
"Yes, yes! My lord! Just say the word! I will take care of that pig-like bastard! You don't even need to step in, my lord!"
What can you do when you got knocked out in one hit.
He's so weak, this won't do.
I'll have to train him a bit.
"Wipe your nosebleed. It's unsightly."
"Ah-! Yes, yep! Hehe."
"And make preparations."
"W-What kind of preparations..."
[Fatalite's Wheel]
-Death flowing from the fate of the North looms over you.
-Survive.
-???
-???