Chapter 59
"There is an old saying."
There are two things that devour the abyss. One is a greater abyss.
The other is.
"A flame that will brightly illuminate the world."
Bernard, who had lost one arm, leaned on the Lightning Blue Sword as if it were a walking stick and spoke.
"What nonsense are you suddenly spouting."
I came to see how he was doing.
And he immediately spouts something strange.
His deep eyes, seemingly immersed in a sense of mission alone, are quite burdensome.
"Kallias. Become the flame."
"So. What does that suddenly have to do with—"
Click.
Bernard handed over the Lightning Blue Sword—Rakan that he had been carrying.
"I saw a flame in you."
Did he read some strange book somewhere?
Why does he keep going on about flames.
Kallias looked back and forth between Bernard and the Lightning Blue Sword with a reluctant expression.
"A small ember that will protect the North on a small scale, and Carpe on a large scale. Though it may be small now, I saw you who will become a fire demon that blankets the continent in the future."
Therefore.
"Take the sword. It may not be a Divine Sword, but it is a sword right before entering that rank, so it will serve you well on your path ahead."
"How random. Have you been drinking?"
"You'll probably say you don't need it. I already know you'll refuse out of worry for me who has become one-armed. But take it. This is..."
"Thank you."
Grab.
Kallias seized the Lightning Blue Sword.
But Bernard's hand didn't let go, still gripping the sword.
"I'm not done talking yet."
"Unnecessary words. Just give it to me."
"You're not... refusing?"
"Why would I refuse when you're giving it to me."
It's a sword I've coveted and waited for for years.
Why would I refuse when it's being offered.
"With only one arm and without even the Lightning Blue Sword, how am I supposed to live on!"
Kallias's eyes stung with bitterness.
"What am I supposed to do about that."
"You should have refused for my sake briefly, then pretended you couldn't resist and accepted it! That's how my dignity would be preserved!"
"Good grief."
I wondered what he was going to say.
Kallias released the Lightning Blue Sword.
Bernard, clutching the Lightning Blue Sword tightly with his remaining left arm as if it were precious, let out a dry cough, seemingly embarrassed.
"Cough. This Lightning Blue Sword, you see. When my close friend Rakan was in a moment of crisis. After a fierce fight where he sacrificed himself, he became a Corpse Sword according to his will."
Before the Pilgrims hold the succession ceremony.
They all sign a pledge.
That their soul would serve the Order for a time without ascending to God's embrace.
A pledge that they have no objection to becoming a Corpse Sword after death.
'The Corpse Sword Pledge.'
The Lightning Blue Sword was also a sword made that way.
"It was a strong enemy. A one who ruled a corner of the North. With overwhelming power, we fought for three days and nights... And in the end we won, but much blood was shed."
Of course, Kallias already knows all of this.
Lightning Blue Sword—Rakan.
He doesn't not know the existence that was Rakan and the background of how he became the Lightning Blue Sword.
The group of Pilgrims dispatched to the North.
Among them, the strong Bernard and Rakan.
The two were virtuous and the strongest among the Pilgrim group.
But a crisis came and they sacrificed themselves.
Later, when Bernard came to, he was already beyond hope, and according to Rakan's wish, he made him into a sword.
"I avenged that one with this Rakan. We fought for three days and nights and barely won. At that time, it was the King of Demonic Beasts that made the North tremble... I was so afraid."
"How long do I have to listen to this."
As the story seemed to grow longer, Kallias revealed his boredom.
Bernard's stinging gaze pounded him but soon disappeared.
"Will you carry on the will of my close friend, Rakan."
"Yes."
Grab. The gazes of Bernard and Kallias holding the sword together crossed.
And then.
"……."
"……."
Tremble tremble.
A contest of strength began.
"Can't you just give it nicely?"
"The blood of a warrior is boiling. It seems like I could still use it..."
"Don't talk nonsense."
"Nonsense, you brat! I'm still vigorous! Vitality surges every morning!"
Snatch!
Kallias, having taken it by force, hastily thrust the Lightning Blue Sword into his waist.
"What vitality, my foot."
"Ah……."
His beloved sword taken away? Bernard looked at the Lightning Blue Sword with sorrowful eyes.
Conversely, Kallias patted the Lightning Blue Sword with newly reassured eyes.
"Actually, there's another reason I'm entrusting Rakan to you."
"What is it."
"My close friend. The demonic beast that killed Rakan. Its offspring is alive."
"……?"
It was then.
[Epic Quest]
[Seed of Aftermath]
Grade: A+
-Eliminate the Seed of Aftermath.
Reward: Lightning Blue (牢靑).
A system message being read.
Kallias was startled and said.
'Again…….'
A part that he hadn't set up appeared.
Seed of Aftermath?
"That... you mean the demonic beast's offspring?"
"Yes. I only caught a glimpse, but there's no way I'd forget that appearance. Its figure that closely resembled its mother and the blue lightning energy were unforgettable even if I tried to forget."
The demonic beast that killed Rakan.
That much was set up.
"It's a mutant born between a dragon and a wolf. It has dragon scales all over its body, and the two horns growing on its head scatter blue lightning energy."
This far was not set up.
A descendant of a dragon and wolf...
"If you saw it on the battlefield, didn't you kill it?"
"I tried to! But it only watched the battlefield from afar and didn't approach. As if it came to watch an amusing spectacle."
Looking at Bernard's words and the quest message that appeared, it must certainly be true.
A dragon's descendant.
Who would have thought its existence would still be alive.
"Kallias. That one is highly perceptive and very cunning. You must never leave it alone. If left alone, it will grow to dominate the Northern Forest of Demonic Beasts like before and threaten us."
"What's its name."
I don't remember giving it a name.
But Bernard would know.
Even if it's a part that wasn't set up.
Because to him, it's a past he experienced directly.
"I called that one the Thunder Wolf Dragon (雷狼竜)."
Thunder Wolf Dragon.
A wolf with dragon blood.
Thunder Wolf Dragon.
"Actually, there's one more secret hidden in Rakan. Would you like to hear it?"
"Are you saying this sword is a Demonic Sword?"
"!! How did you know!"
Why wouldn't he know.
Bernard, devoting all his years to hunting demonic beasts in the North, was in a way also because of this Lightning Blue Sword.
Lightning Blue Sword—Rakan.
This sword is a Demonic Sword created when Rakan, half-melted inside the Thunder Wolf Dragon's stomach, mixed with its corpse.
'With dragon blood mixed in too, would it be a Dragon Demon Sword.'
Anyway, it's a sword the Order would despise.
"Isn't that why you're giving it to me. You're afraid of being caught if you carry it."
"Why say such bitter things! I'm giving it to you because the time has come. A sick and ailing old man no longer has the strength to wield a sword, so he's just passing the spark of burnt firewood to new firewood."
Although he was speaking with his back turned.
He kept clearing his throat, seemingly feeling embarrassed.
Continuing with frivolous thoughts, Kallias thought about the quest reward.
The reward of the 『Epic Quest』.
Lightning Blue.
Literally translated, Blue Lightning.
'It would strengthen the sword's lightning energy.'
Since it's a quest mixed with the sword's history.
There's no reason not to accept it.
Kallias, holding the sword, slowly gripped the hilt and drew Rakan.
[Lightning Blue Sword—Rakan]
Grade - Spirit
Imbued Soul - Ra??kan
Unique Ability - Blue Lightning (靑雷)
Seeing a question mark in the Imbued Soul. It seems it ended up like that because it was mixed with the creature's digestive fluid rather than being a proper Demonic Soul.
'I won't be able to draw it in front of them.'
The Devouring Sword—Roas was like that too.
Spirit-Reinforcing Sword—Gwydd. Lightning Blue Sword—Rakan.
All the swords Kallias possessed were Demonic Swords, so he couldn't draw them in front of those guys.
If someone sensitive to demonic energy was present, they'd probably notice.
'They're not Inquisitors for nothing.'
Moreover, the ones stationed here were the captains of the Inquisition Commander's direct forces.
If even one unnecessary weakness was caught, things would become quite troublesome.
Click.
Kallias, sheathing the Lightning Blue Sword—Rakan, looked at Bernard and asked.
"What will you do now."
"What do you mean."
"I mean going forward."
"What can an old man do. Just listen to the residents' confessions as a pastime... and occasionally teach swordsmanship here and there."
He spent a long time in the North.
To him, the North was now home.
A cold and barren land.
That's why it yearns for warmth.
"When I first came to the North. Someone said that to me. They said there comes a time when the cold feels cozy."
At first, he dismissed it as nonsense.
"To me, the harsh cold that flutters down all year round has long become quite cozy."
Snowflakes falling again descend beautifully, reflecting the sunlight.
-Hap! Hah!
Between the falling snowflakes, children training with swords could be seen.
The corners of Bernard's mouth curved into a smile.
"Is that so."
"Kallias. I used one arm for the future of the North. If you consider that I saved the doomed North, isn't that cheap? Besides, I also got a heroic tale to go with my drinks for the rest of my life."
Therefore.
"Don't be so sad. I only lost one arm."
At Bernard's calm words.
Kallias's lips moved a few times, but he couldn't say anything.
He didn't know how to comfort a sense of loss he had never felt himself.
However.
"Master! I've created a new sword technique!"
"Oh! Have you? Let me see it!"
Even having lost an arm and let go of his sword, he moves forward.
So he just.
"May the gods not watch over Bernard's path."
Offered a small wind.
* * *
The banquet hall of Jervan's inner castle.
A long rectangular table and soft lighting.
Candlesticks illuminating the darkness.
Where hearty food was prepared, sharply tense auras stood in opposition.
"The spread is modest, but please eat heartily."
A middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table, rinsing his mouth with wine.
Elberton pretended not to notice the needle-like auras of those present at the banquet.
"I hope the Northern meals suited your taste."
On the right were the Inquisition Captains.
And on the left were Kallias and Emily. His attendant knights, Allen and Orfin, were standing by.
Emily, as well as Allen and Orfin standing behind Kallias, didn't show it, but the auras emanating from them were quite burdensome.
It was because the pressure of the strong that crushed the whole body was implicitly flowing out.
"We are honored to be invited to Jervan's banquet."
"Is that so."
"The Patriarch's eyes are proof of God's holy mark bestowed. Just seeing that alone can be called an honor."
"It's just receiving the grace of our ancestors. What have we done."
"Haha, you're too modest. Protecting the North like this is no different from protecting Carpe on a large scale. We merely set foot on yet another honorable battlefield to be recorded, but it's truly an honor for us as well."
A warm conversation was exchanged.
Raiven was skilled at navigating social situations, subtly exalting Jervan and the North like a snake.
'What a silver tongue.'
I don't know what story he's trying to tell by flattering Jervan like that.
But Kallias had no intention of just watching.
"Inquisitor Raiven."
"Yes, Lord Kallias."
"If it's that honorable, you wouldn't object to helping the North a bit more."
"Of course. What's for the North is for Carpe, and what's for Carpe is for the Order."
The Order's purpose is for God.
So this can be said to be for God.
"In this war, there are enough orc corpses to build mountains. How about granting them salvation by making their defilement into corpses?"
Raiven's brow twitched.
"All of them...?"
"Why. It's not a particularly difficult task, is it. The troops you led number in the hundreds, so giving the corrupted souls of the fallen the opportunity to cleanse themselves through the Corpse Ceremony is also the Order's work, isn't it."
"Of course that's true but……."
Raiven glanced at the captains beside him. When they nodded, he adjusted his glasses and answered.
"Understood. Then we should adjust the ratio."
"Adjust? What adjustment are you talking about."
"……Of course, the corpse—"
He was about to say they'd divide the shares between the Order and the North. But Kallias had no such intention whatsoever.
"They are ones who tore the flesh and blood of the Northern army born and raised in the North. Naturally, our North should take them and wash their corrupted souls with their blood. Or, will the Order dispatch reinforcements for the North like this time?"
Raiven was at a loss for words.
It was a demand to turn all the orcs numbering over ten thousand into corpses and take all of them themselves.
If so, who would compensate their labor. Even the Order doesn't work for free.
'They say a ruffian is a ruffian. I didn't know he'd act so audaciously.'
Raiven clicked his tongue inwardly and let out a cold smile.
A scheme like a snake rose in his mind.
It was a method that kills two birds with one stone—pressuring Kallias and the North while reducing their own labor.
"On second thought, you're right, Lord Kallias. Instead, if you promise just one thing, we'll gladly comply."
"Speak."
"If Lord Kallias returns to the Order with us. We'll honorably carry out everything you've said."
"Me? Why."
"We of the Inquisition hold Lord Kallias's abilities in high regard. Because we will recommend you as a new Inquisitor."
Of course.
"You'd have to undergo an Inquisition examination first... but for someone like Lord Kallias, there would be no problem whatsoever, right."
If there is no sin.