Chapter 69
A prayer room within Jaiwarsh Castle.
"I heard that bastard left."
In the prayer room, a one-armed old man and a sturdily built middle-aged man were praying before a god.
"Yes. That wretched bastard. He sang songs about swords, swords, and more swords for three years straight, then left."
He got the Leiqingjian and vanished just like that.
What an ungrateful bastard.
"He could have stayed a little longer before leaving."
"Still, it seems he at least said a word of farewell to you."
"Did he not even greet the Count?"
"He is no longer a Count now."
"Ah, right. Did he not even greet the Patriarch either? That scoundrel, he didn't even show his face to me before leaving."
Seeing Bernard grumbling about how he shouldn't have given him the Leiqingjian, Elberton felt inwardly relieved.
Callias did not say his goodbyes to everyone.
He didn't even give a proper farewell to his own daughter, so would he have to his father?
If he didn't to his family, how would he have to his master?
There wasn't much difference.
It was partly because he had no manners, but also because farewells were just too awkward for him.
It wasn't like they were parting forever, so why bother.
"I was just thinking... maybe I gave him the title for nothing."
"That insolent bastard has even become a Count, so there will be no one to stop him now."
"Indeed. A scoundrel becoming a Count, who knows what kind of ruckus he'll cause."
Though their words sounded worried, there was no concern on their faces.
Only small smiles blossomed.
They were inwardly disappointed, but what could they do.
He was heading to a broader place.
The hero who protected the north was now protecting the kingdom, how could they stop him.
"Did he look alright."
"Are you talking about Callias?"
As Elberton nodded, Bernard pondered, recalling his disciple.
"A scoundrel is a scoundrel. However, that scoundrel gained a daughter, gained a father, gained a master, and with the prestige of the North, became a Count."
Everything was originally his.
The one who had lost everything had regained it all. He had seized it back!
Was there any need to say more.
"The foolish boy has now become a young man, and is trying to become a proper man. Doesn't a late-rising dawn illuminate the sky for a long time."
"Is that so."
"The fairy tales I read as a child mostly featured heroes. But as I kept reading, I realized that those called heroes aren't strong from the very beginning."
One must endure hardship, overcome trials, and face the crossroads of life and death at least a few times to finally become a hero.
What makes a hero?
A beggar on the streets, a dying patient—anyone can become a hero.
"Though the beginning is humble."
The end shall be magnificent.
"Isn't that a phrase that perfectly fits Callias? That's why I have something I'm using to pass the time..."
"Are you writing a book?"
"Just a hobby to kill time."
The kingdom's greatest scoundrel.
It was certainly a fitting subject for a story.
Elberton smiled with rare delight and brought his hands together before the divine statue.
"Bernard. Originally, I didn't have many days left to live."
"...Yes. That was true."
"But recently, a doctor who came to check my condition told me this."
That my illness was completely cured.
That the gods had helped. That it was a miracle.
But he knew.
"I've had my life saved by that bastard twice."
"Really!? That's a relief! So that's why he received the Count title..."
Elberton nodded.
"He already knew."
"About the Patriarch's illness?"
"That rascal, he actually used that to threaten me."
To hand over the Count title while he was asking nicely, since he was cured because of him.
To look after the North a bit more with the life he had been granted, since it wasn't the right time yet.
To think he received a Count's title for that. Bernard clicked his tongue at the bastard's crazy antics.
"He's my son, but he's not in his right mind."
A son threatening his father.
Of course, it's probably because of his twisted personality.
"He has a good heart. I heard he gave Emily that precious Holy Stone before leaving. Isn't he trying to act like a father, albeit late?"
"That's a relief. I've been worrying about what to do with Emily for a long time. Her Holy Blood has been unlocked, and as the daughter of a proper successor, there's no need to worry about that child."
Emily's skills were improving day by day. Unlike Callias, she was a child who required less guidance.
However, that also made Elberton inwardly feel a bit disappointed. Unlike before, having Callias as the legitimate successor gave him peace of mind.
There was no reason not to love Emily, who was both his son's daughter and his own granddaughter.
But Emily did not get close to Elberton. She was a bit uncomfortable around him.
Elberton felt a little hurt by that.
Though he had no one to blame but himself.
Elberton, while talking about Callias, hesitated for a moment before carefully asking.
"How do you evaluate his skills."
"..."
"Callias... broke the Legion Commander. He wasn't in his right mind, but I saw it clearly."
That thing condensed on his sword.
"That was definitely something only someone who had reached the Master realm could wield..."
Jianjiang.
From Callias's sword.
Elberton had seen Jianjiang.
Though it was incomplete, he had definitely seen it.
Because that was the realm he had desperately yearned for his entire life.
"Bernard. Tell me. Has Callias... become a Master?"
Bernard carefully chose the words in his mouth.
The Callias he had seen.
Recalling what he had achieved, he answered word by word with caution.
"On the battlefield. He nearly died twice. And each time he survived, he grew stronger."
He barely survived the fierce battle against the Grand Warrior Keltuk.
And when he showed himself again.
Callias, who blocked the Legion Commander's strike, had already surpassed Bernard.
He was still no match for the Legion Commander, but that final strike he displayed.
Its power clearly belonged to someone who had stepped into the realm of Master.
That thing contained within Callias's sword.
The technique that struck down the Legion Commander was definitely! proof of a Master.
"At the edge of life and death. He must have firmly grasped what we could not.
Though it is not yet perfect.
He is steadily progressing.
Towards the realm of Master.
* * *
Same time.
'Master my ass.'
Nonsense.
Ever since that time facing the Legion Commander.
Callias had not successfully executed Bi'an Hua even once.
Originally, the Yin Hua Po Jian's Third Stance: Bi'an Hua was a technique created by Stella only after reaching the Master realm.
He certainly had the feel for it.
He had a sense of which direction to head and grow.
But not yet.
Master was still beyond his reach.
Amidst their misunderstanding, he looked calm on the outside, but inwardly felt relieved.
If they misunderstood him as something around the level of a Master, that was actually a bonus.
It seemed they mistook his subtly emitted killing intent and the gravity of the Bahuang Jian as proof of a Master.
Well, it made sense.
If they thought the subtle power of gravity was the aura of a strong person, it was natural to mistake him for a Master.
Since he didn't want to fight in the first place, the effect of the Bahuang Jian was a highly satisfying result.
'Chong Ling is certainly annoying.'
In a one-on-one match, if there were bugs eating away at one's nerves and causing annoying pain, it would naturally be hard to seize the upper hand.
Of course.
'They're still just bugs.'
Chong Ling, which controls bugs, and Bahuang Jian, which manipulates gravity, had bad compatibility.
No matter how many bugs there are, they're still bugs.
If he crushed them all with the gravity of the Bahuang Jian, they couldn't exert any special power.
That was because a large number of bugs meant their power was dispersed. Pressing down on dispersed power was too easy for the Bahuang Jian.
Orcahl might have a few hidden cards up his sleeve, but seizing the upper hand wouldn't be difficult.
In a situation like this, he had to keep in mind the possibility of fighting one against many.
Three captain-level opponents against one.
If he defeated them one by one, it wasn't like he couldn't handle them. He had grown that strong in the war in the North, and he possessed many powerful swords in his grasp.
If he fought with determination, he had more than enough confidence not to lose.
But before that, there was something he had to do.
"If I was suspected, all I had to do was head to the cult and prove my innocence. It's not like you were dragging me away; I stepped forward on my own two feet saying I'd become an Inquisitor."
He took out the Judgment Sword—Mida from his embrace.
And he raised his sword toward the Heresy Inquisition Captains who had just appeared. Especially toward Orcahl.
"Is that truly your own thought?"
"..."
As soon as Orcahl saw the Judgment Sword, he flinched and turned his head.
But he couldn't fool Callias's eyes. For a brief moment, Orcahl was looking at Druma's reaction.
"..."
And Druma.
When he faced him, the sleek blade of the Judgment Sword was stained black.
"The answer is out."
It wasn't his own thought.
Despite that, for them to launch an attack like this meant there must have been orders from above.
And Raiven, having caught on to the situation, had somehow left Callias's side and was now standing by their side.
"Fine."
Whatever he said here, whether he put the Judgment Sword to his neck to prove his innocence, it was all useless.
Because those bastards were going to try to kill me anyway.
That's right.
I've held back a lot until now.
Since neither of us had any intention of listening to words spoken by mouth anyway, it was now time to converse with swords.
It was also perfect for testing the Leiqingjian. If they were Heresy Inquisition Captains, they'd make decent opponents even if they thrashed about wildly.
I immediately drew the Leiqingjian.