Chapter 34

The Swordsmanship Genius Possessed by a God — Chapter 34

“It's been a while, Castle Lord. Have you been well?”

Allen greeted him with a bright smile.

Anyone watching would have thought they were genuinely delighted to see each other.

The Lord of Steel Castle might have been expected to show at least a little surprise, but he returned the greeting without the slightest change in expression.

“I've been well. It's been three months. I was quite surprised to hear you'd become a squad leader in the Flying Sword Division.”

“I feel the weight of responsibility in a position I scarcely deserve.”

“I'm sure the Second Young Master will do an excellent job. Ah, should I call you Second Squad Leader now?”

“Either title is fine, so please call me whatever you prefer.”

After exchanging brief greetings, Allen turned his head.

Nearby, someone was glaring at him with a murderous expression.

It was Isolde, whose arm Allen had broken.

“So you're here too? I'm sorry about what happened back then.”

Isolde's face twisted at Allen's greeting.

But since he regarded having his arm broken by Allen as a humiliation, he couldn't easily confront him here.

“Not at all. It was nothing.”

Of course, his true feelings were quite different.

—“If I hadn't let my guard down, the result would have been different.”

Allen laughed aloud at Isolde's telepathic message.

However, he had no intention of arguing with him here.

After all, this was the Lord of Steel Castle's stronghold. As long as Allen was here, he intended to show him respect.

“I'm glad you think so. Let's have tea together sometime.”

“Anytime.”

While they exchanged these brief greetings, the other swordsmen of the Flying Sword Division passed through the transport gate.

As the Lord of Steel Castle welcomed Lucas, who was the last to emerge from the gate,

Allen sent the Lord of Steel Castle a telepathic message.

—“Let's meet privately later.”

For a brief moment, the Lord of Steel Castle's gaze turned toward him.

But as expected of such an experienced man, he showed little reaction and shook hands with Lucas.

Although his face was smiling brightly, Allen could tell from his eyes that his mind was racing.

__________________

“...What is this?”

The Lord of Steel Castle asked with a bewildered expression.

Inside Steel Castle's reception room.

Allen, Lucas, and the Lord of Steel Castle were seated together.

“Weren't we supposed to meet alone?”

“Did I say that?”

“Well, no, but...”

“When I asked to meet privately, I was speaking not as the Second Young Master, but as the Flying Sword Division's Second Squad Leader. With the commander here as well.”

Lucas sat down and looked at the Lord of Steel Castle across from him.

“Does my presence make you uncomfortable?”

“Well, I wouldn't say uncomfortable.”

Lucas narrowed his eyes at the Lord of Steel Castle, who smacked his lips as though disappointed.

His gaze was filled with suspicion, as though wondering what scheme the old man was plotting this time.

Although he was aware of that gaze, the Lord of Steel Castle merely raised his teacup without saying anything.

“So why did you ask to see us, Second Squad Leader?”

“I have a request for both of you.”

“A request?”

“Please allow the Second Squad to operate independently during this mission.”

Lucas was startled by Allen's request.

The Lord of Steel Castle, on the other hand, smiled with interest, his eyes gleaming.

Lucas asked in surprise,

“What's this all of a sudden?”

“Exactly what I said. I want the Second Squad to carry out a separate assignment during this mission.”

“Why?”

“You said the probability of success for this mission was forty percent, right? Three months ago, it was ten percent.”

Lucas nodded.

This was information that had been shared not only with Allen but with the other squad leaders as well.

“The probability has risen too quickly.”

“You think that's strange?”

“You said we're facing off against the Empire over the Sword Graveyard in Stoneville, didn't you?”

“So?”

“What if someone deliberately provoked a conflict between the Empire and Vishken?”

At this unexpected observation, Lucas and the Lord of Steel Castle exchanged glances.

Neither could immediately dismiss the possibility.

“It's strange that information about the Demon Sword reached both factions in equal measure. The sudden rise in our chances of finding it after all this time is equally suspicious.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“If someone deliberately engineered this situation, and the real Demon Sword is somewhere else...”

Now that the competition between Vishken and the Empire over the Demon Sword had reached its peak,

“It might mean that whoever is behind this has almost found the Demon Sword by now.”

“...”

Lucas and the Lord of Steel Castle grew serious at Allen's words.

What if that were true?

They would have been completely fooled. Not only would they lose the Demon Sword, but Vishken's pride would suffer as well.

After considering the matter for a moment, the Lord of Steel Castle and Lucas spoke.

“It's not entirely impossible. But the probability is extremely low.”

“That's true. We've also found the recent developments rather strange.”

“Indeed. Even if the probability is only a few percent, there's no harm in considering it.”

Having said that, the Lord of Steel Castle fell silent.

Although they were in Steel Castle, Allen's direct superior was Lucas, commander of the Flying Sword Division. Ultimately, the decision was his.

After thinking for a moment, Lucas asked,

“Are you sure? If your theory is wrong, the Second Squad won't make any contribution to this mission.”

“On the other hand, if I'm right, we might obtain everything.”

“That's true.”

Lucas nodded at Allen's answer.

“Fine. During this mission, lead the Second Squad however you wish.”

The moment permission was granted,

Ding!

[A mission has been registered.]

[Category: Mission]

[Secure the Demon Sword Kaglos.]

[Time Limit: ∞]

[Reward: All stats +3]

Allen's eyes widened.

At the same time, his hand tightened into a fist.

The first problem, which he had thought would be the most difficult, had been resolved. He had even obtained a new mission.

Securing the Demon Sword, along with the stats rewarded by the mission.

Considering his wager with the First Squad Leader as well, there was a great deal riding on this.

‘If I had my way, I'd redirect the entire Flying Sword Division elsewhere, but...’

No matter how he thought about it, that was impossible.

Vishken had been tracking the Demon Sword for a long time, and the result of that search was the Sword Graveyard in Stoneville.

At present, no matter what Allen claimed, his words could not be more credible than the family's intelligence.

‘I'll have to be satisfied with this for now.’

In any case, he had accomplished his immediate objective.

The real challenge would begin from here.

“Thanks for trusting me.”

“Trust you? I'm simply keeping the possibilities open. Anything else?”

“No.”

“Then you may leave. The mission begins tomorrow, so get some rest.”

Allen nodded and rose from his seat. He also bowed to the Lord of Steel Castle before leaving the reception room.

It was then.

“Second Squad Leader.”

Lucas called Allen once more.

“Don't push yourself too hard.”

Allen smiled faintly at those words.

Was Lucas worried about him, or about the Second Squad operating separately during the mission?

Allen thought he understood why Lucas had deliberately called him 'Second Squad Leader' rather than Allen, and replied simply,

“Don't worry, Commander.”

Allen tapped his chest as he answered, then left the reception room.

Watching Allen's departing figure, Lucas let out a small sigh.

“He doesn't sound sincere at all.”

__________________

The following day.

Allen led the Second Squad out of Steel Castle and headed toward Stoneville.

Stoneville, a trading city built amid rocky terrain.

As the enormous city came into view, Mary asked,

“Are we really going to operate separately on this mission?”

“Yes. We'll operate independently for this mission.”

With those words, Allen explained their objective.

“We're going to look for another clue to the Demon Sword.”

“Is there another Demon Sword?”

“I'm not certain. There's only a possibility.”

Mary's expression darkened at Allen's answer.

Not certain. Only a possibility.

Missions described in such terms were generally bound to be of extremely low importance.

The other squad members reacted similarly.

Bigra, his face twisted in anger, asked,

“Are they deliberately excluding our squad?”

It was an understandable suspicion under the circumstances.

Allen firmly shook his head.

“That's not it, so stop thinking nonsense. Anyway, we're going to find someone during this mission.”

“What kind of person?”

“Here.”

Allen showed everyone a portrait he had prepared in advance.

A little later, deciding they had memorized it, Allen burned the paper and scattered the ashes.

“Don't forget the face you just saw. Today, we're going to find this person in Stoneville. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Don't let anyone know we're from the Flying Sword Division. Act naturally. Also, the details of this mission are strictly confidential. Under no circumstances are you to leak any information, either during the mission or after it's over.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Split into groups of three. When the sun sets, gather here again.”

Hearing that they would be divided into groups of three, Mary looked over her companions and asked,

“Then won't one person be left over?”

The Second Squad had sixteen members, including Allen.

Dividing them into groups of three would leave one person alone.

And Mary immediately realized who that person would be.

“Are you planning to operate alone?”

“Yes.”

Allen hurriedly dispersed the squad members before the discussion could drag on unnecessarily.

“This decision is final. We're in the middle of a city anyway, so there shouldn't be any danger. Just focus on your assignments. Dismissed!”

At his command, the Second Squad quickly moved out.

They changed into the clothes they had brought and disguised themselves as ordinary travelers and merchants.

Allen disguised himself as a wandering swordsman. There was no more natural identity for someone traveling alone.

The streets of Stoneville were bustling with trade.

All kinds of goods were displayed on stone counters, while customers and merchants argued over prices.

“Fresh fish from the eastern continent's coast, arrived today! Perfect for grilling!”

“Buy two loaves of bread and get one free! Don't miss your chance!”

“Fine-quality Slav leather for sale! Prepare for winter early!”

Passing through the noisy streets, Allen headed toward a quieter corner of the city.

A street with relatively few people.

It was the place Allen had intended to visit from the beginning.

Black-market dealers, herbal medicine shops, illicit taverns, pawnshops, and the like.

This street was lined with shops that primarily handled expensive goods and items difficult to obtain through ordinary means.

Among them, Allen entered a forge tucked away in a corner.

Rustle.

When he pulled aside the thick cloth covering the entrance, a wave of heat greeted him from within.

Allen called toward the interior.

“Is anyone here?”

There was no answer.

Without waiting, Allen walked farther into the forge.

As he went a little deeper inside, he saw various pieces of equipment hanging on the walls.

Basic equipment such as swords, spears, armor, and shields.

Every item was of exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

‘His skills are as good as ever.’

The equipment was in no way inferior to what Vishken used. In fact, some pieces were even better.

And yet such equipment was hanging so casually on the walls.

Allen continued deeper inside while examining the equipment.

Clang, clang, clang.

After going a little farther, he heard the sound of metal being hammered.

Someone was inside.

“Is anyone here?”

Allen called out again.

Apparently having finally heard him, the person stopped hammering.

Inside the dim forge,

Someone emerged from the shadows.

Judging by the atmosphere, one might have expected a burly, muscular blacksmith advanced in years.

But instead—

“...Who are you?”

The person who emerged, holding a hammer in one hand, was a small boy with red hair.

A young blacksmith with a long scar on his cheek.

Certain he had come to the right place, Allen smiled brightly and spoke.

“I've come looking for a sword.”

The boy probably had no idea.

What kind of sword Allen was referring to.