Chapter 36

The Swordsmanship Genius Possessed by a God — Chapter 36

Was it because the distance between them had narrowed?

Allen could see a faint red aura emanating from the man's body.

It was so faint that it would be difficult to notice without paying attention, but demonic energy was unmistakably coming from the man.

‘Is this thanks to the Reflecting Eye too?’

Apparently, mana wasn't the only thing he could see through the Reflecting Eye. Demonic energy, a power of a different nature, was also visible to it.

A demonic human had visited Renard's forge.

Could this really be a coincidence?

Moreover, judging by their conversation, this wasn't the demonic human's first visit.

Allen, who had been about to leave the forge, changed his mind.

“May I look at the armor too?”

“Pardon?”

“It's over here. Let's see, the size is...”

Allen began examining the other equipment on one side of the forge.

When Allen, who had seemed ready to leave at any moment, showed no sign of doing so, Renard frowned, approached him, and whispered.

‘Why aren't you leaving?’

‘Let me look around a little longer.’

‘I told you what you're looking for isn't here. Please leave!’

‘I'm a customer, you know.’

‘I'm not selling!’

Allen examined the items one by one while watching the demonic human's movements.

The demonic human slowly surveyed the forge.

He looked at swords he had already examined, then looked at them again.

Then, as though searching for something else, he rummaged through various parts of the forge.

Just like an ordinary customer.

However—

‘He's aware of me.’

Although the demonic human appeared to be browsing the merchandise normally, he was keeping Allen in mind.

‘He's realized I'm not an ordinary customer either.’

Allen picked up a shield and spoke.

“Excuse me, a moment.”

At Allen's call, Renard frowned and turned his head.

“How much is this?”

“Ah, I already told you I'm not going to sell...”

—“Just pretend you're dealing with an ordinary customer. Come closer.”

Renard looked puzzled at Allen's telepathic message.

Looking as though he wondered what Allen was up to, Renard glanced toward the demonic human in the black robe.

Renard asked,

—“Is this because of that customer over there?”

As expected, Renard was no ordinary blacksmith.

The fact that he could communicate telepathically meant he could manipulate mana.

The sword hanging at his waist wasn't merely for show.

—“That's right.”

—“You seem more suspicious to me.”

Even as he said that, Renard gradually approached Allen.

Judging solely by the circumstances, Allen, who had arrived carrying Griffin and searching for an even better sword, was the more suspicious one. But Renard's instincts told him otherwise.

The more dangerous person was the other man.

Sure enough.

“So this really was the place.”

The demonic human, who had been slowly examining the forge, spoke.

“I had my suspicions.”

Allen and Renard looked toward the demonic human simultaneously.

Whether by coincidence or design, he was standing in front of the forge's entrance, blocking it.

The demonic human placed a hand against the wall.

Whooo.

A thin barrier of energy spread throughout the forge.

It was a precaution to prevent any sounds from escaping outside.

Sensing that something was wrong, Renard asked,

“What do you mean, this is the place?”

“That fellow over there.”

The demonic human pointed at Allen.

“You're a swordsman from Vishken, aren't you?”

At that question, Renard whipped his head toward Allen.

Since Allen possessed Griffin, Renard had assumed he wasn't an ordinary swordsman, but he still didn't know Allen's identity or affiliation.

“That sword is Griffin. I remember seeing it in an illustrated catalog. A famous sword that passed from the Empire into Vishken's possession.”

The corners of the demonic human's mouth curled upward.

“If even Vishken has caught the scent, then the Demon Sword really was here after all.”

Allen's eyes gleamed at the demonic human's words.

As expected, the man hadn't simply been wandering around this place. Even if he hadn't been certain, he had already suspected to some extent that the Demon Sword was here.

And, ironically, Allen's presence had turned that suspicion into certainty.

‘So that's why he suddenly started acting up. Because of me?’

If that was the case, the timing was unfortunate.

Had they not encountered each other like this, things might have passed without incident.

“How did this happen? Those Vishken bastards should have been looking for the fake Demon Sword. Was there an information leak?”

‘A fake Demon Sword?’

Allen's eyes gleamed.

He had barely begun to lament his bad luck when he heard something completely unexpected.

A fake Demon Sword.

Allen chuckled and decided to probe the demonic human.

“We have pretty good intelligence. If you were going to make a fake, you should've prepared more thoroughly.”

“Don't bluff.”

The demonic human snorted.

“You're the only one from Vishken anywhere around here. That means your people weren't certain either. You merely had some suspicions. Am I wrong?”

“Wow, you're clever.”

Although he pretended to be impressed, the demonic human's words had given Allen certainty.

‘There's a fake Demon Sword over there.’

The Sword Graveyard.

A fake Demon Sword was located there, in the operational area of the Flying Sword Division and Steel Castle.

Now only one thing mattered.

Why they had prepared that fake Demon Sword.

‘To divert attention? Was that really necessary? Even without making a fake, they wouldn't have found the real one.’

There was only one possible conclusion.

‘It's a trap.’

They wouldn't have created a fake Demon Sword merely to buy some time.

More importantly, they had spent a long time manipulating information to establish the existence of the fake Demon Sword. They wouldn't have gone to all that trouble simply as a diversion.

‘This wasn't prepared overnight. They've been targeting Vishken and the Empire for quite some time...’

“You!”

It was then that Renard's voice erupted.

Allen broke off his deepening thoughts and turned his head.

Renard was glaring at the demonic human with eyes full of rage.

“Were you the one who... asked my father to make the fake Demon Sword...?”

His anger was so intense that his lips and cheeks were trembling.

Although Renard hadn't finished his sentence, the demonic human seemed to understand what he was trying to say.

“I thought something was strange. Even though I'd asked him to make a convincing fake, I never imagined he'd make one that good.”

Veins bulged in Renard's eyes. He clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails dug into his palms.

The demonic human spoke with certainty.

“So that blacksmith really did know about the genuine sword. What a shame. If I'd known sooner, I would've kept him alive a little longer.”

“You bastard!!”

Just as Renard was about to charge at him,

Grab.

A hand reached from behind and seized him by the back of his collar.

It was Allen's hand.

“Let go of me!”

“What do you think you'll accomplish by charging in blindly? You need to consider who you're facing.”

“I'll kill him! I'm going to kill him!”

“You'll be the one who dies first. Do you want both father and son to die at that bastard's hands?”

“I don't care! As long as I can kill him!”

“That's why I'm telling you to calm down. You need to control your anger if you want revenge.”

“...Urgh.”

Was it because of Allen's final words?

Renard's murderous intent gradually subsided. The reminder that he needed to control his emotions to achieve his revenge had been decisive.

‘To think Renard's father was the one who made the fake Demon Sword.’

It truly seemed like a cruel twist of fate.

Of all people, they had commissioned a fake Demon Sword from the blacksmith who possessed the real one.

And because of the finished product, Renard's father had been murdered by the demonic human, while the existence of the real Demon Sword had also been exposed.

‘So that's why he became so sensitive when he realized I was searching for the Demon Sword. His father lost his life over something connected to it.’

Should he consider it fortunate?

Thanks to this, Allen could feel Renard's wariness toward him diminishing.

Instead, Renard was filled with rage toward the demonic human standing before them.

“Where is the Demon Sword?”

The demonic human questioned Renard.

“Hand it over, and I'll spare your life. Though I'll have to kill the Vishken dog beside you.”

“Why do you need the Demon Sword?”

Apparently displeased at being interrupted, the demonic human frowned and glared at Allen.

“That's none of your concern.”

“It doesn't seem like you're planning to use it yourself. Is it for the demon you serve? With that level of loyalty, I doubt you've merely received demonic blood. Are you perhaps a contractor?”

The demonic human flinched at Allen's words.

Renard was also startled by the mention of a demon.

As though Allen had struck a nerve, the demonic human narrowed his eyes.

“What are you? How do you know about that...?”

“Since you're not denying it, I suppose I'm right.”

Allen grew tense inwardly.

‘In the worst case... he might be a demonic human contracted to Belvemos.’

A demonic human who had contracted with one of the Ten Great Demons.

Allen knew all too well just how powerful such beings could be.

After staring at Allen in confusion for a moment, the demonic human muttered,

“It doesn't matter. You're going to die here anyway.”

He no longer cared about Allen's identity.

Step.

The demonic human approached Allen one step at a time.

A sword slid silently from its sheath.

The moment Allen focused on the tip of that sword,

‘Here he comes.’

Whoosh!

A blade swept past Allen's eyes.

Retreating by the width of a sheet of paper to evade the blade, Allen swung his sword like the wind.

Clang!

Scrrrrrape!

“...!”

Allen's body was pushed backward in their first clash of swords. Sparks flew from the blades where they met.

The strength behind the demonic human's sword was extraordinary.

Fully developed sword energy, infused with demonic energy, surged around his blade.

Allen thought his sword might have broken if the weapon in his hand hadn't been Griffin.

‘What kind of strength is this...!’

Meanwhile, Allen wasn't the only one surprised.

When the youthful-looking Allen blocked his sword, the demonic human also showed surprise.

“You really are a strange fellow. An irritating one, too.”

Crackling.

Whoosh!

The sword, wrapped in dark-red sword energy, flew toward Allen like a net.

Scattered sword energy slashed across the forge's walls. Spears and swords hanging there came crashing to the floor.

Clatter!

Allen lowered his body amid the fallen equipment.

The demonic human's sword swept over his head and split the furnace directly behind him.

Boom!

The furnace split open, scattering charcoal and glowing embers in every direction. Red sparks spread like fireflies.

At that moment, the demonic human's sword came flying through the red embers.

Clang!

“...!”

Allen barely managed to block the blade with Griffin and was driven backward. Thud! His back struck the wall.

“Your movements are good.”

The demonic human's sword came at him relentlessly.

Crunch!

The demonic human's sword struck the wall, embedding itself in the stone. Deep cracks spread through the masonry.

The remaining equipment hanging on the wall rattled from the vibrations.

Pulling his sword free, the demonic human unleashed sword energy toward Allen, who had dodged to the side.

Clang!

Fragments of colliding sword energy scraped across the forge's ceiling, producing sparks.

There wasn't even a moment to catch his breath.

Whoosh!

Renard, who had been watching for an opening, drew a sword hanging on the wall and charged.

“Your opponent is me!”

Whoosh.

A streak of sword energy grazed the demonic human's waist.

It had fallen just short.

And at that very moment, the demonic human's hand shot toward Renard's throat.

That was when Allen's sword intervened.

Celestial Star Style, First Form.

Behold.

Clang!

The outstretched hand withdrew.

The demonic human focused on Allen again. Allen was clearly a far greater threat than Renard.

“I told you, your opponent is me...”

Renard, who had been about to intervene in the fight again, faltered.

It was because of the next technique Allen immediately unleashed.

Celestial Star Style, Second Form.

Rainstorm.

Whooooosh!

Scattered sword energy engulfed the demonic human. The powerful wind sent the equipment strewn across the floor tumbling in every direction.

Renard, who had been charging toward the demonic human, hesitated.

At that moment, Allen once again grabbed Renard by the collar and pulled him backward.

“What are you doing?”

“Why don't you get a grip?!”

Allen's voice was sharp.

Renard flinched at the sudden change in his tone and demeanor.

“Think about your opponent's level before you charge in. I know you want to avenge your father somehow, but right now you're actually getting in the way of that revenge.”

“I'm getting in the way?”

“Do you think you're helping?”

During their brief exchange, the demonic human dispersed all of Allen's sword energy and stepped forward.

“...Against a monster like that.”

“I wondered why such a young brat had such a fine sword, but now I understand. Who are you? I've never heard of anyone like you in Vishken.”

The demonic human's demonic energy grew steadily denser.

Allen pointed his sword at him again. They had exchanged only a few blows, yet the wrist of his sword hand was already aching.

‘He's no ordinary opponent.’

He was on an entirely different level from the mongrel demonic human Allen had encountered in the dungeon.

The man before him appeared to have been an accomplished swordsman even before becoming a demonic human. Not only were his basic physical abilities exceptional, but he also wielded an advanced swordsmanship style.

‘A peak-level Expert? It feels like a swordsman on the very verge of becoming a Master turned into a demonic human.’

A demonic human of a caliber rarely encountered even in Allen's previous life.

At his current level, Allen would lose all ten times if they fought ten times.

‘The only way to defeat that bastard...’

There was only one available here.

Allen sent Renard a telepathic message.

—“The sword hanging at your waist. That's the Demon Sword, isn't it?”

Renard flinched at the telepathic message.

His hand instinctively moved toward his waist, as though to protect the sword.

Seeing Renard's reaction, Allen became certain and spoke.

—“If we're going to defeat that bastard, we need it.”

That was the only way to win this fight.