Chapter 37

The Swordsmanship Genius Possessed by a God — Chapter 37

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The swordsmen of the Flying Sword Division and Steel Castle, having descended into the valley beneath the cliffs, kept watch over their surroundings.

They were concerned that the Empire might intervene.

Inside the valley, old, rusted swords lay scattered across the ground. Bloodstains of unknown origin covered the area.

A graveyard known as the Sword Graveyard.

As he walked through the valley, which was filled with an eerie atmosphere, Lucas muttered,

“Fortunately, it's still quiet.”

While the swordsmen searched the graveyard, the Lord of Steel Castle and Lucas kept watch over their surroundings.

They were preparing for any unforeseen developments, but fortunately, nothing unusual had happened so far.

They had expected the Empire to react the moment Vishken entered the Sword Graveyard.

“Do they intend to keep watching without doing anything?”

“They probably didn't know you were coming.”

The Flying Sword Division had only just arrived at the Sword Graveyard.

The renowned Flying Sword Division had joined forces with Steel Castle, and Lucas, a leading candidate to become Vishken's next young family head, was among them. The Empire had no choice but to be cautious about its movements.

No matter how important the Demon Sword was, facing Steel Castle and the Flying Sword Division simultaneously would be a considerable burden even for them.

“How could that be because of me? They must be frightened by your reputation, Castle Lord.”

“There's no need to flatter me. Just a few months ago, you came to me and made all those threats.”

“As if threats like those would frighten you, Castle Lord.”

There was an invisible line between the two.

They appeared to treat each other with courtesy and respect, but beneath the surface, they were always wary of each other.

And at the center of it all was Allen.

“Did this mission seem more dangerous?”

Lucas turned his head at the Lord of Steel Castle's question.

Seeing his puzzled expression, the Lord of Steel Castle elaborated.

“I mean your decision to send the Second Squad Leader elsewhere.”

“That was the Second Squad Leader's request.”

“I know. But you could have refused, couldn't you?”

“Didn't you agree with him as well, Castle Lord? That his reasoning made sense.”

“That doesn't mean it had to be the Second Squad.”

The Second Squad was the only unit detached from the Flying Sword Division under the pretext of preparing for unforeseen circumstances.

Furthermore, the Second Squad had the poorest performance record in the entire Flying Sword Division. Allen himself was a novice undertaking his first mission since joining the division.

“Even if the Second Squad Leader's theory is correct, what can they accomplish on their own? Do you truly believe the Second Squad can find the real Demon Sword?”

The Lord of Steel Castle spoke with near certainty.

“You simply didn't want the Second Squad Leader here, where a battle with the Empire might break out. Isn't that right?”

“No one knows the outcome yet.”

“Surely you don't believe that.”

The Lord of Steel Castle spoke with a faint, mocking smile.

“Even if his Curse of Mana Deprivation has been lifted, the Second Young Master is still a novice. No one knows, you say? Do you really believe that?”

The Lord of Steel Castle had called Allen the Second Young Master rather than the Second Squad Leader. Moreover, he seemed to have realized that Allen's Curse of Mana Deprivation had been lifted.

“When did you notice?”

“Does it matter when? It's something that will be revealed eventually. No, something that must be revealed.”

The Lord of Steel Castle let out a faint sigh.

“Commander, let go of your lingering attachment. The more you openly cherish the Second Young Master, the more danger you'll put him in.”

“Have you still not given up?”

Lucas's eyes turned cold.

Seeing the murderous intent in his gaze, the Lord of Steel Castle gave a hollow laugh.

“We never had a choice to begin with. If someone must become the family head, the only candidates are you and the Lord of Blood Sword Castle's disciple... But that fellow, tsk.”

Remembering the Lord of Blood Sword Castle's disciple, the Lord of Steel Castle clicked his tongue and frowned, something he rarely did.

He recalled the face of a man whose eyes had turned blood-red as he tore a maidservant's throat out with his bare hands.

What would happen if that madness were turned upon the world?

“You know, don't you? What would happen if someone like that became the family head of Vishken? The family's ruin would be the least of our problems. The continent would be dyed in blood.”

“There's no need to worry.”

Lucas also knew about the Lord of Blood Sword Castle's disciple.

The son of his uncle, Bael Vishken. The Lord of Blood Sword Castle's disciple, and the man closest to becoming family head after Lucas himself.

It wasn't as though Lucas had never considered him.

“I'll deal with that madman myself.”

“If only it were as easy as you make it sound...”

The Lord of Steel Castle and Lucas, who had been speaking, turned their heads simultaneously.

Above the valley.

They sensed the presence of a group.

“They've started moving.”

“As expected, they won't simply stand by and watch.”

“Those Imperial bastards. They have no fear.”

The Lord of Steel Castle snorted and began walking.

He intended to personally step forward and stop the Empire's swordsmen.

But at that moment,

“We found it!!!”

Both men turned toward the shout coming from the distance.

Deep within the sunlit valley.

Vishken had finally discovered the Demon Sword.

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Allen had noticed the Demon Sword's presence for a trivial reason.

‘Why did he pick up a sword from the wall?’

Renard had picked up a sword hanging on the wall.

He hadn't specifically chosen the best sword. He had simply grabbed the closest one.

But if that was the reason, he could have drawn the sword at his waist instead.

As an exceptional blacksmith, he certainly wouldn't be carrying just any sword.

‘That's it.’

Allen knew that Renard possessed the Demon Sword, but he hadn't known where he had hidden it.

Yet, as the saying went, the darkest place was beneath the lamp. The Demon Sword had been right beside Renard all along.

Although Allen had no idea how he had managed to conceal even the Demon Sword's aura.

—“If you hold this sword, you'll die.”

The Demon Sword wasn't called a Demon Sword for nothing.

Renard, whose family had concealed the Demon Sword for generations, understood its dangers better than anyone.

—“Ordinary people can't properly wield the Demon Sword. You won't last even ten seconds.”

—“Listen carefully. I'm Allen Vishken, son of Axion Vishken.”

Renard's eyes widened at Allen's telepathic message.

Axion Vishken.

Allen could sense Renard's bewilderment at the sudden mention of the continent's greatest swordsman.

Allen had deliberately mentioned his father's name.

He wanted to earn Renard's trust by any means necessary.

After all, no matter how formidable the Demon Sword might be, it was merely a sword before the name of Axion Vishken, the continent's greatest swordsman.

—“You're Axion's son?”

—“That's right. I won't lose to some Demon Sword. I don't care if it's ten seconds or even one second. Right now, I need that sword.”

Their telepathic conversation could not continue.

The demonic human had noticed that the two were communicating and immediately charged.

“How dare you!”

Allen raised his mana to its utmost limit.

The demonic human's demonic energy also grew denser than before.

Through the Reflecting Eye, Allen could see the trajectory of the demonic human's movements. He thrust his sword toward that trajectory.

Celestial Star Style, First Form.

Behold.

Clang!

Riiiiing.

Sword energy scattered from the collision of their blades, slicing across the ceiling. Allen's sword, overpowered in the clash, vibrated rapidly.

After several more collisions, his wrist ached as though it might snap. The gap between them was enormous, not only in physical strength but also in the energy contained within their sword strikes.

“Renard!”

Allen shouted as he struggled to hold his sword against his opponent's.

“Hurry!”

“So you two really were conspiring together.”

The demonic human's eyes flashed.

His gaze turned toward the hesitating Renard.

“Where is the Demon Sword!!”

The demonic human's shout thundered through the devastated forge.

Demonic energy surged around him. His power intensified, and his eyes became bloodshot.

At that moment, Allen could see the demonic energy within the man's body multiplying.

‘Something's coming.’

In response to his opponent's preparations, Allen recited the incantation for his technique.

And the next moment,

A technique manifested from the demonic human's sword.

Severing Void.

Compressed demonic energy flew toward Allen like a wall. Rather than cutting him down with a sword, it seemed intent on crushing him beneath a wall.

Fortunately, Allen's technique manifested in time as well.

Celestial Star Style, Third Form.

Surge.

Crash!

Wave-like sword energy collided with the advancing wall.

Whooooosh!

The collision of the two techniques created a powerful gale of demonic energy and mana.

Surge failed to completely neutralize the demonic human's technique.

The storm of scattered sword energy hurled Allen out of the forge. Sword energy tore up the ground, raising clouds of dust.

“No!”

Renard shouted.

As he hurriedly tried to run toward where Allen had been thrown, the demonic human blocked his path.

“Things have finally quieted down.”

The demonic energy emanating from the man's eyes constricted Renard's body.

Facing him alone for the first time, Renard's body went rigid.

He felt like a frail herbivore standing before an enormous monster. His body stiffened, and his lips trembled.

“Where is the Demon Sword?”

“Do you... really think I'll tell you?”

“My offer to spare your life if you hand over the Demon Sword still stands. But if you make me ask the same question again, that promise will no longer mean anything.”

Step.

The demonic human approached Renard.

“Where is the Demon Sword?”

“...”

Renard bit down hard on his lip.

The pain of his mangled, bleeding lip gradually brought him back to his senses.

After a moment, Renard nodded.

“You'll keep your promise, won't you?”

“I was a swordsman before I became a demonic human. I swear upon my honor.”

“You haven't even told me your name.”

“If you heard my name, I wouldn't be able to let you live.”

“I suppose that's true.”

Renard walked toward a corner of the ruined forge.

Inside the furnace, which had been wrecked during the battle.

Renard rummaged through the extinguished embers and pulled out a sword.

The demonic human's eyes gleamed at the sight of the sword, which had been carefully concealed unlike the others.

“Is that the Demon Sword?”

“Yes.”

“I don't sense anything special about it.”

“That's because we sealed it.”

Renard gripped the Demon Sword, still inside its scabbard.

“For generations, the Maximus family has carried the duty of hiding and sealing the Demon Sword. To do that, we needed a scabbard capable of containing the sword's aura.”

“With nothing more than a scabbard?”

“Don't underestimate the Maximus family. It was my father who made that fake Demon Sword you wanted so badly, wasn't it?”

Was it because the conversation had turned to the fake Demon Sword and his father?

The demonic human belatedly grew suspicious.

“Strange. You seemed to bear quite a grudge over your father.”

“Don't misunderstand.”

A fierce determination filled Renard's eyes.

“I will kill you, without fail. If I can't do it with my own strength, I'll borrow someone else's. Whatever it takes, whatever methods I have to use, I'll kill you.”

“So you're saying you have no choice but to do this to survive?”

“You said you'd keep your promise.”

Renard held out the Demon Sword, as though urging him to take it quickly.

Seeing the blazing anger in Renard's eyes, the demonic human chuckled.

He reached out and took hold of the Demon Sword.

“Very well. I'll be waiting for...”

At that moment,

Whooooosh!

Sensing a presence behind him, the demonic human turned.

Shunk!

“...!”

The demonic human's eyes widened almost to the point of tearing as his chest was pierced.

The blade had passed just beside his heart.

But it didn't end there.

Riiip.

“Gaaaaaagh!”

The demonic human's body was split open from chest to abdomen.

Despite the pain, the demonic human swung his sword. Sword energy erupted with all the strength he could muster, forcing his attacker to withdraw his blade and retreat.

At the same time, Renard moved away from the demonic human.

Drip, drip, drip.

Blood poured from the gaping wound onto the ground. The demonic human staggered and braced himself against the wall.

His gaze turned toward the figure before him.

“You bastard...!”

Allen, whom he had been certain was already defeated, stood there.

And he wasn't merely standing.

In his hand was a familiar-looking red blade.

“The Demon... Sword...!”

The sword the demonic human had searched for so desperately was now in Allen's hand.