Chapter 45

The Swordsmanship Genius Possessed by a God — Chapter 45

You wouldn't say that?

Lucas and the Lord of Steel Castle exchanged glances.

They could see the same thought in each other's eyes: Could it be?

Allen held out a sword.

An ordinary scabbard and an ordinary hilt. A plain-looking sword that gave off no discernible aura.

Looking at it, Lucas asked,

“What is that?”

“The real Demon Sword.”

Come to think of it, Lucas himself had assigned Allen the mission.

He had ordered the Second Squad to track down the real Demon Sword separately in case the situation here turned out to be a trap.

It had been Allen's suggestion, but Lucas, as commander of the Flying Sword Division, had made the decision.

Even so—

“Are you saying that's the real Demon Sword? The one we've been searching for?”

“If you don't believe me, shall I draw it and show you?”

Lucas, who was rarely surprised, widened his eyes at Allen's words.

Seeing his expression turn fierce in an instant, Allen smiled awkwardly.

“I'm joking, just joking.”

“Is this a time for jokes?”

After everything they had just been through, how could he joke about something like that?

It had only been moments since the demon Belvemos and the fake Demon Sword had been destroyed.

If something like that happened a second time, even Lucas wasn't confident he could handle it.

Lucas was half convinced and half doubtful of Allen's claim.

Although his words and expression seemed playful, Allen would never actually joke about something like this in such a situation.

Moreover, considering that Allen had arrived knowing what was happening here, he couldn't rule out the possibility that it was genuine.

“In any case... you're saying that's the real Demon Sword?”

If that were true, Allen had accomplished something extraordinary during this mission.

No, it was practically as though Allen had single-handedly completed most of the enormous mission to secure the Demon Sword.

On top of that, he had saved the life of the Lord of Steel Castle, one of the seven pillars of the family.

Lucas wondered whether any squad leader in Vishken's history had ever achieved such a tremendous feat.

“Have you been deceived your whole life? Do you really think I'd tell a lie that would be exposed immediately?”

“If that's genuine, be careful. You've seen how dangerous the Demon Sword is.”

“Don't worry too much. It may be the real Demon Sword, but nothing like what happened earlier will occur.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It's a rather long story...”

Allen grinned and plopped down on the spot.

“Well, anyway, it means the mission was a success.”

Thud.

As though all his strength had drained away, Allen lay flat on the ground.

Only then did Lucas notice Allen's condition.

His pale face and purplish lips. His hair, soaked repeatedly with sweat, and the wounds covering his body.

He looked as though he had fought a desperate battle for his life and then run here without resting.

“Are you all right?”

“I'm fine. More importantly, the Second Squad is still fighting in Stoneville.”

“Against whom?”

“I'm not certain, but there's a good chance they're from Dark Castle. They're also the ones who told me the Demon Sword here was a fake.”

Lucas's expression hardened at the mention of Dark Castle.

Dark Castle.

Unlike the neutral faction of Vishken, they were closely associated with the darkness of the continent.

A group that stood in direct opposition to the Empire, which symbolized justice and order across the continent.

They were the ones who had planted the fake Demon Sword in this mission.

“I think they'll be all right, but just in case. Please look after the Second Squad.”

At Allen's request, Lucas turned his head.

“Flying Sword Division!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Gather everyone still capable of moving and head to Stoneville. From this moment onward, support the Second Squad.”

“Understood!”

“Allen, you...”

Having issued his orders to the Flying Sword Division, Lucas was about to ask Allen what on earth had happened.

But then,

Haaah, haah.

Having apparently pushed himself far beyond his limits, Allen fell fast asleep as soon as he had delivered the news about the Second Squad.

The sound of his breathing indicated that he was deeply asleep.

Seeing this, Lucas let out a quiet, incredulous laugh and spoke.

“You've worked hard, Second Squad Leader.”

__________________

Allen fell into a deep sleep, almost as though he had lost consciousness.

And in that sleep, Allen dreamed.

Splash.

The ground was covered in pools of blood.

Severed heads and arms lay scattered across the ground. Blood flowing from countless bodies soaked his feet.

In the middle of a battlefield where countless people were dying,

Allen remembered this place.

‘Belvemos.’

The operation to exterminate Belvemos, the Third Demon.

It had been a joint operation involving the swordsmen and mages of the suicide squad.

Among the corpses lying on the ground, he could see familiar faces.

Among them was Renard, considerably older than he was now.

Slaaash!

Belvemos was still killing his comrades.

Someone shouted for everyone to flee. As though waiting for those words, another person, overcome with terror, turned and ran.

Amid the battlefield engulfed in fear,

The members of the suicide squad began fleeing from Belvemos.

‘So many people died.’

Allen's gaze turned toward Belvemos, who stood atop the corpses. The demon held a human head, its shape horribly distorted, in one hand.

Just how many people had died at that monster's hands that day?

The demonic energy flowing from him had turned the sky red. He grinned as he pursued the fleeing humans.

Although it was only a dream, it reminded Allen vividly

Of just what kind of beings the Ten Great Demons were.

The Belvemos he had encountered during this mission had been completely different from the one Allen knew.

Having failed to resurrect properly, the demon had been a pathetic weakling who couldn't have ranked even at the bottom of the Ten Great Demons, let alone as the Third Demon.

It was then.

Whoooo.

The sky changed. So did the scenery on the ground.

The blood-soaked earth disappeared, and a desolate forest appeared.

Within that forest stood graves made from rocks and stones.

“Ah...”

Allen remembered this place.

A place he could never forget, and must never forget.

These were the graves of those who had died in the battle against Belvemos.

Step.

After hesitating briefly, Allen walked toward the graves.

Unsure what he should say first, the words he finally spoke were these.

“...Belvemos is dead.”

At this moment, Allen had returned to being the Allen of his previous life, who had fought against the demons.

“I didn't defeat the monster you knew. I don't have that kind of strength.”

Not knowing how to explain it, Allen decided to simply tell the truth.

After all, it was only a dream. What did it matter?

“It's hard to believe, but I've returned to the past. I encountered Belvemos in the distant past and was able to kill him early. You know, don't you? I may not look like much, but I came from a very distinguished family.”

Naturally, the dead did not speak.

But Allen continued as though they had answered him while still alive.

Allen sighed deeply.

“I know. It's only one.”

Just one of the Ten Great Demons.

There were still nine more.

And even aside from them, countless other powerful demons remained.

Above all, there was the Demon King.

That monster was the greatest problem.

“But everything starts with a single step, doesn't it? For now, just tell me I did well.”

After saying that, Allen fell silent for a moment.

He knew what he wanted to say, but he couldn't easily bring himself to speak.

And after a long silence,

“I'm ashamed to say I was the last to die. I suppose I must have protected myself without realizing it.”

Allen bowed his head toward the graves.

“I'm sorry.”

Standing before them brought back memories of the final battle.

The battle amid the pouring rain.

Ironically, he had been the very last survivor.

Why had that been?

He hadn't even been the strongest among them.

At first, he had tried to dress it up with grand words like destiny, or dismiss it as coincidence, but ultimately only one thing remained.

Guilt.

Allen was ashamed of having died last.

“I suppose I survived the longest because I was weak. Looking back, I think I must have been a burden to all of you.”

Allen bit his lip tightly.

“So... I'll do better from now on.”

Allen raised his head.

He could feel the dream gradually fading.

The graves before him disappeared, followed by the forest. He felt as though his body were floating into the air.

The time to wake up was approaching.

“It was good to see you. If possible, next time, please show up alive. I think I'd be even happier to see you that way, even if it's only in a dream.”

After wondering how he should say his final farewell, Allen spoke.

“Well then, I'll go take down another one.”

For some reason, he felt as though his comrades in the graves were waving goodbye.

__________________

Awakening from his dream, Allen slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was the ceiling of an infirmary. He had no idea how much time had passed.

Just as he opened his eyes,

“You awake?”

Lucas's voice came from where he was sitting a short distance from the bed.

Lucas was reading a book without a cover. Apparently, he had been waiting there for Allen to wake up.

Allen asked,

“The Second Squad?”

“Worrying about your subordinates the moment you wake up? You've become quite the exemplary squad leader.”

“So they're safe.”

Allen sighed in relief at Lucas's response.

If something had happened to the Second Squad, his brother would never have answered like that.

“A few have minor injuries, but no one was seriously hurt. Everyone's safe.”

“That's a relief.”

“And it seems the Second Squad captured one of the enemies alive under your orders. He appears to be a swordsman from Dark Castle. We're planning to send him to the family for interrogation.”

“I was worried, but everyone did well.”

“Worried? Your condition was the biggest concern. How did you manage to run all the way here in that state?”

Lucas had been shocked when he examined Allen after he collapsed.

Allen had been almost completely exhausted. Moreover, he had sustained numerous small wounds from sword energy all over his body.

To think he had run all the way from Stoneville to the Sword Graveyard without resting in that condition.

“But thanks to that, I made it in time, didn't I? This is when you're supposed to just say thank you.”

“That's certainly true, but...”

Lucas frowned and asked,

“While we're on the subject, what possessed you to do something like that? You could easily have been consumed by the Demon Sword.”

Allen had made an enormous contribution during this mission.

Not only had he discovered the existence of the real Demon Sword on his own, but he had also saved the Flying Sword Division and the Lord of Steel Castle from the trap involving the fake Demon Sword.

But setting aside the outcome, the process still sent chills down Lucas's spine.

What if Allen had been consumed by the Demon Sword instead of the Lord of Steel Castle?

In that case, Lucas might have been forced to sever his younger brother's head with his own hands.

“I didn't act without thinking.”

“You had a reason?”

“Yes.”

Allen prepared to explain.

However—

“Then that's enough.”

“Huh?”

Allen was the one who became bewildered when Lucas let the matter go so easily.

“Aren't you going to ask? Why I did it? I'm pretty sure you said we'd talk later before I collapsed.”

“I've already received a general report. Including the fact that you used the Demon Sword while fighting a demonic human in Stoneville.”

Lucas sighed deeply.

Many words lingered on the tip of his tongue.

Why had Allen done something so dangerous? It had been a gamble with his life.

But as commander of the Flying Sword Division, Lucas ultimately chose to say something else.

“Well done, Second Squad Leader. And thank you. Your abilities and judgment saved the Flying Sword Division and Steel Castle, and brought the mission to a successful conclusion.”

Allen grinned at Lucas's praise.

Words of praise for a job well done and an expression of gratitude.

They were simple words of acknowledgment, but hearing them from his brother made Allen happier than ever before.

He, who had always lived in the shadow of the family, had successfully completed a mission as a squad leader of the Flying Sword Division.

“It's nothing, Commander.”

“Getting arrogant already?”

“When else am I supposed to be arrogant if not now? Cut me some slack.”

Allen shrugged playfully and looked around.

“By the way, where's the Demon Sword? I went to all the trouble of bringing it back, but I don't see it.”

“It's being kept in its scabbard. We'll return to the main castle through the transport gate at noon today. It's already been two days since you collapsed.”

Allen looked disappointed at Lucas's answer.

The situation had been so urgent that he hadn't had much chance to speak with the Demon Sword. Unlike other people, Allen could converse with the Demon Sword without having his soul taken over.

‘Still, there'll be another opportunity.’

And if there wasn't, he intended to create one.

Demon Sword Kaglos.

There were so many things he wanted to ask it.

“Are you feeling better?”

At Lucas's question, Allen nodded and rolled his shoulders in a wide circle.

“I'm perfectly fine.”

“You certainly seem full of energy. Come with me, then.”

Lucas closed the book he had been reading and rose from his seat.

“The Lord of Steel Castle wants to see you.”