Chapter 225 : Chapter 225
Chapter 225 : The Sword Demon, Raman (4)
―……That nameless one achieved the incarnation of the thirteen, walked through each era, wound up the threads of providence, and promised us that he would forever look down upon the flow of all creation……..
―The Seven Deadly Sins are not specific individuals. They're not entities with a tangible substance, but the source of evil that appears by shifting through the eras. They shake the order of this land, bring about chaos, and ultimately drive countless lives to ruin.
'Raman Windermere was the Sword Demon.'
Once I knew that fact, many things looked different.
The woman who provided the cause for Luke Springeus and Raman Windermere to become romantic rivals had long since vanished from existence, but that hadn't been very important in the first place.
'That trivial connection must've been the Sword Demon's design in the end too.'
And another thing.
From a certain point onward, the showdown between the two began to take the form of a sparring match rather than a duel.
'Well, of course, this must've been because the Sword Demon went easy on him from the very first duel too.'
Then, a question arises here.
For what reason on earth is the Sword Demon so obsessed with Luke Springeus?
'……Why on earth is it?'
I subtly turned my head and looked at the Sword Demon. It didn't seem like he'd answer obediently just because I asked.
'He'd probably say the reason he's showing me this right now is the answer.'
As I watched the sparring match while asking and answering my own questions……
Luke's sword, which improved day by day, came clearly into my sight.
At first, he was a mere brat who was at most a beginner first-class expert.
However, while the seasons changed twice, he surpassed the Late Peak Expert stage and reached the threshold of a Transcendental Expert.
I witnessed the process of a human truly becoming a superhuman right before my eyes.
Since things were like this, I couldn't help but naturally learn while watching the sparring between the two.
"I'm thinking of joining the Imperial Capital Knight Order this year."
The end of winter, when spring was beginning to cautiously poke its green head out.
It was right after they turned around after finishing a live-blade sparring match as usual.
Luke Springeus spoke.
"……."
The Sword Demon—Raman Windermere turned only his body and stared at Luke without a word.
He opened his mouth after a long while.
"Which side?"
"The Sharon Faction. The old fogies of the family want me to become a loyal and devoted knight. Our family's incredibly sensitive to public perception, you see."
"It's not your will."
"I don't care either way. I don't really pay attention to that kind of stuff."
Raman nodded.
"Then I'll have to support the Langster Faction."
The corners of their mouths twitched so slightly it was barely visible.
Raman turned around first and walked away just like that, and Luke, who was quietly watching him, spoke in a low voice.
"Thanks to you, I'm grateful."
Raman came to a sudden halt. He wore a thoroughly relieved smile, as if it was fine since Luke couldn't see it anyway.
"The match isn't over yet."
Luke also snorted a slight laugh as if in agreement and turned around.
The Pretoria innkeeper secretly watched the backs of the two men as they distanced themselves from each other.
He had a very pleased look on his face.
***
Afterward, the flow of time accelerated drastically.
With the Pretoria inn at the center, the scenery flowed by as if caught in a rapid current.
Shadows lengthened and shortened, sunlight and moonlight alternated, flowers bloomed and withered, green leaves were dyed into autumn colors, and a blizzard raged where wind and rain had swept through.
Throughout those years, the Pretoria inn also underwent repeated expansions, gradually taking on an appearance close to the current mansion.
Despite that, what still remained unchanged was—
none other than Luke Springeus, Raman Windermere, along with the Sword Demon and me, who watched their duels.
While countless seasons passed, the aspect of the duels differed slightly each time.
It was no longer a stage to gauge the height of their skills. Because at some point, the two had already reached a remote realm where it wouldn't be an understatement to call it Sword and Self as One.
The problem wasn't that, but that their emotions were sometimes violently revealed.
They often clashed their swords brutally as if they've lost their composure, to a degree that even those with less discernment than me could tell instantly. Then on another day, they'd engage in a fierce argument as if debating the sword, and on yet another day, they'd unexpectedly sit facing each other and immerse themselves in deep meditation.
Anyway, it was an emotional and volatile sight, unbelievable for a duel between supreme experts.
"Every noble of the Kingdom is, first and foremost, a subject of His Majesty the King. If one tramples and subjugates their surroundings with mighty power, that's an obvious rebellion. Is it the duty of a knight to show tolerance to power that ignores laws and hierarchy? That's standing by, and it's a dereliction of duty!"
"What's more important than trivial laws is the result. If one reigns above all people with overwhelming power and makes minor evils hold their breath, that's a living order. They didn't covet the throne. They simply proved their position as the strong. I think that's precisely the duty of a knight, though."
While listening to the conversation of the two, my gaze headed toward the Sword Demon despite myself.
The Sword Demon was scratching his cheek. He seemed lost in thought. Was it that no matter how much time passed, this particular part remained in his memory?
"You're crazy. Killing them even before questioning their crimes? That many people? No matter how great a criminal they are, they must be judged within the boundaries of the law. The moment we skip that process, we become lawless people no different from them!"
"While waiting for that process, how many more innocent people must be contaminated by taboos? Those bastards didn't even make excuses; on the contrary, they went so far as to praise the greatness of dark magic."
"No matter what, it's ultimately a mass slaughter!"
"I don't care whether it's a mass slaughter or whatever. A rotten arm must be cut off immediately before the disease spreads."
From a certain point onward, the two brought along their respective family members. Of course, it appeared unrelated to the will of the two.
At any rate, from then on, onlookers began to gather once more.
"I heard it's a duel they've been consistently holding for a very long time ago. Since before the two joined the Imperial Capital Knight Order, that is."
"Is that true? If so, it means Springeus's fair and just laws and Windermere's razor-sharp supremacy have been clashing for decades."
"Of course. Now, even the members of both families have begun to stake the fate of their families on the outcome of this duel. It's become a holy war to prove whose justice is real, rather than a simple sparring match."
I looked back and forth at the family members lined up behind Luke Springeus and Raman Windermere.
They were no different from the onlookers either.
"Look. Luke's sword has no hesitation. We must break that arrogant Windermere power that ignores the laws. That is the justice our family has defended."
"Hmph, what use is an order that is nothing but empty formalities. Just as Young Master Raman said, the only thing that can silence a great evil is overwhelming power. Today is precisely the time to prove the limits of that frustrating chivalry."
The stage had already grown massive. The whole world was pushing the backs of the two.
***
The two did not stop the duels even while knowing the fact that they had been degraded into tools for political feuds and pride battles between their families.
Should I say, it looked as if they had promised each other something more important than that.
Of course, there was no way for me to know what that was, though.
"I've finally perfected the ultimate stage of Ethereal."
Luke said. If my memory's right, this was the first time he opened his mouth before a duel.
As usual, the family members of both houses were lined up long behind the two, and the onlookers had also taken their respective places.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Raman replied shortly.
As usual, the two stood facing each other, bowed their heads briefly, and took their respective starting stances.
Luke didn't draw his sword and pressed his palms together.
CLATTER—!
Behind Luke, the phantoms of swords rose like a folding screen. The translucent sword afterimages that emerged lined up at intervals were quietly aligned with their blade tips pointing downward.
"Ooooh!"
"Th-That's the hidden art of Springeus!"
Exclamations burst from everywhere. The Springeus family members also marveled as if overwhelmed.
While the Windermere family members grew wary and held their breath, only Raman Windermere wore a serene face.
'……That's the ultimate stage?'
Strength entered my brow despite myself.
Compared to the remote realm of the Flower Does Not Bloom for Ten Days left to me by Sword Saint Luke, the thing before my eyes right now was incomparably crude.
The rank was different.
SWOOSH—!
The phantoms of swords that had risen poured down toward Raman like a shower of rain. Soon, thick dust arose in all directions.
"Young Master Raman!"
"Sir Raman!"
The Windermere family members shouted urgently. A subtle euphoria emerged on the faces of the Springeus family members.
It was right when the onlookers, who had frozen with their eyes and mouths wide open, barely managed to catch their breath.
Patter— Thud—
As the dust cleared, the expressions of the family members of both houses gradually began to swap.
Raman Windermere stood blankly just as he always did.
"M-My goodness, does that mean every single one of those countless Ethereals missed?!"
"It makes no sense unless he missed on purpose!"
The answer could be seen from Luke's expression. He couldn't hide his dismayed look, as if he couldn't believe it. His shoulders also trembled minutely.
"Ethereal is based on the logic of the Heart Sword, yet."
Raman lightly waved his hand. Then, a single sword afterimage remaining in the air was sucked into his grasp, as if pulled by the profound principle of Telekinesis.
"……It's shallow. To a frivolous degree."
CRACK!
The phantom of the sword shattered like a piece of glass.
Concurrently, Luke's body staggered, and the deep sighs and dry coughs of the Springeus family members followed. Amidst the Windermere family members cheering as if victory had been secured……the duel of that day ended there.
***
Late summer passed.
The autumn of Pretoria that returned just like that.
On the Springeus family's side, a newborn baby whose milky scent hadn't even faded yet made an appearance.
It was Luke's son.
When winter, spring, and summer passed in order and autumn returned once more.
The child babbled without rest within his mother's embrace. The fellow flailed his limbs without knowing why at the sound of clashing swords.
Autumn returned yet again.
The child managed to know when his father was being pushed back and frowned. When cheers erupted, he burst into giggles along with them.
The autumn that marked the fourth time that nameless fellow sat with them.
The fellow appeared wearing a small set of plate armor on his body, as if it was now time for him to show manners. Of course, it was a toy-like armor.
The fifth autumn.
The fellow was no longer held in anyone's embrace. He stood quite close and watched the duel gracefully.
And of all days, on that day.
Luke failed once more to reach the ultimate stage of Ethereal.
Hexagonal autumn.
The one standing opposite Raman wasn't Luke, but a kid staggering while holding a sword larger than his own body.
Although his entire body was concealed by armor, everyone knew exactly who the fellow was.
There was no seventh autumn.
***
I perceived the change a fraction too late because I was cross-legged, wrapping up what I've seen, felt, and realized from the sparring of the two supreme experts.
The scene changed after a long while.
POUR—!
A night when torrential rain was pouring down.
Raman Windermere was surrounded by dozens of soldiers alone in front of a mansion.
The mansion's exterior was familiar. Before long, it came to mind. It was the Springeus mansion.
RUMBLE—
Perhaps because the surroundings were dark, the Sword Demon who should have been beside me wasn't visible.
I didn't care and watched the events unfolding straight ahead once more.
"Sir Raman! This right now is an obvious challenge toward the Springeus family!"
"Retreat at once! Bear in mind that this is the final moment we can end this with a warning!"
RUMBLE—!
The sound of the striking thunder drowned out many things. The sound of rain, metallic noises, friction sounds, and screams.
Before long, my vision was pitch-black, as if a pitch-black curtain had been draped over it.
Soggy footsteps continued before coming to a halt.
CREAK—
Along with the sound of a door opening, my vision brightened as well.
I soon caught my breath at the disastrous sight that entered my eyes.
"……."
Me, Raman Windermere, along with the Sword Demon as well.
Everyone had no choice but to fall silent.
Upon an altar built coldly like an underground cave, Luke was hanging there.
Hanging stark naked without a single thread on him, he already possessed the ghastly appearance of a ruined person whom it'd be hard to call human.
And I knew this location.
It was the altar of the Blood Devil.