Chapter 83 : Chapter 83
Chapter 83: Farewell (2)
Medeoban.
The reason Mectera was obsessed with Simurtr.
‘It’s the sword.’
Simurtr knew the reason.
Talent for the sword. Since his past life, Simurtr had possessed it. Now, having been reincarnated with the Star-Breaking Style imprinted on him, he would be an even more mouth-watering talent.
The ideal talent Mectera desired.
It was, without a doubt, the sword. That is, a pure swordsman. A sword fiend who cultivates only with the sword and acts solely through the sword.
The reason Mectera had wished for Exa's return was because he was the type of person who made the sword his own hand.
At that time, Exa saw only the sword. His unique sensory perception was even called a Sword Net by those around him.
‘But I’m not like that anymore.’
I had long since abandoned the stubbornness of my past life.
The sword and the Star-Breaking Style. Those were still Simurtr’s most cherished things, but I no longer insisted only on them.
That change was proven by taking Degrate’s Asha. I had begun to walk a different path from my past life.
‘The Phantasmal Ability… should I?’
By showing the phantasm, I could prove that I was no longer the talent Medeoban desired.
If that happened, how would Medeoban react? He probably wouldn't cast me out. The ability, not being the sword, would certainly come across as a flaw, but it would still be attractive.
‘But it would get a bit awkward.’
I had no intention of distancing myself from Mectera now. If I did, I would have left long ago.
Mectera, with its right to immediate execution, was an attractive environment for Simurtr, and revealing the Phantasmal Ability had to be postponed for later.
“It’s fine, Lady Arnea. Let’s have the duel tomorrow.”
If that was the case, there was no reason to go out to the training ground.
The proof Medeoban wanted could be sufficiently shown right here.
“Heh, are you scared now that we’re actually going to have a duel?”
“What are you talking about. I’m saying there’s no need to go as far as a duel.”
“……?”
“The Swelling Flame. Isn't it enough if I just show proof that I can learn it?”
Ael nodded her head without thinking.
Grandfather hated Bahab itself, but the reason the argument started was indeed that.
“So to confirm that…”
“It’s obvious if we go out. It’s obvious there will only be a grandfather who swings his sword a few times, overpowers his grandson, and feels happy about it.”
“This punk is really…”
As Medeoban was about to get angry, Simurtr extended his hand. White mana gathered around his palm.
“The castle’s secret art. I understand that due to concern for the young direct descendants, it’s passed down after the coming-of-age ceremony. Is it still like that?”
“But why.”
He was about to show something. It must be the proof he mentioned earlier. Medeoban calmed down and grumbled.
“When I went to Degrate, the 6th Head of the Sword Aran showed it to me.”
The mana that had gathered above his hand expanded in an instant.
10 meters. White filled that radius.
It was quite different from when it had crushed the surface of the Black Tower. The Mecteras in the banquet hall felt its weight, but that was all.
“…Black Hemisphere.”
One of Mectera’s secret arts.
Medeoban uttered. It was perfect. Not even clumsy. The Black Hemisphere had been deployed, but the banquet hall did not collapse.
It meant that he was perfectly controlling its power.
“…Did Aran teach you?”
A secret art that acts externally, not on one’s own body.
The Black Hemisphere was counted as one of the most difficult among Mectera’s secret arts.
“No way. I’ll be learning it in three years anyway, why would he do that? It’s obvious he’d be punished.”
“Doesn’t Aran care for you?”
Only after several years of immersion in mana does this level of mana control become possible. It was the minimum standard for manifesting the Black Hemisphere.
But he learned it on his own without anyone’s help? Medeoban’s suspicion was extremely plausible.
“There’s no reason he couldn’t have taught me. That Aran fellow probably didn’t know this situation would occur.”
The larger the range of the Black Hemisphere, the more difficult it is to control.
That was the reason one had to devote several more years after first acquiring the Black Hemisphere. Moreover, the mana scattered in the air.
Those had to be able to turn into Sword Aura at any moment, and for that, one had to invest several more years.
Once the control was perfected, one then had to polish its application, and only then would something worthy of being called the Black Hemisphere be completed.
“I saw it then and got a feel for it, and I practiced. If you don’t believe me, go and ask the 6th Sword Order. They will be my witnesses.”
“……”
Medeoban took in Simurtr’s white Black Hemisphere. 10 meters. The control was perfect, and the scattered mana was menacing, as if it could become Sword Aura at any moment.
“Is this proof enough now?”
“…It is perfect.”
Medeoban uttered without realizing it.
The radius being only 10 meters was not because he was struggling with control.
‘Simply a lack of mana.’
It meant he was so skilled in control and application that he could use all of his possessed mana for the Black Hemisphere.
“But I do not permit it.”
He was reminded anew that he was a monster.
Therefore, it was even more unacceptable. Bahab would surely drool at the sight of this one.
“There is no need to lay eyes on the Swelling Flame. With that talent, just hone the Black Sword.”
“Oh, for crying out loud.”
The Black Hemisphere shot towards Medeoban.
***
“Next week, you said?”
“Yes.”
“Bahab must be really impatient. To think they’d even request that we open the castle gates because they’re coming to pick you up.”
And the Duke of Bahab himself, at that.
“Simyun, you should have seen the look on Father’s face when he saw that official document.”
“I’m starting to think I gave him the elixir for nothing.”
“Oh my. That’s how families are, the elders are always at a disadvantage. He said all that but ended up giving permission, didn’t he? Looking at it this way, you’re quite similar to Father.”
“In what way?”
“You weren’t serious either, were you? It’s all out of worry.”
“…It’s neither of those things.”
“But this mother thinks it is.”
“You are not my mother either.”
Whoosh. Countless Sword Auras filled my vision. It was still twilight, yet the surroundings were brighter than day.
The fragments of Sword Aura scattering and flying in all directions were making me mistake the time of day.
“…Mother?”
The siblings muttered at the same time.
How many years had it been since they had seen their mother in martial attire?
“Why black?”
Arnea, who usually preferred sky blue, had just brushed off Simurtr’s Sword Aura. She was thrusting her beloved sword, a rapier, towards Simurtr, who was similarly dressed in black martial attire.
“How long will you be there? Really a year?”
The bodies of the two were moving incredibly busily, yet their mouths were as leisurely as could be.
It was a scene that came across as quite awkward to the siblings, whose achievements were still low.
“I’m thinking of that for now. It could be shorter. Or longer. I’ll know when I get there.”
“Aha, until you learn the Swelling Flame?”
“Yes, I think I’ll be able to learn the basics, even if not the secret arts.”
“Learn it? Not steal it?”
“Well, from my perspective, wouldn’t it be the same?”
Whoosh. Simurtr rotated his body and easily dodged the rapier.
A Sword Aura that shot up from the sword’s tip and bent at a right angle aimed for his back, but as if he had expected it, he caught and broke it with a hand covered in Sword Aura.
“Yes. That’s why Father gave his permission. To give Bahab a hard time too.”
“I think you’re treating me too much like a problem child.”
“Oh my? Wasn’t that what you were aiming for?”
“Of course not.”
A pure white Sword Aura crushed the sky blue symbolizing Dujeu.
When the pushed-back rapier touched the ground, Simurtr extended his Sword Aura while pretending to retrieve his sword.
“Is there a need to be so crafty between mother and son?”
Arnea retorted with a laugh.
It was an attack that created an illusion, but it wasn't difficult. She slapped away the Sword Aura extending from the receding sword with the back of her hand.
At the same time, from the rapier that had pierced the ground, a sky-blue Sword Aura erupted. Bundles of Sword Aura broke through the ground and aimed for his lower body.
“This much is just being playful, isn’t it?”
Simurtr laughed along.
He kicked away all the bundles of Sword Aura and, before they could reactivate, swept away their residual mana with his sword.
“……”
The siblings watched it quietly.
Scars were forming on the high wall, and the sturdy surface for swordsmen was constantly being dented.
The siblings realized why the location for their morning training had been changed.
“…So this is why he told us to come to the 6th Sword Order’s training ground.”
“Understood.”
If they had held such a duel in the backyard of the west villa, both the villa and the monument would have collapsed by now.
“So this is a fight between Sword Masters.”
Jahar was amazed by the sight before him.
He forgot to even blink. Though it was a duel between swordsmen, it was a fight between the strong. It was bound to be helpful.
“Right. It’s amazing.”
Why is mother with Simyun? Why are they on good terms?
All sorts of questions writhed in her mind, but Ael focused on what was in front of her for now.
Just as Jahar said, it was a sight that was bound to be helpful.
***
“…I’m out of mana.”
“Oh my, already?”
Simurtr, who had been fighting with gusto, was the first to sheathe his sword.
His heart, empty of mana, was gasping, and his body, overworked by the Star-Breaking Style, was creaking.
‘Overworking during the growth period is poison.’
It was right to rest at this point.
In fact, there was a sense that he had already overdone it. His opponent was a Sword Master who had reached a state of mastery.
Arnea was on a different level from the Jabad Knight Captain. Simurtr acknowledged the Sword Masters from the Sword Tower. They were not clumsy enough to be called fakes.
‘And besides, she’s a Dujeu.’
Arnea had learned Dujeu’s secret swordsmanship. She was born with Dujeu’s Strong Body,
and her achievement had long since reached the state of mastery.
‘Since it’s a duel.’
If I was prepared for internal injuries and physical damage, I could have lasted longer, and perhaps even aimed for a gap to win.
But it was a simple duel. I had no intention of leaving behind aftereffects or killing Arnea.
“My body is also reaching its limit.”
If I had my way, I would want to fight all day.
Simurtr swallowed his disappointment and said.
“I did well to choose the elixir as an apology. Are you taking it well?”
“Yes, I am taking it every morning.”
“Don’t skip it. That’s how the effect will build up. When you go to Bahab, hmm, shall I give you a year’s worth?”
“If you do that, it would be convenient for me.”
I had obtained Dujeu’s secret elixir. What I needed was time. There was no reason to overdo it at the mere training stage.
If I safely passed my growth period. And perfectly assimilated Dujeu's secret elixir. I would have a body that could handle up to the 6-star level.
‘After that, I’ll have to look into it again.’
The continent was vast. Methods to strengthen the body were rare, but not non-existent.
There was no need to think about it from now. It was a problem to be solved when the time came. The experience of my past life was clear. A breakthrough would surely exist.
“I’ll stop by before you leave, so be sure to take it with you. If you’re going to be there longer, contact me. I’ll send you more.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh my, how cringey to your mother.”
“……”
Arnea smiled and wiped her face with a towel she had placed in the corner.
The duel time was short due to Simurtr reaching his limit quickly, but its content was not lacking.
As proof, her whole body was drenched in sweat. Her mana was also not in abundance.
“It’s strange. I have much more mana. Normally, it should have ended sooner. Don’t you think?”
“Isn’t it thanks to my constitution?”
“It’s not just that…”
Arnea’s narrowed eyes turned to Simurtr. She had roughly grasped the clue about his method from the last time. And this time, she was certain.
“You’re quite sly for someone who looks like you.”
That youngest one seemed like the epitome of a swordsman, yet when dueling, he became quite sly.
“What do I look like?”
“The type to enjoy crushing others?”
“Oh.”
Simurtr knew that the quality of the mana he possessed was exceptionally superior.
But at the same time, he also knew that his mana capacity was abysmal.
“But you subtly take my mana and use it. How petty.”
Arnea had witnessed the sky-blue Sword Aura turning white in every duel.
“What can I do when I have no mana. I want to crush them too, but I can’t help it.”
Arnea’s eyes were quite accurate.
Fitting for the Star-Breaking Style, Simurtr preferred to crush with power.
It was one of the most useful methods on the battlefield. As the Doom Species swarmed, there was no time to calculate each and every one in detail. In that time, the corpses of his allies would pile up.
“How on earth do you do that? What’s the principle behind so shamelessly stealing someone else’s Sword Aura?”
“Shall I tell you? It’s easy. It’s called Interception…”
As Arnea asked, Simurtr’s eyes sparkled. The sharing of martial arts was something he always welcomed.
“Wait, is that a name you came up with?”
“Yes, but that’s not what’s important…”
“No, tell your future child when they are born. This mother will name that child.”
“So suddenly?”
“If you really don’t want to, leave it to your future wife. Simyun, you must absolutely not name them. Got it?”
“……”
“Your answer?”
“…I will think about it.”
“Think deeply.”
Arnea said so and turned her head. The siblings were staring this way with their mouths open.
“Why do our children have such expressions?”
I knew they had been watching the duel.
But it was hard to understand why they were still like that even after the duel had ended.
“Since when did you two get so close?”
At the brightly smiling Arnea, Ael momentarily felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
‘She’s my mother, though?’
She quickly realized the reason too.
That bright smile. There was nothing hidden in it. Her mother smiling was the same as her hiding her inner thoughts.
“Oh my, do I look like it? Like a mother and son?”
Now, with Simurtr, her mother’s outside and inside were the same. Why? Ael couldn’t believe the sight before her.
When they were out on the 6th Sword Order’s mission, what on earth had happened between the two?
“At least you seem that way, Mother.”
“Our youngest is quite shy.”
At those words, Simurtr furrowed his brow.
But he didn't seem particularly displeased. Even that scene looked like a happy mother and son.
“We’re both swordsmen, aren’t we? There’s no reason for us not to get along.”
This too was sincere. Ael was quite surprised.
That her mother, to someone other than her father or her siblings.
Was speaking her true feelings, not an act.
“So. Would it be alright to have one more duel? Unlike you two, this mother is busy.”
Somehow, it felt like Simurtr had been taken away.
…The ensuing duel did not take that long. Simurtr was gradually reaching his limit, and he switched to a weaker opponent.
Around the time Jahar started getting beaten up by Simurtr. Arnea approached Ael who was waiting.
“Ael, do you want to become the Sword Master?”
“Pardon?”
“You don't? Simyun said you did.”
Seeing Ael’s eyes widen, Arnea tilted her head.
‘Then hear it later when you go. I’ve sorted it out very well for you.’
For a moment, Simurtr’s words from the waiting room of the Banquet Castle came to mind.
‘So suddenly like this? No, did he mean this when he said he sorted it out well?’
Ael, looking at the calmly smiling Arnea, was at a loss for words.
“It’s not a position I would particularly recommend. But if you want to do it, you can try. It might suit your aptitude, unlike me.”
“Unlike you, Mother?”
“Didn’t I tell you? Your mother was also an heir in the past.”
It was the first time she had heard it. Ael looked at Arnea with surprised eyes. The heir of Dujeu. It was a term that meant the next master of the Sword Tower.
“I thought my daughter took after me.”
Arnea smiled bitterly.
She knew the weight the leader had to bear. That sense of restraint. That was the reason she had excluded Ael from the competition and put Jahar at the forefront.
“But now that I see, it’s not quite like that, is it? We didn’t know each other’s thoughts well.”
Jahar silently did what he had to do, but Ael was different. She had many desires, just like her.
There were too many things she wanted to do, and she could never let go of fun and interest. Arnea had often projected her younger self onto Ael.
“Why did you give up, Mother?”
“I had many things I wanted to do. The world is wide and swords are diverse. Separately, there were many things I wanted to see. And things I was curious about. The Sword Tower is narrower than it looks, you know? I thought Mectera would be like that for my daughter. Me too, really.”
“Do you regret it?”
“No? I have Ael, don’t I? There’s Jahar over there, and a new youngest one. Ah, Simyun said we have to treat Beden well too.”
“Simyun is generous with children.”
“Then is he generous with himself too?”
“…I don’t know.”
“Ael, even if you’re not the Sword Master, my sword is my own. Your sword must be the same. On top of that, your mother had no intention of letting go of Orde either, you know?”
“……”
“There’s plenty of time. Think about it. Do as you wish. You like that, don’t you?”
Arnea smiled brightly and left the spot.
***
It’s really fast.
That’s what I’ve been thinking lately.
It must be proof that I’ve been living that busily. I sometimes think it might be better if things flowed more slowly, but I am satisfied.
It was different from when I had entered Mectera at some point. Simurtr thought that he himself had adapted to his reincarnation, to the present.
“Please get in.”
Wouldn’t the reality before my eyes be proof of that thought?
A Bahab knight was opening the door of an incredibly luxurious carriage, bowing his head.
A distinguished guest of Bahab. Akarr had said so through the knight’s mouth.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
The traitor Bahab. The wide-open carriage seemed like the gaping maw of a magical beast.
It was something unimaginable when I had first arrived at the Mectera main castle. To think I would enter the maw of Bahab myself.
Perhaps this step would be the proof that I had adapted to my reincarnated present.
“I’m leaving now?”
Simurtr said his goodbyes to those who had come to see him off.
Medeoban, Orde, Arnea, Aran and Deban, the 6th Sword Order, Meram, the siblings.
Everyone except Beden had gathered.
“Beden asked me to tell you to please come to next year’s Selection Ceremony. He said he will show you his progress.”
“Haha. Tell him I look forward to it.”
Simurtr boarded the carriage with a smile.
“Then we will depart.”
To Bahab.
“Is it alright not to say goodbye?”
Simurtr left.
The people of the main castle scattered one by one.
Aran, left alone, looked at the ground and asked. A shadow. Aran was looking at it.
“…Yeah.”
A part of the shadow glowed green, and soon a doll popped out. Semenu. She was pouting.
“You’ll regret it.”
“We’re connected by the key. We can meet anytime.”
“I’m truly envious. Will you meet him?”
“When he comes out of Bahab.”
“He’ll be only in Bahab for the time being. Why not do it now. It’s not too late yet.”
“If I meet him now, I don’t have the confidence. I’ll end up stopping him from going.”
“Hmm. This Head of the Sword would like to do that too, but it can’t be helped. The young master’s stubbornness must have been famous even in Baperr. He’ll do well. He seemed fine at the Banquet Castle too.”
“Yeah.”
The reaction was quite uninteresting. Aran smacked his lips.
It was vexing that she had deceived him despite knowing Simurtr’s identity, but seeing her so dejected in a child’s form made it awkward to say anything.
“Or, well. How about a little terrorism? As soon as he leaves the castle walls, we can rob the carriage together and kidnap the young master and go into hiding? This Head of the Sword approves.”
“No.”
“This is quite firm.”
Far in the distance, the splendid carriage had just arrived at the Magic Gate. It was Bahab’s, with Simurtr inside.
“…I don’t want to be hated by the captain.”
Semenu looked down at it with melancholy eyes.