Sword Devouring Swordmaster

Translator: AkazaTL

Pr/Ed: Sol IX

***

Chapter 192. Radiance (5)

‘What in the world?’

Senior Crusader Yohan looked at the rolling warriors of the plains.

‘Even if I don't know about the others, for them to do this easily.’

The Great Land dispatched a part of its conquest army to the Southern Continent. To the Great Land, the Southern Continent was no different from a sheep ranch, and thus most of the reinforcements they sent were ordinary warriors. Of course, even if they were ordinary soldiers, they were strong individuals no different from a disaster by the standards of the Southern Continent.

‘What are those sinners……?’

But the three warriors who just died were not ‘ordinary warriors’. Warriors of the plains classified as elites even in the conquest army of the Great Land. They were special warriors who each received a name from their Sun that never sets, Khan. Existencees are evaluated to be able to rival even a Proxy Warrior, the highest power of the Southern Continent, if they combined their strength.

Such existences died too easily.

‘They were not ones to die here.’

There was only one reason why special warriors granted names were drafted as reinforcements. Because they predicted that someday other continents would also reach out to target the Southern Continent. It was something the Great Land side willingly offered, telling them to defeat external forces when that time approached.

‘……Those things do not exist in the Southern Continent.’

Yohan bit his lip tight. To think an external force approached this close already. Furthermore, existences that can easily take down forces comparable to the Order’s Proxy Warrior? Such existences would be rare even among external forces. Yohan, who stood up while shaking off sand with difficulty, glared at the sinner before his eyes.

‘For some reason, I feel like I know who it is.’

He had heard the news.

The betrayal of the Order of the Cross’s Great Judge, Proxy Warrior Ismael, was a shocking event. But if there was another shocking event along with the betrayal, it was that a Proxy Warrior was murdered in a peaceful village called the Port City Visente.

The Order investigated the opponent who killed the Proxy Warrior, and information could be obtained without difficulty. Because the party of the Proxy Warrior killer was spreading rumors.

‘The Golden Merchant Group of the Black Archipelago and a swordsman from the West Continent who appeared with them.’

A man whom the hostile forces of the Crusaders, including the Holy Empire, were recently worshipping like a hero. Although he is a young man not even twenty yet, his path was unusual.

A man who defeated the legion of Rhapsody, one of the Five Great Houses, head-on, fought a fair duel with a Knight who was a Sword Runner during his Sword Walker days and achieved a legitimate victory, fought and won against a young dragon, and glimpsed the Azure Heaven of the Sky Mountains that all adventurers dream of. There were even rumors that a Witch famous for arrogance and an Orc were helping him.

Truly a heroic path. Furthermore, the fact that the one who established this heroic path was not from the elite but a young lord from a humble rural corner thrilled people. People born in the bottom mud who shine like jewels are always loved by people. That is also the reason why protagonists of all chivalric novels start from humble origins and meet their end at the highest place.

‘It’s that guy. Arhan. Lord Arhan Karavan.’

Yohan was certain that guy was the protagonist of the rumors. Even the appearance of a beautiful noble with blond hair and blue eyes matched. The moment he realized that fact, Yohan bit his lip and took out a small lump of metal from his bosom.

“You just won't leave us alone.”

The Order of the Cross classified ‘Arhan Karavan’ as a person of interest. Because his existence was igniting sparks in people’s hearts and hindering the Crusaders’ plans.

A heroic existence of the West Continent visited the Southern Continent, liberated the Port City Visente as soon as he visited, and even murdered a Proxy Warrior of the Order of the Cross.

The plan of the Order of the Cross, which was proceeding smoothly, was continuously being ruined with the appearance of ‘Arhan Karavan’.

Even after the betrayal of the Proxy Warrior, the plan was not just ruined, but the continued existence of the Order was shaken. From the perspective of the Order of the Cross, ‘Arhan Karavan’ was an existence they could not leave alone.

“You will have to pay the price for your sins.”

Yohan, certain that the existence before his eyes was ‘Arhan Karavan’, did as he was instructed.

The Papacy thought Arhan, who was still staying in the Southern Continent, and the Crusaders would encounter each other someday. They didn't know what Arhan’s purpose was, but since he was acting like a hero, they predicted they would clash once more without fail. Thus, the Crusaders distributed one item to every Senior Crusader waging the Holy War. With the condition to use it if they encountered Arhan Karavan.

“Surviving brothers-!”

The lump of metal gripped in Yohan’s hand was not of the Southern Continent. That was an object received from ‘another force’ the Order of the Cross joined hands with, not the Great Land. An external force that chose the Southern Continent while seeking a ‘new exit’ as their nation's existence was threatened by fierce war.

“I will open the door, hold on!”

Machine Empire, Lafrien. Their gift, a capsule where magi-engineering technology was concentrated, was gripped in Yohan’s hand. A capsule capable of flinging open a warp gate connected to a distant place by using it once. And the place this capsule connected to was the Papacy.

“Justice, shall prevail-!”

The place where the strongest forces of the Order of the Cross exist.

“Justice!”

“Light!”

Hearing Yohan’s words, the Crusaders exuded desperate resolve and prepared for battle. Meanwhile, the souls summoned by 「Radiance」 who watched that spectacle from afar frowned.

“Seems like they’re trying to pull some trick again!”

“What is that? Is it the latest item? The energy is unusual.”

“……I don't know what it is, but it seems it will be hard for the three of us to handle.”

Hard for the three of us to handle. To those words, Swordswoman Mary and Orc Great Warrior Beric also agreed. The Ronin naturally looked back.

“We will need our master.”

Arhan was needed. If only the digestion of 「Radiance」 finished completely.

Whatever trick those guys pull, he won't fall for it easily. Absolutely.

“And…… our friends who were together in the World of Swords.”

Mary and Orc Great Warrior Beric nodded.

“Indeed, I don't fit well in this kind of fight.”

“It would be more helpful if the old human holding a lamp was here.”

“Also the adventurer mister who talks only about his son all the time.”

“And…….”

“Right, that loyal Knight too.”

***

Frey lived buried in books. She could not return to the days when she received courtship from men with good conditions or felt superiority and fulfillment surrounded by innocent girls harboring fantasies. Now Frey could not laugh easily no matter who she was with. Frey searched about spirits. Actual spirits were different from the common knowledge she originally knew.

It was said that spirits are existences born from elements, and sometimes when the boundary of the world blurs, they fall into the Middle World, sightsee the world, and then return. A scholar had added a footnote. That if there is a pure and innocent existence that brushed past a corner of your life, that might have been a spirit.

Frey searched for ways humans could go to the Spirit World. She sometimes asked travelers when they visited. Seeing the change in Frey who used to be haughty, some women who were jealous of her sent ridicule. That Frey had become stupid.

Time passed. Youth and beauty are not eternal. Frey’s dazzling beauty gradually withered before time, and people who sought her began to disappear one by one. An old Priest of the Star spoke carefully to Frey. Frey, it is okay not to sing the Song of the Stars anymore. Let’s yield it to younger children who harbor dreams. Frey quickly noticed the fact that the old priest indirectly told her ‘you are no longer beautiful’.

Only then did Frey look into the mirror. Before she knew it, her beauty had faded, wrinkles formed on her face, and her flowing hair had become frizzy. Wonderful men no longer sought her. If she faced the Little Prince who would visit again someday in this state, she would be shabby. Since the Little Prince was a boy, he would have become a proper young man by now, and the beautiful woman seen through the boy’s eyes would no longer exist.

Frey applied thick powder to her face. Since her beauty had not completely disappeared yet, several men showed interest again in Frey, who applied powder and dressed up diligently. But Frey did not feel any specialness in their praise. Specialness is something born when time is invested. Like the conversations the Little Prince and Frey shared in front of the observatory, like the conversations shared counting stars on the sand in the desert night.

Frey no longer adorned herself. Amidst no one giving attention, the old crone who had lived the longest in the City of Stars, Antoine, spoke to Frey who was stuck in her room. Don't be so wretched and meet anyone. Soothe your loneliness and soothe your sense of loss among people. Frey answered.

“It is just as lonely among people.”

Frey shed tears. The old crone said.

“You are missing that child who stayed here for a while and left.”

“……I miss that child.”

Why didn't she know the preciousness when he stayed by her side? Frey regretted. If she knew it would be like this, she would have built more memories. Instead of spending time with existences that couldn't fill her even a little, she would have spent all her time with the Little Prince who made her special. Even at the end, she wouldn't have let him go so coldly, but would have clung to him holding onto his pants even while shedding tears.

“He was a peculiar child.”

“Not peculiar, he was a special child.”

Frey sobbed.

“Why was I reluctant to express it? Why didn't I know it myself? The Little Prince was honest every moment, and expressed with actions, not words. He listened to what I said more than anyone, smiled purely, and let me know many things. He brightened my heart. Why couldn't I think that I would never meet someone who could give me sincere affection like the Little Prince again?”

“Originally humans are like that, poor child.”

The old crone said.

“You were too young and didn't know how to love something else. You didn't know that love requires deep understanding and responsibility. Because you were young and immature, you didn't even realize the fact that you didn't know the most important thing.”

“…….”

“Because the most important thing is invisible.”

The old crone patted Frey’s head.

“Poor child. What do you think it would be like if a pure child like the Little Prince appeared again?”

“I will cherish him.”

“You will cherish him. But you won't be able to love him as you loved the Little Prince. Because the reason you consider the Little Prince so precious is because of the time you poured for the Little Prince.”

“…….”

“The more you consider something special and pour time into it, the more special it becomes, and the more you consider something precious and pour time into it, the more precious it becomes. To see something well, you must see with your heart, poor child. Countless people live forgetting this truth.”

It was wise words. Hearing the crone’s words, Frey returned home and washed her body clean.

After washing, Frey visited the Temple of the Star after a long time and saw a small girl wandering around busily. The girl walked around wearing priest robes that didn't fit her body.

That tiny girl was not noticeably beautiful, nor was she well-behaved enough for adults to like.

“Hey, when did you take out and wear the priest robes again!”

The girl who was running around bumped into Frey.

The girl looked up at Frey and smiled showing her teeth.

“Hello!”

Frey asked the priests about the girl. The priests said that girl was a child who drifted in on the water in a basket, a child abandoned by someone. Frey asked about the girl’s name. Since the girl didn't remember her name, the priests said they attached the word written on the note inside the basket as a name.

“Moses. She is a child called Moses.”

Commonly known as the girl in priest robes, Moses was an innocent child. Frey was no longer praised as beautiful, but she steadily worshiped at the Temple of the Star. Looking forward to meeting the Little Prince once more someday. She lived diligently so that she could smile most proudly at that moment.

Watching young priests dancing the Song of the Stars occasionally, Moses laughed and Frey also laughed. Moses harbored a dream that she wanted to become like that someday too, and Frey reminisced about her dream recalling that she was once in that spot someday. While looking at the same present, the girl saw the future, and the middle-aged woman saw the past.

Frey spent a long time with Moses.

Priests who should be practicing the Song of the Stars, chattering with each other, and enjoying their youth were reluctant to take care of the tomboy girl. So Frey always took care of Moses, and that care was not bothersome but enjoyable.

They counted stars in the pitch-black night, climbed the observatory at times when there were no people to look at the desert scenery, shared well-roasted lamb skewers half and half, and laughed at each other seeing seasoning on their cheeks. Frey saw the Little Prince in Moses.

She learned that untainted purity is this beautiful.

To Moses who said she wanted to become a Priest of the Star, other priests said. You cannot become a priest because you are not beautiful. Even if you become a priest, you won't be able to sing the Song of the Stars.

Watching Moses become sullen at the priests’ words, Frey thought. Why do they say this dazzling child is not beautiful? Thinking so, Frey laughed.

The reason Moses is beautiful to Frey is because of the time she poured for Moses.

Frey knew the appearance of Moses laughing purely, knew the moments she said cute girl-like words, and knew the appearances of the small child having fun. Fragments of small time gathered were shining brightly on this child.

“Do not be disappointed, Moses.”

“You don't need to comfort me.”

“It is not comfort. It is sincerity. You are beautiful.”

“Really?”

“Yes. At least to me, you are more beautiful than anyone.”

“But my eyes aren't big, my nose isn't sharp, and my skin isn't white either.”

“Such things are not important. To see something well, you must see with your heart.”

“With heart…….”

“Because the most important thing is invisible.”

Frey did not end up with anyone.

Frey, who missed her most radiant period, became old before she knew it, and the aged woman felt loneliness among people.

However, Frey learned what is truly important due to the short times with the Little Prince.

What is important is not how she appears to others, what others blabber, or such things.

What is truly important is the eye with which I view the world. It is love and responsibility.

“I wish Priest Frey would be my friend forever.”

Moses smiled innocently and said.

Frey smiled back the same way.

“Of course.”

“Really?”

“Because for everything in the world, you have a responsibility for what you have tamed.”

Frey thought the current life was also good. If she could watch this lovely girl grow up and shine beautifully, it would be satisfying. Even if she doesn't shine, Frey will willingly tell the girl she is the most beautiful. Not as a lie, but sincerely. And.

“Priest Frey!”

Frey realized once again.

“Don't come, Priest!”

Just as the Little Prince left her. Moments are not eternal.

“No, Priest Frey! Don't go!”

In the desert of the Perry region, sandstorms blow every quarter. That sandstorm is very old, but unpredictable as it comes irregularly. When the Priests of the Star returned after stopping by an outer city to offer prayers, the sandstorm came. Amidst the blowing sand, small Moses was swept away by the sand and flew, and was soon swallowed by a sand pit and sinking. As if falling into a swamp.

“You will die too if you do that!”

The flailing Moses sobbed and cried. Inside the sand pit, scorpions were swarming. Things possessing poison that can cut off a girl’s breath at once. Frey ran to Moses fast enough to surprise herself. The priests missed Frey rushing out. An aged Priest of the Star saw the back of a mother in Frey’s back. A mother running to save her dying daughter.

“Ah, O Star.”

Frey jumped into Moses and embraced her. In Frey’s embrace, Moses could preserve her life instead of being buried in sand and suffocating to death. The swarming scorpions targeted only the middle-aged woman covering her instead of the small girl. When the short sandstorm receded, Moses saw Frey who became a bloody mess. Frey’s face was pale. Seeing the bloodless face, Moses cried as if the world was ending.

“Frey, Frey!”

The priests who were barely holding on nearby rushed to Frey urgently as the sandstorm stopped. Amidst the raging sand stopping, a middle-aged woman holding a small girl was there in the center of the quiet desert. The rushing priests soon froze for a moment. It was because of the sight reflected in their eyes.

“……?”

A star rose in broad daylight. Above the head of Frey embracing Moses, a star was floating in the distant sky. Under the starlight shining on her, Frey had a face like the Goddess of the Stars in the scriptures. Beside the wistfully smiling Frey, there was a shining boy whose face could not be recognized. While everyone stopped, Frey recognized the boy. It was a voice she had never forgotten for a single moment even though a long time had passed.

“Frey. My beautiful Frey.”

The Little Prince. He, who hadn't appeared for a long time, was in front of Frey. The small boy was holding light, but the more he voiced out, the more the Little Prince’s light extinguished. Frey could know why the Little Prince’s light was extinguishing.

“……No, don't do it.”

Frey knew what the Little Prince was trying to do. As she read in books, spirits possess other authorities besides the element that becomes their essence. Pure vitality. Great vitality capable of saving all dying things. But a spirit who uses that power dies, without fail.

“I missed you. So I stayed by your side continuously, but you couldn't see me. No matter how much I chattered, you couldn't answer, and no matter how much I patted, you couldn't feel.”

Stayed continuously, hearing those words, Frey shed tears.

The Middle World is the lowest world. Even if one can see the Middle World from the Spirit World, one cannot see the Spirit World from the Middle World. Frey, who possessed no spiritual talent, cannot observe the Spirit World. The Little Prince did not leave Frey. From the moment he left until now.

“I shouldn't have left you behind. I didn't know back then because I was too young too. That you also considered me special and loved me. I should have looked at actions, not words. You gave me warmth, gave me laughter, and gave me joy. I should have known that was affection.”

“Stop. Stop it. You will die doing that.”

Frey’s words were right. The Little Prince’s light was extinguishing even now. From the moment he returned to the Spirit World until now, staying by Frey’s side, the Little Prince had waited for this moment. Even if he sacrificed his life, he waited only for the moment to face Frey once again and share a conversation.

“Don't cry, Frey.”

The wounds engraved on Frey’s body were disappearing. Her life taken by the sandstorm, her life being taken by the scorpion’s poison was returning.

“It will look as if I am dead. But that is not true.”

The small spirit who crash-landed in the desert frolicked in the Middle World and met a flower.

The spirit who met the flower returned to his world but could not forget the moment of the short crash landing. To the spirit, a fleeting moment remained eternal.

“Since I cannot take this body back with me, I shall leave it behind. I am going back far away again.”

“Where to, where to…….”

“A dead spirit becomes a star, Frey.”

“Lie, it’s a lie. I’ve never heard of such a thing. It’s never written anywhere in books.”

“It is not a lie. I will become a star, Frey. Then looking up at the sky at night will become very enjoyable.

Because all stars will look like me.

Because whichever star you look at, it will be enjoyable.

Because all stars will become your friends, Frey.”

Frey reached out her hand to the Little Prince. But her hand passed right through the Little Prince.

“Promise me just one thing, Frey.”

“What, promise?”

“Take responsibility for what you have tamed. The city you love, the city that loves you, the person you love and the person who loves you…… the girl you tamed too.”

The Little Prince pointed at Moses.

“Can you do that?”

“I will. I definitely will.”

“Then I will give you a gift, Frey. A gift with which you can come back to me.”

Now Frey’s body was cleanly healed. Conversely, the Little Prince became light faint enough to be feeble.

The Little Prince, who became a light, gave a blade to Frey. That blade was not caught in Frey’s hand, but pierced through Frey’s body and seeped inside.

“You become the only being in this world to me, and I also become the only being in the world to you, Frey.”

“…….”

“I won't be visible, but I will be with you always. If you become too lonely among people, call me. Then let’s play counting stars together, looking up at the night sky.”

“…….”

“You don't have to come back urgently. I will be waiting.”

With those words as the last, the Little Prince’s light extinguished.

As the light scattered and disappeared, Frey rushed in sobbing, and other priests held Frey back shouting at her to come to her senses.

The scenery of the desert gradually receded, and they became small like dots as if viewed from above the sky.

While becoming smaller, the vast desert became small as if it could be placed on a palm.

That was the last memory of the Little Prince.

***

“……Huu.”

I slowly opened my eyes. The digestion of the sword I ate this time, 「Radiance」, proceeded at once without breaking off. Specifically, the memories contained in this blade did not deal only with the perspective of the ‘Little Prince’, but showed the memories of ‘Frey’ and the ‘Little Prince’ alternately. The visible memories also seemed to be viewed from a third party’s perspective, not the Little Prince’s perspective.

「It is because of the peculiarity of the soul.」

“What does that mean?”

「Because the blade named Radiance is not made of a single soul.」

Liam explained regarding my question.

「If you think about it, there must be many strange things. You thought it was a blade, but it was an existence who had never swung a sword in life, and there isn't a single memory of fighting someone in the memories you looked into. Rather, they were too weak existences. Enough for their lives to end by merely a sandstorm and scorpions.」

“…….”

「However, were those lives insignificant?」

Were they insignificant.

No, I couldn't say that.

「Young descendant.」

“Yes.”

「What is needed to rise to transcendence will be different from your thoughts. Think about the essence of the sword. Swinging the sword stronger, thrusting the sword a little faster, the summit the sword pursues is not such things.」

Liam’s eyes twinkled.

「Some Karavans have their skills marked time even after eating the blade of a man called the Sword Star, and some Karavans reach Swordmaster even after eating the kitchen knife of a woman who had never swung a sword once. What is important is not the strength of the soul, but what the soul harbors.」

“…….”

「Needle is unbreaking will, Fang is freedom pursued in the lowest place, Wild Instinct is responsibility. From now on, for you to become truly strong, you will have to look at the inner self, not the shell.」

“Inner self…….”

「And.」

And?

「To clad yourself in Steel Armor, to reach ‘Sword Expert’, you will have to fully complete your own inner self.」

“…….”

「A stubbornness close to a single world, that will never break.」

Stubbornness. A word also connected to the Master's sword, Dokbul.

“It is still hard to understand.”

「It must be. But you must have come to know one thing.」

“What?”

「That now you too can hear the call of the sword. And that the blade calling you harbors the power you definitely need.」

Power I need. Yes, it was words that fit perfectly. If I obtained ‘Radiance’ in the days when I first held a sword, ‘Radiance’ would have been a blade useless in any way. But how is it now?

“I see.”

Even if I ate the blade of a swordsman who lived a very excellent life. I wouldn't have achieved growth as much as I do now.

“You’re here, brat!”

Swordswoman Mary guarding my front shouted. The Needle in her hand was crying affectionately. I grinned while looking at the three souls standing reliably.

“Yes, I’m here.”

Although they are people I have never met face to face, I felt a strong bond from them. Because they were a part of me. Feeling my heart becoming magnificent, I looked at the Crusaders still glaring this way under the pitch-black night sky. Behind them, a huge dimensional gate was open. Warp Gate. Magic connected to another space.

‘They intend to bring reinforcements.’

Well, those guys wouldn't be enough.

I knew from the moment I saw the warriors of the plains. That the Order of the Cross already brought in an external force, and the support sent by the external force wouldn't be ‘merely that much’.

A presence was felt beyond the Warp Gate. Then the presence filled this desolate desert.

A much bigger and much more numerous presence.

“Everyone.”

But there was nothing to worry about. The digestion of 「Radiance」 has ended now.

There is no limit to the number of souls that can be called with this blade.

What does that mean?

“Let’s all see each other's faces.”

It means I can also call a whole bunch of friends.