Chapter 192 : Stranger (2)
Stranger (2)
'East Continent?'
In truth, Louis had been puzzled ever since hearing that term for the first time.
There had never been any mention of other continents in the information from the game he used to enjoy playing.
According to the latest update, the only areas a character could travel to were the Imperial Court and the continent's map.
Hearing about the East Continent or other continents was a complete surprise.
As a result, the whole situation was very unfamiliar to Louis.
'Well, the Chaos Dragon, known as the final boss, hadn't even been updated.'
If he hadn't been whisked into this world and had simply kept playing the game, would that so-called East Continent have eventually been added as an update?
'Of course, this is all just speculation.'
According to Yugwang's explanation, the East Continent had a long history just like this continent.
That side had also endured countless wars, and he said that only blades and fists ruled everything on that continent.
While things had improved compared to the past, that culture still remained to this day.
'Actually, their group called the Thousand Sword Society was a family that grew by crushing other powers through force.'
Currently, except for the Imperial Court, the highest organization in the East Continent was said to be the Thousand Sword Society.
He couldn't even imagine how much blood had been shed with blades to reach that position.
In the end, that continent was one where people couldn't live or die without swords and blood.
'If it's this bad now, what was it like in the past?'
Yet, what was strange was that the bloody war had ended in an instant.
Of course, it wasn't because people had come to their senses and stopped fighting, but rather because someone had ended it with overwhelming force.
"All by one person?"
"Yes."
Amazingly, it was said that with just a single duel, the chaos had stopped and the continent was unified.
"That person was the very first user of the Blood Sword Technique. Her appearance is even recorded."
"Her?"
"Yes, a woman."
According to the records, her appearance was that of a woman with black hair and red eyes.
She was said to always envelope her sword in a red aura and wield the blood-sword in battle.
"Come to think of it, there's someone similar right here."
Everyone simultaneously looked at Rio.
Rio, apparently tired of the explanations, wore a puzzled expression.
"Isn't Rio really her descendant?"
"Just by description, they're almost identical."
"We're not sure either, but it's hard to say there's no connection."
Not only did their appearances match, but the details were strikingly similar.
It was hard to dismiss it as mere coincidence.
"Thanks to her achievements in unifying our East Continent, you could say our continent became gentler than in the past."
"But when you hear that your family thrived by being soaked in blood, it does sound contradictory."
"Erm......"
Yugwang cleared his throat, unable to rebut Louis's words.
"Anyway... judging by her achievements, she would be the hero of our continent. But in the end, she was never called a Hero."
"Why not? She's a war hero."
At Pram's question, Yugwang replied briefly.
"At the same time, she was also a war criminal."
Louis and Silia found his words bewildering.
"Her Blood Sword Technique wasn't merely the power to wield a red sword aura.
Its true nature was a power that could awaken beings that should have never been awakened, using the life-blood that spread across the continent."
"And these beings that should never be awakened are?"
"In the history of our continent, they're called 'the black horde'. To put it more simply—they're the beings known as devils."
The moment he heard the word 'devil', a certain image popped up in Louis's head.
It was the same for the other special task force members.
"Because the 'black horde' was awakened by her Blood Sword Technique, a great calamity that made monsters more savage swept through our East Continent, and she was branded a criminal who should never exist."
"The monsters became ferocious?"
"Training monsters typically found on village outskirts suddenly became as strong as high-rank monsters."
So, it was like tutorial practice monsters suddenly transforming into high-level dungeon bosses.
The team members murmured as some thought of something.
"Young master, isn't this similar to the monsters in the demon realm?"
"That's also a place where monsters stronger than ordinary knights roam in hordes."
It wasn't entirely certain if the phenomenon matched those of monsters in the demon realm.
But facts like Rio's resemblance to the female warrior and other similarities did overlap.
"The rampaging monsters were too much for our continent alone, so we requested support from one of the greatest nations of another continent. What's now left as just an island—Woodrock—was a great power back then."
"So that was why your continent and Woodrock became so close?"
"Indeed. Since they helped us, we also aided them a great deal—at one point, we even supported Woodrock in their war with the Imperial Court."
It was only natural to become close since both sides benefited.
"So, you're still on good terms now—close enough to travel to Woodrock just like this?"
"Yes. Even though Woodrock is much diminished now, we still have reasons to maintain good relations."
Indeed, the Imperial Court simply left Woodrock alone, even though it had become so weak.
That was because the friendly East Continent was standing behind them.
What was the real reason for such steadfast support?
"The first Blood Sword Technique user. Her descendant is now the king of Woodrock."
"The criminal's descendant is royalty?"
"Yes."
They already knew that the king was descended from that warrior.
But given that she was considered a criminal, it didn't quite add up.
"As for the reason, the records don't say. The same goes for what happened to her afterwards."
"Is it really okay to be talking about this with us?"
As Silia pointed out, everything Yugwang had revealed up until now was confidential enough to be considered top-secret.
If they had any pride in their nation, this should've never been shared.
"The story about the continent being unified—it's common enough to be found in children's fairy tales, so that's all right. But yes, details about her descendants are, as you just said, a tightly held secret."
Yugwang added that he'd have to accept being executed if he returned to the East Continent after saying all this.
"But since we've met a real user of the Blood Sword Technique here, I couldn't just hold my tongue."
Pointing to the still-spaced-out Rio, Yugwang continued.
"And as the friends protecting her, you have every right to know. Above all..."
Halfway through, he suddenly bowed his head.
"If it hadn't been for all of you, the young master and I would've become food for that crocodile monster. For that debt, I would gladly lay down my life."
There was no secret he couldn't share with his benefactor.
The special task force members were all impressed by Yugwang's character.
"Hmm... really, thank you."
Kaid, looking awkward, expressed his thanks.
"So, you came to our continent to hand this manual over to the king of Woodrock?"
"Not to hand it over, just to lend it. We'll get it back right after the king deciphers it, and then return home."
After all, since the king was a descendant of that warrior, he'd likely be able to decode it.
They trusted that enough to lend it temporarily.
"So do you know what the king of Woodrock intends to do with it?"
"We actually don't."
"Even if we did, it'd be a tightly held secret—no one would know."
Yugwang and Kaid explained why they couldn't say more.
But Louis was unconvinced.
"Do you really think you wouldn't know?"
"What...?"
"Isn't the Blood Sword Technique essentially a ritual to awaken the 'black horde'? I can guess at what he intends."
"There's no way."
Anyway, the king wouldn't know how to use the manual properly.
Even with ill intent, it was doubtful he could pull anything off.
"Recently, I got word that a group of deserters from the 7th Legion had gathered in Woodrock. We're actually here to capture them, and thanks to you, I've heard something even more interesting."
Desertion from the 7th Legion was a preposterous notion in itself.
Yet here those people were, and Woodrock's king was trying to get his hands on a very peculiar object.
Louis didn't consider this coincidental.
"Incidentally, our continent also had a great war not long ago. The demonkin war, where demonkin suddenly multiplied out of control. Do you know what kind of power their leader used?"
Louis poked the manual with his finger.
"The Blood Sword Technique. The very power Rio is wielding now, and one that was originally your continent's."
"..."
"The demonkin war actually broke out when the demon realm suddenly expanded, you know? The demon realm is known to activate whenever the world's most evil monsters regain their power."
"Evil monsters?"
"What do you think those are?"
Louis had met those monsters himself before.
He had even killed some, and imprisoned and interrogated others.
"Isn't the 'black horde' you speak of those creatures? For your information, we call them 'Great Devils' on our continent."
"What are you saying...?"
"It's simple."
Louis simply took the manual in hand as he spoke.
"Hand this over to us."
"What?"
Yugwang was shocked by what he heard.
"But that's...!"
"I know. It's a precious artifact to your continent."
No matter how indebted they were, this was not an easy thing to ask for—Louis understood that as well.
"Of course, I'm not demanding it immediately. You're planning to deliver it to the king, right? Then after that, we'll take it from him. That way, you're not responsible."
His proposal was considerate in its own way, but even so, it was insane.
Steal from a king?
But after seeing them annihilate an advanced monster so easily, it even seemed plausible.
"By the way, with our level of authority, the king of Woodrock is nothing. We're actually ranked higher than him."
"Are you... royalty?"
If they really were, they'd need to be at least members of the Imperial Court.
"We're not royalty, but let's just say we're well connected."
"......"
Yugwang and Kaid couldn't grasp what he meant and decided to give up trying.
Was there any point applying common sense to these monster-slayers?
"Excuse me."
At that moment, soldiers in armor approached them.
"We're the royal guards of Woodrock. Are you Kaid, honored guest of His Majesty the King?"
Displaying a sketch of Kaid, the royal guards spoke.
"Yes, that's correct. This is young master Kaid, eldest son of the Thousand Sword Society."
Yugwang quickly stood to introduce Kaid.
"His Majesty has ordered us to find you as your appointment is soon. Please allow us to escort you to the palace."
"All right. Let's go, young master."
"Yeah."
Just as Yugwang and Kaid were about to follow the knights—
"Wait."
Louis grabbed a knight's shoulder, stopping him.
"I have a question to ask."
The knight frowned as if to say don't interfere, but when he caught sight of the special task force tattoo on Louis's hand, his expression changed.
"Any complaints?"
"N-no, sir. Please, ask anything."
"In that case, I'll get right to the point..."
Louis suddenly grabbed the knight by the neck and lifted him up.
"Why is a 7th Legion soldier pretending to be a knight here?"
"Khak... what are you...?"
"Plus, you lot killed someone here, right? People we were supposed to meet."
The smell of blood clung to the knights' bodies.
Of all the different scents, the most recent was that of Holy Nation soldiers.
"Guys. It's time to start telling the truth."
The moment Louis unleashed his killing intent, the knights dropped their weapons.
They instinctively sensed they stood no chance.
"So, want to tell me what your king is really up to?"