Ch.103Conquest Battle (1)

Sword Master, Juel Lazian.

The words describing her, who holds a position equivalent to the High Priest of the Sacred Host, are uniformly brutal. Murderer, madman, slaughterer, executioner… These are more like aliases emphasizing her dangerousness rather than describing her.

It can’t be helped.

Objectively speaking, Juel Lazian is a dangerous person.

She readily draws her sword when given even a modest justification. She willingly kills people. There is no hesitation or impediment in her act of murder. She only briefly considers, “Will there be any consequences if I kill this person?”

“She’s mentally ill.”

“She’s a madman detached from the world’s common sense!”

“To think such a person represents the will of the stars, the Sacred Host has really gone too far…”

Though they wouldn’t dare speak to her face, numerous powerful figures would discuss Juel’s temperament. Usually in a negative direction.

“However, regarding her appearance…”

But when the topic of conversation shifted slightly.

For instance, when moving to the subject of Juel Lazian’s appearance, negative opinions would cleanly evaporate.

“She could rightfully be called a beauty beyond compare.”

“Snow-white hair, red eyes, an infinitely cold face. Her expressionlessness might make her seem lifeless, but even that becomes a charm of its own.”

“One’s gaze is captivated as if enchanted. There are rumors that the corpses executed by her wear enchanted expressions.”

“She’s two-faced. Aren’t her outside and inside completely different? Inside dwells a murderer obsessed with blood, yet what shows on the outside is a peerless beauty.”

“Isn’t that part of her charm?”

“Hmm, I agree with that.”

An appearance that doesn’t match at all with the Sword Master called a murderer. That’s why countless nobles would gossip about Juel’s appearance behind social gatherings. Of course, if they gossiped in front of her, their heads would surely fall.

“Even without expression, she’s like a work of art.”

“If the vitality of a smile were added to that?”

“I’ve heard that she smiles if you serve her very expensive alcohol.”

“Wouldn’t it have to be at least Star Blood Wine level?”

And some of them would pour out gold coins just to see Juel Lazian smile once. Nobles who had seen Juel’s smile would say, ‘She smiles faintly when presented with the finest wines and spirits where price is no object, and it’s worth it.’

Juel Lazian’s smile.

It’s worth hundreds of platinum coins.

Amid such rumors circulating among the powerful, here is a boy. Before the boy stands Juel Lazian, smiling brightly. Though that smile is truly beautiful…

‘This seems really screwed.’

The boy, Najin, couldn’t appreciate the beauty of that smile. Because he could feel the thick killing intent behind that smile. Cold sweat ran down Najin’s spine.

“Explain yourself. I’ll give you a chance.”

Still, Juel Lazian was smiling.

To some, it might be a smile worth spending hundreds of platinum coins to see, but to Najin, it was a smile that made him want to jump up and run away immediately.

2.

Merlin’s laughter echoed in Najin’s ears. Squinting his eyes, he could faintly see Merlin clutching his stomach and cackling.

-Looks like you’re properly caught, kek, kheheek…

While one person is seriously thinking of excuses, is it right for a guide to act like this? Najin glared at Merlin with cold eyes. Regardless, Merlin had moved beyond “hahaha” to choking with laughter.

“Actually, there’s no need for explanation.”

When Najin remained silent, Juel spoke. As if the killing intent she had been emitting was just a casual greeting in everyday conversation, it disappeared instantly.

“I didn’t hear your name, but I heard your age, and since that was true, I’ll let it pass. I’m somewhat displeased that you met the Sword Star first, but…”

She said while chewing on some snacks.

“Seeing what you showed today, I’ll let that pass too.”

“…What I showed?”

“I’m talking about the sword energy. Sword energy in the form of a constellation. It was beautiful. Yes, truly beautiful.”

Juel repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fist in the air. Najin noticed what that motion was. It was the gesture to summon her weapon, the Sacred Blood Greatsword.

“I almost instinctively drew my sword. Because when I see something beautiful, I want to cut it. Fortunately, I held back because two Sword Masters and the Emperor were watching…”

Juel glanced at Najin with blood-red eyes full of killing intent. She unnecessarily licked her lips while looking at the sword fastened to Najin’s waist.

“It’s still tempting. How about it? Would you like to duel with me? I want to cut that sword energy once. I also want to dissect it.”

“…Didn’t you say you’d postpone it last time?”

“I did say that, but words naturally bounce this way and that.”

“I respectfully decline.”

“That’s a shame.”

Juel sipped her drink.

As the extremely uncomfortable time continued, someone knocked on the reception room door. At that moment, Juel’s eyes narrowed. Though she wasn’t an authoritarian person, this was a completely different matter.

She was the first guest. While she, the executioner of the Order and a Sword Master, was having a drink with the boy before her, who dared to intrude on this valuable time?

Just as her eyes narrowed at having her pleasant time interrupted, when she saw the person who opened the door and entered, Juel’s eyes widened slightly. Standing there was a person worthy of interrupting this time.

“Well, there’s already a guest here.”

The master of the Sword Order. Sword Star, Charon.

He entered the reception room, scratching the back of his neck. Of course, Charon also had a somewhat uncomfortable relationship with Juel. Who would like someone who constantly rushes at them threatening to kill them?

Nevertheless, the reason he came here, the reason he entered this reception room despite knowing Juel was here… was none other than to help Najin. Charon shrugged his shoulders toward Najin.

Like a lamb discovering its savior, Najin nodded to Charon. Seeing this, Charon smiled bitterly and sat down on the sofa in the reception room.

“May I join you? Juel.”

“Of course. You have that right. Would you like a drink too?”

“I’ll pass. That drink tastes awful.”

“What did you say?”

“It’s just strong with no taste, no taste at all. I don’t know how you drink something that just burns your throat…”

While Juel glared at Charon with wide eyes, Charon subtly shifted his gaze to look at Najin.

“Your name was Najin, right? You’re even younger than I thought. You’re quite something. Congratulations on becoming the youngest Sword Seeker, boy.”

Saying this, Charon tossed a sword to Najin. It was a sword engraved with the emblem of the Sword Order.

“This is a gift I present as the master of the Sword Order, representing the Order, and also as a personal favor.”

Najin looked at the sword he received.

When he slightly drew the sword from its scabbard, a pitch-black blade was revealed. It was a sword forged with “Rare Metal,” which only master craftsmen could handle. A truly premium item where price is no object.

Najin looked at Charon with wide eyes. Charon grinned and spoke.

“The Sword Order blesses the birth of the youngest Sword Seeker. A swordsman who has made a new mark in the history of swords should be given a sword worthy of that fame.”

“Thank you. Sincerely.”

“Visit the magic tower later with the longsword you’ve been using. Since Rare Metal has the property of absorbing and reinforcing well-refined metal… you might be able to continue with the sword you’ve been using.”

Najin alternately looked at the sword he had been wearing at his waist and the sword he received from Charon. The sword made by Old Man Hogel. It was getting dull and damaged, so it needed to be replaced, but he had been putting it off because he felt somewhat attached to it.

‘But now…’

A smile spread across Najin’s face.

“I’m glad. I wanted to stay with it a bit longer.”

“It’s natural to be attached to the first custom-made sword. I understand. The first sword I received from my master is also melted into the sword I use now.”

Charon laughed, tapping his sword hilt.

While the two were laughing, Juel silently sipped her drink. After a moment, she put down her glass with a loud thud.

“…”

Charon and Najin’s gazes turned to Juel.

As if asking if she had something to say.

“Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t come empty-handed either. I have my position too.”

“…Pardon?”

“I am the executioner of the Sacred Host. Though the High Priest and I have a relationship where we use each other, I am still affiliated with the Order, so I must do my job.”

She took out a letter from her bosom.

“Considering what you swore before the Empire’s Sun, you probably don’t intend to belong to any specific group. So the letter from the Order would be meaningless…”

The letters Juel took out were five in total.

Muttering that they were meaningless, she flicked her finger, and four of them turned to dust and scattered. Then she handed the remaining letter to Najin.

“In recognition of your achievements in the subjugation of the black magician Faube and the Fallen Knight, the Sacred Host grants you the right to own Masterpieces.”

The letter she handed over had the words <Masterpiece Ownership Right> written on it, with the emblem of the Sacred Host engraved.

“Since ancient times, the Sacred Host has managed and supervised Masterpieces along with the core of the Empire. If the Empire holds the <Masterpiece Bestowal Right>, then the right to own them, the <Masterpiece Ownership Right>, is held by the Sacred Host.”

Juel pointed to the letter Najin was holding.

“That gives you the right to own a Masterpiece when you confront or subjugate someone who possesses an unauthorized Masterpiece, or when you discover a new Masterpiece.”

For instance, if you had this ownership right when you subjugated Faube, you could have owned the Masterpiece ‘Shadow of Fire’. Explaining this, Juel exhaled briefly.

“In the demon realm, you will encounter quite a few who possess Masterpieces. The high-ranking demons who rule the demon realm possess Masterpieces. It will probably be helpful.”

Why are you giving this to me? To Najin, who was looking at her with such eyes, Juel shrugged and said.

“Didn’t I tell you? The Sacred Host highly values your achievements. It’s a kind of bribe provided to help with hunting demons and black magicians in the future.”

Well, she said.

“When you have time, visit the main church of the Sacred Host and find High Priest Milcentia. She seems to have great interest in you.”

3.

Word spread throughout the imperial city that Najin, who had left the imperial palace, was staying in a reception room. Numerous people headed toward where Najin was staying.

The youngest Sword Seeker, Najin.

He had achieved an impossible feat, and his future prospects were bright. If Najin had joined the imperial knights, they would have to completely give up on recruiting him, but the imperial palace had not yet made any additional announcements.

So now was the opportunity. If the boy was still considering, now was the perfect chance to snatch him away!

With such thoughts, various groups based in the imperial city began sending people. Those carrying bribes headed toward the reception room where Najin was staying. Magic Tower, Guild, Knights, Mercenary Corps…

Personnel dispatched by major groups in the Empire.

All of them were individuals who wouldn’t be looked down upon anywhere. When news spread about who had sent people, even decent nobles would be startled and treat them as honored guests. Therefore, while planning to recruit Najin, they arrived at the reception room with a certain dignity.

However.

The moment they arrived at the reception room.

None of them dared to knock on the door, and they had to throw away their dignity and widen their eyes. They had no choice.

Inside the reception room were two transcendents.

The Sword Star of the Sword Order, Charon, and the executioner of the Sacred Host, Juel Lazian. With two Sword Masters as prior guests, who would dare knock on that door?

Before transcendents, no group can maintain face. Therefore, they couldn’t even announce their presence outside and stood silently for hours.

Thud.

While they were spending time outside the door endlessly. Footsteps were heard from somewhere. They raised their heads to look at where the sound came from.

‘Another person to wait with.’

Thinking this, as they tried to identify which group the new person belonged to, the moment they saw the face of the new guest, they widened their eyes, immediately knelt, and bowed their heads.

Tap.

Without even glancing at those who had bowed their heads, the old man stopped in front of the door. While no one dared knock on that door where transcendents were staying, the person who stopped in front of the door was different. That person was also a transcendent.

The First Pillar of the Empire.

The Empire’s First Seal, Gerd, knocked on the reception room door.