Ch.162The Knight Who Removed His Helmet (2)

Alderan Basaglia.

If you search through the Empire’s history books, you can find such a name. But no one knew who Alderan was. Who was this person whose name was written so prominently in the history books? And what did he do that left no records behind?

Imperial historians would scratch their heads over this blank space. He seemed to be an important figure… Were the records lost during the Dawn War? Or was he a traitor whose records were erased?

Many documents were burned during the Dawn War. With no way to confirm the facts, only speculation remained.

Amid various conjectures, one historian claimed, “This Alderan Basaglia must be a traitor. The erasure of his records makes it certain.” But that historian was found the next day in his home with his head severed.

Other historians who made similar claims met similar fates. They were found with fingers cut off or tongues torn out. The Empire was outraged by these gruesome incidents.

Who dared threaten the Empire’s historians? Even the Imperial Family stepped in to investigate, but the investigation quietly ended not long after. Not because they couldn’t find the culprit, but because the culprit was too powerful to punish.

The hero of the Dawn War, Gerd.

He was the culprit. When the Emperor summoned Gerd and questioned his intentions, Gerd only gave a brief answer.

“I have not forgotten.”

“Forgotten what?”

“The great hero of the Empire, my master, the Empire’s First Horn…”

Gerd showed his sword.

“The Triumph Sword.”

Decades later, when Gerd ascended to the position of the Empire’s First Horn, a few lines were added under the name Alderan Basaglia at the First Horn’s request.

Former Empire’s First Horn.

Master of the current Empire’s First Horn, Lord Gerd.

Creator of the Triumph Sword, which became the foundation of the Empire’s swordsmanship.

That was the first thing Gerd did after becoming the Empire’s First Horn. He engraved that name back into the Empire’s history books. To never forget the promise he made with his master.

Even as records were distorted and erased, Gerd continued to correct the history books.

Again and again and again…

2.

The Empire’s First Horn, Alderan Basaglia.

Najin had heard that name before. It would be strange not to know it. Alderan Basaglia was the master of the Empire’s Sword Master Gerd and the creator of the Triumph Sword that Gerd wielded.

‘…Why?’

The moment he revealed his name, Najin felt confused.

‘Why couldn’t I remember?’

There had been many clues. The Helm Knight had spoken as if he had a connection with Gerd, and the sword he taught Najin resembled Imperial swordsmanship. Now Najin understood the sense of déjà vu he had felt from the Helm Knight’s sword.

It was Gerd’s swordsmanship.

Najin was bewildered at why he hadn’t recognized that distinctive swordsmanship that could split the ground in a straight line even without sword energy. Why hadn’t he connected the Helm Knight with the name Alderan Basaglia?

‘The man before me is Alderan Basaglia.’

The moment Najin repeated that sentence in his mind:

“Alderan Basaglia is dead.”

Suddenly, a single line.

“He is a traitor of the Dawn War.” “Records were lost during the Dawn War.” “Alderan Basaglia disappeared.”

Two, three, four…

“He became a fallen star and was hunted down.” “Alderan Basaglia is dead.” “No one knows what happened to him.” “Alderan Basaglia is the name of a soldier who died during the Dawn War.”

Stories he had never heard before, contradictory information filled Najin’s mind. Dozens of lines invaded his thoughts, distorting the information. Making it impossible to distinguish which was false and which was true.

“The man before you is not Alderan Basaglia.”

Najin frowned and pressed his temple. It was confusing. But the confusion didn’t last long.

-See this?

Merlin’s voice echoed in Najin’s ear.

Then, she made a light gesture, as if shooing away a flying insect. With that alone, the information that had filled Najin’s mind evaporated in an instant.

-Who dares to touch what’s mine? He’s mine.

Merlin wrapped her arms around Najin’s neck.

Then she whispered in his ear.

-Focus. Finish things with your master. I may not be a knight, but I am a companion of the King of Knights, am I not? I know there should be no interference in an honorable duel.

Merlin smiled.

-Go.

Go and become a knight.

‘Thank you, Merlin.’

Najin took a step forward.

His mind was clear. His heated thoughts had cooled down. With a widened perspective, Najin gazed at his master. Alderan was also looking at him.

Their eyes met for the first time.

The gleam in his eyes, not hidden by the helmet, was eerie. Not because his face was monstrous. It was the unique pressure that a Sword Master creates. And that pressure was greater than anything Najin had ever felt, except for Merlin.

Neither Juel, Gerd, nor Charon could create such pressure. Najin felt his body trembling instinctively. He laughed at the realization.

He had expected him to be an extraordinary person, but this was truly beyond imagination.

The person Najin was facing now was the Empire’s hero and former First Horn, a Sword Master who had brought down half of the Empress of Bliss’s stars. One who had possessed 8 stars… stronger than any Sword Master on the continent.

Logically, this wasn’t an opponent Najin could defeat. If this were a battle to the death, Najin would have been killed within a second.

But this wasn’t a battle to the death.

It was an honorable duel and also a training match where a disciple received teachings from his master. Najin performed a sword salute. Alderan received his disciple’s salute and lowered his sword.

Then, with a crunch.

Alderan crushed his own heart with the hand not holding the sword. Seeing this, Najin’s eyes widened. Then he muttered, “I see.” He understood what that action meant.

The heart is where mana and starlight gather. Crushing one’s heart meant refusing to use mana and stars. Alderan was saying:

I will not use sword energy.

I will face you with only my sword.

With his hazy consciousness, he could lose control at any moment. In this situation, Alderan couldn’t perfectly control his mana. If his breathing faltered even slightly, crude and rough sword energy would run wild. Alderan couldn’t allow that.

After all, aren’t swordsmen and knights those who perfectly restrain and control everything about themselves? At least, that’s what Alderan believed a knight to be. So, if he couldn’t control it, he would rather not use it. One sword that moves according to his will is enough.

A swordsman wields a sword, not sword energy.

Alderan chose to be a swordsman.

It was both consideration for his disciple and confidence in himself.

‘I am a Sword Master even without sword energy, you bastard.’

Alderan’s expression remained unchanged.

‘Come, clash with me with all your might.’

He said nothing.

‘Try to break me.’

But Najin felt as if he had smiled and said so. It wasn’t an illusion. The Alderan that Najin had seen was such a person.

Grip.

Holding his sword, Najin challenges.

His master.

The enormous wall he must overcome.

3.

Sword Master, a human who has reached transcendence.

They swing their swords to cut targets tens or hundreds of meters away. With one swing, they dominate the battlefield and cause events beyond common sense. They are like walking disasters, strategic weapons equivalent to a nation’s army.

But that’s not a skill performed with just a sword. It’s possible because of sword energy that goes beyond carrying imagery to color the surroundings with one’s mental image.

Thus, sword energy is an essential element in distinguishing the level of a swordsman.

Then… can a Sword Master who cannot use sword energy still be called a Sword Master? Don’t they classify Sword Seekers by the form of their sword energy: budding, blooming, and full bloom? If one cannot draw sword energy at all, wouldn’t they lose even to a Sword Seeker?

Najin had heard that such a debate existed within the Order of the Sword. From none other than Charon, the Star of Sword and master of the Order. And Charon had also told him the conclusion of that story with a laugh.

“They were making a fuss over something so trivial, so I beat them all up without using sword energy.”

“When an adult and a child fight, does the adult lose just because they can’t use martial arts? No. Never. It’s the same in this case.”

“If someone can’t be a Sword Master without using sword energy? Then they were never a Sword Master to begin with.”

At the time, Najin had listened without much thought.

But now, he perfectly understood what that story meant. He understood as soon as he received Alderan’s sword once.

Kaaaaang!

Even without sword energy, Alderan’s sword reaches targets tens of meters away. As Najin received the slash that cut through the ground, he almost dropped his sword. Sliding backward, Najin laughed in disbelief.

Naturally, this harsh master showed no intention of going easy on Najin. It was as if he was saying, “I’m not using sword energy, so this is all I can do.” From the beginning, Alderan had taught Najin in this way.

Harshly, precariously, pushing him to his limits to make him realize. Was this case the same?

Well, this was both a training match between master and disciple and a duel. Alderan seemed to place more weight on the latter.

“Hoo…”

Najin didn’t complain about that fact now. Instead, he smiled. Najin adjusted his posture and exhaled deeply. Before inhaling again, Najin kicked the ground and swung his sword. Sword energy surged fiercely along with the sword.

Alderan doesn’t use sword energy, but Najin does.

If possible, he would like to fight without using sword energy as well, but he couldn’t be so arrogant. Without sword energy, he would be broken in just a few exchanges. Receiving the slashes that reached him regardless of distance, Najin closed the gap.

Kuwung!

As Alderan taught him, Najin puts strength into each step. He wields the sword, not the sword energy. And the technique Najin uses is… the Triumph Sword that Alderan taught him.

Skaaaak!

Najin’s upward swing splits Alderan’s slash. As the split slash divides and crashes on either side of Najin, he advances. Now Najin knew the name and weight of the sword he wielded.

The swordsmanship of a hero who always won and became a symbol of victory.

Because there were those who followed him, those who watched him, Alderan always had to win. He had to become a symbol for them. Therefore, Alderan put strength into each strike.

Najin imitates that strike.

Not for those who follow him, but for the master standing before him, watching him.

‘Though I haven’t learned the ultimate techniques yet.’

I have learned your sword. I know how the sword you’re wielding now will be swung. Because you’ve already shown me.

Bang!

As Najin began to receive the slashes this way, Alderan kicked the ground while swinging his sword. The moment Najin’s sword received the slash shot from afar with a “Kaaaang!” sound, Alderan had already arrived in front of Najin.

Looking at the sword raised high by Alderan, Najin’s eyes widened. He hurriedly swung his sword to defend, but when the swords collided, the shockwave almost made Najin kneel. His knees creaked, and the ground beneath his feet was dented.

This was the result even after absorbing most of the impact with sword energy. The weight was different. The level was different.

And, of course, it didn’t end with one strike.

Alderan swings his sword. A Sword Master swung his sword. With each inch his sword advanced, the air caught at the tip of the sword turned into a blade. Though there was no sword energy wrapped around his sword, the storm wrapped around the tip substituted for it.

Without any magical means, he creates sword energy in a physical way. It’s absurd to watch. How is this even possible?

Kwaaaang!

Pushed back, Najin stopped as he hit a rock. Najin stopped, but Alderan didn’t. Alderan, who immediately pursued, swung his sword. As Najin hurriedly lowered his head and posture, the sword that passed over his head split in half a rock that seemed to be at least ten meters thick.

Alderan’s sword still didn’t stop.

The sword that had been swung horizontally from left to right, ignoring the recoil, turned to the left again. There was no break in the movement; it looked like a single motion. Najin hurriedly inserted his sword into the trajectory of Alderan’s sword, but he couldn’t fully receive it.

With a ripping sound, Najin’s body bent sideways.

Despite receiving it with his sword, Najin was pushed by the impact and rolled on the ground before standing up. The distance had widened, but that wasn’t good for Najin. A wider distance meant there was time to use a larger technique.

Spin.

Alderan adjusts his grip on the sword and takes a stance. Seeing that stance, Najin’s eyes widened. Of course, that was the stance for using the Horn Thrust. Why that stance? Wasn’t that a sword in his hand, not a spear?

As if answering that question, Alderan twisted his sword. The air that had been wrapping around the tip of the sword wrapped around Alderan’s blade and rotated like a storm.

“Insane.”

Seeing that, Najin couldn’t maintain his silence. Najin raised his sword energy output to the limit and swung with all his might. At the same time, Alderan thrust his sword toward Najin.

Horn Thrust.

The ground splits. Rocks are all cut away. The ground is slashed, and the sound of the wind swirling resonates loudly with a “Kiiiiing!”

The experience of breaking through the Bull Horned Star’s Horn Thrust helped in this moment. Najin swung his sword along the grain of the storm. He endured the raging storm, gritting his teeth. With a trembling sword, he gripped it tightly and swung upward.

Tuhwak.

The storm splits. But there’s no time to rejoice. Through the splitting storm, what Najin saw was another storm extending toward him.

Horn Thrust.

As if to say that Horn Thrust was an ultimate technique only for the Bull Horned Star, not for himself, Alderan performed Horn Thrust consecutively. Looking at the approaching storm, Najin’s pupils trembled.