Ch.278Who Am I? (3)

The iron bars of the Albania Duchy are sturdy.

This is only natural. How could the bars responsible for the safety of the ducal family be flimsy? Made of materials that don’t easily break or bend, these iron bars have safeguarded the Albania Duchy for many years.

And today, these bars would face…

A not-so-ordinary situation.

“Greetings, Najin. It’s been a while. Nothing special, but could you open this door? We have matters to discuss.”

Someone was gripping the iron bars with both hands. Just from that, the bars were creaking as if crying out, “This is my limit, Your Grace.” Of course, no one could blame the bars for failing to fulfill their duty in this situation.

The person gripping the bars was named Juel.

Juel Lazian, the executioner of the Order.

One of the few Sword Masters on the continent.

Who in this world could stop a Sword Master in their tracks? With a crack, the ribs of the iron bars finally gave way under Juel’s grip. Witnessing this horrific sight, Najin squeezed his eyes shut.

“Would you, please, consider, opening, the door?”

“Yes, I’ll open it, so please stop crushing the bars.”

“Ah.”

“Excuse me,” Juel said, releasing her grip. After offering a brief moment of silence for the mangled bars, Najin opened the door. May you be reborn as bars for a peaceful family that never receives visits from Sword Masters in your next life…

“So what brings you here? Coming all this way without notice.”

“A duel.”

“…Surely, this must be an extremely important and serious visit concerning the safety of the Empire and the Order.”

“A duel, I said.”

“Perhaps something related to demons? Of course, I’d cooperate. I’m quite positive about the Sacred Host…”

“Najin?”

Blink. Juel slowly closed and opened her eyes. Her long eyelashes lifted like curtains. Behind those curtains, crimson eyes stared intently at Najin.

“I didn’t come for such trivial matters.”

Najin wanted to argue that the Empire’s security wasn’t trivial, but… as soon as he opened his mouth, Juel tilted her head about 30 degrees to the side.

Blink.

Her eyes closed and opened once more. Her blood-red eyes radiated madness. Plus, there was an unspoken pressure to cut the nonsense and get to the point.

“A duel, Najin. A duel where life and death hang in the balance, blood splatters, and flesh is cut.”

“…”

Najin sighed.

What was bound to happen has finally come.

2.

Najin recalled his first meeting with Juel. After subjugating the black mage Faube, Juel, who was then facing Najin, a Sword Expert at the time, had said:

“You possess the qualities to become a Sword Master. Such mastery at your age. You will surely reach my position before long.”

You have talent.

You will definitely become a transcendent.

“When that time comes, I will challenge you to a duel once more. I hope you won’t refuse then.”

And when that time comes, I’ll challenge you to a duel, and I hope you won’t refuse. No, you won’t be able to refuse. Najin clearly remembered Juel’s eyes saying that.

“Then I’ll be waiting.”

Eyes that seemed unable to contain excitement for that day, enraptured by the future that would eventually come.

Next.

The story after subjugating the Demon Lord of Mourning and the Seal of Applaud. At that time, Juel had asked Najin if he was the one who had drawn Excalibur, and then said:

“I was merely curious. Najin? If you were the one who drew Excalibur, I would absolutely have to duel with you. I’m terribly curious about what sound Excalibur would make when struck.”

Najin pressed his throbbing temples with his fingers and looked ahead. There was Juel, staring at him intently.

“…”

“…”

Silence hung in the air. Between Najin and Juel was a tea table laden with tea and snacks, but Juel hadn’t touched any of it. It was Juel who broke the long silence.

“Najin.”

“Yes.”

“When shall we have our duel?”

“Were you serious?”

“I am always serious.”

Najin sighed. At first glance, Juel might seem like a madwoman—and she was indeed mad—but she was a madwoman who had undergone minimal socialization. That is, she clearly distinguished between what she could do and what would get her killed if she did it.

For instance, if she were to commit mass slaughter without reason?

The continent’s transcendents would collectively come for revenge.

She wouldn’t survive that, and she’d be sent to the afterlife without enjoying life, so she restrained herself. Suppressing her murderous intent, she only hunted criminals—those she could kill without consequences.

The same applied to challenging the strong.

If she suddenly approached someone and swung her sword, the aftermath would be difficult to handle, so she used the excellent means of dueling to compete. Just as she was doing with Najin now.

‘Still.’

Najin took a sip of tea and thought.

‘It means she’s someone I can reason with.’

Despite her notorious reputation as a lunatic, madwoman, and murderer, Juel was quite rational. Trusting in that rationality, Najin spoke.

“What if I refuse?”

“Well, according to imperial law, duels must be conducted with mutual consent except in certain special situations. If you refuse, I have no means to force a duel upon you.”

“Is that so? Then I refu—”

“However.”

Juel tilted her head.

“If you refuse, I will request a duel again. Will you duel me?”

“If a duel is refused, there’s a minimum of ten days—”

“Do you know the privileges held by the executioner of the Sacred Host?”

“Criminal execution?”

“Yes, and also the right to request duels without limitation.”

Such a privilege didn’t originally exist. But Juel had participated in several battles at the Empire’s request and, in return, obtained the right to request duels without limitation. Precisely for situations like this.

“I will continue to request a duel until you accept. As many times as necessary.”

Imperial laws regarding trespassing, coercion, or threats weren’t particularly useful in this situation. After all, transcendents could ignore most minor laws.

“Sigh…”

Exhaling deeply, Najin thought.

A duel? I can do it if needed.

And he was confident he wouldn’t die in the process. Perhaps in the past it would have been different, but now, fighting with Excalibur, he could engage in an equal battle. He might even win in the process.

Though he wasn’t sure how far he could go while wielding Excalibur, he was confident he wouldn’t be helplessly defeated.

‘I might even be able to win.’

But winning without injury was impossible. He would surely be severely wounded somewhere. He didn’t think he could defeat a transcendent like Juel without losing a limb or two.

“You see.”

“Yes, speak.”

“I cannot afford to sustain more injuries at the moment.”

Najin raised his arm. As his sleeve revealed his forearm, Juel’s eyes narrowed.

“What’s that?”

“You’ve probably heard the news, but I encountered the Knight of Betrayal, Mordred, in the underground city.”

His arm was covered in wounds that hadn’t yet healed. Despite maximizing Excalibur’s recovery power, the wounds still needed time to heal.

“I’m already busy recovering from these wounds, and if I were to add more injuries… wouldn’t I be unable to attend the imperial ceremony?”

“Ah, you mean the Pillar Investiture?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

In about ten days, Najin would become a new Pillar of the Empire. Though which number Pillar he would be was undecided, it was a foregone conclusion that he would receive the position.

“Let’s do this.”

After steadying his breath, Najin proposed to Juel.

“Let’s duel at the Pillar Investiture.”

“Hmm. In front of the Emperor?”

“Yes. In front of the Empire’s transcendents.”

Juel tapped her chin with a thud.

“Then I won’t be able to cross the line. If the duel becomes intense, the Empire’s First Horn and Sword Star will intervene. It’s far from the duel I desire, but…”

Juel clicked her tongue in disappointment.

“It’s not a particularly appealing proposal. I’ve been looking forward to a duel with you since we first met about two years ago. The duel you’re suggesting, a staged duel, would be difficult for me to find satisfying.”

I’ll do it if that’s what you want, but.

Her expression showed clear reluctance. If Najin hadn’t received help from her before, he would have concluded the conversation right there, regardless of her disappointment.

But he owed her quite a debt.

The first encounter with the Empress of Bliss, the conquest of La Mancha, and the subsequent subjugation of the Demon Lord of Mourning. Of course, she might not consider it a debt, but Najin did. He had received help, after all.

“Of course, wouldn’t it be a shame to end it here?”

“What do you mean?”

Juel’s eyes narrowed. Curiosity, question.

Najin told her his future plans in a voice only she could hear. And the story that would unfold soon.

“Oh.”

Juel’s eyes curved, narrowed, and then closed. When she opened them again, a bright smile adorned her face.

“Indeed, if that’s the case.”

Juel smiled.

“It’s a satisfying proposal. If I think of the unsatisfying duel with you as an appetizer… it feels quite flavorful. Yes, not bad at all.”

“Right?”

“Of course, this is assuming what you say is true, but from what I’ve observed, you’re far from the type who indulges in lies or false promises. Yes, I’ll believe you.”

She extended her hand. Najin shook it lightly. Though he had to exert some effort to detach her fingers that were tightly gripping his hand, it was a minor issue.

“Ah.”

As she was about to leave, Juel turned back to Najin.

“Still, someday, not now, I hope you’ll engage in a life-or-death duel with me.”

Juel’s hair gleamed white in the sunlight. Brushing back her shining hair, with a smile of unparalleled purity, Juel said:

“Perhaps, with you, I might be able to end it without killing.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means exactly what I said. Right now, my desire to fight with you for as long as possible is stronger than my desire to kill you.”

As she spoke, Juel tilted her head. As if she didn’t understand what she had just said. As if experiencing an emotion for the first time, Juel blinked.

“Strange. That was a slip of the tongue. Please forget it.”

Stroking her chin, Juel left.

As always, she was a person who did as she pleased.

3.

About ten days passed.

There was a minor incident where imperial officials screamed, sang of the apocalypse, and overwhelmingly broke the record for the youngest complete baldness, which was noted in a single line in the history books, but no one particularly cared about them.

Similarly, there were endless wails from the Grey Tower, which sang of life’s leisure, and amid the mourning for the fallen constellation…

There was also the tragicomic incident where Nayuta, the Master of Gray Tower, caused a commotion at a drinking party, shouting, “Morning Star! I named that star! Who am I? The great archmage Nayuta who named the alias of Excalibur’s owner!” before being subdued by the Master of Platinum Tower.

And then, the day arrived.

As the winds of war subsided and the continent stabilized once more, the imperial court announced one fact. News that would stir the Empire, and beyond, the entire continent.

Two of the Empire’s five Pillars had died.

Thus creating two vacant positions.

The news was that one of those positions had been filled, and the person to fill it was none other than Najin. In fact, considering Najin’s identity, this was a natural progression.

‘Who am I?’

-The youngest 7-star, the youngest Sword Master, the one who received the title of free knight after a 1000-year gap, the one who was chosen by Excalibur, and the one who even drove away the fearsome Knight of Betrayal, Mordred—an unparalleled genius.

Merlin said without taking a breath. She looked at Najin with lifeless eyes. Najin nodded with satisfaction.

‘Well. It’s nothing compared to the great archmage Merlin.’

-I’m sorry.

‘What are you sorry for?’

-No, just, I’m sorry…

Najin smiled brightly. The number of times Merlin had boasted to Najin so far was 178, while he had only reached 98. He planned to add 80 more and then stop.

…Anyway.

While the impact of Najin’s titles and records was significant, he wasn’t selected as a Pillar of the Empire solely for such reasons.

Najin had thwarted the Empress of Bliss’s plans.

He had exposed her identity.

He had prevented Mordred from crossing over to the continent.

If Najin hadn’t stopped Mordred, the war would have been much longer, and the continent would have become a sea of fire. If the Empress of Bliss’s plans had succeeded, the Empire might have been reduced to ashes by now.

Najin had prevented all of that.

In recognition of his achievements, and considering the special circumstance of having drawn Excalibur, the Empire bestowed upon Najin the position of a Pillar… but did not assign him a number.

“Who would dare assign an order to the greatest knight who has inherited the will of the great Arthur?”

The Emperor said with a smile.

“There is a position that has been left vacant, waiting for the one who would draw Excalibur to appear someday.”

A Pillar of the Empire, and at the same time…

“The Cornerstone.”

One who laid the foundation for the Empire, and beyond, for humanity.

The existence that made the current Empire possible.

The Empire had reserved one position, awaiting the day that existence would return.

“Well then, Merlin.”

Najin drew Excalibur and fastened it to his waist. As he lightly tapped the hilt of Excalibur, the starlight that leaked out took the form of a person.

“Shall we go?”

“Sigh, you really…”

Merlin jabbed Najin’s side with her elbow.

“Just try doing that in front of others.”

“Nothing stopping me.”

When he started to say “Who am I—”, Merlin, her face turning bright red, covered Najin’s mouth. This time, since she had a physical form, she was fortunately able to stop Najin’s words.

With a sigh, Merlin kicked Najin’s shin.

“Just walk faster.”

Najin moved forward.

Through the long corridor to the center of the Empire.

To the imperial square where the audience would be lined up.