Ch.281Icarus’s Wings (1)

Heavenly Flowing Star, that’s what this constellation was called.

Directly translated, it would mean something like a star flowing in the sky, and it was also called a shooting star in the heavens. When you watch the Heavenly Flowing Star riding the sky whale, it seems like a fitting nickname.

The sky whale, the star-eating whale, scatters digested star remnants with every movement. Though not as bright as stars themselves, these glowing remnants trail behind the whale’s tail, creating a trajectory that resembles a meteor’s path.

Hence, Heavenly Flowing Star (天流星).

A star flowing in the sky, a heavenly meteor.

Most people never questioned the interpretation of this nickname. However, constellations who lived during the era when the Heavenly Flowing Star was famous tilted their heads in confusion.

Because it was an incorrect notation.

Not Heavenly Flowing Star (天流星).

But Heavenly Swimming Star (天遊星).

The interpretation as a heavenly meteor was wrong; it should have been interpreted as heavenly play or a star swimming through the sky. Of course, few people knew this fact now.

“And one of those rare beings is right in front of you.”

Merlin cleared her throat and shrugged.

She explained the strategy for defeating the Heavenly Swimming Star, and the faces of the Empire’s officials and commanders who overheard turned deathly pale. Their expressions could be interpreted as:

You want us to do this? Really?

Do you perhaps think human lives come in sets of ten? That was roughly their expression, but Najin, who was eavesdropping on the plan, nodded.

“Seems doable.”

“Indeed, it seems feasible.”

Juel Lazian agreed as well. While it might not make sense from an ordinary person’s perspective, it was a valid strategy from a transcendent’s viewpoint. After discussing and refining the operation for a while, Merlin suddenly looked at Juel and asked a question.

“You there.”

“Yes? Are you speaking to me?”

“Yes.”

Merlin whispered in Juel’s ear. It was a voice that others couldn’t hear, but Najin could.

“Do you know the name Herman?”

“Herman?”

Juel tilted his head.

“No, I don’t. It’s the first time I’ve heard that name.”

“…I see.”

Merlin muttered that it was fine if he didn’t know. When Merlin returned to his side, Najin asked what the name Herman meant.

“Well, I told you before,” Merlin whispered to Najin.

“In my era, there was a madman who proposed the theory that ‘one could become a Sword Master simply by killing many.'”

“Ah, that’s right.”

It was something she had mentioned when they first met Juel.

“That madman’s name was Herman. I was wondering if he might know, but if he doesn’t, well…”

She said it didn’t matter if he didn’t know, but her expression suggested something was bothering her. Najin asked, but Merlin didn’t answer.

2.

The Empire and the entire continent moved in perfect unison. Countless knights, orders, and mercenaries gathered. Many assembled without being forced to do so.

The legend that the heir of King Arthur would write.

They were people who wished to carve their names on a page of that legend. There were many on the continent willing to throw away even their lives for honor.

“So you were indeed the master of Excalibur.”

The Empire’s First Horn, Gerd. Looking down at the Empire from the top of the One-Horned Tower, he spoke.

“Did you know?”

“No. I was only guessing. When I first met you, it was suspicion; when you brought news of my master, it was doubt. And by the third time, it was close to certainty.”

Gerd hummed and stroked his beard.

“You drew Excalibur, distinguished yourself, and approached transcendence in less than two years. Rather than Excalibur giving you such talent, you must have had the talent to be able to draw Excalibur in the first place.”

The old man knew.

Excalibur ‘selected those with talent,’ not bestowed talent upon those who drew it.

Looking at Najin, Gerd recalled the past.

Gerd was also someone who had tried to draw Excalibur many times. Why had he been so obsessed with Excalibur? Until now, he hadn’t known the reason, but by recalling Alderan’s memories through Najin, Gerd could remember.

Because his master had challenged Excalibur.

And, in the end, had failed to draw it.

Perhaps he had wanted to prove something to his master. I drew the sword you couldn’t draw. The greatest glory a master can have is for his disciple to surpass him, so I will become your glory.

That’s what he had thought.

“My master would be pleased.”

The old man smiled as he looked at the young man who shared the same master as him. Though he regretted not being able to draw it himself, his joy outweighed his regret. Gerd exhaled deeply.

“The Empire’s seven magic towers have gathered.”

He pointed to the center of the Empire’s capital. The tower masters representing each magic tower were gathering in the square. They were either Grand Magicians or those equivalent to Grand Magicians.

Led by the Red Tower Master, the magic towers had assembled.

One by one, strategic weapons capable of burning down entire cities were gathering.

“The Empire’s knights have assembled.”

Gerd moved his finger. Knights were moving along the outskirts of the Empire. Not just the knights stationed in the capital, but also those scattered throughout the Empire were mobilizing.

“The Empire’s pillars have also gathered.”

With a deep resonance, Gerd tapped the prairie with his scabbard. As a solemn bell sound rang from the One-Horned Tower, three towers, including the One-Horned Tower, vibrated as if in resonance.

First Horn, Gerd Izabalt.

Eternal Radiance Horn, Safria Gachefsga.

Pure Horn, Loren Aresche.

And.

Dawn Horn, Najin.

The four pillars, excluding the one still vacant, resonated. Stars shone in the Empire’s sky. Under the shining stars, Gerd spoke.

“The entire continent is moving. Moving as one towards a single destination. And it is none other than you who created this flow.”

Gerd pointed at Najin.

He looked straight at Najin. He didn’t use clichéd phrases like a great war would break out or the Outer Continent would be shaken. Compressing all those words into a single sentence, Gerd pronounced:

“Are you prepared?”

Slaying the Empress of Bliss is your task.

We will only open the path.

You will be the one to face the Empress of Bliss.

“If I weren’t prepared,” Najin smiled.

“I wouldn’t have drawn this sword.”

Gerd nodded. As if that was exactly the answer he wanted to hear.

Gerd swung his raised sword towards the sky.

The sword energy, shot up like fireworks, split the clouds.

That became the signal, and one by one, they began to move. Towards the Outer Continent. Towards the boundary of the Outer Continent. Knights, magicians, and mercenaries moved as one to kill demons.

Humanity marched.

As the entire continent trembled with their footsteps, Najin stood before Gerd.

“Lord Gerd.”

Then he pounded his shoulder plate, the military flag of Alderan Basaglia tied to it, with his fist. Seeing this, Gerd laughed out loud. Then Gerd also pounded the symbol of the Empire’s First Horn tied to his shoulder with his fist.

The captain of the Golden Horn Knights and.

The Empire’s First Horn looked at each other.

Both were once titles referring to a single knight, but now they were positions shared by his two disciples. After a brief salute, they each headed to their respective positions.

3.

Forces gathered at the boundary of the Outer Continent.

Among them were transcendents, but they were just a few; most were ordinary people who had not reached transcendence.

Naturally, in a battle between transcendents, there isn’t much that non-transcendents can do. Everyone knows this. Nevertheless, many gathered at the boundary of the Outer Continent.

They weren’t particularly trying to become the protagonists of this war or heroes in it.

They knew they couldn’t.

They couldn’t pioneer the path or break through the enemies blocking the way, but they could follow the path that heroes had cleared. Their role was to ensure that the path opened by transcendents didn’t close again.

They were the rear guard.

They could only move once the transcendents in the vanguard had opened the path.

Amidst the tension.

The continent’s transcendents began to move one by one.

Thousand Sword Star, Charon.

Heavenly Killing Star, Juel Lazian.

Extreme Night Star, The Sacred Host.

The constellations of the Sword Order, the Holy Blood Order, and the Sacred Body Order.

First Horn, Gerd Izabalt.

Eternal Radiance Horn, Safria Gachefsga.

Pure Horn, Loren Aresche.

The constellations belonging to the Empire.

Following them, a few remaining transcendents on the continent began to walk at the forefront. And at the very front was none other than Najin. Leading the way, Najin thrust down the Cross Star Spear. With a boom, the ground shook.

The vanguard of the vanguard.

Najin stands at the very front.

As everyone held their breath at the boundary, Najin alone began walking towards the Outer Continent. As Najin stepped across the boundary into the Outer Continent:

With a tap of his foot.

The clear blue sky that had stretched over the continent was nowhere to be seen. Only a shattered sky, a pitch-black night sky stretched to the horizon. This was the familiar landscape of the Outer Continent for Najin now.

And the countless stars embedded in that night sky.

The eyes of countless transcendents.

The countless starlight they created.

All of it poured down on Najin in an instant. He felt their gazes. The entire world was watching him. This is not just a metaphorical expression. Transcendents, each possessing their own world, were watching Najin.

Silence, an ominous silence that seemed about to shatter at any moment.

The calm before the storm.

About 10 seconds passed like this.

For ordinary people, it’s just a brief moment, but for transcendents, it’s a long time. It’s more than enough time to make a decision.

Crack.

Suddenly, without warning, the sky tore open. Beyond the sky, which was torn as if a giant beast had opened its maw, stars poured down. One, two, three, dozens, hundreds of stars descended. All for a single purpose.

Kill Arthur’s heir.

Bury that terrible light.

This might not have happened on the continent, but this was the Outer Continent. Even at the cost of losses, they descended to kill Najin. Najin realized that the hole in the sky above had been opened by the Empress of Bliss.

Stars that hate Arthur.

Fallen stars, stars that had become the dead, reversed stars, and clowns including witches—countless stars descended all at once. The dark sky of the Outer Continent shone as bright as day with the light created by the stars.

However, not all descending stars are Najin’s enemies.

Stars of old heroes, stars indebted to the Round Table, stars still shining for humanity, stars ready to sacrifice anything to kill demons—they poured down one after another.

The Outer Continent is a battlefield of stars.

Standing on the battlefield where dozens, hundreds of transcendents would descend, Najin raised Excalibur.

A light so intense it could devour all other lights.

Platinum-colored starlight flooded. As that light stimulated and guided the constellations, heating up the battlefield:

Flinch.

All stars stopped at once. Stars attempting to descend suddenly looked behind them.

……

A sound was heard. The faint sound became clearer. Beyond the torn sky, a beast was crying.

Buooo……

A strange cry. Rather than a beast’s cry, it was more like a sound created by nature, like water vibrating, echoing across the battlefield. The stars attempting to descend paused in silence. They all knew.

It’s coming.

Buooooooooooo……

It’s coming, the mad star.

————————————————!

Noises overlapped. Echoes upon echoes. A vibration-like resonance that could no longer be expressed in letters swept across the battlefield. Beyond the torn sky, something with enormous mass appeared.

The oldest whale.

The mother of all whales.

A whale larger than the Empire’s capital appeared beyond the broken sky. Immediately after, the whale leaped back into the sky. As if the night sky were an ocean, the whale began swimming through the sky.

For the whale, the sky is an ocean.

For the Heavenly Swimming Star, the sky is both its playground and an endless sea. An infinite ocean to sail endlessly.

The star of the Heavenly Swimming Star shone.

He unfolded his stage.

【Did you say there’s no more sea to swim in, friend!】

【Isn’t it right there above the sky?】

【During the day, it’s the blue sea, bluer than anything else, but at night, it’s the dark sea that turns black!】

The sky rippled. Each time the whale swam through the sky, the night sky was shaken and rippled like waves. Stars caught in the waves were silently swallowed by the dark sea.

【Let’s go, to the sky!】

The night sky transformed into the Heavenly Swimming Star’s stage.

……Though fallen now, the Heavenly Swimming Star was once a constellation with 10 stars.

The moment he unfolded his stage, Najin could understand. The Heavenly Swimming Star they had encountered on their way to La Mancha had pursued them in a playful mood.

Then what about now?

It was different.

The Heavenly Swimming Star had not appeared here for play or to swallow food.

“The Heavenly Swimming Star admired Arthur.”

“The Heavenly Swimming Star, Icarus, was originally an adventurer who wanted to become like Arthur. He was also an explorer.”

“He enjoyed the adventure stories he heard from Arthur.”

“He hoped he could have adventures like Arthur.”

A being who became a transcendent more than 900 years ago, the greatest navigator who migrated tens of thousands of whales to the sky.

“Even though he forgot himself.”

“He wants to reach Arthur’s star.”

“Because that’s Icarus’s first wish.”

The Heavenly Swimming Star, Icarus, is drawn to the starlight created by Excalibur. The ill-fated star, who wanted to reach Arthur but ultimately fell without reaching him, is still dreaming.

Tens of thousands, now hundreds of thousands of whales.

Whales, now several times larger through the stage, all plunged towards Najin at once.

To reach the star.

To reach Arthur, whom they couldn’t reach.