Ch.291The Path Le█████ To The St███ (1)

# Sword Master of Ruin, Kirhov.

Let’s talk about his homeland, the Kingdom of Rondinell.

Rondinell, a nation that perished some 300 years ago. Not many records about Rondinell remain at present. Only brief information exists—that it was a nation situated near the border of the Outer Continent, and that it has now been swallowed by the Outer Continent.

But Kirhov spoke:

“It feels strange for me to say this as someone from Rondinell, but Rondinell was once a nation with power comparable to the Empire.”

He said Rondinell was by no means a weak nation.

That it was a powerful country rivaling the Empire.

Najin didn’t question this account. Not only was Kirhov himself standing before her, but The Blue Spear whom she had encountered in the desert was also a transcendent from Rondinell.

Moreover, considering the existence of the Golden Spear and the Red Spear, who were said to possess strength similar to The Blue Spear… Rondinell had at least three transcendents at that time.

‘Add Kirhov and that makes four.’

In an era where transcendents equated to national power, Rondinell certainly deserved to be called a powerful nation rivaling the Empire.

“If the Empire became the center of humanity on the continent and suppressed chaos, Rondinell served as a sort of margrave.”

If the continent were viewed as one massive nation, Rondinell was its margrave. The border of humanity, the shield of mankind that monitored movements at the boundary of the Outer Continent and intercepted enemies.

“A nation of such stature disappeared without a trace in a single night. Leaving behind only the fact that three constellations were involved in its destruction.”

Kirhov laughed bitterly.

“My memory isn’t complete either. Only fragments of memories swirled in my head. At least until very recently.”

He pointed at Najin.

“But seeing you, seeing the Empire raising its army, memories began to surface faintly. Perhaps it’s because the Empress of Bliss’s influence has weakened. Or maybe because that damned demon can no longer hide and has been dragged out into the open.”

Whatever the reason, Kirhov nodded.

“On the day when three constellations descended upon Rondinell, Rondinell sensed its doom. We realized that no matter what we did, we couldn’t avoid destruction.”

The Empress of Bliss, the Constellation of Oblivion, and Lancelot.

Constellations with 8, unknown, and 11 stars respectively at that time had intervened in the battlefield.

“Do you despair in the face of destruction, or do you try to leave something behind from that destruction? The last monarch of Rondinell was the type who, even in death, would spit once more at the enemy and raise their middle finger one last time.”

They were magnificent.

Kirhov muttered this with a smile.

“Just like what you all are doing now…”

Kirhov looked at the Imperial soldiers outside the tent and sighed.

“Rondinell also tried to forge the will of all its citizens into a single sword to wound the transcendents.”

“……”

“And, well, you know what happened after that.”

He shrugged.

“We failed. Miserably. I don’t know exactly what happened. Even that seems to have been erased from my memory. Just…”

“Just?”

“When the plan failed, the monarch, and The Blue Spear made a decision. To transfer the ‘concept’ of the nation of Rondinell to a single human.”

Kirhov opened his hand.

On his palm, only a single star shone. It was the only star Kirhov possessed, yet it emitted a light as if many stars had gathered together.

“Would you like to see it closely?”

Kirhov extended his hand to Najin. And when she saw the star up close, she finally realized.

“It’s not just one.”

It wasn’t a single star. It was a star reminiscent of the blue hydrangea, said to be Rondinell’s national flower. Just as tiny flowers come together to form a single bloom… Kirhov’s star was an aggregate of hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of starlight bound together.

“What’s the name of the star?”

“Collective Star.”

A name attached to his star that he had never shared with anyone. And a constellation name that even Kirhov himself had forgotten until recently.

“A single star created by collecting all the wills of Rondinell.”

Knights with stars and transcendents willingly offered their stars to Kirhov. Citizens prayed while looking at the rising star until the moment they turned to ashes. It was a star created in exchange for the lives of millions of humans.

“Why am I remembering this at this point?”

Looking at his star, Kirhov posed a question to himself. It wasn’t a question seeking an answer from someone else.

“Probably because this is the moment I need to step up.”

Self-questioning and self-answering. As he answered the question he had posed to himself, Kirhov clenched the star tightly.

“It’s time to announce that Rondinell still stands.”

2.

Kirhov traced his recalled memories and provided additional information, based on which Najin and the Imperial commanders modified their strategy.

“Ah, what about the Constellation of Oblivion and Lancelot? It seems like there’s no countermeasure for those two.”

Two constellations closely related to the Empress of Bliss.

When Kirhov mentioned them, the gazes of the commanders and others gathered in the tent naturally turned to Najin. More precisely, to Merlin sitting beside Najin.

“There’s no need to worry about that.”

Merlin said to Kirhov, who blinked his eyes.

“Lancelot cannot move. Absolutely not.”

If someone else had said such a thing, they might have been asked how they could be so certain, but the speaker was Merlin. The great magician of the Round Table and the one who knew those who belonged to the Round Table best. Words from such a being required no additional evidence.

“If the great magician of the Round Table says so… then what about the Constellation of Oblivion?”

“It has no reason to move.”

Merlin answered briefly.

“The reason the Star of Oblivion moves is simple. When someone tries to approach its true form, or when someone gets close to its identity. At least, none of you seem to fall into that category.”

Kirhov’s expression hardened, but he didn’t ask any further questions. It seemed he was postponing questions about this for later.

“Whether it’s Lancelot or the Star of Oblivion, they won’t move unless we approach them first.”

It meant they only needed to focus on the Empress of Bliss right in front of them. As the meeting that had been going on for a while was coming to an end, Najin went outside the tent to catch her breath.

Sitting on a slightly elevated spot, Najin looked down.

Numerous knights were moving between tents. Najin silently watched as magicians and the Empire’s main forces moved busily.

‘Rondinell failed.’

Of course, the situation of Rondinell then and now couldn’t be said to be the same. The number of transcendents joining the battlefield was different, and they had Najin wielding Excalibur, not to mention Merlin’s knowledge to borrow.

Smooth. Everything was going smoothly.

But for some reason, Najin couldn’t shake off an ominous feeling. A sense that she was missing something. Najin narrowed her eyes and looked up at the sky.

The Star of Bliss shining in various colors.

What was she missing, what was she overlooking? Najin took a deep breath and checked herself. There was nothing wrong with being cautious.

‘Wait.’

Najin’s pupils narrowed. Come to think of it, she hadn’t been questioning something so obvious, something she should have been suspicious of. Lighthouse, the land of the Abyss, Attman, deal, as the words pieced together, Najin—.

You do not suspect anything.

Najin.

What is natural flows naturally. The plan is going well. Everything is proceeding according to your plan.

Blink.

There is nothing strange. Perhaps, aren’t you being too suspicious? You are the wielder of Excalibur, and by your side is the great magician Merlin. Who could prepare against someone like you?

Something.

Your plan is ‘perfect’! Pursuing perfection upon perfection is a good habit. But excessive suspicion will only slow your steps.

Wrong, strange, discomfort.

Nothing is wrong. Nothing is strange. As for discomfort, well, there is none.

……

Blink, Najin closed and opened her eyes. As Najin slowly tilted her head, Merlin spoke to her.

“What’s wrong? Is there something strange?”

Najin shook her head.

“No. It’s not good to hesitate too much here either. We should push forward while the Empress of Bliss is caught off guard.”

There was nothing strange.

Too much suspicion wasn’t good either.

Yes, that’s right. Now, what will you do?

Head to the Empress of Bliss’s domain. Kill the Empress of Bliss. With a long way to go, it was right to move as quickly as possible.

Indeed, an excellent choice.

3.

You march towards the domain of the Empress of Bliss.

By your side are trustworthy companions. Imperial knights, magicians from the magic tower, renowned mercenary groups and knightly orders. All of them have gathered under your banner, heroes of reversal who would gladly sacrifice their lives for you!

Is that all?

My goodness, even the pillars of the Empire are with you. The Empire’s First Horn Gerd Izabalt, Master of the Platinum Tower Seal of Eternal Beauty Safria Gachefsga, Seal of Purity Loren Ares. A force capable of easily destroying a nation or two.

And even the constellations of the Order.

My goodness.

Whoever your opponent is, they must be trembling in fear. They must be flustered. Your plan has fit perfectly. Leading such a force in a surprise attack, victory is a foregone conclusion.

“……”

You look around.

It’s quiet.

Yes, it’s quiet. Do you suspect this deathly silent environment?

Najin was suspicious of this environment.

You do not suspect.

Najin blinked. There was nothing strange.

You march forward. As you advance, you recall what has happened so far. Come to think of it, since entering the Outer Continent, you’ve been constantly entangled with her.

The Empress of Bliss.

That damned demon is an entity that cannot coexist with you. If your story were a play, she would definitely be the one to mark its climax. She is your archenemy! Your nemesis.

Your life.

Is moving in a straight line towards her.

“Aaaaaaargh!”

“My arm, my arm!”

“I can’t hear anything!”

“Where, where am I? I can’t see anything! I can’t, I can’t see ahead!”

Your eyes are fixed on her.

Your ears hear only her voice.

“Please, please spare me. I can’t move…”

“Laughter!”

“Laugh, laugh, ha, hahahahaha!”

“Ha, hahahahaha!”

Ah, there’s laughter too. Adventures accompanied by laughter are enjoyable. Creating stories worth laughing and talking about is important.

Laughing, yes! Laughing.

That’s the star you possess.

“Hahahahaha!”

“Ahah, hahahahahahaha!”

Still, such laughter doesn’t seem to fit well with such a serious journey. That’s what you think.

“……”

“……”

“……”

Eventually, the sounds disappear and you become calm.

Najin looked back.

Looking back, it seems the numbers have decreased a bit. But again, there’s nothing strange about it. The plan was to split up and march, after all. Everything is going according to plan.

There is nothing strange.

Nothing is strange.

Everything is going smoothly.

You advance towards the domain of the Empress of Bliss.