Ch.33Sword Saint – 5

The situation with the former Royal Guard Captain, ‘Karna,’ whom the Sword Saint introduced as his first disciple, was as follows.

While his talent was exceptional enough for the Sword Saint to accept him as a disciple, the problem was that Karna had too fragile a personality to bear the weight of his name.

Karna was crushed under the burden of being the Sword Saint’s first disciple and the pressure of his master’s attention. Even if he desperately pretended to be fine in front of others, he suffered greatly when alone.

In the midst of this, the final blow came when he accidentally killed human hostages while dealing with demons who had invaded imperial territory.

Tormented by the fact that he had killed innocent humans and worried that it would tarnish the Sword Saint’s name, Karna was eventually consumed by his karma and transformed into a murderous ghost right before his master’s eyes.

“…If only he had endured a little longer.”

Sadly, Karna’s instinctive action had been correct. Those humans had already been brainwashed by the demons long before. The truth was revealed only after Karna had already transformed into a murderous ghost.

It was fortunate that the transformation took place in the Royal Guard’s training ground, that he was unarmed, and that the Sword Saint was nearby.

“He was the only murderous ghost we were able to capture alive.”

Considering that most transformations happen on the battlefield with weapons in hand, making capture impossible and leaving execution as the only option, he was truly lucky to be captured alive.

Though whether he himself would see it that way was another matter.

In any case, as the only murderous ghost ever captured by the Empire, Karna was imprisoned in the underground dungeon of the imperial palace and subjected to all kinds of biological experiments in search of a way to return him to human form.

They invited several high priests from the Starlight Order with enormous sums of money to bestow blessings, beat him to within an inch of his life, or conversely, ignored him completely for a while—countless experiments were conducted.

“…And they all ended in failure.”

But Karna remained a murderous ghost, never returning to his senses despite all the experiments. Eventually, the Empire began to consider giving up on him and disposing of him.

“It’s regrettable that I must bid farewell to my first disciple like this… but I must do my duty as the Sword Saint. I cannot keep him caged by mere sentimentality…”

The Sword Saint looked at Karna with a complicated expression. The corners of his mouth, which had never lifted since coming to the dungeon, sank even lower.

‘Well, I suppose it’s bitter from his perspective.’

To be honest, my reaction was closer to “how unfortunate that such a thing happened,” but I could somewhat empathize. I’d lost quite a few comrades myself.

But I couldn’t feel much more sorrow than that because my impression of the Sword Saint wasn’t particularly good.

Our first meeting had been a disaster, and although I’d received apologies and compensation afterward, that didn’t erase the first impression of him exuding killing intent right off the bat. There was also the matter of him suddenly visiting me last night.

Moreover, setting aside the Sword Saint’s peculiar interest in me, we had only met for the first time last Saturday and had effectively only seen each other for four days.

It wasn’t that I was emotionally barren; we simply weren’t close enough on a physical level.

‘The Sword Saint had reason to be wary.’

Of course, I understood why the Sword Saint had directed killing intent at me from our first meeting.

Having experienced the precedent with Karna, he probably didn’t want Brunhilde to go through the same experience. Even if it meant being criticized for his actions.

Though I do think he should have called me aside first, asked for my understanding, and then attempted it after informing me.

“GRAAAAAAHHH!”

Karna began to drool again, rattling his chains and going berserk. The handcuffs on his wrists dug into his skin, tearing it. Bright red blood flowed from where the cuffs met his skin.

“He’s like this because he’s been smelling humans for too long. I think we should leave soon. I’ll just give him a quick healing potion before we go. Would you like to come up with me?”

“I’ll stay here.”

“Very well. Do as you wish. Be careful not to provoke him too much.”

The Sword Saint made eye contact with Karna one last time before disappearing into the far end of the underground prison. After confirming that the Sword Saint’s footsteps could no longer be heard, I carefully surveyed the surroundings.

All the defensive magic installed was designed only for Karna’s potential escape, and the chains had no magical enhancements. This meant there was no issue with intrusion from outside.

‘Haaah…’

I took a small breath inwardly. What I was about to do required considerable resolve, even for someone like me. Whether I succeeded or failed, if the Sword Saint caught me in this situation, it wouldn’t end with just a scolding or two.

Using magic, I turned my body into mist form and passed through the iron bars. As the human scent drew closer, the murderous ghost’s struggles naturally intensified.

‘I can’t just leave without trying.’

I might never encounter another murderous ghost. I needed to resolve my curiosity here if possible.

Honestly, I didn’t think I would transform like that regardless of how much karma accumulated in my soul. I had remained perfectly fine despite killing so many in my previous world.

But knowing such a concept existed in this world, I couldn’t leave myself unprepared. There was still that slim possibility. Becoming like that was absolutely out of the question.

‘If it’s possible…’

Then I wouldn’t need to worry about karma accumulating or not. I would just need to store one spell in a magic tool as a precaution.

A spell that removes status ailments.

‘It probably won’t work anyway.’

I decided to experiment without much expectation. Even to me, it seemed impossible.

If the transformation was caused by karma accumulated in the soul, how could a mere status ailment removal spell fix it?

Of course, once learned, it was an extremely useful spell that was considered essential for any high-level mage in the other world who could use top-tier magic.

“GRAAAAH! GR, ACK?!”

“There, quiet.”

I approached Karna, who was struggling to bite me with his teeth, and gently pressed his head down with my left hand. I examined the chains binding his body. There were no signs of them breaking yet.

“Grrrr… grrrrrr…”

Unable to overcome the pressure of my hand, Karna could only emit half-muffled howls with his head bowed awkwardly. Keeping his head firmly pressed down with my left hand, I used my other hand to cast the spell.

Like healing magic, this was something that didn’t exist in this world—a spell that would make the Mage Association’s eyes roll back in their heads as they rushed to discover its secrets.

After completing the incantation formed purely in thought, a light closer to mint green than the characteristic green of healing magic enveloped Karna’s body. His head dropped down abruptly.

“…”

Suddenly, I had an ominous feeling.

The howling had stopped, and so had the struggling. The monster that had been desperate to devour me just moments ago was now completely limp.

“…Ugh.”

‘What the hell?’

As soon as a distinctly human voice, though cracked and hoarse, emerged from beneath the matted silver hair, a chill ran down my spine.

This had definitely worked. I was certain of it.

‘But wasn’t it supposed to be karma accumulated in the soul?’

How could a status ailment removal spell fix that—

‘Wait a minute.’

I tried to recall memories from well over a decade ago.

The status ailment removal spell actually had a different true name. The creator of the spell had peculiar beliefs, so they concealed the true name and announced it under a different title.

Both names were ridiculously long in the language of that world, so I had just casually listened with one ear and let it go out the other, continuing to use the common name. But what had that guy who discovered the truth explained?

I desperately tried to recall memories from over a decade ago, and finally succeeded.

A spell born from the hands of a mage who believed that the human soul is perfect and can never be corrupted or fallen—a spell that purifies corrupted and fallen souls.

‘Soul Purification…’

As soon as I recalled this fact, the strength drained from my arms. Karna’s head slowly rose.

“Captain Dorothy!”

—BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!

Late at night, Dorothy, who had been organizing documents, looked up at the sound of someone pounding on the door and calling her name with all their might. It was an exceptionally urgent knocking.

“Come in.”

As soon as permission was granted, the door was roughly flung open. Someone tumbled in. It was the Vice-Captain. His hair, which reached down to his waist, was completely disheveled, and his armor looked hastily thrown on.

Normally, she would have reprimanded him for not maintaining the dignity of the Royal Guard, but seeing how urgent the situation seemed, she decided to let it pass. Dorothy put down her pen.

“What’s the matter? At this late hour?”

“I, I…! The former Royal Guard Captain…!”

“Calm down first and speak slowly. What about him? Has he passed away?”

Dorothy was certainly aware of the former Royal Guard Captain Karna. And why he had ended up in his current state.

But mentioning that fact was practically taboo. A Royal Guard being consumed by karma and transforming into a murderous ghost—it was the perfect subject to break morale.

After panting for a while despite Dorothy’s instruction to calm down, the Vice-Captain finally managed to speak.

“He has returned to his senses, they say.”

“…!!!!!!”

She couldn’t remember much after that. All she knew was that she had rushed out of the room and somehow found herself at the underground prison.

Inside, most of the Royal Guards who had heard the news had already gathered. The knights who had been staring blankly through the iron bars recognized Dorothy and parted to make way.

She slowly moved forward. Through the thick iron bars, she could see the Sword Saint. He was tightly embracing Karna, with his dirty silver hair and dried blood caked all over him.

Karna, sobbing in the Sword Saint’s arms, looked nothing like a murderous ghost at first glance.

‘…How?’

As Dorothy stared at the scene with disbelieving eyes, she caught sight of an incongruous presence. A boy standing near the corner of the prison.

The boy wore a half-anxious expression.