Ch.5017. It Was Not About Meaningless Swordsmanship.

“Have you seen it?”

I open my eyes.

No, it would be more accurate to say I regained consciousness.

“Huh!”

Being somewhat accustomed to such experiences, Kariel wasn’t as startled as the others.

“W-what was that just now?”

“Was that… Saint Kariel’s… memory?”

“Have you seen it?”

A heavy voice.

Everyone turned toward the source of the sound, but each person seemed to be looking in a different direction.

And for good reason.

The voice was coming from everywhere at once.

There stood dozens of pale, ghostly barbarian warriors who had appeared without warning.

Perhaps even more than that.

They surrounded those inside, staring intently at everyone including Kariel.

Those wearing helmets peered through the gaps in their visors.

Those without helmets glared with fierce eyes set in their bare faces.

“Have you seen it?”

“W-what are you asking if we’ve seen?”

“Wait, do you really think you can have a conversation with ghosts?”

Filvar interjected after Baron Roia spoke.

“Then you… have not seen it?”

“Huh? Wait, you can… hear me?”

Filvar blanched upon facing this reality.

His already pale skin somehow managed to turn even whiter.

“……”

The silence was heavy.

This was no atmosphere for childish antics or wordplay.

“I-I saw it. Of course I did.”

His slumped shoulders looked particularly frail.

“Who are you? I have a general idea, but still.”

Luke asked boldly.

Anyone with a modicum of awareness wouldn’t need to ask, and it was clear he wasn’t seeking confirmation.

Their attire and appearance plainly revealed their identity.

“We were wronged.”

They spoke.

They died meaninglessly.

They fell uselessly.

They perished for absolutely nothing.

That’s what they said.

“We lament.”

If only they had died as befitting warriors.

If only they had died gloriously.

…Surely then, they wouldn’t be bound to this land.

In the eternal battlefield.

Standing on the stage of glory.

They would have been enjoying the honor of being warriors chosen by the gods.

“Why did we not reach that place?”

“Why can we not leave this place?”

“Answer us, people of later times. Why must we rot away so miserably, so meaninglessly?”

One warrior raised his axe.

Another, a massive greatsword.

Yet another, a hammer.

Some aimed spears.

One man was striking his own head with a large shield.

But not one among them was whole.

Some had no eyes.

Some limped on damaged legs.

Some were missing an arm.

One had a split cheek revealing his jaw joint and teeth.

Another was bleeding profusely from his abdomen or neck.

There were at least several dozen such figures.

No explanation was needed.

These were those who had been killed by Saint Kariel.

Warriors defeated in battle.

Alesia, who had been silent until now, stepped forward and asked:

“I believe you have a reason for showing us that memory and appearing before us now. Please tell us. What is it that you want?”

“……”

A long, long silence.

But the hostility in the air was palpable from their demeanor and the pressure they exuded.

They were burning with resentment toward the descendants of Saint Kariel.

Was it grudge? Lingering regret?

Or did they simply need someone to vent their anger upon?

…I don’t know.

However.

Kariel’s gaze turned in one direction.

He was still standing there.

A pale figure.

Precarious, as if he might vanish at any moment.

Just as he appeared in the memory they had witnessed.

No, slightly different.

This must be his appearance after…

After defeating the barbarian warriors.

Only without the blood.

His body was already in tatters.

“Come to think of it… Ruel?”

Alesia turned her gaze toward Kariel as if suddenly remembering something.

“Did you know that name when you chose it? Is that why you used it as an alias for your knight’s journey?”

“……”

Just a strange coincidence.

That a child with the same name as his alias had a connection to Saint Kariel.

When he had given his alias, nothing particular came to mind.

He had thoughtlessly uttered the name Ruel.

Part of his father’s name.

At that time, that was all he could think of.

He had regretted it ever since, but spilled milk cannot be gathered up.

It would be impossible to take it back now.

But in the end, it was just an alias.

There was no spilled milk to begin with.

“Not at all.”

“I see. Well, the name Ruel became quite common thanks to the Knight of Radiance, so I suppose it’s not surprising.”

And thus.

It inevitably comes up.

Filvar added, as if just remembering:

“Speaking of him, didn’t he recently have his second child?”

This too.

Something he had heard in passing while traveling through villages.

He had tried to pretend not to hear it, but…

“Gentlemen. Don’t you think we have more important matters at hand?”

Baron Roia, seriously surveying their surroundings, was anxiously scanning the souls of the warriors surrounding them and the Saint.

“It seems we’ve only managed to reconfirm the human side of our ancestor.”

No, perhaps rather than anxiety, he felt disappointment in the disgraceful behavior of his ancestor that he had witnessed in Saint Kariel’s memory.

Or perhaps…

“But when I think that I might have done the same, I find I cannot blame him.”

“Father…”

Rudhig looked at him with sympathetic eyes.

—BOOM!

Finally.

The silent souls stomped the ground.

Breaking their silence.

“What we desire is a recreation of the battle. The very battlefield of that day! A recreation of that!”

“??”

“We could not even die satisfactorily. If only we had died gloriously here, we would not have been so wretched and miserable.”

“It seems there are circumstances we’re not aware of.”

Filvar whispered to Alesia.

“……”

She observed the situation without revealing her thoughts.

As a Saint, she had both the duty and ability to offer some help to the sorrowful souls of this land.

But what if they were heretics?

There were those who firmly believed heretics should be killed.

But Alesia was not one of them.

‘Even Lady Irenis forgave those who tried to stab her to death.’

If those who claim to be her successors and wish to carry on her will and teachings…

Turn a blind eye to this?

If they’re too busy making excuses about not being divine beings like her, without even trying to remember or follow her teachings.

Is that truly proper conduct?

One might not be able to follow perfectly.

But what reason is there not to even try?

“……”

Alesia had also glimpsed Saint Kariel’s memories.

It was clear from that idiot’s expression that this wasn’t Filvar’s intention.

But regardless, Saint Kariel’s life had given her profound insights.

“If this recreation of battle is impossible, what happens to us?”

She asked.

“Then we will let only one person leave alive.”

A cruel sentence was pronounced.

“And if we refuse?”

“All will die. Only one, whom we choose, will survive. That way, they can spread word of this in the world of the living.”

“N-no! How can this be! What mortal sin have we committed to deserve this?!”

Filvar jumped up and down in protest.

Though they didn’t openly rebel, the Baroness Baronen’s family was also clearly affected by the change in atmosphere.

Luke flexed his wrist and said:

“Let’s all prepare ourselves. After all, we have the Saint with us.”

That’s true, but…

“But everyone, how will you manage without proper equipment?”

“One sword is enough…”

Luke proudly drew his sword, but then trailed off as he realized something important.

That apart from Kariel, none of them were armed.

His face quickly turned red then pale as he realized this.

Even the Saint, who could be their most important asset, was defenseless.

“The Saint is a weapon in herself, even bare-handed, right?”

“…Would you like to die first?”

Crack!

A savage sound like bones breaking emanated from her hand as she clenched her fist.

Startled by this, Filvar also made a fuss, but eventually seemed to steel himself, gesturing to gather his servants, when…

“……”

“Ruel?”

Alesia asked softly.

Kariel seemed distracted, unresponsive.

As she watched him briefly, she naturally turned her gaze to where he was looking.

An empty space.

Yet Kariel was staring intently at that area, as if something were there.

Then he suddenly turned his head.

“We have one more weapon.”

“What?”

Kariel pointed to it with his index finger.

“That.”

“……”

It was.

Just an old straight sword.

The sword said to have been used by Saint Kariel.

And.

Everyone who had glimpsed Saint Kariel’s memories believed this without doubt.

But.

That was just an ancient tale.

“……”

Kariel silently approached and picked up the sword.

Though the blade was worn, the body cracked and rusted.

But thanks to decent preservation, it maintained its overall shape.

“Will that really be alright?”

When Alesia asked, Kariel didn’t reply.

He simply held the old, worn sword.

And took a few deep breaths.

Then, after closing and opening his eyes a few times.

He snorted lightly.

Indeed.

This is no time for hesitation.

“You said you wanted a recreation, to recreate the humiliation of that time, is that right?”

“Hmm…?”

“Ruel?”

Kariel exhaled deeply and said:

“Then what is the end goal? Will you only be satisfied if you win? Or must you suffer an even more miserable defeat than before to be convinced?”

“There is no satisfaction. The only outcome is life or death. So if you can defeat us all, if you can handle us with your skill, all of you living ones will return just as you are.”

“Then, hypothetically speaking.”

Kariel raised his detached gaze.

Scanning the souls once, he asked:

“If I satisfy you, but I myself do not survive, will the others be safe? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Ruel?”

“What are you saying?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! We should be thinking about working together, not making rash statements…”

Kariel shouted:

“Then there’s no need to hesitate! Here! The Kariel you seek is right here!”

He shouted again:

“I am also a fellow student of Saint Kariel! I had the same master! I even have the same name!”

At that.

The souls all began to stare at this one person.

Like a sudden storm with dark clouds descending on a calm sea.

The fighting spirit of the barbarian warriors surrounding the area swept through with the force of a gale and lightning.

It was hard to breathe.

The sensation of being crushed by an invisible pressure was certainly no illusion.

“R-Ruel?”

“What on earth are you saying?”

“Huh? Huh?! Your alias was Ruel, but your real name is Kariel? Is that what you’re saying?”

Kariel didn’t bother to check the reactions of others, nor did he respond to their questions.

He simply waited.

He merely endured.

The souls’ voices echoed:

“A fellow student!”

“So you learned the same swordsmanship as Kariel?”

“Fellow student? Same tribe? Same clan?”

“Perhaps his bloodline? A descendant?”

“He wasn’t a born hero? Not a born warrior?”

“The Saint Kariel who defeated you is now a renowned guardian saint and knight of knights, his name spread widely across the continent. In your terms, he would be a great warrior.”

Warrior.

At that point in time, the term “knight” had not yet spread.

That Illand was called a great warrior.

Kariel remembered this clearly.

“But among the many Kariels, I can assure you that even after a hundred years, even after a thousand years, it would be impossible for you to meet another Kariel like the one you want. Meeting me, who learned the same sword techniques and bears the same name, is your one and only last chance.”

Therefore.

Swear here.

“If you truly swear to fight an honorable battle as warriors, accept my challenge. And regardless of the outcome, let everyone else go safely.”

At that moment.

Though Kariel couldn’t see it.

From somewhere beyond his field of vision.

Someone who had been standing blankly.

Momentarily turned their head toward him.

And stared directly.

Their dull eyes suddenly blazed with light, but.

“Very well!”

Kariel couldn’t know.

He couldn’t even see.

Because.

The souls that captured Kariel’s attention were constantly burning with fighting spirit, looking as if they might charge at him at any moment.

Even now, he felt like his legs might give out if he relaxed even slightly.

Just breathing heavily was all he could manage, but.

Not to be outdone, he glared back with wide eyes.

Even as blood vessels burst and the whites of his eyes turned red.

Kariel didn’t blink once.

Yes.

This much is fine.

This is much better.

This kind of hardship… compared to all the suffering and humiliation at the Institute.

It’s almost laughable.

“Ruel! What are you deciding on your own?!”

Alesia expressed her anger and tried to approach Kariel.

But the large souls blocked her path like a wall.

“Do not interfere.”

“Would you sully a warrior’s spirit?”

“Warrior?! You call that nonsense a warrior?!”

Others also tried to shout and protest in confusion.

But beyond that.

They weren’t given the opportunity.

Once again.

The world collapsed.

As if sinking underwater.

But this time, it wasn’t as long as before.

Just briefly, feeling dizzy from the desolate wind blurring his vision, he blinked once.

And the world had changed.

“……”

There.

Kariel stood holding only a shabby sword.

On a wide-open plain.

Why?

A smile formed involuntarily.

‘In the end.’

To think I’d end up voluntarily revealing my damned name in front of others.

Ridiculously enough.

What concerned Kariel most at that moment.

Was such a trivial matter.

He gripped the sword tightly.

But this was an unfamiliar one-handed sword.

“……”

It doesn’t matter.

What difference does it make?

What does it matter if it’s one-handed or if he can’t hold it with both hands?

He never had talent for swordsmanship to begin with.

This is merely a tool, a means called swordsmanship.

What matters is the heart.

Sincerity.

The will to do it.

The determination to achieve it.

Therefore, he doesn’t forget his mindset.

Hadn’t he heard from the Demon King?

Even in that desperate moment when he was nearly crushed one-sidedly by Elhermina’s overwhelming power.

Even then, he could move forward without hesitation.

And what saved him there.

It wasn’t mere swordsmanship.

What pierced through that thread-thin possibility.

Was merely will and intention.

And what supported this was.

[The reason for achieving that miracle? There could be many factors, but the core would be this.]

Precisely.

[A pure will that transcends desperation and even purity. And what supported it was probably your heart’s resolve.]

That’s what the Demon King said.

And I remembered it all clearly.