Ch.96Transformation (4)

Warriors who have honed themselves say:

A single strike, where each gives their all and clashes to determine victory or defeat, is the end they most desire. Yet, at the same time, warriors understand.

Such an end is rarely granted.

Duels, battles, fights to the death—they typically follow this pattern. When there’s a difference in strength, the exchange of all-out strikes cannot occur in the first place, and even between equal opponents, the situation doesn’t change much.

Psychological warfare, techniques, traps, minor mistakes.

These determine winners and losers, the living and the dead. It’s amusing. So many fights end before one can use all the skills honed over a lifetime. Victory and defeat are decided by the most trivial things.

Therefore, crossing all-out strikes to determine an outcome is something that belongs in heroic tales. Reality is not so accommodating.

But at this moment.

Right now, it has become reality.

“Ah,” Klaus Aten sighed. Executing his full-power lance charge, he felt a thrill run through his entire body. As he took one step forward, the swordsman opposite him also took a step.

They were charging at each other.

There was no pretense in their charge. No concession, no compromise, no retreat. Only full power! Only a charge with all one’s might and a strike with all one’s strength existed in this place.

What a beautiful sight.

As a knight, as a warrior, this was the ultimate conclusion.

‘Come, come as much as you want!’

The Blue Wing Commander, Vanguard Klaus Aten, burst into laughter. Because of this one swordsman, his final charge in life could be this beautiful.

Swish!

And so, a cavalryman thrust his spear. Tearing through air and cutting through wind, the spear advanced. Facing the straight-advancing spear was a sword wielded by a swordsman. The longsword wrapped in constellations neither aimed for the side of the spear nor struck downward.

Without retreating, from the front.

The tip of the spear thrusting in a straight line.

Simply, with all his might, he received it.

Because it was the sword of Atanga. Because it was the praise and respect that an Atanga knight showed to a worthy opponent he acknowledged. Najin’s longsword wrapped in constellations was swung horizontally. When the blade and spear tip collided, light burst in all directions.

Kagagagagagak!

The aura containing the imagery of a cavalryman charging across the battlefield collided with the sword energy containing the imagery of stars rising in the underground city. At the moment of collision, a cluster of stars burst forth. The swirling aura made the air vibrate.

In an instant, less than a second, dozens of collisions occurred. It was a collision created not by blades against blades, but by aura against sword energy. The skin of Klaus and Najin tore from the bursting aftermath. Blood splattered.

Chwak!

Through the splashing blood, the sword and spear advanced. Aura and sword energy tore at each other. As if they were hindrances to the clash of spear and sword. Finally, for a moment, the aura and sword energy were stripped from the blades.

In that instant when the stripped parts were about to be filled again.

In that moment that divided an instant into another instant.

Bypassing all hindrances, spear and sword faced each other. That confrontation was brief. And victory and defeat are always determined in an instant.

Kuung———.

The sound of heavy footsteps echoed. In the final moment, Najin took one more step forward. Thus, Najin’s sword advanced one step forward. That determined victory and defeat.

Tick, tidididididik···.

In the slowly flowing scenery, Klaus saw it. The scene of Najin’s blade splitting the spear tip and advancing forward. His beloved weapon that had been with him for a lifetime was meeting its end.

Seoguk.

Najin’s sword drew a complete arc. The longsword that advanced forward, splitting the spear in half, cut Klaus’s hand holding the spear in half. The blade drew its arc first, and constellations scattered following the blade.

Splashing blood. A bisected spear.

Constellations flickering intensely before his eyes.

‘A perfect defeat.’

Feeling the same sentiment as Jerold in his final moment, Klaus burst into laughter. It was a perfect strike beyond compare. The sword of Atanga—destroying the enemy’s full power from the front. Indeed, Klaus monologued, it was swordsmanship befitting only the knight of knights.

If it was the sword of Atanga that would put a period to his life, wouldn’t that be a rather satisfying life?

The scattered constellations exploded. Swept up in the repulsive force, Klaus flew back spitting blood, and eventually crashed into a large tree with a thud. Spewing blood, he closed his eyes.

2.

Blink.

Klaus Aten slowly blinked his eyes.

His body felt heavy. His mind was dull. He should have met death, so is there something after death in this world? If so, would he be headed to heaven or hell? Surely hell…

While he was pondering such deeply philosophical concerns.

“Like this? No, explain it better. I’m not a magician. So…”

A voice lingered in his ears.

It was too sharp to be an angel’s voice, and didn’t seem evil enough to be a demon’s. Above all, it was a familiar voice. Ugh, groaning, he blinked his eyes.

“Ah, it worked.”

Chiiiiiiik! The sound of flesh burning.

Even through the dull sensation, Klaus clearly felt the pain and opened his eyes wide. His mouth gaped open and a scream burst forth.

“Kuaaaaaaak!”

“Oh, is this right? Is it supposed to hurt? Hmm…”

Pain that made him open his eyes wide.

With a mind that cleared in an instant, Klaus looked ahead. There was Najin looking down at him. As if talking to someone, Najin, who had been muttering to himself, blinked when he saw Klaus open his eyes.

“Oh, are you coming to your senses?”

“What are you doing…?”

“Nothing much, just doing what needed to be done.”

Najin tapped his nape.

“You know the brand on your neck? If we leave it alone, it’ll explode, right? I’ve seen quite a lot of people’s bodies explode, but it’s not exactly a pleasant sight.”

Brand? Could it be the one the Order placed?

Klaus hurriedly felt his neck. The brand that should have been there couldn’t be felt.

“How?”

“The greatest archmage and alchemist who has mastered all things helped… that’s what I’m supposed to say. I just got help from someone quite extraordinary.”

Najin waved a potion bottle in front of Klaus. It was a potion made with Merlin’s knowledge and Dieta’s support.

“It makes the brand think you’re ‘dead’ and ‘imagine’ it has activated… that’s what they say. The Order will now think you’re dead.”

The words Najin uttered.

Pondering those words, Klaus blinked. It was hard to follow this situation. But he could understand what Najin in front of him was saying.

“Why… did you spare me?”

That boy had chosen to spare him.

The attacker who had attacked him.

Klaus couldn’t understand the reason.

“Because there’s no need to kill you.”

“What…?”

“You were obviously caught by the Order somehow. They might have hostages, or your honor might be at stake… In my eyes, you were disgusted with yourself for being the Order’s hunting dog. Am I wrong?”

Klaus didn’t deny it, and

Najin continued to speak.

“And you failed your mission. The Order thinks you’re dead. If they were holding hostages, they might have decided to kill them. That’s unfortunate. I’m sorry, but I can’t die for them.”

Najin spoke calmly.

“But I can make you an offer.”

“An offer?”

“I’ll give you a chance to take revenge on the Order.”

Revenge.

“I am Najin. Eighteen years old, and today I’ve reached the level of Sword Seeker. How would you rate my skills?”

“That’s a cruel question.”

Klaus smiled bitterly.

“You’re strong. Impossibly so.”

“Yes, and I intend to get stronger.”

“For what purpose?”

“To place a star at the highest point in that night sky. And to bring down the Order.”

Najin grinned.

“I will reach the level of Sword Master. I will become strong enough to bring down the Order single-handedly. Because I must reclaim the honor of my master, the honor of the knight I served, from the Order.”

An absurd goal.

But Klaus, who had received Najin’s sword, couldn’t laugh at that goal. It felt real.

“I will definitely bring down the Order. I will thrust my sword into the heart of High Priest Orlang, who looks down on the world from the top of the lighthouse.”

But, Najin said.

“In that process, I won’t stop anyone from following behind me. If their revenge is justified, I might even be willing to give up one of Orlang’s arms.”

“One arm…”

“Yes, unfortunately, his heart is mine.”

Klaus burst into laughter.

“So you’ll spare me? Me, who tried to kill you, who might have received some offer from the Order?”

“Yes.”

“What do you trust about me?”

“I trust your pride.”

Najin answered, and Klaus was silent for a moment.

“I saw pride in you. I felt the pride of one who wants to remain a knight. That’s something a hunting dog can’t possess. I believe in that.”

And, Najin shrugged.

“Even if I’m wrong, it doesn’t matter. Well, if you want to cling more to the Order, challenge me again. I’ll face you. As many times as you want.”

Najin tapped his sword hilt.

“Though I might not be able to spare you next time.”

“That’s an arrogant attitude, but I can’t call it arrogance. Not after such a miserable defeat.”

Klaus smiled bitterly.

He had been completely defeated. He didn’t think he could win even if he tried again. Smiling like that, Klaus was offered a hand by Najin.

“Make your choice. Whether to die by my sword and meet your end here…”

Or if not that.

“Or choose the path of revenge against the Order.”

Klaus looked at the hand Najin extended.

He had no hostages. Because his comrades were already dead. The reason Klaus had cooperated with the Sacred Light Order was because only they could remove the heretic brand stamped on his comrades.

Because the Sacred Light Order had stamped it.

Even while hating and cursing them, he had no choice but to follow their orders. A mere defeated commander couldn’t bring down the Sacred Light Order.

‘But…’

Klaus looked at the boy in front of him.

Surviving after losing a life-or-death duel is an utterly shameful thing. But even if he had to fall to the depths, there were things he had to achieve.

“Huu…”

After a moment of silence, he exhaled deeply. A bitter smile formed on his lips.

“The victor has the right to show mercy, and the right to make an offer…”

Klaus recited the rules of sacred duels.

Najin continued the next part of those rules.

“And the loser has the obligation to accept it.”

“That’s right. That’s what a duel is.”

“Then?”

“I accept. Gratefully.”

Klaus grabbed Najin’s hand and slowly stood up. Using the potion Najin gave him to stop the bleeding, he exhaled deeply.

“The others?”

“They shouldn’t be dead.”

Najin glanced aside.

There were Jerold, barely breathing, and several Experts.

“Not all of them might agree to my offer. Whether you persuade them or deal with them, do as you wish. I’ll leave it to you.”

“You’re asking me to take on a difficult role.”

“Because you were the strongest.”

Najin said, and Klaus laughed.

“Then I have no choice. I’ll try my best.”

After answering like that, he slowly exhaled.

Regulating his breath, with a body that wouldn’t move well, he raised his arm. An arm with wounds bursting and blood flowing freely. Ignoring the pain, he thumped his heart with his raised arm.

Blood splattered. Through the splashing blood, Klaus’s voice resonated.

“I thank you for elevating a dishonorable ambush into a duel. I thank you for shattering my full power with your full power. I thank you for showing mercy to the loser, for giving me a chance for revenge.”

Thank you.

“I, Klaus Aten, do not forget gratitude.”

He slowly knelt and bowed his head.

“The last Blue Wing cavalryman will answer your call anytime, and on the day your sword points toward the Order, I will charge toward the Order ahead of anyone else. I swear on the honor of my fallen comrades.”

“Unfortunately, I will be at the very front. I cannot give you the role of vanguard.”

“That’s a pity. Then, I’ll follow you one step behind.”

The last Blue Wing cavalryman smiled. Because his spear could be held by someone who knew honor and pride.

3.

“Take those who will join you to this place. The Dieta Company should be able to help.”

Najin handed Klaus several documents along with the potion that erased the brand. Receiving them and listening to the explanation, Klaus stroked his chin.

“There’s one problem.”

“What is it?”

“Those deployed for this mission are hunting dogs like me who don’t have direct connections to the Order. But I doubt that cunning bastard wouldn’t have placed at least one observer.”

Klaus clicked his tongue.

“There will be observers. There’s a high probability that some are watching this situation from afar. They might have already witnessed the process of you joining me. And I’m currently branded as a heretic by the Order. If that’s the case…”

“Interacting with a heretic. They could push it that way. After a forceful attack, religious pressure next?”

“That’s right. That’s more the essence of the Order.”

“Well, I have some thoughts about that…”

Najin smiled wryly.

“This won’t leak to the Order.”

“What? What do you mean…”

“My helper is far more capable, thorough, and frightening than you might think.”

The Snake that Swallows the Gold Coins, Dieta.

The net she had cast doesn’t stop at just this. After all, Roseline Askarlo wasn’t the only mercenary she could employ.

“By now, it’s probably already been taken care of.”

* * *

The observer sent by the Order was nailed to a tree with his limbs cut off. Dangling from the tree, the observer looked ahead with trembling eyes. There was a woman arranging various torture tools.

The woman who had instantly detected and subdued him while he was observing the situation from a distance. The observer knew her name well.

Cambria’s White Horn adventurer.

Former heretic inquisitor, Bashen Korte.

A mercenary under exclusive contract with the Dieta Company.

A figure who extremely despises the Order and has bad blood with High Priest Orlang. She exhaled deeply and glared at the observer. In the twilight forest, her crimson eyes gleamed like those of a beast.

“Seven.”

She said.

“Including you, there were a total of seven observers. I killed four. There’s no need for too many mouths. I was going to leave two for cross-examination…”

Bashen rolled something in her hand.

It was a plucked eyeball and a cut-off mouth.

“They resisted, asking me to kill them instead. So I did. What’s left is one blind man with his eyes plucked out, and you, who’s still somewhat normal.”

The observer felt a chill run down his spine.

Bashen Korte was a heretic inquisitor. It meant she knew dozens, even hundreds of ways to torture people and make them talk.

“Eyes aren’t necessary for talking. Can you read braille? It should be essential for a priest of the Order. Then you don’t need ears either. No need to listen. Ah, but with your arms cut off, that would be difficult.”

Muttering, Bashen approached the observer. Then, grabbing the observer’s hair, she brought her face close. Madness swirled in her beast-like crimson eyes.

“Anyway, you don’t seem to need eyes.”

Bashen reached out her hand.

A scream echoed through the forest.