episode_0030

Hmmmm

A tremendous amount of light poured out from the sword, enveloping the surroundings.

“Urgh!”

Virisus’s vision was momentarily blocked.

As his sight returned, he found himself standing straight with the sword in his hand.

“…This is serious. Could it be the awakened one of the holy sword?”

The demons looked at Virisus with a wary gaze.

“The prophesied adversary of the Demon King, a hero. We intended to destroy the holy sword to prevent the birth of that hero. But to think the suitable one would be here… No, it can’t be.”

The demon’s eyes gleamed slightly.

“Even if he’s suitable, it doesn’t mean he can immediately accept the power of the holy sword and become a hero. Judging by the very weak total amount of power felt, he is still a feeble human who has not yet crossed the threshold. If we eliminate him here, we can prevent the birth of the hero.”

Six demon orbs were created above the demon’s head.

“Kill the hero here!”

Swish!

The demon orbs aimed at Virisus and were shot.

The sensation of death piercing Virisus’s back.

It was an attack of destruction darker and denser than any magic Virisus had seen before, but he did not feel fear.

Virisus simply infused strength into the sword as his body moved.

Zing!

With a sacred light, a thrust sprang forth from the sword.

Kwahng!

The sword energy released from the holy sword cut through all the demon orbs.

“What… just happened?”

The demons were bewildered at the sight.

“My sincerely launched demon orbs…!”

Meanwhile, Virisus could not control the overflowing power within his body.

Simply holding the holy sword invigorated Virisus’s body.

“This much power… Is this sword truly the holy sword?”

Virisus looked down at the sword in his hand.

The old, worn-out sword that seemed like it could have been found in a junk shop until a little while ago had now transformed into a splendid, shining sword.

“With this power… I can do it.”

When he first encountered the demons, Verus was overwhelmed by their presence. But as he held the holy sword, he felt an omnipotence that could overcome anything.

“It can’t be helped! I, Mo Chil, the Fourth Corps Commander, swear to eliminate you here!”

The demon spread its wings and flew into the sky.

“Albahyr Machi Prahii!”

Kwoong

The demon temporarily released all of its sealed power to conceal its existence. Although it was certain that reinforcements would come if it released all its power within the academy, it had to eliminate the dangerous hero here, even at the risk of sacrificing itself.

Zing

Numerous mana formations emerged behind him and extended on both sides.

Hundreds of mana formations filled the sky.

“…That’s quite a lot.”

Verus, who was engulfed in confidence, stiffened at the sight of an unreasonable number of mana formations.

Woong

At that moment, the holy sword trembled.

“Hmm?”

It was as if the holy sword was communicating something to him.

As if saying that it could be enough if they were together.

“Disappear, hero!”

As the demon reached out its hand, the sky was filled with mana formations pouring down on Verus.

Thud

Verus stretched one leg forward and extended the hand holding the sword backward.

“Hoo…”

A brilliant radiance emanated from his hand.

“Haaa!”

As the mana formations engulfed Verus, he swung the sword.

Kwagwagwa

A sacred sword formation of immense size emerged from his sword, unlike the one he had just wielded.

“This, this is!”

The formation swallowed all the mana formations and flew towards the demon in the sky.

“No, no!”

Kwaang

It even swallowed the demon corps commander.

The pitch-black night sky was filled with a sacred light.

Plop

Exhausted, Verus slumped down.

“A high-level demon… and a demon corps commander at that.”

The top demons leading the demon army.

Each one of them was known to be a Sword Master of the continent or possessed even greater power.

“I, who don’t even know how to use sword energy, defeated the demon army commander?”

Ves nodded as he continued to gaze at the Holy Sword emitting a bright light from his hand.

“The Holy Sword…”

Rumble

The Holy Sword seemed to tremble as if in response to him.

A massive strike that covered the sky.

No matter how much of a Sword Master one might be, they wouldn’t be able to produce such a strike.

Ves realized just how immense an amount of power the Holy Sword had granted him.

Thud

At that moment, a girl fell from the sky in front of Ves.

“Hmm? I felt the aura of demons.”

“Director Beatrice?”

It was none other than Beatrice, the head of the Richter Academy.

“A student? Ah, a student from the leadership group, I suppose.”

“I’m Ves Crangiel!”

“Hmm, right. I felt the aura of demons around here. Do you happen to know anything about it? …No, more importantly, what is that black sword in the student’s hand? Could it be…”

“Ahaha…”

Ves felt perplexed about where to start explaining.

“I see. Defeating the demon army commander with the Holy Sword…”

“T-That’s right, Director. It may be hard to believe, but that guy…”

“No, I believe it.”

“Huh?”

“If someone can break through the barrier I maintain and enter, they must be either a demon army commander or the Demon King. Furthermore, the aura of demons I briefly sensed was also so immense that it could only be that of the 4th army commander, Mochil. And…”

Beatrice turned her gaze to the sword Ves was holding.

“The Holy Sword. Ha. This has become quite complicated, or should I say, intricate.”

Beatrice sighed.

“The Holy Sword was originally a spiritual being that was carefully kept at the academy according to the prophecy to defeat the Demon King. Currently, secret tests are being conducted to select the warrior who will become the rightful owner of the sword in order to defeat the Demon King.”

“Ah!”

The Demon King probably tried to intercept the Holy Sword in the middle to prevent the birth of a hero. If that had happened, they could have eliminated the greatest enemy of the Demon King, the hero, before their birth.

“Is that so? That was a very dangerous situation.”

“But ironically, their actions ended up bringing about the birth of the hero. Is this the irony of prophecy?”

“Huh? The birth of a hero?”

“Yes. Congratulations on becoming a hero, Virth Grangeneul.”

Beatrice said, folding her plump arms.

“W-what are you talking about, Chief? Me, a hero?”

“The imprint of the Holy Sword is permanent. If someone has succeeded in imprinting the Holy Sword, it will not allow anyone else to wield it until the user dies.”

Hearing Beatrice’s words, Virth quickly looked down at the Holy Sword in his hand.

Hmmm

The Holy Sword seemed to resonate as if affirming what was said.

“Th-that means…”

“Yes. It means no one can use the Holy Sword until you die.”

“Me, a hero?”

Virth imagined himself holding the Holy Sword and standing in front of the vast army of demons on the battlefield.

“Can’t I just… not do it?”

“If you give up being a hero, it will be difficult for you to survive. Humanity needs heroes, and heroes need ownerless Holy Swords.”

“Ah. So if I don’t become a hero, I’ll die.”

Virth despaired.

“But there’s nothing to worry about. Succeeding in imprinting the Holy Sword means you were chosen by the Holy Sword or you had the destiny or talent to become a hero from the start. You are probably the hero mentioned in the prophecy. I’m at a loss for how to explain this to the Pope.”

Prophecy, Pope, and all that crap. I feel screwed.

“We entrust our humanity to you, new hero.”

Beatrice reached out her short arm to Virth, looking up at him.

Pat

A familiar ceiling that seemed to be seen after a long time.

Viceus had returned to his room before he knew it.

“A hero….”

Come to think of it, was I a hero in Sophia’s world?

Obtaining the Holy Sword in that way made him a hero.

Viceus felt like he had learned a little more about his former self as a hero.

“Holy Sword.”

Viceus recalled the sensation of the artifact he had used a little while ago.

The ultimate sword that bestowed omnipotent power just by grasping it.

In his previous dream, Viceus had been so overwhelmed by the strength of his own body that he had become fixated on that power. But this time, the memory of the sword was so vivid because of how much stronger he became with the Holy Sword.

Woong

And then.

“Huh?”

A brilliantly shining sword sprang into his hand from the empty air.