episode_0051

000

Sword Saint Talcheck’s swordsmanship is thoroughly practical.

From an orphan’s status, dragged into slavery and sold to the arena.

In the arena, he was just a boy, a role to be sacrificed to stir up the excitement before the main event.

Therefore, neither armor nor shield.

No other weapon was given.

Only a rusty, old sword was given.

He was thrown into a place swarming with wild beasts.

He prolonged his life by taking theirs.

Before he knew it, he had risen to the highest position in the arena.

It was a realm he achieved by carving away at his bones, muscles, and life, to survive as a gladiatorial slave for more than half his life.

The theory was really simple.

Don’t cut where you shouldn’t.

Cut where you must.

That was the very basics of swordsmanship, sword fighting.

But when you consider how many swordsmen shed blood and sweat to do such simple things.

And think about creating their own school, or receiving teachings from others.

Honed dynamic visual acuity and a strong physique.

And a fighting instinct that enjoys the clash of swords deep within the heart.

Everything that moved him.

Brought Talcheck to where he is now.

[One Sword, One Flash, One Character, One Saint]

Did someone leave such lofty words while watching him?

Talcheck snorted.

He doesn’t place great significance on the sword.

In the end, a sword is just something that can cut.

The reason he forgoes a famous sword and uses an old, reddened sword was for that reason.

He doesn’t place great significance on a single swing.

It’s just that there are too many weaklings who can’t withstand the sword he wields.

If they endure one swing, he just needs to cut them twice more next time.

He doesn’t place great significance on himself as a human.

There were plenty of humans stronger than himself, including the Hero Lesia.

The Demon Sword Emperor was like that, and Luti Sionas in her prime was a monster.

Talcheck himself is just a well-packaged killer.

Therefore, even when all these things come together, they are not worth even a handful of dust.

If he were to say it properly, it would be like this.

[No Sword, No Flash, No Character, No Saint]

If there is any value in this life.

It is the fleeting realm that occurs in the moment of colliding with everything in life.

And that fleeting realm continuously connects as lives come and go.

The interval-less (無間) of life and death.

Only his “luck in battle,” which allowed him to experience that realm countless times.

Without keeping his promise with the Hero Lesia.

Talcheck, who left the school and wandered around the kingdom tracing her whereabouts, thought from somewhere deep in his heart.

That he would never escape this worthless life until he died.

“You’re asking me to take care of your child?”

On such a journey, when he accidentally reunited with his old comrade, the Hero, and that holy sword couple, and they asked him this.

Talcheck was so dumbfounded that he spat out the alcohol he was drinking.

First of all.

It was nonsense that a child was born between a human and a sword.

That these two genuinely loved each other.

And that they were entrusting the child they had finally obtained to him was also a problem.

“Why don’t you two raise the kid? Do you think I’m capable of taking care of a child?”

“… …”

Seeing his comrade’s darkened face, Talcheck shut his mouth.

They had lost a lot of power while participating in the kingdom’s experiments to create a child.

And recently, those who participated in the research were dying mysteriously, one by one.

If the research institute was shut down, their child might be disposed of.

In their eyes, he saw both fear and resolve for the impending death.

And they were entrusting their child to the strongest person they knew and could trust.

Of course, Talcheck tried to refuse on the spot.

He said that if they were worried about being killed, he would at least act as their bodyguard.

But the two persistently persuaded Talcheck.

Their very existence was a threat to the child’s life.

If the existence of an incomplete being born between a holy sword and a human became known to radical factions of the Order.

An assassin who could be sensed by the mother, the holy sword, would be sent.

It wasn’t that they doubted Talcheck’s skills, but.

To protect the child’s life, it was better that such a thing didn’t happen at all.

They talked about numerous other dangers as well.

In the end, Talcheck accepted their story, even with a constipated expression.

“Then, Mr. Talcheck. Wouldn’t you like to give our child a name?”

Hearing those words, he spat out his alcohol for the second time.

Apparently, the research institute had prohibited giving the child a name to prevent attachment.

They had only been given the code name “Chevalier.”

They could give the child a name, but.

From now on, Talcheck would be that child’s father.

Therefore, they wanted to ask Talcheck.

Almost everything had collapsed.

A silver-haired child sitting in the ruins of the research institute building.

Surrounded by numerous corpses.

“…Iona.”

Talcheck walked through the debris and corpses and picked up the child.

He spoke the name he had given for the first time, but.

The child didn’t seem to think that he was calling her.

Eventually. The child’s parents died within a few days.

Their bodies were never found.

Talcheck held Iona in his arms with a crumpled expression.

And he left that place.

And if he called her name, it seemed like this worthless life.

Would have value other than fighting.

He never called that name again.

001

The fight became more intense with the addition of Cleon and Iona.

Rubella’s ability hinders Talcheck.

Cleon seizes the opportunity to swing his sword.

Each time the sound of “Clang!” rings out, wounds appear all over Talcheck’s body.

If Cleon’s sword is blocked, Rubella attacks.

If Rubella’s sword is blocked, Cleon attacks.

In particular, as Iona slipped from Talcheck’s grasp.

The suppressed wounds also opened up.

More than anything.

“Ha!”

Cleon himself, holding Iona, was annoying.

Cleon’s movements were much heavier and sharper than before he grabbed Iona.

Talcheck knows those movements well.

Because that was his own swordsmanship.

[Experience Transplant…]

That is her ability, born between a human and a holy sword.

Storing the experience of the human who holds her and wields her.

And when another human holds her.

She can regenerate the remembered experiences and knowledge through that body.

Of course, the compatibility between the body and the experience had to be considered.

But the compatibility between Talcheck’s swordsmanship and Cleon’s body was.

[More than I imagined…!]

[Well, of course. Cleon has trained and built up her body by being trained by Talcheck.]

Galatea’s voice seemed a little sulky at Iona’s exclamation.

She seemed dissatisfied that Cleon was perfectly using Talcheck’s swordsmanship and not using Galatea’s abilities, including magic.

“Since when have you been so good at imitating, Cleon?”

“Thanks to you.”

Talcheck clicked his tongue and swung his sword widely, shaking off the clinging Cleon.

Taking the opportunity, Rubella, who was next to him, becomes Talcheck’s next target.

“Barisada!”

[Yes! Refraction!]

When Talcheck’s red sword is swung at Rubella.

This time, Rubella moves from in front of Talcheck to behind him.

“It’s useless…. Ugh!?”

The next moment. Rubella discovers something tripping her foot.

Talcheck had predicted where Rubella would move and used his scabbard in advance.

As her body swayed greatly, Talcheck’s sword was swung immediately.

There wasn’t enough time to use refraction, including her body.

She protected her body as much as possible with Barisada, but the moment she clenched her teeth in preparation for the pain.

“Rubella!”

Iona, who had grabbed her hand.

Soon, she takes the form of a holy sword once more.

Rubella recreates the powerful strike that Talcheck used to shake off Cleon a moment ago.

Through Iona.

“Ugh!”

Although she wasn’t hit directly, Talcheck, whose sword was deflected, staggered back from the impact.

Rubella sighed and threw Iona back to Cleon.

[Th, that was dangerous….]

Barisada doesn’t sweat, but she feels like she’s breaking out in a cold sweat.

“It’s a difficult ability to use after all.”

[The opponent is a monster…]

Barisada’s excuse wasn’t wrong.

One holy sword and two demon swords.

Cleon, who skillfully wields them and even absorbed Talcheck’s swordsmanship.

And Talcheck, who is drawing out the fight against them.

Even though he is focusing on defense.

Rubella couldn’t help but admire him, saying he was truly a Sword Saint.

“Annoying. It reminds me of the cave of illusions I went into with Lesia before.”

Talcheck wiped the blood from his body with a “Tsk.” and spoke.

Cleon also thought for a moment at those words and then opened his mouth as if answering.

“…I’ve heard of it. You fought against your own illusion?”

Talcheck nods at Cleon’s words.

“Yes. After several hours without a winner, Lesia unleashed the full power of the holy sword and destroyed the cave.”

“… …”

Cleon recalled the giant blade of magical power used by Albein before.

Lesia must have been capable of the same thing.

“…I see.”

“Well, shall we continue?”

Rubella frowned at Talcheck’s words.

“There’s no end to it, no matter how much we cut him down. Quite some time has passed since Maxwell went inside. It’s dangerous to prolong the fight any longer.”

“…Yeah. I’m thinking the same thing. But it looks like we need one big shot to catch that gorilla.”

Cleon’s eyes sparkled.

Rubella made a disgusted expression when she saw those eyes.

“You’ve got that villainous look on your face again. What’s the plan this time?”

“There’s no plan. Just a full-force collision.”

Cleon takes a deep breath, evenly distributing the magical power throughout her body to Galatea and Iona.

[…So that’s what you’re trying to do, Cleon.]

[Wh, what is it?]

Galatea, understanding Cleon’s intentions, imbued magical power into the blade of the sword as if in agreement with the magical power.

Iona didn’t really know what was going on, but she received the magical power, following Galatea’s lead.

“Stand back a little. The attack range will be large.”

“If you just stand there preparing in such a vulnerable position, Talcheck will come right up and cut you down. I’ll buy you some time.”

In an instant, Rubella’s body disappears, leaving afterimages.

She sprints straight at Talcheck’s body and attacks.

“What is that girl trying to do?”

Talcheck, who was wary of Cleon taking another suspicious stance.

Raised the corners of his lips as he saw Rubella suddenly charging at him and struck her down hard.

[Rubella is behind Talcheck!]

Barisada’s refraction.

Rubella moves behind Talcheck once again.

This time, Talcheck’s scabbard was there again, but.

This time, Rubella, who predicted the scabbard in reverse, steps on it and leaps into the sky.

She spins around as if pointing to the sky and swings her sword, aiming for the back of Talcheck’s neck.

“Sky Pillar…!”

The technique she used to finish off the leader before.

It has many openings and must be used in the air, so the opponent’s movements must be stopped.

But conversely, as long as this attack is something the opponent must pay attention to and block.

If she uses it with the determination to throw her body away, she can always create an opening for the opponent.

As Rubella expected, Talcheck raises his sword upwards and blocks the attack.

But his gaze was on Cleon, as if in confusion.

There.

A giant blade of magical power extended from Iona and Galatea.

And the wave of magical power, gradually compressed, honed sharply, and rippling, was shaking from the sword’s edge.

The sword was raised, and the scabbard had fallen to the ground due to Rubella.

Talcheck’s torso was completely exposed.

The next moment, Cleon sprints.

The magical power emitted from the swords in both hands becomes the driving force.

Increasing that speed.

The black and white lights form a trajectory and move in line with Cleon’s sprint.

“Ugh…!”

He tries to somehow return his sword and defend his body, but.

Rubella’s refraction rotates Rubella’s body once again, adding an additional attack to Talcheck and pinning the sword in place.

“”Cleon!!!””

Rubella and Talcheck shout that name at the same time.

The next moment.

Black and white flashes intersect from Talcheck’s body.

Leaving a large wound on his chest.

Dark magic and holy magic exhibit a counteraction to each other.

A powerful shock enveloped Talcheck’s body.

“Kuh…ugh…”

Soon, a reverberation like a large tree falling to the ground rings out.

Sword Saint Talcheck fell by a sword.

It was the first time since his defeat to the Hero Lesia.

002

Iona, who had returned to her human form from the sword, approached Talcheck, who had fallen to the ground.

When she removed Talcheck’s top, which was torn by the sword and soaked with blood.

They could see a body that had been eroded by the magical power of another dimension and turned black.

Cleon and Rubella couldn’t help but widen their eyes at the sight.

“That body is….”

Talcheck groaned and ridiculed himself as Cleon spoke.

“To find Lesia, I investigated every place related to the rifts in dimensions. Before I knew it, something like this was stuck to my body.”

If it was a small amount of magical power, it could have been suppressed and treated with holy magic.

Talcheck didn’t care about such things and was determined to find Lesia before his life was cut short.

He continued to wander near the rifts in other dimensions.

As a result, his body was irreparably contaminated by that magical power.

Iona also knew this fact.

“…Were you impatient? Talcheck.”

“It’s unsightly, but that’s what it is. Cleon.”

Talcheck nods at Cleon’s words.

He looks at Iona for a moment.

And then clenched his fist.

“Hmph. It looks like there’s someone who finally sees you properly. I can’t believe you called her a gorilla and then betrayed me.”

“… …”

Iona quietly grabbed Talcheck’s fist.

And tears flowed down her cheek.

“Hey Cleon. I’m counting on you to take care of this girl.”

“…She’s strong. More than you think.”

The same answer as just a while ago.

Talcheck chuckles at that answer.

“…Yeah, I guess so.”

And nods as if regretting it.

He struggles to move his body, which is barely moving now.

He picks up the red sword that hasn’t broken and has fallen to the ground.

“Cleon. Cut down Lesia.”

“…Talcheck. You…”

“No one knows what happened to that girl now. The rifts in other dimensions distort everything. It’s a place that turns even the World Tree, a being that transcends humanity, into a monster.”

And he hands that sword to Cleon.

“I should have killed her. I should have cut down Lesia…. I should have kept that promise.”

Talcheck quietly repeats the last lingering regret left in his life.

It was like a curse left by a companion in an unforgettable memory.

“But. I was foolish. I was just a human who only knew how to cut. I had no choice but to wander around looking for something to cut.”

Iona and Rubella also.

It was impossible to interfere between Cleon and Talcheck, who shared memories with Lesia.

But Cleon’s expression showed that as his teacher and as a man who had lingering feelings for the same woman.

He sympathized with and understood Talcheck.

“So, you carry on. My promise.”

Cleon grips the sword Talcheck handed her and lowers her head for a moment.

“I’m….”

“…Hmph. Even if that wasn’t the case, I’ll leave the sword to you.”

Eventually, has all the strength left his arm?

When that arm falls heavily to the ground.

He could feel the flame of life slowly going out.

Iona knew that she couldn’t save this dying flame.

The only thing she could do was quietly.

Protect the fire from the blowing wind.

“Hey. Don’t waste magical power in useless places. It’s not over yet.”

Talcheck looks at Iona and Cleon and speaks.

And the end of his gaze is directed towards the rift in the barrier where Maxwell entered.

“Whether that idiot stopped Maxwell or not. The Boundary Tree will awaken. Soon.”

At that moment, a loud sound that shakes the ground.

From beyond the barrier, something terribly bad is

The feeling of crawling out is felt.

“Tch…. Too bad. I should have fought that tree too….”

“You don’t reflect on your actions until the very end, do you?”

Talcheck says as if he can’t help it at Iona’s words.

“I am reflecting. I should have cut that girl when Cleon was unconscious.”

After leaving his last joke with a chuckle.

Talcheck takes a deep breath.

Inhales.

Exhales.

Quietly, he breathed his last.

Iona held his hand for a moment.

After letting go, she stood up from her seat.

“Let’s go. As long as the Boundary Tree exists. It’s not over yet.”

“…Yeah.”

Cleon and Rubella, nodding their heads, moved their legs to cross the barrier and go beyond it.

They might not be able to come back.

Then what kind of face should they meet Talcheck with in the afterlife?

Cleon was thinking about such things when.

Crack…!

And, the sound of something breaking could be heard from beyond the barrier.

A strong silver light could be seen escaping through the gap.

And as cracks appeared throughout the entire barrier based on that gap….

Eventually, the Boundary Tree revealed its appearance.

But it wasn’t in a complete state.

What had escaped from the rift in another dimension beyond the cliff was only half of the whole.

The rift in the dimension was sealed by something.

“Could it be.”

When Cleon turns her head.

She could see Eustace, pierced through the entire body by tree trunks, bleeding and fallen there.

He was still alive.

And the holy sword clenched in his hand.

The erosion of the magical power of another dimension was not progressing due to the power of the holy sword.

It was a life that could be saved if treated quickly.

“Iona!”

“Yes!”

Iona quickly transforms into the holy sword and is gripped in Cleon’s hand.

And Cleon simultaneously cuts down the tree trunks with the holy sword.

Then she picks up Eustace and retreats first.

Rubella clicks her tongue and cuts down the vines chasing Cleon with Barisada.

Then she looks back and forth between the forest and the Boundary Tree.

“It’s bigger than I thought. Can we cut it down with a sword?”

“…We’ll have to try.”

The restorative power of holy magic heals Eustace’s wounds, but.

Her mind became dizzy when she thought about facing this tree after this.

But if they can’t stop this guy here.

A great disaster will unfold in the world.

Fortunately, only half of his body has crossed over.

Cleon and Rubella stand in front of the Boundary Tree.

A giant tree giant made of thick vines.

It only had half of its body, but even the principle of how it moved was unknown.

Every time it took a step.

Tree trunks grow from the desolate land.

The encroachment of the world.

It was truly an existence that rewrote the world itself.

Just as Cleon and Rubella were about to rush in, prepared to die.

“Don’t do anything foolish…. Return to the forest….”

Telepathy ringing in the ears of the two.

That voice was.

It was Lyla Flamewatcher’s.