episode_0073

The Land of the Beastfolk.

Aside from the starting village and the Cradle where I first arrived, this was the first new country I had visited.

‘I thought the Empire would be the first.’

Unexpectedly, I found myself heading to the land of the beastfolk.

Not that it was a bad thing.

The Leyline—revered as the sacred ground of the beastfolk. It was said to be the place where the world’s mana converged most densely.

‘They said training there would accumulate an insane amount of mana, right?’

I felt a little excited.

I had only recently acquired the Thunder Strike technique, so I was still on the weaker side.

However, there was one small problem.

‘……The way they’re glaring at me is pretty intense.’

I glanced at Diago, who was staring daggers at me, and thought to myself.

“Why are you glaring at me like that?” “No, it’s nothing. I just don’t understand some of the things that damn Holy Sword is saying.” “The Holy Sword talks?” “All divine weapons wielded by heroes are capable of speech.”

Cheong Yurang said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“I’ve been curious since earlier—how did you manage to tame that thing like that?” “……?” “If it’s really Cheong Yurang, then even our Empire has been keeping an eye on her. Her personality is similar to that ‘Genius Slayer’ guy, or rather……” “You know what? People can die, you know.” “……On second thought, comparing her to the Genius Slayer might be a bit much, huh?”

Diago swiftly backtracked.

From the sound of it, the Genius Slayer’s personality was no joke.

‘……Even so.’

Cheong Yurang’s way of speaking was a bit odd, and she acted like a puppy, but—

“She’s polite and kind.” “…….”

At my words, Diago made an extremely strange face.

Purr, purr.

When I placed my hand on her head, Cheong Yurang started making cat-like noises.

I couldn’t help but wonder—wasn’t she supposed to be a fox?

‘Are foxes part of the feline family?’

No, her behavior was definitely more dog-like.

As I scratched under her chin with my fingers, like petting a cat, she looked like she was about to die from happiness.

“S-Stop. This kind of thing… between us, it’s too……” “You like it here?” “Kghh, it feels so good……!”

Cheong Yurang squirmed under my touch.

‘……This feels.’

Less like interacting with a woman and more like raising a pet.

Still, despite her behavior, she was unbelievably beautiful.

‘……How is it possible for that to be bigger than her face?’

Curiosity overtook any other desires.

Others were large too, but among the women I’d seen, she was undeniably the biggest.

‘……Is this the power of the medieval era?’

It was truly astonishing.

“For that being to act like this… So you really are a hero.” “Why would I be a hero?” “You’ve been chosen by the Holy Sword. More than that, from my perspective, it’s harder to believe that you aren’t a hero. Well, from my standpoint, it’d be best if the Genius Slayer wielded the sword, you took the thief role, and the Saintess remained the Saintess.”

Diago tossed the Holy Sword at me as he spoke.

I tilted my head slightly to avoid it.

“It’s customary to catch it in scenes like this.” “No, isn’t the bigger issue that the Holy Sword chose me?” “Don’t worry. Even if you don’t say it, the Holy Sword will go to the Genius Slayer. In fact, it wouldn’t be bad for the Holy Sword to compare your talents with his… More importantly, you can’t even use Sword Aura, can you?” “…….”

Sword Aura.

They said it could be used once you reached Level 5 and unlocked a certain level of swordsmanship proficiency.

“If you wield the Holy Sword, it’ll give you advice, which is helpful. Not to mention, in terms of experience, it has at least several thousand years’ worth.”

That part was tempting.

‘But if I take the Holy Sword like this…’

I’d be playing right into Diago’s hands.

I’d rather die than let that happen.

“Do you want to learn about Sword Aura? If so, this humble one can teach you.”

Oh.

Come to think of it, Cheong Yurang was here too.

“I can teach you that much.”

At Cheong Yurang’s words, Diago’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Hey, it’s not like you’re at a disadvantage here.” “Sorry, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.” “If that guy becomes the Sword Hero, you can become the Thief Hero and travel with him.” “…………………………………………This humble one isn’t swayed by such smooth talk.”

She almost was, though.

Well, that aside—

I closed my eyes briefly.

And pondered.

The benefits and drawbacks of touching that Holy Sword.

Weighing them against each other—

‘At this point, taking the Holy Sword might actually be advantageous.’

However, the problem was that it wouldn’t be strange if I ended up in opposition to that so-called Genius Slayer.

And that guy was someone the Empire had poured its heart and soul into raising.

‘……No, actually, it might be a loss.’

A being nurtured by the Empire’s full efforts.

If I snatched what he was supposed to have, would the Empire just stand by?

‘To make a difference, I’d have to show an overwhelming gap.’

The real deal among those who slay geniuses.

The Sword Hero bore that kind of nickname.

‘There’s no need to get involved with someone like that.’

No matter how much I thought about it, I didn’t want anything to do with him.

-Ha, for someone with such thoughts to possess such talent! How unfortunate!

An angry voice echoed from somewhere.

I stared blankly at the Holy Sword.

I definitely hadn’t touched it.

“……Yuseong?”

I didn’t like the feeling I was getting.

When was the last time I’d felt like this?

‘Who are you?’

-The Holy Sword, forged by the goddess from the Milky Way!

‘……Why?’

-Kehehe, it’s because you have the qualifications! But this is strange… You’re clearly a thief, yet… This reminds me of the past…

The Holy Sword stopped mid-sentence and firmly shut its mouth.

-No, that’s too far-fetched. Anyway, you have the qualifications to wield this Holy Sword! Hurry up and take it!

‘Why should I?’

-……Don’t you want to be a hero? If you become a hero, you’ll gain countless treasures, marry the Empire’s princess, and maybe even become emperor!

‘Wouldn’t being emperor be a huge hassle? I just want to make a lot of money and live quietly without any fame.’

A short and thick life was worse than a long and thin one.

-Tch, what kind of man has such modest dreams?

The Holy Sword sighed.

-Well, whatever. Sooner or later, you’ll be begging me, “Please make me the Sword Hero!”

‘…….’

Why the hell would I ever do that?

-Judging by you, it seems you want to use Sword Aura. Grab anything and try.

Following the Holy Sword’s words, I picked up a wooden stick.

-Sword Aura is about drawing out your mana. You’re already adept at handling fighting spirit, so imagine shaping it into a blade.

‘That’s it?’

-Hmph, countless have failed at just that! You call it “just that”?

I frowned and began doing as the Holy Sword instructed.

“It seems like you’re communicating with the Holy Sword… Are you learning Sword Aura?” “Well……”

I nodded vaguely at Diago’s words and focused.

‘Keep it simple.’

Blood Spirit Art.

And the wind created by Whisper of the Wind—they could emulate Sword Aura, but only to a certain extent.

To truly match Sword Aura, I needed the real thing.

Weaving mana into the shape of a blade.

Crackle, crackle.

A purple blade began to form. Then, adding fighting spirit to it.

‘Easy.’

I’d already experienced it once.

So—

Zzt.

A black, lightning-like energy began to overlay the purple blade.

-Wha—what?! You succeeded on your first try?!

The Holy Sword was flustered.

It seemed it hadn’t realized how accustomed I’d become to Whisper of the Wind and the Blood-Soaked Sword.

-What nonsense. Even if you got used to Sword Aura by using substitutes, being able to create the real thing is on another level. Hah… This guy’s something else.

The Holy Sword praised me in an impressed tone.

‘Wait a minute.’

If this kept up, it would only grow more interested in me.

‘……Well, with that Genius Slayer guy around, it should be fine.’

More importantly—

Diago was staring at me with disbelief.

“As expected, this humble one’s judgment wasn’t wrong… If I just kidnap him now……”

Cheong Yurang muttered with a slightly unhinged expression.

For some reason, it sent a chill down my spine.

Well, that wasn’t the important part.

“We’ll be arriving soon.”

Cheong Yurang spoke with dignity, but her image had long since been ruined.

Still, I didn’t bother pointing it out.

“Welcome to the land of the beastfolk.”

—

The beastfolk’s country didn’t look much different from the [Cradle].

If anything, the village seemed slightly more underdeveloped.

Or perhaps the most noticeable difference was the varying sizes of the people.

‘They’re enormous.’

Some were much shorter than me, while others towered at least 20 cm taller.

Considering I was around 180 cm, the variation was staggering.

The problem was the men who stood over 2 meters tall.

“Is that the human from the [Cradle]?” “That guy’s supposed to be better than us? Hah, ridiculous.”

They glared at me with eyes that seemed to say I was unacceptable.

Who were these guys?

“My apologies. This humble one may not look it, but she is someone the entire beastfolk race has high hopes for.”

So, because she had taken a liking to someone representing the entire race, I was getting these looks?

‘……No, more like—’

Rather than seeing her as a national genius—

‘They’re looking at her like she’s an idol.’

Of course, that couldn’t actually be the case.

In any case, Diago, Cheong Yurang, and I proceeded further inside.

“…….”

I stared, mesmerized, at one particular sight.

Particles of mana, glowing pure white, rose like pillars into the sky.

“That is……” “The Leyline—the sacred ground of the beastfolk. It’s akin to the World Tree of the elves, the Highland of the orcs, or the Eternal Flame of the dwarves.” “……What about humans?” “Your Empire has something similar.” “That’s not the important part. Let’s hurry and meet this humble one’s father.” “Why are your cheeks so red?”

Diago looked at Cheong Yurang with disbelief.

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m introducing Yuseong to my father.” “……Are you two getting married?” “We’re just here for a labyrinth request. Why are you looking at us like this is some kind of spectacle?” “I’m glad I joined this trip. That guy’s actually useful.”

Diago glanced at the Holy Sword as he spoke.

Ignoring him, I followed Cheong Yurang.

The deeper we went, the more my skin prickled.

Beastfolk glared at me from all directions.

With fighting spirit cloaking them.

‘……Is this some kind of greeting?’

The intensity of their fighting spirit was too weak to be hostile.

-That’s not fighting spirit. It’s just killing intent. True fighting spirit is a power only the chosen can wield. Only a handful in the world can use it.

Lysiel had said something similar.

But honestly—

‘Most of the people I’ve met use fighting spirit, so it’s hard to relate.’

Volkan could use it, Lysiel could use it, Erme could use it, Lucia seemed to know it too, and so did Burkan.

Lost in thought, I soon arrived at a spacious conference-like hall.

Many beastfolk were gathered there.

‘What’s with these murderous glares?’

“Hoh?”

The man seated at the highest position looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

“Truly terrifying fighting spirit… Did the humans combine the orc hero and the beastfolk hero to create something?” “…….”

The beastfolk at the head of the table regarded me with the demeanor of someone examining an experiment.

White hair, blue eyes.

But he was rather short—around 170 cm, looking like a young boy.

Judging by his appearance—

‘Is that Cheong Yurang’s father?’

It was a reasonable assumption.

“What do you mean?” “Can’t you all see it? If he were to release it, every Level 4 and below here would foam at the mouth and collapse.”

The beastfolk grinned, looking at me with amusement.

Release what?

-Hoh, this generation’s Beast King has a good eye. Why don’t you release your fighting spirit and show them the dignity of a hero?

This was ridiculous.