Book Eater

Chapter 169: The Road Home (4)

The sun completely disappeared beneath the western horizon of the wilderness. The area wasn’t lit by any torches, so it seemed darker than ever. It seemed like a dark curtain that distorted the laws of nature and corrupted life. A normal person would collapse if they were around this kind of power.

However, a sword master was a monster who had long surpassed normal standards.

“Who would be afraid of a magician’s babbling?” The masked person, rather, Hyde, the 6th Sword of the Empire raised his sword as his emotions started to boil.

His hatred for magicians and the humiliation he’d suffered in the forest had only burned more intensely instead of diminishing over time. Hyde didn’t even think about distinguishing between warlocks and magicians. This hatred wouldn’t ease until he destroyed the magicians who had ruined his honor and his master’s plan.

Hyde’s body seemed to melt into the air.

[Hoh! Is this your ability? How interesting…] The lead shadow spoke admiringly, but its confidence didn’t waver.

There was not even a whisper or shimmer in the air. It seemed like there was truly nothing before them. Was there any way for the shadow to beat this absurd power? How could it survive the sword master who was a perfect assassin?

Hyde scoffed inwardly. Perhaps one of Meltor’s Tower Masters could, but how could a warlock detect Hyde’s sword?

[There.]

However, Hyde’s confidence shattered as dozens of dark lightning bolts, each of the 6th Circle, streaked toward him! Even master class warriors couldn’t block them perfectly. But Hyde was a Sword of the Empire, so only his mask was slightly charred.

“This lowlife, how dare you?!”

[Stupid... Do sword masters suffer from side effects like their brain turning into muscles?]

The rest of the shadows chuckled and joined in ridiculing Hyde.

Paduduk!

Hyde, who was being ridiculed by the warlocks, sprang forward and aimed for the lead shadow in rage. He would show this garbage why they were nothing compared to Meltor’s Tower Masters.

[Think about it, foolish sword master. This space is already my territory, like a watercolor painting I’ve painted. The paint is black magic, and the canvas...]

“So what?”

[You still don’t understand? Your ability means you don’t show up on my canvas. And that “nothingness” exposes you.]

Hyde’s expression froze. He had never considered that he could be perceived because he was completely hidden. However, he started to laugh at the arrogance of the warlock to tell him how he was detected. If the warlock could figure out his position on this canvas, he could just leave the canvas or tear it to pieces.

“Fool. Why would you tell me this? I’m just going to leave.”

[Well, that was the correct answer.]

“... Was?” Hyde asked with an ominous feeling.

The shadows burst out laughing in the distance. There was a reason why they had kept their distance and started talking. They just needed to keep Hyde occupied.

[Kuhuhu! It is already too late, Sword Master!]

A red squiggle appeared at Hyde’s feet and exploded without giving him a chance to react.

―――――――.

Sound vanished, and light itself was swallowed. The sand was tinted black, and even the stars were covered. The completely impenetrable darkness was the fog of the dead zone that could only be found in the depths of the Demon World. It didn’t harm warlocks at all, but it was extremely threatening to other life in the physical world.

A normal person wouldn’t even last for a few seconds, but a sword master could somehow survive. However, he would eventually become corrupted and turn into a sword demon by the power of death. The lead shadow, Holsten, was one of the top five executives in the Orcus Company. He sighed in relief when the fog was completely activated. He had been dominating the situation with a relaxed expression, but he would’ve missed the chance if Hyde had been a little more aware.

[I was laughing, but your ability really is intimidating.]

If Holsten hadn’t been prepared in advance, he might’ve really been killed by Hyde’s sword. Five thousand people had been sacrificed for this trap, from the door of the abyss to the barrage of darkness. Thank goodness it was a success. All of it would’ve been for nothing if he had failed to catch Hyde. The creation of a corrupt knight, unlike a death knight, was worth the five thousand sacrifices if it could use all its abilities.

Their expansion of power was delayed due to Meltor’s recent activity, but the harvest this time would be enough to turn the tables. Hyde was a sword master specializing in assassination! His uses were as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Holsten continued speaking, [This is one step closer to our long-awaited...]

Kiing!?

A pinprick breached the absolute darkness.

[What?!]

Alas, this shocking situation was only the beginning. A storm of bright aura blades sliced at the darkness as Hyde’s white aura blossomed into existence. No, it wasn’t his aura. Unlike the other shadows, only Holsten, who was close to a master, could infer the identity of the force. However, even if it was likely, Holsten couldn’t believe it.

[This unbearable power! No, this is impossible!]

The nemesis of magic, the power of a people who had left the material world long ago...

[There’s no way! Divine power is a remnant from a previous age!!] As Holsten cried out, the colorless white light tore through the darkness.

The door of the abyss was shattered, and the warlock controlling it died instantly, while the rest of the warlocks coughed blood onto the floor. Their Circles were destroyed, the nerves of their bodies torn, and their brains burned... It was a feast of those who had fallen to ruin.

[K-Kuaah… Why… What… This...!]

Only Holsten managed to remain sane, and he maintained the shadow magic, even as his body roiled from injuries. But he was rewarded for his persistence, as he saw what Hyde was holding. It was a silver sun in the shape of a sword.

“In the face of true strength, your tricks have little meaning. Your defeat is only due to you emerging from the shadows you always hide in.”

[T-That sword...?]

“‘I don’t know’ is what I would like to say. But I’ll teach you, so that you can take it to your grave.”

As the wind made his empty left sleeve flutter, Hyde focused his power on the sword in his right hand. Hyde went on to speak the name of the sword which Andras’ prince, Fermut, had gifted to him. It was an unbelievable symbol from the Age of Mythology.

“Cry, Claimhb Solais!”

Hyde drove the brilliantly shining silver blade deep into the sand.

Kiiiing...!

The power which could transform the user’s aura into a new force and shatter all magic... The power of the past which no one had ever escaped from... It was the divine sun sword of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the tribe of the gods. In the gap created by the backlash of destroyed magic, the god-sword emitted a horrific white flame.

***

It was like the sun had risen in silver. Theo and Randolph, watching from afar, had the same thought about the wondrous sight.

It had only been a little while ago that the area had been covered in an ominous darkness. The sun had sunk in the west, and inexplicably ominous black magic had been used. Then the stars had disappeared, and the world had fallen into darkness. The warlocks had exerted several times more power than usual, making even Theo feel a sense of crisis.

At least, until the silver sun rose.

Randolph leaned against a rock, while Theo looked down at the necklace which had shattered. It wasn’t just the necklace. The bracelet Theo had borrowed from Kurt III and other minor artifacts had shattered as well. Even the tracking necklace designed to chase the sword master had also been turned to powder.

“Why did all the artifacts break?” Theo muttered as he returned to his original appearance of black hair and blue eyes.

There was monetary damage, but he didn’t have an excuse for it. He sighed as he placed the debris of broken artifacts into his inventory. It wasn’t just the bracelet made by the Yellow Tower Master but also the device they’d been using to chase the unidentified sword master. Now, the two of them could choose to fight or run away without meeting him at all.

At that moment, Gluttony abruptly woke up.

- User!

Its shout resonated frantically in Theo’s head, taking him aback.

W-What? What happened?

- Why is?that?here?!

That?

There was only one thing Gluttony could be referring to. It was the mysterious sword exuding silver light. Theo was curious about its identity, so he couldn’t miss this.

What is that sword? Teach me if you know.

- How ignorant, impudent, and shameless!

Harsh words poured out of the rarely agitated Gluttony.

- It’s one of the four treasures of the tribe of the gods, the sword of the sun god. It’s the silver arm, the sword worn by the god-king, Nuada Airgetlám. That’s the sword that slays all magic!

A god-sword... the sword of the god-king? Really?

- Do you think I wouldn’t know that silver light? It might be in the hands of an unqualified person, but this god-sword is the nemesis of a magician!

It was funny to hear Gluttony calling a sword master unqualified, but Theo’s head was hurting from something else. This was a vestige of history, a relic of the Age of Mythology which had almost been lost in the Dark Age... It was a sword used by the king of the tribe of the gods!

This sword erased the black magic like it was wiping away dirt and had also neutralized all the artifacts. It was an admirable power.

... But this is this, and that is that.

Theo quickly started calculating. The sword master was hostile to him and was equipped with a formidable weapon. Theo had wanted to overpower the sword master by facing him two on one, but unexpected variables changed his choice.

The influence of weapons and tools during a master level battle was limited, but a god-sword was a strategic weapon for a sword master. The other person was a sword master who specialized in assassination, and he held a divine sword, making him a threat to Theo.

Theo quickly made a decision.

Okay, let’s go back instead of fighting.

It might be tempting to ignore the sword and fight the sword master, but this was a gamble which also involved Randolph’s life. There was no reason to deviate from his original purpose of returning to Meltor or risk both their lives with unnecessary fighting.

“Randolph, go back to the...” As Theo made a rational decision and turned back to Randolph, a light filled his vision. His eyes narrowed as aura pressure touched his skin.

“There!” Randolph stared at the space a few centimeters behind Theo and struck with his sword.

Kakang!?

There was a loud sound in the air. Despite Theo’s vision being enhanced by Battle Song, Randolph Clovis’ sword was only a blur.

Kakang! King! Kakang!

From a straight line to curved line, a curved line to a straight line, a straight line to a curved line... As the ray of light moved from top to bottom and left to right, the invisible sword hit it precisely. The swords collided many times at a dizzying speed.

Randolph took two steps back, and his two swords moved in a diagonal line, while something transparent appeared before him. It was the face of the swordsman whose pride was scratched for the second time today after Holsten the warlock.

“It’s more than a little annoying that a guy with this level of aura is in the neighborhood and even saw my attacks?”

Gray-brown hair hung between the torn mask and cloak, while the scars on his body proved the harshness of the life he lived. This was a man who had poured in effort to rise from the bottom to become a talented sword master.

It was the moment when the empire’s 6th Sword, Hyde, finally found his target.