Chapter 71

“Ian. Thank you so much. Thanks to you, our order has regained Casilla.”

“It’s fine. It was just a deal. So, when can I receive the Holy Relic?”

“If it weren’t for you, Ian, our order would have faced a great disaster. Please, have a drink.”

“I only did what I had to do. But I can’t drink. Oh, by the way. When can I receive the Holy Relic?”

“The Almighty Lu said that in a time of chaos, a hero will…”

“So when is the Holy Relic…”

The people of the Lu Order stared at me with discomfort.

They looked troubled, as I brought up the Holy Relic at every turn.

I scratched the back of my head with an awkward expression.

“I’ve seen too many cases where people say one thing on the way in and another on the way out. Ah, you’re not thinking of not giving it to me, are you?”

“O-Of course not! It’s just that there are procedures, so first, enjoy the festival and then…”

“I’m in a bit of a hurry. Is it impossible to receive it now?”

The cardinal who had spoken to me looked at the archbishop.

The archbishop nodded his head reluctantly.

“…Will you follow me?”

Fireworks exploded in the night sky. Where they burst, the sun pattern symbolizing Lu was embroidered. They must have gone through a lot of trouble to make that.

Isaac, who had been watching the scene from the window, turned his head toward me.

His eyes had been blazing for a while now.

It wasn’t because of the fireworks exploding outside. Nor was it because of the heat of the festival in full swing.

Isaac swallowed hard and asked.

He was staring at the pure white sword in my hand.

“Is that it? The Holy Relic of the Lu Order?”

The Lu Order had promised to give me one of three divine treasures if I turned their Saintess back into a human.

And they kept their promise more coolly than I expected.

“I can’t believe it. Even so, they just gave it to you that easily?”

“I know, right? I was thinking of raising hell if they didn’t, so it’s a relief.”

“What was its name again? Durandal?”

“Yes. The Holy Sword, Durandal.”

It is the name of a Holy Knight who was a hero long ago, during the God-Demon War.

It’s not just the name; his Soul is actually dormant here.

“An Ego Sword? Something like that?”

“Exactly.”

“You checked it properly, right? It’s not a fake?”

“I already checked, just in case.”

Whoosh- Whoosh-

I spun the Holy Sword in my hand this way and that.

The pure white blade danced. A series of smooth strikes followed.

“It’s the real deal.”

Isaac muttered.

“Can you feel it?”

“No, because of your expression.”

My expression?

“This is the first time I’ve seen you make that face looking at an Artifact. A guy who never cared about such things his whole life. Is it that amazing?”

“It seems the name ‘Holy Relic’ wasn’t attached for nothing.”

“Really? It just looks like an ordinary Longsword on the outside.”

Isaac took Durandal and swung it around.

When there was no particular reaction even after he infused it with Mana, Isaac spoke with a sour look.

“I think this is a fake.”

If it were, there’s no way it would contain such an immense aura.

No, even that’s not enough to describe it.

The aura felt from within the blade.

It’s massive enough to turn twenty F-Rank Awakeners into S-Ranks, with power to spare.

Wooooong-

“Still, I think I know why they gave this to me so easily.”

If you’re not chosen as its master, you can’t wield it in the first place.

If an unqualified person swings it, it’s no different from a sturdy lump of scrap metal.

That must be why.

Why they showed me an Artifact of a slightly lower grade when they presented the three divine treasures.

They’ll probably make an offer in a few days.

Suggesting that instead of a Holy Relic I can’t wield anyway, how about taking several other Artifacts instead.

Of course, since they’d be in place of a Holy Relic, those would be incredible too, but.

“I like this one.”

Since I’ve received it, I plan to make good use of it.

Seeing this, Isaac spoke cautiously.

“You can get seriously hurt messing with an Ego Sword. Your Ego could be devoured.”

“That, in itself, would be an interesting experience.”

“…You crazy bastard.”

I chuckled and created some distance.

“Step back for a moment.”

Then, I gripped Durandal’s hilt.

Woooooooong-!

The blade trembled as if resisting.

It was testing whether to accept me as its master or not.

“You’re not the one doing the testing. I am.”

This is a separate issue from the power it holds.

The Holy Relic won’t accept me?

I’ll break it immediately.

I’ll lose a large amount of Mana in the process, but that can’t be helped.

An object that doesn’t listen to its master is just a nuisance.

“So you will be the one to submit.”

I infused my Mana with that intention.

Inside an Ego Sword, there is, of course, someone’s Ego.

Woong- Woooong-

That someone spoke to me.

-Who dares awaken me from my slumber?

Acting like you just woke up.

I applied my power more strongly. As expected, the reaction was immediate.

-Excellent. To have this much Mana at your age. Very well. I shall lend you my power.

That’s not enough.

-Hah. You are full of vigor but lack wisdom. You cannot destroy me with your power. So stop.

Durandal had the right to say such things.

By mortal standards, I am currently a Mage who has woven seven rings.

I am more than worthy of being called a transcendent, but to Durandal, who experienced the God-Demon War, I can only be a so-so Mage.

However.

“I can just make up for a lack of power with skill.”

I just need to find a way to dismantle this.

Ian’s magical talent makes that possible.

“This is your last chance. What will you do?”

Woooong- Woong-

-I shall… acknowledge you as a comrade…

“Not a comrade, a master.”

Wooooooooong-

It resists violently. As if that, and only that, is unacceptable.

-My only master is the Almighty Lu…

But I know that too will only be for a moment.

Crack- Craaack-

The blade cracks. A pure white light burst forth from it. A power so intense it filled the entire room.

Now, what will you do? If you don’t bend, you will break.

Fwoosh-!

Finally, the white aura that filled the entire room gradually subsided.

“Holy shit. Are you okay? Ian! This… huh?”

Isaac, who had been shaking my shoulders frantically, flinched. His gaze went to Durandal.

Durandal, which had boasted a pure white blade, had changed its form.

Into a wooden staff that gleamed with a lustrous light.

“W-What the. What happened? Why did it suddenly…”

“I succeeded.”

“What?”

“It says it will serve me as its master.”

Changing its form is a sign of submission.

But neither I nor Isaac had a bright expression.

Isaac, in particular, looked more serious than I had ever seen him.

Suddenly, he gripped my shoulders tightly.

His gaze was murderous.

“Where is Ian?”

Isaac’s tone changed.

“Durandal… My god. You finally stole his body.”

“Isaac.”

“Return Ian right now. I will not ask about your other sins. For the dead to usurp the body of the living. Is this the true nature of the Lu Order?”

“It’s me, Ian.”

“Like hell it is! Then why do you have that expression! The Ian I know… would never make a face like that.”

Isaac waved a trembling hand.

The next moment, the image of a mirror appeared before me.

Naturally, I saw my own expression.

The genius of magic, armed with arrogance, was gone.

The visionary who confidently solved any problem was also gone.

Instead, there was a boy, trembling in fear.

“Isaac.”

A power that transcends the mortal realm.

After seeing it, a sudden realization came to me.

“I don’t think I have much time left to live.”

Throughout history, no one has been born with more talent for magic than me.

That was why.

This was a realm that could never be accepted by a human body from the start.

A vessel that exceeds its capacity will shatter.

Yes. That’s right.

Saaaaaak-

Even at this very moment, Ian’s Soul was being eaten away.

By himself.

Isaac, who had been worried that I had been devoured by Durandal, now frowned for a different reason.

“Then, the time you have left is…”

“At this rate, I don’t even have a full year left.”

It’s even accelerating.

The more I grow, the faster my body dies.

“Is there a way? Is there no way?”

“My subconscious must have known. Why I was trying to create my own unique magic that surpasses Dragon Language Magic.”

I shot up from my seat. Outside, the festival was still in full swing. I had sorted out my tangled thoughts amidst that peace.

“Isaac. I need to meet Saint Ajadun.”

There must be a way.

Saint Ajadun.

If I meet the Gold Dragon, the creator of Dragon Language Magic, I might find an answer.

A symbol that the Almighty Lu is alive, noble, pure, and the mother of all Acolytes of Lu.

The Saintess, Casilla.

She was grateful to be human again.

In that process, there was immense pain, and a shame she had never experienced before…

-Saintess. You won’t eat? That’s a problem. If this continues, I’ll have to resume the work from before…

-I’ll eat! I said I’ll eat!

-Open your mouth.

-Kraaaaaaak!

A terrible memory briefly resurfaced.

Even if she had been a Demon, that was truly…

It’s been a week since she became human, and it still appears in her dreams.

“That… person, when is he leaving?”

She almost called him ‘that bastard’ but barely held it in.

The dedicated nun beside her spoke in a regretful voice.

“He said he will be leaving sometime tomorrow.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“Pardon?”

“Ah.”

Casilla quickly shook her head.

“How unfortunate. But what to do. I don’t feel well, so I don’t think I’ll be able to see him off.”

That wasn’t it; she just didn’t want to run into him in the slightest.

If she saw that face, the terrible memories of the past month would resurface.

The nun, unaware of the truth, smiled brightly.

“Don’t worry. Sir Ian said he would come to see you in person, Casilla.”

Casilla’s face stiffened.

‘What does he mean, come see me in person? That man has no conscience… no, that’s not it. I repent. O Lord. Forgive this weak sinner.’

Turning her head again, she spoke with trembling lips.

“I’m not feeling well, so I should rest in my room…”

It was then.

From the opposite end of the hall, Ian was walking over.

As if the timing was perfect.

“…Sir Ian. I didn’t have time to thank you properly. Thank you so much. Thanks to you, I have escaped the swamp of sin.”

“No need for thanks, Saintess. By the way, are you busy?”

“…?”

Ian asked for a favor. No, he spouted some nonsense.

Her mind went blank.

She, who had never lost her dignity, scrunched up her face at this moment.

“So, you’re saying you need my help…”

“I heard that Saint Ajadun is currently in the Demon Realm Forest. Would it be possible for you to go with me?”

What is this crazy bastard saying right now?

Go to the Demon Realm Forest?

“That is the place where I was deceived by a Devil and became a Demon two years ago.”

She pointed it out, just in case he didn’t know.

But the bastard’s expression didn’t change one bit.

“That’s perfect. You’ll also get a chance to take revenge on that Demon. When would be a good time to depart?”

“……?”

“Is it possible to leave tomorrow?”

“…Tomorrow?”

“The sooner, the better.”

Casilla was at a loss for words.

To be honest, she wanted to grab Ian and hand him over to the inquisitors.

Repentance, my ass.

This bastard should also experience what she went through…

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can participate in that great endeavor.”

Forcing herself, exercising patience, Casilla barely managed to speak.

“I am eager to go, but my body has not yet fully recovered, and I fear I will be a burden.”

“Ah, is that so?”

At her roundabout refusal, Ian gave a meaningful smile.

Casilla’s heart sank.

Because she remembered what happened when he made that smile.

It was then.

“Sir Ian.”

From the end of the hallway, someone approached them.

A very familiar face.

A historian who writes the holy scriptures. His rank isn’t very high, but Casilla wants to avoid this historian more than anyone else.

This is because every single word of the Saintess is recorded in the holy scriptures.

“The reason you asked me to come here.”

“Didn’t you say you had something you wanted to ask me?”

“Ah. That.”

The historian smiles as he looks at Casilla.

“This is perfect. With both of you here, cross-verification will be easy.”

The historian’s eyes gleamed as if he had found his prey.

“You said that the Saintess confessed her sins to Sir Ian for the past month, correct? May I know what she said?”

“For the past month.”

Pondering for a moment, Ian slowly opened his lips.

“When I was left alone with the Saintess. Her crotch…”

“Sir Ian.”

Casilla asked, her expression corrected.

The historian tilted his head and looked back at Casilla.

Casilla gave a radiant smile.

“I will go with you.”

Ian looked at the historian and said.

“Historian.”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t seem to remember that part very well. It would be best to ask Casilla.”

Ian’s and Casilla’s eyes met in mid-air.

And so, an unspoken promise was made.