177. Festival of the Sword (20)
#177
“Do you want the holy sword?”
“What…?”
Ronan frowned at her. It was as if he was in charge of the holy sword. He had a serious expression on his face as Aju had entered twice so it didn’t look like he was joking.
“…Do you know where it is?”
“huh. know.”
Lin shook her head. Her clear eyes were full of confidence. Ronan lifted her hand and poked her cheek with his index finger.
“Then why don’t you pick it?”
“That’s not possible. I thought she would be happy and immediately take off all her clothes but her reaction was worse than I expected. “What do you think of the holy sword?”
Lin said. Judging from the way her eyes narrowed it seemed like she was a little angry. Why is he suddenly acting like this? She thought for a moment before Ronan opened her mouth.
“Good knife.”
“…is that all?”
“huh. “If it can make a name for itself it must be strong.”
Her tone was firm. Even after waiting for a while no further description came out. Lin’s face gradually began to harden. At one point she turned her head pouting.
“idiot.”
“Why are you suddenly upset again?”
“It’s too much. “Still it’s the sword that defeated the demon dragon.”
“Honestly I’m not even sure if that’s true. If the first emperor played a decisive role in defeating Orsay more people should know. “But this was my first time hearing it since I came here.”
Ronan said. If it weren’t for her grandmother an elder who couldn’t cook he would have lived his entire life without knowing this anecdote. Rin answered in a very pouty voice.
“…I couldn’t help it. “Because the Holy Sword asked me not to record myself in history.”
“Huh?”
“But Balon broke his promise. He respected the Holy Sword’s wishes and did not make a big deal out of it but he did tell her associates about it. Of course the secret was not kept and the disappointed Holy Sword came to Farzan and settled down. There was no one to wield it but its sanctity was alive and well. “Farzan’s pool filled with light became a tomb where the souls of the sword gathered.”
The story flowed like water between small lips. I felt like a great secret that I shouldn’t have heard passed by my ears. Ronan looked at her with his eyes wide open.
“How do you know all that?”
“I just know. And maybe you’re right.”
“Do you think I’m right?”
“It’s just a strong sword. In fact it was not the power of the Holy Sword that defeated Orsay.”
Lin said calmly. Ronan shrugged his eyebrows at the inexplicable sound.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“The Holy Sword simply awakened the power that Balon possessed. Among mortals who only live a fleeting life there are some who have potential that overwhelms even immortal beings. Balon was one of them.”
“It’s potential.”
“huh. Orce who was said to be one of the five strongest dragons of all time was injured by the explosive power and had to run away. Balon was a man worthy of founding an empire.”
Lin calmly introduced an anecdote about Balon’s fight with Orsay. It was as if the first emperor was a friend.
Of course as he was the first to create an organization called the Imperial Army he was called an even more derogatory term among his punitive army comrades but hearing it like this actually felt quite different. Should I say that it feels like seeing someone who calls my parents by their first names? Rin continued as she rested her head on Ronan’s shoulder.
“In the end the most important thing is not the sword but the person wielding it. You know it right. Of course I didn’t make a decision just based on that.”
“Do you guess?”
Lin didn’t answer. She stopped banging her head and stood up from her seat. Ronan noticed that Lin’s hair was shining softly.
“What are you…what are you?”
“Answer my question first. “There’s not much time left.”
The burning sunset was shining on the two people. The clear wind carried no scent. Hae’s struggle to survive felt more intense today.
“no way….”
Ronan’s eyes widened as he stared at Lin. Looking back she was a strange girl from the first time we met. Suddenly a hypothesis flashed like lightning in his head. Ronan who put what happened after meeting Rin into his hypothesis felt goosebumps creeping up his entire body. He was about to answer something. A loud voice was heard from the direction of the sanctuary.
“It’s different. Where are you coming from? “Get out now!”
“Hey! Ha please take a look. “If I can’t give it to you this time I really don’t think I can give it to you…!”
The two people turned their heads at the same time. From afar a familiar boy was walking along the dirt of the sacred site. It was quite comical to see him walking carefully to avoid getting hit by the sword. On his back was a long box that Ronan was familiar with.
“Darman?”
Ronan frowned at the inexplicable action. I couldn’t understand why they were suddenly doing that when they should have given it to me later.
He had clearly heard that it was an area where no one could enter except for elders and those who passed the final exam for swordsmanship. As if to disprove him the old woman who introduced herself as the owner of the silver sword was yelling at Darman. she asked.
“What do you mean give it to me?”
“This is a gift from our teacher to Jaifa. Madam Olga as you know this is why I came to Farzan. “Really really can you give me just a moment?”
Darman was almost crying. He made a tearful appeal based on the days he had been struggling to meet Jaifa for the past 15 days. The elders looked at each other in turn as they couldn’t help but feel weak. At that time Zaipa who had been pulling out his sword in an obliging manner nodded his head.
“Bring it.”
“You sword saint…!”
The elders’ eyes widened. Since Jaifa himself said that he couldn’t help it. Darman’s face brightened.
“Thank you!”
Darman rushed forward and stood in front of Jaipa. The black tiger stopped pulling out the sword spirit with an expression of annoyance in the world. His eyes were bloodshot and he looked quite tired.
“I’ll show you right now. So…here!”
Darman hurriedly opened the box as if his body was on fire. A pure white long sword appeared. The elders who were watching all exclaimed in exclamation.
“That thing?!”
“How about it? “It’s a really well-made sword.”
Darman carefully took out his sword and held it out to Jaifa. The elders’ eyes were focused on the sword Darman had taken out. It was more than two months ago but it still felt vivid. All seven of them knew that sword.
“Obviously…from a dream….”
“that’s right. “It’s definitely that sword.”
Two months ago the elders all had the same dream. A dream where a star crashed into a sacred place and a sword shining white was stuck there. They had no doubt that this was a sign that the Holy Sword would appear so they held the Sword Festival earlier. One of the short elders stammered.
“Seongseonggeom?”
“…Does it look that way in your eyes as well?”
Alogin shook his head. The sword in Darman’s hand was surprisingly similar in shape to the holy sword he had seen in his dream. In fact it was no exaggeration to say that they were exactly the same. Elegantly stretched sword body cross-shaped pommel. Even a soft white glow flowing down the tip of the sword.
Everyone was confused as to what was going on. Jaifa who had remained silent the entire time opened her mouth.
“okay. “You’re going to give me that sword?”
“Yes yes… it’s a gift from our teacher. “He said he hoped you would accept this.”
“He is a teacher. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
Jaipa was the only one who didn’t seem to have any particular thoughts. He was tapping his tail on the floor and thinking only about who had sent him the gift.
“You may not know. However he is someone who has admired Zaifa for a long time. “He said it would be great if you would use it and he worked very hard to make it.”
“I see. “It’s definitely a well-made sword.”
Jaifa nodded. Even with the keen eyes of the beastman it was a famous sword with no flaws. To a certain extent I can understand why there was such a fuss to convey this. Darman slightly raised his head and spoke while looking at Zaifa.
“Then are you accepting it?”
“no. “I refuse.”
“uh?”
Darman’s face hardened. Jaipa’s attitude as he turned his back was as resolute as a cut. Darman who was dumbfounded shouted in confusion.
“Come on Jaifa! Is it because the sword is too small? If that’s the case don’t worry. There is a special function for such situations. If you look closely here…!”
“You can’t receive a sword from someone you don’t even know. “Just say thank you.”
Darman desperately tried to catch Jaifa. However the black tiger just coldly walked inside the sanctuary. He tried to run after him but the other elders stopped him with their eyes. Darman who had a devastated expression on his face lowered his head.
“…ah.”
“It’s too bad Darman. Let’s go back and talk after the ceremony. And that sword…”
Several elders approached him to comfort him. In an instant Darman’s figure disappeared from sight. Ronan’s eyes who were watching the situation from above grew so big that they seemed to pop out.
“Wait a minute that bastard…!”
“Hmm?!”
Sensing a threat Jaipa reflexively turned his body and swung his scimitar. Huh! A huge blade passed through the spot where Darman was standing but there was no one there anymore. At that time Darman appeared from behind Jaipa.
“You…”
Jaifa turned his head. Darman wordlessly twisted the knife he was holding. The flawless white sword body was splattered with red blood. Ronan kicked the ground and ran out. Suddenly… the spear of the scimitar sword split in half fell to the floor.
“no.”
Lin muttered. At the same time a fountain of blood gushed from Jaifa’s chest. Sigh! I don’t know if it was because he was so big or because he was stabbed in a vital area but a huge amount of blood spurted out. The two elders who were nearby burst into shouts and rushed towards him.
“oh my god!”
“Darman! “What are you doing?”
It was a phenomenal reaction speed befitting his position as a senior. One of the two was an old woman who introduced herself as the owner of the silver sword. Marya’s greatsword looked ridiculous and she held a huge two-handed ax in her hands.
Once again Darman’s figure became blurred and disappeared. The three people who ran fiercely passed each other. There was no sound of metal. As soon as Darman landed on the ground the heads of the two elders rose high into the sky. Sigh… The blood gushing from the cut side of the headless body once again stained the sacred area.
“…!”
For a moment the world fell into silence. Jaifa’s staggering body slowly tilted. Even the wind that had been blowing suddenly stopped so the only sound that could be heard in the shrine was the bodies and heads of the elders falling.
“No pig. “If you recklessly reject someone else’s sincerity.”
Darman laughed coldly. Jaifa fell to one knee. The gray hair was turning white. It looked as if the ash that had been buried there was flying away. He spun his sword again brushed off the blood and turned his head.
“Don’t you think so too?”
The flash war we had all seen was spreading around Darman. Autumn leaves were slowly turning into brown eyes like fallen leaves. He finally fixed his gaze on Ronan and opened his mouth.
“Little brother.”
