The Villain Carries the Holy Sword – Chapter 44.1

Chapter 44.1: Melting the Ice (1)

「Clang━!

The iron, heated red by the flames, screams.

Clang—!

In the scorching heat, a man swung his hammer in silence.

What is he trying to create?

A sword that would distinguish an era?

A shield that will block fate?

Chiiiiik—

Droplets of water falling from his face cool the iron as if in response. Whether sweat or tears, only he knows.

He turned his gaze to the furnace.

The dying flames soared once more, and the darkened iron was once again imbued with light.

The hammering continued, and when the man lost his youth and the iron lost itself, what was completed was a bird.

He opened his mouth, staring at the small bird sculpture that could fit in the palm of his hand.

“Your wings are of molten iron, so you cannot fly, Crowl.”

— A Blacksmith’s Lament」

The train Cain had saved was in an uproar.

Having nearly fallen to their deaths in the ravine and miraculously surviving on the ice bridge, they had every right to be in an uproar.

Meanwhile, the most expensive passenger car was as quiet as a tomb.

In it were Cain, Oleciren, and Abel, who had returned from the locomotive, and the rest of the party was preparing to meet them.

One of those preparations was the subduing of Orphil, the knight who used Crowl’s name as his middle name.

“This is outrageous!”

Orphil shouted, glaring at the gathered people.

“Even if a princess is present and you are the successor to a count, that does not give you the right to treat a knight of another count’s house in this manner━.”

“That’s right. There is a problem.”

Cain cut him off, nodding his head.

Vanderbilt and the others who knew Cain’s ways reflexively looked back at the uncharacteristic response.

On the other hand, Rude, who was not tied up but stuck in a corner, snorted.

“How different. But as expected, you nobles are going to laugh and talk your way out of it.”

“You are also a noble, Rude.”

Isoel stated flatly.

Rude instinctively retorted grumpily.

“What do you mean I’m a noble……”

But seeing her raise her fist, he immediately shut his mouth. The image of Isoel’s emotionless face as she pummeled Orphil with her fists was still vivid in his mind.

Cain chuckled, glancing at Rude.

“How youthful. Or rather, childish.”

“What are you talking about? You’re still young yourself.”

“True, I’m not old.”

Cain’s smile turned a little bitter, and for a moment, Oleciren saw him not as a young man but as an old soul who had lived a long life.

Cain shrugged and continued.

“Dealing with Orphil in this way will cause a rift with Count Crowl, and if we just let him go, Rude here will be unhappy. So there is only one way.”

Shing—

He drew Agweska.

At that moment, a surprised Oleciren stepped forward and exclaimed.

“What are you doing?!”

“Dead men tell no tales.”

“He is an important knight of Crowl, whether you like it or not!”

It was unknown whether Count Garick had given his consent. However, it was undoubtedly problematic to kill a knight who openly used Crowl’s name.

It was tantamount to declaring war to so blatantly disregard the name of another Count.

With an indifferent expression, Cain approached Orphil, who had his eyes squeezed shut.

“Who’s going to tell?”

“Many people saw him with us.”

“A train can drop a person or two while flying.”

“Hey!”

Oleciren couldn’t stand it any longer and shouted.

As the situation escalated, Vanderbilt and Abel stood behind Cain, as did Isoel.

She poured out all the pent-up frustration she had been holding back.

“You’re always like this! Why, just because you’re willing to sacrifice yourself!”

“I’ve never sacrificed myself.”

“Just now, too. I don’t know what kind of power you’re using, but I know there’s no such thing as a free lunch. You must have shortened your lifespan, right?”

Cain closed his mouth, unable to explain himself.

Abel bit his lower lip and turned his head away.

And Oleciren pointed her finger at Orphil.

“Why are you trying to kill him? For what reason? In the end, the conflict with Count Crowl is because of me.”

“…….”

“Don’t try to do everything yourself, we’re—”

Oleciren’s words were cut off.

Her face flushed red as if she were about to say something important, and she finally managed to utter a single word from deep within her heart.

“……friends.”

Everyone froze.

Only their eyes moved, glancing back and forth between Cain and Oleciren.

Cain stood still for a moment, rolling the word ‘friend’ around in his mouth like candy.

He knew comrades and allies.

He knew parents and siblings.

‘Friend……’

It felt awkward.

There are things one can only learn in a second life.

For Cain, friends were one of those things.

As if embarrassed by the atmosphere, Oleciren hurriedly added,

“It’s not just you. Isoel is a friend, too, a, and so is Abel, and Sir Vanderbilt—”

“I understand.”

Cain’s short reply.

His words were sincere, but the Sword of Despair, Agweska, remained in his hand. As he still seemed intent on killing Orphil, Oleciren asked,

“Why haven’t you put down the sword?”

“To cut down the enemy for my friend.”

This time, it was Oleciren’s turn to be speechless.

Cain had always acted efficiently.

He had dealt with the nobles who wanted to kill her and replace the next king of Airian, and he had fought other unknown enemies in the fastest way possible.

Even if his purpose had changed to friends, his choices remained the same.

That was how Cain Ethelred, the warrior of the Great Wall, lived.

“I’ll kill Orphil!”

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