Ch 144
Dwen suddenly recalled the attitude of her two disciples as they explained the situation.
They seemed to have so much they wanted to say, yet ultimately chose their words carefully—
Dwen considered this to be them acknowledging their mistakes and showing restraint.
However, upon actually meeting the man named Lisir, her thoughts changed considerably.
As the saying goes, seeing is believing, a hundred times better than hearing it told.
If the disciples had tried to explain the reason for entrusting the abomination to Lisir, the man, through words?
Dwen would not have understood any explanation.
The abomination the two had spoken of was absolutely not something a single individual could handle.
But—
The abomination became a pure spirit, shifting its form like changing clothes.
This was the sight unfolding before Dwen’s eyes.
If the two disciples had tried to explain this verbally, Dwen would have immediately bound their arms and legs to check if they were possessed by an evil spirit.
‘That’s why…’
Jane and Felix.
They had foreseen all of this and, without further ado, had Dwen meet Lisir directly.
Dwen, forgetting her surprise at the phenomenon before her, looked at her two brilliant disciples with admiration.
The two disciples, who had made the best judgment without hesitation, naturally—
“…”
“…”
“?”
Oh my.
They were dominated by bewilderment.
“That small spirit… is that the abomination…?”
“Lisir, what happened in between…”
“…”
Ah.
I see.
‘As expected, it’s unusual for the abomination to have become a pure spirit.’
Dwen was relieved and confused.
✦✦✦
Having finally calmed down, Dwen’s party once again looked at the abomination’s spirit.
“…”
A small girl, blankly staring into space.
Her appearance was utterly harmless.
‘That terrifying abomination has become such a harmless spirit overnight…’
Dwen unconsciously fidgeted with her left hand.
Her left hand, which had been consumed by the abomination.
For Dwen, who had coexisted with the abomination in an unfavorable way for many years, the current situation felt particularly surreal.
“Lisir.”
At that moment, Jane spoke.
“It’s a sudden request, but what you did for your Asking Left Hand, could you do the same for our Master—”
“Jane.”
Dwen’s stern tone cut her off.
They couldn’t even guess how Lisir had turned the abomination into an obedient spirit.
Nevertheless, one thing was certain.
Lisir must have paid a considerable price for it.
“No. We already owe him a debt we can never repay. We haven’t even repaid that yet, and we’re making a new request? Such an unreasonable request, at that.”
“…”
“…”
Dwen’s reprimand caused her two disciples to bow their heads.
It’s for Master.
It was a stern reprimand that wouldn’t be swayed by such a heartfelt plea.
More than anything, her words were correct.
They don’t know exactly what price Lisir paid to control the abomination.
Yet, they’re recklessly asking for his help.
It was the moment when the two heroes felt ashamed and were about to apologize to Lisir.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Lisir carefully supported Dwen’s hand with his own.
“Mmm…”
Dwen unconsciously let out a groan.
The red leather forming the gloves replaced her skin.
Blood vessels were sprouting and writhing everywhere, and her skin was so dry that it looked like it would tear if touched improperly.
Her left hand, devoured by the abomination, was, to put it mildly, beyond hideous.
Even she herself, who was used to it, sometimes felt disgusted.
So how much worse would it be for others?
Those who saw her left hand generally couldn’t hide their aversion.
Some people hid their true feelings through effort, but even they didn’t dare to touch the hand.
Its hideous appearance was such that even if just touching it transferred impure energy or a curse, it wouldn’t be at all strange.
Therefore, it was an extremely unfamiliar situation for Dwen.
For someone to approach her without hesitation and touch her.
Lisir looked intently at Dwen’s hand,
and Dwen looked intently at Lisir.
“That’s sudden.”
“Ah, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. My will got ahead of me—”
“It’s alright. However, you say your will got ahead of you—”
“I thought I might be able to help.”
“You’re a kind person. Jane, Felix, and even the Holy Sword. I think I understand why people think highly of you.”
“It’s just one of my many advantages.”
Lisir playfully smiled at Dwen.
Dwen’s stern expression seemed to soften slightly.
“I don’t know much, so I’ll ask, but is this normally the case?”
“It’s the price of arrogance. I believed I could perfectly control the abomination. This is the result. If I had been cautious and kept my distance from the abomination, I wouldn’t have ended up in this situation.”
“…”
Lisir intently looked at Dwen’s hand.
He carefully placed his other hand on top of it.
Dwen’s body trembled.
Was it because it had been so long?
The cool touch felt surprisingly pleasant.
“Ah, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
“No, it’s fine. It’s just that it’s been a long time since I’ve had contact with another person, so I was surprised.”
Dwen focused on the sensation on her hand.
Then, looking at Lisir, she said,
“What beautiful hands you have.”
“That’s too much praise. It’s also a unique perspective. I see, you can look at my hands that way too.”
“I can feel the traces of countless efforts. Surely, you must have worked incredibly hard to reach your current position. I express my respect.”
“Ah, that’s what you meant. Thank you. Hearing you say that, someone of your caliber, makes me feel proud.”
“Do you know anything about me?”
“It’s presumptuous, but as someone who wields a sword, I can sense certain things. More than anything, you’re the Master of those two heroes, aren’t you?”
The conversation proceeded in a very ordinary atmosphere.
However, perhaps because they were holding hands and facing each other closely.
Or perhaps because, judging only by appearance, the Master still looks to be in her twenties.
The two themselves were fine, but the two disciples watching them from afar felt a strange feeling.
Lisir.
Aren’t you hitting on our Master right now?
Just then, Lisir released Dwen’s hand.
Phew.
Leaving the relieved disciples behind, he spoke to his Master.
“I hope you’ll recover soon.”
Dwen responded with a calm nod.
That was the end of it.
She didn’t ask about the intention behind Lisir’s actions, nor did she check her own hand.
Because nothing would change just because their hands touched briefly.
She tried, but it didn’t work, so she gave up.
Dwen accepted Lisir’s actions as they were.
Afterward, her gaze turned somewhere else.
Lisir’s gray robe hanging on the chair.
To the abomination’s spirit clinging to it.
Dwen looked at the spirit for a while, then looked at her own left hand.
“…”
A bitter smile touched Dwen’s expression.
It was only for a very short moment.
She hid the expression before anyone else could see it.
Afterward, Dwen said to Lisir,
“Lisir. Is there anything you want in return for this?”
“In return? It’s alright.”
“No. You were put in danger due to Jane’s mistake, and you used your wit to save yourself, Jane, and Felix. Your merit deserves respect.”
“I already received the Asking Left Hand as a reward.”
“No. That’s not something that can be a reward.”
“Heh heh.”
It was also related to the two heroes’ face, so Dwen’s attitude was firm.
A strong will towards sleeve-inserting!
Lisir had no choice but to start thinking.
What could he ask for in return from the two heroes and their Master?
Considering he’d started thinking half-heartedly, the answer came quickly.
“Then, could I ask for a simple examination of your swordsmanship?”
Lisir.
Through this normalization of the Asking Left Hand, he felt that the 7th rank realm had suddenly come close to him.
If he examined Dwen’s swordsmanship before reaching the 7th rank realm, wouldn’t it be very helpful? That was his thought.
“Think about it some more. You have the right to ask for more than that.”
“From a different perspective, what if I say that my expectations for you are that great?”
“…”
A change appeared on Dwen’s stern expression.
“You have such high expectations of me. I must work hard to live up to those expectations.”
It was a slight change, but her two disciples knew how significant it was.
Dwen’s eyes, looking at Lisir, very rarely contained emotions such as interest.
The two disciples watching from the side felt a strange feeling.
No.
Lisir.
Aren’t you really seducing our Master right now?
“Then, shall we change locations? Let’s get your sword.”
Dwen said, pointing to the Holy Sword.
She thought that he, the new owner of Advancement, would naturally take the Sword of Advancement.
However, Lisir picked up a different sword, not the Holy Sword.
Dwen’s eyes rippled slightly.
Even though she became the owner of the Holy Sword, she doesn’t cling to it?
“Lisir. May I ask something?”
“Please.”
“You’ve become the new owner of Advancement. Yet, you still cling to that sword, which looks like your old sword. May I know the reason?”
“Ultimately, it’s not the sword that matters, but the person wielding it. More than anything, this one is still more comfortable for me.”
“…”
Scritch.
Such a sound came from within Dwen.
The sound, like a pencil moving on paper, was none other than the sound of grading.
Right now.
One point was added to Lisir’s score inside Dwen.
“…Wait.”
At that moment, Dwen, who had been intently looking at Lisir’s sword, spoke.
Her gaze was fixed on the lotus-shaped pattern engraved on the scabbard.
“Lisir, that sword is—”
“Yes? Ah, you recognize it.”
“Why is that sword with you…”
“Apparently, that person looked favorably upon me.”
“…Even so, they gave you that sword? That person, of all people, gave you that sword?”
“Looking back, I’m still dumbfounded. Even thinking about it again, it’s too much of an honor. It’s also good fortune. I’ll just strive to be worthy of this sword.”
“I see.”
Dwen’s expression as she looked at Lisir was strange.
—Tell me. This item here. What were you thinking when you wrote this answer?
It was like a professor asking a disciple that question and waiting for an answer.
Scritch.
1 point
Scritch.
1 point
That familiar sound came from within Dwen again.
“…”
“…”
What is it.
What kind of sword is that sword.
What kind of conversation is going on?
The Master has a conversation with Lisir, leaving her disciples behind, a conversation only they understand.
Feeling an inexplicable anxiety, the two disciples were watching for an opportunity to join the conversation—
“It’s cramped here, so let’s move to another location.”
Dwen proactively led them.
Lisir followed behind with anticipation—
and the two disciples followed behind with anxiety.
✦✦✦
“Lisir, are you alright?”
While moving, Jane spoke to Lisir.
“Alright? What do you mean?”
“Our Master. As you can see, she’s incredibly strict. Especially when it comes to swords! As someone who’s experienced it, let me give you some advice, you should be prepared. First of all, don’t even dream of hearing anything good. Focus on not getting scolded as much as possible.”
“Heh heh. She seems quite merciless?”
“It’s no joke!”
Jane looked into the distance, recalling the past, and shuddered with a disgusted expression, “I’m still scared of holding a sword in front of Master. That stern expression! I’ve never seen Master have any other expression when she teaches swordsmanship. No, no, that expression hasn’t even come out yet. Lisir, when you stand before Master and hold a sword, you’ll understand then how gentle she usually is!”
“…Is it that serious?”
Her expression and tone were extremely serious, not something that could be dismissed as an exaggeration.
Lisir’s expression also became serious.
‘Klana Style…’
The Murderer’s Sword, which boldly abandons basic techniques and relies entirely on sensation.
How will this sword look in the eyes of that stern swordswoman?
Lisir’s worries began to outweigh his expectations.
Soon, Dwen, who was leading the way, stopped.
The place they arrived at was an empty lot located in the mansion’s backyard.
“Before we begin, I’ll ask.”
Dwen spoke to Lisir before drawing her sword.
“What was your reason for taking up the sword?”
“…!”
“…!”
Jane and Felix flinched at that question.
She’s asking that same question she asked them when she first took them on as disciples, to Lisir, a stranger?
Yes. It would be a lie to say they weren’t bothered by it.
However, the real reason they were terrified was different.
Dwen.
Her standards were extremely strict.
They could say with certainty.
No one would be able to get a satisfactory response from Dwen from the start.
—…Is that so.
That was Dwen’s response when she heard their answers at the time.
A response that meant she wasn’t particularly displeased, but not exactly satisfied either.
It was a response that drove those learning from her crazy.
Felix and Dwen felt compassion for Lisir, who would soon experience that terrible ordeal.
“The reason I took up the sword… it was probably to gain my father’s recognition.”
“Your father’s recognition?”
“Well, ultimately, it was all meaningless.”
Lisir recalled his memories and smiled wryly.
That smile wasn’t resentment towards his father, but self-deprecation towards his past self.
That smile, full of stories, was more than enough to evoke the maternal love that many women possess—
but unfortunately, the woman they knew as Dwen was a person far removed from such delicate emotions.
Oh dear.
Felix and Jane muttered to themselves.
Such a weak appearance.
Such a weak reason.
There’s no way that stern Master will look favorably upon this—
“My…”
Compassion filled Dwen’s eyes as she looked at Lisir.
“Who did you learn swordsmanship from?”
“Self-taught.”
“Self-taught?”
Scritch.
1 point.
“Yes, no one in my family tried to teach me swordsmanship.”
“And yet you persisted in the path of the sword?”
“Therefore, I thought I wanted to prove myself with the sword.”
Scritch scritch scritch scritch.
1 point. 1 point. 1 point. 1 point.
“…”
Master?
Master’s eyes, burning with zeal.
The two disciples’ eyes wavered at this unfamiliar sight of their Master.
✦✦✦
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