Ch 146
Thousand Swords Dwen.
Though she, albeit her left hand was ruined and she laid down the name of Thousand Swords, was still a Swordsman possessing skill that was not ashamed of the renowned title of Sword Master.
Such a she allowed an attack unilaterally in a sparring match.
To a man who was merely at the 6th Rank Realm.
It was a situation where the shock would be felt even if a third party only heard about it.
But how much more so for the Thousand Swords herself and her two Hero disciples.
“…Jane. Am I seeing correctly?”
In that sense, it could be called an anomaly.
Dwen. Felix. Jane.
They did not care about something like ‘the defeat of the Thousand Swords’.
Because an even more unbelievable situation unfolded before their eyes.
“Just now, Lisir…”
Felix trailed off, his expression clearly showing his confusing state of mind.
“I was doubting my own eyes—should I say it’s fortunate? Seeing your reaction, it seems I wasn’t the only one seeing things…”
Jane replied with a bitter smile.
Lisir.
They already knew that he could use both swords and magic.
Even that he could use both powers simultaneously.
Because they had witnessed with their own eyes him simultaneously handling Blue Breath, the mana usage method of swordsmanship, and Resonance, the mana usage method of magic, to mimic the Power of Advancement.
Nevertheless, the reason they couldn’t get over the shock was—
simply because a huge gap existed between merely using mana and using it to unleash swordsmanship and magic.
Even accepting the simultaneous use of two breathing techniques required tremendous determination and effort—
—he even used two types of magic at the same time?
Leaving Jane speechless, the Holy Sword, Elysia, spoke.
—…it even seemed to be Secret Magic with its own unique nature.
Leaving Felix speechless, the Holy Sword, Pocena, spoke.
“Haha, this is crazy.”
A chuckle escaped the mouths of the two Heroes.
At a glance, it wasn’t a chuckle, but rather a burst of laughter.
“You seem confused.”
At that moment, Pallag stroked his full beard and spoke.
The greater his understanding of mana, the greater the shock should be, yet he remained composed.
Is this the experience of an Archmage?
“Duke Pallag, you don’t seem surprised at all. You saw the same thing as us just now—no, perhaps even more than us.”
Jane exclaimed in admiration and asked him.
“Naturally, my expertise and insight into Lisir are more profound than yours.”
“…?”
Pallag’s attitude, as if talking about a specific academic subject, caused them to feel a momentary cognitive dissonance.
Leaving them behind, Pallag calmly continued his explanation.
“You may or may not know, but Lisir has special Spirits.”
“…Ah!”
“You seem to know. Ah, well. Belota. Since she was your comrade. You must have heard something.”
As Pallag said.
They had heard something from Belota.
It was about Lisir and his special Spirits.
“I see. So that’s how it was.”
Felix nodded repeatedly, saying he understood, for a moment.
“…”
Then he burst into self-deprecating laughter.
To simultaneously wield a sword and Spirits.
That itself is already beyond the realm of common sense.
Yet, compared to simultaneously wielding swordsmanship and magic, it’s relatively realistic, so they readily accept it.
Is this truly rational and logical thinking?
The anguished Hero party.
The Archmage left those junior（?） Heroes behind and approached the direction where Lisir and Gwen were.
Having poured out all his strength, Lisir sat down after unleashing a strike.
After catching his breath, he took Dwen’s hand and stood up.
“Are you alright, Lisir? You seem to have overdone it.”
“Duke Pallag? When did you arrive?”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t miss a single important detail.”
“?”
What did I worry about that such words would come out?
Then, Pallag spoke to Dwen.
“Dwen. I meet you in such a place.”
“Duke Pallag.”
Pallag observed Dwen’s expression as she bowed, then smiled mischievously.
“In my life, I’ve seen you flustered.”
“…Indeed. In my life, I’ve experienced such a situation.”
Unlike the Hero party who had been inoculated, everything was new to Dwen.
She was still struggling to accept the situation amidst the confusion.
Pallag decided to show her a small kindness.
“Lisir, that was a magnificent strike. Who else could use the power of the sword and Spirits so exquisitely?”
He was revealing the secret behind Lisir’s attack.
Of course, even that would be difficult for her, a beginner（?）, to accept.
“Spirits…?”
While Dwen pondered the word, Lisir showed surprise.
“How did you know immediately upon seeing it?”
“Of course. Have I only encountered you once or twice?”
“Lisir? Did you really use the power of Spirits just now?”
“Yes, that’s right. That grayish-white flame just now. I received help from my Spirit.”
“I knew it—…huh?”
Wait.
Grayish-white flame?
Only grayish-white flame?
Only one of the two magics?
Pallag’s smile, which had maintained the composure of someone who knew, wavered.
At that moment, blood flowed from Lisir’s eyes.
Swordsmanship. Magic. Spirit Magic.
It was the effect of the overload that came from simultaneously unleashing those three.
“Since the opponent was the opponent, I tried to be greedy, but fortunately, it worked out well.”
Lisir shouted triumphantly, shedding bloody tears.
✦✦✦
Afterwards, Pallag staggered back to his residence, leaving only Lisir and Dwen’s party.
Lisir, who skillfully wiped the bloodstains on his face with a handkerchief taken from his pocket, spoke to Dwen.
“Thank you, thanks to you, I experienced a lot.”
Dwen’s serious expression softened slightly into a bitter smile.
“To be honest, during the sparring match, I felt considerable disappointment in you.”
“Disappointment?”
“It’s because I thought you hadn’t lived up to the expectations I had arbitrarily placed on you. It’s shameful. In that sense, it seems I should be the one to speak.”
Dwen pushed away that bitter smile with a gentle smile.
“Thank you. From my sparring match with you, and my defeat, I experience and learn a lot.”
A strong person like Dwen readily admits defeat.
Thereby acknowledging the victory.
It’s a situation where they would normally feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment.
“…”
However, Lisir felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
His gaze naturally turned to Dwen’s left hand.
It was because after the sparring match, Dwen had habitually been fiddling with her left hand.
Dwen, she too was a Swordsman, so she felt resentment over her defeat.
If I could have used my left hand, what would the result have been—
It was inevitable to be caught up in such thoughts.
“Thank you for saying that.”
Lisir extended his left hand towards Dwen.
“…”
After hesitating for a moment, Dwen extended her hand, devoured by the abomination.
Dwen’s left hand, devoured by the abomination, once again touched Lisir’s hand.
“May I ask a favor?”
“Speak.”
Then, Lisir completely enveloped her left hand with both of his hands.
“If that hand heals, I would like to ask for another match then.”
“…”
Dwen’s serious expression completely crumbled.
With a gentle smile, she reciprocated by completely enveloping his hand with both of hers.
“Gladly.”
“…”
Jane and Felix, who were watching the scene from the side.
The two disciples smiled brightly yet wistfully.
Dwen’s gentle smile.
There, for the first time ever, they glimpsed their Master’s weakness.
Dwen. She had already concluded within herself.
That her left hand would not heal.
Therefore, that she would not be able to keep her promise with Lisir.
The next time she met Lisir.
It would be impossible to look at each other and smile like this.
Despite the Master’s efforts to maintain composure, the eyes of the two disciples welled up.
Jane.
After managing her expression, she spoke to Lisir.
“Lisir, will you be free for dinner tonight?”
“Dinner? Well, I don’t have any other plans.”
“Then, how about we have dinner together at our mansion tonight? Our party. Felix’s party. Lisir. And Master as well. Let’s all have a lively time together.”
“Oh, that sounds great!”
Felix readily agreed.
“And, what is it? After dinner, let’s take some time for a sparring match. This time, Jane and I. You don’t think you can get away scot-free after humiliating Master in front of us, do you?”
“…”
Dwen looked at her two disciples in surprise.
“Oh, that sounds good.”
At that moment, Lisir readily accepted their proposal, looking very pleased.
Now, only Dwen’s opinion remained.
Their gazes focused on Dwen.
“…”
After a moment of contemplation, Dwen realized.
Why her two disciples were suddenly acting like this.
With a bright yet wistful smile, like her disciples just before, she nodded.
✦✦✦
“…”
The atmosphere around them became heavy.
As if echoing the superhuman’s resignation.
Thousand Swords Dwen.
She had her eyes closed.
“Master, no!!!”
The disciple’s scream.
Leaving that behind, what is she thinking inside?
Only she would know.
A moment later.
Determination filled her eyes when she reappeared.
Along with regret and despair that even that strong determination could not erase.
She silently extended her left hand.
“I apologize.”
Then, someone spoke in a gentle voice.
Simultaneously, a flash flickered—
The Sword Master’s left arm was severed.
▶Fate 99: One-Armed
✦✦✦
“Ah, I’m getting excited! Aren’t you, Felix?”
“That’s right. How long has it been since we last ate Master’s cooking?”
Seeing the two excited disciples, Lisir asked with an expectant expression.
“Is Dwen’s cooking really that amazing?”
“Ah. It’s amazing. Amazing and more.”
“Amazing in many ways. Lisir, you won’t forget today. Just like we didn’t.”
With that meaningful tone, Lisir belatedly realizes.
Jane and Felix. Mischief filled the expressions of the two.
“Lisir. Don’t worry.”
The Master called out to the two disciples in a serious tone.
“It’s just those two being overly enthusiastic. Those who have eaten my cooking have all been generous with their praise.”
“…”
Lisir felt a strange anxiety in Dwen’s confident expression.
‘Is there anyone who can say the Sword Master’s cooking is bad?’
“What are you thinking right now?”
“Ah, I was thinking how much I’m looking forward to it.”
The groceries purchased at the market filled their arms.
With light steps, they headed towards Jane’s mansion, which would be the venue for the banquet.
They passed through the market streets and the main streets.
As they entered the alleyway that Jane and Felix called a shortcut, it was then.
“…”
Dwen’s relaxed atmosphere instantly tightened.
Then, she carefully placed her luggage on the ground and drew her sword.
“…!”
Then Lisir and the two disciples followed Dwen.
Thump. Thump.
They sensed an ominous presence approaching from beyond the corner.
A moment later.
The owner of the presence revealed themselves—
“…”
Ah.
Dwen sheathed her sword with a short sigh.
“Master…!?”
“Everyone, sheathe your swords. They are not our enemies.”
“That’s right.”
The group that appeared before Lisir’s party.
The one who seemed to be the leader among them responded to Dwen’s words.
It was a woman whose gentle demeanor felt strangely out of place.
With a gentle expression and voice that matched the atmosphere, she spoke.
“Let’s lower our guard, brothers and sisters. We are only here to help the Thousand Swords.”
“Help…?”
To Jane’s question, the woman nodded.
“That’s right. To alleviate the pain she bears.”
“No way…!”
Felix looked at Dwen’s left hand with a delighted expression.
“Could it be that you know how to heal that left hand!?”
“…”
The woman did not answer the question.
She simply smiled gently.
She spoke to Dwen.
“Thousand Swords. You remember the promise you made to us.”
“…”
Dwen looked at her left hand once before nodding.
Then, she approached her two disciples.
It happened in an instant.
“Ugh!”
“Mas…!”
Jane and Felix.
They lost consciousness at Dwen’s touch.
“Dwen, what is this…!”
And she speaks to the bewildered Lisir.
“It’s unavoidable.”
An extremely serious expression.
Reading the despair hidden within, Lisir could not say anything.
Rip!
Dwen tore off her left sleeve and tied it around her upper arm.
With her left hand, devoured by the abomination, fully exposed, she approached the woman.
The woman also approached Dwen.
Swish.
Drawing the sword from her waist.
“Wa-wait a minute…!”
Lisir, vaguely understanding the situation, urgently shouted.
“Everyone, please wait a moment! I beg you, give me a little time…! It will surely be alright!!!”
“It’s not your place to judge that.”
The polite woman replied.
With a sword in one hand, she took something out of her bosom with the other.
“That’s…”
It was a faded cloth.
“The one who bears it bears the sins and pain of their friends.”
She said, holding up the cloth.
“This is the tolerance allowed to one person. If even this cannot bear all her sins—”
Instead of continuing, she put more strength into the sword in her other hand.
As if she already knew the predetermined outcome.
“No, please listen to me!!! I’ve already taken separate measures!!! So please, just one week—no, three days—”
The woman did not listen to Lisir at all.
Silently, she held the cloth to Dwen’s left arm.
The remains of a Saint.
A relic that absorbs the impure energy of its target.
Thus, the purification was performed.
The faded cloth.
It was bleached white.
The relic that had touched the abomination was purified.
✦✦✦
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