Ch 170
Thud.
Thud, thud.
The woman, slumped on the floor, moved her arms busily, using them to compensate for her legs that had lost their strength.
The place had been a spot where dry soil was firmly packed when the woman had arrived with her party.
But now, blood and sand were mixed together, forming a quagmire.
Thump.
Something caught on the woman’s arm as she busily moved it.
“Ah…”
It was the Captain of the renowned Mercenary Group.
To be exact, his head.
The woman remembered the expression and voice that his face had made before the Extermination Squad had set out.
Unlike now, when he was cut off and stuffed with pain, the Mercenary had been wearing a very confident expression at the time.
The words coming from his mouth were not much different either.
-That ruffian Young Master must have been quite generous.
-Seeing how he’s being so financially generous right after dying.
-Gathering this many people just to catch one nameless Criminal?
-And giving that much money?
-What’s so special about a banquet? This is a banquet. I’m going to eat so much on this mission that I’ll die.
At the time, everyone in the Extermination Squad had burst out laughing at those words.
It was an inevitable atmosphere.
It was called an extermination, but that was just words.
It was a kind of event held by a High Noble to restore his murdered Son and his Family’s Face.
Like an excessively extravagant Banquet Hall, they were trying to show that the Family’s Prestige was still intact with an excessively luxurious Extermination Squad.
A Mercenary Group with enough power to be deployed in war without any problems.
Elite Troops from the Adventurer’s Guild, which was gaining popularity these days.
On top of that, the woman, the Master of the Yellow Tower, was assisting them.
An undeniably excessive force.
On top of that, the High Noble was more relieved than saddened by the death of his ruffian Son.
It was a situation where if someone asked, ‘Is this a funeral?’, the answer would be, ‘No, it’s a festival.’
That’s how it was.
They embarked on the extermination with light hearts.
But.
How did it end up like this?
“D, don’t come…!!!”
A scream was heard from somewhere.
The woman remembered that voice.
The Master of the Adventurer’s Guild.
He was a powerful Man looking at the rear of the 6th Rank, and he had a weight that made even the rough Mercenaries follow him, let alone his Adventurers.
The way he made the Mercenary Group Captain, who was trying to cross the line, back down with just a glance.
“D, damn it! I said don’t come!!!”
Now.
He was pathetically rolling on the floor.
He had been reborn as a helpless Prey with no other way but to be toyed with by the Hunter.
“…”
The Criminal who was the target of this extermination-
The Murderer looked down at the Adventurer with an indifferent Gaze.
At first, he seemed to be drunk with blood and violence, but he seemed to have gotten tired of it.
“P, please…!”
The Murderer waved his Sword as if to say he didn’t want to hear any more.
Another head rolled on the floor.
Thus, the Extermination Squad was left with the last Survivor.
The woman.
Kelloy, the Master of the Yellow Tower, looked at the Murderer.
“…”
The Murderer’s indifferent Gaze scanned Kelloy.
That tense Sensation detected the loudest noise in this place right now.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
It was Kelloy’s heartbeat.
“…”
The Murderer listened to that heartbeat for a while.
She shook her head as if she was dumbfounded.
She had vaguely realized it.
The fact that the heartbeat was quite different from those of other Prey.
The fact that the Emotion the Wizard in front of her was feeling was completely opposite to Fear.
Kelloy, the Master of the Yellow Tower.
She was completely fascinated by the Murderer in front of her right now.
By the power that had thoroughly trampled on her World.
If the Murderer had held out a Sword, she would have gladly offered her neck.
With a very ecstatic Expression, too.
“What an insane Woman.”
The Murderer left those words behind and tried to leave the scene as it was.
“W, wait a moment…!”
Kelloy called out to the Murderer.
“I, I want to know your name!!!”
The Murderer, of course, did not respond to that depraved voice.
“Ah…”
Kelloy let out a mournful sigh as she watched the Murderer’s back fade away.
At that time.
Kelloy’s Gaze turned to one place.
The scene of the massacre.
It was a deep blue flower blooming in the nearby bushes.
Even though blood had splattered on it, the flower maintained its original form with a darker indigo color.
“Ah…”
Kelloy caught a glimpse of the Murderer’s indifferent appearance in the flower.
She approached the flower, plucked it, and carefully kept it in her arms.
It was after that.
That rumors about a Murderer called ‘Blue Lotus’ began to spread among the people.
✦✦✦
Wasteland.
A place suitable for burying someone whose name should not be remembered and forgetting them as they are.
Kelloy was in front of a pit in such a Wasteland.
“Finally…”
Kelloy exclaimed with emotion as she looked down at the pit.
She put her arm into the pit and pulled out what was inside.
It was someone’s corpse that had not yet completely rotted.
Kelloy hugged the corpse as if rubbing it against her body.
As if trying to become one with it.
✦✦✦
“What’s that sound?”
The hideous Skeleton had regained its skin and was reborn as a Woman.
She was a Woman with indigo short hair darker than night and an indifferent Atmosphere.
Blue Lotus Klana.
Kelloy, the Wizard who had taken over its body, retraced the words Lisir had just said.
“While those guys were buying time, you learned how to defeat me? From the person herself?”
She interpreted ancient texts, acquired the Magic within, and thereby took possession of the Existence of the Swordsman she had longed for.
As can be seen from this, Kelloy was originally a Wizard who was excellent at understanding and accepting Mystery and knowledge.
Even so.
She couldn’t understand what this Lisir was saying at all.
The person herself must be referring to herself ━ Klana.
“When did I ever give you Teaching?”
“Lisir!”
It was then that Archmage Pallag exclaimed in a changed tone.
Pallag, who had shown a strange color of Hope in his Expression even while struggling under pressure, had a welcoming face as if what was coming had finally arrived.
“As expected of you! In that short amount of time, you figured out how to defeat that thing’s Swordsmanship!”
“…”
Kelloy finally understood what Lisir meant at Pallag’s words, and frowned at the Humiliation.
“Learned from the person herself…”
Was it that easy and obvious of a Swordsmanship that it could be a Teaching in itself?
It was truly an original and ridiculous insult.
Kelloy knew the power of the Klana Style.
She prided Herself on understanding the greatness of the Klana Style more deeply than anyone else.
“No Swordsman can utter such words about my Sword.”
No Swordsman!
Kelloy added solemnly and swung her Sword greatly.
One word followed the flamboyant Action with a strong sense of showing off.
“You cannot defeat my Sword. I am Blue Lotus Klana. A Sage whom even history feared to remember, and the strongest Swordsman who will never exist again in the history of the Continent. Retract that Statement. Otherwise, I will inflict upon you the most painful form of death.”
The Murderer drew out all her power without holding back.
Then, that powerful Energy seemed to take shape and bloom around her body like a heat haze.
The weight of the Atmosphere in the place increased.
A dignified Atmosphere and tone befitting that power.
It was truly the Dignity of the strong.
The Archmage, as well as the Sword Master Priest, showed a look of being intimidated by that Dignity.
“…”
Kelloy looked at them and smiled inwardly with Satisfaction.
That’s right.
That was the appropriate reaction for those facing Herself ━ Klana, the strongest Swordsman.
“Pfft…!”
“…?”
But suddenly, a sound of ridicule was heard.
Kelloy slowly turned her head and looked at the source of the sound.
Lisir.
He was forcefully covering his mouth with his fist.
The sound of ridicule was uttered as politely as possible, reflecting his commendable sincerity.
Kelloy was so confused that she wasn’t even angry.
She had already shown a power that was sufficient to claim to be the strongest Swordsman, and had shown ‘Dignity’ befitting it.
But.
How could one burst out laughing at the sight of such Dignity of the strong?
How could one harbor such raw mockery?
“A Sage whom history did not remember, and the strongest Swordsman who will never exist again in the history of the Continent… Is that true? Klana, do you usually call Herself that?”
The fact that the tone felt strangely directed at somewhere other than Herself must be a trick of the mind.
“What a crazy bastard…”
“Oh.”
Lisir exclaimed as he watched the Murderer’s appearance, indignant at the insult.
To see that face turn red due to emotional factors.
It was a rare sight that was hard to see under normal circumstances.
“Don’t look? Hey, then how do we fight?”
He muttered meaningless words.
“I can no longer condone your recklessness.”
Kelloy drew out the maximum Presence with anger.
Despite being exhausted from the battle with the three strong, the Presence was relentlessly fierce.
“Ugh…!”
“To think that this much power is still left…!”
Pallag and Torben, who felt the Presence on their skin, trembled.
The Swordsman, who prided Herself on being the strongest, said indifferently.
“Come. You arrogant thing. I will show you what a true Sword is, what a true Sword is.”
Pallag and Torben were overwhelmed by the Presence and couldn’t even question it.
And-
“Pfft…! Ah, Klana. Sorry━ I’m sorry! No, but! How can you not… cough!”
Lisir.
At this point, Kelloy could only shake her head.
“He’s someone you can’t associate with.”
If words don’t work, she’ll just have to make him understand with a Sword.
In the first place, that is the way of the ‘Blue Lotus’.
“Lisi━”
Torben’s urgent cry.
Faster than that, Kelloy’s Sword rushed towards Lisir.
It was a forward Strike containing the high speed and Deception unique to the Klana Style without holding back.
“…!”
At the end of that Strike, the Murderer hid her surprise with an indifferent Expression.
Lisir had blocked the Sword again.
And, his Sword created a strange line again, leading the flow.
The Murderer’s Sword, which was entangled, helplessly lost Dominance.
Thud!
It was the same pattern as the first move.
Again, the Murderer allowed a shallow Swordsmanship, and was flustered by it and took a big Distance back.
“…”
This time it was the shoulder blade.
The Murderer muttered, caressing the wound engraved there.
“It wasn’t a fluke.”
Kelloy’s Incantation that made up the Murderer’s life.
It functions perfectly as long as it is within this place, the Barrier.
At this moment.
Kelloy was perfectly reproducing the power and Skill of the Blue Lotus.
To be able to engage in this much of a close battle against Herself.
‘My Sword is being pushed back? No. That can’t be. Even that Wongeom couldn’t face it alone, the strongest Swordsman… That’s the Blue Lotus… That’s…’
“I am the Blue Lotus…”
Kelloy shook off the Anguish that was eating away at Herself with that self-hypnotic soliloquy.
“You.”
She said, looking at Lisir indifferently.
“You can be happy. I━ the Blue Lotus acknowledge you. I acknowledge you as a Sword worth defeating with all my might.”
“…Pfft!”
“…Damn it. Why are you laughing!”
Becoming the strongest Swordsman and facing a worthy opponent. And overwhelming them.
It was the Situation that the High Mage who longed for the strongest Swordsman had so desperately wanted.
But Kelloy finally lost Reason at the other party’s reaction, which kept interrupting the flow.
At that moment.
The wonder of the Murderer’s Magical Power shines.
As if resonating with the raging Emotions, it caused a synergistic effect.
“Yeah!!! Go ahead and laugh as much as you want!!!”
Kelloy enjoyed the Omnipotence that the power brought and charged towards Lisir.
The Murderer’s movements, which were already fast enough, accelerated once again.
It was a speed with an explosive power that was incomparable to before.
However.
Due to the speed that deviated from the trajectory, the Nuance of Deception that had been exquisitely harmonized faded.
“Pallag! Gorein!”
Torben’s cry.
They were already moving.
It was the moment when they, who had only been able to follow the Murderer due to the Deception contained in their Movement, caught up with the Murderer’s Movement for the first time.
The Priest’s Swordsmanship that dug in from both sides.
And the cold air that froze the Space itself and tightened from all directions.
That put a Brake on the Murderer’s explosive power.
“Ugh!”
“Keugh!”
The Priest, whose power had greatly weakened due to repeated offensives and defenses, was blown away by the recoil-
But that in itself had already fulfilled its mission.
The Murderer who had lost momentum.
This time, it was Lisir who was rushing in.
It was the Murderer’s body, which had absolute Martial Prowess in itself.
Even though She had already shaken off the Combined Attack of the three, She could easily capture and block Lisir’s attack again.
Even after that, She still had power and leeway left.
‘This time for sure…!’
Kelloy focused all her Mind in the heightened Emotion.
It was a determination to overwhelm him with the Klana Style this time for sure.
She rudely digs in and becomes subtly entangled.
Like a Wolf craving blood.
There is no Form or Style there.
Only Instinct and Sensation.
Therefore, it is impossible to see through-
It was also impossible to deal with.
Yeah.
It certainly should have been.
“Why!!!!!!”
The Wizard who longed for the strongest Swordsman shouted in frustration.
She grabbed her Left Hand and stepped back.
She couldn’t put much strength in her Left Hand.
It was the biggest injury She had ever sustained.
It was the Result of putting the greatest concentration She had ever had into the Sword.
Now-
The Murderer realized the identity of the frustration that was eating away at Herself.
The Murderer looked at the other party’s Sword.
It was acting as a perfect antagonist to the Klana Style, as if it was a Swordsmanship created with only the intention of opposing the Klana Style.
Like an Antidote to a poison that has no Antidote.
“Impossible!!!”
At this point, the Murderer was almost going crazy.
Saliva dripped like a thread from her mouth, which was torn wide open.
“In that short amount of time, you saw through my Sword!!! And created a Swordsmanship to match it!!! It can’t be!!!”
Like a Beast struggling before its end.
Pallag, Torben, and Gorein were pushed back by the Presence and took a step back without even realizing it.
Step.
But Lisir was approaching her without Hesitation.
The strongest Murderer who taught him Swordsmanship said.
There was no opponent as easy and enjoyable to deal with as a Prey struggling with all its might.
“…!”
The Murderer’s red, bloodshot eyes widened.
Lisir.
His Sword, which had been focused on blocking all along, had changed.
“That’s…!”
The Murderer recognized the identity of the Sword at a glance.
It was her Sword-
It was the Klana Style.
Lisir, who had closed the Distance enough, lowered his center of gravity and took a Sword drawing stance.
Klana Style. It was the ready stance for Breath Control.
“Now you’re even imitating my Sword…!!!”
The Murderer lost Reason and rushed towards Lisir.
That Presence.
It was truly a Monster made of violence and power.
“…”
Lisir’s Gaze, looking at the Monster, was infinitely calm.
It was indifferent.
Step.
The foot he took slides forward.
At the same time, his figure leaves an afterimage and stretches out.
Another collision.
This time, instead of sparks flying as iron collided━ blood flowed profusely.
“…Cough!”
The Murderer looked at Lisir, spitting out blood from her blocked throat and mouth.
Lisir looked at her with his unique sly Gaze and muttered.
“That’s not how you do it.”
Thud.
The Murderer fell.
The Sword Qi formed at the end of her Sword scattered miserably.
✦✦✦
“Lisir…!”
Pallag shouted.
At that time, Torben was already running towards Lisir.
“H, how on earth did you do it…!”
Torben asked, grabbing Lisir’s arm.
His Expression contained pure Awe as a Swordsman.
“D, did you really━ see through that thing’s Swordsmanship in that short amount of time!?! A Sword that has no Form or Style, completely as your own━”
The Old Driver was almost hyperventilating with excitement.
Lisir smiled bitterly and interrupted him.
“No way. How could that be possible. What Swordsman would be capable of that.”
“Ah…”
Torben was relieved at Lisir’s words.
Perhaps there is a Realm that he cannot dare to fathom.
Lisir had personally denied that terrible possibility that he had momentarily held.
“It’s just that the Master of this body is in my Inner World and received her advice.”
“I see! In your Inner World-…”
Huh?
Torben blinked.
It was then.
The Shared Space where they are.
Cracks appear in the power that makes up the Barrier.
The Energy that leaked from the cracks gathered to form the shape of an Elder.
Another material used by the Wizard to reproduce the Murderer’s body, and another Offering bound by the Incantation, was released.
Deep wrinkles.
What was imbued in it was not faded Years, but deep experience.
“Ah, ah…!”
Torben recognized the face at a glance.
It was a face and name remembered by history.
Most of the Swordsmanship of the present age, as well as of the modern age, was based on that Swordsman.
That was the Will of that Swordsman.
It was also the Reason why Torben wanted to open the Chest.
The Old Driver knelt down politely like a young Servant and paid his respects to the great Swordsman.
Following that, Gorein and Pallag also recognized the powerful Rank of the Will and knelt down.
But the great Swordsman’s Gaze was not directed at them.
-It’s you. You are the one who freed me from this cursed confinement.
He looked down at Lisir.
-Child. I owe you a great debt. Is there anything you personally desire from me?
Torben gestured urgently to Lisir.
Teaching!
Ask for Teaching!!!
“…Ah!”
Lisir, realizing the Situation.
It was the moment when he belatedly tried to bow his head towards the Will of the great Swordsman.
“…Huh?”
He answered the voice coming from within.
“You don’t have to bow?”
“?”
“Wongeom?”
Wongeom.
He was the Master of all Sword Masters of his time.
And, he was the Hero who subjugated the Murderer who should not be recorded in history.
…With a Joint Attack with his Disciple.
“That person is under you?”
“Ah, is that so?”
Pallag, who had been watching Lisir’s Nunchi while kneeling, stood up abruptly.
-…
“…”
“…”
✦✦✦
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