Chapter 121 : Chapter 121

Chapter 121

“Thorn.”

The wooden sword wielded by Edan split the Troll’s belly open.

[Guooaargh.]

The Troll let out a pained scream.

Around them, the corpses of a dozen Trolls that had already met their end were growing cold.

It was said that a 5-star knight could hunt a 5-star monster.

[This is hardly a fight.]

But to massacre 5-star monsters with a wooden sword, not a real one, and to do it alone, was not a common sight.

[How about we call it a day and head back? What are you going to do if the ruler of the mountain range shows up?]

“Weren’t you the one who said there’s no better practice partner than a monster?”

[That’s when you strike and withdraw appropriately. Coming this deep into the center of the mountain range alone at a 5-star level and swinging your sword around is beyond the level of practice. If you meet the ruler of the mountain range, it’ll be a dog’s death.]

Edan smirked at the clumsy threat.

“The great Magic Sword can just help me. You’ll save my life with your precious Authority, won’t you?”

[Ha… To think a guy like you is my partner. You’ll never overcome the wall if you rely on the Authority.]

“I’ve never relied on it. I just stated a fact.”

Edan’s training method was simple, so to speak.

He swung his sword against monsters.

He would complete a Gye .

Based on the Gye he built, he would reach 7-stars.

Dying to a monster before that…

“Is not in my plans.”

[How arrogant.]

It was an arrogant, yet admirable thing to say.

Edan of the fallen royal family, Eurasia.

He possessed the greatest talent among all the partners I had met so far.

So, I told him.

[The name ‘Thorn’ is too broad to establish a Gye.]

The thorn on a flower is a thorn, and what grows on a tree is also a thorn.

Also, some might call the small, sharp bones protruding from an animal’s body a thorn.

[A name that isn’t specific is difficult to pass down as a Gye . It will surely be cut off as it’s passed down to later generations.]

What Edan wanted was a swordsmanship that the descendants of Eurasia could use.

So I told him that an abstract name like Thorn was not right.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Hwoong. Hoong.

Edan swung the wooden sword that had cut down the Troll and got back into his stance.

The mana that had been enveloping the wooden sword scattered.

The scattered mana floated in the air before clinging back to the sword.

“A thorn is just a thorn.”

The sole resistance of a single rose.

The last struggle of a knight who has not reached perfection.

The blood-soaked will of a prince from a weak nation, seeking to protect his people groaning under the Empire’s oppression.

“All of that is Thorn.”

[…….]

“This name is enough.”

Just as Edan said this with a rather serious tone.

[Wooooaaaargh!]

The Troll he had cut down, its body now fully regenerated, let out another roar.

Its fighting spirit was much stronger than before, and a new pattern was drawn vertically between its face and torso.

[Hey… I think that thing evolved.]

“……”

[…….]

In the brief silence, the Grand Troll roared, showing off its presence.

Sreung.

Edan, drawing ‘me’ from the scabbard, smiled.

“A Grand Troll… This is even better.”

Power flowed into the hand gripping the Magic Sword.

Mana coiled around the two legs standing firm on the ground.

“I have a feeling that cutting this guy down will be the first step in establishing the Gye.”

The Grand Troll charged, emitting evil energy, and Edan’s form dug into the monster’s chest.

“Thorn.”

On that day, when a 5-star knight and a 6-star monster fought a bloody battle.

The first Eurasia Gye was born.

***

“Keuk…”

I pushed myself up after being thrown back.

I had clearly blocked it properly, but my limbs were trembling.

I lifted my head and looked at Simon Eurasia, who was standing in a natural stance.

“Thorn.”

He said that the Eurasia Style was fundamentally based on cutting power.

“It is the first sword that forms the Eurasia Gye .”

Simon informed me calmly.

“……”

It felt like only yesterday that I, as the ancestor’s partner, watched the birth and completion of the Gye.

Now, his descendant was imparting the teachings of the Gye to me.

I was so pleased that a smile unconsciously formed on my face.

“I know.”

I raised Aether and aimed my sword back at him.

A real sword and a wooden sword.

Aether was a masterpiece of a sword, shameful to even compare with an ordinary real sword.

And yet, a pressure as if facing a great mountain was transmitted to me.

A faint smile drew on Simon’s lips.

“Yes. It seems you do.”

Thorn.

Once again, the same sword came at me.

A stab and a slash, the wondrous trajectory of the sword, somewhere in between, cut through the air.

Kwa-jik.

The floor of the training ground caved in.

It was because my two feet standing on the ground could not withstand the weight pressing down.

I felt no fighting spirit or killing intent. Nor was he emitting Haki.

It was as if he was simply giving a lesson.

“Thorn.”

Kwa-deuk.

The casually swung wooden sword struck Aether.

‘An 8-star knight who has trained in the Eurasia Gye.’

Jureuk.

A bead of sweat trickled down Killian’s forehead.

‘Facing him directly is enough to give me chills.’

Just as not all Mana Hearts are the same, not all Sword Masters are the same.

7-stars was just the standard for the realm called Superhuman; the gap between them was clear.

‘He’s not in an incomplete state like Hegel Cornelia either.’

A knight who had fully stabilized his 8-star level and was on the verge of becoming a Master.

The realm the man before me stood upon was of a different dimension from the current Killian.

“Your courage to counter Thorn with Thorn is commendable.”

“It’s a sword where I would have to give up a vital spot if I tried to foolishly dodge or block it.”

“Did Escardo tell you that?”

I did learn from him.

Though it wasn't a lesson that Killian Eurasia, who hadn't even forged a Mana Heart then, could understand.

For Simon, who didn't know I had been reincarnated, it was reasonable to think so.

“Your Majesty.”

“……?”

“Please, see for yourself.”

Sreuk.

Aether spewed out blue mana.

Gae, which adds a mana color to the Gye to grant it characteristics.

The Red Thorn that Escardo used had the will to ‘tear out’ the opponent by strengthening his physical strength.

The White Thorn that Demian used had the will to ‘cut out’ by further enhancing its cutting power.

And.

Eurasia Style, Blue Thorn.

The sword Killian wielded held the will to ‘control’ the opponent.

Geu-geu-geuk.

The gray mana surrounding the wooden sword flowed into Aether. It was absorbing Simon’s mana.

“……”

Simon watched the scene for a moment.

“How arrogant.”

Kwang!

Just by strengthening his mana, Killian’s body was sent flying to the end of the training ground.

The moment he tried to quickly regain his balance.

“……!!”

A single bolt of lightning struck down above Killian’s head.

He recognized a beat too late that it was a sword energy that struck down in the shape of a thunderbolt.

Eurasia Gye .

“Thunderbolt.”

From bottom to top.

The sword energy Killian fired back canceled out the thunderbolt.

“Indeed.”

The smile on Simon’s lips deepened.

“Thunderbolt and Thorn make a good pair.”

Along with his words, his stance, holding the wooden sword, lowered.

‘It’s coming.’

Eurasia Style, Meteor Flash.

Killian deflected the pouring sword energy that felt like dozens of meteors striking down.

Eurasia Style, Explosive Flash.

He blocked the collision with a meteor that seemed to have swallowed a volcano.

Kwaang. Kwang. Kwa-jik.

Following that, he used the scabbard’s barrier to close the distance.

Gray mana was surging around Simon.

“Eurasia Style, Wave.”

Kwarururururu.

The gray mana covered the training ground as if it were a wave.

The mana that Aether and the scabbard were emitting began to be rapidly encroached upon.

‘Good grief… Should I have drunk a recovery potion before challenging him?’

As Killian was now, defending was the most he could do. He was being completely overwhelmed.

At this rate, he would end up attending the banquet without even knowing the reason.

‘That would be troublesome.’

Mana Heart, sword, and scabbard.

He poured out all of his remaining mana.

“Carpe.”

Blue mana spread over the gray wave.

It wasn't to subdue the opponent, but to dominate the space to unfold a Shik .

Simon’s eyebrows twitched, having realized the intention too late.

“Carpe Illusion.”

Total Solar Eclipse.

Four spheres floated up above the training ground.

Kugugugung.

The Haki of a Superhuman pressed down on the body of a Superhuman.

“Your Majesty.”

The Annihilation Squad Leader’s sword was aimed at the King of Eurasia.

“Is this all the Gye you have to show me?”

Total Lunar Eclipse.

Kwaaaaaaa.

As it sucked in the mana emitted by the 8-star Superhuman.

Killian’s form shot forward.

***

Two months before the New Year’s banquet was held.

[Grrr~]

Killian, accompanied by Hazard, entered the Pantera Temple.

He had come to visit because Pierre said there was something to discuss regarding the approval for the medium-sized Warp Gate.

The expansion construction was proceeding smoothly, so it could be operated at any time once the Holy Nation’s approval came through.

Unlike before, they were immediately guided to the Chief Priest’s personal reception room.

[Grrr~ Grrr~]

Hazard let out a cry as if it was happy to see him.

“As expected… you came together.”

Pierre said, avoiding Hazard’s gaze.

“It is an audience with the famous one from the Eastern Frontier. Wouldn’t two be better than one?”

“Your wordplay has improved. The Grotesquery’s energy seems to have gotten stronger since I last saw you.”

“How do you know that, when even the Divine Object is broken?”

“Do not look down on a priest who serves the Gods.”

[Grrr!]

“Heok.”

As Hazard raised its voice at the dismissive attitude, Pierre began to break out in a cold sweat.

‘The effect of the Divine Object imprinted on Hazard is still intact.’

Heejuk.

Killian unknowingly gestured with his chin towards the Chief Priest’s half-bent back.

“I thought you were serving a new master now.”

“Such blasphemous words…”

“Let’s get to the point. There was a piece of the Grotesquery in Cornelia’s territory.”

“……Is that so.”

“Your reaction suggests you already knew?”

“You state the obvious. Cornelia was also at the center of the former Kingdom Alliance. The Holy Nation was watching them as well.”

He mentioned that the Roto Temple, situated in the Western Frontier, had also done favors for the Empire in the past.

Pierre said it nonchalantly.

Killian narrowed his brow.

“Cornelia won’t stand still if they find out about this.”

“We’ll think about that when the time comes. And I have sent a separate letter to the Chief Priest of the Roto Temple.”

“A letter?”

“Saying that while there is a high probability of a piece of the Grotesquery being in Eurasia’s capital, Brussels, they are unrelated to the phenomenon we are investigating.”

He had already told him about the piece that was in Brussels.

It seemed Pierre had prepared his own countermeasures.

“What if it’s discovered that you’re wrong?”

“I won’t be able to avoid punishment.”

If someone of the Chief Priest’s stature was caught spreading false information, the punishment would not be light.

At the very least, someone of the Saintess or Cardinal rank might step in.

‘Considering Eurasia’s future hegemony… perhaps even the Pope might get involved.’

Pierre was risking his life to improve his relationship with Eurasia.

“Didn’t we promise to be in the same boat anyway?”

“Weren’t you forced into it?”

“It’s upsetting to hear you put it that way.”

“So. Did you get a reply from the Pope?”

“That disrespectful tone of yours… Haaa…”

Pierre, letting out a sigh, continued.

“Yes, a reply has come from His Holiness the Pope.”

Since there was a letter of recommendation from a Chief Priest, it would surely be an approval.

He had asked with that thought in mind.

Pierre shook his head.

“Don’t tell me it was rejected?”

“No.”

“……?”

“His Holiness did not answer.”

What did that mean?

Eurasia was unrelated to the phenomenon of the Gods’ disappearance or the Grotesquery.

If the Chief Priest of Pantera, who had personally inspected the Eastern Frontier, testified as such, the higher-ups should have believed him without a doubt.

And yet, he didn’t get an answer?

[Grrr, grrr.]

“His Holiness said…”

Pierre, clearing his throat, continued.

“To confirm Eurasia’s true intentions, he wished to meet the direct descendants of Eurasia in person.”

“……”

“He has sent invitations to the princes, including you.”

“……”

“Two of the four princes. At least that many must visit the Holy Nation in person.”

Pierre said it as if it were no big deal.

Of course, from his perspective, it wouldn’t be a big deal.

It was just visiting the Holy Nation for an audience with the Pope.

‘From the perspective of other kingdoms, it would be an invitation they feel honored to receive.’

But not for Killian.

He was sealed by the Gods and had just been reincarnated into a human body.

And now he was being told to walk on his own two feet before the one at the pinnacle of an organization full of those who follow the Gods.

‘Well, there are three other princes besides me.’

He could just send two of them.

Just as he came up with that simple solution, Pierre spoke again.

“Ah, one more thing.”

“……?”

“His Holiness emphasized that you, Killian Eurasia, must visit.”

“……”

Crazy bastard.

Tip: Tap/click the left or right side of the screen to go to previous/next chapter.