Chapter 15 : Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Genius (2)

“You are a genius.”

It was something I had grown sick of hearing since I was young.

“Cadet Seol Yoon, you are a genius.”

Genius.

Yes. That was the other name of the girl, Seol Yoon.

“They say in the Central Plains of the Eastern Continent there are countless people gifted in martial arts, but it seems that wasn’t just nonsense.”

Her other name was what allowed her black hair and black eyes to become a mark of uniqueness rather than a flaw in this foreign continent. From the very first moment she grasped a sword, Seol Yoon knew. The instant she held that blade, she was someone special compared to others.

“In time, everyone will come to know your name.”

She graduated at the top of her class from 「Temple」, one of the three great academies of the Iron Kingdom. She received countless love calls from knight orders, and renowned swordsmen extended their hands, offering to become her teacher.

Yet for some reason, none of that stirred her interest.

Seol Yoon wanted to see the wider world. She wanted to know how far her sword could take her. She was curious, too, whether the legend passed down in her hometown on the edge of the Eastern Continent was real.

“Seol Yoon, they say if one’s swordsmanship reaches the heavens, one can ascend to paradise. There, those you cherished will be waiting for you, and it will be filled with sweet happiness.”

To reach the heavens, Seol Yoon believed it wasn’t right to lean on others or belong to a group. Like the immortals of legend, to ascend she must achieve everything alone.

“Happiness.”

She wondered about that sweet happiness said to exist in paradise. She also wondered if her precious people would truly be there—her family and neighbors who had given her love, those warm people she could no longer see. The legend might be absurd, but Seol Yoon still believed in it.

That was why Seol Yoon came to the 「Arena」.

“Fighter, what name will you use?”

“…Black Bride.”

In this place overflowing with blood and struggle, no one could stop her sword. Yet, as she began to feel a faint boredom even here, a proposal soaked in sordid desire arrived.

“Trample some upstart Sword Beginner, and thoroughly?”

“Yes. If it’s you, surely you can.”

It was far from a pleasing request. But the planners of the 「Arena」 were thorough as always.

“If you accept, we’ll gift you the Dragon Sword of the Eastern Continent from our vault. From what I hear, that weapon holds deep meaning to swordsmen of the East.”

That was an offer she could not refuse. So, the best Seol Yoon could do after accepting was to seek out that poor gladiator and urge him to surrender.

The small gladiator Liam looked just as his nickname suggested—small and weak.

“Give up tomorrow’s match.”

She sincerely hoped he would.

She prayed that this fledgling swordsman would not step into the match. That her sword would not have to mercilessly crush him.

‘Because if we meet blade to blade, I cannot show mercy…’

Looking up at the moon hanging in the night sky, Seol Yoon once again wished. But reality never flows as one wishes.

***

In front of the Hall of Fame, Tom stood smiling kindly. When he heard my words, he stroked his chin once and then replied.

“What kind of request?”

“As you may know, tomorrow I face a promotion match where my medal will change. From bronze to silver.”

Tom smiled at my words.

“Congratulations. You’ve seized a fine opportunity.”

I nodded and said,

“Yes. It’s a good opportunity. A chance to fight greater battles and prove myself, isn’t it?”

“Indeed.”

“But the match before me is truly harsh. I must duel a gladiator far stronger than I am. The great Goddess Refri said that struggling against powerful foes is the greatest glory, but as a mere frail human, I fear tomorrow’s duel.”

At my words, Tom looked pained.

“Oh, so the Arena’s cruel prank has fallen on you. Rising fighters often suffer a harsh blow once or twice. How unfortunate.”

“……”

“May I give you some advice? You, who appreciate historic weapons and honor the greatness of Goddess Refri—I would hate to see you collapse in vain.”

“By all means.”

Tom spoke with a truly sorrowful voice.

“Sometimes avoiding a struggle is the wise choice. Goddess Refri always said to face the waves no matter how huge, but we are not as great as she is. At times, it is fine to hide until the wave passes.”

I bit my lip for a moment in hesitation, then shook my head. I moved my face muscles to form a determined expression.

“I cannot. As a fighter who prays to Goddess Refri, avoiding battle is unthinkable. I am grateful for your advice, but I intend to face it head-on.”

“…You are truly admirable.”

Tom let out an exclamation as though genuinely moved.

After carefully reading his expression, I spoke.

“So there is something I would like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Struggle is always uncertain, isn’t it? I believe there’s a chance tomorrow I may die. I intend to fight with all my might without fleeing, just as Goddess Refri always said.”

I smiled faintly, with eyes tinged in sadness.

Enough for Tom to feel sympathy for me.

“Dying in glorious battle does not frighten me, for I will go to Goddess Refri. But I need a little courage. So, if the caretaker permits, I wish to enjoy in advance one of the honors I would receive with a silver medal.”

“In advance?”

“Yes. The right to take one of the swords from the Hall of Fame as a memento. Tonight, I want to receive the spirit of those great fighters who came before me.”

I spoke with eyes brimming as if I might cry.

“If I survive, then I will be granted the silver medal anyway, so there will be no issue. And if I die, then you may retrieve my sword from the inn and there will still be no issue.”

“Ah…”

“If my request is too greedy, then please pretend you didn’t hear it. It’s just… I only needed a pinch of courage.”

Tom’s eyes welled as though my words had moved him.

After a brief silence, he said:

“…Normally, absolutely not. Never.”

“……”

“But I, Tom, caretaker of the Hall of Fame, a man who has long loved this place—cannot ignore you. I will grant your request.”

“W-will it be alright? What if this causes you trouble—”

Tom shook his head.

“It’s fine. I may look shabby, but I am more respected than you think. To a fine young man like you, I can give this much courage. Gladly.”

“Truly… Thank you so much.”

“No need. Ah—seeing such a fine youth in so long, it makes me tearful. Getting old just makes one sentimental…”

Tom sniffled, eyes red.

In the midst of that warm exchange, Liam spoke.

「Even if your arms and legs get cut off, you won’t starve. You could crawl into a tavern and make a fortune as an actor.」

Well, as always, I ignored him.

I embraced Tom warmly, then chose one sword from the Hall of Fame and brought it back to the inn. It was a blade Liam himself had picked for me, one that would be of immediate help.

“…Master, are you certain this will really help me?”

「Yes. For your body and style right now, it is most suitable. Don’t doubt, just eat it.」

I placed the blade in the fire and heated it until it glowed red. Watching the steel redden, I remembered what Tom had said.

—Since it’s an old sword, let me tell you the proper way to preserve it. Wouldn’t it be sad if the blade dulled? This is my personal method of care…

If he saw this sight, Tom would surely scream, foam at the mouth, and collapse.

‘Forgive me.’

After a brief apology, I pulled the blade from the fire. Before putting it into my mouth, I inspected it one last time. My second sword was a short dagger just the size of my palm.

A weapon more likely used by assassins of the Free City than swordsmen.

Its name was intuitive.

「Fang.」

“Ghh—”

I clenched my eyes shut and once more apologized silently to Tom. Then I bit down and chewed the blade, swallowing it. As before, unbearable pain swept over me. From throat to esophagus to stomach, agony burned through me as my whole body grew feverishly hot.

“Kehek—kuhuhhk!”

With violent coughs, a splitting headache surged as if my eyes would burst. My breath poured out like fire. Alongside the torment, memories from the blade surged up.

Memories that were not mine.

The old master of the sword, Fang, and his past.

『The Free City, Crowley, lived up to nothing of its name. We citizens knew well—it had long since lost its freedom.』

『To reclaim freedom, someone had to stain their hands with blood.』

***

The sun set and crimson twilight bled across the sky, darkness soon draping over it. The moon peeked out as people finished their day, chattering loudly and clinking beer mugs.

And tonight, the loudest clinking of mugs in the Iron City of Ferma—as always—came from the 「Arena」.

Even at night, it never darkened, always brilliantly lit. The colossal circular coliseum was packed with an excited crowd. Under dazzling lights, a fighter with long black hair entered the sand-covered grounds.

“Black Bride! Black Bride!”

The fighter, the 「Black Bride」— The girl Seol Yoon looked at the crowd with heavy eyes. The spectators’ cheers, dripping with crude desire, sickened her. At the same time, she despised herself for standing here, hoping for the Arena’s reward.

‘Please let him have withdrawn.’

Looking up at the rising moon, she wished again. But what she wished for did not happen.

“Her opponent, the small gladiator, Liam!”

From the opposite gate, a small boy entered, wearing a helmet. Through the dust, I could see the long, slender blade in his hand. My trademark weapon: the Needle.

‘Ah. Foolish child…’

Seol Yoon could not hide her dismay as she slowly drew her beloved sword. Bathed in moonlight, it glowed blue. A thick stench of blood spread the moment the blade was bared. It had cut down countless lives and now eagerly awaited battle.

‘I warned him enough. Yes, I did enough.’

The boy approached.

Seol Yoon steadied her breathing. With a thud, her 「Mana Heart」 pulsed, and the “Road” spreading from her second heart glimmered, granting her frail body the strength of a superhuman.

And then…

“……?”

She sensed something strange.

The gladiator Liam seemed… different.

‘What is this?’

His muscles, his frame, even the jawline beneath the helmet were the same.

What has changed?

Narrowing her eyes, she stared until her gaze met his. The boy’s eyes were completely different from when she saw him at the inn. As if only the shell was the same but the soul had been swapped.

‘Were his eyes always that sharp…?’

His gaze was cold as ice. Like the assassins of the Free City who lived amidst blood and death.

Then she saw it—the boy held another weapon in his opposite hand. A dagger. And the moment she recognized it, his form seemed to waver, distort—And for a brief instant, she saw him not as a boy in a helmet, but as an assassin wearing a ragged hood, living in the shadows.

A stench of blood radiated off him, suffocating.

‘What… is this…?’

It was something she had never seen before. As her bewilderment grew, a voice rang out.

“Small gladiator Liam, his opponent the undefeated gladiator, the Black Bride!”

Unease spread thick in her chest.

“Now, the fighters’ duel will begin!”

It was a murderous aura unlike anything she had ever felt.

“This sacred duel shall be dedicated to the Goddess Refri, Guardian of Justice!”

And so, in the midst of nameless dread, the duel began.