Chapter 326 : . The Ash Bud Sword

The polite Bjoern, after doing a grand bow, sat down with us and we talked.

The faces gathered around the table were splendid.

The Hero of Light, the pride of the Holy Hilka Empire, and the most brilliant light of the Sun God, Hope.

The master of the Pure White Sword, Lux, one of Ophosis's famous swords, Lasol Grace.

The prince of the Kingdom of Sorrow, and the second Quadra Horn.

The master of the Purple Sword, Purple, one of Ophosis's famous swords, Bjoern Bisanbark.

And, me.

Although not one of the Eight Sword Masters, a strong man who had finally reached a level where he could stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

The captain of the Sherwood Mercenary Corps, the true great evil that would defeat the Evil God.

The Red-Eyed Devil, Ashuban Sherwood.

It was a new feeling.

To think that I was now standing shoulder to shoulder with those I had thought I could never even catch up to.

But the meeting of these big shots did not last long.

Because our Bjoern, after dozing off like a sick chicken, soon fell fast asleep.

It seemed he was still recovering, so he was very sleepy.

As I watched the back of Bjoern, who was being carried away like a treasure by the people of the Kingdom of Sorrow, the Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue.

[You should have beaten him up moderately.]

"No, it was Siri who beat him up."

[Didn't you incite her?]

"That's..."

I have nothing to say.

Anyway, what's done is done.

And what needs to be left, needs to be left.

I couldn't just settle down in one place.

Bjoern had woken up, so all I had to do was leave...

I let Viola spend a whole day with her brother, whom she had thought she would never see again, and then, when Bjoern fell asleep at night, I called her out separately.

"Viola."

"Hmm...?"

"I'm leaving now."

Viola's eyes widened.

"Already...?"

"What do you mean, already? How long has it been since we came here?"

"Where are you going...?"

"Where else? To our nostalgic home where the magical beasts run wild."

"Ah..."

Viola looked at me with her mouth half-open.

I looked at her trembling indigo eyes and said.

"Let's go back together. You're the last one."

"The last one...?"

"The guys who were scattered when I fell from the cliff. I've gathered them all."

Viola slowly blinked her surprised eyes.

"Really...?"

"That's right. The kids want to see you. They're all making a fuss about where you went."

As if she remembered the guys she had parted with a long time ago, Viola's eyes became moist.

"If you come, it will be the complete revival of Sherwood."

Viola looked at me blankly with her moist eyes.

"What about... you?"

"Hmm?"

"Ashuban, did you... miss me too?"

I chuckled.

"Of course. I was so worried that you were hiding in a corner somewhere, crying your eyes out."

"Really...?"

Viola smiled faintly.

"Then, what's your answer to my question?"

"Huh?"

Viola took a step closer.

The distance between me and her became so close that our noses were almost touching.

"I told you I liked you. You said you would answer me after you saved Bill..."

Viola, who had come closer, grabbed my collar and demanded an answer with her even clearer indigo eyes.

"I-I waited..."

I looked at her without avoiding her eyes.

It was like looking at a sapphire that had sunk into the water.

[Now is the time, my disciple. If you miss this one, there will be no more chances. You will regret it.]

I lightly ignored the Heavenly Demon's whisper, and since it seemed that a lie wouldn't work, I said honestly.

"I have something to do right now, so I don't have the luxury of thinking about that."

"Something to do...? What is it?"

"I have to save the world."

Viola blinked her eyes.

"...Are you serious?"

"Yes. A corrupt Evil God will be descending soon."

"An Evil God...? A bad guy?"

"Hmm. Since he's an Evil God, he must be a bad guy, right? And since he's even corrupt, he must be no ordinary bad guy. I have to beat him up."

Viola stared at my eyes, as if trying to figure out if I was joking or serious.

"...When is he coming down?"

"Within this year. The Hero of Light has confirmed it, so it's almost certain."

"Really...? Then after you save the world, will you have some peace of mind?"

"I don't know for sure, but probably? Even if they don't give me a reward for doing a good job, the gods probably won't ask me to do this and that again."

Squeeze...

Viola's hand, which had been holding my collar, tightened.

"Then... I'll wait until then."

Viola smiled faintly and lowered her head.

"...I'm always just waiting."

Seeing her smile, I felt like I had become a bad guy, so I didn't feel at ease.

[You are actually a bad guy. You're even stupid enough to miss a golden opportunity several times.]

'Ah, Master, please.'

I tried to ignore him and then, licking my lips, I said.

"Um... do you want to stay with your brother a little longer? You can stay for another day or so..."

Viola slowly shook her head, cutting me off.

"It's okay. We've talked enough, and Bill will get through it bravely."

Viola slowly let go of my collar.

"It's not like I'm leaving forever. I can always come back and see how he's doing, and we can eat together and talk... so it's okay."

"...Okay."

I sighed softly to myself.

I put my hand on her shoulder and said.

"Then we'll leave tomorrow. Pack your things."

"Okay..."

I looked at the top of Viola's lowered head for a moment... and then, as I was about to turn around and leave, Viola's trembling voice stopped me.

"I... have only ever lost."

Halt.

"My mom, Bill, and... you."

It was a voice that was wet with moisture, a voice that was choked with tears.

"But... the stars I thought I had lost have miraculously returned. You even pulled Bill out of the darkness. The stars that I thought had lost their light forever have started to sparkle in my heart again."

I slowly turned around.

As expected, Viola was crying.

"Thank you."

With a bright smile.

"Thank you for coming back... thank you for saving Bill..."

Drip, drip—

Tears flowed down her cheeks.

I sighed softly and approached her.

"...Why are you crying again?"

"I-I'm a crybaby..."

"Yes, you're crybaby Viola."

I went to her and wiped away her flowing tears...

And as Viola leaned against me, I had no choice but to hug her lightly.

I wasn't that cruel.

Pat, pat.

Viola cried in my arms for a long time, and then, pointing at my shoulder, she said.

"You're... hurt here."

"Ah, I was sparring with Lasol. I must have gotten a little scratched."

Viola gently grabbed my collar.

"...?"

As I looked at her, wondering what she was doing, Viola looked up at me and said hesitantly.

"Um, at our house... do you want to get bandaged...?"

"...What?"

Just then.

"...What are you two doing there?"

A voice as cold as frost.

When I turned my head, Siri was standing there with her arms crossed.

We were startled and separated.

"Ah, I-I was just telling her to pack her things since we're leaving tomorrow."

"Y-yes! I-I was just going to treat Ashuban's wound since he was hurt...!"

Creak—

Siri's head tilted to one side.

"When I'm here?"

Viola said, dejected.

"Ah, yes... I thought you were sleeping..."

"Hmm..."

Siri stared at the two of us with cold eyes.

Siri, standing under the moonlight, looked strangely desolate.

'No, wait. What did I do wrong?'

I felt wronged belatedly.

As I looked at Siri with a heart full of injustice...

"Big Brother, why. Do you have something to say?"

"No, I don't."

"You said we're leaving tomorrow. Then you should go to bed early."

"Yes. That's right."

Come to think of it, I was quite weak when it came to Siri.

I could beat up the other guys, but I just couldn't do that to Siri.

"Let's go."

"Okay..."

Having no choice, I was dragged back to the lodging by Siri's hand.

* * *

The next day.

"Are you ready?"

"Goes without saying."

We set off early.

Because the demon race, who were already treating me as a savior who had saved their prince, were being tiresome every time I passed by.

They would greet me warmly as if I were a long-lost brother, give me various things to eat, ask if I wanted to spar, suddenly ask for teachings, and the kids would follow me around, calling me the 'ruler of the demon realm'...

If we left late, it seemed like it would be even more chaotic and troublesome, so we decided to leave early in the morning.

The members were me, Siri, Viola, and Lasol.

We had come as two, but we were leaving with two more.

One of them was the strongest sniper and archer, and the other was an Apostle of Hope who could raise the sun in the middle of the night, and a living free pass to the empire, so I had no worries.

And so, we secretly left the lodging, and as we were stealthily crossing the east wall (fence)...

"Hold it right there."

Halt.

When I looked where the voice had come from, a familiar face was slouching towards us.

"You're lucky. To see the 'ruler of the demon realm' leaving."

The lazy guard of the Kingdom of Sorrow with one broken horn, and the rather direct and cheerful demon who had been our guide on the first day. It was Tifri.

"Tifri."

Thump.

Tifri smiled, hitting the ground with the butt of his spear.

"Where are you going so secretly? We can't stand it when you bestow an unspeakable grace and then run away without even giving us time to repay it."

I instantly realized what was going on.

I turned my head and looked at Viola.

The startled Viola avoided my gaze.

"I-I couldn't help it... Dad had something he was preparing to give you..."

"I didn't say anything."

As if a thief had been caught, Viola, who was feeling guilty for no reason, fiddled with her hands and muttered excuses.

Tifri, who had yawned long and hard, gathered his aura at the tip of his spear, and then, throwing it towards the sky, he said.

"Our lord will be here soon, so just wait a little. It will only be a moment."

The aura that Tifri had shot up cut through the still dark dawn sky and shone brightly enough to be seen from a distance.

It seemed to be a signal they had agreed on.

I shrugged.

"Well, can't be helped."

I shrugged and then sat down, leaning against the fence.

Crack!

I broke it.

"..."

As I lay there blankly with a dumbfounded expression, Lasol and Siri giggled and helped me up.

"Hey, Tifri. Get this repaired. What is this?"

"To think that you're getting angry after destroying the property of the nation. How absurd. I should just arrest you."

"Fuck. Arrest me. If this is destruction of property, then a handshake is assault."

As I was getting angry and destroying the useless fence, I heard footsteps.

"Hey, why are you destroying the perfectly fine fence?"

When I turned around, the Demon King, Aktir, and the prince, Bjoern, were walking towards us.

It seemed that Viola had told them in advance that I would be escaping at dawn, and they had woken up early and were waiting somewhere outside the east fence.

"It was self-defense. These guys attacked me first."

Crack! Crack!

"..."

Bjoern looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

Aktir shook his head gently.

"It seems you've gained a power so great that it shakes the demon realm, but your core hasn't changed. I get it, so stop and take this."

Thump.

I reflexively caught what had been thrown at me.

It was a sword.

"What is it?"

"It's a sword made of mithril. I rushed the blacksmith all night since you were leaving this morning, and I barely finished it. I hope you like it."

Mithril, wasn't that a legendary mineral that blacksmiths couldn't get enough of?

As I stared at the Demon King, he smiled and said.

"It's a small gift. I just, I was so grateful for everything that I couldn't just let you go. Try drawing it."

After hesitating for a moment, I held the hilt of the sword.

"Ooh...?"

This feeling of it fitting perfectly in my hand.

When I pulled it right away...

Screech—

With a clear metallic sound that was almost ticklish to the ear, a silver-gray blade was revealed to the world.

"Ooh..."

I couldn't hold back my admiration.

The perfect center of gravity, and a blade that seemed it would cut just by looking at it.

The faint wave pattern that spread across the entire blade.

A weight that was perfect for swinging.

It was magnificent.

To the point where admiration was spilling out of my mouth.

Indeed, the word 'famous sword' was not enough.

I dare say, it was a sword that came after the famous swords of Ophosis.

Swordsmen naturally like good swords, and I was no exception.

As I was excitedly swinging it in the air, Aktir smiled and said.

"Do you like it?"

"Yes. I dare say it's perfect."

The others also chimed in.

"You look cool, boss!"

"Oh... it's a rather stylish sword. Though it's no match for my Lux."

"It's cool..."

"Wow, you can use it instead of the Night Sky Sword!"

I said, stroking the blade.

"What do you think, Master?"

[It's a rare famous sword.]

The Heavenly Demon rarely gave praise.

[You can throw away the half-sword you've been carrying around now.]

I shook my head.

"No, I can't do that."

[Why?]

"Hans said he would fix it."

[Do as you please.]

The Demon King, Aktir, asked, looking at me as I fiddled with the blade.

"Will you give the sword a name?"

The moment I saw the silver-gray blade that had come out of the sword as if a flower had bloomed.

For some reason, I had a thought that it was like a steel flower bud that was just about to bloom cautiously in this black desert full of ash.

A sword that resembled a flower bud that would bloom brilliantly, scattering petals, when it was imbued with aura.

"Its name is, Ashbloom Sword..."

[The Ash Bud Sword.]

"...no, the Ash Bud Sword."

I had obtained a new sword, the Ash Bud Sword.

(End of Chapter)