Chapter 92 : Ophosis’s Legacy

[ …Huh? ]

For a moment, Vlad faltered.

What was this?

Why was there another presence dwelling inside this human’s inner world?

‘One of my brothers?’

He knew there were eight other masterpieces forged besides himself. Perhaps this was one of them.

But Vlad quickly regained his grin.

So what if there was another guest? All he had to do was drive him out.

[ Hahaha! This human belongs to me now! Begone! ]

The man who had been reclining slowly straightened his posture, then rose to his feet.

[ Oh… ]

His indifferent eyes gleamed with sudden interest.

[ Now this is curious. ]

He stepped off the chair and began walking toward Vlad.

Thoom…!

With each step he took, the very fabric of the inner world began to fracture.

Craaaack—

[ …Huh? ]

Vlad froze. A chilling sensation coursed through him.

The man wasn’t doing anything but walking casually forward, yet his sheer presence crushed Vlad flat.

A mountain was walking toward him.

The fiendish sword froze, his feverish thirst ebbing, his frenzy of excitement cooling as a single question clawed its way into his mind.

This was no brother of his.

Then who?

‘Who is he? Who exudes such a colossal presence?’

What kind of being carried such unfathomable strength?

How could such an absurd power belong to a single man?

Was this even… allowed?

[ Doesn’t seem like one of those so-called treasures or artifacts the humans chatter about. Hm. This world really does have all sorts of wonders. A sword with a will of its own, eh? ]

The man’s eyes flickered with intrigue as he advanced.

Thoom! Thoom! Thoom!

Vlad’s heart thundered. Instinct screamed at him to run.

Flee now, before that monster reached him!

But Vlad refused.

[ Raaaagh! ]

Tearing apart the suffocating pressure bearing down on him, Vlad lunged like a wild beast at the Heavenly Demon.

[ Die! ]

For an instant, he saw the man’s faint smile—

And then the world went black.

Thud!

Vlad collapsed to the ground without so much as a groan.

[ Hm… fascinating. ]

The Heavenly Demon stroked his chin as he gazed down indifferently at the fallen blade-spirit.

“ …? ”

The moment I gripped the Crimson Sword, it had flared blood-red for an instant—then gone utterly still, as though lifeless.

Well, lifeless wasn’t quite right. It was an inanimate object, after all.

Even the Heavenly Demon was silent, as though preoccupied.

“It’s quiet.”

{ What? That shouldn’t be possible. }

Ophosis stared hard at the sword in my hand, blinking in disbelief.

{ …? Why has it suddenly gone docile? By now it should be raging and flaring out of control. }

His eyes fixed on me.

{ Did you… do something? }

“What would I have done?”

{ I have no idea. }

“Well, I did feel something trying to burrow in through my grip, but that was all.”

{ Truly? }

“Why would I lie?”

Ophosis rubbed at his mouth, murmuring to himself.

{ Strange… with its nature, it should never be this quiet… }

I shrugged.

“Good news is good news. Does this mean I pass?”

{ …You pass. However you managed it, you’ve subdued it completely. Even when Sir Ephram wielded it, it wasn’t this obedient. }

“…Ephram? Who’s that?”

{ Ah, you might not know. He was once the master of the Blue Sword, Frostblade. I’m not sure who its master is now. }

My eyes widened.

A former Frost Knight? Perhaps the one before the current one… or even further back.

“So even the Frost Knight once held Vlad?”

Ophosis nodded.

{ He did. Back then, it raged fiercely, but Sir Ephram froze it solid to subdue it. He agreed it was too ferocious and supported sealing it away. }

“I see.”

I looked again at the now docile Vlad.

So even someone of such renown had been forced to lock horns with it. Yet in my grasp, it was silent.

Ophosis broke my thoughts.

{ While we’re on the subject—who is Frostblade’s master now? }

“I don’t know him well, but he’s a monster. Nearly killed me.”

{ …You crossed blades with him? }

“Yes. Didn’t I say the royal knights came after me for killing a noble?”

{ That knight… was the Frost Knight? }

“Yes.”

{ …And you defeated him? }

“Got lucky.”

{ … }

Ophosis’s jaw dropped.

{ You’re far more remarkable a swordsman than I thought. }

“Haha, nothing special.”

I scratched the back of my head, embarrassed.

He studied me intently.

{ A strange fellow indeed. I sense no mana at all, yet you’re so strong. Makes me wonder if you’re from another world. }

The old smith had sharp instincts.

Since it had really been the Heavenly Demon who defeated him, he wasn’t entirely wrong.

But I didn’t let it show.

“Let’s just say I’m… unique.”

{ Do you know where my other blades are? }

“I don’t know the details, but I’ve heard their wielders are called the Eight Sword Masters.”

{ Eight Sword Masters? }

“Yes. Holders of Ophosis’s eight masterpieces. Supposedly terrifyingly strong.”

{ Hm… so that’s how it is now. }

He nodded slowly, then asked,

{ And what do you intend to do with that sword? }

“Go home.”

{ And once you return? }

“I’ve got plenty to do. Kick the asses of the bastards who looked down on me, cut down the beasts tormenting people. Lots of work waiting.”

{ I see. }

He watched me for a while, then muttered something under his breath.

{ …Is this fate? Or destiny? }

“…What?”

{ This was something I meant to carry to my grave, but… the truth is, there’s one more sword. }

“…What?”

What was he saying?

“Then there are ten?”

{ Not quite. }

“Then what?”

{ Above them. }

“Above?”

{ Compared to it, the other so-called masterpieces are nothing. At the twilight of my life, I poured everything I had—my entire soul—into forging my greatest work. This one, I did not borrow Volund’s hand. I remember every step. }

“…Then why hide it to the grave?”

{ Because it’s unfinished. Unrealistic. }

What the hell did that mean?

{ But with you… I feel as if you might be able to draw it forth. Come. }

I followed Ophosis toward the wall behind the dais.

He pointed at the pitch-black stone.

{ Strike here. }

I tapped the wall with my knuckles.

Thunk. Thunk.

The sensation was cold and metallic.

“…Feels like my sword will snap before this wall does.”

It wasn’t a normal wall—it was like a slab of solid steel.

Ophosis gestured at the crimson blade in my hand.

{ Try dripping a single drop of blood onto Vlad. }

I nicked the edge of my hand and let a drop fall onto the sword.

The blade greedily drank it up.

Kiiiiing—

It let out a chilling cry as the steel flushed into a deep, lurid red.

{ Good. Now, cut the wall. }

“If it shatters, don’t blame me.”

I raised the sword and struck at a slant.

Clang!

“…!”

The steel wall parted like it was nothing more than thick cloth.

The sensation was bizarrely fresh.

‘So this is what they mean by a masterpiece.’

{ There’s space behind it. Slice once more. }

“Yes.”

I slashed in the opposite direction, cutting a clean diagonal. Together the lines formed a triangular passage.

Thunk!

The wall turned out thinner than I thought, and a single kick knocked it open. I stepped through into the hidden chamber.

Just as Ophosis had said—there was a space concealed behind the wall.

Inside lay… a coffin.

Well, it made sense. This was a tomb. A tomb should have its master within.

Ophosis spoke calmly.

{ Open the lid. }

“…That feels disrespectful.”

{ That corpse is me. }

“Ah, right.”

I kicked the lid off.

Thud!

The wooden cover clattered aside.

{ …I didn’t mean kick it. }

“Ah, sorry.”

{ Never mind. That’s not important. Check the arm. }

His body looked… peaceful.

After decades, I’d expected rot and stench, but instead there was nothing but the faint odor of herbs.

So this was the end of the legendary smith Ophosis.

Death showed no favoritism—whether a master craftsman or a gutter rat, it claimed all the same.

I glanced at the corpse, then at Ophosis himself, who stood watching his own remains.

To look down at one’s own dead body… it had to stir strange feelings.

{ What are you staring for? }

“…Huh?”

{ Don’t just gawk. Check the arm. }

“…Yes.”

Apparently, it didn’t bother him much.

{ Hmph. Maybe I should’ve died smiling. The face looks gloomy. }

“You’re right. Looks completely ruined. Ruined.”

{ Not ruined. }

“It’s just an expression.”

I pulled up the sleeve.

On the wrist was a crude-looking, dark bracelet.

Ophosis pointed.

{ That’s it. }

“…What?”

{ That. }

“You said a sword. That’s a bracelet.”

{ For now. Later it will bloom into a blade. }

“…?”

{ Hmph. You won’t believe until I show you. Go on, put it on. }

Suspicious, I slid the bracelet off the corpse’s wrist and slipped it onto mine.

Up close, I saw it was made of countless shifting metal links.

At once, it writhed—clattering and tightening snugly around my wrist.

“Damn! It moves like it’s alive!”

Ignoring me, Ophosis gestured toward the crimson sword in my left hand.

{ Grip Vlad with the hand wearing the bracelet. }

I obeyed.

The sword trembled faintly.

Wooom—

Power surged up my arm, sparking through the bracelet. The black metal twisted like a coiling serpent, while red light burst from its gaps like shards.

Then it stilled.

“…Is that it?”

{ Check the inside. }

I turned the bracelet. A thin red line now traced its inner band.

More like a strip, short and incomplete, so it appeared like a line.

{ Each time you seize one of my blades, the band will grow. It absorbs a fragment of their power. }

I stared at him, unimpressed. Ophosis grinned.

{ When all nine are gathered, the band will complete itself. Then, the sword will bloom. }

“…What?”

Was he serious?

{ Not even my disciples knew. This was a secret only I held. Finally, I’ve spoken it aloud. Ahh, refreshing! }

“Wait. Forget about the bracelet turning into a sword. You’re telling me to hold each of those monsters’ blades once?”

{ Exactly. You will complete this unfinished work. }

“…And how?”

{ Beat them, or persuade them. That’s for you to decide. }

“…”

Every swordsman cherished their weapon like a lover. They’d never willingly hand it over.

“So you want me to go knocking on the Eight Sword Masters’ doors asking to borrow their blades? To get beaten to death?”

{ Didn’t I say it lacked realism? That’s why I meant to carry it to my grave. }

“…Ah.”

So that’s what he meant by ‘unrealistic.’

{ But why fuss? You already defeated the Frost Knight. }

“That was luck.”

{ Then you only need eight more lucky breaks. Cheer up. }

“…”

{ Ah, and by the way, that bracelet won’t come off unless you die or cut off your arm. }

I stared at the black, snake-like bracelet.

Now it looked less like jewelry and more like a shackle.

Ophosis patted my shoulder.

{ Don’t make that face. I can’t force you. }

“…You’ve cuffed me and say you can’t force me?”

{ Cuffs? It’s a magnificent bracelet! }

“In common speech, something forced on your wrist is called a shackle.”

{ It’s all perspective. }

“…”

{ If you see it as a mere bracelet, then it will remain so. Don’t feel burdened. I’m simply glad to entrust my life’s masterpiece to a worthy swordsman. }

I fiddled with the bracelet.

Honestly, it was so light I could almost forget it was there. In no way uncomfortable.

Could metal really be this light?

Ophosis’s voice softened as he tried to persuade me further.

{ But hear me—if you awaken the blade, you will not regret it. }

“…”

{ Imagine it. A bracelet infused with the powers of nine blades, blooming into a radiant rainbow of nine colors. A sight dazzling beyond compare. A sword without equal, in all history. And you—its master! }

“…Damn it.”

I scratched my head furiously.

Now I had to know.

I finally muttered,

“…If I find the time, I’ll look into it. Don’t expect too much.”

{ Hahaha! That’s the spirit! }

Ophosis laughed boisterously, slapping my back.

Of course, he wasn’t real flesh, only a shape formed of mana—so the impact was no more than a faint touch.

Like the brush of a butterfly’s wings.

As I felt Ophosis’s wingbeat on my back, I glanced again at his body lying in the coffin.

Perhaps it was only my imagination.

But his face looked… more peaceful than before.

(End of Chapter)

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