81. Once upon a time
I drift in the sea of memories.
*
The world of a peaceful boy caught fire one day. Until yesterday, the boy, who had enjoyed a splendid dinner in a nobleman’s mansion, was kicked out into the woods wearing the shabby clothes of an attendant.
It was none other than his parents who kicked him out. Is it treason, is it betrayal? It was too difficult for the little boy to understand, but his mother’s last cry was clear in his memory.
‘Run away!’
So the boy ran. They ran and ran, their tattered clothes ripped, their soft, callus-free feet pierced with thorns, their thin, muscleless arms scratched by branches and bleeding.
However, how good would it be if the aristocratic boy who lived in luxury had excellent physical strength? What you hold in his arms is as heavy as lead, and a cruel shadow casts over your gradually slowing steps.
“I found it.”
A tribe called mercenaries. However, the feeling of intimidation when the two of them met alone in a dark forest was on a different level than when they peeked out between the escorts.
The mercenary is approaching, wriggling his injured muscles. The boy involuntarily took a step back from him, tripped over a tree root, and rolled on the floor. The thing he was holding in his arms fell with a creak.
“You foolish thing, dare to run away with the treasure of our mercenaries?”
The mercenary’s greedy gaze was directed at the sword that the boy had dropped, the sword in the scabbard. I don’t know the day, but just by looking at the handle, it’s a famous sword. The boy who had collapsed used an evil voice as if he was unfair.
“No! That’s our family’s treasured sword!”
“Ha ha, kid. I see you are still young and don’t know much about the world…”
The mercenary is knocking. He came over and untied his hand. The boy trembled and peed as the shadow of the giant cast over him. Laughing at the shabby appearance, the mercenary said.
“Originally, if you do not have power, you will be taken away. So, that’s ours from now on. Yes? Did you understand?”
“Don’t come closer!”
The moment the mercenary reached out, a fitful cry erupted. The boy unwittingly pulled out the sword that had been rolling on the floor. Above the dark forest, a blade blacker than the darkness flashes.
“I, too, learned the sword. If you come any closer, I will cut you down!”
“This, a kid…!”
His posture is sloppy, and the fingertips holding the sword tremble. However, the mercenary could not recklessly approach even after seeing the clumsy appearance. The boy was inexperienced, but the sword in his hand was no ordinary item.
A notorious demonic sword that is said to drag the souls of the slain into the deepest pit of the abyss. A mercenary is especially a superstitious tribe, and even though he looked down on the boy, he couldn’t recklessly attack him.
A boring confrontation continues. The boy’s arms holding the sword trembled, unable to withstand the weight of it. The moment I showed an opening, the mercenary rushed in.
[Haam, slept well.]
At that moment, the resounding mental wave stopped the two of them.
Was anyone else here besides them? No, no The boy and the mercenary realized it a little too late. That frivolous yet insidious voice came from the sword!
[Did I push too hard? It ate so many souls that it took decades to digest. ······What?]
The sword, which had been talking incomprehensible words, made a bewildered noise as if it had grasped the surrounding situation. Immediately after, the bodies of the two people hardened. It feels like a giant predator is looking at you.
[I don’t know what happened while I was asleep, but the current situation looks pretty interesting, right?]
“What are you, you monster!”
Still, the mercenary, who escaped from shrinking earlier than the boy, used evil, perhaps thanks to eating a knife on the battlefield. However, the fear in his voice was clear to anyone who heard it.
[Me? Hmmm, friend. Self-introduction is not the interviewer, but the interviewer.]
“What?”
[Let’s see. Old, ugly, and even ignorant. You are eliminated.]
The boy seemed to lose his soul as he heard the same mutterings as those of a madman from the sword I was holding. However, that delicate hand gripped the sword tightly.
Boys instinctively realize this. This dubious weapon is the only lifeline that will save one’s life against that violent adult.
[Little boy.]
However, the boy did not even think of the situation in which the weapon was talking to him.
[I like you a little, but this is also a feeling. How about it, my master, would you like to try it?]
“Yes?”
[If you don’t like it, don’t. Instead, without my help, you will spend a good time with that mercenary man?]
The boy’s confused mind couldn’t properly understand what the sword was saying. However, perhaps because it was a conversation through the mind, the meaning of the words was conveyed clearly.
“I don’t know what it is, but I will! Help!”
“What? What kind of trick…”
[Okay, contract established.]
The moment the sword uttered a pleasant voice, the boy felt something, an invisible string connect between the sword and himself. Something black and thick flowed through the string and into the boy’s body.
‘Oh, evil! What’s this!’
The unpleasant sensation made the boy scream and shudder. No, he just thought so. His body hadn’t moved since the magic sword spoke strange words.
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Soon the boy’s body betrayed his master’s will and began to move. Against his will, his lips opened, and his tongue moved wildly, spitting out words at will.
“Pa-ha. It’s been a while, this feeling.”
“What is it, kid? Have you finally gone mad? After all, they said it was a demonic sword…”
“Yes, yes. Noisy.”
The next moment, the boy screamed at his throat. However, the scream only echoed in the boy’s mind. Excruciating pain was inflicted on him as if he was being squeezed.
The body of the boy, who obviously hadn’t received any training, jumped up like a swallow. At the end of the black trail drawn by the blade was the head of a mercenary with a stupid expression.
Suddenly.
The blade cut lightly through his neck bone without any resistance. The neck of the mercenary, who was slow to judge the situation, rolled down, and the thing covered in the boy’s body laughed and said.
“Let’s get along well, master.”
*
“Heo-eok, hee-eok…!”
[Run, dude. Should I be tired already?]
Boy. No, now a young man too grown up to be a boy was running. A herd of furious snowfield wild boars was following him as he ran madly.
Perhaps he went through a lot of hardships, the muscles of the young man with scars all over showed superhuman speed. However, no matter how hard he fought, the distance between the young man and the monsters grew little by little.
“More, no more!”
[Okay, that’s it.]
In the end, the young man reversed and drew his sword. As the blade, as hideous as the teeth of a beast, was pulled out of the scabbard, the young man slaughtered a group of monsters as if his escape a moment ago had been a lie.
After about half of the group died and the other half scattered and ran away, the young man let out a heavy breath and lay down on the spot. He looked completely exhausted, and his manner was shabby.
“What the hell, why the hell are you asking me to do this?”
[This is all training. Don’t you know that people originally exhibit superhuman abilities in extreme situations?]
“Still, this is too ignorant!”
[One effect is certain. Is not it?]
At the sword’s nasty words, the young man gnashed his teeth but couldn’t protest. He had no knowledge of the world or martial arts, but he was able to become so strong thanks to this talkative sword.
After killing a mercenary and running away from the forest, the sword has always been the young boy’s mentor. The boy learned to act as an adventurer under the guidance of the sword, and also honed his swordsmanship skills.
[And if you want to get revenge, you have to become stronger. I still lack a lot.]
“Yes, you are right.”
That wasn’t all. In his spare time, the young man investigated the beast that destroyed his parents and family. After prolonged contact with the thieves’ guild, he was finally able to uncover the truth of the case.
The family’s treasured sword that his grandfather brought from a ruin. Now the young man’s companion, it was a terrible demonic sword. In the end, the sword’s existence drove his family to heresy.
Thus, the Heretic Judges ‘cleansed’ the ground of evil where the demonic sword was kept. The only boy who survived the flames is now a young man wielding a demonic sword.
“You have to be stronger. More. Even if I risk my life…!”
[hahahaha, that’s it. It’s a very good posture.]
Perhaps the demonic sword was the cause of the family’s destruction, but the young man did not resent the demonic sword. If it wasn’t for him, the young man would have been killed by a mercenary in the woods when he was young.
And didn’t you say that the demonic sword had been asleep for personal reasons before that? So, I do not resent the demonic sword. There was another target he really wanted to study.
“It’s impossible right now, but one day I’ll definitely put a knife through that heretic judge’s chest.”
[Live with that hatred always in your heart. I will do my best to help you achieve your revenge.]
With the help of the magic sword, the young man gains strength today. He is like a teacher who led himself through life and trained himself to be strong. He was the only person a young man could trust in the world.
“Someday, surely.”
Muttering with eyes full of anger and bitterness, the young man walked back into the woods. The magic sword hanging from his waist swayed lightly as if he were dancing.
*
Revenge failed.
It was good to build up enough strength and attack the Temple of the Sun where the target of revenge resides. Believers and ordinary priests who only came to worship were helplessly slaughtered.
Even among the guards and knights guarding the temple, no one dared to take his sword. Thus, the young man mercilessly slaughtered the staff of the temple, and finally encountered the Heretic Inquisitor.
“Damn it, damn it!”
But they were strong. I might have been able to deal with one or two, but there were too many of them. Eight of the thirty Inquisitors were cut, but in return the young man suffered fatal injuries.
Above all, he couldn’t even inflict a scratch on the most hated person who directly burned down the leader of the Heretic Questioner. Was I too hasty? The young man later regrets it.
The young man, driven into a predicament, now had only one place to lean on. The young man pleaded as he saw the sword in his hand that swallowed the souls of countless victims of massacre and heretic judges.
“Help me. Help me! You did that You can win, you can take revenge! Is there a way? A secret plan to defeat those devilish bastards!”
[hahahaha, that’s what I mean…]
Leaning against the wall of the collapsed temple, the young man was breathing heavily. The same presence as the grim reaper is getting closer little by little. They are also so wary that it is impossible to get along with them.
The young man clung to his sword like a child. He clung to the mentor and guide of life, who had led him out of the forest and trained him to become strong with a single sword.
And the Demon Sword laughed.
[In other words, you’re like a shell that has already drained all your vitality, so you might not be able to feel it because you’re so severely injured, but you’re like a walking corpse right now? Well, no matter how much I am, I can’t extract my strength from here.]
“As in the old days, manipulate me, you are strong!”
[Hey, what did you just hear me say? So it’s impossible My body control is to draw and use life force and potential, so what if the bowl is empty?]
This is nonsense. The young man’s world collapses at the demonic sword’s nonchalant words. So, will his revenge end like this? Without leaving a scar on your most hated foe?
“Lies, lies, lies…!”
[Yeah, that’s a lie.]
Yes. The young man trusted the magic sword to a level close to fanaticism. My sword, my teacher, will find a way out of any crisis. As always!
[It’s not completely empty, because there’s still one thing left to take.]
A cruel sneer falls upon them. The young man felt an intense attraction pulling his soul. He was betrayed By the time you realize that, everything is already too late.
That vicious and cunning sword obscured his vision and controlled his thinking. The young man’s soul struggled and struggled, but was soon sucked into the black blade.
[Keokeok.]
The demonic sword that swallowed its master vomited a satisfying mental wave. The young man’s head dropped against the wall, and his slow beating heart finally stopped. After the soul left, the body met death according to the law.
Although he knows he won’t be able to hear it anymore, the demonic sword mourns its former owner who has become a part of it.
[Still, it was fun. Princess Maker, or Prince Maker? Anyway, raising someone was quite fun.]
The demonic sword sincerely cared for its owner. We were happy together when he first entered the realm of martial arts, we were angry together at the story of his family, and we were sad together at the wounds he suffered.
But all those feelings, all those memories, all those exchanges.
This is not a reason why a demonic sword will not devour its owner.
[But don’t worry, I’ll take revenge.]
*
“I am dead.”
The leader of the Heretic Judge, Winsle High Heart, looked at the young man’s corpse with his head hanging while clutching the demonic sword.
The words of those who have fallen into evil and possessed by demons are always the same. Under the light of divine providence, they always met the most miserable deaths.
“I’ll take a break and go back.”
“Yes!”
I have to retrieve the demonic sword in that hand as well, but since everyone is tired, you can take a break right now. The elderly Heretic Inquisitor thought of his unborn grandson to shake off his dirty thoughts.
She said that if it was her boy, she would name it after herself, and if it was a girl, she would name it after her daughter-in-law, but Winsle closed her eyes and prayed quietly.
‘Please, I hope you don’t walk the same path as me.’
Heretic Judge, the position to fight on the forefront of evil is, of course, glorious and holy, but at the same time, too much blood had to be shed. Winsle did not want this karma passed on to her grandchildren.
When Winsle opened her eyes again, she saw a demonic sword slanted at an angle. Yeah, stuff like that. Everything that tempts ordinary people to the path of evil must be punished in the world.
[That sword is dangerous. If it’s not me, others will also be possessed.]
Whose voice is this? Is it a voice that comes from within me? Otherwise
[So, I must have it. I must hold it firmly in my hand and protect it so that no one else is possessed by that demonic sword.]
Winsle staggered and rose from her seat. A situation out of sight of her fellow Heretic Judges. He sneaked up to the corpse and held out his hand.
[Ahahahahaha! Yes, for my beloved family!]
“Captain?”
The old heretic judge slowly stood up with his demonic sword in his hand.
“Why are you holding that sword! Put it down right now!”
“Do you covet this sword too?”
[Those guys are already possessed by demons. They are trying to take this demon sword from me and place it on the altar of darkness. If that happens, evil will spread all over the world.]
The inner voice grows little by little, and then consumes all of his thinking. With blurry eyes, Winsle looked at the Heretic Judges—or rather, the ‘apostates’—who had once been his subordinates.
“Oh, my God…”
[I have to purify it.]
Certainly, beating up a colleague was heartbreaking even for him, a heretic judge without blood or tears. However, he had to.
Because they’re possessed by a demonic sword! Behold, even now, do they not point their swords at me, their captain? Doesn’t he covet this demonic sword in my hand and attack me with his eyes wide open like a devil?
[Otherwise, my family will suffer. So that my unborn grandson does not suffer in this world full of evil!]
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Winsle raised the magic sword. The flame that rose from his stigma crackled little by little, and then black energy spread like food falling on it.
Your body fills with vitality as if you were back in your youth. However, he did not feel his wrinkles getting deeper. The old heretic judge parted his lips.
[I.]
“I am.”
A jet-black flame engulfed his once allies.
“I will destroy evil!”