Demon Sword of Soul Forging (2)

A chance to pay back Ian, the one who turned his own son Hector into a cripple, had finally come.

It surely meant the opportunity for revenge had finally arrived.

“Tell me more.”

When Ross’s eyes sharped with interest, Maximilian curled his lips into a wicked grin.

“I heard he’s trying to enter the underground labyrinth.”

“Underground labyrinth?”

“A place called Grimbar. It’s in the Vania Kingdom, a very deep underground labyrinth. The paths are convoluted, and it’s crawling with dangerous monsters.”

“Ohh……”

At those words, the corners of Ross’s mouth also lifted sharply.

“He must be heading somewhere very dangerous? In a place like that… I bet losing a life or two every day is nothing out of the ordinary.”

“That’s right. Disappearing after being eaten by monsters is common there……”

― Ssss…

Maximilian traced his nose along Ross’s neckline.

Unbothered, Ross asked, “So? That’s not all you wanted to tell me, is it?”

“Hmm…”

Maximilian answered with his nose still pressed to Ross’s neck.

“So, I’m planning to send an expert to Grimbar, but before that, I wanted to consult you. You like to decide on the nitty-gritty details yourself.”

Ross bared her teeth and lifted the corners of her mouth higher.

“Maximilian. My love. How commendable.”

“So, what do you think we should do? I’ll do exactly as you want. If you say kill him on the spot, I will. Or, if you want me to bring him to you, I’ll break just his arms and legs and drag him back.”

“Hmmm…”

After pondering a moment, Ross replied, “First, we need a real expert. No riffraff. Even if the price is high, it needs to be someone whose skill is guaranteed.”

Ever since Ian’s days at the Sword Dragon Training Hall, he’d shown talent surpassing even Yuria, a once-in-a-lifetime prodigy.

Currently, Yuria’s level was widely known as being around Swordmaster Intermediate, so Ian’s own level must be at least Swordmaster Intermediate or above.

So, to be sure to capture Ian, they needed to send at least an assassin of Late-stage Master or higher.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

― Lick.

Maximilian lightly licked the nape of Ross’s neck.

“I’ve already talked to Hand. Their top executive agreed to step in personally.”

“…!”

At his words, Ross’s eyes widened.

Hand.

A guild counted among the top three most skilled assassin organizations in the world.

And one of their top executives was getting involved personally.

“Which of the top executives?”

“Index Finger.”

“Ohhh…!”

Index Finger.

The third highest-ranked assassin in Hand’s leadership.

According to rumors in the underworld, his level was at least Peak-stage Master or higher.

“Definitely. If Hand’s Index Finger is stepping in personally… there’s absolutely no need to worry about failure.”

Assassins became several levels weaker in fair, head-to-head fights, but in assassination, they could hunt enemies several levels higher than themselves.

Index Finger could probably hunt even those just entering the Grandmaster rank, and if he really put in effort, maybe even assassinate a Early-Stage Grandmaster.

“Fufufu…”

Madam Ross let out a low laugh.

There was no way Ian could defend against a surprise attack from Index Finger.

Ian’s level was probably, at most, late-stage Swordmaster.

Even Yuria, who possessed that extraordinary talent, had only just reached Mid-stage Master.

No matter how much better Ian’s talent was than Yuria’s, the gap couldn’t be that wide.

At the very, very highest, he’d be Peak-stage Swordmaster.

At that level, responding to Index Finger’s attack would be impossible.

Index Finger already had a history of hunting down even Peak-stage Master-rank experts multiple times.

‘To Index Finger, someone like Ian is probably an easy target.’

― Fufufufu…

As Ross chuckled in satisfaction, Maximilian grabbed her chest.

“So… what should I do next? If you want him killed there, I’ll do it now. No need to worry about any trouble. People disappearing in a labyrinth is nothing unusual.”

Maximilian gently ran his hand upward.

Ross caught her breath a little.

“But if I kill him so simply, I suppose that wouldn’t satisfy you.”

“You know me well…”

“Of course! I know everything you like.”

Maximilian’s hand slid down past Ross’s navel.

“I’ll capture him… Take him somewhere secluded. Break his arms and legs and completely destroy his dantian.”

“H—haa…”

Just the thought seemed to thrill Ross; she breathed out, excited.

“Do whatever you want to him there. He won’t be able to resist at all. Let’s take Hector too. Have him avenge himself in person.”

“A wonderful idea… That’s a wonderful idea.”

“Yes. And that brown-haired girl who always hangs around with him… was it Sophia? I’ll see if I get a chance to kidnap her too. Break her completely in front of Ian.”

Maximilian flashed an evil grin.

“I’ll show you Ian utterly broken, weeping and sobbing. It’ll be a real treat. We’ll chew up his body and mind, and make him pay Hector’s debt.”

“Huh, hnggghhh…”

Ross exhaled a shuddering breath.

Then she gently covered Maximilian’s hand, which was caressing her lower belly, with her own.

“Tonight… I’ll receive your seed once more.”

“…?”

At her words, Maximilian’s eyebrows shot up.

“Are you serious? My brother is away on a campaign right now. If you get pregnant now, anyone would find it strange.”

“… I just need to receive your seed first tonight, and make a quick trip to the north after. Tywin won’t suspect a thing.”

“Really…?”

“Yes. And…”

Ross stared intensely at Maximilian.

“Maximilian. You like thrilling things, don’t you?”

― Chee~

Maximilian’s smile reached his ears.

He felt the blood rush downward.

“I do. Even to the point of risking my life.”

Maximilian pulled Ross tightly into his arms.

“At this rate, the next head of Goldhound might end up being my child that you bear, you know.”

“Hm. Then you’d better give me a stronger seed than Hector’s tonight.”

“Oh? Then we’d better get started early. Right now.”

“Huh? W-wait! Here? Kyaa! Wai— mhp!”

Afterwards, the two moved as if led by instinct.

Unaware of what results their sordid acts would bring.

* * *

Grimbar, the underground great labyrinth of the Kingdom of Vania.

As soon as Ian arrived, he felt a distinct killing intent.

‘What’s this?’

The killing intent was lurking within the deep darkness of the labyrinth.

‘An assassin?’

Though the killer had veiled it as best as possible, Ian’s sharp senses couldn’t be fooled.

Having been ambushed so many times in his past life, he’d developed a habit of always being on guard in places like this.

ow, having reached Late-stage Grandmaster, even his basic senses were extremely keen.

“Hm…”

Ian continued moving as though he didn’t notice anything.

A deliberate act of baiting.

Toward where the Demon Sword of Soul Forging was kept.

‘Whoever sent this one… unlucky for them.’

Of all times, to target him while he was here to retrieve the Demon Sword of Soul Forging.

‘Let’s scramble your brain with the Demon Sword of Soul Forging.’

He’d use Jinggela’s mental manipulation ability to find out who sent this guy, switch the target to the employer, and have the assassin sent right back.

― Thud. Thud. Thud.

Taking long strides, Ian headed for where the Demon Sword of Soul Forging, Jinggela, rested.

Down a long flight of stairs, through a broad cavern, into an ancient underground ruin, reaching all the way to the chamber with the secret door—

― Sssssss…

‘Of course, he’s following.’

He could feel the killing intent slinking after him like a centipede.

Ian made no outward sign as he moved.

― Twii! Bang! Crack!

From time to time, monsters leapt out to block his path, but they were no obstacle.

He didn’t need reinforced energy, nor even sword energy, to deal with the trifling man-eating bugs or underground goblins.

There’d be more dangerous creatures deeper in, but the Demon Sword of Soul Forging wasn’t located that deep.

Retracing old memories step by step, about two hours passed.

At last, he reached the secret chamber holding the Demon Sword of Soul Forging, Jinggela.

― BANG!

Ian smashed his way through the secret door and entered.

Jinggela lay on a broad stone slab.

There was no sheath. The blade itself bent with a jagged, lightning-bolt-like twist and glittered with opalescent colors, like black opal.

Exactly as it was in his previous life.

Ian immediately reached out for Jinggela.

And at that moment.

― SHREEEE!!

The killing intent that had been pursuing Ian shot toward him at tremendous speed.

‘As expected.’

― Vwoooom!

Ian, anticipating this, swung Vladiark in the direction from which the killing intent came.

Assassins usually waited to strike when their target was most engrossed in something.

When he laid eyes on Jinggela and reached out to grasp it—that was when they’d strike.

― Claaaaang!!

Something struck Vladiark with great force.

― BOOM!!!

That something then crashed into the wall.

“Ku, kuhuk!”

The assassin, slammed into the wall, spat up blood with a gasp.

“Cough! Gack! Cough!”

Having launched himself like an arrow and been slammed sideways by Vladiark on the ribs, all the assassin’s ribs had broken, and his liver was crushed.

― Thud. Thud. Thud.

Ian slowly walked over to the assassin, who couldn’t even catch his breath.

― Vwung!

As he walked, he put Vladiark away in subspace and drew a new sword, atellas.

Weighted Sword Atellas.

One of the swords Ian had received as a top reward from the Sword Dragon Training Hall.

Also one of the ten swords needed to break the seal of Arkazennon, emperor of All Swords.

Atellas’s ability: to intensify the weight of its target.

― BOOOOM!!

“Urgh, guh…!!”

When Ian raised Atellas at the assassin and poured aura into it, the assassin flopped to the ground with a splat.

― Krrrk! Krrrk!

“Aaaargh!”

The assassin’s body started to sink and bore into the stone floor.

“Gah, gahh! Ghh!”

Under the extreme weight, the assassin only gasped like a goldfish out of water, unable to breathe properly.

― Thud!

Ian plunged Atellas into the ground just as it was, then walked over with only the Demon Sword of Soul Forging Jinggela in hand, crouching at the assassin’s head.

“Gahh! Ngggh! Ggh!”

The assassin looked up at Ian with bloodshot eyes.

Clear bewilderment and fear in his gaze.

He’d thought he’d found a perfect opening, but Ian had counterattacked with ease and suppressed him instantly with a bizarre sword. Accepting this utterly unexpected reality wasn’t easy.

Ian tapped Jinggela to the man’s temple as he spoke.

“No need to be so scared. I won’t kill you just yet.”

First, with Jinggela, he’d find out who sent this fellow, have him kill the employer himself, and then finish him off.

————-= Clacky’s Corner ————-=

Yes, even if Ian didn’t directly kill them, those two should die…

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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