Sword Fiend (2)

Why did you massacre the Necromancers of the Valley of Souls…

It was a question he had expected, so answering it wasn’t difficult.

[It was to draw your attention.]

[What… ?]

The Sword Fiend muttered as if in disbelief.

[To draw my attention? You made the entire Valley of Souls your enemy just for that…?]

[Yes. Thanks to that, we’re able to meet like this, aren’t we?]

[… You really are crazy. I still can’t believe your identity, but it’s certain you’re insane.]

“…”

It was something he had often heard in his previous life as well.

[So…]

The Sword Fiend continued.

[What kind of deal do you want to make with me? You pulled that mad stunt just to catch my eye, right?]

Ian didn’t bother to hide anything, and answered without hesitation.

[I want the Ghost Sword, Quiennio.]

[…!]

[You have it, don’t you?]

[How do you know about that…?]

The Sword Fiend had never used Quiennio in public.

And naturally, he had never openly revealed the list of swords he carried.

A swordsman had nothing to gain by letting others know which swords he possessed.

It was only natural to hide one’s abilities and weapons to prevent enemies from countering your attacks.

That was why the Sword Fiend tried to keep his swords as concealed as possible.

Among them, Quiennio was a sword he had never used in front of another person.

So how on earth…?

How did this guy even know about Quiennio, a sword he had kept thoroughly hidden?

[Did you investigate me…? Who did you get that information from?]

― Squeeze.

The Sword Fiend gripped the hilt of his sword as if he would draw it at any moment.

Before the Sword Fiend could get more agitated, Ian quickly spoke.

[I told you already. I am a knight of Hisperion, I am trusted greatly by the Heavenly Sword Lord, and I am the closest confidant of the youngest direct-line, lady Yuria. If you want to know where the renowned swords of Hisperion are and who possesses them, I can find out just about anything.]

[…]

The Sword Fiend stared at Ian through the mist and slowly exhaled.

[Is that so…]

Quiennio was a famous sword from Bladelake which the Sword Fiend had obtained as a reward for completing a commission for Hisperion in the past.

So, if this suspicious man really was Ian Greysel of Hisperion, it wouldn’t be strange for him to know that the Sword Fiend had Quiennio.

However, even so…

[I don’t want to trade away my sword.]

The Demon Swords collected by the Sword Fiend were his strength and the essence of his very identity.

And among them, Quiennio was especially useful.

It had the special power of turning the user’s body into a spirit form.

At will, it could make its wielder invisible, allow passage through walls, and even communicate with ghosts—a truly versatile sword that wasn’t something he particularly wanted to trade away for anything.

[What if I simply refuse the bet?]

[If I were you, I wouldn’t refuse.]

[Why not?]

[Because it’s an offer well worth your while. One moment…]

― Uwuung!

Ian took Jinggela, the demon sword of discord, out of subspace.

[…!]

The Sword Fiend immediately recognized it as a Demon Sword.

Its multicolored opal-like blade was oozing a sinister, sticky aura.

With a hint of tension, the Sword Fiend asked,

[What are you doing…?]

[I will stake everything I have and propose a bet.]

[… A bet?]

Ian placed both Vladiark and Jinggela on the ground.

[If you defeat me in this bet, I will give you all these swords. In addition, for three years, I will become your slave and do whatever you command.]

“… Ho?”

The Sword Fiend showed interest in a low, deep voice.

Whatever this guy was plotting, the terms themselves were exceedingly generous.

He had witnessed the overwhelming power of that black greatsword, and now the guy was offering him an extraordinary Demon Sword as well.

To top it off, he would get to command for three years the very man who shattered half of the Valley of Souls in less than a week?

It was by no means a bad deal.

But what kind of bet was it?

If it was a bet he couldn’t possibly win, the conditions wouldn’t mean anything, no matter how generous.

[What are the terms?]

As the Sword Fiend showed interest, the corners of Ian’s mouth lifted slightly.

― Click.

Ian spread his fingers wide and declared,

[Ten times.]

[…?]

[I will endure your curse ten times, just as it is, with no resistance.]

[… What?]

[Even if I happen to die in the process, I swear I’ll hold you completely blameless. This is my proposition. You may kill me and take these swords. Also, if I faint or give up partway, it’s my loss. I’ll hand over the swords and be your slave for three years, as promised.]

“… Hmm.”

The Sword Fiend stroked his chin.

After thinking for a moment, he slowly sent an aura message.

[I don’t know what you’re scheming, but this isn’t a good idea. If you take my curse ten times, no matter what you really are, you’ll die—100%.]

If the Sword Fiend put his all into combining his ten curses in the most optimal way, he was confident he could even destroy the dantian of the Heavenly Sword Lord, or even rot the Holy King’s heart, the very source of holy power.

Of course, that was only if they offered no resistance and let everything happen.

[You’re saying you’ll just take my curse? No resistance, no purification, no healing? Just like that?]

Ian answered confidently.

[Yes. Exactly as is. Purely. Without doing anything.]

“Ha!”

The Sword Fiend let out a scoff.

[You’re underestimating my curse. I admit your strength after what I saw, but this is a completely different sort of fight. Even you can’t withstand my curse.]

[So, will you accept my bet?]

“……”

The Sword Fiend paused for a moment before speaking.

[Honestly, I have no reason to refuse. The terms are too favorable for me.]

That meant he was accepting the bet.

Ian wore a confident smile.

[However.]

The Sword Fiend tapped his sword’s hilt.

[I’ll add one more condition.]

“…?”

[I get to decide the time and place. Is that alright?]

Ian nodded readily.

[No problem. Please do.]

[Good. Then three days from now, come to my annex at the Heavenly Sword Palace. If you really are Ian Greysel, you’ll have no difficulty entering my annex.]

Ian smiled thinly.

So that’s how he wants to confirm my identity, huh?

Sure enough.

Only those with verified identities can enter the Heavenly Sword Palace, and its security was so strict that sneaking in was nearly impossible.

If Ian made it into the annex to meet the Sword Fiend, that would be proof enough of his own identity.

[Understood. But I have one request as well.]

[… What is it?]

[I showed you my strength to draw your attention, but that was a very exceptional case. So, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t spread stories about me elsewhere.]

The Sword Fiend shrugged indifferently.

[… Alright. I never intended to spread rumors, but fine. I have that much sense.]

He extended a hand toward Ian.

[Then… Since it’d be troublesome if you died before our bet… I’ll tend to that wound myself.]

― Ssssss…

The green flame burning Ian’s side quickly died down and turned into a wisp of green smoke, then was inhaled into the Sword Fiend’s hand.

“… Oh.”

The burning pain in his side vanished completely.

The Sword Fiend had dispelled the curse-laden flame left by the necromancers.

‘As expected…’

Ian was sincerely impressed.

That technique was something only the Sword Fiend in this world could perform.

In all matters evil—demonic, spectral, accursed dark magic—he had a living body akin to Vladiark itself.

It was the absorption technique manifested through the power of the Demon-Infuse Constitution.

‘I’d better project that right away.’

Ian immediately projected the Sword Fiend’s Demon-Infuse Constitution trait.

― Shuuuuk!

In a flash, a chunk of magic power equivalent to a mid-level Grandmaster was drained.

And before his eyes, a blue window appeared.

─《Authority of Projection》─

◆Trait

[Demon-Infuse Constitution (含魔枝體) Lv.95]

─────────

‘Success.’

With this, Ian too became completely immune to all curses and dark magic, just like the Sword Fiend.

‘Sword Fiend Silence Doomraven. I am sorry, senior, but now, even if I want to lose this bet, I can’t.’

The Demon-Infuse Constitution trait was virtually invincible—at least when it came to curses.

Now, no matter what curses the Sword Fiend hurled during the bet, it wouldn’t matter.

Now that the Sword Fiend had agreed to the bet and Ian had successfully projected the Demon-Infuse Constitution, obtaining Quiennio was only a matter of time.

[You’ll be able to tend your other wounds yourself, I presume.]

Having lifted the necromancer’s curse, the Sword Fiend turned away without regret.

[Then in three days. See you at my annex.]

With those words, the Sword Fiend disappeared into the mist like a ghost.

Ian slowly rose, clutching his side.

‘Three days, huh…’

That would allow him to stay in the Valley of Souls for about two more days.

‘Since I’ve started it, it’s best to uproot the Necromancers completely this time.’

The wound in Ian’s side had already healed perfectly.

It was the result of combining top-grade potions, holy power healing, and projecting the regeneration ability of monsters.

‘I’ll exterminate as many as I can in those two days.’

After the bet with the Sword Fiend, he would return to the Valley of Souls to finish the extermination.

If he wiped out the Valley of Souls’s necromancers, the Holy Kingdom of Selveris would surely come to cleanse the area after picking up the information.

Then Hisperion’s borders would be safer, and the demon race would lose a significant future ally.

‘I’ll need to work hard.’

― Click.

Ian slung Vladiark over his shoulder and pulled his hood low again.

Until now, he had given the necromancers chances to escape in order to spread rumors and catch the Sword Fiend’s attention, but now that he’d finished his business with the Sword Fiend, there was no need to hold back.

If he worked diligently, he could probably wipe out more than four necropolises by the end of the day.

That day, countless dead of the Valley of Souls returned to hell.

* * *

Three days later.

The day of the bet with the Sword Fiend arrived.

Ian went to the Sword Fiend’s annex at the Heavenly Sword Palace, the Deep Cloud Great Mansion, and met with him there.

“… Huh. You really came.”

The Sword Fiend, wearing a thick cloak and a demon mask, came out to greet Ian.

Ian offered a light greeting.

“So, can you believe it now? That I really am Ian Greysel?”

“… Since you’ve come here, at least it can’t be just a disguise.”

If it had been magic or alchemy to disguise his appearance, he would have been caught by the palace’s security spells and wouldn’t have made it inside.

If it was some kind of wicked sorcery altering his form, such tricks wouldn’t work on the Sword Fiend anyway, and he would have seen through it on the spot.

So, the conclusion would be…

“You… weren’t a normal human after all. The Heavenly Sword Lord has been hiding a monster. Are you truly the eldest son of House Greysel, or is even that identity a fabrication?”

Ian laughed.

“Well, you’re more imaginative than I thought. As for my answer, yes, I am the eldest of House Greysel. But… I suppose ‘normal’ wouldn’t really apply to me. Again, as I said before, the power I showed in the Valley of Souls—please keep it secret.”

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of making enemies of you or the Heavenly Sword Lord.”

The Sword Fiend’s deep voice resonated from inside the mask.

“But just because of that, don’t expect me to go easy on our bet. You were the one who suggested this, and I’ve got plenty at stake too, so you’d better be prepared.”

Ian smiled nonchalantly.

“As much as you like. You can begin right away if you wish.”

————-= Clacky’s Corner ————-=

Cheater…

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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