NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12
What is the Holy Sword?
It refers to a weapon imbued with divine power.
Even an ordinary human can defeat the Demon King just by holding it, as it grants such power.
Yes, to put it metaphorically, it’s like a gun.
A young child can’t win against an adult, but the Holy Sword is like a gun, enabling a child to defeat an adult.
So, how many Holy Swords are there in total?
Well, it may be odd to say “Holy Sword” because there are a few strange things mixed in, but there are a total of seven Holy Swords that exist on this continent.
“This isn’t something arranged for the Hero to oppose the Demon King.”
Just as there are seven Demon Kings, there are also seven Holy Swords.
Which came first, the chicken or the egg, is anyone’s guess.
Did the seven Demon Kings occupy their positions to oppose the seven Holy Swords, or did the gods send down the seven Holy Swords to face the seven Demon Kings?
Or perhaps it’s simply that the number ‘7’ is favorable to both humans and demons.
I have no idea which it is, but I know well what these Holy Swords are and what power they hold.
Why do I know?
Because I killed them all.
I have confronted all seven Holy Swords and killed six Heroes.
Only one remained.
While trying to confront the last Hero, I was eventually driven back to the Demon World, but during that process, I was able to accurately grasp the nature of the Holy Sword and its background.
The Holy Sword is just a very special artifact with ancient power.
It’s simply been framed as a Holy Sword due to being used against the Demon King; it is merely an ancient relic.
It could be a source of power that has existed since the commencement of humanity’s history, or even longer.
Through my research on the Holy Sword, I’ve learned everything about its history, origin, and how to utilize it.
Including how to use it.
Even the ‘activation command’ that seals the power of the Holy Sword.
“Wind.”
A powerful wind!
I was momentarily spellbound by the golden wind sweeping around Lucius.
“Oh, my heart…”
Phantom pain began to take over me again.
This physical body has no heart, yet I felt as if the heart within my soul was being torn apart.
Why?
Because that Holy Sword tore my heart to shreds.
Though now it felt solid, reflecting on those days made me wish to throw it into a volcano.
As the golden wind roared, Lucius stared forward with a fierce gaze.
His blue eyes began to slowly take on a golden hue from the power of the Holy Sword, and the golden wind gradually weakened, settling around the Holy Sword.
After a storm passed, the Holy Sword finally revealed its subtle charm.
“Is that… the Holy Sword?”
The rust covering the Holy Sword, which had served as disguise, unraveled, and even the invisible magical seal was lifted, leaving both humans and demons in awe of the Holy Wind Sword.
“Ah… is this the Holy Sword?”
Even Lucius stood there dumbfounded, holding the Holy Sword, not even considering swinging it.
“Hero.”
Tap tap.
“You should start swinging it soon. How long will you keep us waiting?”
“Ah.”
Only after I lightly tapped Lucius’s leg with my toes did he blink several times and turn his gaze toward me.
“M-Master?!”
“Can you feel its power?”
“…Yes.”
The Holy Sword grants power to its wielder.
As an Undead with no power, that kind of overwhelming strength can easily snap necks; now it resided within Lucius.
“What will you do with this power now?”
“I…”
Lucius looked down for a moment.
On the ground lay Nerthio, trembling in fear, trying to seize the Holy Sword, while the villagers remained silent, filled with awe.
“Lucius! A Hero has arisen from our village! Wow!!”
“Wow, that’s amazing! After this battle, I’ll repay you double for the money I borrowed last time! Got it…?”
“Lucius, we are not trying to abandon you! It was Nerthio who urged us to do so!!”
Indeed, there was awe.
While there was respect for the overwhelming power of the Holy Sword, there was suddenly fear of Lucius, who wielded it.
So, like a thief caught red-handed, those who had wronged Lucius were now flattering him.
Because the Hero of the Holy Sword possesses power.
Someone said:
– One should not fear the power itself. Fear the one who wields that power!
I recall those words from the Ice Witch of the Undead in the northern lands.
– Where did you hear that?
– I don’t know! Ever since I obtained this power, those words keep coming out.
The Ice Witch, who could freeze opponents to death and then extract moisture to create water spirits of death, was ultimately defeated by the Heroes.
Indeed, one need not fear power.
The power of the Holy Sword is not the power itself but changes depending on ‘who’ wields it.
It can be either a god or a Demon King; that is the power of the Holy Sword.
Each Holy Sword has an attribute of one of the seven magical powers and is merely the source of that power.
The Holy Sword that Lucius wields is the ‘Holy Wind Sword.’
It can summon a tempest that tears everything apart or calm the storm to bring forth a gentle breeze.
Of course, it may differ a bit in this era, but in a rural village, the story of the Holy Sword Hero causing an accident while awakening isn’t a huge flaw.
What truly matters is how he will wield the Holy Sword for humanity in the future.
“How will you use it?”
“…First.”
Lucius directed his gaze toward Nerthio.
Nerthio paled and rushed to the Village Chief, who was trembling and trying to aim his gun at Lucius with shaking hands.
“Y-you’re trying to kill me, right?! Aaaah!!”
Bang—!
“Too slow.”
The sword wind that flowed from the Holy Sword instantly sliced through the gun.
“Ah, aaah!!”
“I won’t miss twice. How dare you point a gun at my Master…?”
The Village Chief dropped the gun and sank to the ground, the gun rolling on the floor in two halves.
“Hmph.”
Lucius smirked as he pointed at the Holy Sword with his eyes.
“I will eliminate any threats to my Master with this Holy Sword.”
“…….”
“Master, what are you worried about?”
Lucius turned his gaze toward me.
“Just say the word. I will tear it all apart with this sword wind.”
He seemed ready to kill if I were to give him an order, so I approached him and placed my hand on his shoulder.
“What worries me is you.”
“…Yes?”
“Are you intending to eliminate what frightens me, the threats against me? No. You must not kill indiscriminately.”
It’s troublesome to handle corpses.
“I did not give you the Holy Sword to kill people.”
Corpses are vital resources for Necromancers, whom Zephar and the black mages can exploit freely for corpse bombs or whatever.
“Calm down. No one here can threaten you.”
“But Master…?”
“Can’t you just protect me?”
That’s why I made you the Hero of the Holy Sword.
The one who wields power, Arthur Lucius, is the most unlikely to wield the Holy Sword recklessly for selfish gains, which is why I chose you.
I handed over the Holy Sword, believing you wouldn’t stab me in the back but rather use it against my enemies.
“I trust you, Lucius. So…”
Suddenly, something flew toward me from behind.
“!!”
Swoosh…!!
A small poisoned dart aimed at my shoulder, and amidst the motionless humans affected by the Holy Sword’s aura, a goblin managed to launch the poisoned dart at me.
However.
Clang—!
Lucius grabbed me and swung his sword.
“The Hero protecting his Master.”
The poisoned dart ricocheted off the Holy Sword and soared into the sky, and Lucius smiled at me.
“Is this okay?”
“…Hmm.”
I understood his rushed actions to save me, but was it really necessary to pull me like this?
Though I was not fully embraced, being pulled by a man’s hands was utterly unpleasant.
One hand held the Holy Sword sideways while the other wrapped around my back, making my annoyance boil.
This brat, looking closely, seemed as handsome as my other human body…?
“…Ahem.”
“Oh, I’m sorry!”
“Next time, don’t pull me… Haah, no.”
If I give Lucius strange instructions, I wonder how it’ll turn out later.
If I were to say, ‘don’t touch my body but protect me,’ I might find myself without his protection in a truly dangerous situation.
‘It’s not the time to take such risks yet.’
I cannot die yet.
If I were to die like this, if my soul were to escape from this physical body, I might end up losing my sanity and wander the world as a specter.
‘The afterlife is also dangerous.’
Even if I were to drift into the afterlife, it’s dangerous.
No, that would be the worst.
‘The goddess of the afterlife has her eye on me.’
Taking a step back from Lucius, I cleared my throat.
“Lucius. It’s an order.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Take down all those goblins over there… and retrieve the Magic Stones.”
Humans are not to be killed, but goblins are the exception.
“I’ll be back soon. Master.”
In a flash, he disappeared like light.
Whoosh—!!
A golden storm began to rage among the goblins surrounding the villagers.
I was.
Entranced by the beauty of that golden hue.
‘Magic Stones are the best.’
The tempest emitted by the Holy Sword was the light of my lifespan extending.