novelraw Chapter 111: Shadow-Born
Chapter 111: Shadow-Born
"You’re the Shadow Flame Duke’s granddaughter?"
Westheid asked, surprised. Although he’d suspected it at first glance, he couldn’t help but be astonished to have it confirmed by the young girl.
Just sending the [Shadow Fire Technicians] was a pleasant surprise, but for the leader to be of the Shadow Flame Clan’s True Blood was simply incredible.
After all, the families of the [Branch of Prosperity] were by no means large. Very few clansmen could truly inherit a Holy Spirit Bloodline, and each one was exceptionally precious. ’Had the Shadow Flame Duke really sent his own clan’s youngest member here?’
Shamuel nodded.
"Yes. Grandfather said that Friends of the Oath should watch over one another. To that end, I have brought seventy of my clan’s [Shadow Fire Technicians] to assist Duke Qinghui in retaking his homeland."
Westheid sighed.
"The Shadow Flame Territory is itself facing Chaos. Your pressure is far greater than in any other direction of the Imperial. Is it really alright to divert so many [Shadow Fire Technicians]? Also, retaking the Qinghui Territory is no walk in the park. People will die. Even I am not certain of victory. The Shadow Flame Duke shouldn’t have let you come into harm’s way."
"You are mistaken, Duke Qinghui!"
Shamuel’s delicate, snow-white face was filled with seriousness as she lifted her head and said:
"I am also a member of the Shadow Flame Clan. As you said, the Shadow Flame Territory has endured more Chaos Tides than anywhere else. That is why we are the experts in fighting Chaos. The Chaos near the Shadow Flame Territory has been quiet for some time, which is why we could spare the forces to support the Qinghui Territory."
"Also, please do not treat me like a child. I will be an adult in two years! Besides..."
The young girl with long, flaxen hair covered one eye and declared in a low voice:
"Within my eyes dwells the shadow’s flame! Oh, soul of my bloodline that burns bone and sears the heart, drive me to meet my fated foe! I... I was born to fight the Great Chaos Enemy to the death! Aaaah... my eyes can no longer suppress the jet-black flames! They call to me to incinerate the Great Chaos Enemy!"
"Devour their flesh! Extinguish their souls!"
Westheid: "..."
’Where did this chuunibyou kid come from?’ he originally wanted to retort. But on second thought, Shamuel wasn’t exactly wrong. The Holy Spirit Ancestor of the Shadow Flame Clan could be said to be the most martial of all the Holy Spirits. From the moment of its birth, it had fought Chaos to the bitter end. In terms of age, it was second only to the [Radiant Holy Tree].
Duke Qinghui sighed. "It’s not that I’m unwilling—the more aid, the better. But the Shadow Flame Duke has sent his successor into the battle to reclaim the Qinghui Territory. If anything were to happen to you, I would have no way to face him."
Shamuel immediately lowered her hand and said in a relaxed tone:
"Duke Qinghui, you needn’t worry. I am not the heir to the Shadow Flame Territory. Even if I die, my father can take the seat. If my father dies, my older brother can take the seat. If I die on the battlefield against Chaos, Grandfather would never hold it against you."
Westheid said, "The Shadow Flame Clan’s current generation... has quite a few people, huh. Well then, let’s do as the Shadow Flame Duke wishes. I was only considering the worst-case scenario. I won’t actually put you in danger."
Shamuel’s fine brows furrowed slightly as she said coolly, "Duke Qinghui, I’m not exactly helpless."
Westheid glanced at the Sword Box on her back, which was taller than she was, and nodded.
"It seems you do have some means of protecting yourself. It’s just that the weapon’s size doesn’t seem very suitable."
"Oh, this... this isn’t mine. It’s a gift from my grandfather for Duke Qinghui."
Shamuel seemed to have only just remembered the thing on her back. She handed it to Westheid.
"Grandfather said Duke Qinghui complained about not having a suitable weapon, so he specifically entrusted me with delivering this."
"Hm?"
Westheid was taken aback. He remembered mentioning it just once during a gathering. The Shadow Flame Duke had indeed said he could give him a weapon at the time, but he hadn’t paid much mind to conversation over drinks.
’I can’t believe the Shadow Flame Duke actually remembered that.’
"Grandfather said that getting this item to Duke Qinghui was more important than my own life."
Shamuel said seriously, "Therefore, I didn’t dare let it out of my sight for a moment. Please, confirm now if you can draw it."
’Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?’
Westheid clicked his tongue and opened the Sword Box. Before his eyes was the sword of his dreams.
The exquisite, ink-patterned scabbard had a slight curve, refracting a metallic luster in the sunlight. Silver reliefs snaked across the scabbard and hilt, while faint, crimson veins seemed to breathe like flickering flames.
’So cool! A Tachi! So cool!’
As Westheid slowly drew it out, he felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had wielded it for years. His eyes lit up.
"How did he know I’m a Sword Hero... Oh, right, the Shadow Flame Duke does know. Was this weapon forged specially for me?"
’The Shadow Flame Duke loves me!’
Shamuel shook her head. "This was not forged by my grandfather. It is a Relic that has been passed down in our clan for generations. Its name is [Shadow-Born]."
"Passed down through your family? How can I possibly accept this?"
Westheid said politely, even as he drew the insanely cool weapon and caressed it.
It wasn’t his fault for being so eager; this Tachi was simply a perfect match for Westheid’s aesthetic, almost as if it had been crafted to his exact specifications.
Westheid gripped the hilt of [Shadow-Born] and slowly unsheathed it. The edge it revealed was not the sharp, silvery-white of an ordinary weapon, but a deep crimson so rich it couldn’t be diluted, so vivid it was blinding.
At the same time, Westheid felt a familiar burning sensation.
It wasn’t intense, just a slight, sharp pain. The already deep-red blade seemed to ignite, embers flaring up along its edge.
[Shadow-Born]
[A weapon forged from the essential soul of the Master of Extinction. It is a legacy from ancient times, a record of unknown history, and the deepest of shadows.]
[Bonus Damage vs. Chaos; Derived Flame Cannot Be Resisted; Unbreakable; Dauntless Edge; Unique-Bound]
’Not bad, not bad at all. So many top-tier attributes. This is practically a Divine Artifact!’
Westheid carefully examined the Long Saber’s description, nodding repeatedly. But as he continued reading, something felt off.
[Though the sun may set three times, though my sins are heavy and unforgivable, please, take my hand, and come a little closer...]
[Bound User: Westheid Qinghui]
SHIIING—
The last line of the description startled Westheid so much that he immediately sheathed the Tachi.
’Wait, when did I bind to this thing?’
’Binding out of thin air, is that it? Are you going to ask me for money next? What kind of scamming racket are you people running?’
Westheid looked at Shamuel with an expression of shocked disbelief, but the young girl from the Shadow Flame Clan just tilted her head and said:
"You can lift it so easily, Duke Qinghui? It seems you are indeed the right one."
Westheid asked grimly:
"...This blade, what is its origin?"
Shamuel shook her head. "I don’t know either."
"But I once heard Grandfather say that our Holy Spirit Ancestor, the Feast Fire Holy Spirit, was seemingly born from the fire ignited by this very blade. But that is only a legend. What we know for sure is that the lesson passed down through generations is that we must find a master for [Shadow-Born] who can draw it."
"Unfortunately, for thousands of years, no one has been able to withstand the burning of [Shadow-Born] and draw it... This time, I also thought Grandfather just wanted to give it a try. I never expected it would actually succeed."