Inheriting the Novel

Chapter 43 : Sword of Man Genova (2)

Sword of Man Genova (2)

Chuhjeok, chuhjeojeok.

The sound of the barrier made by Riya breaking rang in my ears.

People's gazes turned to the green smoke leaking through the shattered barrier.

"Isn't that, isn't that dangerous?"

Kwa-jajajak!

Just like the shell of an egg breaking, the barrier made by Riya crumbled down.

Goooo!

The green smoke spun like a vortex, starting to swirl into one place. Anyone who saw it would instantly feel the shape of a calamity.

'My god. What is that?'

Floria was aghast at the scene unfolding before her.

Now, the finals didn't matter at all.

'What's with that smoke? Is it also a monster? If that's the case...'

Who could possibly stop that?

No matter if someone was a Swordmaster, you couldn't cut down smoke.

Even the dragon-blooded princess had only been able to restrain it briefly.

KWA-AAANG!

The green smoke erupted from the vortex and rushed toward the spectator seats.

But it was blocked by a transparent barrier that covered the entire stands.

'The princess?'

For a moment, Floria thought so, but seeing the expression on her furrowed brow, that didn't seem to be the case.

In that case, there was only one possibility left.

'Gideon Asktalin!'

One of the Seven Heroes of the continent.

If he was the strongest mage among them, it made sense that he could put up a barrier this strong.

Only then did the chaos in the stands begin to subside.

'Father.'

Riya gazed at the emperor who had stolen her role with a displeased face.

Gideon had risen from the ornate throne and was constructing the barrier.

Noticing Riya's gaze, he smirked. Riya really did not like that smile.

'He just sat by and pretended not to know, now he's basking in the spotlight...'

It was clear Gideon had known about every situation. Everything that happened in the empire would reach his ears.

And yet, he had taken no action and only watched to see what Clay would do.

He must have known all about the sword in Clay's hand, too.

Divine prophecies were always passed down to the emperor of the empire; there was no way he wouldn't know.

'... Thanks to him, at least the chaotic spectators calmed down. Let's move on.'

No matter how great a mage he was, it would be impossible to restrain the calamity of disease and demons for very long.

But that alone was enough—to draw away the crowd's attention.

Tap, tap, tap.

Clay Vanhart, clutching his flickering sword.

He advanced slowly toward the center of the smoke.

* * *

"Edward Williams."

I don't know why he became a calamity. Maybe I'll never know.

No, honestly, I never even cared to know.

To me, he was only a murderer who tried to kill countless people.

'And to Monet...'

The anger I had bottled up until now surged forth.

To me, Monet was family.

Even when my household fell into ruin, Monet and her family stayed in the mansion and remained with me.

The only reason I could continue to manage the estate was thanks in great part to their help.

Just like Monet was like a sibling to Fabian, she was the same to me.

Clink.

I slowly raised my sword.

High enough for everyone in the coliseum to see.

"You cannot kill me with the strength of a human."

The air quivered as Edward's voice rang out.

The previous polite tone was now long gone.

Now, the 'doctor' Edward who had been here before was gone; only 'calamity of disease and demons' Edward remained.

"I don't know why you lured me here, but you have made a grave mistake."

The swirling smoke, raging like a dragon's ascent, spread out in an instant.

"Do you think you can keep me at bay with that kind of barrier?"

It instantly filled the arena and enveloped me.

I wouldn't succumb to disease, but the smoke, with its mass, felt like it was crushing me.

"Ten minutes? No, now,I can't even bind me for 10 minutes!"

Within the smoke pressing down on me, Edward's mad scream reverberated.

"I'll start with you and kill everyone here! Then I'll bring down this rotten empire, and wipe out humanity itself!"

"Someone's got big dreams."

"...!"

As I responded calmly within the smoke, it roiled in surprise.

"Now that I think about it, it was like this before too... Why doesn't my power work on you?"

"You don't need to know."

Gripping Genova with both hands, I stared into the smoke.

"You'll die right here."

Shwaaaak!

Through the green smoke, the reddish-gold light of the sword flashed.

"GRAAAGH! Why—why do I feel pain? Why?!"

Edward screamed, and the smoke writhed.

The flickering shape of the smoke showed plainly that he was in panic.

'Sorry, Fabian.'

Silently, I sent my heartfelt condolences to the true protagonist.

All this glory should have belonged to him.

'I'll make good use of this hero's seat.'

Vvvvmmm!

Genova's blade began to vibrate, quickly gathering immense strength.

And soon after, its appearance changed and a golden radiance burned along the edge.

"Kh...!"

Edward must have instinctively realized it.

If he was struck this time, it wouldn't just hurt like before.

"This cannot be the end! Not until I have repaid all the pain I suffered!"

Edward howled like a scream, pouring forth all the might of the calamity.

But it was useless. Perhaps with someone else—but for me, disease and poison had no effect whatsoever.

"Farewell, Edward Williams."

With the Eye of Insight open, I could see it.

Amidst the smoke flowing in myriad colors, I could clearly see a single strand.

That was Edward's real body.

The core of the calamity.

A normal sword would be useless even after a hundred strikes, but the sword in my hand was Genova.

A sword that could cut anything I wished to cut.

Vmmm, vmmm, vmmm!

Gripping the vibrating blade, I slowly brought my sword down, vertical.

"... Mother."

With Edward's muttered words in my ear, a golden flash split the world.

* * *

"Did you hear about that this time? The princess!"

"If you mean the incident at this year's imperial tournament, don't even mention it. I've heard about it so much my ears are calloused."

Though there was a disturbance at the end, the Founding Festival finished neatly without any major issue.

There had been some districts quarantined due to an outbreak, but thanks to the empire's quick response, it was contained before spreading far.

Of course, it wasn't a perfect conclusion, but it was a significant achievement nonetheless.

Thanks to this, the evaluation of Princess Riya, who led the effort, soared.

"We're lucky to have the princess... If not, it would've been terrible."

"I don't know why she isn't the successor. Ahem, never mind, forget I said that."

One man, feeling his voice was too loud, looked around nervously.

"There were some losses, but they say they're going to reform the slums because of what happened."

"I'm worried it'll drive out the Demihuman."

"Oh! Where you been? Didn't you hear? The princess herself stepped up to stop the persecution and contempt toward the Demihumans! Don't say things like that, or you'll get in trouble."

"The Demihuman? Why?"

The man praising the princess looked surprised, clearly unaware of this.

"You know. The imperial royalty are descended from dragons. That's why Her Highness asked that Demihumans like herself not face severe discrimination."

"How could she say such a thing... The royalty aren't the same as the Demihumans."

"A truly merciful princess. Anyway, all the Demihumans will be relocated and reorganized in the district that used to be the slums. Her Highness herself said this wouldn't be solved in a day or two."

The slums had suffered most in this plague incident. It was where Edward had started spreading the disease.

Anyway, because of this, Riya's new policy was welcomed by the Demihumans, and to most other citizens of the empire, she was simply praised as a merciful princess.

Of course, that included some hidden supporters Riya planted herself—who cleverly guided public opinion to think that discrimination against the Demihumans was wrong.

"In any case, I'm glad I was there to see the imperial tournament this year."

"Absolutely. The princess is the princess, but still..."

The most talked-about figure in this year's Founding Festival was not just the princess.

Actually, there was someone who became even more of a sensation than the princess.

The man who revealed the true meaning of the Founding Festival and claimed legend for himself.

"Count Clay Vanhart."

Those who saw him fight in the coliseum called him this:

The Golden Hero.

And now, the Golden Hero was attending the closing banquet of the Founding Festival.

* * *

"Golden Hero, what a joke."

[From Unrivaled Iron Fist to Golden Hero... Wasn't like this in my time. Did hundreds of years make people worse at coming up with names?]

That's what I want to ask.

No, if they're going to give me a title, there have to be better ones.

'The Seven Heroes of the continent all have fitting titles at least.'

It's not even that I want so much.

Something that fits my image, like Count Ribina the 'Red Lion'.

[Looks the same to me.]

'What? There's a big difference. A very big difference.'

As I was having this conversation with Grancesia, several people gathered around me hesitantly.

'How many times is this now?'

I really felt that I was the main character of this year's Founding Festival.

Not just foreign nobles—even imperial nobles couldn't wait to find an excuse to talk to me.

'It's a total reversal from the last time I was here.'

I could still remember so clearly getting laughed at then.

Without Riya, it would have been humiliating.

"Um... Hello, Count Vanhart. Pleased to meet you. I am Charles, eldest son of the Marquis of Lexington."

"Oh, yes, hello..."

I gave an appropriately polite greeting, as usual, but when I saw his face, I slowly closed my mouth.

"Is something wrong, Count?"

"No, it's just... Haven't we met before?"

"Excuse me? Surely not."

Charles genuinely didn't seem to understand what I meant.

But I remembered clearly.

It had been some time, but the man before me was definitely a noble I'd met at the New Year Festival, years ago.

"We met at the New Year Festival five years ago, didn't we? Don't you remember? You told me the nobles of the Kingdom of Talua had no manners."

"...!"

As I said that, Charles suddenly seemed to remember something, and his face turned pale.

"T-that...! No, that was...!"

Flustered, he stepped back awkwardly, waving his hands defensively, and bumped into someone behind him, his face twisting with dismay.

"Who was behind me... Huh?!"

"Yes? What's the matter? Oh, you two have known each other for a long time, haven't you?"

Riya stood right there, one hand covering her mouth as she laughed softly.

It was clear once again that unlucky people couldn't catch a break.