Inheriting the Novel

Chapter 97 : Whereabouts of the Calamity (1)

Whereabouts of the Calamity (1)

"This is..."

Logan Deoric opened his eyes wide as he gazed at the sword exuding a sinister aura inside the wooden box.

Anyone could see at a glance that this was no ordinary sword.

"I believe it should be fine if it's you, Count Deoric, but please be careful. It gives off an ominous energy."

"Indeed, you are right."

Logan's eyes grew earnest.

'Is it something like a demon sword?'

In the underground mine located in Kiten Forest.

There, after witnessing Clay's swordsmanship, he was inwardly shocked.

Clay had possessed only mediocre talent, yet displayed skill that could rival Logan's—perhaps even a realm above.

It was truly unbelievable.

Logan couldn't understand how someone so unremarkable could have reached such heights in such a short amount of time.

The only conclusion he could reach was one.

'With just this, I can finally reach the Swordmaster...'

Seven Swords Under Heaven.

This legendary sword was said to grant its possessor a special power.

And if even a mediocre person could become so strong, then for Logan, dreaming of becoming the continent's greatest was not out of reach.

However, there was one thing that bothered him.

The dangerous aura radiating from this sword felt completely different from the one Clay had previously possessed.

'Of course, the Seven Swords Under Heaven wouldn't all be the same.'

Still, Logan accepted this and examined the sword again.

Strange patterns were etched onto the blade, glowing faintly as they absorbed the surrounding magic power.

'This is a magic circle to seal the sword's power!'

As someone on the verge of becoming a Swordmaster, reading the flow of magic power was as simple as breathing.

The magic flowing along the blade left a strong impression of something being suppressed.

"Grip... me..."

A peculiar voice reverberated in my mind.

Logan hastily glanced to the side, but Viscount Gwynn showed no particular reaction.

'Is it choosing to speak only to me?'

A small smile came to Logan's lips.

This was truly no ordinary sword.

Even if it wasn't one of the Seven Swords Under Heaven, it undoubtedly possessed tremendous power.

Clench!

"C-Count Deoric!"

"Don't be startled."

Logan grasped the sword and slowly lifted it.

At that moment, an enormous strength flowed through the sword, instantly filling his body with vitality and magic power.

What was surprising was that this wasn't even the end.

"Break the seal... break the seal..."

The voice emanating from the sword rang even more intensely in his head.

It insisted that if the seal was broken, it would grant power unparalleled in this world.

'Is this the sealed power...?'

Even while sealed, it was bestowing such strength.

Then, just how much power could it grant when unsealed?

Clang!

"The servants will bring the money."

"Th-thank you."

Viscount Gwynn's expression did not look good, but he dared not contradict Logan's words.

'With my skill and the power of this sword...'

Logan thought of the banquet for the birthday celebration happening in a few days.

He was certain Clay would also attend.

But Logan's current target wasn't Clay.

'Defeat Count Ribina in the open and ascend to the Seven Heroes.'

If he could accomplish that, he could achieve a prestige equal to—no, greater than—what he'd had before.

What are the Seven Heroes, if not the seven strongest on the continent?

As someone who had not yet reached Swordmaster, it was an unattainable seat—but with this demon sword, he felt he could attempt it.

'... Clay Vanhart.'

He would come after that.

Become one of the Seven Heroes and reclaim the authority of the Deoric family.

He would utterly crush the one who had brought him humiliation.

* * *

Zervisia pleaded it was all a frame-up, but in the end, he was led away and imprisoned by the soldiers.

King Serbin probably had some inkling as well.

Looking at the slavers' movements until now, it would've been impossible for them to act so cleverly without someone on the inside.

Moreover, when they searched Zervisia's palace, they discovered a trove of treasure and evidence of collusion whose origin no one could account for.

Most likely, Zervisia would spend his long elven life confined in the prison.

That was all I had left to think about regarding him.

Because after that, I had to immediately run around, searching for the calamity of corrosion.

"Reporting! The calamity of corrosion was not found near the southwestern ridgeline!"

"Reporting!"

Pressed for time, I immediately led the palace soldiers on the search.

Moreover, soldiers recruited from each village combed the mountains as meticulously as if searching for lice.

With elves, beastkin, and even dwarves joining the search, I figured we'd find it in time, even if we were pressed.

Still, I couldn't help but worry.

'Please, let it still be in the mountains.'

The only reason I was hastening to find it was one thing.

Because there was a chance that the calamity of corrosion would leave the Kezmen Mountains for somewhere else.

Considering how slow slimes usually moved, it probably hadn't left the range yet, but if it did escape...

'Then it would truly descend as a calamity.'

Once it left the mountains and disappeared somewhere, there'd be no hope of tracking it down.

Riya saw the urgency on my face and asked with concern.

"Clay, are you really alright to handle this alone?"

"In fact, other people would only get in the way."

Frankly, I was the only one here who could face a calamity head-on.

Riya understood that, but she couldn't hide her worry.

'Where could it be?'

Anxiously, I listened for search results while I combed the mountains.

After a day and eight hours had passed, just as morning was beginning to break, I got my answer.

"We've found it!"

It was a beastkin soldier who had found the calamity.

He had run non-stop, sweat pouring down like rain as he caught his breath.

"Where is it now?"

"It's moving toward the Tenve River!"

I immediately recalled the location of the Tenve River.

The Tenve River ran halfway up the Kezmen Mountains, stretching all the way down to the valley stream.

'So it plans to ride the valley's swift current and escape in one go!'

It was clever for a slime.

Given that slimes were made of liquid, if it let itself be swept away by the current, it could escape the mountain range in an instant.

"Everyone, to the Tenve River!"

I led the Lavantara soldiers and moved toward the river, tightening the encirclement before it could be swept downstream.

"There!"

An elf soldier shouted, pointing in one direction.

I nodded and sprinted with all my strength toward where he pointed.

'Why do I always end up running in these mountains?'

The battlefields were mountain ranges too—I'd really run my feet raw, and now I was running in the mountains again.

'There it is!'

I glimpsed the calamity heading for the riverside.

It wasn't moving fast, so at this pace, catching up was easy.

Saaak!

Slimes sense their surroundings through magic power.

It sensed my approach and writhed.

It was probably planning to blow up its nucleus, just like before.

But I had no intention of falling for the same trick twice.

"Riya!"

"Yes! Be trapped in the wall of current!"

Uuuuuung!

The transparent barrier that had once trapped the calamity of disease and demons, Edward Williams, surrounded it on all sides.

Simultaneously, an explosion hurled green bodily fluids everywhere.

The calamity of disease and demons, the Acid Slime, tried melting the barrier from within to escape, but its strength, already weakened by division, was insufficient.

'Good!'

Fortunately, as planned, with Riya's ability, I succeeded in sealing away its division trait.

But just as with Edward, we probably couldn't hold it for long.

So I had to finish it in one go.

"Everyone stand back!"

Realizing it could not escape with its weakened split body, the Acid Slime hurriedly began to recombine.

Srring!

I quickly drew Genova and dashed forward.

"Ha!"

The moment I reached the barrier, I let out a focused shout and swung Genova.

Swoosh!

Thanks to Solaris's ability, I slipped right through the barrier and grinned.

"Give up running."

A slime, having no sense of hearing, shouldn't have been able to understand my words.

Yet, as if it understood, it reacted violently to my statement, writhing all over.

Kkak!

I gripped Genova tightly, bracing against its attack.

But what it did next was unexpected.

"...?"

Suddenly, its body started to melt rapidly, turning watery.

I was momentarily startled by the incomprehensible sight.

Swash!

Its body spread wide, transforming into a gigantic wave rushing at me.

'Certainly, in an enclosed space, there'd be no way to dodge an attack like that.'

Dangerous.

But—

I could handle this.

"Peerless Sword Deltode."

As Genova's blade resounded, a new ability began to awaken.

Deltode grants its wielder superhuman physical ability and limitless stamina.

When I learned of this ability, I was filled with anticipation. I could see the possibility of surpassing my limits.

'Sunwheel Ascendant Heaven Sword.'

The sword technique perfected in the end by Damien Viet.

With Granseia's help, I mastered its magic power utilization, but never properly displayed its swordsmanship.

To wield the Sunwheel Ascendant Heaven Sword, one needs at least a body at the Swordmaster level.

'But with Deltode's ability...'

Chiiiiik!

Genova's blade was enveloped in white light, radiating intense heat.

Nowhere near what Damian had shown—but...

This was without doubt the Sunwheel Ascendant Heaven Sword.

"I'll vaporize it all."

Chwaaak!

The slash, clad in white light, burned away everything it touched.

The Acid Slime, surging over me like a tidal wave, writhed in agony, unable to endure the searing pain.

I didn't give it a chance, slashing again and again.

Strike, strike, and strike again.

'I can feel it.'

With each swing, I felt it, and I could see it.

My vision (視界) was wider than ever before.

With my physique pushed to its very limit, the path I needed to take shone clearly before me.

It showed me the wall I had to surpass.

"Fuuu..."

I slowly withdrew my sword.

My extended vision returned to normal, and my head throbbed.

'Did I really do that?'

As the heat filled the space, all that remained was smoke drifting in the wind.

There was no trace of the calamity of corrosion that had just frantically struggled for its life.

'A shame...'

Even though I had safely taken care of the calamity, I couldn't shake a peculiar sense of disappointment.

If I'd just had a little more time, it felt as if I could have found the key to surpass that wall.

But the calamity fell before I found that breakthrough.

'Tsk.'

I felt oddly regretful, but it couldn't be helped.

Honestly, even if I'd kept fighting, the odds were I wouldn't have found the answer.

That must be the wall one needs to climb to reach Swordmaster.

[It hasn't been long since you became a Sword Expert—how greedy can you be?]

As if reading my mind, granseia admonished me.

'You're right, aren't you?'

[Still, if you use that sword... it might be possible to attain the next level before your body is fully ready.]

'... Really?'

I asked, unable to hide my anticipation, and Granseia replied with a soft laugh.

[Yes. That's the feeling I get somehow. But don't be too impatient.]

At her words, I couldn't help but nod.

If Granseia said so, maybe I could hope.

"Clay."

Just then, I heard Riya's voice from behind me.

When I turned slowly, somehow Riya had come right up close, almost nose-to-nose.

"Riya?"

When I asked, puzzled, her gaze dropped.

She was looking at my right hand.

Normally, I would have been wearing a glove, but it had melted away during the fight with the calamity of corrosion, leaving nothing behind.

Except for the Eye of Shimosha.

'Don't tell me...'

Only then did I realize.

Riya was staring intently at the Eye of Shimosha, using Dragon Eyes.