novelraw Chapter 77 : Chapter 77
Chapter 77 : Chapter 77
Chapter 77. Events After the Collapse of the Demon King's Castle (2)
‘Again?’
Iris gasped for breath and looked down at her blood-stained hands.
Those who were moving just moments ago were now cold and still.
‘What… on earth am I doing?’
At first, even holding a dagger felt awkward, but now she had become too accustomed to it.
As naturally as breathing, she repeatedly stabbed and slashed without hesitation.
‘It’s like I become a different person when I hold a dagger in my hand.’
While she was blankly gripping the dagger in her hand.
Number 1 approached and offered words of praise.
“You learn quickly. With this level of skill, you won’t die anywhere you go.”
Iris abruptly raised her head and shouted.
“That’s not the problem right now! Why is it so hard to come to my senses when I see blood?”
“It’s a natural thing.”
“A natural thing?”
Number 1 had taught Iris the killing techniques that the Unseen Ones learn.
And it was a very accelerated course.
“The method I taught you is fast, but it has some side effects. If you can overcome that process, you will no longer be possessed by the urge to kill.”
“If the side effect is becoming a murderer, then I refuse. Are there any cases of overcoming it?”
“There are differences in speed, but all the Unseen Ones follow the same training method. You don’t have to worry.”
Iris frowned and muttered.
“Tsk. I shouldn’t have learned it.”
“You might save your life with it later. There’s no skill in this world that’s bad to learn.”
“Yes, yes. Whatever you say.”
Iris answered half-heartedly and shook the blood off her dagger.
The way she did it looked so natural, it was clear she had done it more than once or twice.
“I know that practical experience is important. But aren't these high-ranking nobles of the empire? The ones we killed before too. Is there a reason to kill them?”
Number 1 shrugged as if it were no big deal and slowly opened his mouth.
“They are like a cancer to the empire. There are no more perfect targets for your training than them.”
“Aren’t they just the anti-emperor faction? They haven't committed any illegal acts.”
“Opposing the emperor is itself illegal.”
Iris made a dumbfounded expression.
“I don’t know when you started supporting the emperor.”
“I have never supported the emperor.”
“You’re doing it right now.”
“You seem to be misunderstanding something, but the emperor is synonymous with the empire.
If you want power, you can just put up a new emperor. But they can’t even do that and are just causing trouble.”
Number 1 emphasized that he was not helping the emperor, but working for the group.
“If the empire collapses, all the foundations we have painstakingly built will collapse with it. You must not forget that.”
“Even if the emperor is evil or incompetent?”
“It doesn’t matter. As long as he can maintain the empire.”
Iris made a face as if she didn't quite understand and asked another question.
“Did you deliver that thing Noemi asked for?”
“It was delivered without a hitch.”
“Why did she make such a request out of the blue?”
“She might be trying to make a weapon. There’s no better material than Durani steel.”
“That’s true, but I never dreamed that Noemi would come here.”
“That goes for me too. Teleportation magic. The Spatial Transition Magic we use is only possible within a short distance, and such a long-distance movement is impossible. The world is truly wide and there are many unknown magics. It was a moment when I realized I needed to learn more.”
It was a week ago.
While Iris was away for training, Noemi suddenly appeared.
Number 1, who recognized her, asked with a puzzled face.
“What on earth did you do?”
“Teleportation magic. I’ve been here once before, so I was able to come right away. There was a little danger, but I guess I have to take that risk.”
“…I’ve never heard of such magic. So. What brings you here?”
“I’d like to get about six kilograms of Durani steel. Is that possible?”
As it happened, there was some Durani steel in the secret warehouse of the Unseen Ones.
Because the weapons used by the single-digit members were all made using Durani steel.
“Is it urgent?”
“The sooner the better.”
“You might have to wait a few more days for Iris to arrive.”
“Then, could you just hand over the Durani steel? I can meet my sister another time. I’ll pay with this.”
She handed over a bundle of gold bars.
“This is enough for the price. Wait a moment.”
After that, Noemi received the Durani steel that Number 1 handed over and disappeared like the wind.
Iris, who learned of this fact belatedly, said with a face as if she still couldn’t believe it.
“She’s been like that since she was young. A child whose limits you could never know.”
But Number 1 shook his head, saying that was not the case.
“That goes for you too.”
A strange smile appeared on Iris' face.
As if she didn’t want to be caught, she quickly changed the subject.
“Who’s the next target?”
Number 1 chuckled and took a list out of his pocket and handed it to her.
“This will be more difficult than today. There are over twenty people you have to kill at once.”
“No problem.”
With those words, Iris' figure disappeared in an instant.
Just like the other Unseen Ones.
***
A month had already passed since we left the Demon King's Castle.
I watched Anonymous making a sword from the side and couldn't help but admire her.
‘Making one sword was such a complicated task.’
The red-hot steel placed on the anvil.
As Anonymous' small hands fixed it with tongs, the lump of iron writhed, emitting heat from its entire body.
The arm holding the hammer was raised high,Tang!
The heavy resonance of metal striking metal filled the workshop.
Sparks flew, and pieces of iron were sent flying.
Tang! Tang!
As strength and heat tempered the iron, the metal gradually took shape.
The steel, which was initially just a rough lump, gradually became longer, thinner, and began to form a blade.
Anonymous' eyes shone sharply at every moment, and her hand, gripping the hammer, never wavered.
Each time a round of hammering was finished, the red-hot steel was dipped into the water in which the Dungeon Core was melted, and with a chiiik! sound, it emitted steam.
The metal, contracting rapidly due to the temperature difference, became even harder.
By repeatedly putting it back in the fire and heating it, the sword gradually found its original form.
“Just a little more…”
She finely honed the blade with a whetstone and then dipped it into the cold water once more.
After finally finishing the details of the sword body, the steel held a glint of light.
“Phew! It’s finally finished!”
Anonymous raised the completed sword high into the sky.
The sharply shining blade.
It was a sword born in ceaseless hammering and patience, without a single mistake.
The sword was one thing, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Anonymous.
Because this was the first time I had seen her like this.
‘A brightly smiling Anonymous. How unfamiliar.’
The thought that this might be her true self flickered through my mind.
Did she notice my gaze?
She grinned and handed me the sword.
“How is it?”
“It’s light.”
“Is that all? Just light? My sword isn’t something that ends with that kind of evaluation.”
She grabbed my hand and led me somewhere.
“Where are we going?”
“We have to try using Aura Sword. That’s why I made it.”
How far did we run?
The mansion was no longer in sight, and we were suddenly deep in the forest.
Anonymous looked around and said that this should be enough, then pointed at the sword with one hand.
“Try using Aura Sword with the sword I made. You’ll definitely notice a difference.”
I nodded and tightened my grip on the sword.
Woooooong.
The magical power flowed as if it were being sucked in.
If the magical power I could put into Ragnarok was 1, this felt like at least 3.
The halo of light that formed on the sword was also incomparably larger than before.
“Stand back.”
I gently pushed Anonymous away and slowly lowered my stance.
The heavy, sinking air enveloped the surroundings, and I could feel the sword trembling slightly.
A sword that seemed to be breathing on its own.
The intense tremor felt at my fingertips.
The thrill of being on the verge of an explosion enveloped my entire body.
‘Now is the time.’
I swung the sword strongly towards the front.
Kwaaaaaang!!
As I swung the sword, a dazzling light erupted.
The sword energy shot out in a straight line.
The blade of light, cutting through giant trees and tearing through the wind, relentlessly advanced, splitting the forest in half as if it were a living being.
An endlessly long gash, as if a vast highway had been paved.
It was a scene that hardly felt real.
I lowered my gaze and slowly looked at the sword.
I could still feel the residual power in the slightly trembling blade.
“Incredible.”
A power that made me no longer miss Ragnarok.
Anonymous clapped her hands and approached me.
“Isn’t that obvious? It’s a masterpiece that I put my heart and soul into making.”
I had to admit it.
When the best materials and the best craftsman meet, a masterpiece like this is created.
“It seems so. I like it. Good work.”
Anonymous smiled brightly and suddenly hugged me.
“Hehe. I love you, Master.”
Flinch.
I hesitated for a moment on what to do, then lightly patted her head.
She too, without a word, buried her face in my chest and held me tight.
Only her warm body heat and her pounding heartbeat seemed to tell me that this was not a dream.
Meanwhile, at that moment.
A ghost was wandering deep underground in the collapsed Demon King's Castle.
His name was Kaliditas.
The first Demon King and, until recently, the master of this place.
‘How vexing. How vexing. What a state I’m in.’
Although he was an immortal Lich King, he could now only move his soul, having abandoned his body.
Because his main body was crushed by rocks and he could no longer get out of there.
As he wandered the ruins, mourning for days and days.
He felt the presence of a living creature.
‘Hmm? Is there still a living being here?’
As the Demon King's Castle collapsed, all those inside it could not escape death.
That was a fact he had confirmed with his own eyes.
Kaliditas moved quickly towards the faint sound of breathing he felt.
Since he was a soul, obstacles were no problem at all.
Then, something came into his sight.
A high-ranking demon was barely breathing, trapped between rocks.
It seemed to be the same fellow he had been observing for fun before those damned bastards arrived.
‘What an incredibly tough body.’
Surviving the collapse of the ruins and then the collapse of the Demon King's Castle was proof that his body was no ordinary one.
Kaliditas licked his lips and slowly approached him.
Then he pushed his soul into the fellow’s body.
Shwoooook.
Was it because his body was weakened?
He felt no resistance at all.
Now, just a little deeper.
If he could reach his soul, he would be able to devour his soul in one go and become the master of this body.
What if he could save this guy?
He might be able to escape from this hellish place.
Only then did a light of hope appear in Kaliditas' eyes.
Without even guessing what kind of ending this would lead to.