The Heavenly Demon Is Just Stuck In My Head

Chapter 331 : The Black Sword, Shadow

Chirik! Chirik! Chiriririk!

"Uh...?"

I stared blankly at the black bracelet that was reacting violently from the moment I held the hilt of the greatsword.

Along with the strange feeling of some intangible energy flowing through my arm, a voice came into my head.

[Ah, finally...!]

"Huh?"

[It's been so long since I've been able to speak...! I really thought I was going to go crazy! Ugh, sob, sob, sob.]

Whine, whine, whine—

The sword was crying.

"Crazy. What is this?"

The black bracelet of Ophosis that reacted violently the moment I held the hilt of the sword.

The voice that flowed into my head.

And, the black greatsword.

It didn't take long to combine this information and come to a conclusion.

The famous sword of Ophosis.

The first of them.

The Black Sword.

The sword that was the first to come into the world and caused the biggest stir, and the sword that was easy to forge because all you had to do was paint the blade black, so fakes were rampant.

Some said it was a dagger, some said it was an ordinary longsword, and some said it was a huge two-handed sword.

The legendary sword whose appearance and location were all just rumors.

"Why...?"

Why was that sword here?

The answer was simple when I thought about its owner.

"The captain... was one of the Eight Sword Masters?"

Thump—

A shock as if I had been hit hard on the back of the head with a hammer.

To think that the sword I had been searching for so desperately was right in front of me.

I felt dizzy.

'What the hell happened?'

I could hear the Heavenly Demon's low laughter.

[They say it's darkest under the lamp.]

[Uh, huh? Two voices in one person? Two souls? D-don't tell me you're my other brother? A piece with the color of another god? Brother? Sister?]

[No, so shut up.]

[Yes, sir.]

The guy was scolded harshly by the Heavenly Demon as soon as he spoke.

"No, why are you discouraging the kid?"

[I just told him to be quiet.]

"Master, you go over there for a moment. Look at this guy, he's trembling."

[...Hmph.]

The Heavenly Demon, as if he had been waiting, slung his fishing rod over his shoulder and disappeared somewhere.

As soon as the Heavenly Demon left, the guy let out a big breath he had been holding.

[Hooo... he's a scary one. Don't tell me, is he the ninth and final red sword?]

"No. That guy is like a fierce dog. He's on a different level from our master. You can't even dare to compare them."

[Ah, so he was the 'one who wields the sword'. I see. His soul is of an excessively high class and noble. It's as if he's close to a divine being. Even if we were made by borrowing the power of the gods, it's not like that. It's not that much.]

The guy was very talkative.

It seemed as if he was letting out all the words he had been holding back.

I decided to introduce myself first.

"Ashuban Sherwood. I'm the benefactor who accidentally helped you escape from Guston's clutches. And you are?"

[Ah, my apologies. Of course, I know you, Sir Ashuban. I've been watching you from the side for a long time. I was so moved by the opportunity to speak after so long that I got excited. Let me introduce myself.]

Ahem—

The guy who had cleared his throat introduced himself in a reliable voice, befitting the firstborn.

[I am the first piece that my father forged by borrowing the power of Volund. I am the Black Sword, Shadow, which holds the black color among the nine colors that the gods have bestowed upon the world. It is an honor to meet the sharpest sword of the gods.]

Shadow.

Was it the power to utilize shadows?

"So, you're saying you're the first of Ophosis's famous swords, the Black Sword?"

[Yes, that's right. There are many fakes in the world, but I am the only true Black Sword!]

I stroked my chin.

"Hmm... that's strange. But why didn't the captain say a word about you? He just said you were a sturdy fellow."

[There's... a sad story behind that...]

Suddenly, Shadow's voice became gloomy.

"What is it? Spit it out."

[For decades, I was treated like a mere evil spirit... sob, sob.]

"An evil spirit? What are you talking about? Speak so I can understand."

[Ugh, sob. Whenever I said anything, he would beat me up, saying it was a haunted sword...! I couldn't say a word! 'I am a sword without a self, I am an inanimate object that cannot think...!' I had no choice but to repeat that to myself and remain silent.]

"Hmm."

[On the days when I accidentally let my voice out, he would beat me up, saying that the evil spirit hadn't left the sword yet... sob!]

...I didn't know for sure, but it seemed he had had a pretty tough time.

Just then, the bracelet that had been chirping loudly subsided.

When I checked the inside, a dark black band was drawn.

With this, it was the seventh of Ophosis's famous swords.

Two were left.

"So, you're saying you didn't use your power at all?"

[Yes! That's right! When I once gathered my courage and said, 'Um... Master, if you use my power, you can get a much stronger power in your hands,' my master would say, 'This damn evil spirit is still here!' and beat me up! Ugh! I'm not just a sturdy sword! I'm a much more capable and cool guy...! Sob, sob, sob, sob, sob.]

Whine, whine, whine—

I was at a loss for words, watching the sword that was wailing.

It was the first time I had seen such an emotional sword, so I was a little flustered.

So, to summarize his words, this simple-minded beast had taken possession of a sword that could rule the world, and yet he had treated it as just a 'very sturdy sword that was sometimes haunted'.

Did he really not know?

Or was he pretending not to know?

'I don't know.'

There was no choice but to check for myself.

I said, holding the greatsword and walking to the place where Guston was getting beaten up.

"You said your name was Shadow?"

[Sniffle. That's right, O Judge.]

"I'll talk to the captain."

[...You'll talk to him?]

"I'll tell him you're not an evil spirit."

Tremble, tremble.

The greatsword trembled violently.

[Ahhhhh! Your grace is immeasurable! This unworthy Shadow! After decades, I finally get to meet a proper benefactor! How can I ever repay this grace! How can I put this gratitude into words! As expected of the one who has received the grace of all nine gods...]

"Oh, you're so noisy."

I approached Guston, holding the chattering Shadow.

The owner of Shadow was still getting beaten up by the Sherwood members who had planned a rebellion.

"Step on him!"

"We have to beat him up while we can! We don't know when we'll get another chance like this!"

"Thwack! Thwack!"

"Die, you monster! You dare to give me, a capable person, such menial tasks! Know your sin!"

"The enemy of my friend's younger brother! The revenge of my cousin's second cousin! The... ugh, of the neighbor's Bokdeok..."

"Move aside, will you?"

After clearing away the guys who were stepping on Guston, I thrust the greatsword into the ground in front of the battered Guston.

Guston looked up at me with trembling eyes.

"Ashuban, you too...? After how I raised you."

"Stop with the nonsense."

Thwack!

I kicked Guston's plump butt and said.

"Captain. Were you one of the Eight Sword Masters?"

"? What nonsense are you talking about?"

Guston looked at me with a bewildered expression.

It didn't seem like he was lying, but I berated him anyway.

Because the opportunity to berate Guston didn't come often.

"You beast. Look me in the eye and speak straight. This guy has already confessed everything. Why did you hide the fact that you were one of the Eight Sword Masters?"

"...What?"

"What were you thinking? What was your scheme?

Then, the Sherwood members began to murmur.

"What? The captain was one of the Eight Sword Masters?"

"Then... is that one of Ophosis's famous swords?"

"Wait, if it's a black sword..."

"D-don't tell me it's the Black Sword?!"

I nodded my head, confirming that their suspicions were true.

"It's exactly that. Captain, why did you hide the fact that you were one of the Eight Sword Masters? You're strong enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Eight Sword Masters anyway. What was the reason for hiding it?"

Guston blinked his eyes with a look of utter confusion.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

I also blinked my eyes foolishly.

"You really don't know? Then how did you get this guy?"

"I was beating up some guys I didn't like, and I took it because it was useful."

"...Didn't a voice whisper to you?"

"Ah, that?"

.

.

.

[Huhu, you who have taken me after a bloody battle. You're quite something. Are you ready to handle a great power...!]

"? What?"

[Yes, you. Are you ready to accept the power of the first famous sword, me, the Black Shadow? Let me tell you in advance, this is a matter that requires considerable determination and will... ugh!]

"What's this? A haunted sword?"

[Ugh! Gasp! It's not a haunted sword! I am the first sword that the great master Ophosis forged according to the will of fate and the gods...! A sword imbued with the power that symbolizes the nine colors...!]

"Hmm. Anything can be fixed by hitting it."

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

[Ugh! Gasp! Kuaak! S-stop...!]

"Huh? It's not getting fixed even when I hit it like this."

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

[Ack! Ack! Didn't I tell you to stop! You ignorant bastard! Hitting it isn't the answer...!]

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

[...]

"Ah, it's quiet now. See, there's nothing that can't be solved with force."

.

.

.

"...So that's what happened?"

"Yeah."

I looked at the ridiculously ignorant barbarian in front of me with a dumbfounded expression.

"So, you're saying you didn't use the power of this sword at all?"

"How do you use it?"

"How should I know? You son of a bitch?"

"No, why are you suddenly getting angry? I just used it because it was sturdy and didn't break."

What kind of ignorant bastard was this?

So he had taken possession of one of Ophosis's famous swords, and the first one at that, and yet he hadn't used its power at all.

'What should I call this?'

A disgrace to the Eight Sword Masters? No, a fake Eight Sword Master?

What was even more surprising was that he had beaten up the other Eight Sword Masters and S-rank magical beasts without using the power of the sword at all!

'Does that even make sense?'

How could he be so strong?

I had met a great master named the Heavenly Demon, learned a mysterious martial art called martial arts, sought out trials, threw myself into places where it wouldn't be strange to die, and crossed the threshold of death several times...

And I had barely reached this place.

How did this guy do it on his own?

He was truly a monstrous man who stood outside of common sense.

Scarlet was not human to begin with, so that was understandable, but what the hell was this Guston guy?

If the captain had used the power of the sword, the wall would have been even higher, and I would have been the one lying on the ground.

"So, you're saying this guy is one of those famous swords of Ophosis?"

"...That's right."

"Hmm. No wonder it was so damn sturdy. It's worthy of being called a famous sword."

"Is that all you have to say?"

"For now?"

Just then, Siri, who had been anxiously waiting for the Sherwood members to stop their beating, finished her treatment.

"Hooo... okay, Captain. It's a good thing you weren't seriously injured."

"Really?"

Guston slowly got up.

Rumble, rumble, rumble...

Flinch!

As if a mountain were rising, the guys who had been beating him up reflexively took a step back.

They looked like cats facing a lion.

It was a strange sight at a glance.

Because most of the guys here were the strongest of the strong, who had never been the prey.

Guston, who had gotten up, looked around.

He grinned, and his eyes flashed.

Crack—

"You guys seem to have forgotten my personality."

"Run!"

Fwoosh!

Before the words were even finished, the guys scattered in all directions.

It was an incredible speed.

"Hehe... shall we play a little game of tag?"

Thump!

Guston stomped his foot and then disappeared from sight in an instant.

—Kuaaaak!!

A desperate scream began to be heard from a distance.

* * *

"Phew."

I left a message for Guston to learn the power of the shadow from Shadow and then left.

Anyway, it would be good if he became even a little stronger when fighting the Dark Heaven Society.

Strong guys like Guston had to beat up even one more strong enemy.

Even while grumbling, 'It's a hassle...', the sight of him holding the hilt of his greatsword and having a friendly conversation with Shadow for the first time in decades was a truly monumental sight.

Now that I had beaten up Guston, and had taken care of all my business here, I returned to Milestone alone.

Because I had some things to think about.

"Big Sister told me to ask for help."

When the Evil God descended on the earth again, a large-scale magical beast would surely follow suit.

A magical beast uprising, and a second magical beast wave.

Because they were born from the power of the Evil God in the first place.

The worst monster wave that had rushed to the north was probably just a cute little thing.

If the entire Maia Kingdom wasn't to be turned into a wasteland, if it wasn't to be a victory with only scars.

The help of others was essential.

"A place to ask for help..."

I thought of the candidates one by one, listed them, and organized them, and then slowly returned to Milestone.

By the time I arrived at Milestone, I had roughly organized it in my head.

"...Good. If I threaten them that the world will be destroyed if they fail, they'll cooperate obediently."

And so, I arrived at the hideout of the Sherwood Mercenary Corps.

Tot, tot, tot—

Mary greeted me with a tense expression, unlike usual.

"Y-you're here?"

I tilted my head.

"What's wrong? Is something wrong?"

"A-a guest is waiting...!"

"A guest? What guest?"

As I followed the restless Mary into the reception room...

A man with dark blue hair, exuding an extremely cold atmosphere, was drinking tea.

Clink.

He put down his teacup and said,

"It's been a while, devil."

(End of Chapter)