novelraw Chapter 186 : Chapter 186
Chapter 186 : Chapter 186
Chapter 186 - Hardeon (18)
Delkhan remained silent.
For a long time, he merely stared at the dagger spinning next to his face.
Then, after a moment, he spoke.
"Is this... perhaps magic?"
This seemed to be the conclusion he reached after much deliberation.
But he didn't sound confident.
"How could it be? Isn't practicing magic an act of treason?"
"...It is, but."
SWISH.
At my gesture, the dagger stopped spinning.
Then, it gently settled on Delkhan's palm.
He touched the blade and the hilt in turn.
He was trying to discern if there were any traces of magic use.
He must have thought that the afterimages of mana traces would still remain.
'There's no way they'd remain.'
Since they never existed in the first place.
Delkhan shook his head, a serious expression on his face.
"I know what you're thinking."
"If it's not magic, then how on earth is this possible..."
"One thing is certain: it's not among the gladiators you know, old man."
I smiled.
I was certain.
No matter how much Hardeon was an Empire of Swords, it was definitely inferior to Kalia, where I lived.
There could be no swordsman who surpassed me.
Of course, if there were, I would welcome them with open arms.
That was something I had sought desperately my entire life.
"Haa."
Delkhan still shook his head, as if he couldn't believe it.
Then he spoke again.
"Did you perhaps come to commission me for a sword?"
"No."
I pulled out the Holy Sword Bastian in front of him.
"Though if you are confident you can forge a better sword than this, I might consider commissioning you."
The moment he saw the Holy Sword, Delkhan's eyes wavered.
He was indeed a master of swords.
He immediately recognized the Holy Sword's true value just by looking at it.
"Your purpose for coming to the forge isn't a commission?"
"You're speaking without even looking me in the eye."
Delkhan's gaze was already fixed on the Holy Sword Bastian.
"May I touch it once?"
"Go ahead."
As I handed Bastian to him, he looked at my beloved sword with profound eyes.
"Incredible."
Then, Delkhan's serious appraisal began.
He ran his fingertips along Bastian's body.
From the tip of the blade to the end of the hilt, he closed his eyes tightly and carefully stroked the Holy Sword.
My friend! This touch. It's a bit much!
His touch slid smoothly, as if handling fragile porcelain.
Then, at some point, Delkhan rubbed the Holy Sword against his cheek, regulating his breathing.
The Holy Sword expressed its annoyance once more, vigorously, as if displeased with his beard.
But I didn't want to interrupt his concentration.
Delkhan seemed truly dedicated to swords.
"That was a good show."
He returned the Holy Sword to me and continued.
"And your identity. I think I finally know who you are."
"Is that so?"
"The assassination of the Legion Commander was quite a sensational event within our organization, you see."
I nodded.
"Then I suppose there's no need for me to explain my purpose for coming here."
"Before that, I have one question. Who crafted your sword?"
If I were to tell him who, he seemed ready to go find them right now.
"He's dead."
"Without leaving a name?"
"He left behind a magnificent sword; is a name important?"
"Hoh-hoh, you're right. I feel like I just got hit in the back of the head."
Then he let out a pleasant laugh.
Of course, I didn't mention that Bastian's creator had left his name as a legendary blacksmith.
"As you've sensed, I am a man obsessed with swords."
"It's ironic. Hating gladiators, yet making the finest swords for them."
"Even if the world perishes and all gladiators disappear, I intend to continue forging swords."
He was certainly obsessed with swords.
In that regard, we had something in common.
I, too, had lived my entire life, and even my reincarnated life, obsessed with swords.
"As you know, I came to receive a commission."
"You know that I must verify you first, don't you?"
"Of course."
"K. I intend to apply the method I used on him to you as well. If you pass, I will give you the commission."
"What is that method?"
Content not found in the report.
It was definitely intentionally omitted.
Just as the most important information about zombies had been left out.
"I cannot tell you what it is. And it's something you will understand when you experience it yourself."
"I see."
"You are clearly a more extraordinary individual than K, so I hope you pass safely."
"Safely?"
"If you don't pass, you won't come out alive. Are you perhaps afraid?"
When he said that, I only grew more curious.
"Of course not."
"Heheheh. Thank you for your courage."
At that moment, a powerful aura approached from the entrance of the forge.
"It seems we have a visitor."
The sensation of a quite skilled gladiator.
'A big shot.'
This place was indeed the capital.
I could easily see high-level individuals that couldn't be found in other regions.
And this current aura was the strongest among them.
Since it was said that one couldn't even dare to commission Delkhan without considerable skill, I thought it was natural for a big shot to visit this forge.
"He's here again! That tiresome fellow."
Delkhan muttered to himself.
And then, a man immediately appeared.
"Hey, old man. I can hear everything."
"Oh? I thought you wouldn't."
"Let's cut the useless chatter and get straight to the point."
"My answer is always the same. I will never make a sword for you! Don't you still understand?"
Delkhan spoke resolutely with an annoyed tone.
Just by this much, I could tell what kind of relationship the two had.
One begging for a commission and one refusing.
There was one incomprehensible point here.
The man's skill level was considerable.
'At least above Heo Jeong-ah.'
This level was rarely seen on Earth, and it would be no different even in Kalia.
This implied that Delkhan's reason for refusing this man's commission was not due to his skill.
"Hey, old man. I've come to settle this today. My patience has reached its limit."
The man emitted a chilling aura.
"Are you trying to threaten me, perhaps?"
"Yes. After seeing the sword you made for Mendy, I felt so disgusted I couldn't stand it. Why him and not me?"
"I must have told you the reason countless times, haven't I? That I don't make swords for the Fred Family."
"Hearing that again just makes me feel like sh*t! What did our family ever do, you crazy old man!"
The man drew his sword and pointed it at Delkhan's throat.
"You'll stab me with that sword?"
"There's no reason why I wouldn't."
"If you harm me here, you'll turn numerous families into your enemies."
Delkhan's firm resolve remained unchanged.
Even under threat to his life, he absolutely refused.
Indeed, he wasn't an ordinary blacksmith.
If he were to use magic here, it would almost be an evenly matched fight.
'But that would be problematic.'
In the Empire, the use of magic was considered treason.
Regardless of the outcome of the fight, Delkhan would have no choice but to disappear.
But this old man had to remain in this forge until my quest was completed.
"Do I look like a pushover who would leave evidence of killing an old man?"
He pointed his sword at me and flashed a wry smile.
Naturally, he intended to deal with the witness first.
"Manipulating sword traces isn't that difficult either. So, damn old man. It would've been better if you just made it when I asked, wouldn't it?"
There was no reason to listen to this guy any further.
The old man using his power might create trouble, so I had no choice but to handle it myself.
I took a step closer and lightly grasped the tip of the sword he extended with my fingers.
"What are you? Are you eager to die faster?"
"It's a waste of skill."
"What?"
Having such skill, yet coming to someone's place of business and acting like a thug.
I didn't know what problem existed between the old man Delkhan and the Fred Family, but this guy alone seemed to have plenty of problems.
CRACK.
I put more strength into the fingers gripping the sword's tip.
Fred hastily tried to retrieve his sword, but the sword gripped by me remained immovable.
Ultimately, he infused a generous amount of mana into the blade, attempting to pull the sword free.
But there was no way that would work.
The difference in our skill levels was not so trivial.
"Damn it! Let go!"
CRUNCH!!
Finally, I granted his fervent wish.
Breaking the sword's tip and returning the sword to him.
His eyes widened instantly.
"T-this is..."
"Looks like I'll have to get a sword fitted after all. Though it won't be here."
He must have vaguely sensed the difference in our power. But.
"Drop dead!"
His lost reason didn't seem to have returned.
He swung the broken sword.
WHIZZ!
Simultaneously, I also launched a fragment of the broken sword.
Even so, I chose to show mercy.
"AAAAHHH!"
The fragment struck his clavicle.
It was so deeply embedded that he wouldn't be able to remove it on his own right now.
"I recommend going to the doctor."
I had certainly become more merciful.
In my days as Johan Raven, this strike would have aimed for the heart.
"However, there's one measure that needs to be taken before you go."
He might be quiet for a while, but there was no telling when he might cause trouble again.
For Delkhan's sake, I couldn't just let it go.
This old man, devoted to swords, wouldn't want to leave this forge, regardless of any organizational mission.
I took a step closer to Fred.
"Oh, don't come!"
Only now did I see fear in his eyes.
It would have been better if this had happened a little sooner.
But now, it was already too late.
"Spare me!"
Of course, I wouldn't kill him.
If I intended to kill him, I would have finished him with the fragment earlier.
WHUMP!
My fist struck his dantian heavily.
"HOOOOOMPH!!"
A short groan.
I could tell from the sensation transmitted through my fingertips.
Fred's mana, along with his dantian, had been shattered.
Unless he encountered an extraordinary opportunity, he would no longer be able to wield a sword.
THUD.
He immediately lost consciousness and collapsed.
"...W-what did you just do?"
Delkhan, who had been watching, was filled with shock.
"Did you... perhaps disable his mana?"
I nodded.
"I can't believe it."
"Is there a problem?"
"Lean Fred. Though a rascal, his skill is first-rate, isn't it? For you to have done this to Fred..."
"Now, tell me where I need to go. Where do I go to pass the ideological verification?"
Hardeon's quest was now in its final stages.
I was only curious to see what else I would discover by following K's footsteps.