Volume 9 Chapter 64 Master's Sword
I activated "Flame Linker (Infinity Light)" and grasped a red sword in my left hand.
With a long blade that surpassed my height, I shouldered it and pointed my right silver sword at Galeo, ready to strike.
Whenever I faced my master, I would always carry a long sword on my shoulder and smile.
I don't have any memories of properly holding a single sword.
The "Seven-Colored Linked Sword" also ended up being something I couldn't fully master.
Looking at myself holding dual swords, my master would say, "Don't get too cocky, you brat. You should be able to wield one sword properly before trying that."
I thought my master would always be there to watch over me until the very end.
In that kingdom, I believed my master would welcome me back with a bottle of wine in hand after I defeated the Demon King.
But my master fought to protect the place I could return to and died.
"'I have no intention of seeking revenge now'."
It took me time to accept my master's death, but I eventually came to terms with it.
And on top of that, I defeated Galeo.
"'So, you can rest now'."
Galeo, how long will you continue to twist your face in agony and grit your teeth in hatred?
It's enough already.
"――――"
Galeo's shell opened, and a dark, swirling magic power erupted. This guy seemed to reject my words, swirling around me.
If Galeo was the embodiment of the grudges of the many demons I had defeated, then rhe words of a hero like me were not listened to, and it was no wonder.
The hatred was so thick and dark that it seemed to erase my words on the surface.
"――‼"
The swirling magic power gathered at the tip of Galeo's broken horn and exploded.
Floating in the air around Galeo were various types of weapons.
There were one-handed swords, short swords, greatswords, long swords, riding spears, long spears, axes, large scythes, warhammers, bows, and guns.
When Galeo looked back at me after gazing at the weapons, their eyes had changed from before.
――They had transformed.
Galeo's magic remained the same, but their fighting style changed with each passing moment.
It's not a change brought about by tactics. It's as if I'm facing a completely different person, with their weapon, technique, habits, and way of thinking all switching suddenly and unpredictably.
Now that I know the true identity of Galeo, I can understand.
Galeo was originally a collective of multiple thoughts.
They really have changed into a different person.
People refer to this phenomenon as "transformation".
And now, Galeo is filled with the memories of veteran warriors.
I can tell just by standing there, and it's clear that Galeo is coming at me with all their might.
"――‼"
With a burst of energy, Galeo charged forward, kicking the ground and sending cracks running through it.
They swung their greatsword with a powerful, straightforward strike that could cleave a mountain in two.
I countered with my Bastard Sword, facing them head-on.
The ground shook, and buildings crumbled. Galeo swiftly followed up with a sideways axe swing.
I deflected the greatsword and dodged the axe, and Galeo, still in the midst of their attack, thrust their spear at me. Their previous wild attacks were replaced by a series of swift, precise jabs.
Because of their precision, it was easy to dodge them. I parried the attacks at a distance that would barely scratch my armor.
Perhaps judging that their previous attacks weren't effective, Galeo changed their strategy.
They wielded their one-handed sword with masterful skill, and a dagger flew out from the shadow of their body. Their movements were as if 2 separate people were controlling their right and left halves, but somehow, it worked.
Furthermore, they switched weapons and techniques at an incredible speed, like changing channels.
"'──'"
I received and deflected those attacks with my Bastard Sword and body movements alone.
――This guy is still in the midst of war, running on the muddy ground amidst the stench of death that they can't get used to.
――This guy desperately chanting magic and swinging their sword.
That's the only reason Galeo exist. They were born for that.
They've taken on the unbearable thoughts of everyone, carrying the burden of all the dead who can't rest.
Julius said it's the "voice of resentment from the few who were trampled by the many".
The demons say that they separated from Saint Lyla and the others due to their strong individualism.
In this modern era, demons may be feared by humans, but surely they must have walked a long history of persecution to reach this point.
I have them too, things I can't forgive, things I can't accept, wounds that will never heal.
But if I'm trapped by those feelings, I won't be able to move forward. I'll sink to the bottom of the swamp, unable to climb back up.
It's time to put down what I've been carrying.
"――――――‼"
Galeo shouted, and all their weapons gathered in their hands.
Every blade entwined, creating a weapon that shouldn't exist in this world.
This is a heavy, burdensome curse.
Galeo gripped the long red sword with their left hand.
'Listen up, you brat In the end, it's all about spirit and determination. The one with more spirit and determination wins!'
As for me, magic power coursed through my body.
My blood boiled, and my body moved smoothly like a fluid.
My entire body ignited, and the scenery turned white.
――Hey, Master, I've always wondered why you lost to Galeo. You were much stronger than me, with an unbreakable spirit, so I couldn't understand why you lost.
'The Black Fusion Sword (Disaster).'
――But I get it now. You must have realized Galeo's true identity and were confused. When you cross swords, you'll understand everything.
My master was a drunkard, a womanizer, and had incredible strength, but he was also ridiculously kind.
In the end, he couldn't cut Galeo down.
So, I'll do it.
This guy can only be finished off like this.
"'Aaaaaaaa――‼'"
My emotions were stirred, connecting with my magic power.
The lost magic recalled my memories, taking shape, and moved my left arm.
If I call the storm, lightning will strike, and if I surpass the dark clouds, the moon will burn bright blue. Connecting the shining stars, I'll bring forth the dragon's roar and the rain, and eventually, the storm will arrive.
Storm, Thunder, Moon, Flames, Stars, Dragon, Rain.
That person's magic is extremely simple. It just strengthens the sword with magic power, making it capable of cutting through anything, and that's it.
That magic can interfere, but whether the user can cut through or not depends on their own skill.
That's why this was born.
To cut through all difficulties with a single sword stroke and show the future.
"Origin――Seven-Colored Linked Sword."
Seven swings. Disassemble the "Disaster" sword.
Seven swings. Shatter the armor.
Seven swings. Cut through the blackness overflowing from the wounds.
――Thank you, Master.
――Farewell, Galeo.
When I finished swinging my sword, all that remained was the painful cityscape with the scars of destruction.
There, a door appeared.
A heavy, solemn door that seemed to accept everything, with a gentle kindness hidden within. It blended into this modern city street as if it had been there from the beginning.
It's nostalgic. I can recall the time I opened that door with an indescribable sense of excitement, as if it were yesterday.
Just like that time, Julius is probably waiting for me ahead.
And this space will disappear.
Julius, if your ideal is realized, will beings like Galeo never appear again?
I don't think so. If the world becomes one, conflicts will arise, no matter how small.
No matter how powerful someone is, or rather, because they are powerful, they can't see the small thoughts of each individual.
If they turn their attention to it, their ideal will drift away.
But if they ignore the countless small thoughts, it will eventually turn into a massive war.
I touched the door and pushed it open.
What crossed my mind was the beast of the blade living within me.
I've stopped pretending I couldn't see, Julius.
So I will deny your ideal.
What awaited me beyond the door was a dark tunnel that was neither mud nor cloud. Was I walking or standing? What was I doing here in the first place? I doubted even the obvious, in a world where no information existed except for myself.
Perhaps this path was one Julius had taken in the past. What had his journey, which spanned thousands of years from Asteris to Earth, given him?
Before I could even reach out to touch my prediction, my feet were already standing firmly on solid ground.
It was a vast and bright space.
The stone floor and pillars indicated that this was an indoor area.
At the same time, the red carpet spread out on the floor and the intricate carvings on the pillars, as well as all the decorations that caught my eye, showed that this was no ordinary room.
I was the only human to have entered this room in Asteris.
The Demon King's Castle, the throne room.
It wasn't the real thing. I knew it was a created space.
But this space was still one from the Demon King's Castle I knew.
The reason was that only one person was maintaining this space.
"The time has come. Kakehashi (Bridge to the Universe) will soon unite the world."
Her long, jade-green hair sparkled like a rainbow, and her mantle, which seemed to cut out the starless night, fluttered.
Her beautiful face, with eyes that shone like a rainbow, looked at me.
The old scar on my chest began to ache with a burning heat.
I took a step forward, still clad in my "Flame Linker" attire.
There were no more words to exchange.
Our thoughts would forever run parallel, never intersecting. We lived, separated by a single mirror.
What a pity that we had met in the same world.
If words couldn't connect, and hearts couldn't understand, there was no other path but to take up swords.
"'JULIUSSSSSS!'"
Believing that we would come to an agreement at the end of that,
I swung my sword down.
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