〈Chapter 508〉 7. Jealousy Is My Power (8)
“Ian Fercurus, your body is coursing with a deadly poison. The fangs of the ‘Shadows’ are always coated with venom. Even as a knight who has reached the ‘High Expert’ level, you might not die, but it will surely be impossible for you to move much longer.”
With that, the man took silent steps forward.
In just a few strides, his upper body leaned down in front of me, as if slipping into place.
Perhaps to meet my gaze.
“To be honest, I am surprised. We thought that someone at our level, even if facing a ‘High Expert’ or an Archmage, could certainly predict victory. Yet, it was enough to make me believe that a Master of Swords must intervene.”
I gave no response.
I merely panted and focused on steadying my breath.
“Once the Master of Swords arrives, I’ll have the antidote given to you. Now, since things have come to this, how about we introduce ourselves? My name is Luben of Findleston…”
“Hey.”
It was a low, single word.
His fluent tongue faltered for the first time. With a bewildered expression, he looked down at me.
Because I was smiling.
Then, the cruel curve of my lips trembled.
“Shut up.”
Before he could question it, blood and water shot out in a diagonal line.
Before long, the dynamics between us had reversed. With him now behind me, I gradually stepped forward as he fell to his knees.
His wide, trembling gaze met mine.
“What… how… no matter how skilled a High Expert may be, there’s no way you can keep moving…!”
I made no specific reply.
After all, what use would there be in telling him that I possess two essences that allow me to move even after dying?
It would’ve been a pitiful explanation.
Rather, my conversation with the Emperor was far more important.
Only now could I truly meet with him in private.
The Emperor revealed neither favor nor hostility, only observing me with deep-set eyes.
Once the excitement of the battle had faded, a slightly awkward atmosphere filled the room. My reluctance to indulge in overly apologetic speech stemmed, perhaps, from my inability to endure this silence.
“… I did not kill him.”
“Are you boasting?”
Letting out a deep sigh, the Emperor shook his head side to side.
His glance swept around the room, and his foot pointed towards a chair by the window. Was it placed there for administrative purposes? In front of it stood a wide desk.
The old man leaned back deeply into the plush chair.
“Fine, I admit it. I misjudged you. I thought you were somewhat similar to me…”
BOOM.
The explosion occurred precisely then.
The majestic door that boasted its impressive size shattered in an instant. Well, could one even describe what happened as “shattering”?
Cracks crisscrossed the wooden and alloy door. Along those lines, the doorframe began breaking apart, piece by piece, until the door lost all its form.
Powder.
No distinction was made—both metal and wood were equally reduced to dust by the blade.
Before the swirling dust cleared, a hotheaded voice erupted.
“You, Ian Fercurus! So, you’ve finally revealed your true colors! Honestly, there’s nothing I can do but challenge you to a duel with my sword!”
There wasn’t even a hint of tension in his tone.
And that made sense.
A swordsman of the Master’s caliber wouldn’t have missed the situation inside the room. It had been easy enough for him to discern everything. A man skilled enough to reduce me to minced meat without even stepping into the room.
Perhaps the term “Sword Soul” applied.
That chilling reputation still hung around me like a fog. Likely, not just around me but enveloping the entire building within his reach.
However, the Master showed up only after the situation was under control.
It was clear, no matter how much I pondered, the Master had known that I harbored no murderous intent, and so had simply stood by the door, appreciating my skills.
A fact even the Emperor couldn’t have missed.
Another heavy sigh escaped his lips.
“…You remind me of my late uncle.”
The Master gripped a sword upon hearing this mournful remark. Though his posture looked messy at first glance, the moment I faced it, I felt my breath freeze.
There was no opening.
Even with all my strength, could I even inflict a scratch?
The only thing that replayed in my mind was a negative outlook. Wherever I looked, I could only see futures where I was defeated.
Cold sweat drenched my face.
On the other hand, the Master just laughed at my tense state. There was an unmistakable joy in his gaze, akin to an elder dealing with a rebellious grandchild.
“What do you plan to do, young one of Fercurus? For your information, even if you don’t come forward, you’re as good as dead.”
This could only be called outright intimidation now, couldn’t it?
Still grumbling inwardly, I focused on calming my breathing. The golden fire sparks were already exploding in my line of sight with a pok, pok* sound.
Even so, with my full strength…
By maximizing the use of my essence, wouldn’t it be possible to inflict at least a scratch?
Thoughts immediately turned into phenomena.
An ethereal silver mist rose around me.
Though it was faint, it was an overwhelming amount of aura compared to when I faced the Empire’s Intelligence Department agents. Proof of this was when one of the fallen operatives began choking desperately, gasping for air.
But it was still far from enough.
The Master merely smirked as he stood there. Despite my overwhelming aura, it couldn’t even reach an inch of his vicinity. It was truly a terrifying presence.
At this point, there was only one solution.
A frontal assault.
Then, just as the world turned monochrome and the Master raised the sword he gripped,
“…Enough!”
The thunderous voice resonated deeply within me.
I choked on surging blood and wore a bewildered expression.
The Master had used no technique—so why?
The mystery was revealed soon enough.
Behind the Emperor, floating mysteriously, were incomprehensible characters glowing faintly. At this sight, the Master had no choice but to reluctantly sheathe his sword with a click of his tongue.
After all, these characters were nothing less than the Emperor’s insignia.
Before the authority of the Emperor, who among the Empire would refuse to kneel? Even the Master of the Empire’s Knights upheld the proper respect.
I hastily sheathed my sword and knelt as well.
Only then did the characters floating behind the Emperor begin to fade. Another sigh escaped his lips.
“This is indoors! Do you not realize that if two individuals with your prowess were to duel, it could destroy not just one room but the entire building?”
“But, Your Majesty…”
“Uncle.”
The Master appeared ready to protest but ultimately bowed his head in acknowledgment at the Emperor’s solemn address.
The sound of his reluctance was particularly heart-wrenching.
Did he long to duel that much?
To be honest, I too felt a pang of regret.
To exchange swords with the acknowledged strongest swordsman on the continent—wasn’t that the ultimate glory for a warrior?
But the situation had already turned in a different direction.
I lowered my head subtly while sneaking glances at the Emperor’s expression.
The old man looked years older.
“There is no need for my uncle to get involved. The young knight has already achieved his purpose.”
At those words, I almost couldn’t help but cheer.
Indeed, there had been some conflicts, but in the end, the Emperor acknowledged me. The realization gave me a sense of pride and quiet emotion.
It was only now that I stood at the starting line of the road this man once walked.
Though I had already fallen far behind, it exhilarated me to feel that I could now carry the man’s burden. If I wished to walk my own path instead of his, was it not just right that I should do this?
Of course, it was also immensely frightening.
I forcefully ignored the tightening pain in my chest. That man must have been far more shaken and terrified than I.
He probably wasn’t even given the time to set his resolve, unlike me.
Then, another memory swept past my retina.
The day I conversed with Senior Elsi from the future, when the sudden pain arrived, the man’s expression had appeared.
Something was different.
Unlike earlier times, there was a deeper nostalgia and melancholy in his gaze.
But there wasn’t much time for me to lose myself in deep thoughts.
“…Ian Fercurus!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
In response to the Emperor’s dignified proclamation, I replied without hesitation.
As my head bowed further, the Emperor’s fiery gaze returned.
“If that’s the case, I shall entrust you with a mission. In the process, you will naturally come to understand the grievances of the royal family as well!”
My heart pounded uncontrollably.
A mission directly tied to the grievances of the royal family.
What difficult trials would I have to endure to fulfill this duty?
Thus, I resolved firmly in my heart—and the next day—
“Yulen Ferrias, what an enormous honor I bestow upon you! The great honor of taking my younger sister, Luna, as your wife! But in return, just one small favor…!”
Once again, I was faced with a woman spouting utter nonsense.
I scrubbed my face with both hands.
“Please, if you must make a mistake, must it be with that brat’s name… Are you insane?”
The twin siblings of Alphenhausen.
Their persistent cursed connection was, as always, tormenting me once more.
