Chapter 88

As the light of the sunset flickered, the imperial vault returned to silence once more.

“It’s not a dream.”

The iron sword was still stuck in the same spot as before, and when Roka pulled it out, it came out easily this time.

When she pulled it out, it was just an ordinary iron sword, devoid of any mystical or divine aura. The divine essence that had been within it had seeped into Roka’s inner being, leaving only the shell of the sword behind.

“Thank you.”

The wolf, who knew gratitude, bowed its head in thanks. After all, the swordsman without a master had kindly taught her various things despite her being a complete stranger. She didn’t know where he had gone, but one thing was certain.

If she could reach the level of mastery he spoke of, she might be able to trace Heron’s footsteps. For now, she wasn’t worthy, so all she could do was express her gratitude.

“He said I was more suited to a blade than a sword.”

In a world where not getting pickpocketed was considered lucky, he had even filled her pockets with various things.

Such a person had no reason to lie or deceive her, so Roka decided to look for a blade. She placed the iron sword back in its spot and searched for a blade that a child like her could wield.

*Whoosh!*

As she glanced around, Roka suddenly spotted a blade. It was a blade that seemed to be made of moonstone, emanating a faint moonlight. The moment she saw it, the lunar magic within her resonated, causing a vibration.

– Moonlight Blade.

Below the blade, there was a plaque. Someone had written it down so that others could understand its origins.

– The blade used by the Moonlight Master, Teresa.

As if entranced, the girl reached out and stroked the blade. With each touch, the smooth, ice-like surface activated the power of the moon, causing the parts she touched to become transparent.

– One of the legacies left by the ancient dwarves. When used together with its twin blade, the Solar Blade, its power is amplified.

In ancient times, the dwarves, a race of craftsmen, created these weapons to replicate the power of the sun and moon on earth.

One of the pair, the Moonlight Blade, had now found its way into Roka’s hands.

She didn’t need to look at anything else; it felt perfect. As she lifted the blade, a loud explosion echoed from outside. The ground seemed to shake slightly.

“W-what’s happening?”

Roka peeked out the vault door, trying to hide her confusion as she asked the old treasure keeper. She was worried that the commotion might have been caused by her drawing the Moonlight Blade.

“Hmm, I’m not sure. It doesn’t seem like the disturbance is coming from inside the palace, but it’s best to check quickly. I’ll close this place for now, just in case.”

It didn’t seem like someone was trying to attack the imperial vault, but it was his job to prepare for the worst. Seeing that Roka had already chosen the blade, the old man continued.

“That’s the Moonlight Blade of Teresa. You’ve picked quite a fine weapon, young one.”

“Is it good?”

“You’re asking me after you’ve already chosen it? Of course it’s good. However, this blade was originally made as one of a pair. Without its twin, the Solar Blade, it can’t unleash its full power. Still, Teresa became a legend on the continent wielding just this blade alone.”

“The Solar Blade? I didn’t see it inside. Where is it?”

“Inseok, if the empire had both the Moonlight and Solar Blades, they would be treasures on par with the Dragon’s Sword. They wouldn’t be kept in a place like this. They’d be hidden more securely. But that’s not possible. No, it’s gone.”

“So where is the Solar Blade?”

“It fell into the hands of the Demon King, Grimudo, long ago. No one can take it from him, so there’s no way the two blades will ever be in one person’s hands again.”

The old treasure keeper chuckled. He didn’t hide the truth from Roka.

There was no need to. Even if he told her, Roka wouldn’t be able to obtain the Solar Blade. If it were that easy, the empire would have already sent strong warriors to retrieve it.

“The Solar Blade may be a treasure to us, but to him, it was no different than a dog’s bone. He fed it to a monster. So now, the Solar Blade is likely inside the King of Monsters. That’s why he possesses the power of the sun.”

The Solar Blade is now quietly being digested inside the immortal phoenix, Phoenix.

That crimson nightmare is a being that spews endless flames. No matter how many human armies are sent, they’ll just be turned to charcoal, like ants charging into lava.

If you want to make charcoal, there are much cheaper, simpler, and more ethical ways, so the empire hasn’t attempted to retrieve the Solar Blade despite knowing its location.

Of course, Grimudo is fearsome, but the more fundamental reason is that the power of Phoenix alone is already overwhelming.

“The King of Monsters?”

Seeing Roka’s interest, the old man’s eyes sparkled.

The old man, who had been bored, closed the vault door and sat down, calling Roka over. While keeping an eye on their surroundings with his energy sense, it seemed the disturbance was coming from outside the palace, not within. It wasn’t his jurisdiction.

“The immortal phoenix, Phoenix. That’s what they call it. You probably don’t know why it’s called the King of Monsters. It’s the Primal Demon King’s most cherished herald and the trumpeter of destruction. The Demon King rarely acts directly. His monsters handle everything.”

When it came to Grimudo and his monster army, the old man was an expert. After all, how many people could survive an encounter with him?

Unaware of the old man’s achievements, Roka made a bored face. She couldn’t bring herself to interrupt, so she quietly listened to the old man’s tales.

In her mind, she was just hoping it would end soon.

“Ah, I’ve taken too much of your time, haven’t I?”

“No, it was very informative.”

“Yonseok, at least try to look sincere.”

The hermit Geher chuckled. With a snap of his fingers, a scythe hanging on the wall tore through the air and flew to his side.

“In the past, Teresa was called the Master of Masters, the Grand Master. Honestly, the title isn’t that special. If you claim to be above all other masters of your time, then you’re the Grand Master.”

Roka’s ears drooped, thinking it was another boring old tale, but the old man’s next words were completely unexpected.

“You’ve become her successor, so I’d like to see your skills. How about a little sparring with this old man to help you digest it all?”

“Successor? Me? I’ve never even seen her!”

Roka’s eyes widened. She understood what “successor” meant.

It’s something like a disciple, right? But what connection does she have with Teresa? If she were Heron’s successor, that would make more sense.

“You may not have seen her, but you’ve seen her blade. The weapons made by the dwarves, an extinct race, aren’t lifeless like ordinary weapons. They’re alive, breathing. Teresa’s sword techniques are embedded within it.”

This, of course, wasn’t a challenge.

For someone like Geher to spar with Roka would be like an adult racing a child.

Winning is a given, and losing would be more than just a disgrace—it would mean admitting he’s past his prime and waiting for the coffin. The only thing gained from such a match would be the stigma of bullying a junior.

“I’ll teach you how to draw out that power. Not just for your sake. I also want to witness Teresa’s Moonlight Blade techniques.”

The sparring would inevitably be more of a one-sided lesson. For Roka, it was a welcome opportunity. She had picked up the Moonlight Blade, but she had no idea how to wield it properly.

The swordsman without a master had said she was more suited to a blade, so she had chosen one, but this was the first time Roka had ever held a blade in her life. Geher laughed.

“I was a farmer from the countryside. I spent my whole life tilling the fields, and it wasn’t until I was past middle age that I left the village with a pickaxe in hand.”

“Why?”

“I’d rather not talk about that part. Let’s skip it. Anyway, I’ve been through everything you can imagine. After a lifetime as a farmer, I realized that if I was going to live by the sword, I’d need to be able to wield anything I could get my hands on. Not to boast, but I can handle just about any weapon.”

In his youth, he went by the alias Hans and reigned as the Mercenary King. He mastered not only basic weapons like spears, swords, axes, hammers, and halberds, but also unconventional weapons like claws, staffs, fans, and whips, earning him the title of Weapon Master.

After being defeated by Grimudo, he cast aside all his fame and became the hermit Geher, but the experience from those days remained. He was an expert even with blades.

“Let’s see how much you can learn.”

Even without knowing his background, Roka could instinctively tell he was a powerful person.

When someone like him offered to teach, Roka couldn’t refuse. From Ardein’s example, she knew that having a master was incredibly efficient compared to wandering alone.

“If that scythe breaks, it’s not my fault.”

As Roka burned with determination, the old man laughed in amusement.

“This scythe? I bought it to tend the backyard when I went out for a drink. Let’s see if you can even scratch it with that fancy blade of yours.”