[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 391

Holy Sword Arsias.

It is said that in the past, only the Hero Harnion was able to wield this sword.

He was once a tenant farmer in the countryside, but after receiving a response from the Lord God, he became a Hero. He dedicated his entire life to defeating the forces of evil and, in recognition of his achievements, was eventually deified.

Although this was part of the official New World lore, no clues had ever been found, so it was dismissed as just a myth.

‘It must be true.’

It would be hard to call it a myth when the Divine Realm itself had placed Arsias here.

That means Harnion was very likely a real person.

‘Master! Over there!’

Mukho pointed ahead.

There, a massive sword was embedded in the ground, and from below it, a stream of water rose up, forming a small pond.

“Is that the Holy Water?”

As they approached, the pond began to glow, illuminating the surroundings.

Then, from above, a spirit in the shape of a human slowly descended.

===

[NPC Info]

Nickname: Nameless Soul

Level: X

Class: X

===

Nameless Soul.

Jeong-hoon had a feeling he knew who it was.

“Harnion?”

As soon as he mentioned the name Harnion, the NPC's information changed rapidly.

===

[NPC Info]

Nickname: Harnion

Level: 5,000

Class: Legendary Hero

===

Correct guess.

The spirit trembled slightly, then slowly opened his mouth.

“…Do you know me?”

The voice echoed in Jeong-hoon’s head.

Jeong-hoon shrugged.

“I just took a shot in the dark.”

“I see…”

“Anyway, I’m only here to take the Holy Water. So, if you would kindly step aside.”

“The Holy Sword?”

“No thanks.”

Jeong-hoon already had the Tyrant Titan.

Maybe that’s why he wasn’t too interested in the Holy Sword.

“…Why don’t you try being a little greedy for once?”

"Why? Do you want to hand over the Holy Sword to me?"

"Ahem, if you're qualified, you may take it."

"Then give it to me. I’ll take it."

Of course, if it's free, he would gladly take it.

"Hold on. If you’re going to take it, then pass the trial first."

"Then forget it. I don’t have time."

Jeong-hoon gave up without hesitation and took out a glass bottle.

To retrieve the Holy Water that Loel had asked for.

At that, Harnion thumped his chest in frustration.

"I thought a decent one had finally appeared… but to think you'd disregard the Holy Sword’s worth like this."

"It’s not that I don’t know. More accurately, I just don’t want to bear its weight."

The weight of the Holy Sword.

If one were to wield it, they’d have to live the rest of their life carrying out the will of the god.

Even now, as a soul, Harnion couldn't leave the sword — that alone showed how heavy it truly was.

"Then you’re planning to purge those demons from the Demon Realm without it?"

"…Was telling me to bring the Holy Water just a way to lead me here?"

Maybe asking for the Holy Water, or even the purification itself, was just a ploy to guide him to the Holy Sword.

If not, there’s no reason for the sword to be embedded in a place like this or for Harnion to be guarding it.

"You’ll need the Holy Sword if you’re going to cut them down."

"I told you, I’m fine."

"No, you’re really not going to be fine."

This guy…

He really must want to hand it over.

Jeong-hoon sighed and added,

"Then just give it to me."

"No, just take the trial and then take it."

"I don’t need it in the first place. It’s your will as a Hero that makes you want to pass it on, right? If you’re going to force it on me, then just hand it over."

"Force it? This damn brat…"

"Forget it. Let’s pretend this conversation didn’t happen."

Jeong-hoon walked up to the Holy Sword, removed the stopper, and filled the glass bottle with Holy Water.

‘Master, let’s go back quickly.’

‘Yeah, you shouldn’t mess with something like that. You’ve got Titan, and we’re here too, so there’s nothing to worry about.’

Mukho and Anima were both opposed.

"Wa, wait a minute!"

Harnion hurriedly grabbed Jeong-hoon, who was about to leave.

"What now?"

"Alright, alright! I’ll just give it to you!"

"Really?"

"Yeah! So please, can you at least touch the handle of the Holy Sword?"

"It’s too big though."

"That’s because the last guy who held it was a giant. Once you touch it, it’ll resize to fit your body."

"I don’t want to."

"…What?"

“I said no. Just by looking at it, you can tell grabbing the hilt means taking a test. Do I look like an idiot to you?”

“…How did you know that?”

How did he know?

Simple.

When Harnion said he would hand over the Holy Sword, a rainbow-colored question mark flashed above his head.

[Secret Quest: Holy Sword Arsias]

– Requirement: One recognized by Harnion

– Reward: Holy Sword Arsias

– Description: Grasp the hilt of the Holy Sword Arsias to undertake the trial.

Exactly.

The moment you grab the hilt, you’re forced to take the trial.

That part was probably something even Harnion couldn’t control.

So he tried to lure Jeong-hoon in by pretending he’d just hand the sword over.

Of course, it was impossible to trick Jeong-hoon, who could actually see the quest.

“So, no matter what, I’d have to take the trial to get that thing, huh?”

“Ahem, yes. Just being able to grasp the hilt proves you have my recognition.”

“Oh, then I’ll come back later.”

“Wha…?”

“I haven’t recovered my strength yet. If I feel I really need it, I’ll come back then.”

“W-Wait!”

Harnion tried to grab Jeong-hoon again, but Jeong-hoon used the Heavenly Demon Lord’s Dominion technique and slipped out of the cave.

Left alone, Harnion let out a hollow laugh and muttered to himself.

“Seriously, what’s with that guy? Why would the Lord choose someone like him…?”

* * *

At that moment.

Loel was attending to an NPC visiting the chapel.

“My precious younger brother died…”

“Oh no… That must be devastating.”

“He was such a diligent boy. And yet he was killed out of sheer greed. How am I supposed to accept that?”

Ross’s older sister.

Irene was weeping over her brother’s death while directing her fury toward Laparo, the one who killed him.

The fact that the person who killed her brother was still alive and well—she just couldn’t accept it.

“Those who commit murder will be punished in the end.”

“And what about now? The crime was committed now, wasn’t it? Why does the punishment come later?”

“That’s…”

“I hope that bastard dies right this instant!”

At Irene’s anguished cry, the other NPCs who had come to the chapel nodded in agreement.

“She’s right. Laparo should be executed immediately!”

“No, not execution—he should be tortured so harshly he’d wish he were dead instead!”

“Yeah! That’s right!”

The NPCs all agreed in unison that Laparo should be punished.

But still… why were they all doing this here, in the chapel of all places?

"This is exactly why free will shouldn’t have been granted."

"When they don’t act rationally, problems arise."

‘Still… there must be a reason for everything.’

Loel consoled them with a bitter expression.

“I completely understand how you all feel. He will never be forgiven. He will die after enduring excruciating torture.”

“Do you really think so…?”

“Yes. Of course. And so that we can pray for your brother’s journey, the Outsider has gone to retrieve the Holy Water.”

“The Holy Water?”

“Yes. With that Holy Water, your brother will be able to dwell in a place free of pain and full of happiness.”

And in the process of obtaining the Holy Water, he would surely acquire the Holy Sword as well.

The Holy Sword being embedded there was a setup meant for Jeong-hoon.

By now, he was probably struggling to get through the trial.

“I’ve brought the Holy Water.”

That’s how it was supposed to go…

“Huh?”

Loel was taken aback by Jeong-hoon’s sudden return.

The Holy Sword trial—was it already over?

That couldn’t be.

This wasn’t part of the plan.

“Why? Are you surprised the Holy Sword trial’s already over?”

To Jeong-hoon’s question, Loel forced himself to respond calmly.

“Ahem, of course not.”

“That’s good then. Because I didn’t take the trial at all.”

“...?”

Loel was momentarily speechless at the sheer boldness of that answer.

The Holy Sword had been planted right before his eyes, yet he didn’t even attempt to pull it out?

“Anyway, I’ve brought the Holy Water—so when will you be giving me the Fragment of the Beginning?”

Even though he’d obtained the Holy Water, no notification appeared above Loel’s head.

In other words, additional conditions were required to complete the quest.

‘Was the Holy Sword one of them?’

It likely meant they wouldn’t hand over the Fragment of the Beginning so easily.

Of course, a condition like that could just be ignored.

After all, this quest was about praying for Ross’s repose—

—not about acquiring the Holy Sword.

And yet, Loel still couldn’t bring himself to hand over the Fragment of the Beginning.

‘He must obtain the Holy Sword!’

Later, when Jeong-hoon crossed over to the Demon Realm, he would need it to stand on equal footing with the Transcendent.

“W-Wait a moment—”

Loel couldn’t finish his sentence.

“Did you bring the Holy Water… for our Ross?”

Irene swiftly stepped in and directed her words to Jeong-hoon.

With a somber look, Jeong-hoon nodded.

“Yes. I heard he was incredibly sincere… I just couldn’t ignore it.”

At his words, Irene burst into tears again.

“Hic… That’s right. Our Ross was truly a diligent and kind child.”

“Lafaro, that madman—he must never be forgiven. While he lives, he will suffer, and even after death, he will suffer eternally.”

“I hope so… I truly do.”

“He will. Don’t you agree?”

Jeong-hoon looked to Loel as he asked.

Following his gaze, Irene and the factory workers who had been watching her with pity turned to Loel.

“Y-Yes, I agree. Though, perhaps offering prayers for the departed should come first.”

Loel took the glass bottle containing holy water and approached the coffin.

He slowly opened the sealed lid.

Inside, Ross lay peacefully with closed eyes, protected by preservation magic.

“Ross…!”

Irene covered her mouth and sobbed uncontrollably.

She staggered over and gently caressed her younger brother’s face.

When she had visited the chapel earlier, she’d seen a coffin tucked away in a corner.

She never imagined her brother would be inside.

“…I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

Loel sincerely apologized, but she could hear none of it.

“Ross… I’m sorry. If only I hadn’t been sick… you wouldn’t have ended up like this…”

She clung to her brother, crying for a long time.

No one—not even Jeong-hoon—interrupted the moment between her and her brother.

Loel, still holding the holy water, simply waited for her to calm down.

Once she stepped away, the task was completed in an instant.

All that was needed was to unseal the bottle and sprinkle the holy water over Ross’s body—simple.

“Thank you so much. I’ll never forget this kindness.”

Irene took the coffin with her to give Ross a proper burial.

The factory workers left as well, and now only Jeong-hoon and Loel remained in the chapel.

“We even obtained the holy water—so why hasn’t the quest marked as complete yet?”

At Jeong-hoon’s question, Loel gave an awkward smile and asked in return:

“Why didn’t you draw the Holy Sword?”

“I planned to draw it when I needed it.”

“…When you needed it?”

“Yes. I understand what you're thinking—handing over the Holy Sword to me—but I don’t need it right now.”

“You’re truly strange. Even when something is being spoon-fed to you, you refuse it…”

Spoon-fed?

What a laugh.

He was the only one who could enter the Demon Realm. Did they think he wouldn’t realize they were trying to use him by offering the Holy Sword?

They were traveling together only because their goals aligned—not because he welcomed being managed by the Divine Realm.

Once the goal was achieved, he’d part ways without a second thought. That was all their relationship amounted to.

“What about the Primordial Fragment?”

“…Yes. A promise is a promise.”

A quest notification icon popped up above Loel’s head.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]