Chapter 92 - Holy Sword Bastian (10)

When I revealed my intention to take on the challenge, Heo Jeong-ah looked at me with a scornful gaze.

She still had 97 runes left, so perhaps I looked laughable to her.

But before the countless swords filling this place, this difference in the number of runes seemed insignificant.

If I was fated, I would obtain the Holy Sword, and if not, I would return empty-handed.

In fact, the Abyss’s message had notified us in advance that we both might end this journey without any reward.

The mathematical probability of that happening would be overwhelmingly high as well.

“You’re not scared to challenge so soon? You only have one chance.”

“Whether it’s one chance or a hundred, what will be, will be.”

“So you’re saying you’re the one, Seo Ji-han?”

“We’ll see about that.”

“Seriously, what’s the basis for that confidence of yours.”

It was because I believed in my bond with the Holy Sword Bastian.

We had spent over 30 years together as soulmates.

I was certain that the ego sword would recognize me.

[1 ‘Rune of Empathy’ has been consumed.]

“Hey! What! How can you just use it so suddenly without any warning! I was about to give you some advice as someone who tried it first!”

Heo Jeong-ah’s tone was laced with genuine regret.

Did this girl not even realize we were competing, or was this the composure that came from having 97 runes?

I couldn't tell what she was thinking, but she continued to speak.

“After you use the rune, you’ll hear unidentifiable voices. But don’t just bite at the first one. I did that and wasted 2 precious runes!”

A moment later, unidentifiable voices began to overlap with Heo Jeong-ah’s chatter.

These must be the voices of the swords.

But they were still too faint to identify anything.

“But maybe Abyss doesn’t want to give us a reward. Think about it, there are so many swords here, and they only give the two of us a hundred chances combined. Isn’t that right?”

Heo Jeong-ah’s chatter continued.

But as time passed, the voices of the swords gradually became clearer.

The problem was that there were many, not just one.

It was because replicas, not the real Bastian, were also mixed in.

“Anyway, if you fail this time, Seo Ji-han, I’m thinking of using several runes at once. If I burn about ten at once, maybe the sword’s voice will be heard more clearly?”

That was a good idea.

If I were to fail, that is.

At that moment, there was one voice that broke through the various noises.

Who are you?

A voice whispered in my ear.

My mind snapped to attention in an instant.

It was a voice that was both nostalgic and familiar.

‘Could it be?’

I ask again. Who are you!

There was no room for doubt.

Holy Sword Bastian. It was calling me right now.

I took one step, then another, toward the source of the voice.

How wondrous! How is it that you hold the aura of my friend!

The voice of the Holy Sword grew clearer and clearer.

“Hey, Seo Ji-han. If you carelessly grab just anything, your only chance will fly away just like that!”

The numerous replicas of the Holy Sword unfolded before my eyes.

Among them, one sword was shining nobly.

Just as it recognized me, I too was able to find it in an instant.

The unique aura that only the Holy Sword Bastian emanated.

There was no way I would miss that.

And so, I smiled in front of Bastian.

Could you be Johan Ra…

And then, I grabbed Bastian’s hilt without hesitation.

The same texture I knew.

A pleasant thrill ran through me from the aura of the Holy Sword transmitted through my fingertips.

“Seo Ji-han! I told you again and again not to grab just anything! I’m not taking responsibility for this!”

I lifted the Holy Sword as it was.

Then, I infused mana into the blade.

It would surely know who I was right away.

Swaaaaaah!

The blade of the Holy Sword Bastian, thus drawn, was enveloped in a brilliant light.

“It’s good to see you again.”

Could it be, you are!

“You’ve worked hard. Waiting all this time.”

I stroked Bastian’s blade.

“Seo Ji-han! Don’t tell me!!”

Heo Jeong-ah had a dazed expression at the sight of Bastian, which was still emitting a noble light.

“I guess I’m lucky.”

“No way!”

“You say that phrase often.”

“Did you really pick out the real one from among all these swords?”

[The Holy Sword Bastian has met its new master.]

It was Abyss’s message that answered for me.

[The quest has ended.]

[The remaining ‘Runes of Empathy’ will disappear.]

“Too bad. It would’ve been nice to take one as a souvenir.”

“This is completely absurd! It’s really over just like this?”

Heo Jeong-ah was still in denial of reality.

She probably hadn't expected the quest to end so abruptly.

A moment later, my vision began to blur.

The surrounding background was dyed in darkness, and this journey was ending just like that.

“It’s really the end?”

For someone, it was an anticlimactic one at that.

***

The Spring of Elixir.

Soaking myself here after a long time felt like it was purifying not only my body but also my mind.

The dense fog covering the entire spring created a dreamlike atmosphere, and the colorful birds flying around always pleased my eyes and ears.

It had already been seven hours since I entered the spring.

It was a long time, but I was spending a healing time without a hint of boredom.

Though it seemed the fellow next to me thought a little differently.

“Ho-joong, are you sleeping?”

“N-no, sir!”

“What do you mean, no. Your head was bobbing back and forth.”

“It’s a habit I have whenever I meditate.”

“Just say you were sleeping. What’s wrong with sleeping here.”

At my words, Ho-joong immediately sat up straight.

“I was not sleeping.”

Not sleeping, my foot.

If I had left him alone a little longer, he would have started snoring.

“I told you I’d come alone. Why did you have to follow me all the way here and suffer for no reason.”

“Am I not your right-hand man, sir? You have returned to the family after a long time, so I must stay by your side.”

“Then let’s stay for three more hours.”

“Sir?”

“Just kidding. We should probably get up now.”

“A wise decision, sir.”

Choi Ho-joong stared at me, ready to get up at any moment.

I ignored his anticipation and took out a sword from my inventory.

The Reapersword.

It was a precious item I had used well since my reincarnation as Seo Ji-han.

Even if I were to search all of the 10 great sword families, a sword of this caliber would be rare.

But now, I no longer needed it.

Because I had reclaimed my true beloved sword.

“Why did you suddenly take out the Reapersword here?”

“Hold it.”

“Sir? The Reapersword?”

“Yes.”

I handed the sword to him.

Choi Ho-joong gripped the hilt of the Reapersword with a clueless expression, and the four red stars embedded in the sword instantly lost their light.

The ego sword, Reapersword, was not acknowledging Choi Ho-joong.

“As I thought, you’re still far from ready.”

“It’s a strange sword, sir. There isn’t a single day I’ve neglected my training.”

“This strange sword. I was going to give it to you, but it seems I can’t.”

“Sir? The Reapersword to me?”

“Why? Don’t you like it?”

“That’s not it, isn’t this your beloved sword, sir? For you to suddenly do this. Are you perhaps testing my loyalty?”

“Honestly, your imagination is so useless. I just got something better. I feel a little sorry for the Reapersword, though.”

I immediately took out the Holy Sword Bastian from my inventory and showed it to him.

Actually, I had wanted to brag about it since yesterday, but I didn’t have a proper chance.

My father was the only one I had revealed the Holy Sword to so far, and Ho-joong was the second.

“Perhaps, did you obtain this on your recent trip to Abyss?”

“Yeah.”

Ho-joong, seemingly having grasped the situation, was now continuously infusing mana into the Reapersword.

He seemed to genuinely covet the Reapersword.

But just because he blindly infused mana didn't mean this proud ego sword would open its heart.

It was likely a matter of class, not mana.

“Give it here. It’s no good yet.”

“This can’t be!”

Choi Ho-joong tightened his grip, but it was a futile effort.

“Forget the Reapersword for now, you should have a Bimu first.”

“Why a Bimu all of a sudden, sir?”

“The Jungwon Sword Family will contact me soon. I plan to arrange a Bimu with their family then, and you’ll have to participate, Ho-joong.”

Choi Ho-joong just blinked his eyes, as if he didn't know what was going on.

***

There were four of us, including myself, who had set off on the Abyss journey for the Holy Sword Bastian.

Two of them were from the Jungwon Sword Family.

The direct descendants of the family, Kim Joon-kyung and Kim Jin-seop.

But I was the only one who knew this fact.

It seemed the Jungwon Sword Family had kept their participation in this issue a secret.

Both of them had died at my hands, and Heo Jeong-ah had agreed to keep silent about it, so it was clear that the Jungwon Sword Family would contact me soon.

They would need to find clues about the whereabouts of the two missing individuals.

I looked at the map placed on the table.

The item I had obtained after dealing with Kim Joon-kyung of the Jungwon Sword Family.

With a very high probability, this map would be connected to the past of 40 years ago.

‘Should I hand this over to the Taeseong Sword Family?’

I couldn’t help but ponder.

If my guess was correct, this map would be an item that the Taeseong Sword Family desperately wanted.

The Taeseong Sword Family, which had lost its greatest talent 40 years ago.

And the Jungwon Sword Family, which had risen rapidly since then.

But no one knew what had happened at that time.

Four people went to Abyss and two returned, One of the two who returned died, And the remaining one still remained silent about the events of that day.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

A presence that entered my private chamber without permission.

There was only one being who could do such a thing.

“Knock, please. Rosie.”

“What’s the need for a knock. Unit Leader Ji-han would have known my presence from far away.”

“That’s not the point. To live with humans, you too need to learn some human manners, Rosie.”

“I’m not even human, so why should I?”

“Rosie, you came to the human world for amusement, didn’t you? To have a proper life of amusement, shouldn’t you act like a human?”

At my words, Rosie pouted, then nodded.

“Alright. Unit Leader Ji-han is indeed a strange person.”

“What is.”

“You always try to win against a dragon.”

“I’m just telling you the right thing.”

“Humans usually can’t do that because they’re scared.”

“Would you like it if I were afraid of you, Rosie?”

“Hmm. No. That wouldn’t be like you, Unit Leader Ji-han.”

“Then from now on, just follow the character education I give you without talking back. I won’t say anything wrong.”

“Okay. Unit Leader Ji-han.”

The way she easily backed down today was cute, so I pinched her cheek.

Usually, she would clench her jaw and look stern, but today, for some reason, she didn’t even resist and stood stiffly.

In any case, Rosie had come at a good time.

I had something to ask about this map anyway.