The Swordmaster Who Returned After 1,000 Years-Chapter 134

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 134

“The White Demon King, huh. It’s unusual for a Demon King to have ‘white’ as a descriptor.”

“The name ‘White Demon King’ comes from his use of light mana.”

“The Crimson Flame Demon King also used light mana. His Hellfire was a fusion of light, darkness, and fire.”

Kaylen recalled the Hellfire that had inspired his Six Sword Path, Three Swords, and Infernal Flame.

When he was first struck by it, the flames had burned for days, refusing to be extinguished, putting him through immense suffering.

“I know that all too well. I was the one who kept treating you, remember?”

“That’s right. Without your divine power, I would’ve had a much harder time.”

“Though the previous Demon King could wield light mana, he only used it as a secondary element. The Crimson Flame Demon King’s primary magic was fire and darkness.”

“That’s true.”

“But the White Demon King, Deimos, is different. He primarily uses light.”

“What…? He uses light mana as his main power?”

Kaylen couldn’t wrap his head around it.

“What about dark mana?”

“He uses dark mana too, but far less than light. According to reports from the Celestial Realm invasion, his light mana was so powerful that it crushed the morale of the angels.”

A Demon King who had ascended to the peak of the Demon Realm was supposed to embody the essence of dark mana.

And yet, he had subdued angels using light?

‘This is the first Demon King of his kind.’

The Holy Sword Astella echoed Kaylen’s thoughts.

[If there had been such a rare case before, I would have remembered… but there has never been a Demon King who wielded light as his main power.]

Indeed, it shouldn’t be possible.

A Demon King using light mana stronger than angels?

‘Still… I can’t just dismiss it.’

No matter how strange it seemed, the reality was undeniable.

‘This should be interesting.’

Kaylen felt his fighting spirit surge.

The Crimson Flame Demon King had been strong enough that even as a Grand Swordmaster, he had faced death multiple times.

The White Demon King would likely show him an even more fascinating kind of power.

‘But facing him right now would be impossible.’

He had barely managed to defeat the Crimson Flame Demon King with a completed Six Swords and a Grand Swordmaster’s body.

To fight the White Demon King—who had even invaded the Celestial Realm—he needed even greater strength.

Kaylen recalled his recent battle.

He had intercepted the Moon’s Blessing with the Holy Sword and overwhelmed his enemy using Twin Swords: Reverse Heaven.

But if the enemy had been just a bit stronger?

If they had been a Count-rank or even a Marquis-rank demon instead of a Viscount?

‘Stealing the Moon’s Blessing with the Holy Sword doesn’t work on just anyone.’

At his current level, he could at most take on a Count-rank.

Against anything stronger, he would need to complete the Six Swords.

“For now, let’s head back. I need to complete the Six Swords as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Sir Ernstine.”

With a swift motion, Kaylen held Theresia and leaped out of the Shadow Hole.

As he landed, some of the soldiers outside the training grounds, who had been watching the situation unfold, hesitantly approached with trembling steps.

“W-Who… who are you?”

“R-Return the sword to its place!”

These were the same soldiers who had panicked and fled in terror when the shadow demon had emerged from the Holy Sword.

However, with the presence of the demons gone, the soldiers seemed to regain a bit of their composure.

Perhaps they thought it was easier to deal with a fellow human than with a shadow demon.

“Halt!”

One of the soldiers pointed his spear forward and cautiously approached.

But Kaylen didn’t even glance at him. Instead, he simply extended his palm.

“Ugh… ah….”

The soldiers’ weapons suddenly floated into the air—then turned to aim at their owners’ throats.

Spears, swords, maces—

The type of weapon didn’t matter.

‘He’s not human…’

‘If we move, we die.’

Cold sweat ran down their faces as they stared at the blades now pointed at their own necks.

And all he had done was move his hand once.

Only now did they realize—it was this man who had subdued the demon that had emerged from the Holy Sword.

It was only natural that he was stronger than a mere monster.

They had been foolish to assume he was just another human.

“Drake. Let’s go.”

The drake that had emerged from the demon’s relic instantly grew in size.

By the time Kaylen and Theresia climbed onto its back, the soldiers could do nothing but watch as they ascended into the sky.

And as the drake disappeared from sight—

Thud. Thud.

The floating weapons finally began to fall to the ground one by one.

‘What… what do we even report to the Count…?’

The commander stared blankly at the sky, watching the drake vanish.

Even though he had seen it all with his own eyes, he could hardly believe it.

‘It was like an act of god…’

* * *

“Sir Ernstine.”

“Don’t call me that. Just call me Kaylen.”

“Ah, yes. Sir Kaylen… Um, about the Holy Sword…”

[Absolutely not going back to Sanctuary!]

Before Theresia could even finish, the Holy Sword Astella immediately rejected the idea.

[Do you even know how heavy Sanctuary is? I have no idea what the other relics are doing, but I feel like I’m the only one carrying that massive burden.]

“N-no, Astella… The Bridge does a lot of work too, but… the other relics are also doing their best to support Sanctuary.”

[Doing their best? Results are what matter. Tell me I’m wrong—more than half the weight is on me, isn’t it?]

“…More than half, yes.”

[And the way they kept begging for pieces of me… I was stuck in there for so long, I’ve had enough! I’m not going back. Never!]

Astella’s refusal was absolute.

It almost seemed like it hadn’t fallen from Sanctuary in search of its master,

but rather, it had just been desperate to escape and needed a good excuse.

Kaylen, noticing Theresia’s crestfallen expression, asked,

“If the Holy Sword isn’t there, will Sanctuary fall immediately? And where exactly is Sanctuary?”

“…Sanctuary is hidden on the Sky Path, the bridge between the Celestial Realm and the Middle Realm.

To remain there, it requires the Holy Sword’s power. Without it, it won’t fall right away… but eventually, it will be forced out of the Sky Path and crash down to the surface.”

Kaylen drew Astella from his back.

Since he had yet to become a Grand Swordmaster, he still couldn’t wield the full power of the Holy Sword.

He spoke to the Saintess.

"Didn’t you say before that you would give me a replica of the Holy Sword?"

"Yes… I did."

"I'll offer that to the Sanctuary instead."

"A replica?"

[A-Ah, Master! I really hate that idea!]

Astella flared with light in protest.

Kaylen stroked the sword's blade and said,

"I can’t use all of Astella’s power until I complete the Six Swords anyway. I'll lend them the replica, so use it to sustain the Bridge."

"Ah! Then we should be able to hold out for a while."

Theresia’s face brightened.

Although they couldn’t bring the true Holy Sword, securing a replica imbued with significant power meant they could prevent a collapse.

[Master, creating a replica strong enough to sustain the Sanctuary will drain a considerable amount of my power. I’ll only be able to exert half my current strength… Will that be okay?]

"It can be retrieved later, right?"

[Well, yes. Since it’s a replica of me, I can reclaim the power I lent to it and restore it to my source.]

"Then it's fine. Make it."

[…Alright…]

At Kaylen’s firm response, Astella showed clear reluctance but complied.

Whirrrrrr—

As Astella radiated light and forged a new sword, Kaylen turned to Theresia.

"Theresia. I should get something in return for lending Astella, right?"

"Yes. If you have any requests, please let me know."

"Good. Then…"

Kaylen began negotiations with Theresia.

Since Astella was an indispensable existence for the Sanctuary, his demands were mostly accepted—

The release of sealed historical records,

The construction of a grand cathedral and the dispatch of priests,

The transfer of technology related to the Sanctuary’s mana suits, and more…

"Then, Kaylen. I’ll return as soon as I receive approval from the Holy See."

"Alright. See you then."

With that, Theresia departed for the Sanctuary, carrying the Holy Sword’s replica.

As soon as she left, Astella spoke in a dissatisfied tone.

[Master. I don’t like the Sanctuary. I hope you complete the Six Swords quickly and reclaim my fragment.]

"Why?"

[The other three relics that support the Sanctuary’s cross… They may not be as powerful as I am, but they still contain considerable divinity. In truth, their power alone is enough to sustain the Sanctuary.]

"Really? Then why is the Holy Sword needed?"

[Because they're using their power for something else.]

Astella’s voice took on a tone of disgust.

[They’re draining the divine power of the three relics… to prolong their own lives.]

Kaylen’s eyes widened at that revelation.

He had wondered why the Sanctuary was so insistent on needing Astella despite the presence of other relics.

It turned out the others were being used to maintain immortality.

"…So that’s how it is."

[Yes. But it’s not like the long-lived paladins or priests have grown stronger over the years. The paladins I’ve seen are no better now than they were a hundred years ago. There’s no progress at all… If anything, they’ve regressed.]

Astella didn’t hide her contempt.

[They waste divine power just to prevent aging, to extend their lives. Even after centuries, they remain nothing but weaklings. Aside from the Saintess, there isn’t a single worthy talent among them. And now my replica is being used to support the Sanctuary for the sake of those parasites… If it weren’t for your command, Master, I would never have agreed.]

She had clearly harbored resentment for a long time.

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Kaylen listened silently and nodded.

"Hearing you talk, the Sanctuary sounds less like humanity’s last bastion and more like… just a refuge."

[Exactly. They would never risk danger. They’re just cowards who want to live forever.]

"Astella. You can still track the replica’s location, right?"

[Of course. It’s a fragment of me.]

"Then keep track of the Sanctuary’s location as well."

[The Sanctuary’s… location?]

"Yeah."

Kaylen smiled meaningfully.

"The construction of a grand cathedral, the knowledge of the Sanctuary’s mana suits. Those are just secondary matters."

[Then… What is your true goal…?]

"What I want," Kaylen said,

"—is the Sanctuary itself."

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]