Chapter 129: To the South Continent (1)

I wiped my face.

The facial muscles touched by my fingertips were stiff.

『Did you think I would perish with just this much?』

The voice of the sword, traveling through the blade, through my hand, and reaching my head, was incredibly annoying.

To the point where I wanted to break the Holy Sword or whatever it was if I could.

But that was not something I could do.

“……Albert, respond quickly.”

Whether I was holding the sword hilt or a straw.

Without letting go of a sliver of hope, I repeatedly called out to Albert.

[…]

Damn it, there was no answer.

I clenched my teeth and looked at the sword blade.

My face was reflected in the pure white blade, where five colors flowed.

“Where is Albert?”

This was unexpected.

It made no sense for the soul of the Hero, Albert, to be pushed back by Kalgos, who had lost most of his power.

The situation I had hoped for was quite the opposite.

“I asked where Albert Phigius is, you bastard.”

As I spoke as if to cut him down, Kalgos replied.

『Burp.』

The disgusting sound of a burp, which I had heard once recently.

Strength naturally entered my eyes.

“Human, has something gone wrong!”

I shook my head at Hurkeum, who had a serious expression.

It would be cruel to pour cold water on someone who was cheering, saying his dream had come true.

“It’s not that. It seems the Hero’s soul hasn’t woken up yet.”

I concentrated my mind on the sword.

Fortunately, the heaviness felt from the sword informed me that Albert’s soul was still intact.

***

“The name of the sword will be…… ‘Bad Bond.'”

The bad bond between me and Kalgos.

The bad bond between Albert and Kalgos.

I thought there was no name more fitting than this.

Of course, the Dwarfs made shocked faces and shouted their absolute opposition.

“Hey! How can you attach a name like that!”

“That’s an insult to the sword!”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Didn’t you tell me to name it?”

***

After a brief commotion, Hurkeum and I discussed the future schedule.

“One thousand ‘good armaments’ and ten thousand ‘usable armaments.’ When can you provide them?”

“Naturally, I can’t make that many all at once. We don’t have the materials either. First, I’ll provide one hundred ‘good armaments’ and one thousand ‘usable armaments’ in advance.”

As if fatigue had finally caught up with him, Hurkeum replied with a face that looked like he was dying.

It was truly the appearance of a master craftsman who had burned himself out.

“What about construction and wall repairs?”

“Whew…… A single building can be finished quickly by ten Dwarfs. Once the materials are ready, send people. The same goes for wall repairs.”

“Good.”

Clang, clang—!

I leaned against a tree and looked at the forge.

The noise echoed incessantly from that place.

The sound of striking Iron with power.

The Iron that passed through the hands of a master would surely be reborn as good armaments.

“As expected, they’re competent guys. Too good to let go.”

I glanced down.

Hurkeum, who had flopped down beside me, was catching his breath.

“Ughhh…… I can die now with no regrets.”

“Why die? You have to make many more amazing things in the future.”

“It’s just a saying, Human.”

He looked at me with a grin.

“Thanks to you, I experienced the realm of a Godly Smith. It’s a sensation I can never forget. Living a long life, the day has come when I feel gratitude toward a Human.”

“It would have been better if we had started on better terms without you guys trying to rip me off.”

“Haha! A man shouldn’t be so petty over such trivial things!”

Heave-ho—

Hurkeum, who stood up energetically, gave his greetings.

Then he looked at ‘Bad Bond’ with eyes full of affection.

Although he couldn’t eliminate Kalgos’s soul, that didn’t necessarily mean it was a failure.

The ‘Bad Bond’ slung across my back was an exceptionally magnificent Holy Sword.

“Then I’ll return to the Royal Capital. I’ll send knights when the time comes.”

I shook hands with Hurkeum and turned around.

In truth, I was in a hurry.

It was because the prayers of Mary and Alan that I heard not long ago were unusual.

***

“Oh! Is that the new sword!”

As soon as I returned to the Royal Capital, I was greeted by the exclamations of the Temple Knights.

Envy that couldn’t be hidden leaked out through their continuous exclamations of “Ooh” and “Ah—!”

“The Dwarfs are making yours too, so look forward to it. Their skill is indeed good.”

When I delivered the good news, they burst into cheers.

It was a sight like children looking forward to presents.

I looked for Mary among the knights.

She happened to be looking at me with a hesitant face.

She looked like she had much to say but couldn’t bring herself to speak because of the surrounding atmosphere.

“Mary, you had an ominous dream.”

I called Mary aside and brought up the topic.

She flinched and slowly nodded her head.

“That is…… it was a dream where the North Continent and South Continent were at Battle.”

“What were the details?”

Mary hurriedly took out a notebook from her robe and handed it over.

When I opened the folded page, the contents of the dream were written densely there.

[A fierce Battle, a fight between knights and mages.]

[At the very front of the enemy army, the Holy Banner of the Marx Family always…….]

[The head of the Marx Family appears in person…….]

[At some point, Gide cannot be seen in the dream…….]

[Numerous casualties…….]

[The scream of Saint Richard]

The handwriting, pressed down firmly, vividly contained the horrors of Battle.

“It, it’s just a dream! Please don’t worry too much.”

Mary suddenly tried to comfort me.

It probably meant my expression wasn’t good right now.

I handed the notebook back and muttered.

“There’s no way this is just a dream.”

Even if Mary had the qualities of a Saint, not every dream she had took on the nature of a prophecy.

However, dreams with such detailed content usually projected the future, so it was a problem I could never overlook.

“Thanks for letting me know. Rest until I call you again.”

I sent Mary away and closed my eyes.

According to the content, it was presumed that the Marx Family led the Battle.

It was a variable.

My plan to appoint Alan as the Saint of the South and ease the confrontation between the North and South had vanished into thin air.

‘God’s Eye?’

Many things were visible through my closed eyes.

I immediately turned my perspective to the Marx Family Fortress.

‘Alan asked for the power to stop his father. If so…….’

The suspect was narrowed down in an instant.

Without needing to check anyone else, I captured the head of the Marx Family in my God’s Eye.

A middle-aged man with long silver hair.

It was Bafel Marx, who was called the current strongest Archmage.

‘He is hostile toward Batenberg, but he’s not a man crazy enough to suddenly start a Battle……’

I watched Bafel closely as he worked in his office.

It was when I tried to see through to his essence beneath his tidy appearance.

The world reflected in the God’s Eye stopped.

‘What……?’

An ominous energy slowly crawled up over Bafel’s frozen body.

Soon, the demonic energy covering Bafel formed a single shape.

A giant body shimmering in pitch black.

The red eyes I had seen beyond the Rift once before.

Those eyes were pointed exactly at me.

The corners of its mouth tore open wide.

At the same time, a massive headache struck me, and God’s Eye was automatically deactivated.

“Ugh.”

I clutched my head while sinking to the floor.

The Demon King, Skeleratus.

It was the moment it became certain that the bastard had played a trick on Bafel.

“The next destination will be the South Continent.”

The Battle must be stopped.

Even if it means I have to kill Bafel to stop it.

***

His soul had already been torn apart countless times.

He had lost his mighty power, and even his form had transformed miserably.

The Red Plague Giant, Kalgos, could no longer be called a Giant.

Nevertheless, he did not perish.

Although he was driven to the brink of extinction within the overflowing torrent of Light, he desperately maintained his consciousness.

He barely survived like that and watched his Father from within the sharp blade.

『Heh.』

At some point, Father sat down and caught his breath.

As if lost in deep thought, Father sat there for a long time.

Kalgos licked his lips.

Now would be the perfect opportunity to kill Father.

Of course, if only he had his original power.

Unconcealed regret appeared plainly on his face.

‘The Prot Kingdom is showing progress little by little…’

‘Among the opportunities in the South Continent, what…’

Kalgos’s ears perked up.

Even when he was inside the white bead, hearing Father’s voice was infinitely painful.

But unknowingly, it was nothing now.

The pain in his eyes that he felt when looking at Father did not occur either.

『Heh…… You have built a good House for me.』

Ridiculously, Kalgos liked this Holy Sword called ‘Bad Bond’ very much.

The name ‘Bad Bond’ was also beyond perfect.

Because.

『Albert Phigius.』

『It was truly ecstatic when I crushed you with my own hands.』

Because it was a situation that also applied to Kalgos.

[…]

The Hero who suffered death after showing mercy.

The soul of Albert Phigius looked at him.

[Even in that state, your mouth is still as busy as ever.]

[Why on earth are you here?]

The calm yet heavy voice echoed only within the blade.

In fact, everything was a mystery to Albert.

Why Kalgos’s soul was with him.

What the relationship was between Richard, whom he thought was just a junior Hero, and Kalgos.

There was no way for Albert to know.

That was why he had remained silent even when Richard searched for him.

『Heh……』

『We aren’t exactly on speaking terms, are we?』

Kalgos clenched his fists.

Since the opponent was the Hero he had killed, it was obvious he would charge in while declaring revenge.

But it wasn’t so.

[…I have wanted to talk with you for a long time.]

[Though I died at your hands before I could.]

[Hmm…… thinking about it now, it makes me angry.]

[What kind of manners is it to attack an opponent who has lowered their sword, really.]

The expression on Albert’s face as he spoke while gritting his teeth was fierce, but there was no sign of bloodlust.

Kalgos’s eyes took on a mysterious light.

『Father wants my complete death.』

『If it’s you, you should be able to kill the current me?』

The two souls looked at each other.

[You were always talking about Father even during the Holy-Demon War.]

[I was always curious about that. Exactly who is this Father you call?]

Albert’s gaze glanced through the world outside the blade.

Richard’s appearance, lost in thought, was right in front of him.

That probably wasn’t a coincidence.

[What is that person’s identity?]

[Why do you call that person Father?]