Chapter 147: Those Who Seek To See Light as Light (3)

I furrowed my brow.

The blade of Bad Bond was reflected in my distorted vision.

‘I wonder what expression the hero trapped in there is making right now.’

Even if I didn’t know the specifics, I could say one thing for certain.

‘He’s probably looking at me with a really stupid face.’

Phew. Did he just ask if I was Hor?

“Did you just realize that now, you idiot?”

From the beginning, it was impossible to hide my identity from Albert. It might have been possible if only Albert were inside that sword, but unfortunately, that damn bastard Kalgos was also trapped in there.

“No, really, how can a hero be so dense that he hasn’t recognized me until now?”

Good grief. I was at a loss for words. Had Kalgos not told him? No, even if that were the case, it was still absurd.

[M-My Lord…]

Hummmm—

The blade trembled violently. Every sort of emotion seemed to seep out from that vibration. However, to me, it was nothing more than a nuisance.

“Do you have any idea how frustrated I’ve been?”

I try to have a conversation, and he doesn’t give me a single answer.

He’s only busy acting like some big-shot senior hero whenever something interests him. Even then, he usually just says a few words and disappears.

What angered me most was that Kalgos had left him to get on my nerves like this.

[Lord Hor…]

[Is it truly you, Lord Hor?!]

The hero’s gruff voice echoed in my mind. Perhaps because the shock was so great, he didn’t even seem to notice that I wasn’t looking at him kindly.

[Indeed, everything makes sense now!]

[To think there was a light that could cover the entire Kingdom!]

[Such intense Divine Grace could not be found among any of the previous heroes.]

It was a rare sight to see the sword putting on such a frantic display. I crossed my arms and quietly watched his antics. I intended to see how many seconds it would take for this foolish hero to reflect on his mistakes.

[So you have taken on a human body.]

[To work as a human and save this world!]

[Oh!]

[Since when, exactly since when, have you manifested as a human?]

There was no need for me to explain in detail how I had become Richard.

“I think you’re mistaken about one thing.”

I uncrossed my arms. I reached out and gripped the hilt of Bad Bond. The man’s face was reflected on the white surface of the blade. He had a build as big as a bear, yet his face was incredibly innocent. Rather than a hero, he looked more like a sturdy young man from the countryside.

However, it seemed his brain was just as “innocent.”

“I did not give you permission to ask questions.”

A hero who dared to chatter away and interrogate a god? Where could there be a greater blasphemy?

[Ahem! I shall correct myself!]

Albert shut his mouth tight. He looked exactly like a private who had just arrived at his new unit.

“Albert, you seemed to be under the illusion that I was a hero.”

As soon as I said that, the color drained from Albert’s face. He was clearly a soul, yet it almost looked like cold sweat was dripping down him.

[That is…]

[It seems my eyes have grown dim over a thousand years.]

[I will gladly accept any punishment you give me.]

I shook my head. Anyone could make a mistake. It was a tall order to expect him to immediately recognize the identity of the man who had woken him up after 1,000 years.

However, this guy had failed even his duties as a hero.

“Why are you leaving Kalgos be?”

I had created Bad Bond specifically to completely finish off Kalgos’s soul. I believed that Albert could easily annihilate a weakened Kalgos, and I thought the justification of revenge wouldn’t be too bad for him either.

But what on earth was this situation? The sight of a hero and a Demon Army Commander living together was something my mind could not fathom.

“Have you truly failed as a hero, Albert?”

A thousand years ago, Albert’s comrades had judged him a failure as a hero. Was that evaluation accurate?

“Was it not the duty of a hero to punish evil and realize justice? Do you believe you were released from that duty by dying?”

I rebuked Albert. Before my reprimand, he couldn’t even draw a breath.

“I asked you. Why are you leaving Kalgos alone?”

If he still intended to show some kind of tolerance or repeat his past mistakes, I would make a decision.

‘I’ll have to melt it down and pour it into the sea.’

Since it would be useless. I didn’t want to carry around a cancer like Albert on top of a bomb like Kalgos.

[No, it’s not that.]

[For a long, long thousand years, I have endured through my duty and mission.]

[I barely held on by reminiscing about your fading traces.]

[Please, do not doubt the loyalty I have lived for you.]

I nodded, signaling him to continue.

[The reason I did not execute Kalgos is…]

[Because he…]

It was then. The blade began to be dyed pitch black. From somewhere far off, a disgusting laughter could be heard.

Hehe—

As I frowned and watched the scene, the giant’s face eventually appeared on the blade.

「Is there any need to ask for the reason, Father?」

「It is simply because I am stronger than that fellow.」

Kalgos’s voice sounded like burning iron.

「Rather, isn’t it more like I am letting him live?」

Even though he was as weak as could be. Did he still maintain the raw ego of a giant despite losing his original power?

I ignored Kalgos and waited for Albert’s answer, but in the end, the hero failed to appear again. I really needed to learn the Eye of Laplace as soon as possible.

***

“Markus wants a plausible picture. A picture where evil is thoroughly crushed by good.”

In this case, the “evil” was Laplace. To the heretics, light was darkness.

“They could move other powerful nations to strike us without lifting a finger, yet they are only demanding that they cease all exchange. This means they intend to destroy us with their own hands.”

Before anyone knew it, Laplace had become a kingdom of demons who served the darkness. To other nations who didn’t know the details, it appeared that way. All of this was Markus’s doing.

“Showing the public the sight of good punishing evil. It’s shallow, but effective. Especially if you can instill the conviction that Markus himself is that ‘good’.”

The nobles in the council chamber nodded. Even though he was describing the enemy’s plan as effective, their faces weren’t that dark.

“But because of that, we also have an opportunity.”

Markus had grown greedy. Thanks to that, we weren’t currently under a concentrated attack from other nations. Furthermore, we could plan for the expansion of our forces.

Alan and the fifty wizards who had fled from Markus. They were the hidden cards of Laplace.

“Alan, have a safe trip.”

After the meeting ended, I went to find Alan immediately. He was preparing to leave with the fifty wizards. Their heavy task was to find and recruit the members of the Magic Alliance in each kingdom of the Southern Continent.

The names of Alan and these wizards probably wouldn’t be included in the ‘cessation of exchange with Laplace’ that Markus had proclaimed.

“It will not be an easy journey.”

“Hmph, you just worry about yourself. Use that mediocre silver tongue of yours to make this country a true Holy Kingdom. Increasing the number of believers. That is your mission.”

‘Yes, yes, whatever you say.’

I simply nodded lightly and let his words go in one ear and out the other. And when noon the next day arrived, Alan and the wizards left the capital.

***

“The preparation for battle is something we Laplace wizards must do. Shouldn’t you be focusing on your training?”

The environment surrounding Laplace had changed this much, but my daily routine remained the same. No, one thing had clearly changed.

Vriiiing—!

A white ring rotated violently. Finally, it had increased to two.

“Congratulations. You’ve grown faster than I expected.”

Alisa offered her congratulations. She looked at my rings and then shifted her gaze toward the lakeshore. Violent ripples were forming on the lake because dozens of bolt spells had just been fired into it.

I smiled pleasantly and closed my eyes. There were two spells I had pre-studied for the 2nd Circle.

‘Crying Bird’ and ‘Shimde’.

I wove the magic array. I overlaid the formula I had memorized beforehand. Then, a single layer of a barrier that separated me from the world appeared.

Screeeech—!

A single bird crying sorrowfully was also born.

“Oh, it worked!”

I was especially moved when I saw the ‘Crying Bird’ because I had been secretly envious after seeing Alan and the other wizards use it so effectively. Even if it wouldn’t be a huge help right away, I felt quite satisfied.

“My, you certainly make it look easy. Just because your rings increase doesn’t mean you can use magic so easily.”

Alisa stared at me with an exhausted look for a moment and then turned around. I grabbed her as she said that today’s training was over.

“Master. You promised to give me a reward if I received a passing grade from you, didn’t you?”

“Ah! What a memory. Truly my disciple.”

Alisa straightened her posture. I wondered what kind of gift she would give. Even in my opinion, Alisa’s training had been quite difficult. I hoped for a reward that matched that effort.

“Come here.”

“Yes.”

I approached Alisa as she beckoned. At some point, I felt a soft touch on my head.

“Um… Master?”

Standing on her tiptoes, she was stroking my head.

“There, wouldn’t this be quite a good reward?”

‘Good grief.’

To think she would try to brush it off so haphazardly. Just as I was contemplating how to respond.

“It’s a joke. See you tomorrow. I’ll bring a good gift, so look forward to it.”

“…”

“I wonder what great thing she’s going to give.”

I watched Alisa walk away, my heart full of anticipation. Just then, I heard a loud cough from somewhere.

It was Vallach.

“So you’ve finally reached two? Well, it does seem to be quite a fast growth rate.”

His eyes twinkled. The fact that my rings had become two meant that I would now begin sword training in parallel. And Vallach was the type of person to strike while the iron was hot.

“Follow me! I will show you the secret technique you will be learning.”

He hopped onto Byeol and made a fuss, so I ended up pulling Byeol out as well. The place we headed to was a plain located quite a distance from the capital.

“Watch closely. This is the first secret technique of the Sword Saint.”

“You might even lose interest in magic!”

Vallach declared confidently.