Chapter 24: Flames, Steel, and the Wandering Swordsman

Kwahahaha!

The red flames surged forward.

I quickly raised my shield to block them.

Flames shot up in all directions.

There was no room to escape in the cramped arena.

“Hey! One hit is impossible! And it’s an area attack too!”

“Desperately trying to win, huh?”

“Ugh! El Diablo!”

“Ugh!”

My subordinates jeered.

‘But what could I do?’

If this were a real battle, the fault would be mine for being unprepared.

I had always ingrained the saying that there are no cheats in battle.

Enemies are no exception.

“Commander! Dodge! Commander!”

Treya’s voice rang out too.

But there was no way out.

Flames everywhere—’where could I run?’

‘Guh!’

The shield I was holding heated up.

Every breath burned my throat, and the flesh touching the handle sizzled.

‘Maybe because of the heat…?’

Through the flickering vision, what looked like a hamster appeared…

‘Hamster?’

“Qyu?”

Startled, I saw a Junior.

‘Where did this kid come from?’

Ah.

Inside the plate mail I was wearing.

Looks like it had been sleeping there and followed me.

“Qyik!”

Even amid the scorching heat, Junior remained calm.

The sudden appearance made me forget the pain for a moment.

“Remaining health 50%! Commander!”

“Ugh! When will this end! It’s cheating!”

“You want to win that badly?”

“Ugh!”

My subordinates watching sighed.

Kwahahaha!

But Diablo didn’t respond.

‘Or maybe he couldn’t?’

He was opening his mouth, spewing flames.

Anyway, my own health seemed to have dropped below half.

Even if I tried to fight to the end, all I could do was endure.

“Yk!”

“Hm?”

At that moment, Junior lifted something.

The red liquid in the transparent bottle was…

‘A potion?’

‘Where did that potion come from?’

‘Ah.’

A thought flashed through my mind.

When my first user left and only the card remained—

My summoned card had produced a potion.

I had put it in my pocket.

‘Could it be that potion?’

And it hadn’t been used up?

Good.

There was no time to think.

Strange things happening in Valhalla were simply called ‘bugs.’

This must be one of those bugs.

I quickly looked at Junior and said, “Use it the moment I move. If my health runs out, use it once more. Can you do that?”

“Qyik! Qyu!”

Junior nodded, holding the potion.

That meant he roughly understood.

After all, this kid was a special Ratman.

With my last strength, I rose to my feet.

And stared at Diablo beyond the flames.

The moment the potion healed me and the pain vanished—

That was the chance.

“Now!”

I shouted sharply and charged forward.

Healing that began in my chest spread throughout my body.

Not missing the split second, I leapt into the air.

Pak!

“Huh?”

“What the!”

The watching crowd shouted.

Who made the noise didn’t matter.

I locked my gaze on Diablo through the bright red embers.

Raising my sword high, I fiercely brought it down.

“Hmph!”

Thok!

“Gwah!!!”

Diablo screamed as the sword pierced him.

The surging flames suddenly died down.

“Y-You, how…!”

Diablo, with a hole in his crown, looked shocked.

‘Would this not kill him?’

Diablo’s remaining health was 10%.

Straining, I twisted out the Uruk Slayer and pulled it free.

Kwak!

“Ugh! That hurts!”

“Hmph!”

I swiftly struck down his neck.

Diablo raised his hands and pleaded.

“W-Wait! Decapitation’s impossible! Kill me another way!”

“Your one hit and skills were impossible too! Die!”

“Gwah!!!”

Kwak!

The blade I swung sliced through the demon’s neck.

Thunk! Thunk!!

The crimson head rolled onto the ground.

Raising my fist to everyone, I shouted,

“H421! Long live the Wandering Swordsman!”

I thought everyone would like that.

“Oh!”

“Wow!”

“Hah!”

Admiration spread among the crowd.

***

After a brief silence, cheers erupted.

“Waaah! We won! As expected of the Commander!”

“Ha! Who did I die for then! This is what it means to be a Swordmaster!”

“What was that last move? How did you endure it?”

“That’s the Commander’s grit! Not just anyone can be a Swordmaster!”

“As expected of the Swordmaster! Definitely top-notch!”

“Ha ha! Serves you right! Using one hit and still losing?”

“Hahaha!”

The demon and his minions laughed.

“Hah…!”

Nearby, Treya covered her mouth.

‘What’s with this?’

I didn’t understand why her eyes were red.

“Ghyik…! Gyaaaak! My neck! It hurts like hell! I told you not to cut me! Gyaak!”

“Ah, that startled me.”

The severed head howled.

‘Still alive in that state?’

Just as I wondered how he would resurrect, the head and body vanished, Thump!!

Fell before me completely intact.

It was the same as when moving to a dungeon.

“Two wins, two losses. You accept now? Good job.”

I extended my hand toward Diablo.

“Grrr…!”

Diablo frowned deeply.

Holding his severed neck, he moved and exhaled before shaking my hand.

“I won’t lose next time! Let’s fight again later!”

“If there’s a chance. Still, good to see you again. A good fight.”

“You should be glad since you won!”

“Not wrong.”

I smiled, exchanging greetings with Diablo.

Once, he was a demon I wanted to kill so badly.

The demon I met again in Valhalla was nothing less than an old rival.

“Tch. Still, settle up properly. It’s the promised book! And the level!”

Diablo handed me a book as he said this.

Then he fiddled with the air.

‘Manipulating the ‘status window’ perhaps?’

It was no different from when I touched my ‘screen.’

“Deposit complete! Let’s fight again later! Next time I won’t lose! No running away, got it?”

Diablo raised his hand, bragging.

“Do as you please.”

I smirked and checked my screen.

[★★ Wandering Swordsman] Lv. 63

‘Hm?’

But nothing had changed significantly.

‘What’s this?’

He can’t be lying.

‘Ah.’

Right.

This is my screen.

Not a status window.

I forgot it looked similar but was different.

It seemed the level I gained couldn’t be confirmed.

“Waa! Commander! That was awesome! The best!”

“Did you see? Jumping through the flames? I thought you were a fire spirit!”

“Do you have fire resistance? How’d you get through?”

“As expected of the Commander! That was cool!”

“Wow! Swordmaster!”

Soon, everyone approached, laughing.

There was some kind of trick…

I awkwardly smiled and nodded.

“It’s just grit. But… are all of you Wandering Swordsmen? Didn’t you just say you were the Wandering Swordsman Union? Is that right?”

I looked around and asked.

“Yes! Most of our channel are Wandering Swordsmen! Including me!”

Pinless raised his hand and answered.

“Commander, you’re going to amplify soon, right? Ha. As expected of the Commander! I want to be like you! Then and now, always!”

“Once a Wandering Swordsman, always a Wandering Swordsman! Don’t pretend you don’t know after amplifying!”

“We’re brothers!”

“Hahaha!”

Similar equipment and similar subordinates laughed together.

This was…

An embarrassing feeling.

Still, I was glad to be with everyone.

“Alright, settle up! Since everyone bet on the Swordmaster, the payout won’t be interesting! Line up! Let’s start!”

Just then Diablo shouted.

“Haha! Just for fun! Are there really people trying to win this for real?”

“Isn’t that a back bet?”

“Back bets are the fun part, you fool!”

“Good show! I bet 100 levels on the Swordmaster!”

“I’m 35 levels!”

“40 levels here!”

The settlement began, and the subordinates left.

Where they had been, Treya waited.

“Not betting? Ah, you didn’t bet from the start? You should have bet on me. Then you would have made a profit, you know.”

I approached Treya and smiled.

“Heh. Everyone bet on the Commander, what’s to fear? The payout won’t be much anyway.”

“Pfft. That’s true. But how do you use this level? You said it’s for amplification. Does a user have to do it?”

“You mean self-amplification? It’s possible on your own. Only when there’s no affiliated user.”

“No affiliated user? Why?”

“To explain simply.

Heroes are commodities.

“Would users like it if their commodities changed without permission? So you can only choose after being separated. Before that, you can’t.”

“Commodities…”

“Let’s go. That was a really great fight. It’s the first time I’ve seen you as a Swordmaster.”

Treya smiled and led the way.

‘So amplification requires no user?’

Then the level couldn’t be used.

I wasn’t going to split myself anyway.

“Here. Have some.”

“Hm? What’s this?”

“You were supposed to have it after training. I prepared it in advance. Please.”

As I sat, Treya offered tea.

‘A cup from the Knights’ Office?’

The cup I saw entering the channel was here.

“Treya.”

“Yes?”

“Did you make this cup? I saw it when I entered the channel.”

“Heh. I had time. I also made the office over there. Do you like it?”

“How could I not? It’s really well done. I wondered who made it.”

I smiled, sipping the tea.

‘Haah…’

The soft aroma spread in my mouth.

Ten complicated years.

Ten years of fierce fighting.

That time sank away with the warm tea.

I felt like I had returned quietly to the Knights.

“Qyu?”

“Hm?”

Junior peeked out just then.

‘It was thanks to this kid that I won earlier, right?’

I offered Junior a chicken leg.

“You worked hard earlier. Want one?”

Junior gnawed on the leg.

Treya was startled by the sudden appearance.

“What’s this? A pet? How?”

“Hmm? Ah, it’s part of our party and followed me. Don’t know how, but maybe a bug?”

“Right. It must be a bug. Normal pets can’t come to the Plaza.”

“Exactly. Strange, isn’t it?”

I said slyly, covering it up.

‘Did I mention before?’

The key to lying is not to hesitate.

Treya seemed convinced.

She relaxed, sipping tea.

“Hahaha! I have come, you fools! Returning with a precious victory today! Praise me! Ten levels for whoever barks the loudest! Bark now! Haha!”

At that moment, laughter echoed.

‘Who was it?’

Looking back toward the entrance was a girl.

A young girl about twelve, wearing a red cape and even a crown.

“Oh! The channel’s idol is here! Did you pull off something today? Amazing!”

“Oh. The channel owner came?”

“Hey, hey! Do you know who came today? The Swordmaster! The Swordmaster is here!”

“We’ve been waiting, damn it!”

The demon and minions welcomed her.

‘Channel owner?’

‘That kid was the owner of the channel?’

Well.

Diablo trembled in fear before this small child.

She clearly had stronger power than she looked.

“S-Swordmaster? Swordmaster Sid is here? Really?”

But the proud kid flinched.

“Eek!”

Then, seeing me, she was startled.

‘What’s this?’

‘Did she know me?’

She was unfamiliar to me.

As I stood to greet her, “V-Valkyrie! To the Plaza! Send me to the Plaza! Kyaaak!!!”

Thunk!

She screamed strangely and disappeared.

I scratched my head at the sudden turn of events.

“Who was that kid? Someone I know? She seemed to recognize me.”

I asked Treya.

Treya covered her mouth, chuckling.

“Heh. Looks like she’s still afraid of you. She said she’d show you what she’s got… but as expected.”

“Show what? Why?”

“Don’t you really know? Who that kid was?”

“I don’t. Tell me. Who?”

“She’s someone you know, Commander.”

“Know her…?”

I tilted my head at Treya’s words.

‘Someone I know?’

She did seem familiar somehow.

Red cape and large crown…

‘Ah.’

A memory flashed.

‘In Valhalla, it was said appearance changes were possible?’

‘Could it be… that one?’

The one I killed?

I doubted my eyes, mouth agape.

“Could it be the Emperor? That potbellied guy changed to look like that?”

Even I couldn’t believe my own words.