Chapter 40: The Light (3)

Thud.

The Light Dragon’s brain was pierced, and it collapsed.

[You have slain a mighty foe, a Dragon.]

[Achievement: 2/3]

I brushed aside the system window blocking my view.

It wasn’t over yet.

-Ho… rrr…?

A massive being, its eye pressed into the rift, muttered in a voice thick with surprise.

As expected. That thing knows me.

And I, too, spoke aloud the name of that horrific being.

“…Demon King.”

King of the impure, Plague Lord whose breath spreads disease, a monster bearing filthy parasites within.

Dizziness swept over me.

My vision blurred, as if I might collapse at any moment.

Whether it was because I’d met its gaze, or simply pushed myself too hard in the fight with the Dragon, I couldn’t tell.

But even so—Regardless, I gripped my sword tightly.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

I straightened my back, meeting its gaze with a calm expression.

I wouldn’t let my heart be crushed just from seeing a single monstrous eye.

Crack—

Meanwhile, the rift slowly began to close.

And instinctively, I understood.

I sensed why it had revealed itself, even through an incomplete rift.

‘A world where the gods have vanished, is it?’

To that being, this place was a lavish banquet hall and a treasure trove without an owner.

It must have been drooling at the thought of snatching it up.

It had tried to sow such deep terror into this world that humans wouldn’t even have the will to resist.

“But you made a mistake.”

I looked around.

Those who had reached the highest realms of strength were cowering in fear, thrown into confusion.

If even they were like this, what of ordinary people?

How much terror must be gripping the entire continent right now?

People only seek gods when they are truly desperate.

Ironically, the Demon King’s appearance had set the stage for the rise of the Church of Hor.

I frowned and declared,

“Now get lost.”

-U…ugh…

Crack—!

Something snapped shut, and the rift closed.

Though the hole had been sealed, a dark miasma still lingered in the sky.

Thud—a dull blow struck the back of my head.

When I turned my head to the side, I saw the ground.

Ah, I must have collapsed.

Was it because the tension finally left me?

My eyes slid shut.

***

The Third Knight Division gathered the wounded.

Though the terror of having faced the abyss still lingered, they forced themselves to move, tending to their own bodies.

The source of their strength was Richard’s sword.

“Light…”

A faint glow lingered on the pitch-black Dragon Tooth.

It was the Star Remnant, burning with faith.

But to the Knights, it was a beacon—a small flame driving away the darkness.

“Huger, are you all right?”

“Whew… The dragon—is it dead?”

“The Young Master has dealt with it.”

“Is that so…? Haha, I can die without regrets now.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Just rest. I’ll get you a potion.”

The wounded were carried out one by one on stretchers.

Amazingly, there wasn’t a single casualty.

Watching this, Adele dragged her weary steps forward.

“Daddy.”

She stopped before Richard.

Her small hand gently caressed his face.

“No one died. Even the old man you spoke of is safe. He won’t wake for a while, but…”

Because I left a piece of the fruit behind—

Swallowing her words, she looked down at the fragment in her palm.

That combination of ‘essence’ and ‘life’ was a treasure that could only be formed once a year.

“Daddy, you’ll need this too.”

Adele wrapped the fragment in a soft leaf.

Then, she tucked it into Richard’s arms.

“I’m going to sleep now. Don’t leave me behind!”

Thud—

Her body, as she collapsed, took on a faintly translucent glow.

***

I regained consciousness a week after the battle.

“Young Master! I’m so sorry! I have no words to express my shame!”

And yet, I couldn’t grasp what was going on.

“…Why is everyone bowing their heads to me?”

Why were they apologizing, bending at the waist, as if they’d done something terribly wrong?

Even Aaron was among the Knights doing so.

At this point, anxiety began to bubble up inside me.

Did something go wrong?

“As Knights, we failed to protect the one we serve, and instead, let you face danger alone. We have committed an unforgivable betrayal.”

“Please punish us, we who are utterly lacking!”

My strength drained away.

For a second, I wondered what this was all about.

“It’s fine. This wasn’t your fault. There was nothing you could do.”

“Th-thank you, Young Master…”

I looked over each Knight’s face.

Though confusion and fear still lingered, they hadn’t lost hope as they had back then.

‘They’ve recovered, at least a little.’

Whether their skill was high or low, all of them were Knights of Bartenberg.

It meant they all had uncommon resolve.

“I have a question.”

“Please, command us!”

Suddenly, I realized this was an important moment.

I set aside my usual tone, adopting a more formal air.

“Am I royalty?”

“You are of the Bartenberg Bloodline, nobler and more glorious than any royal.”

“And what is the source of that nobility and glory?”

One of the Knights answered promptly.

“It began with the achievements and valor of Bartenberg.”

“Then why are you treating me like a hothouse flower? Is Bartenberg something to be protected, or something to be followed?”

A faint glow radiated from me.

Startled by the sudden light, the Knights gasped.

Taking advantage of the moment, I drew my sword and raised it high.

“Don’t stand in front of me. You are to follow behind me. If darkness threatens, I will become your light.”

Only after finishing did I realize what I’d just said.

Lost in the moment, I’d blurted out an embarrassingly grand speech.

But the Knights’ reaction was unexpected.

“The light!”

“Our light!”

The men looked at me with deep emotion.

It was a bit embarrassing, but perhaps this was for the best.

“Look upon this light! It will drive away all that is foul and vile!”

“Ooooh!”

The Knights erupted in cheers.

The looks they gave me grew deeper, filled with reverence.

‘Well, I suppose the show was a success.’

To them, I was no longer just a naive young master to be protected, but a leader they could trust and follow.

That was just right for now.

After surveying the crowd, I dismissed them.

As the Knights dispersed, I watched them go.

***

“Young Master—”

Aaron approached.

Behind him, Huger also showed his face.

“How are you both feeling?”

“We’re fine.”

“My life seems to be quite stubborn. Chew.”

They had taken the worst wounds in the battle.

Aaron had literally gone into the dragon’s jaws and come out again, while Huger had his abdomen torn open.

I let out a sigh of relief that they were safe.

“To think you’ve awakened Sir Vallach’s swordsmanship—I truly offer my respect.”

“It was amazing! I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”

“Ah—”

Now that they mentioned it, I had unlocked the engraving.

I’d forgotten in the chaos after waking up.

Looking down at the back of my hand, I saw a cross-shaped (+) mark engraved there.

A stigma, the mark of the stars, as they called it.

[Lone Swordsman’s Sword Star – Activated.]

Rumble!

Mana surged up from my raised hand.

“Oh my!”

Huger made a commotion.

Not just him—the Knights going about their duties also turned to look at the light.

Hmm.

It was certainly smaller in scale.

It seemed diminished compared to when I fought the dragon. Perhaps because it was now powered by divine power, not faith.

Still, it was a satisfying strength.

“Somehow, my heart feels lighter. Ever since that terrifying eye appeared, I felt suffocated, but now it feels a bit easier. Whew!”

“As expected of the Young Master!”

Aaron and Huger’s eyes shone with admiration.

“I suppose that’s enough for now.”

I quickly withdrew the power.

As expected, maintaining it consumed far more divine power than aura.

I’d have to learn the proper usage from Vallach.

And if I consumed the Dragon Heart as well, I could use the Sword Saint’s power without much trouble.

After organizing my thoughts, I asked Aaron,

“Where’s Gide?”

“I’ll show you.”

I followed Aaron to the barracks.

There, an old man lay in deep sleep.

His body was terribly thin.

He looked so still, eyes closed, he might have been dead.

“He’s alive, right?”

“Yes. He hasn’t regained consciousness yet, but his life is not in danger.”

That was a relief.

Hearing Aaron’s calm answer, I felt my heart settle.

“Even now, his body is recovering day by day.”

“I see.”

I gazed at Gide.

‘What was so great about Richard that he pushed himself to the brink?’

I still didn’t understand him.

‘Still, I’ve repaid the debt.’

If you measured it by value alone, the Fruit of the World Tree was even more precious than a Dragon Heart.

Having consumed such a treasure, he might not only recover, but even regain the body of his prime.

“By the way, where’s Adele? I haven’t seen her.”

“Well…”

Aaron hesitated over his words.

Why is everyone making me anxious today?

I pressed Aaron, who trailed off, to continue.

“I’ll show you.”

I followed after him.

The place Aaron led me was another tent.

“…What the—”

There lay Adele.

Her small, delicate body had grown so faint and translucent, it looked as if she might vanish at any moment.

“She’s been like this since the end of the battle.”

She must have pushed herself too far.

For Adele, bearing fruit in her weakened state must have been extremely difficult.

A complicated feeling welled up inside me.

She’d boasted she could save Gide, but ended up collapsing herself.

If she didn’t have enough strength, she could have just asked me for more faith.

[World Tree – Bestowing 2,000 Faith to Adelgarten]

I held Adele’s wrist and sent faith flowing into her. Her translucent body regained a bit of color.

“You did well, Adele.”

I gently patted her head a couple of times.

Judging by her condition, she wouldn’t wake up for a while.

“I truly owe Adele a great debt. By any chance, do you know what she likes?”

Aaron asked me, clearly pondering how to repay her.

“Just be kind to the Elves when you meet them next time.”

“Yes, sir!”

“The relationship between Elves and the World Tree is special. So don’t go snarling at them like last time.”

One day, the Elves will join our party as well.

I swallowed the rest of my words and changed the subject.

“By the way, what about the dragon’s corpse?”

“We’ve extracted the heart for now. The rest will be transported to Barten House with the cooperation of the Kingdom of Brute.”

I nodded.

If we tried to butcher the dragon here, it would take ages.

There’s not a single part of a dragon that goes to waste.

“No dragon meat feast, then. The Knights will be disappointed.”

“Well, it can’t be helped. Eating a Light Dragon doesn’t quite sit right, does it?”

Even as he said it, Aaron’s face showed regret.

I couldn’t help but feel the same.

“Well, nothing beats a home-cooked meal. Don’t you agree?”

“What do you mean…?”

“Let’s go home. I’ll tell the Barten House chef to prepare a real feast.”

It might not be dragon meat, but the chef at Barten House is second to none.

We’ll need a banquet to lift the spirits of the Knights, who have been through so much.