Surprisingly, until now, I’ve been continuously ignored by my master.
The power of the Divine Sword was beyond imagination. After all, why would it be called a Divine Sword? It was a sacred artifact prepared by ancient prophets for the impending danger.
A sword with its own will can’t possibly be ordinary. Yet, the Divine Sword had kept silent until now. Because its master hadn’t sought it out.
Tools shouldn’t move on their own. And besides, I wondered just how far this arrogant master could go without me. That thought lingered in the background. But then, an enemy appeared.
To the Divine Sword, it was a significant threat. Of course. It was a confrontation with the Royal Knights. In fact, starting from the Blood Demon, this was a formidable threat that could only be countered by a nation-level force.
Thus, the Divine Sword unconsciously unleashed its power. It merely liberated its strength. And successfully inflicted damage on the Blood Demon.
On the other hand, the guardian of the mud was astonished. He had clearly split his heart into pieces. In other words, as long as one of the seven hearts remained intact, he wouldn’t die. This had been a constant truth until now.
However, suddenly, a flash of light burst forth from the sword and enveloped him. When he regained his senses, he noticed that seven of his hearts were burning. What the hell was going on? The guardian panicked.
[What have you done?!]
It was like a dog barking. A dog trembling with fear before a much larger and more terrifying presence, barking in alarm. And that opponent, Hans, was currently thinking.
‘What the hell? What’s going on?’
I can assure you, the one who was most startled in this situation was probably Hans. The Divine Sword he was reluctantly carrying suddenly burst into light, and the Blood Demon in front of him looked like it was about to die?
But I can’t control that power? A chill ran down Hans’s spine. The threat level of the Divine Sword slightly increased in his mind. However, Hans quickly corrected his thoughts.
Up until now, Hans had faced countless crises. Each time, he managed to push through somehow. And now, he wanted to turn this into another opportunity. Hans smirked and opened his mouth.
“Why so scared? Has the illustrious Blood Demon already shat itself?”
[What the hell have you done?! How did all my hearts……!!]
‘All my hearts? Could it be that all of them are hurt?’
[Commander! The hearts are being destroyed! What is going on?!]
[My hearts are being destroyed too!]
In a brief moment, Hans processed all the information in his head and easily came to a conclusion. The light from just now had damaged the guardian’s hearts. In other words, just by standing still, it would die.
This could end up being easier than expected. Then, it was time to solidify this victory. Hans intentionally turned on the communicator. Then he shouted so that his voice could be heard.
“Still not getting it? Your mistake was trying to go against me, no… us!!”
[W-What?!]
“We march forward, bearing the lives of friends, comrades, and even family, for a better future.”
[…….]
“A trash like you, buried in your fortress, could never hope to be our match!!”
He used to think while watching television. Why do enemies always listen to the protagonist’s lines one by one? The answer is simple. Because there’s power in the voice.
Even nonsense becomes indelible when it hits the ears. Especially when it’s coming from someone seated in the position of commander of the Royal Knights, the weight carries a different dimension. So Hans unleashed his words.
This had two reasons. One was to buy time. After all, once time passed, all seven hearts would be destroyed, leading to death. There was no need to fight hard at that point.
And the second reason was to build an image. Words surprisingly hold enormous power. Each word sticks in a person’s memory, and when accumulated, it shapes a person’s impression.
‘I need to show myself as confidently and sincerely as possible.’
Only then would the Royal Knights truly believe and follow him. Yet, Hans overlooked one thing. The power of words also applies to enemies, not just allies.
[……I see, so that’s how it was.]
“Huh?”
[For a hundred years, I have protected this place. Believing that it was the path of loyalty. But…… thanks to that, I became complacent and forgot about the pride of battle.]
“W-What?”
Naturally, Hans was the first to notice the strange shift in atmosphere. The one who had been barking like a second-rate villain suddenly started speaking seriously, lowering his voice. There was no way he wouldn’t notice that.
What should I do? Should I attack now? But asking the Divine Sword for strength again feels a bit much. Besides, wouldn’t I win just by delaying time anyway?
However, those thoughts changed shortly after. Suddenly, with a sound of something breaking down, pieces flying from somewhere entered his body. Hans was startled.
‘What the hell was that?’
“From this moment, I will face you as a warrior.”
“What? A warrior?”
“Yes, not as your typical mud guardian…… but as a true guardian……!!”
Numerous pieces merged into one. From the flesh that had expanded like a balloon, it ultimately appeared. A knight clad in black armor. Upon seeing that, Hans clicked his tongue.
Was it just an illusion, or did he hear the ominous soundtrack of a dark soul? Hans hurriedly looked around. Every possible entrance to the courtyard was blocked by red flesh. Oh dear, what the hell, ahh.
“Now that my fractured pride is united, I have only one heart.”
“……..”
“To the warrior, pride. And a glorious death.”
“Damn it, really.”
In circumstances where one knows nothing, this might seem ridiculous. But with a nobleman clad in armor and wielding swords in both hands, it was genuine terror for Hans. Wait, let’s talk it out!
However, before Hans could say anything, time stopped. This familiar sensation. The colors around him were stripped away, turning gray. In a world where everything came to a halt, only he could move.
Only then could Hans see the two swords of the guardian approaching his neck. What the hell, if it weren’t for time stop, I would’ve been dead. Quickly retreating, Hans released the time stop.
[Commander?! What’s happening! Commander!!!]
[The heart is completely gone! But the ceiling……!!]
[We can’t get to that place!!!]
“Don’t panic.”
He was struggling to concentrate at a crucial moment, and his focus was broken. Hans unintentionally responded with a cold voice. However, that resonated with the team in a different way.
Yuren lifted her head. The completely collapsed ceiling and rotting flesh were visible. It indicated that the outside influence was waning. In other words, this was both a crisis and an opportunity.
Restoring her calm with the commander’s words, Yuren yelled with all her might. The roar of a dragon shook the fortress in an instant. Hearing that roar, the team began to gather quickly.
“Yuren! The commander is in danger!!”
“Is there no method?!”
“Calm down. I’ll think of a plan from now on.”
“If teacher is threatened, then I……!!!”
“Could that possibly happen? He is our commander.”
It’s understandable to be worried. No matter how strong someone is, when a precious person is in danger, in the end, one can’t help but worry. But to Cluna, Hans was more than just that.
To the extent that worrying felt like a disservice. He had always been the one leading us in front. How could a mere human living such a short life become that strong? What could be the reason?
She couldn’t guess at all, but now, the results he had shown made it impossible not to believe. Moreover, hadn’t he boldly declared to the monsters earlier? The reason we fight.
[Still not getting it? Your mistake was trying to go against me, no… us!!]
[We march forward for a better future, carrying the lives of friends, comrades, and even family.]
[A trash like you, buried in your fortress, could never hope to be our match!!]
No matter how skilled the commander may be, mostly there are sacrifices on the battlefield. And there will be many who mourn those sacrifices. However, we still move forward. We have no choice but to move forward.
Ultimately, for the peace where no one has to die. For a future where even that sorrow is forgotten. But the commander chose to face that sacrifice, not forgetting it.
In her heart, Cluna wished to break through the barrier somehow. However, having heard those words from the commander, how could she insist on her own stubbornness? Cluna wiped the smile off her face and said.
“Everything is as the commander wishes.”
The commander’s wish was to support the forces fighting outside and lead this battle to victory. The guardian of the mud would surely be dealt with by the commander directly. At least, she thought so.
‘Save me, damn it!!!’
It seems his inner cries weren’t heard at all.
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