Chapter: 161
The Magic Sword, now transformed into a dazzling dagger, continued to speak.
[I’ve seen guys get strong enough to leap over levels like that. They always defeated huge foes known as ‘trials’ to achieve such growth.]
Lost in nostalgia, the Magic Sword rambled on about the ‘heroes’ it had slain—those who, like characters in fairy tales, overcame countless trials before finally meeting their end at its hands.
Lian, only half-listening like a kid hearing a grandparent’s bedtime story, contemplated the concept of “trials.”
‘Trials… right, that exists.’
Trials, obstacles, events for awakening, and so on—various phrases all boil down to the same meaning. They are essential processes and history that heroes must undergo to grow stronger.
For Iris, Jess, and Noah—who were all born with the traits of heroes—“trials” were of utmost importance.
‘I knew about it but… I never imagined it would hold that much power.’
He felt the difference in perspective in this strange world. In a gag-filled world, consistent effort rarely gets rewarded. Most outcomes are far from what one desires.
Even when pouring half his life into mastering swordsmanship, the only result might be “ripping a (important) maiden’s clothes with a sword wind.” It was easy to see why he wasn’t familiar with the notion of ‘trials.’
Instead, he was more accustomed to the idea of, “With a never-ending, regenerating body and a Magic Sword that gets stronger as it drinks blood, I’ve gained cheat-like abilities!”
‘How do I even undergo a trial…?’
It felt like an odd concept, but with knowledge of the original story, finding an answer wasn’t too tough.
‘It needs to be a fight or conflict that doesn’t threaten your life.’
Like when Noah fought the Forest Guardian—an obstacle that could be narrowly overcome was what a trial would be.
‘For that, the most necessary thing is…’
Lian squinted, struggling to figure it out. Trials can’t be artificially created, and in this distorted situation from the original, he didn’t have much useful knowledge.
‘Ugh, how do I find Gargandoa’s trial?’
[It’s simple. Just find strong enemies to seek them out!]
‘What if I can’t leave this place?’
[Hmm? Weren’t you planning to leave?]
The Magic Sword, perhaps thinking Lian was searching for trials for himself, asked with a curious tone.
‘No, I want Iris, Noah, or Jess to get stronger!’
[Ah, I see. Humans do have a natural instinct to protect their own kind.]
After a moment of contemplation, the Magic Sword said something unexpected.
[At least as long as you’re here, it seems they’ll have a tough time facing trials.]
‘What?!’
[When you were at the laboratory with that spirit, and even in the human city named Cardishian, any incidents that could serve as trials were all settled at your level, right? As long as I, the strongest, Gargandoa, am with you, the very concept of a trial can’t come to fruition.]
His words dripped with arrogance, but they weren’t incorrect. Lian fell deep into serious thought.
‘Certainly… I’ve always resolved life-threatening situations with Gargandoa and myself.’
Every time a real ‘crisis’ arose, Lian had swooped in to fix it—a reason why he hadn’t grasped the importance of the ‘trials.’
‘Could it be that I’ve taken away their chance to grow stronger because of me?’
It might have been an over-exaggeration, but there was some merit to it. If he had merely understood the fact of trials conceptually, he wouldn’t be pondering so deeply.
Boom, crash!
Watching the tangible results of strength gained through ‘trials’ unfold right before his eyes intensified his complicated feelings. Realizing that his attempts to protect them could inadvertently clip their wings, preventing them from flying out of their nest, solidified Lian’s wavering feelings.
‘…We need to leave as soon as possible.’
He had planned to leave from the beginning, but the hands of those around him clinging desperately made it hard to maintain his resolve.
With the Magic Sword capable of wiping out monsters, maybe he could just catch the Demon King himself? The story had warped so much beyond recognition, maybe he could fit into the role of the hero?
If he did that, he could protect his precious people from close by rather than worry from afar. Yet, he found it easy to backtrack, all thanks to the gag filter.
Infinitely merciful towards allies but terrifyingly powerful against enemies, the ‘gag filter’ was one of the culprits that dismantled the original narrative. That meant it could just as easily ruin any planned happiness.
The moment someone from the Duke’s House began to see Lian as an ‘enemy,’ there could be significant fallout thanks to the gag filter. Sure, that would just mean the enemies would get caught in the crossfire, but the issue wouldn’t be that simple.
Once someone recognized Lian as an ‘enemy,’ the gag filter would kick in, meaning they could be swept up in it without ever committing any wrongdoing. Naturally, since nothing wrong had occurred, the Duke would likely ally with the ‘enemy’ to protect his own.
Perhaps even if they did commit a crime, the fact that they belonged to his household might lead them to oppose Lian. Of course, considering the Duke’s nature, it seemed he would cut down anyone who had genuinely sinned, but there was no assurance that everyone in the Duke’s House would act the same way.
If the entire Duke’s House were deemed an ‘enemy,’ it would be no different from a disaster. Lian vaguely recalled the ruined state of Cardishian. If Iris’s family ended up like that—just imagining it was nauseating.
While he wanted to leave the Duke’s House as quickly as possible for Iris’s happiness and the peace of the Duke’s House, he wavered at the sight of Iris clinging to him, crying. Moreover, as he became friendly with the Duke’s people, the lazy thought crept in: “Maybe it’ll be fine since there’s no one hostile.”
Whoosh!
The wavering heart was torn to shreds by the tip of Noah’s sword.
‘…When we reach the Duke’s House, I need to prepare to leave immediately.’
Resolving himself, he sensed a familiar presence approaching. It was the Ranger Corps. Quietly suppressing his presence, Lian left the Duke and Noah behind. By the time he arrived at the campsite, the Duke’s sword began to shine with an exceptional light.
“…!”
A chilling and sharp attack struck Noah’s sword, like a cold full moon rising over snowy mountains. It was a straightforward yet rapid downward slash that shouldn’t have been impossible to dodge.
‘Why…?!’
Though it should have been an avoidable attack, Noah stood frozen. Was it the malice? No, it was different. Even knowing it was coming, she couldn’t dodge it—leading her sword to be buried into the ground.
Boom!
With a harsh noise, the ground caved in. At the center of the hole, Noah’s sword was stuck in the ground at an angle like a sealed blade. Noah gazed up at the Duke with eyes brimming with pride, excitement, and anger born from confusion.
The Duke, exuding an exquisite beauty like the legendary flower that blooms at the peak of snowy mountains, looked down at Noah without even breaking a breath. Noah’s gaze focused on the sword in the Duke’s hand.
“What… is that?”
Like the auroras that stretched across the winter night sky, the elegant and beautiful light sparkled along the blade. It looked like a power entirely different from the delicate mastery of magic energy.
“That is the path you must take, your goal.”
A wall beyond the wall.
Even with her haughty demeanor, Noah had seamlessly crossed a massive wall, yet a greater one loomed ahead. This meant there was indeed a way to become even stronger.
‘I must get stronger.’
Whether it was from moving so fiercely or the swelling excitement that she could grow stronger, the breath escaping Noah’s lips came out ragged. Exhaling a white breath, Noah asked,
“How can I… reach your realm, Duke?”
Talent, effort, patience. The smugness that only a genius equipped with everything necessary for growth could voice brought a gentle smile to the Duke’s face. He welcomed the swordswoman who followed him.
“This is not something to be trained in the body, but rather this.”
The Duke pointed to his head with his index finger.
“Head… are you referring to the mind?”
Nodding, the Duke continued.
“Magic energy is a part of nature and a product of will. Only a powerful will and conviction will hold the key to your next step.”
At that moment, as Noah pondered the advice that could only be shared with those who had advanced far, the Duke’s words pulled her back to reality.
“The most important thing to keep in mind now is that reckless training can be poison.”
“Excuse me?”
“The wall you’re attempting to surmount is the first obstacle to transcend humanity and the soul. Just trying to cross that wall alone could spell your doom.”
The Duke spoke with a bitter expression.
“I’ve seen countless individuals who strove for higher realms only to have their wings clipped. Since then, I’ve held back on giving such advice, but… those who possess someone precious to them tend not to die easily, so I’ll share this with you.”
Gazing at Noah, who had stiffened with wide eyes, like a fool, the Duke continued.
“Overcoming that wall requires not artificial training but rather time and experience, and the courage to face your own desires. So don’t rush and do your best.”
With that, the Duke sheathed his sword and turned toward the campsite. The noise was beginning to rise as he sensed the approach of knights.
Not long after the Duke left, a shadow descended rapidly before the still-distracted Noah.
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