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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 34
1.
He wants me to kill him?
The unexpected request made me stare at Verdin for a moment.
He was soaked in blood—yet not a single wound on him.
Every drop came from those he'd cut down.
His face wore the grief of loss, but his eyes? They were calm. Clear. As if he'd reached some realization.
I focused, reading the lingering mana in his heart. A few moments passed before I understood his thoughts.
‘Guilt…’
He was carrying guilt over the princess he failed to protect.
And beyond that, the unbearable shame of having broken his knightly oath.
< I shall never yield to fear. I shall lay down my life for my sovereign’s command. >
It was that one vow—spoken from the heart—that Verdin now sought to uphold in death.
‘This is a full-blown neurosis…’
I was floored. This man, who had shaken off my mind control spell, was still bound by a promise to a dead kingdom.
Even Equinox chimed in, echoing my disbelief.
[Honor is often like that. Upholding intangible promises.]
[But what’s the point of promises that don’t exist anymore?]
[For self-satisfaction. That’s often enough for humans. Especially those with short lives.]
Satisfaction, huh?
Maybe that’s why I turned back time too—to fulfill a promise of my own.
In that light, I could understand Verdin now. He wasn’t suicidal for despair’s sake. He found ‘meaning’ in dying for the words he’d once sworn.
Just as I came back to learn necromancy and keep my master’s promise.
[To mind control someone with a conviction this strong is no small feat. You did well, master.]
[I learned how to manipulate desire—that’s all.]
But this was where that technique hit its limit.
Verdin's desire was now laid bare. Twisting him further was out of the question.
As I mulled this over, Verdin spoke again.
“I’m ready. Please… end my life.”
He approached steadily, dropped to one knee, and offered me his sword with both hands.
‘What now?’
I took the sword. It was flawless, unblemished—even after wiping out an entire bandit camp.
The edge gleamed silver in the moonlight. One swing would be enough to end it.
[My lord. Grant me the honor.]
It was William.
He looked straight at me, then added.
[Let me give him a death worthy of a knight.]
‘A fitting death, huh…’
For a knight, there was no better end than dying in battle.
Especially to a stronger opponent—that wasn’t a shameful end. It was a release.
‘Alright then. Let’s do it that way.’
I turned to Verdin.
“You’re a knight, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then die like one.”
He looked up, surprised. A flicker of something crossed his eyes—hope, maybe—but he hadn’t fully caught my meaning yet.
I met his gaze and spoke clearly.
“If you’re going to die, do it with honor.”
“Honor, you say…”
“If you fall to someone strong enough to end you—I’ll remember your death.”
Verdin’s eyes wavered.
I could feel it—his thoughts focused in one direction.
- Someone strong enough to kill me?
He’d never met such a person. Not since leaving the Altera Kingdom.
- It couldn’t be…
As if sensing something ominous, Verdin turned his head.
His gaze landed directly on his opponent.
William.
William picked up a steel sword that had been casually left near the camp. He swung it a few times before signaling to Verdin.
Though brief, Verdin sensed that the seemingly casual swings were anything but ordinary.
It reminded him of the feeling he had when his first swordsmanship teacher demonstrated techniques.
Verdin stood up, and I handed him a sword, which he received respectfully with both hands.
"Fight with all your might. That way, you won't have any regrets."
"I will."
Verdin adjusted his grip on the sword and began to approach William, but then turned to me.
"May I know your name? I will remember it even in the afterlife."
An interesting fellow.
He seems to believe in a world beyond death. I considered making a retort but decided to tell him my real name.
"I am Damian."
"Priest Damian of the Holy Nation of Calios. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
Verdin bowed deeply and then turned his gaze back to William.
William held his sword in one hand, looking at Verdin.
The tension between them began to build.
I sat on a log by the campfire, watching their duel.
'Who will win?'
William had previously slain an Earth Dragon. However, he had the assistance of a magic sword at that time, so it's uncertain how effective he would be now.
On the other hand, Verdin had just killed over a hundred bandits alone. His sword was sharp but not as powerful as a magic sword. This meant he had defeated those bandits purely with his swordsmanship. I couldn't determine who was stronger.
At that moment, Nocturne spoke up.
- My vote is for William.
Equinox chimed in.
[William will win. He won't even need to use his immunity to death.]
I didn't express any opinion. It wasn't a bet, after all. I simply watched their duel calmly.
However, even after a while, neither of them moved. They maintained their stances, watching each other.
- They're looking for an opening. It might be hard to find. Both have surpassed that level.
[What level?]
- A level where openings can't be seen with the eyes.
Nocturne's words seemed credible. They slowly circled each other without making any hasty moves. Then, William closed his eyes, and Verdin did the same. Equinox's voice of admiration followed.
[An intriguing duel. It's rare to see swordsmen of this caliber engage in a life-and-death battle.]
[Do you still think William will win?]
[My opinion hasn't changed. From my perspective, there's an insurmountable wall between William and Verdin.]
Is that so?
Absentmindedly, I reached into the pouch beside me. Inside was some well-dried jerky. It was in perfect condition for eating. I chewed on it while watching their duel.
William and Verdin circled each other with their eyes closed.
When the fire crackled, Verdin moved first. He advanced like the wind and struck, but William stepped back, avoiding the attack.
The exchange didn't end there.
Seeing an opening, Verdin swung his sword again at William. William nearly lay down to evade the strike and then closed in on Verdin's chest, pushing him lightly with his hand.
That move was decisive, clearly showing the difference in their skills.
'Ah.'
Nocturne and Equinox's predictions were correct.
Verdin was skilled, but he couldn't match William. The gap between them was significant.
Verdin seemed to realize this as well; his expression changed. Previously, it felt like he was testing his opponent, but now he seemed ready to challenge seriously. A strong determination emanated from him.
- He's an opponent I want to defeat. I must win.
Verdin's stance changed.
He held his sword back and stepped forward.
William maintained his relaxed posture. Seeing this, Verdin spoke.
"You've achieved a remarkable level at such a young age."
"What you see isn't everything."
After speaking, William moved like lightning and swung his sword.
It was so fast that Verdin couldn't avoid it.
Clang—
A sharp metallic clang rang through the mountains.
William didn’t stop.
He continued pressing Verdin with relentless strikes from his steel sword.
Verdin tried to find an opening, but it wasn’t easy. Every time he shifted to evade, William followed instantly. Though Verdin managed to block a few strikes, even that was becoming difficult.
In the end, a powerful blow from William knocked the sword from Verdin’s grasp.
Clang—
The blade flew far and landed at a distance.
Verdin clutched one wrist and waited for death.
William spoke to him.
“Have you ever considered learning from me?”
It was an unexpected offer. Verdin gave a bitter smile and replied.
“My oath is too heavy for that.”
William glanced briefly at me, then looked back at Verdin and said.
“If you fulfill your vow, would you consider it then?”
He looked young, but his voice carried weight and gravity—there was nothing boyish about it.
Even Verdin seemed to feel the dissonance and answered him without resistance.
“I’ve made two vows. First, to complete my mission. Second, if I fail, to take responsibility with my life. Even if I die to keep my oath, the mission won’t be complete. So… I likely won’t live long enough to accept your offer.”
William gave a slight smile, then asked again.
“If that chance ever comes, would you take it?”
To Verdin, it was a puzzling question—one not easily understood.
But he accepted it. He seemed to think it was the proper thing to do.
He bowed his head respectfully toward William and replied.
“If such a chance were to come… I would gladly receive your instruction.”
“Can you swear to that?”
“…I swear.”
As soon as those words were spoken, William moved like the wind.
It looked like he’d taken just one step forward—but in that single step, he had closed the distance entirely.
The tip of his steel sword pierced Verdin’s heart.
Thud—
Verdin closed his eyes, enduring the pain.
At the same time, I retrieved my core mana that had been embedded in his heart.
William spoke softly to the dying Verdin.
“You must keep that vow you just made.”
With that, William withdrew the sword.
Verdin collapsed.
And just like that—Verdin died.
I rose from my seat and walked over.
William gave me a respectful nod, and I looked down at Verdin.
After a moment, his spirit began to faintly manifest—an ethereal form, blinking as he opened his eyes in the world beyond.
He looked around, dazed.
That’s when Nocturne’s voice echoed.
- Why not raise him again with necromancy?
I’d considered it—but not yet.
[Later. This one still needs time.]
Listening to his conversation with William, I understood.
Verdin still had things left undone in his life—things he needed to resolve.
His soul was too unstable, too disoriented.
If I resurrected him now through necromancy, his mind wouldn’t survive it.
So I gently lifted his body and laid it on the bed inside his tent.
Just then, something sprouted from the ground.
Beeep—
A small Earth Dragon with eyes as big as marbles popped its head up and scanned its surroundings.
It was Geo—the baby Earth Dragon who had been tunneling underground, trailing after me all this time.
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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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