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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 234: I've been wanting to meet you.
Heave-ho.
The moment I heard that spirited shout, a wave of embarrassment surged over me—but at the same time, an intense curiosity began to rise.
Could it be… did they shout like that on purpose to draw attention?
Almost like it had been arranged beforehand, the members of the Crazy Mage Squad and Baltahar’s swordsmen all stopped moving at once and looked upward.
I found myself looking up as well, almost as if under a spell.
Wow...
Only now did I start to understand the kind of training the Elders had gone through.
The mana stones flew in a massive arc, soaring far into the distance like they'd been hurled after endless practice.
The shout had sounded ridiculous, but the outcome was anything but.
Far ahead, the five mana stones struck the epicenter of the giants' stomping in perfect unison.
At the moment the lights flared, an immense shockwave exploded outward.
Boom boom boom boom boom!
"Tch."
I raised my arm to block the gust of wind that swept my hair into disarray and stared ahead.
A fan-shaped shockwave spread out along with a blazing pillar of fire.
It was the form of Fire Explosion, but its power was easily dozens of times greater.
“…”
As soon as I realized the rumbling of the giants' footsteps had faded, I dashed forward.
Squelch.
The moment I stepped onto the dark, sticky ground, the landscape completely changed.
Even the density of the air was different.
Heat ripples flickered like mist, already swallowing the aftershock from the mana stones.
I raised my right hand and waved it side to side in front of me.
Shhhhh.
Though a cold wave was blowing, every movement of my hand stirred up heavy, sweltering waves, like standing inside a molten furnace.
Black matter seeped into the footprints left by the giants, naturally erasing them as it spread.
When I lifted my head, a towering black mountain range stretched endlessly beyond the horizon.
From its peak, scorching flames were flowing downward.
The Land of Death.
I remembered. That vast, layered mountain range had only marked the beginning of a hellish expedition.
"A dangerous place, isn’t it."
At the sudden voice, I turned my head.
The Heavenly Swordmaster stood with arms crossed, looking at me.
"Most of this place is distorted terrain. Especially here, the very core. You never know when or how the giants might appear. Having too many people around only gets in the way. Because of your connection to the First Prince, I’ll overlook what just happened. Now go back."
I asked without hesitation.
"How long has it been like this?"
"Seems you didn’t understand what I said."
I bent down and picked a large black flower blooming on the thick, viscous ground.
Taking a step forward, I held the Demon Flower in front of the Heavenly Swordmaster’s eyes.
"I asked you. How long has it been like this?"
This doesn’t make sense.
This spot is only the entrance to the Land of Death at best.
There’s no way there should be enough Demonic Energy here for a Demon Flower to bloom.
Yet the pressure bearing down on my skin—this level of demonic energy had only appeared after we were well past the midpoint of the final expedition.
I immediately looked up toward the distant sky.
Beyond the peak of the black mountain range, the encroaching darkness was gradually swallowing the heavens.
That was when the Heavenly Swordmaster’s gaze turned heavy, as if he understood something.
“You're aware of the danger. Go back.”
“I need to check further inside.”
“Even the vassal clans weren't granted permission for that. Reinforcements from the main clan are on the way, so there’s nothing to worry about. Return and wait—you’ll be assigned to another base. For someone of Samael’s caliber, handling an outer base should be more than sufficient.”
Just then, the Elders approached from behind.
“To think I would meet the famed Heavenly Swordmaster of the divine clan. Truly an honor. I am Norman, Elder of Samael.”
The Heavenly Swordmaster turned his head toward Norman and gave a brief nod.
“Your divine power left a strong impression. You must’ve heard what I just said. Take him back.”
“Hahaha, I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
The Heavenly Swordmaster’s eyes narrowed sharply, but Elder Norman showed no sign of unease.
“Our Ruin does what he sets his mind to. It’s not for another clan to interfere.”
“This is as far as words will take us.”
“Haha… seems neither side intends to back down, then.”
Suddenly, the Elders, including Norman, opened their palms—mana stones were embedded between each of their knuckles.
“Shall we settle this with a duel?”
The Heavenly Swordmaster muttered quietly.
“Subdue them.”
The atmosphere turned hostile in an instant.
The regular swordsmen began advancing toward the Crazy Mage Squad and the Elders.
The Heavenly Swordmaster reached for the hilt of his sword at his waist.
But at that moment, a sudden surge of energy from behind made me turn my head.
Almost simultaneously, the swordsmen's eyes grew tense.
“…No way.”
Flash—!
The swordsmen moved past us, heading toward the barrier.
I followed behind with the Crazy Mage Squad and the Elders.
Someone was entering through the barrier.
In stark contrast to the Baltahar swordsman, who carried only a single sword and wore a plain robe, a heavily armored giant appeared, with an inverted-triangle-shaped shield strapped across his back.
There were five of them.
Just their presence alone altered the entire atmosphere of the area.
If the Baltahar swordsman’s energy was like a sharp blade raised toward the world, the aura of these giants felt like a towering mountain, capable of bearing the weight of the world itself.
Arihama.
They were knights of Arihama, the guardian clan.
Standing just a few steps away, the knights of Baltahar and Arihama now faced each other.
A strange tension began to rise.
For the first time, the Heavenly Swordmaster’s expression turned serious.
“What brings guardian knights here?”
Among the five knights, the one carrying the especially massive shield responded.
“We came to protect.”
“Have you forgotten? Today isn’t Arihama’s rotation.”
“I’m aware.”
The Heavenly Swordmaster’s expression darkened for a moment, but the guardian knight remained still.
“If you know, then return.”
“We were ordered to be here.”
The Heavenly Swordmaster’s gaze narrowed.
“I haven’t heard any word that the Northern Legion Commander issued a different order.”
“The command came from the main clan.”
The guardian knight let out a quiet sigh.
“We have no business with you, Heavenly Swordmaster. We will fulfill our duties, and your swordsmen should do the same.”
“So, what you’re saying is…”
The moment the Heavenly Swordmaster’s left hand moved toward the hilt at his waist, the air grew oppressively heavy.
At the same time, a razor-sharp aura surged from the ten swordsmen standing behind him.
“You’re suggesting we share the same space. Do you really think that makes sense?”
“……”
“You haven’t forgotten what happened, have you?”
“We regret the incident.”
“Incident? You throw words around so easily.”
“Easily? Then…”
In an instant, the guardian knight’s expression darkened.
“Are you saying Arihama did it on purpose?”
“The dead don’t speak. Leave.”
“I told you—it was a command from the main clan.”
“I’ll give you the same answer. Baltahar does not permit it.”
The tension was moments away from igniting into an all-out clash.
Watching from a few steps away, Zion muttered to himself.
“They’re even more at odds than I expected.”
Unexpectedly, Elder Norman’s eyes took on a nostalgic gleam.
“Young blood. A good fight is how bonds are formed.”
I shook my head.
“I don’t see that happening.”
The source of this suffocating tension—
It must be the incident Black mentioned.
The traces of a guardian knight found on the Heavenly Swordmaster’s corpse after a battle with the giants.
That knight had taken his own life, leaving the case unresolved.
It was the work of the Myriad Demon Assembly.
Arihama? Baltahar? Perhaps the Assembly had already seeped into both.
The timing was too perfect.
Just as the miasma of demonic energy had begun to thicken, now came an internal dispute.
The Heavenly Swordmaster and the guardian knights were both the pride of their respective divine clans—this kind of friction could ignite into something far worse.
“…As I said, we have no intention of causing disorder.”
“That’s good to hear. Then leave.”
“The command came from the main clan. Baltahar will not come to harm.”
Once again, the guardian knight lowered his voice, but the Heavenly Swordmaster showed no sign of backing down.
“There’s no way to be sure. Arihama may have ulterior motives.”
“Are you truly going to force this, Heavenly Swordmaster? Will you draw your blade?”
“If you refuse to leave, I just might.”
A situation on the verge of explosion.
For a moment, I considered my next move.
The Heavenly Swordmaster and the guardian knights—
They were nothing like the elite forces of the vassal clans.
Empty threats wouldn’t work on them, nor would shallow rhetoric.
I would ultimately have to subdue both of them by force if I stepped in, but I was reluctant to do so.
The tension, which had been on the verge of exploding, was unexpectedly broken by something entirely unforeseen.
"……!"
A chilling sensation, as if something were piercing through my skin, made me instinctively turn my head.
It was the first time I had ever felt my entire nervous system stand on end like this.
The barrier of light, Ragnarok.
An overwhelming presence was emanating from beyond it.
Everyone within the area instantly stopped their confrontations and turned toward the outside of the barrier.
"No way."
The Guardian Knight let out a low murmur and stepped back. The Swordmaster and the swordsmen rushed forward, forming a line at the very front of the barrier, raising their sheathed swords to chest level.
"Commander, this is…."
The members of the Crazy Mage Squad and the elders felt it too.
Zion had completely dropped his usual playful demeanor and was staring at me.
Makan, who had instinctively grabbed his spear, was staring beyond the barrier with a face filled with tension for the first time.
"Commander, this seems…"
Without answering, I slowly stepped toward the barrier.
The moment I passed through Ragnarok, the scene outside became clear.
Renowned mercenaries, knights, and mages—all without exception—had parted to the sides, frozen in place as if time had stopped, staring at one point.
In the space that had split like a receding tide, far in the distance, a small group of figures was slowly walking toward us.
* * *
"Darklight?"
"…Isn't that the Darklight of Samael?"
"I heard Bellusia was overthrown."
Low whispers filled the air, but I didn't pay them any attention.
My gaze remained fixed forward.
The figures that had first appeared as mere dots were gradually approaching.
At most, there were ten men.
They wore long, pristine white robes that nearly brushed against the ground, with sword sheaths at their waists.
That was all.
No weapons, no familiars, no magical artifacts of any kind. They approached in the simplest of attire.
Yet, their presence alone felt like it could engulf the entire world.
Of course, I already knew who they were.
Gulp.
Someone swallowed hard, and an oppressive silence settled, making it difficult even to breathe properly.
The sharp, chilling pressure felt as if one could be cut by it.
I was the only one standing directly in their path.
"……."
The man at the forefront looked at me.
His white robe bore the character for "Ten Thousand" on his chest.
Our eyes met, but he made no gesture. He simply pressed down on me with his overwhelming presence.
Yet, when I did not step aside even as he closed the distance,
Step.
Only then did he finally stop walking and look at me with a hint of curiosity.
"……."
Just as he seemed about to make some kind of gesture, he suddenly halted and took a step to the right.
One by one, the other swordsmen also stepped to the right, revealing a small, white-haired man standing in the back row.
Among the ten swordsmen, he was dressed the most plainly.
A white robe without any markings. A wooden scabbard, equally devoid of any insignia.
He drew an iron sword, the kind one might find in a marketplace, and swung it vertically toward the sky.
"……!"
A simple vertical slash.
Yet, I immediately turned my head to look behind me, toward the sky.
The Land of Death.
The darkness pressing against the barrier split apart, following the trajectory of his sword, cleaving all the way past the horizon.
"……."
Step.
I slowly began to approach the small, white-haired man.
Just before the swordsman bearing the "Ten Thousand" character could move to block me,
The man spoke first, faster than anyone else.
"Let him through."
Without hesitation, the other swordsmen stepped aside.
Now, only a single step separated us.
The small, white-haired man looked at me.
For some reason, his gaze suggested that he already knew who I was.
"You are the direct heir of Samael."
"……That’s right."
At that moment, the swordsmen who had stepped aside emanated a suffocating pressure, as if slicing through my entire body.
Before I knew it, the Crazy Mage Squad had gathered behind me, unleashing their own energy in response.
The white-haired man’s lips curled ever so slightly.
Tension crackled, making every nerve in my body stand on end.
Locking eyes with him, I spoke.
"I’ve been wanting to meet you."
"……."
"Sword Duke."
The origin of Supreme Swordsmanship, the Baltahar Clan.
The current head of the divine clan of the sword.
Sword Duke, Julius Baltahar.
He stood before me.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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