Act 23

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After retrieving my sword from the forge, ‘Dusk Flame,’ I started walking down the well-paved roads of the district to return to the mansion. 

As dusk fell and the surroundings darkened, the ‘Mana Stone Streetlamps’ lit up, brightening the area once again as if it were day. 

It was a road filled with the scent of people. 

As I walked along the road where people gathered and chattered loudly, I glanced at the two swords hanging at my waist. 

One was the simple steel sword I had always used. 

The other was a Moonstone Sword custom-made at ‘Dusk Flame.’ 

Seeing the beautiful scabbard of the Moonstone Sword, a smile involuntarily crept up on me. 

‘Now, I can easily handle most threats.’ 

The reason I had been pretending to be Julian was because I had not yet fully mastered the art of combat. 

But now that I can fully wield the <Moonlight Sword>, I have acquired about 70% of the perfection I aimed for. 

“Haha…” 

A laugh escaped my lips without me noticing. 

“Eek, eek…” 

“Cough, cough.” 

Some people passing by showed signs of fear above their heads. 

Oh dear, even if I’m in a good mood, I should restrain myself. 

For a villain with narrow eyes like me, even a subdued laugh can be threatening to others. 

‘I need to decide what to do next.’ 

The reason I chose to walk back to the mansion instead of riding a carriage was partly because I felt good after completing the <Moonlight Sword> and wanted to walk, but also because I needed to sort out what comes next. 

Pretending to be Julian is a given, but finding a way back… 

Naturally, finding a way back to my original world was one of the dilemmas I faced. 

I had become the worst villain in the game without any warning. 

Although I was familiar with the world and characters, I couldn’t settle for this reality forever. 

‘How can I return? Is seeing the game’s ending the key…?’ 

Lost in thought, I continued walking down the alleyways of the district, shortening my journey. 

As I stepped into the alley, the sound of splashing water greeted me; it seemed the rain from before hadn’t dried up due to the lack of sunlight. 

‘Then, preventing the resurrection of the Demon God is the top priority. I’ll have to confront the Dawn Society.’ 

Dawn Society (黎明). 

If Julian Crypart Frason is considered a unique villain among villains, the Dawn Society is a group that stands apart among the many organizations in the game. 

What they desire is the resurrection of the Demon God, Barbados. 

They are heretics who stop at nothing to achieve their goal. 

Moreover, they are the archenemies of the player’s avatar, 

‘Hayden Reich,’ and the murderers of Linne Londebell’s father. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call them the ‘axis of evil.’ 

Should I cooperate with Hayden Reich for now? But…

I could propose it to the Sword Saint for the greater good, but a scene from the trailer kept flashing through my mind. 

The scene where Julian cuts off the breath of Hayden Reich and Linne. 

‘What should I do… Huh?’

It was then. 

An electric signal zapped through my mind, a kind of signal sent by Julian’s body. 

The trait <Astonishing Intuition> was warning me. 

“Who’s there?” 

On a path where not a soul could be found, in a quiet alley as silent as death, only my voice echoed. 

There was no response. 

Was it just my imagination? 

But <Astonishing Intuition> doesn’t lie. 

‘I have no choice but to use mana for detection.’ 

Just as I was about to summon mana from within, 

Splash!

Someone approached me.

 *** 

Linne, who had stopped by ‘Dusk Flame’ to pick up her commissioned sword, opened her mouth upon hearing that Julian had been here just a moment ago. 

“I’m glad we didn’t run into each other.” 

“Haha… Linne really hates Lord Julian.” 

Listening to Linne’s grumbling, the blacksmith Lupina smirked wryly. 

“Of course. Such a shameless person. I don’t even want to bother with him. He didn’t cause any trouble here, did he? If he did, it would disgrace the master’s reputation…” 

“There was a bit of a commotion, but it was nothing serious.” 

Linne had been internally worried upon hearing that he had visited this place, wondering if he had caused another incident like before. 

“He didn’t threaten to kill me if I didn’t make him a sword like last time, so don’t worry too much.” 

“That’s… good to hear.” 

A year ago. 

Julian, who had challenged and lost to his master, Hayden Reich, blamed his defeat on his sword. 

He had come to ‘Dusk Flame’ demanding a sword identical to Hayden Reich’s. 

When the craftsman, Ruger Orland, refused to make an identical sword, Julian had drawn his weapon and threatened him. 

“This time, he was quite polite compared to before. He paid the fee precisely and even covered the additional costs.” 

“Really?” 

Linne asked, to which Lupina nodded. 

Linne sighed in relief, but a question arose. 

“Then, what was the commotion about…?” 

“Hm? Oh, it was nothing. Lord Julian asked to have a sword made with gems.” 

Gems? 

Linne asked, puzzled. 

“Yes, gems. He brought a lot of moonstone gems and asked to have them embedded in the center of a steel sword.” 

“Surely, he intended to use it as a decorative piece.” 

Linne, though not closely acquainted, kept track of ‘Julian’ as a fellow student under the same master. 

One thing she knew: Julian was obsessed with art pieces. 

“No, he said he would use it himself.” 

“What?” 

“Not as a decoration for his house, but as a weapon to wield.” 

“That’s ridiculous.” 

Linne dismissed Lupina’s words. 

It was understandable since ‘moonstone’ is much less durable than steel. 

If used as a sword, it would break from the center when swung.

That was basic common sense that Linne knew too.

“Swing it a few times, and it’ll quickly break from the inside.

To think of using a sword made of jewels…”

“I thought so too at first. But he asked me to make it anyway, saying he didn’t mind.”

Once again, an unexpected answer.

Linne looked on with a disheartened expression.

Lupina opened her mouth with an awkward smile.

“Want to check it out? We haven’t cleaned up the test site yet.”

“Test?”

Linne replied with a puzzled tilt of her head, and Lupina nodded.

Then, Lupina led her to the clearing of ‘Dusk flame’.

Linne turned her gaze to the center of such a clearing.

What caught her eye immediately was a stand for armoring and armor split precisely in half.

The thickness of the armor seemed to be enough to break a normal sword if swung at it.

“It was Julian who cut this armor with that jewel sword.”

Following Lupina’s explanation, Linne slowly approached and examined the armor.

To achieve such a feat with a jewel sword, which is significantly less durable than a normal sword, was astonishing.

‘No, if it’s to this extent, I might also…’

Thinking this, Linne couldn’t help but be astounded as she took a closer look at the armor.

The cleanly cut surface.

The path of the sword was so smooth it was almost freakish.

It wasn’t a strike swung with all one’s might.

Usually, the more forcefully a sword is swung, the more likely its path is to be disturbed. 

The same goes for even the most skilled swordsmen.

But this sword path showed no disturbance at all.

That means…

‘It was sliced slowly, without applying much force.’

Linne thought.

She believed she could also destroy such armor, but only in outcome, not daring to attempt the process.

‘Is that even possible?’

Her eyes dazzled.

She was aware of her shortcomings.

Though she bore the title of the sword saint’s disciple, she also knew she was far inferior to the previous disciple.

But she had not realized just how vastly far off she was.

“The cut surface is so clean.”

Hearing a familiar voice, Linne turned her head to see.

Grey hair and a gaunt face.

‘Sword Saint’ Hayden Reich.

“Master, have you received the sword you requested from Sir Ruger?”

“Yes, I have.”

The reason he came to this dusk flame forge was to pick up a sword he had custom ordered before.

Hayden pointed to the sword at his waist.

There, a simple sheath without any aesthetic sense was placed.

“Julian has been here.”

“How did you know?”

“This was cut with a moonlight sword. His aura is specialized 

entirely in cutting.”

He approached the fallen armor and started examining it carefully.

Soon, a look of inexplicable nostalgia appeared in his eyes.

“Still impressive.”

Hearing Hayden’s muttering, something began to stir in Linne’s heart. 

However, her pride wouldn’t allow her to openly express this emotion.

She could only grind her teeth and bite her lip in frustration.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Hayden saw through Linne’s true feelings in an instant.

“Just as people’s characters vary, so do their swordsmanship and aura, aiming for different goals. You can be stronger than Julian in a different way.”

“L… Yes.”

Despite Hayden’s consolation, Linne’s voice did not regain its vigor.

This was because she could not easily picture herself reaching 

such a level of mastery, even with further training.

“By the way, how was Julian on the mission?”

Hayden asked, running his hand over the armor.

A few days ago, a mission completed together with Julian.

In fact, Linne’s involvement with Julian on that mission was not a coincidence.

The joint investigation proposal and the request for Julian’s participation were all made by Hayden Reich to the royal secretariat.

The reason was simple.

To check whether Julian was part of the Dawn Society, a cult secretly plotting the resurrection of a demon lord.

Of course, Linne was not informed of this beforehand.

“I delayed asking because personal feelings might have influenced the perception at the end of the mission. You… 

you dislike Julian, don’t you?”

And intensely so, Linne felt he wanted to add.

“The demon that appeared in the slums was clearly the work of the Dawn Society.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think he looks like a member of the Dawn Society?”

“…I’m not sure yet.”

“Then, at least share your thoughts.”

Hayden spoke in a monotonous, flowing manner. His quiet voice carried a strong force.

“…He knew that demons could use humans as hosts.”

“Having killed many demons, he must have encountered various forms. It’s not strange.”

Hayden, who had been touching the armor’s cut surface, 

stood up.

“What’s next?”

“Pardon?”

“Is there nothing else?”

“…No.”

“What do you think, then? Does he seem like a member of the Dawn Society to you?”

Hayden looked at Linne with a strong will in his eyes, so sharp it seemed impossible to lie.

“Julian is…”

Linne hesitated, unable to continue her sentence. 

Memories of what happened in the slums came flooding back.

– ‘You invited neighbors for a meal, drugged them, and fed them to the ‘demon’ locked in a room.’

He was angry.

At the old woman who fed her neighbors to the demon, hoping to cure her son who had become a host for the demon.

It was the first time Linne saw a humane side of ‘Julian Crypart Frason’.

“It’s hard to judge right now.”

“And why do you think that?”

“I didn’t sense any such indication during the mission. Plus, the demon incident in the slums was the Dawn Society’s doing; if he really were a part of the Dawn Society, he wouldn’t have taken the job.”

Being critical of Julian, Linne could provide an objective evaluation.

Hayden nodded at her sharp response.

“Yes, I would prefer that too.”

Though he was a disciple who had caused a scandal, Hayden had grown fond of him to some extent. 

Not wanting to be hostile towards him, Hayden gave a bitter smile. 

*** 

*Splash*

In a dark alley, stepping on a puddle that hadn’t dried up, two figures appeared, cloaked in black robes. 

One was a burly man, whose massive frame could not be fully concealed even by a thick robe. 

The other was a person of slight stature, clearly a woman by her silhouette. 

There it was—the robe and that pairing. 

I recognized the woman, and thus, the moment they appeared, a question popped into my head. 

‘Why is the Dawn Society here?’ 

Hayden Reich, the protagonist’s archenemy. 

The epitome of evil, not even worth mentioning. 

Therefore, I placed my hand on the sword prepared at my waist. 

“Bishop, Elenoa. What brings you here?” 

I deliberately mentioned the woman’s name. 

At that, the woman in the robe flinched. 

“Oh, you know me.” 

“Of course. And why you’ve come.” 

“As expected of Sir Julian.” 

A small chuckle was heard, and then Elenoa pulled back her robe to show her face. 

“A member of the Dawn Society, Bishop Elenoa. It’s our first meeting, isn’t it?” 

A member of the Dawn Society, and a mage of the ‘Sound’ element, ranked fifth in the hierarchy, of the Baroque grade. 

Elenoa D’Michel She looked at me with a seductive smile in her eyes.

“Since you mentioned you know why I’ve come, I’d appreciate an answer now.” 

What is it? 

For a moment, I almost blurted this out, but since I had already pretended to know their intentions, I couldn’t possibly say it. 

“Well, it’s a matter I’d like to ponder over a bit more.” 

I had no choice but to maintain this stance. 

At my words, Elenoa’s purple eyes slightly wavered, seemingly a bit annoyed. 

“That’s problematic, Sir Julian. You were the one who initiated contact and made the proposal, weren’t you?” 

“That’s correct. Hence, I’d like to think it over a bit more.” 

“So, does that mean you’re considering delaying joining the Dawn Society?” 

“Yes.” 

At this moment, I couldn’t help but be surprised by my own response. 

That I could answer ‘Yes’ so calmly. 

‘Joining the Dawn Society!?’ 

While internally, I was this shocked.

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