Act 90

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The Holy Nation of Fernand.

There are several reasons why I came here, but the most important one, the one to satisfy my own desires, is indeed present. Haha, it’s something you absolutely can’t find anywhere else.

“Each one is well-maintained, so you will be satisfied.”

Are you asking if it’s a weapon? Huh. I already have the Moonlight Sword. Nor is it armor. The aura wrapped around ‘Julian’ blocks most attacks like armor would.

What I am here to buy is… orchids.

Some might say it’s just ‘orchids,’ but that’s ignorant talk.

The orchids that exist in the Empire and those in the Holy Nation are clearly different forms.

If I had to compare, the orchids from the Empire are like Eastern orchids, while those grown in the Holy Nation are like Western orchids. Although that classification is incorrect, it’s an easy way to put it.

As I examined the pots prepared by the florist, I cautiously asked him,

“May I touch them with my hands?”

“Oh, of course, you can!”

Once the owner gave permission, I started to feel the orchids with my hands.

“Not bad at all.”

I felt a rather ticklish texture as I brushed my hands over the orchids, and a satisfied smile formed on my face.

“I would like to buy these two.”

“You’ve chosen the Lingia orchid and the Pravincia. You have great taste. These are very rare orchids that only grow in the Holy Nation.”

I smiled through the florist’s flattering words and proceeded with the payment.

It was uncertain if the Empire’s currency ‘Nar’ would be accepted here, but the owner readily accepted it. Though I did pay a bit more.

“Really, coming to the market to buy orchids…”

Linne, who accompanied me, clicked her tongue as if she couldn’t understand me.

“Why don’t you take some personal time in a foreign country instead of following me around, Miss Linne?”

She shook her head adamantly, her expression sullen, as if she didn’t need it.

“A wielder of the sword, or rather, a manipulator of mana, needs to be honest about their desires, Miss Linne.”

“What does desire have to do with mana?”

“Because mana greatly responds to the desires of its user.”

Linne gave a look that said, ‘What are you talking about,’ then shrugged her shoulders and turned her head towards the pots.

“Can these be taken back to the Empire? It seems like only one can hang on the saddle given their size.”

“Hmm…?”

Her comment was unexpected. Linne’s words made me take another look at the pots.

I hadn’t even thought about that when buying them.

“That’s problematic. I liked these two.”

Should I buy something smaller?

Pretending to ponder, I looked at Linne.

“It can’t be helped. One can hang on my horse.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, since you also corrected my riding technique.”

“No. I’m asking if with that skill you can really carry anything on the saddle.”

Linne looked at me with half-closed eyes, smiling.

“It’s a joke, Miss Linne. Thank you for your consideration.”

Creak, creak!

Just then, an unsettling metallic noise rang out in the bustling market.

Linne flinched and turned her head toward the sound, but I had known from afar.

‘That’ was coming.

Clatter. Clatter.

Behind the cart pulled by horses, there was a huge iron cage, and inside it,

“A demon?”

Yes. Inside that iron cage, the demon was drooling, looking around restlessly.

“It seems to be a beast-type demon. Seeing that it has no horns,

it appears to lack even a speck of intelligence.”

“You can tell by looking. That’s not the point of what I’m saying.”

I know.

Though trapped in an iron cage, the question is why the demon is here.

Then it would be only proper to explain.

“There is a vulgar culture in the Holy Nation.”

“A vulgar culture?”

“Yes.”

In fact, I had not planned to speak so strongly, but it seems ‘Julian’ does not like ‘it’ very much.

“It’s an arena.”

“An arena? Are you talking about the kind of arena I know?”

“Probably. A place where flies flock, risking their own lives for entertainment and money.”

Having said it, I understood why Julian instinctively disliked the arena.

Those who participate in the arena swing their swords not for personal honor or self-improvement but solely for the amusement of others.

Of course, there are various reasons, but the sight of struggling like a bug barely surviving the day is unpleasant.

“……But, aren’t there arenas in the empire as well?”

“Yes, there are. However, arenas that pit demon against demon, and further, demon against human, do not exist in our empire.”

They exist only in this Holy Nation.

Seeing the physical reaction, it could be one of the reasons why he hates demons pathologically.

Listening to me, Linne’s eyes grew cold.

“Then, the iron cage holding this demon is headed to the arena Julian spoke of.”

“Do you understand why I called it ‘vulgar’?”

Linne looked up and around.

The pristine white buildings and the restrained beauty that could be seen made her sigh softly and nod weakly.

“It’s a bit shocking. I really liked the scenery of the capital. I thought it was a dignified place befitting the name of the Holy Nation.”

“Those who embellish themselves with fancy words are those who lack their essence. Just as a country of gentlemen has no gentlemen, the Holy Nation inherently lacks sanctity.”

Of course, this is a highly personal theory, and later, it will be one of Julian’s quotes.

-Isn’t there darkness because there is light, Master?

“That’s also true.”

“Thank you for thinking so.”

“Then, those who usually boast about their loyalty to the royal family, or claim to have reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship, they don’t really possess those qualities, do they?”

You’ve grown up. Knowing how to subtly turn the conversation.

“It’s a joke, Sir Julian. Thank you for explaining and being considerate.”

Linne smiled faintly.

That hit the mark.

Thinking this, I picked up the calculated vase and headed to the villa assigned by the Archdeacon.

Tap tap

As we were turning, Linne tapped my back with her finger.

“There are three people tailing us.”

“I know.”

After purchasing the vase, I had already noticed that three presences were following us.

“You knew? Then why were you so calm?”

It’s always been like this.

Moreover, accumulated experience has allowed me to make quick judgments.

“Apparently, they’re not intending to attack. They’re just monitoring us as foreigners.”

“How do you know?”

By intuition, as someone who has been followed multiple times before, it’s the instinct of an experienced person.

As expected, there was no sign of mana, aura, or murderous intent from those following us.

‘They must be related to Archdeacon Garoth.’

Not that we were followed immediately upon entering the Holy Nation, but after we spoke with Archdeacon Garoth.

Still, I can overlook this much.

If I were to apprehend them and something were to happen, it would only cause more trouble.

Hmm?

Despite my hopes, there were unwelcome figures at the entrance of the villa.

Two clerics in formal attire. And a man armed like a knight, similar to Prasion.

‘Who are they?’

If they were notable figures in the Holy Nation, I would somewhat recognize them, but these faces are completely new.

Hmm, but it seems not the case for them.

As I made eye contact with one man, he emitted a fierce <Color of Negation> above his head.

A blood-red hue, anger.

With such a clear emotion, even showing a hint of unfamiliarity could provoke his anger.

“Julian……!”

Grinding his teeth, the man approached me.

Who is he? I really don’t know. What should I say?

“Calm your emotions, Idel.”

Then, suddenly, a baritone voice interjected.

At the all-too-familiar voice, Linne and I turned around involuntarily.

A familiar face appeared.

His stark white hair made more prominent by his deep black hair.

And his hands, heavily calloused.

His weary brown eyes and sharp gaze contrasted starkly.

It’s the face that could be seen on the cover of <Let’s Kill the Demon Lord>.

“Master…………, Sir Julian!”

Linne’s urgent cry came from beside me.

The moment I realized the reason, I was already kicking off the ground and swinging my sword.

Clang!

But the middle-aged man blocked my sword with ease, as if accustomed to it.

“Your temperament is still the same, Julian. To swing a sword instead of greeting, I mean.”

The man I was confronting spoke with a remarkably relaxed expression.

“Did you enjoy the greeting I’ve given you after such a long time, Master? Have you been well?”

I responded just as calmly, even showing a slight smile,

‘Like a madman!’

Seeing Hayden Reich in front of me, my body reacted as if it were only natural.

And in my mind, one side was screaming incessantly with murderous intent.

Kill this man.

Kill this man who insulted you and excommunicated you.

‘Shut up. Just.’

Suppressing Julian’s instincts as much as possible, in the moment I tried to escape this situation, I felt a chilling flow of mana.

“Can’t you see by looking at me now whether I’ve been well or not?”

Creak, creak─!

Fierce mana surged from Hayden’s body, and simultaneously, the sword I was pressing against began to be pushed back.

“Argh…….”

This is the first time I’ve been overpowered by strength.

Probably because of the bluish aura that Hayden Reich is wearing.

Sword-body integration (合一)

Just as Julian is represented by the ‘Moonlight Sword,’ the protagonist, Hayden Reich, is represented by his aura.

The aura’s force oppresses the whole body, making it hard to move.

This is the true skill of the protagonist, a Sword Saint.

As a victim under the ‘aura’ of the protagonist, I bit my lip hard.

“Stop wielding your swords. Sir Julian! And you too, Master!”

The one who intervened between Hayden and me was Linne.

Hearing her shout, the Sword Saint glanced at Linne and slowly began to retract his aura.

“Don’t be too shocked, Linne. It was just a form of greeting.”

I also sheathed my sword and stepped back.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

“Huh? Ah…?”

Linne was startled when Hayden Reich, whose appearance was sudden, asked about her well-being.

She controlled her emotions with a cough and then spoke.

“Yes, Master.”

Linne nodded with a complex expression, and Hayden smiled faintly.

“Let’s go inside for now. There’s a lot to talk about.”

Saying that, Hayden entered the villa.

Watching his vulnerable back, I felt the urge to draw my sword right then.

An unusually strong discomfort.

Even amidst that discomfort,

‘Ah!’

Fortunately, I had remembered to take the vase.

***

“Wow, I never imagined I’d see Sword Saint, Julian, and Miss Linne all gathered together like this.”

As we sat down, Ulysses, who had been talking with Hayden, spoke first.

I could see a drop of cold sweat running down his forehead.

He seemed to be pretending to be fine, but he was clearly frightened by the situation.

Sword Saint and Julian.

I would be scared too, not knowing when they might clash.

Sigh.

Linne, too, looked at the Sword Saint and me with the most tense expression she had shown so far.

Everyone knows our uncomfortable truth.

She seems to think that I could draw my sword at any moment.

“It seems you’ve developed quite a nice hobby.”

Breaking through the tense atmosphere, Hayden spoke first.

“I never imagined you’d grow orchids. I thought you disliked fiddly things like that.”

“It appears you don’t know me very well, Master.”

My tone became somewhat sarcastic.

Even though I was facing the protagonist of the long-awaited <Let’s Kill the Demon Lord>, the Sword Saint, annoyance rose before any uplifting emotions.

“Indeed, since it’s been a long time, your tastes might have changed.”

His tone implied he knew me well.

Instead, it was like pouring oil on the rising discomfort in my chest.

“Prince Ulysses, could you please give us a moment to talk with my disciples?”

“Of course, I’ll do that. Then you can resolve the grievances that have accumulated… oh, maybe not?”

Asking a royal to leave took some nerve, and as I watched Ulysses’s retreating figure, which somehow seemed smaller, a sigh escaped me.

‘Ah…?’

Sword Saint, that title carries a weight that is not light for me.

The reason that kept me attached to this game.

The source that made me angry at the developers.

And the reason why I ended up like this.

Having encountered many cultures up to now, the protagonist was the one who built up the metaphor of ‘the protagonist.’

When I heard that such a being had abandoned his duty and sought asylum in the Holy Nation, I hadn’t been this displeased.

“Now that Ulysses has also left the room, where should we start talking…?”

That discomfort began to take shape.

==

⇒ Trait, ‘Sombra,’ has detected a demon.

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