Act 135

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[The characteristic, <Amnesia> penalty has disappeared.]

[Learning skills has become easier.]

After the battle with the demons ended, and as I took a glance around the surroundings, a system window popped up.

As soon as the trait ‘Amnesia’ was removed, my body felt slightly lighter?

And I felt a bit indifferent about the things that had happened around me.

“By the way, how is Hayden Reich doing?”

Even before I mentioned that ‘the one-armed demon is in the Blizzard Forest,’ Jahat’s tone, which used to be terrifying, had softened considerably.

It should have been like this from the beginning. No need for unnecessary tension.

Although there were already many rumors about the Sword Saint in the capital, it seemed he hadn’t properly heard them since he was on the run.

“Well, he’s… doing fine.”

He is doing fine.

Well… if living well without dying and eating well is considered doing fine, then yes.

He’s doing so well that he abandoned his duties, defected to the Holy Nation, and even implanted demonic energy in his body out of boredom.

Wow! He’s doing great.

“Really? For someone who once claimed he would challenge him, he seems quite indifferent now.”

Seeing Jahat chuckling, I thought, ‘That could be true.’

Having observed Julian and Hayden Reich for quite a long time, one might feel that way.

The guy who once claimed he would kill the Sword Saint no matter what, and stayed in the capital till the end, suddenly reappeared in the North.

And he seemed indifferent about the Sword Saint’s well-being too.

“You’ve changed a lot.”

As I was sorting out my thoughts for a moment, Jahat’s calm voice interrupted.

“Changed? What do you mean?”

“I mean you’ve lost your obsession.”

Obsession?

“We weren’t particularly close, but the you I saw on the northern front was always smiling, yet seemed to be chased by something.”

Jahat continued with a mix of impressions about me, or perhaps about Julian.

“So, Hayden always worried about you. Wondering if he had made you dream pointless dreams.”

“Have you talked with Master?”

“Though it was a long time ago, yes, we met occasionally.”

Jahat added that it was quite some time ago.

“Perhaps, that’s why he defected to the Holy Nation. Because you no longer seemed in danger.”

I clicked my tongue inwardly at his continuing words.

This man, in fact, knew about the Sword Saint’s whereabouts but pretended not to know.

It was annoying, but I kind of understood why he did it.

Because Julian is a crazy guy who would foam at the mouth at the mere mention of the Sword Saint.

“Then, what about now?”

I asked with a bit of curiosity.

Now, I’m just ‘acting’ as Julian, not really behaving like him.

So, I’m curious about how Jahat, who has known Julian for a long time, perceives the current ‘me.’

Definitely, more normal than before…

“Now? Hahahaha!”

Why is he laughing?

“Why ask that all of a sudden? The laughing executioner.”

Damn it.

That wasn’t the answer I wanted.

***

Julian Crypart Frason.

He certainly has changed.

The anxiety that used to emanate from him was completely gone, and he seemed to have grown more as a person.

That’s the feeling Jahat got.

“Has he matured?”

No, that’s not it.

‘Somehow… he seems more composed.’

Jahat felt an inexplicable sense of ‘composure’ from Julian, whom he had recently spoken with at the Grand Arena.

No, it wasn’t something that could be described with such a common word.

A bit more…

Like someone who has ‘attained enlightenment’ or ‘transcended.’

He felt as if he was facing a person at a higher level.

‘He even knew what I was searching for.’

With his other senses sharpened to compensate for his invisible eyes, Jahat scanned the ‘mana veins’ flowing through Julian’s body.

‘Impressive.’

Although an enormous amount of mana, comparable to that of a wizard, flowed through his body, that wasn’t the important part.

Jahat already knew Julian was born with such mana veins.

‘He is utilizing various mana techniques in combination.’

From ordinary, popular methods to peculiar ones he might not even be aware of.

Therefore, despite the massive amount of mana he possessed, his vessel didn’t seem full.

“He’s even mimicking my technique.”

The method of dispersing aura around to detect the positions of objects or living beings.

That monster is doing it instinctively without being taught.

‘Then, it’s understandable he feels at ease.’

With Julian’s talent, he would eventually surpass the ‘Sword Saint’ anyway.

‘And moreover… unlike before, when he tried to overpower with strength, he now seems to think more shrewdly.’

He was not sure how he’s so certain about the location of the ‘one-armed demon,’ but judging by his actions so far, he doesn’t seem to be lying.

However, what remains puzzling is why he’s providing information to someone like him with no connection.

If it were in the past, he would’ve thought, ‘It must be because it benefits him.’

Now…? He didn’t know.

Though he disliked being played in his hands, Jahat still has a duty to kill that demon.

It’s his fault that his son ended up like that.

“Heh…”

Reflecting on the cause of this situation, Jahat couldn’t help but laugh self-deprecatingly.

“A moment ago, when you released aura through your sword, was it an adaptation of my technique?”

It was unnecessary to point it out, but Jahat felt curious suddenly.

The ability he used during the battle with the demon clearly referenced his own aura technique.

“Is that so? I only referenced it, but it didn’t help much.”

What are you talking about? It was almost an exact copy.

Jahat wanted to say that, but decided against engaging in needless wordplay.

“However, it’s not fully complete yet. Combining it with your specialty, the ‘Moonlight Sword,’ is clever, but it seems challenging to fully control the dispersing aura.”

“It’s my first time trying it today. Is that so? It seems quite useful.”

“Of course. I’ve honed this ability for years!”

Are you saying you tried to imitate it just by watching a few times?

He wanted to shout that, but seeing Julian had already half-completed it in his own way, he felt it would be unnecessary.

However, this must be said.

“The key to aura release is the ‘axis.'”

“The axis…?”

It was essentially sharing the realization he had accumulated over the years.

He felt it was a waste to even say this, but somehow, he didn’t want to owe him anything.

The location of the one-armed demon.

Whether it’s certain or not, since it was said without any exchange, he had no choice but to believe it.

Moreover, he’s someone who, although he may weave dark schemes, does not tell lies.

So, he should clear this debt.

“It’s about the pillar. The pillar. Not just covering the surface with other aura to prevent it from dispersing, but establishing a ‘pillar’ to support it so it doesn’t collapse.”

For a moment, as if Julian realized something from the advice, he looked at the Moonlight Sword at his waist.

After a brief pause,

“Is it alright to so easily share such trade secrets?”

“It’s a business that’s closing soon anyway, so what’s there to regret? Heh.”

Jahat laughed weakly.

“Well then, I’ll be off. I hope I find something in the Blizzard Forest as you mentioned.”

***

Jahat moved northward.

Watching his back, I shifted my gaze back to the sword.

‘Establishing a pillar within the aura.’

Indeed, with that method, the amount of dispersing aura could be minimized.

With that thought, I reached for the Moonlight Sword and drew it.

Then, adding Jahat’s advice to the ‘sword energy’ I used before,

‘Create a pillar.’

To ensure it doesn’t collapse.

After forming aura on the Moonlight Sword, I released it toward a nearby tree.

Whoosh, crack─!

Then, the ‘sword energy,’ which would have ended with just a small scratch before, dug halfway into the tree as if tearing it apart.

‘The trace is like that of a saw.’

As Jahat said, by establishing a ‘pillar’ within the sword energy, the sword energy manifested the characteristics of the ‘Moonlight Sword’ even more.

[A new characteristic, <Moonlight Sword Aura>, has been awakened.]

What? Did it come out this easily?

Is it perhaps because the ‘Amnesia’ penalty disappeared?

‘It surely is a trade secret.’

Putting the Moonlight Sword back into its sheath, I looked around.

Although the sight of the demon corpses lined up made me frown, I decided not to mind since I would soon be leaving this place.

***

“Hmm.”

Letting out a short groan, I realized that Joshua was not around Felkor.

Did he die? No way… he’s a named character after all.

“Where is Joshua?”

“He’s over there, Sir Julian.”

Looking in the direction Felkor pointed, I saw Joshua groaning and cutting off the horn of the dead one-horned demon.

“Joshua, what are you doing now…”

Startle.

Joshua, who was cutting the horn, stood up nonchalantly with an awkward smile.

“Ha ha… Ah, ah. It’s. Nothing. At. All.”

You know that makes it even weirder, right?

***

After Julian left, Pintel, who remained in the capital to proceed with his work, recalled the conversation he had with him earlier.

“Sir Julian, what should we do if someone from within starts leaking information outside?”

Although the Dawn Society is an underground secret organization, a lot of information warfare occurs within it.

Pintel dared to predict that there would surely be such a mole even among those who wished for the replacement of the Grand Archbishop.

“Hmm, you’re talking about double agents.”

“Yes, exactly.”

Although the ’cause’ hadn’t been fully spread to everyone yet, there was still some room for maneuver. However, it’s never good for information to leak, just in case.

“So, the fact that you’re speaking so directly means there are some suspects?”

“…There are currently about four suspects.”

“That’s quite a number. Four, you say.”

When Julian let out a short laugh, Pintel swallowed dryly.

He knew well that seeking advice in this manner was almost like admitting he was incompetent.

However, he was at a loss about how to handle this situation.

He feared what kind of disaster might result from making a hasty move.

Unable to bear it, Pintel consulted Julian before he left the capital.

“Oh, there is such a method.”

At that moment, Julian clapped his hands, as if an ingenious plan had come to mind, and began to speak.

The content was…

***

“Pintel, is it true that Sir Julian has left the capital?”

Reflecting on his conversation with Julian, Pintel took a sip from his teacup as he looked at the urgent Bishop Gennin who had come to see him.

“Yes.”

“What’s the reason for heading north for personal reasons in such a situation? How important could it be…”

Seeing his own reflection in the teacup, Pintel let out a short laugh at Gennin’s urgent question.

“Heh, heh heh…”

“Hmm?” 

As Gennin questioned him, Pintel put down his teacup and stopped laughing.

“No, Sir Julian is truly remarkable. Using even a brief personal absence from the capital as bait.”

Gennin felt puzzled by Pintel’s attitude but couldn’t say anything.

Pintel’s eyes were fierce as if he might kill him.

His eyes flashing momentarily, Pintel fell into quiet contemplation.

‘I’ve found the mole.’

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