Chapter 218: Final Battle (1)
“What? Glen awakened the Holy Sword? You an he beca a Master?”
Harang asked in shock.
Inevitably so. No matter how much Glen, with tireless effort and exceptional talent, reached the Expert realm at a young age, he was still only in his mid-teens. That he, not even a Graduate, beca a Master, and awakened not just any Color Sword but the Holy Sword, was hard to believe.
Of course, Glen hadn’t actually beco a Master.
Sheratiya continued.
“No, it’s not like that… Glen’s aura is still incomplete, like an Expert’s. It hasn’t solidified into a crystal but flows like a haze.”
“Then…”
“But it shines white like holy magic, not grayish. Since the color is what matters for the Holy Sword, it’s not wrong to say.”
“That’s true. But… how? No, I an, it’s possible.”
While investigating the Ancient Assassin, Harang had learned much about the Holy Kingdom’s hero, Paern Rudeman.
Thus, he rembered his words. The Holy Sword wasn’t about the realm of the sword but the mindset of the wielder.
A person pure and untainted by worldly corruption, without a speck of malice, was qualified to be the Holy Sword’s owner.
‘In that sense… there’s no one like Glen.’
Despite a harsh beggar life, he showed care for others, and even now, with improved circumstances, he hadn’t lost that pure, kind heart… So, in a way, it felt like no one suited the Holy Sword more than Glen.
While thinking this, Sheratiya spoke again.
“Anyway, because of that, the Holy Kingdom is in an uproar. The owner of the Holy Sword is more important than… in so ways, even the Holy King. For the past 300 years, there was no such talent, right? Amid talk that the Holy Kingdom wasn’t what it used to be, that its mbers were all corrupt… They’re desperately trying to recruit Glen. But…”
“But?”
“The problem started when that important figure defended you, the owner of the Black Sword.”
“Hmm!”
Now understanding the situation, Harang nodded.
Why did the Holy Kingdom taboo the owner of the Black Sword?
Because of the massacre 300 years ago, after the war with the orc tribe. Awakening the sa abilities as the ‘Ancient Assassin’ who carried out those assassinations was bound to be a terrifying event for them.
But that being, considered no different from a demon by the Holy Kingdom, was defended by the owner of the Holy Sword. Not just supported—Glen even said Harang was his benefactor and greatest teacher, putting the Holy Kingdom in a dilemma.
“The Holy Kingdom will have to choose.”
“What…”
“Whether to cast aside the hero who appeared after 300 years to kill the owner of the Black Sword, or to clear your na as Glen says. Of course, they won’t make an extre binary choice; they’ll probably want to et you and talk to make a judgnt. The important thing is…”
Pausing briefly, Sheratiya looked straight at Harang and continued.
“The situation is much better than you thought. At least the Holy Kingdom… is now ready to talk with you. Negotiation is possible.”
“…….”
Having heard everything, Harang nodded in understanding.
Sheratiya was right. The situation was far better than he had thought. It couldn’t be better.
If Glen hadn’t awakened the Holy Sword, how would the Holy Kingdom have reacted?
No matter what excuses he gave, they wouldn’t have been persuaded. No matter how much he shouted that he was different from the Ancient Assassin, that equating him with the Black Sword was unfair, they wouldn’t have listened.
But now it was different.
‘Glen…’
Harang closed his eyes gently.
Then, Glen’s awkward, slightly timid smiling face vividly ca to mind.
And not just him.
Eddy, Pale, Daereon, the Fist Brothers.
Thinking of the many Marzen connections who cared for and supported him, Harang felt a warmth in a corner of his heart.
He had been mistaken.
He thought he had to make every effort to protect and safeguard them…
It was the opposite.
Their warm hearts were the lifeline pulling him out of the abyss.
“Anyway… I’m glad you ca back safe, Harang.”
Hug
Sheratiya Viyan hugged Harang again.
After a brief hesitation, Harang hugged her back.
She was the sa.
Though her sharp tongue, hysteria, and frequent irritation earned her the nickna of villainess in Marzen…
He felt there was no one who cared for him as much as Sheratiya Viyan.
But because of that…
“Lady Viyan.”
“Yes, Harang.”
“I’m sorry to say, but I need to leave Marzen for a bit.”
“What? Why?”
“I have sowhere to go.”
“No! What are you saying! A guy who almost died, going sowhere! What, you should at least see Glen! The Eddy rcenary Corps, Gael, Hagio, Philip Portville too! Ransel Grantz ca all the way here worried about you! And you’re leaving without seeing anyone? Why?”
Sheratiya looked at Harang with an incredulous expression. Her shrill voice was almost painful, but the underlying emotion was full of concern and worry.
So it didn’t feel bad to hear.
No, he thought it was a lovely voice he wanted to keep hearing. Strangely, today, Harang felt a bit different looking at Sheratiya.
He couldn’t quite explain it… but it wasn’t a bad feeling.
But because of that, he had to leave.
Because of that, he had to co back.
Holding Sheratiya Viyan’s hands with both of his, Harang said in a warm voice.
“Lady Viyan, it’s sothing I must do.”
“…….”
“You know. As I said earlier… It’s not just about resolving things with the Holy Kingdom. I need to settle things with Calamity too.”
“But you said! The Lord of Calamity is so strong even you can’t handle him now… Is this okay? Why not talk to the Holy Kingdom and get their help? Yes, that sounds better!”
Sheratiya Viyan desperately tried to stop Harang.
Her eyes were teary, as if tears would fall any mont.
He felt a bit sorry, but even that didn’t seem bad to Harang.
Smiling again, he said to her.
“Don’t worry.”
“What? How can I not worry…”
“I can win.”
Pausing briefly, Harang continued with emphasis.
“Talking with you today, Sheratiya, and receiving the hearts of many, including Glen… I realized sothing.”
“…….”
“I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry too much and wait for .”
Shwoosh
With those words, Harang exited through the window again.
Sheratiya Viyan couldn’t stop him.
His eyes, filled with absolute certainty.
Recalling them, she whispered quietly.
“……If you co back hurt, I won’t let you off, Harang.”
***
Using concealnt techniques again, Harang left Sheratiya’s house and the city walls.
Lying on a hill a suitable distance from the city, he gazed at Marzen’s scenery.
It was beautiful.
The vitality of people entering and exiting the gates, each carrying their own lives, made him feel good.
‘Just the ti I like best.’
A smile spread across Harang’s face.
Yes. Harang loved the ti when day and evening intersected. Dayti rchants shouting to sell their last goods, nightti rchants busily preparing and soliciting…
Thus, the most vibrant and lively ti of the 24 hours.
Watching the golden sunset overlook Marzen just before it set, Harang felt his dark past, his life, being slowly purified.
But that was rely his sentint.
There were surely those who felt nothing from the sunset.
rcenary King Austin.
No, the Lord of Calamity was such a person.
Approaching Harang from behind with steady steps, he asked in a low voice.
“What happened?”
“What do you an?”
“How did you suddenly disappear from my presence? What trick did you use?”
“Oh, it was nothing. A demon called .”
“……Nonsense.”
The Lord of Calamity muttered with a frown. Inevitably so. A serious question received a jest-like answer.
No, even before that, the current situation itself enraged him.
He had spent his entire life upholding Calamity’s rules.
He had to.
So that his peers’ deaths would have aning.
That’s why he pushed the plan, dismantling the Hydra, the Scales, the Skeletons.
But…
‘To think the owner of the Holy Sword would appear again in the world.’
And that he would support Harang!
It was absurd.
It shouldn’t be like this. It really shouldn’t.
If the owner of the Holy Sword had opposed Harang.
If that led to a war between the Holy Kingdom and Calamity, he wouldn’t feel this desolate…
‘Now, no matter what, it can’t go as planned. Making Harang the Lord of Calamity is already impossible.’
Grit
The Lord of Calamity ground his teeth.
No thod ca to mind.
Lashing out at Harang now wouldn’t be the ending he wanted. In fact, coming to Marzen and waiting for Harang was an action unrelated to resolving anything.
Just…
‘…re lingering attachnt.’
Hoo, Austin exhaled.
And Wooooong, he emitted an intense presence that made the surroundings vibrate.
“Hmm.”
Seeing that, Harang stood up.
And drew his sword. Glancing at the now-darkened sky as the sunset faded, Harang said quietly.
“As expected, settling it is the cleanest way, right?”
“…….”
The Lord of Calamity said no more.
Shortly after, an invisible aura sword shot out sharply from him.
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