Acting as a Slit-Eye Chapter 91

Chapter 91. Sword Saint (2)

My trait, 'Sombra', detected a presence of a demon.

I sensed a trace of a demon on Hayden Reich, the Sword Saint.

Had he killed a demon recently?

That couldn't be right.

Suppressing the doubts rising in my chest, I turned my attention to Hayden.

"Master."

It wasn't I who spoke first, but Rinne. Her eyes, trying hard to maintain composure, were noticeably trembling.

"What's the matter, Rinne?"

"Why..."

Rinne paused as if trying to gather her courage, took a deep breath, and decided to speak.

"Is it true... that you sought asylum in the Holy Kingdom?"

Her candid question piqued my interest as well.

Throughout nurous narratives, there was never a path leading the Sword Saint to the Holy Kingdom.

"Weren't your words to

to take pride as an Empire's swordsman and serve as a citizen?"

"Indeed."

"Then why..."

Hayden looked at Rinne, who trailed off. Her hands were shaking as though she wanted to say more, but she just waited for Hayden's words.

"Perhaps it's because I'm no longer the noble person you once knew."

Feeling sorry for her, I spoke first. She must feel imnsely betrayed. After her father's death, it was none other than the Sword Saint, who filled that void with the title of 'Master'.

"... Don't speak like that."

"Then do not doubt your master's choice. Even if he abandoned those who followed him rcilessly and silently sought asylum in the Holy Kingdom without a word to his apprentice, isn't it about understanding him?"

The more I spoke, the more Rinne's face twisted. It wasn't due to any displeasure towards my words, but rather from the pain ripping through her heart, because of the betrayal of soone she once believed in.

I, too, felt my words dragging on longer than expected.

'Yulian' wouldn't have done that. He would have drawn his sword and caused a ruckus already.

But I'm self-aware enough.

The existence known as 'Sword Saint' also held great significance for .

"... I'm sorry."

At that mont, the Sword Saint, who had been silent for a long while, finally spoke.

"Rinne, I have nothing to say to you. I knew my decision would hurt you. Yet, I didn't give you any forewarning."

Despite Hayden's apology, Rinne uttered no words. No, she couldn't.

Her hands were trembling on her knees, and her once sparkling eyes were now red.

"So I have a proposal for you. In fact, it was why I recomnded you to His Highness Eulsis."

I quietly listened to the conversation, preparing myself as it seed it was going to be an absurd proposal.

"Would you consider leaving the Empire and seeking asylum in the Holy Kingdom?"

Is he out of his mind?

***

Rinne thought her master was teasing her. A mischievous prank by the Sword Saint on her, his disciple.

What awakened

from such thoughts was the Sword Saint himself, with his proposal.

― Would you consider leaving the Empire and seeking asylum in the Holy Kingdom?"

Hearing those words, Rinne realized that the fact the Sword Saint truly sought asylum in the Holy Kingdom struck her with a tidal wave of emotion—'bewildernt' and 'anxiety.'

'It, it's true. Master...'

It was an utterly absurd proposal.

The only reason she didn't draw her sword to bring him down imdiately was because the one who voiced such outrageous words held imnse weight in her life.

The most noble Sword Saint.

The one who showed her a new path.

Because she couldn't simply dismiss such a proposal from a respected person as a joke, she fell deep into contemplation.

"I... I..."

Her instincts told her to refuse, but...

'Master wouldn't make such a proposal without a reason...'

Rinne slightly lifted her head, looking into Hayden's eyes.

As always, his expression was one of benevolence, and his gaze was filled with concern for her.

If she were to refuse.

'He would be greatly disappointed.'

With such thoughts, Rinne found herself unable to open her mouth easily.

"With a mber of 'Blind Eyes' right in front of you, you dare bring up 'asylum', master?"

At that mont, Yulian suddenly intruded into the conversation between Rinne and Hayden.

As usual, he hid his true feelings behind a smiling face, but those who had watched him for a long ti detected a hint of anger and displeasure beneath it.

"I expected you to be angry like that. Though it's not sothing for you, how about it?"

"Are you asking the Empire's hunting dog to seek asylum in the Holy Kingdom? Ha ha. I'll politely decline."

"Did you not once desire my life? If I were right next to you, there would be more opportunities."

Rinne was already aware of that fact—that Yulian was obsessed with the na 'Sword Saint'.

That obsession signified more than anyone he recognized the 'Sword Saint' and wanted to be recognized by him.

Because of that, Rinne was slightly nervous at the possibility that Yulian might accept that proposal.

But, as if to mock her concern, Yulian laughed shortly with his usual, irritating expression.

"A tiger dies with its skin, and a person dies with their na. They hold value."

"Of course. For I am the one who personally told you."

"But if its na has fallen to the ground, who would covet it? It would only dirty one's own 'hands'."

He truly was a man of inconsistency.

To preserve his own honor, he would feign ignorance over another's fall—a self-centered mindset.

Thinking that, Rinne looked toward her master. She was curious about what expression he would wear.

"I knew you'd answer like that."

With an expression suggesting it was only to be expected, Hayden nodded, smiling kindly, and turned his gaze to Rinne.

"I refuse, too."

Although he anticipated Yulian's refusal, Hayden seed sowhat disappointed at Rinne's rejection.

"Like my father, I, too, am a citizen of the Empire."

It was a hard answer to voice, but with Yulian's resolute deanor, she found her resolve strengthened.

Though his words didn't resonate deeply with her, his loyalty to the Empire they currently belonged to was indeed worth emulating.

Besides, once she spoke out, she felt a sense of relief, as if erging from a stifling enclosure.

"All right."

The disappointnt lingering on Hayden's face soon dissipated.

"To begin with, extending such an outrageous proposal to those tasked with guarding the imperial prince..."

Assuming a self-deprecating posture, Hayden soon returned to his benevolent smile, lightly stroking his chin.

As a mont of silence was about to pass.

"There's sothing I'd like to ask, master."

This ti, Yulian took the lead in the conversation.

"Ask away."

Hayden proudly exclaid, opening his arms wide, and Yulian interrupted sharply.

"Are you aware of your current state?"

'What is he getting at?'

Rinne was puzzled by Yulian's words. The question seed out of context and baffling.

"Hmm."

But Hayden seed intrigued as if he had been expecting this question.

"I'm not sure what you're trying to say, Yulian."

"You're aware, aren't you? That body of yours on the brink of death."

Thud––!

Just like when they first t, Yulian placed his hand on his waist.

"Aren't you undergoing demonization?"

The shocking words made Rinne jump.

She wanted to ask what he ant, but the unbelievable reality left her speechless.

"Master?"

'That's a lie.'

Although she repeatedly denied it, claiming it couldn't be true.

"You've noticed quite well."

Hayden acknowledged Yulian's words.

"That's... impossible..."

The clean acknowledgnt from her master left Rinne's complexion pale.

The tone of their voices was casual, like a normal day-to-day conversation, though the topic was anything but ordinary.

If demonization progresses, the person loses their self and becos a 'demon'. It ans they lose their dignity as a human and turn into a monster attacking people.

"Could it be that in order to prevent the demonization, you chose this foolish asylum?"

Rinne partially understood her master's asylum through Yulian's dispassionate words.

There's a chance that the Holy Kingdom possesses a thod that the Empire doesn't, and her master might have known that when he sought asylum.

"Perhaps."

Rinne deflated at Hayden's uncertain answer.

"There's no need for

to say."

"Do you intend to hide it?"

"Shouldn't it be mutual? Yulian, just as you keep secrets, I too might think there's a need to hide things."

Rinne nodded along to her master's words.

She knew well that this sly, slit-eyed Yulian was full of secrets.

Although she attempted to uncover them, everything was shrouded in mystery, and she couldn't clearly discern anything.

Is her master, Hayden, any different?

He seed to pierce straight through the nebulous sothing that was Yulian.

"Is that so? Ha ha."

An ordinary person would break into a cold sweat at the Sword Saint's piercing words, but Yulian remained unfazed.

With his infuriating smile unwavering, rendering his deanor remarkably serene, Rinne shook her head in disbelief.

"You seem impatient, but it seems you're still able to stay calm where it counts. Sa as ever, Yulian."

Curiously, the words 'sa as ever' seed to slightly irritate Yulian.

"Master, you've changed quite a bit."

"People change, don't they?"

"You must know, master. There's no thod in the Holy Kingdom to stop demonization."

Yulian slowly stood up.

"If that's the case, the reason behind advancing demonization? Why the asylum in the Holy Kingdom... and while I don't know for sure, I think I can surmise one thing."

Although he didn't reach for the sword hilt, the intent emitted from his body was as sharp as if it were drawn.

"Master consigned demonic energy into his own body by his own decision, and the Holy Kingdom assisted with it."

Shing──!

Before his words could even settle, Yulian drew his sword from its sheath.

"Here we are, with you drawing the sword once again. Are you sure about this? This ti, it won't end as a re formality."

"Having betrayed the Empire, and with you on the verge of becoming a demon."

A beautiful sword crafted from gemstone.

When Rinne first heard it had been forged in Twilight Fla, she thought it would surely shatter before long.

And yet, it continued to prove itself as a gemstone blade.

"I have no reason not to cut you down."

"Isn't it rely for your personal satisfaction?"

"Though I have a bit of personal interest, what of it?"

"More belly than the belly button, I see."

With an incredulous smile, Hayden fixed his gaze on Rinne.

As if to convey the nuance of stopping this crazed fellow, though she responded by shaking her head.

"Master, why wouldn't you deny Sir Yulian's words?"

"What do you an?"

"That you... consigned demonic energy into your body..."

"Haaa."

Hayden visibly exhaled.

"Since when did you start trusting Yulian's words so fervently? Weren't you always the one who loathed him and denied his every action?"

"That's..."

Despite her master voicing the fundantal reason for her dislike towards Yulian, Rinne briefly hesitated before raising her head again.

"I know that he at least doesn't lie in situations like these."

It's known.

He was called a demon with a heart as cold as stone, and was pointed at as the Smiling Executioner.

Yet, recently, he had stopped lying to her, especially in situations like this.

Moreover, veiled in secrecy, with an untouchable pleasant smile masking himself, he would have thoroughly disclosed everything to Hayden Reich.

"How disappointing."

Quiet mutterings from Hayden suggested a lant.

Simultaneously, an overwhelming aura of demonic energy began to spill from his body.

"Ugh..."

Even moving a single step proved challenging; rely moving a fingertip felt arduous under this potent demonic energy.

This is comparable to the demonic energy of a tri-horned demon- perhaps even stronger.

'It's more than just demonization...'

Utilizing such power entirely.

The Sword Saint's progression into demonization by his volition lent credibility to Yulian's statent.

'Why?'

The once noble master, what happened for him to beco this way?

Slipping down.

As her musings continued, Rinne felt red blood dripping beneath her nostril.

It's a condition that arises when strong demonic energy exposes soone who hasn't protected their body with mana.

Soon, headache and chills began to assail her.

'Stay conscious...'

Her vision began to lose clarity gradually. However, the overwhelming demonic energy pressing down on her seed to lighten.

"Sir Yulian?"

It was because Yulian had stepped in front of her, countering the demonic energy radiating from Hayden.

Handling such a sudden release of demonic energy seamlessly.

Rinne was amazed by his capability.

So was Hayden.

"You're managing this demonic energy with ease without even drawing your aura. It seems, you too..."

Before he could complete his sentence, a lightning-fast strike aid at Hayden.

Likewise, drawing his sword, Hayden parried.

The clashing of tal sent a chilling echo reverberating.

As if predicting their imminent future.

Thus comnced their second exchange of greetings.

Clacky's Corner:

The Sword Saint had fallen.

The showdown happened faster than expected.