(TN: Thanks to “Komaragiri”, I’ve been inford that the nas of the luminous crystalline life forms are German numbers 1 through 8, naly Eins, Zwei, Drei, Vier, Fünf, Sechs, Sieben, and Acht. This is indeed true, and I’ll make changes through the chapters to correct the nas.)
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After finishing my discussion with Aiwass, it was ti for dinner, and we made our way to the dining room. However, Hectia wasn’t present today. It seed her research had taken a significant turn, keeping her too busy to join us.
Orvo seed to be assisting her in this endeavor. Well, he had already beco a ghost, so he had no need for als and, therefore, never visited the dining room in the first place.
“Speaking of which, do you know who turned Orvo into a ghost? He ntioned it was the work of soone else…”
After we had finished our al and the dishes were cleared, I couldn’t help but ask Aiwass about Orvo out of curiosity. He furrowed his eyebrows and his expression face turned serious.
It seed I might have touched upon a sensitive topic, and since I didn’t wish to pry, I considered letting the matter rest. However, before I could do that, Aiwass spoke with a sigh.
“It was Hectia. Have you not heard that my great-grandchild is an expert in souls?”
“I’ve heard that from Eins. She also helped Orvo develop the technique to synthesize demons.”
“Indeed. Well, the technology used to resurrect Orvo is worthy of praise, even from my perspective…. However, when you consider the circumstances, it becos quite a headache.”
“What do you an?”
“…. Do you know the circumstances of Orvo’s death?”
I naturally knew this, so I nodded imdiately. Orvo had been assassinated in the royal capital by Karelvo’s conspiracy… But wait. Why was Orvo’s soul, who had been assassinated in the capital, in this faraway place?
Normally, the souls of the deceased should dissipate and beco one with the world. My knowledge told that the process should start right after death unless the deceased beca a vengeful spirit. So why could a soul like Orvo’s, not to ntion being far away from the capital but even from the Enzo continent, be held here?
“It’s good that you have a keen intuition. Under normal circumstances, there should have been no chance of resurrecting Orvo. However, my great-grandchild and disciple accomplished it.”
“That’s… quite an achievent, isn’t it? With that technique, one could leave a stable soul in this world, no matter where they die. It sounds like a form of immortality.”
“No, it’s not quite like that. It was possible because… that girl had embedded a spell into Orvo’s soul before he died.”
According to Aiwass’s explanation, Hectia had apparently embedded a spell into the soul of Orvo, who was alive at the ti when she was assisting him with the demon experint. It was a spell that, in case Orvo died, would automatically activate his spiritual art of manipulating space and transport him to her.
In essence, the solution to the distance problem was primarily due to Orvo’s rare qualities. Moreover, it appeared that she had set things up quite ticulously to ensure that whenever Orvo’s soul ca to her, the spiritual circuit to prevent his soul’s dissolution had been etched into the room. Hectia’s incredible obsession with Orvo was to an extent that it sent shivers down my spine.
“Currently, we’re conducting research on reconstructing the physical body from the information of the soul. That’s the recent developnt,” Aiwass explained.
“Reconstructing the physical body…? You’re not planning to fully resurrect Orvo, are you?”
“That’s right. That girl is infatuated with Orvo, you see.”
From Hectia’s perspective, she probably wished to fully resurrect the man she was infatuated with. but from mine, it would bring back to life the man I always wished to kill if I had the chance. I couldn’t say I felt good about it.
However, he had already died once, killed by his own older brother, and had his achievents stolen away from him. If I were asked whether I really wanted to kill him now, I wouldn’t be able to answer right away, and especially when considering Mika, my thoughts of vengeance had dulled down.
“Well, no need to worry. That girl is overflowing with talent much like , but it will take her a few more years to perfect her technique. There’s no imdiate resurrection in the cards. Plus, even if she does resurrect him, I’ll make sure he doesn’t get too involved with you.”
“That’s reassuring. So might attack him on sight, consud by anger.”
“What? There is no need for gratitude. Losing Orvo’s talent again would be a sha for as well. Oh, that’s right. Changing the subject, Eins asked to think of a na for you. What do you think?”
“A na…”
I thought about the na when asked. Until now, I had never felt the need for a na. I was referred to by convenient titles like “Boss” or “Big Brother”.
However, Eins had taught the significance of a na. Well… this might be a good opportunity as well. Whether when I was a battle beast or later when I beca a demon, I had always been enslaved by soone. It could be said that not having the precious possession of a na symbolized a lack of freedom.
To break away from that self and to mark a new beginning, getting a na might be a good idea. And Aiwass could certainly co up with a suitable na for .
“If you’re willing to give a na, I’d like one. I thought I didn’t need it, but I’ve had a change of heart.”
“Hmm, did you have sothing in mind? In any case, it’s a positive change. Well then…”
Aiwass put his hand on his chin and pondered for a mont, then clapped his hands as if struck by an idea. It seed he had co up with a na that suited .
“What do you think of ‘Antares’? In another world, there are constellations inspired by myths. This one is derived from the na of the brightest red star in the Scorpion constellation.”
“Myth from another world… What kind of myth is it?”
A scorpion featured in a myth is related to that star? As an origin, it’s not bad at all. However, I couldn’t help but be curious about this other world myth that served as its source. I didn’t think Aiwass would co up with a strange origin, but I couldn’t bring myself to accept the na without knowing more.
“There are various versions of its origins, but it is said that the scorpion that beca that constellation has slain an arrogant hero with its poisonous stinger. Don’t you think it’s quite fitting for you, who has defeated superior opponents repeatedly?”
The scorpion from which the na was derived was far from weak; in fact, it seed to have achieved the feat of vanquishing an evil hero. It appeared that there were remarkable kindred beings in this other world as well. It had nothing to do with , yet I couldn’t help but feel a bit proud.
If the origin of the na had been villainous or associated with defeat, I might have declined, but this was more than acceptable. No, it was a splendid na I could proudly bear. All right, from today onwards, my na will be Antares!
“I gratefully accept the na Antares.”
“Very well. It’s not a celebration, but I have sothing I’d like to give you. Eins, please bring the long, black box from the laboratory.”
“Yes, master.”
Aiwass instructed Eins to fetch sothing. Eins left the dining room, and after a while, returned with the black box of the shape that Aiwass had ntioned.
Upon receiving it, Aiwass placed the box on the table and flicked a latch with his finger to open the lid. What erged from it were… my twin swords, sheathed in unfamiliar scabbards.
“Why are these…!?”
“These are the ones recovered from the stomach of the Sea Emperor Whale that Mr. Antares vanquished. The handles and scabbards had lted and were unusable, so Sieben had them remade.”
“That guy, he’s got a big body, but he’s the most skilled with his hands amon’ us siblings, ya know.”
While the swords themselves were the sa, the scabbards had a different design and color from before. Both scabbards were painted vermilion with a black scorpion pattern. There was no doubt they were more flamboyant than they had been before.
The texture of the leather wrapped around the hilt felt different, but the sensation when I gripped them was just as good as before. They clung to my hand, and I could swing them with the sa ease.
“Can I draw them right now?”
“I don’t mind, but please refrain from any practice swings here. It’s dangerous.”
“…I may be in high spirits, but I won’t go that far.”
With Aiwass’s approval, I drew the two swords from their sheaths. Both the white and black blades seed to have remained intact, with no signs of damage or wear, just as they were when I had lost them.
It was quite a mystery how the black sword, crafted from my own exoskeleton, had survived. Even my original exoskeleton had lted away… but it seed that the craftsmanship of Hatakeyama and the care of the Popi people played a role. Craftsn are truly amazing.
“Also, Sieben ntioned that he’s feeling excited and has been working on so clothes for you. He said he’d have them finished before your departure tomorrow.”
“To go to such lengths… I have nothing but gratitude.”
It may be a bit late to ntion, but I had never worn proper clothing before. The supplies we received were nothing more than tattered rags, and the armor we captured was unnecessary since my exoskeleton was stronger. Thus, I always wore nothing more than undergarnts and a loincloth.
Up until now, I hadn’t really cared about my shabby appearance. But from now on, that wouldn’t do. In the empire, there were hardly any people as poorly dressed as us, except maybe slaves. If we had finally gained our freedom, it was only right to dress in decent attire.
However, everything was simply handed to . While Aiwass might see it as an initial investnt, it was almost agonizing for soone like , who had hardly ever experienced receiving anything. Could I truly repay such kindness?
With such worries in mind, dinner concluded, and I received the twin swords before returning to my room. Sitting on the bed, I assud a cross-legged position and began practicing my fighting spirit and spiritual power, all while drifting into a light sleep. Tomorrow marked the day of my departure, so I aid to maintain composure through my daily training routine… However, things didn’t seem to go smoothly.
“I can’t help it. It seems I’m still too excited.”
My twin swords, which had been my steadfast companions in battles all along. They should have been lost, but now they were in my hands. I was elated by that fact.
It seed that I had grown more attached to these swords than I had realized. The fact that I thought I would never see them again made the joy of their return all the greater.
“All right, let’s do this.”
I leaped off the bed, clenched the twin swords, and headed out into the quiet mansion garden. In the serene, empty garden, I sharpened my senses and summoned the phantom of an enemy that lingered in my mory.
Of course, the one I imagined was that holy knight. When I faced him barehanded, I couldn’t manage to launch a counterattack. But with these twin swords in my grasp, would the battle be different? I readied the twin swords and leaped forward.
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TN: The most well-known story of Scorpius, ho to Antares, is that the Earth goddess Gaia sent him to sting arrogant Orion, who had claid his intent to kill all animals on the planet.
Orion is a hero in Greek mythology.
Aiwass is talking about earth lol. He’s talking about greek mythology. Well, at the sa ti, we now know how he knows german.
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