"There is no honor in death."
These were the words beaten into a man long ago—a man who spent years unraveling why they held such weight for those who had drilled them into him. One reason that resonated with him was, "You cannot take another man's sword if you're dead."
This puzzled many, requiring the man to explain it time and again, but it was an answer that kept him alive, pushing him forward. It drove him to survive, to improve, to collect more swords.
He fought countless opponents. At first, he spared lives, but leaving those who had dedicated their existence to the sword often meant they would return to challenge him, seeking vengeance.
Fed up with the endless cycle, the man declared, "Screw this. If they're so eager to die, I'll gladly send them to the gates of hell."
And so, he began to kill, adding their swords to his growing collection. Many were sent to eliminate him, but all they did was provide him with more reasons to continue his journey.
After an arduous path that spanned far beyond the lifespan of a mortal man, he found himself sitting in his garden of swords, bored. He had become the infamous demon of 1,000 swords, and yet, the constant stream of mediocre challengers had left him unfulfilled.
As he sat there, a thought struck him. "Why do I feel the need to be honorable in the first place?" This question lingered until he remembered someone who had left an impression on him—a son, dedicated to avenging his father.
"Father… Mother… Son… Daughter… Brother… Sister… Steve… Family."
This word made him reconsider the mantra, "There is no honor in death," and its true meaning. After further reflection, a new reason emerged in his mind:
"You can't go back to your family if you're dead."
This realization brought a demonic smile to his face, and he burst into laughter like a madman.
"Family, huh… I wonder if I can have one?" he mused, surrounded by the corpses of those who had come for his head. Then, acknowledging his grim reality, he added, "Not likely in this world. Everyone wants a piece of me."
He continued to laugh until he suddenly stopped and exclaimed, "Oh right! There's that sword!"
He looked around his collection, seeking a particular blade among the noteworthy ones. Finally, he found it and proudly said, "Behold! A reincarnation sword I 'acquired' from some temple… or was it a palace? Maybe from a wandering holy man? Spiritfarer? Ah, who cares!"
With a quick assessment using a skill he had mastered, he understood the sword's power: it could reincarnate a person by stabbing their heart, but only three times—two of which had already been used.
Before committing to reincarnation, the man carefully selected his most important swords, storing them in his spatial armory—a mystical inventory for weapons and armor. He had chosen not to upgrade it to a full inventory, as he cared only about storing swords.
Once he had made his selections, he plunged the reincarnation sword into his heart and declared, "To hell with your honor and all that crap. If any of you bastards want a rematch, find your own reincarnation sword and face me in the next world."
Seven years have passed since the man, once known as the demon of 1,000 swords, was reborn into a new world. He was now Mathews Witsur, the son of a baron in a small agricultural barony. The Witsur family consisted of his father, Mathias Witsur; his mother, Alice Witsur; his elder sister, Rena Witsur; and his younger sister, Lucy Witsur.
Mathews, or Thews as he was called, was the middle child. The Witsur family shared a common trait—red hair. Alice and Lucy had rose-red hair, Thews and Mathias had darker shades, and Rena's was a fiery red.
In this new life, Thews decided he would enjoy it to the fullest. And what better way to enjoy life than by taking it easy and relaxing?
As Thews napped on a tree branch, Rena called out, "Dad told me to get you to training."
To which Thews replied, "My dear sister, what is the most joyous thing you can do while you're alive?"
Rena sighed, "Right, right. Just come down so I don't have to drag you to Dad."
Thews continued, "The answer is simple." He looked at his sister with the most serious face he could muster and declared, "It's slacking off!"
Rena gave him the look any older sister would give a sibling neglecting their duties. But she stayed silent, listening to his rambling.
"Yes, slacking off is the most prized thing in this world. If you can slack off, it means there's no danger nearby. When you slack off, you feel a sense of pride in getting away with it once more. This is truly the way to live life."
Rena, unimpressed, simply said, "Are you done? If so, then come down. Dad is waiting."
With a confident smile, Thews responded, "I refuse!"
Rena waited, expecting him to relent, but when Thews continued to lounge in the tree, she sighed, picked up a rock, and threw it with such force that it knocked him to the ground. She then grabbed him by the collar and began dragging him back.
As Thews was dragged along, he wore a proud smile, as if he had achieved some great victory. The servants, witnessing the scene, exchanged knowing looks. One maid remarked, "There's something wrong with that boy's head."
The other maid nodded and replied, "I'm not even going to say that you shouldn't badmouth a member of our master's family; I'm sure the master feels the same."
Eventually, Rena and Thews reached the training grounds where their father, Thias, was waiting. Rena threw her brother in front of their father, and Thews maintained his grin, arms crossed.
Thias asked sternly, "What do you think you're doing?"
Thews responded proudly, "I was slacking off to skip training!"
Thias looked at his son with disappointment and said, "You really have no shame, do you?"
Thews, with the same enthusiasm, replied, "I don't, and I'm proud of it!"
Thias stared at his son as if he were looking at trash. Then, a girl Thews didn't know spoke up, "I heard the son of the Witsur household was a lost cause, but I'm impressed by the lack of honor."
The girl had long blonde hair, blue eyes, and an aura of nobility.
Still lying on the ground, Thews quipped, "My, my. A new voice? And this smell..." Sniff Sniff "Smells like a rich little kitten with no claws."
A man standing beside the girl said, "You have some nerve to call the second princess that."
Thews responded, "Ah, this smell is better—an old loyal dog serving his master. No, that's not right. An old loyal hound is more appropriate. You have my approval." He finished with a thumbs up.
The man retorted, "Why would I need your approval, child?"
Thews replied nonchalantly, "It's just a little thing I do. No need to overthink it."
Thias, growing exasperated, said, "Mathews, for the love of all that is holy, get up from the ground and stop embarrassing our house more than you already have."
Thews, still defiant, said, "Yeah, no. I've become one with the ground. Just do your thing and think of me as nothing more than a patch of grass."
The princess interjected, "I'm fine leaving him be if we're not getting anywhere with him."
Thias sighed and said, "As you wish, Your Highness."
Rena, who specialized in swordsmanship, then began sparring with the princess, who excelled in magic. Both took the practice seriously, with Thias and the man accompanying the princess closely watching and offering advice.
When the practice ended, Thews remarked, "I give that session a 3.5 out of 10."
The princess, surprised, said, "You kept your eyes shut the whole time, so who are you to judge our training?"
Thews replied, "I'm just a pro slacker. No need to take anything I say seriously."
The princess dismissed him with, "Whatever. Can I have something to drink, please?"
Thias responded, "We've already prepared refreshments while you were practicing. Please, enjoy."
As the princess and Rena took their drinks, Rena asked out of curiosity, "Why did you rate our practice so low, Thews?"
Thews answered, "Lack of mana usage to enhance your movements, and the little kitten's lack of motivation."
The princess, confused, asked, "What?"
Thews continued, "Big sis is on the right track. I expect you'll become a great big dog like Dad one day. But the little kitten? I can only see her as a glorified housecat who's only ever played with toys."
Thias shouted, "That's enough, Mathews! Ridiculing Her Highness so blatantly deserves punishment!"
The princess interjected, "It's alright. I don't feel ridiculed by the likes of him." Then, turning to Thews, she asked, "Just out of curiosity, what kind of animal do you call yourself, boy?"
Thews mused, "Let me see... I guess I would be a centipede."
The princess laughed heartily. "You think of yourself as a centipede? That's priceless."
Thews replied, "Glad I could make the little kitten laugh. It's the most human thing you've done so far."
The princess paused, then asked, "You don't think of me as human?"
Thews answered, "Being born human and acting like a human are two different things."
The princess asked, "What... What do you think I am, then?"
Thews shrugged, "I don't know, rich little kitten. You tell me."
Thias, at his limit, stomped on Thews, who spat out the contents of his stomach. Gasping for breath, Thews muttered, "I think you broke a rib or two."
Ignoring him, Thias said to the princess, "I'm deeply sorry for my son's actions today. I'll see to it that he's severely reprimanded."
Thias lifted his foot and commanded, "Thews, your punishment will be to run a hundred laps around the house. Louis, heal the boy and ensure he completes his punishment without assistance."
Thews was still running long after dark, his labored breaths echoing through the house.
That night, the princess and Rena shared a bed, as they were friends. Rena reassured the princess, "Hey, don't take what my brother said too seriously, Mira. He might have a foul mouth, but that doesn't mean he knows what he's talking about."
Mira replied, "I know. I just can't help but wonder where he got that behavior. All of you seem like wonderful people."
Rena chuckled, "I know. It's one of the mysteries of the Witsur household."
Mira asked, "What kinds of mysteries does your house have?"
Rena began telling stories about the Witsur household until the two drifted off to sleep.
When Thews finally finished his last lap, he collapsed and, gasping for breath, said to Louis, "This... is as far as I go." He fell to the ground, muttering, "Please... take care of my family... bury me under a tree... and visit once every decade to clean my grave... With that, I can... rest easy... dead." With the word "dead," he closed his eyes in satisfaction.
Louis, unimpressed, said, "Young master, please get up and go to your room. I want to sleep too."
Thews, still playing along, responded, "Didn't you hear the 'dead' sound? That means I can no longer move, as I've departed this world."
Louis sighed, "For a corpse, you sure talk a lot."
Thews replied, "It must be your imagination."
Louis watched Thews lying on the ground, pretending to be a corpse. Finally, she said, "Don't make me call Ms. Witsur."
That word made Thews take a deep breath, open his eyes, and mutter, "I guess I've come back from the dead." He rose from the ground, and Louis said dryly, "Congratulations on your resurrection, young master. Now get to your room and go to sleep."
Thews did as he was told, acting exhausted. Once in his room, he muttered to himself, "You call that a punishment, Dad? That's barely a warm-up. Though I suppose that's what you think since I'm the slacking son, after all."
Days passed in the Witsur household. On the seventh day of the princess' visit, the Witsur family, the second princess Mira, and her guard Ludwig were eating breakfast. Thias, sitting beside Thews, said, "Thews, I've long since accepted that you don't like to act like a noble, but for crying out loud, could you at least eat breakfast modestly while the princess is present?"
Thews casually replied, "No can do, Pops. I've decided to live life on my own terms, so if you want my advice, you and Mom should just disown me and get me out of your hair. Then I wouldn't drag the Witsur name through the mud with every stunt I pull. Easy choice, right?"
Thias frowned at his son, responding, "If we disowned you, a boy who's lived a privileged life, you'd be dead in a matter of days."
"Yeah, but at least I'd be out of your hair, right? No more shame on the Witsur family," Thews retorted with a shrug.
Thias's patience snapped. "You're still my son, dammit! You might be a disgrace, but you're our disgrace! Understand?"
Thews shrugged off his father's words with a smirk. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks for screwing Mom seven years ago and bringing me into this world. I'll dedicate my life to slacking as a token of my appreciation."
"Don't say such things while we're eating! Lucy doesn't need to hear that!" Thias shouted, but it was too late. Lucy, wide-eyed, asked her mother, "Mommy, what does 'screwing' mean?"
Alice, ever composed, replied, "It's when two people make each other feel good in a special way."
Lucy's innocent curiosity continued. "So, when you're combing my hair, is that also screwing?"
Alice explained, "No, sweetie. It's a different kind of feeling. The special feeling happens when 'pimpim' and 'penpen' connect. Or between two 'pimpims' or a 'penpen' and a 'bunbun'."
Thias looked alarmed. "Are you sure we should be explaining this to her now?"
Alice calmly replied, "She's going to ask someone else if we don't. It's better she hears it from us in a way she can understand."
Lucy pouted. "But I want to have a baby too! Since Papa and big brother have 'penpens', we can make one!"
Alice chuckled. "Those two are the only 'penpens' that should never touch your 'pimpim'. And besides, you're still a baby yourself."
Lucy, displeased, continued eating with a scowl. Thews watched his little sister for a moment before turning to Alice. "So, Mom, how was the day I was conceived?"
"Thews!" Thias exclaimed, while Alice calmly answered, "If I remember correctly, it was daytime, and it was… satisfactory."
Thews hummed thoughtfully. "I see. Dad, you disappoint me."
"What do you mean? She said she was satisfied!" Thias responded, confused.
Thews shook his head. "To think this man is my father... When a woman says 'satisfactory,' it means 'it got the job done.' But there was clearly something left to be desired."
Thias blinked in surprise. "What?!"
Thews continued, "If a woman had a great time, she'd say, 'It was wonderful,' with a smile on her face and a hand on her cheek."
Thias turned to Alice, incredulous. "Is this true?"
Alice sighed. "Lower your voice, dear. And Thews, it wasn't your father's fault there was more to be desired. We were nearly caught in the act."
Thias groaned. "Why would you tell him that, Alice?"
Thews grinned. "Caught in the act, were you? Who started it?"
"Alice, don't you dare answer that," Thias warned.
Alice smirked. "It was me."
Thias buried his face in his hands, overwhelmed with frustration and embarrassment.
Thews nodded sagely. "Ah, I see. So that's the dynamic in this household. No wonder we live in a matriarchy."
Thias, desperate to regain control, asked, "Where did you even learn all this? You're only seven."
Thews picked up his teacup, sipping it with exaggerated elegance. "From the books in your secret stash, dear father."
Alice's expression darkened, and Lucy innocently remarked, "Mommy's mad."
Alice glared at Thias. "Care to explain?"
Thias stammered, "Yo-yo-you know how Mathews is! Always spouting nonsense to stir up trouble!"
In desperation, Thias turned to Thews. "Please, say something to calm your mother!"
Thews set down his teacup, leaned forward, and said, "They're in the leftmost corner of the second row of books in the study. Behind those books, there's a hidden compartment."
Thias blurted out, "Hah! You're wrong! That's not where I hid—" He froze mid-sentence, realizing his mistake while finishing his sentence with "Them."
Alice, unimpressed, said, "Thanks for the information, Thews. I'll be having a word with your father after breakfast."
In silent defeat, Thias resumed eating, thinking, Hah! That's only part of my collection. A small loss, but I'll recover.
Thews added nonchalantly, "Oh, by the way, Mom, there are six stashes in total."
Alice hummed in acknowledgment, and Thias blurted out, "No, there aren't! There's only fo—"
Alice cut him off with a piercing glare. "You were going to say four, right?"
Thias remained silent, sweat beading on his forehead.
Alice turned to Thews. "I think that's enough teasing for now. Your sister and the princess can barely eat with all this talk."
Thews shrugged. "Sure, sure," and resumed his meal with a carefree attitude.
Alice then apologized to Mira. "I'm sorry, Princess Miranda. This isn't a typical breakfast conversation, I assure you."
Mira, a bit embarrassed, replied, "It's alright. Though it's shocking, I've come to expect a certain level of...foulness when Mathews is around."
Alice sighed. "Indeed. I'm not sure where we went wrong with him. Maybe he hit his head as a baby or something."
Thews grinned. "I'm not offended at all, Mom. In fact, I consider it high praise."
Alice rolled her eyes and turned to Mira. "I also need to apologize for Mathias not joining your hunt today. He and I have some things to discuss that might take a while."
Mira nodded. "It's fine. I'll have Sir Ludwig with me. I'm sure we'll manage just fine."
Ludwig, ever loyal, responded, "It is an honor to serve, Your Highness."
The rest of breakfast passed without incident, and after a brief break, Rena, Mira, and Ludwig set off for the forest to train. Thias, due to some pressing matters, was unable to join them. Lucy studied with her tutor, while Thews, supposed to be studying as well, was instead lounging in a spot that would take the servants some time to find.
Rena and Mira were casually hunting wolf-like creatures when Mira asked, "Are you sure this is enough for today's training, Rena?"
Rena replied, "I know it's easy for us, but it helps us navigate the forest. So many different scenarios here can make your head spin."
Just then, they spotted a large lizard-like creature, known for its toughness. For an average adventurer, this monster would be a significant challenge. But Mira, without a second thought, cast a powerful electric spell, killing it instantly.
As if the lizard never existed, Mira continued, "Aren't you from this area? I thought you would've trained here plenty of times."
Rena shrugged. "My dad's pretty protective of me, despite how hard he trains me. I rarely get to join the hunting parties. Thews, on the other hand, often has me fetch him at the forest's edge."
Mira smirked. "I'm surprised someone like him has the nerve to stay near a place that could easily kill him."
Rena chuckled. "I know, right? One of these days, he'll end up getting hurt by a stray monster or something."
"At least then, he might take training seriously," Mira added.
"Key word being 'might,'" Rena agreed, and they both laughed.
Their laughter was interrupted when Ludwig suddenly charged toward Mira, swinging his sword. "What are you doing, Ludwig?! You could've hurt me!" Mira exclaimed.
An unfamiliar voice echoed from the forest. "Yeah, Ludwig. The poor princess could've gotten hurt with you swinging that dangerous thing around."
Rena noticed a dagger on the ground, likely thrown at Mira. She readied herself and shouted, "Who are you?! Show yourselves!"
The voice from the forest responded, "As you wish." Six men emerged from their hiding spots, surrounding Mira, Rena, and Ludwig. Five wore hoods that concealed their faces, but the leader had animal ears and no headgear, marking him as a beastkin—rare, but not unheard of.
The leader sneered. "Now then, old man. Why don't you shuffle away and let us do our job?"
Ludwig, sword still pointed at the leader, said, "As long as I live, I won't let you harm even a hair on the princess's head."
"You think you can protect her from all six of us?" the leader taunted.
Ludwig replied, "Miss Rena is quite skilled with the sword for her age, and the princess has a knack for magic. All I need to do is deal with four of you; the ladies can handle the rest."
The leader grinned evilly. "That's interesting. Let's see if you can bite as hard as you bark." With a hand signal, the five other assassins launched their attack.
The two girls struggled a bit against their opponents but held their own. Ludwig did his best to fend off three attackers, but he worried about what would happen when the leader joined the fight.
After a while, three assassins were incapacitated. The leader, with a wide smile, drew his greatsword. "That's it. That's it. I knew this job would be interesting."
The leader attacked Ludwig, pushing him back with the force of his swing. "Ludwig!" Mira shouted, but she had to turn back to her own fight.
Ludwig barely dodged another swing from the leader, but it was clear that the man was at least his equal, if not stronger.
Eventually, Ludwig began to tire, and the leader noticed. "What's wrong, old man? Getting tired?" he mocked.
Out of breath, Ludwig replied, "I've still got some fight left in me, so don't get too excited yet." But he knew he couldn't defeat the leader in his current state. In his prime, maybe, but not now.
Suddenly, a young boy's voice rang out. "My, oh my! Why do you have to ruin such a perfect day, with barely any clouds in the sky, by shedding blood in this beautiful forest?"
Everyone turned to see Thews, crouching on a tree branch.
Rena shouted, "What are you doing here, Thews?! Get out of here, it's dangerous!"
Thews replied, "What to do? My big sis is so considerate, telling me to flee, but if I do, she might die. Such a pickle."
Noticing that Rena was bleeding, Thews said, "Welp. Let's make this a scenario where a little bro rescues his big sister, her friend, and the friend's dog." He jumped to the ground, and the assassin attacking Mira decided to target him instead.
As the blade neared Thews, Rena shouted, "Thews!" But Thews casually dodged the attack, making it seem as if the assassin had missed on purpose. He kept walking toward Rena's opponent, ignoring the attacker.
The assassin, furious, charged again. "Behind you!" Rena warned, but Thews calmly blocked the attack with a tachi sword that was still in its sheath, as if swatting away a fly. The ease with which he did this, given that the tachi was more than half his size, left everyone stunned.
"Can you not, my guy? I have business with the other one," Thews said dismissively, turning back toward Rena's opponent. The enraged assassin shouted, "Don't screw with me!" and attacked yet again.
This time, Thews sighed. "So be it." Suddenly, the attacker froze, as if encased in ice. Everyone stopped fighting, their attention fixed on Thews.
The leader, sensing the change, tried to attack Ludwig, but he too was stopped in the same mysterious way. "What the hell? What is this?! Some kind of magic?!" the leader exclaimed.
The first assassin who attacked Thews yelled, "You bastard! It was you, wasn't it?! I'll kill you when I get free! I'll—" His rant was cut short when Thews turned to face him with a smile that sent shivers down his spine.
In a moment of clarity, the assassin noticed his perspective changing, as if he were falling. "That's weird. I didn't move, but I'm..." Then he realized he was seeing his body from a distance. "Wait! That's my body! If it's over there, then I'm—" But it was too late.
Thews muttered, "It's funny how the brain makes you see things in slow motion when you're faced with certain death." He then walked toward Rena's opponent, pausing only when he noticed Mira. He stopped and took a closer look.
Mira asked, "What is it?"
"I didn't care to look at your face before, but now that I see it, you're indeed a beauty. You'll definitely be at least an 8 out of 10 when you grow up," Thews said.
He then began to make exaggerated hand gestures describing a woman's proportions as he continued, "And if you get some of that on your chest—not too much, or they look silly and impractical, but not too little either—some on your behind, a bit of muscle, a slender waist... Oh, but the muscles in your waist might look dumb, so scratch that. I don't mind some width if there's muscle. And when you get a mature woman's face, then I'll definitely give you a 10 out of 10. Though mages often lack muscle, so maybe a 9 out of 10 if your proportions turn out right."
As Thews spoke, Mira turned away, covering her chest. Thews commented, "Oh please, there's nothing to cover yet. All you've got is a pretty face. If anyone got excited over the body you currently have, that'd be troubling. Isn't that right, leader?"
The assassin leader growled, "Are you seriously talking about that kind of nonsense in the middle of a fight?"
Thews smirked. "Fight? What fight? The battle was over the moment I stepped in. This is just a chat I have with my allies before I start interrogations."
The leader spat, "What?! You brat! The moment I break free from your little trick, I'll—"
"I control the space around us," Thews interrupted. "If I don't want you to move, you won't move. If I want your ear, I'll have your ear. If I want your eye, I can cut the cord that connects it to your brain and bring it to me. If I want to crush your balls, I can very much do that. In fact, why don't I?"
Suddenly, all the assassins felt an excruciating pain as an invisible force crushed their most sensitive parts. Their cries of agony echoed through the forest.
The leader snarled, "You brat! You'll pay for this!" But Thews brushed it off with a dismissive wave. "Yeah, yeah, you'll get your chance. Now shut up for a moment; I need to have a little chat with the pedo over here."
He turned to the man who had been fighting Rena. The man's eyes widened in shock. "You mean me? I'm not a pedo! Why would you say that?"
Thews replied casually, "Well, let's see. An adult male, in the middle of a forest, with his buddies, laying hands on a nine-year-old girl. Doesn't take much to make it sound like you're a sexual deviant."
The man stammered, "I'm not a sexual deviant! Sure, I may have raped a woman or two, but I'm not into kids!" Thews' eyes narrowed, and he snapped back, "So, you're saying my sister isn't beautiful? Fuck you! If you can't appreciate beauty, then you may never see again!" With a flick of his hand, the man's eyes were crushed by an unseen force, and he howled in agony.
Gasping, the man spat, "Fuck you too! You're just a kid yourself, and yet you were ogling the princess earlier! Who's the real pedo here, huh?"
Thews shot back, "What the hell are you talking about? I was just imagining how she'd look when she grows up! Not once did I think about having sex with her, even if she turned out to be a 10/10!"
Mira winced at Thews' bluntness, her pride stung. The man, struggling through the pain, shouted back, "Fine, I get it! But why wouldn't you even consider it? If she turned out to be a 10/10, wouldn't it be something to brag about, bedding the second princess of Altren? Or is she not good enough for your fantasies?"
Thews, visibly irritated, retorted, "Look, I may not have the experience, but I have a feeling that fapping to someone who's just got the body but not the personality, or having sex without any real connection, is just a waste of time. It might feel good in the moment, but afterward, you'd probably just feel emptier than before!"
The man, still defiant, shouted, "I don't care how old you are, but if there's a hole, you can fuck it!"
"Seven!" Thews corrected, his voice rising. "And go fuck yourself!"
"I wish I could!" the man yelled back.
"Shut your fucking mouth, you weirdo!" Thews barked.
"Fuck you!" the man shot back. "You're just a six-year-old who thinks they know everything about sex!"
Thews clenched his fists. "I'm fucking seven!" he shouted, and the two fell into an awkward silence, catching their breath.
After a moment, Thews wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead. "That sure made two men connect in a weird way, huh?"
"Agreed," the man panted.
Then Thews' demeanor shifted, his voice growing cold. "But you made my sister bleed. That makes you a pedo, and that means I have to kill you."
The man screamed, "For the last time, I'm not—" But Thews silenced him, placing a finger to the man's lips. "Dead people don't talk."
In an instant, the man exploded into a bloodstain on a nearby tree. No sound, no remains, just blood.
Thews turned, moving through the scene, speaking to the remaining assassins. Rena, Mira, and Ludwig stood frozen, too stunned to interfere.
Thews summoned a slender, black, double-edged sword to his hand and approached the next assassin, stabbing him in the knee. "Who sent you?" The assassin grimaced, "The first princess of Altren."
A female voice emanated from the sword. "Lie."
Thews sighed. "So, this one's no good either." And just like that, the assassin was reduced to a bloodstain on another tree.
He moved on to another assassin, slumped against a tree. Again, he stabbed the man's leg and repeated the question, "Who sent you?"
The assassin hesitated. "Mar… Marquis Lortset."
"Lie," the sword whispered.
"Not this one either." The assassin tried to speak as Thews walked away, but his voice was cut short, and he too became a bloodstain.
Thews approached another assassin who stood frozen, unable to move. "Who sent you?" he asked, stabbing the man's leg. Trembling, the assassin answered, "I don't know, I swear. The boss took the contract."
"Truth," the sword confirmed.
Thews pulled the sword back, and the assassin let out a sigh of relief, though it was short-lived. Thews stabbed him in the throat, and the man gurgled, trying to ask, "Why?"
Thews simply replied, "At least you had the guts to feed the monsters of this forest. Now, on to the main course."
Finally, Thews turned to the leader, who was still standing but paralyzed. He stabbed the leader's leg and asked an unexpected question, "What do you think of centipedes?"
The leader blinked in confusion. "What?"
Thews twisted the sword slightly, making the leader wince. "Answer the bloody question, leader boy."
"They're disgusting creatures," the leader muttered, and the sword confirmed, "Truth."
Thews continued, "If you were in a forest with a centipede so poisonous it could kill with a single sting, what would you do?"
The leader's voice was steadier this time. "I would kill it before it killed me."
"Truth," the sword echoed.
Thews' grin widened. "That's right. A proper answer. But tell me, what if the poisonous centipede was a lot faster than you? What would you do then? Still try to kill it? Hide? Run? Burn the forest down? Tell me, oh tell me."
The leader, now visibly unnerved, replied, "If I knew I couldn't win, I'd fight to my best abilities, so I could die with honor."
"Truth," the sword whispered again.
Thews fell silent for a moment, just staring up at the leader's face. Then he burst into hysterical laughter, the motion of it causing the sword to twist inside the leader's leg, making him squirm. "What's so funny?" the leader demanded.
Thews struggled to catch his breath. "Because… you think there's some honor… in dying. What a joke."
The leader scowled. "You think there's no honor in a proper death? Little brat, what's more honorable than dying for a good cause?"
Still chuckling, Thews asked, "So, do you think your men died honorably?"
"They died trying to complete the contract," the leader replied, his voice firm. "That's an honorable way to die."
Thews tried to stifle his laughter but failed, bursting into another fit. After a moment, he finally calmed down and said, "But they failed, didn't they? They died without seeing the end, without reaping the rewards of their labor. They died giving information to their targets. They died with regrets they'll never resolve, right?"
A heavy silence followed. Then Thews drove the sword deeper into the leader's leg, causing him to groan in pain. "Who benefited from their deaths? You? Me? The princess? The guard? Rena? House Witsur? The royal family of Altren? The Queendom of Altren? The Empire of Nous? The Kingdom of Prumsis? The continent of Oltron? Humanity? Elves? Dwarves? Beastkin? Monsters? The abyss? The world? Who? Tell me, who?"
No one answered. The silence was deafening.
Eventually, Thews pulled the sword from the leader's leg and turned away. "Forget it. You're not a god. You don't have all the answers."
As Thews walked off, Ludwig called after him, "Aren't you going to ask who sent them? Or are you leaving that to us?"
Thews didn't look back. "I've already got my answers. He has nothing left to offer this world."
Ludwig started to ask, "What do you—" but was interrupted by the sword's voice: "The exact culprit is unknown, but Ruck suspects it's a noble from Prumsis."
This revelation made the leader exclaim, "How do you know?! I thought that sword could only detect lies!"
Thews smiled and glanced back at the leader. "Too bad for you. The moment Echo tastes the blood of a living being, she knows everything that person knows—until the blood's connection to the body is severed."
The leader, now pale with disbelief, stammered, "Then... that means..."
Thews finished his thought for him, "The moment the blood from your leg touched Echo, she knew everything you knew. Poor little Ruck. Everything you did was for nothing."
Ruck, looking utterly defeated, was then released from the mysterious force holding him. Thews turned to his tachi blade and asked, "Hime, could you set up a barrier to stop this Ruck guy from escaping and keep others from interfering?"
A mature woman's voice emanated from the tachi blade, replying, "Sure, but don't get too overconfident. You're still just a child, after all."
Thews grinned. "How sweet of you to worry about me." Hime huffed, but she erected the barrier as requested. Thews let go of Hime, and the sword hovered upright in the air.
Pointing Echo at Ruck, Thews challenged, "Do you still have some fight in you? If you can defeat me in fair combat, I'll let you leave this place alive."
Ruck hesitated, then picked up his greatsword. "Don't complain if you lose," he warned.
Thews replied coolly, "Same to you."
Rena shouted, "Wait, Thews! You can't win against him! I know you've borrowed power from that sword, but you're no match for him!"
Thews gave Rena a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, big sis. I have my secrets."
Ruck attacked swiftly and powerfully, but Thews dodged each strike with ease. The frustrated Ruck launched attack after attack, but none could land. Occasionally, Thews would counter with precision, making it increasingly difficult for Ruck to move effectively. Despite his efforts, Ruck found himself gradually overpowered until Thews finally cut his legs, rendering him unable to stand.
Beaten, Ruck demanded, "I'm done. Now kill me."
Thews smiled and shook his head. "No way. The fight ends when you die. You still have arms, so you can still pull off a few moves. Come on now, fight. Swing that sword. After all, there's no honor in death—just an empty void where you're trapped by your regrets, unable to do anything. Now, fight. Fight. Fight!"
Ruck sighed, "You're one crazy kid." He bit down on something in his mouth, and blood soon spilled from his lips. With a final grunt, Ruck stopped breathing.
Thews's smile remained, but his eyes were vacant, as though something unacceptable had just happened. He said cheerily, "Hey, Ruck, stop messing around. You can still fight, right?"
He kicked Ruck's body. "Hey, hey, Ruck. You couldn't have died, could you? You wouldn't just die without making an effort to live, right? Right?"
Echo's voice interrupted, "Master, he's dead."
Thews responded with disbelief. "I never took you for a joker, Echo. Ruck wouldn't just die without a fight. Right, Ruck?"
He continued kicking Ruck's lifeless body, demanding that Ruck speak, while Echo tried to make him see reality. But eventually, Thews stopped and muttered, "So you're dead." He chuckled softly, "You were one of those who forsake the gift of life, weren't you?"
There was a brief silence before Thews started kicking Ruck's body again, repeatedly asking, "Why?" Each kick grew more violent, his voice rising with intensity.
Finally, Thews raised Echo and, with all his strength, swung down at Ruck's corpse, shouting, "Why!?" He slashed again and again, his voice a mix of rage and desperation, while Echo tried in vain to calm him down.
With a final maddening shout of "WHY!!!" Thews unleashed a devastating blow that cleaved Ruck's body in half and felled several trees in the path of the wind current from his blade.
Rena, Mira, and Ludwig were too stunned to intervene as Thews continued to slice what remained of Ruck into pieces, his voice hoarse from screaming, "WHY!"
Realizing that words alone wouldn't stop him, Echo called out, "Hime, help me here."
Hime sighed. "How unsightly of him to lose control like this. I suppose it's due to having the body of a child—such a tantrum."
Hime used her abilities to bind Thews in place, but even as she did, Thews fought against her control, shouting, "Why would you forsake life!? Why would you stop struggling!? Dying is disgraceful enough, but there's nothing more disgraceful than dying without trying to hold on to life! You fucking ingrate!"
Echo, noticing that Thews was still moving despite Hime's efforts, asked, "Why is Thews still resisting?"
Hime explained, "Using my powers takes a lot of mana. I'm trying to maximize both the intensity and duration of the hold, but our master's will is absurdly strong—autosuggestion barely affects him. I can't hold him for long, so if you have any way to calm him down, now would be the time."
Echo pondered for a moment and then turned to Rena. "Miss Rena, do you love your brother?"
Rena, startled, asked, "What?"
Echo repeated, "Do you love your little brother, Miss Rena?"
Rena hesitated before answering with a hint of embarrassment, "I do. So what?"
Echo continued, "Then you're the only one who can calm him down."
Rena, confused, asked, "How? He's never acted this way before. I don't know what to do."
Echo urged, "Trust your instincts as a big sister."
Rena, still bewildered, asked, "What?"
Echo pressed on, "Yes, your sisterly love. The love that comes from family. That's what we need—the power of love. You're the one who loves him most, so only you can reach him. Show us the depth of your love!"
Blushing, Rena hesitated, but Echo's insistence finally pushed her to act. She mustered her courage and approached Thews. When she stood before him, she saw a stranger in his eyes—this was not the brother she knew.
After a moment of hesitation, Rena embraced Thews tightly. He struggled violently, still trying to break free from both Hime's binding and Rena's hug, shouting incoherently.
Rena whispered, "It's all right, Mathews. Big sister Rena is here. I won't let any harm come to you. I promised, didn't I?"
As she made this declaration, Ludwig shouted, "Princess!" in alarm. In his thrashing, Thews accidentally scratched Rena with Echo. The cut was small and would heal quickly, but in that instant, Rena's mind went blank.
Part 3: Where thou journey lead?
In the next moment, Rena found herself on a battlefield. A black-haired man in red garb was holding a soldier's corpse by the hair, inspecting its face with detached curiosity before tossing it aside in the direction she was facing. Confused and disoriented, Rena barely had time to gather her thoughts when the man shouted toward her, "Are you here seeking death?! Do you cling to life, hoping to pass by me?! Take up your weapons and face me! Face death!"
Instinctively, Rena reached for her weapon, but a voice boomed from behind her, "Do not fear, men!" She turned to see a vast army, armed to the teeth, led by a commanding figure who continued, "This man may be called a demon, but he is still just flesh and bones like the rest of us! Fear not, for we fight for our people! For our homeland! For our emperor!"
The army roared in unison, "For our people! For our homeland! For our emperor!" With that cry, their leader shouted, "Attack!"
The army charged toward the black-haired man, who responded with equal fervor, "Onwards! Cling to the gift of life while embracing death! For the sake of new swords!" He then dashed forward at incredible speed, summoning a storm of swords to aid him in battle.
Rena was paralyzed by uncertainty, unsure of what to do. But just as the black-haired man and the army were about to clash, another voice echoed in her mind, "There's nothing death hates more than those who forsake life."
The scene shifted abruptly. Now, Rena found herself witnessing a young, black-haired boy practicing swordsmanship with his master in the pouring rain. The master easily parried the boy's attacks, speaking as he did so.
"You see, boy, life and death are lovers. They flirt with each other day after day, often in ways that are hard to stomach. But understand this: life is but a brief step in a being's existence. Once you die, you cannot live again. You'll spend eternity in a dark void, haunted by regrets, unable to change a thing. When you die, it's over—final, the end of the story."
The boy, curious, asked, "But what does that have to do with life and death being lovers?"
"Silence, boy! I was getting to that!" The master cleared his throat. "Life loves all souls, just as Death does. But the time souls spend in the realm of the living is short. Death, being the generous soul he is, would rather let Life hold on to those souls as long as possible. But Death's influence is woven into every soul's existence, and so, eventually, everything that lives must also die.
So what does Death do? He gives us a reason to cling to life by threatening to come for us at any moment. That's how the living find the will to fight Death, to hold on to life as long as they can. There's nothing Death loves more than those who fight to keep their hold on life, who resist until the very end. To Death, dying is stupid! Dying is dishonorable! Dying is—how should I put it?—gay! Not in the homosexual sense, but in the derogatory, schoolyard insult kind of way.
So yes, be gay if you like, just don't be 'gay gay.'"
Rena thought, "He might be a little unhinged, but his heart seems to be in the right place. I think. Maybe. Hopefully."
The master continued, "Death is inevitable. You will meet him one day, and when you do, you'd better give him the fight of your literal life! You can seek death, even embrace it, but you must give Death the best fight you can muster and cling to life until you find yourself in his grasp!
But there are those who want to die, who forsake the gift of life. They seek Death too eagerly, embrace him too lovingly. They become the instrument of their own demise because they've abandoned the gift that Life gave them. And what did I say about those who forsake life, boy?"
"There is nothing Death hates more than those who have forsaken life," the disciple recited.
"Good. Remember this lesson well, for you will become one of the instruments that guide others to see the value of their lives. You'll be the one who brings people to Death before they become the instrument of their own end. What have I taught you?"
The disciple answered:
"Never lay a hand on those who do not seek death. Never undermine the resolve of those who face death head-on. Never hesitate to take the life of one who points a sword at you, for they are accepting Death's challenge. Don't give your heart to the street's temptations. Avoid making friends with the demons who harass shopkeepers—especially the ones with that Karen haircut. Never drink and ride a horse. Always know your friends' weaknesses before calling them 'homies.' And most importantly…"
Rena leaned in, intrigued by the build-up.
"Remember to unsheath your sword when going to number one and make sure to sheath and unsheath it three times before moving forward."
The master then added with great pride, "One more thing, boy. Fuck literature!"
The disciple, grinning ear to ear, started jumping up and down, shouting, "Yay! Fuck literature! Fuck literature!" The master laughed maniacally, both of them seemingly oblivious to the rain that had been pouring down throughout their training.
"Yes," thought Rena, "idiots really do attract each other."
The scene shifted again, back to the battlefield after the conflict had ended. Bodies lay scattered across the ground, a grim silence hanging in the air. The surviving soldiers, overcome with fear, fled, shouting, "Monster!" "Demon!" The black-haired man roared after them like a beast, "YES! FLEE! LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER DAY! CLING TO LIFE WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT AND RUN FROM DEATH!"
Soon, the battlefield was deserted except for the black-haired man. He took a deep breath and said, "Yay! Job's done! Now I can add more swords to my garden!" Extending his hand, he began to chant, "Heed my call, oh swords who have lost your partners in this wretched battlefield. I give you a taste of my power so that you may achieve sentience and mourn your fallen comrades." A wave of energy spread across the battlefield, and the swords that had belonged to the fallen soldiers began to glow.
After a pause, the man continued, "I have granted you a semblance of sentience, and with it, an opportunity. You may join my garden of swords, to be among your kind in an endless field. All I ask in return is that you come when I call for your aid. If you ever find another person worthy of being your partner, you are free to leave with my blessing. This is my promise as a sword master. If you wish to join me, gather around. If not, then wait for someone else to claim your aid. The choice is yours."
One by one, swords began to fly toward the black-haired man, encircling him. He smiled and said, "So this is how many I get this time. Much more than I expected. Thank you all, for joining me on my journey of life. I am honored." With a horizontal wave of his hand, the swords disappeared into a cloud of mist.
Then, the man turned and began walking toward Rena, who instinctively readied her sword. In a flash, he appeared before her, gently placing his hand on her head. With a warm smile, he said, "Big sis."
As soon as the words left his lips, the scene shifted to an endless field of swords, bathed in moonlight. The man removed his hand from Rena's head, and she noticed Mira standing beside her. The man also removed his hand from Mira's head, having placed it there a moment before.
Rena, still wary, asked, "What are you doing here, Mira? And who are you, tall man?"
The black-haired man chuckled, "I wouldn't call myself much taller than average, but to answer your question, it's yo boy, Thews." Both Rena and Mira paused, then responded in unison, "Huh?"
Thews continued, "As for why the little kitten is here, well, she ran toward us when she saw me raising a sword against you, big sis, which made the hound shout 'Princess!' or something. I don't know. That's all I gathered from that moment. Now let's hear from the little kitten herself."
Mira, still puzzled, replied, "I don't know why I'm here either. When I tried to stop you, Thews, from moving your sword hand, I suddenly appeared here and saw what I assume are your memories."
Thews says, "Thank you for your answer, kitten. Now, how about we talk about—"
Rena interrupts, "Is it really you, Thews? You look… different."
Thews chuckles. "Haha… I suppose this might come as a shock. Once, there was a man who stabbed himself with a sword that allowed him to reincarnate into another body. The sword did its thing like a swoosh, and when I woke up, I was sitting at a dinner table with a family that felt oddly familiar. The memories of the man who used the sword stayed with me, as did those of the young child I had become. Some adjustments had to be made, and now… here I am."
Rena hesitates. "Then… what about my brother, Mathews?"
The man replies, "More or less assimilated into who you see now. Four years of memories can't compete with centuries of them. Two egos merged, and the stronger one dominated. That's how I've come to understand it."
Rena's face pales. "Then… you are…"
The man continues, "I'm just a pretender who stole your brother's place. You see… I'm not a good person."
Rena shouts, "Give him back!"
The man shakes his head. "I can't. While I didn't intend to take someone else's life, I did, and by doing so, I've committed yet another sin. I truly am a demon."
Rena falls to her knees, murmuring, "Then… that promise…"
While Rena is lost in thought, Mira asks, "So, was it you who called us here?"
The man nods. "I did."
Mira narrows her eyes. "For what purpose? If you're truly a demon, wouldn't it have been in your best interest to stay hidden?"
The man gazes at the dark sky for a moment before replying, "I could have stayed silent, not let you enter my memories or mindscape. But then I'd have to explain how I obtained swords that can turn the tide of battle with ease and how I fought an opponent that was difficult even for the old hound. I don't know how high he ranks, but from what I've seen, he's one of the most powerful people I've encountered in this world. Making up excuses for both would have been a pain, so I gave up the moment I saw an opening to end this pretending act."
Mira presses on. "If you hadn't shown up to rescue us, none of this would have been necessary."
The man shrugs. "Now that you mention it, you're right. I could have stayed hidden and let you be defeated. That way, I could have continued living as Mathews Witsur."
"Then why?" Mira asks.
The man smirks. "Let me emphasize that I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. Sharpest? But I cut really well with my swords, so wouldn't that make me sharp? Hmm… Oh, it refers to mental sharpness… I think. Ahem! The point is, I'm not that smart. I act on instinct. And my instinct told me I couldn't let the person whose place I took—my sister—get hurt. All I knew to do in that situation was to let loose and cut some bitches up. That's the gist of it… I think."
Mira asks, "What are you trying to achieve?"
"Right… the reason…" The man bends down and says to Rena, "Big si… Rena Witsur, I have a proposition for you. You might find it appealing."
"What is it?" Rena asks.
"Would you like to become a hero, like in the stories?"
"A hero?" Rena looks up, confused.
The man smiles, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Yes, a hero. Avenge your brother by slaying the evil demon who took his place and tricked your family."
"Avenge… my brother…" Rena mutters.
"Yes, slay the demon that's wearing your brother's skin and causing your family's downfall."
Mira interjects, "Wait a moment. You want Rena to kill you?"
"Yes. This is the only opportunity I can offer. If we don't do it now, while my current body is incapacitated, my self-preservation instincts will kick in next time. So, Rena, when you wake up, you must kill me."
Rena and Mira ask in unison, "But what about you?"
"What about me? I'm an evil demon who took away an innocent boy's place. My thoughts don't matter."
Rena asks, "Why would an evil demon protect the people he tried to deceive? Why did you get angry for my sake?"
The man stands up. "That's… not important."
Mira probes, "Could it be that the instinct that brought you here was because you care for her? For the family?"
The man, sounding childish, says, "I don't know what you're talking about. Evil demons do what evil demons do. Reasons are unnecessary for me or you to know. Ah! Why don't I give you two swords as a gift for slaying me!? Yes, plenty to choose from. For Rena, I think Ren suits you. She controls fire and is just one letter off from your name. Sounds good, right? Ah! And as for the little kitten…"
"Stop!" Rena shouts.
"Not enough? That's troubling. I'm quite greedy, so the second one is quite—"
"That's not it!" Rena shouts again.
"Oh, I see! You don't want a gift from an evil demon! How thoughtless of me! But there must be something that I can…"
"Listen to me for a second!" Rena interrupts, her voice breaking. "Why do you want to die so badly?"
The man looks confused as he meets their gazes. "Of course I don't want to die. That's my whole thing. An instrument of death can't wish for its own death."
The girls ask in unison, "Then why?"
The man ignores them. "After all, if an instrument of death wanted to die, wouldn't its whole purpose be contradictory? That would disappoint death itself. So, as an instrument of death, I must cling to life, to challenge those still living. If I'm dead, I can't fulfill my purpose."
Mira asks, "But why ask Rena to kill you if you want to live?"
"Isn't it obvious? Because Rena promised to be my hero."
Rena and Mira are stunned. Rena finally speaks, "I made that promise to Thews. But how does killing you make me your hero?"
"Of course, it would. The part of Mathews that got assimilated remembers your promise. It lingers deep within my mind. And what's more heroic than preventing someone from becoming a monster? Instruments of death can't wish for death, but Mathews Witsur isn't one such instrument. It angers me that his wish lingers in my psyche. Those who seek death by forsaking life are the worst. Before they can kill themselves, I, as an instrument, must kill them first, or death becomes angry. And since I bear Mathews Witsur's body, I must kill it. But since that would mean killing myself, which isn't allowed, someone else must do it before I do."
Mira protests, "You aren't making any sense. If you think about what you said carefully, it would mean that you're secretly…"
The man cuts her off, "What would you do if you saw a centipede in front of you that could kill you instantly?"
The girls fall silent.
"Would you try to kill it first? Run away? Eat it to become as powerful as it is?"
Rena realizes something. "I'd take it home and make it part of my family."
Mira catches on. The man in front of them is the deadly centipede. Just as Thews had said when Mira asked him what kind of animal he would be.
The man retorts, "Are you stupid? The centipede could kill your whole family."
"But isn't the centipede lonely? What if it desires someone's love?" Rena asks.
The man chuckles. "How stupid. Everything susceptible to venom will die eventually. You'd be sentencing your family to death."
"That doesn't mean the centipede isn't allowed to feel love," Mira says.
The man pauses, then Rena adds, "What you want is love. And since you think you can't have it, you want to end it all. Isn't that right… Centipede?"
Silence falls.
Then, Centipede begins to laugh, but it soon turns sour. "Your faces are stupid. Your skills are stupid. Your bodies are stupid. You're both just stupid. Your families, views, lives, opinions, homes, and souls are stupid. Everything you stand for is stupid. And love is stupid."
Mira retorts, "It wasn't just your child's body that made you throw tantrums. When you're out of options, you ridicule those who are right. How old are you again?"
"Shut your mouth, you stupid bitch. No one likes you, and those who pretend to care are just after your status," Centipede snaps.
Mira calmly replies, "I don't have many friends, and you're mostly right about people being after my status as a second princess. Honestly, I expected better insults from an adult."
Centipede began scratching his head furiously, struggling to find the right words. Rena watched him, then asked, "Why can't you just be honest with yourself?"
"Shut up! Both of you, shut up!" Centipede snapped, continuing to scratch his head in frustration. Finally, he shouted, "Fuck it! I'm dumb as hell, so let's stop trying to talk this out! They say actions speak louder than words, right?"
As he spoke, a murderous aura emanated from Centipede, and he started advancing toward the two girls. They instinctively stepped back. Rena's voice trembled as she asked, "What are you going to do?"
Centipede replied coldly, "If I can't convince you with words, I'll make sure your bodies learn the lesson. The demon shouldn't leave this place alive." As he approached, he grabbed a sword, preparing to strike.
Just as Centipede was about to attack, a girl in eastern garb, her black hair cut cleanly at neck length, appeared between him and the girls. The newcomer sighed and said, "You were so close, master. You almost opened your heart, but then you shut it again. You really are a handful."
"Get out of the way, Echo," Centipede ordered.
"No," Echo replied calmly.
"Are you defying your master?" Centipede asked, his tone darkening.
Echo responded, "You gave most of your swords the ability to act independently within reason. I'm simply exercising that right. After all, you're using my power to harm those you once sought to protect."
Centipede sneered, "Who said I was protecting them? This is my last chance to get what I want, and I won't let you ruin it."
Echo shook her head. "You still haven't learned the strength of love, as I have. My duty as your sword is to help you achieve your true desire, but what you think you want isn't what your heart truly seeks."
"You hopeless romantic," Centipede spat. "You think you can do anything other than talk in my own mindscape?"
Echo sighed, a hint of sadness in her voice. "You may be the most powerful here, but need I remind you whose power you're using to keep them here?"
For a moment, Centipede and Echo locked eyes in a tense standoff. Then, Centipede lunged to attack. But before he could strike, Echo snapped her fingers, and the scene was swallowed by darkness.