◈ Chapter 16 - 4-the Man Who Walks on Water and the Stable Keeper
Ember's mana quickly stabilized.
I was planning on using it anyway, but I ended up bothering people.
[Uh, wait. Is that?!]
Jin seemed to have finally noticed its presence.
A guy called God notices this early on.
I played it off and asked Jin back.
'Why, what's wrong?'
[You were right in thinking that he had hidden a secret. That guy is carrying the seeds of negativity. I never thought that remnants of it would remain until this day.]
Seeds of denial.
A bad prank spread across the continent by the Great Demon of Plague.
The seed dug deep into the ground, the moment it touches the body of a person who has received the grace of mana, becomes a parasite on that body and sprouts.
It doesn't matter if it's the dantian or the heart, as long as it's the center of mana flow.
What are you doing by digging in?
It gives strength.
That's it.
To be precise, it overloads the body and allows the person to instantly use power equal to the size of the original vessel.
Although it does not increase the total amount of mana, it helps the body withstand stronger output.
The seeds of negativity themselves are harmless.
On the contrary, if used well, it can be of great help in times of survival crisis.
At a time when Amber's family was massacred and her stable was burning, it was also the seeds of denial that saved her life while she was being chased by knights.
It is even so easy to remove that you can be cured in just a few minutes as long as you inform your church that you have this disease.
It is not difficult to detect.
Because it penetrates into the core of the body, anyone who has received the grace of Mana cannot be unaware of it.
'That's why he's so evil.'
It's easy to catch a disease, easy to notice that you have it, and even easy to treat.
Therefore, people treat it as an insignificant disease or a good-to-have condition.
If you embrace this seed of negativity, even if it is only for a short period of time, it will amplify your power right now.
Of course, if it's that good, there's no reason for the church to grit its teeth and stop it.
Naturally, the more a person with the seed of negativity uses that power, the more his body is destroyed.
The problem is that you don't know how much force you have to use to break your body.
Not only does it vary from person to person, but each seed of plague has a different threshold.
If you are lucky, even if you use it a lot throughout your life, the seeds may disappear before your body suffers. If you are unlucky, you may become paralyzed after using it only once.
Of course, this is only a minor drawback.
The real problem arises when we embrace this seed and face the great evil of plague.
This is because the Great Demon of Plague can explode this seed of negativity.
Since it explodes the source of mana in the body, no strong person can stop the backflow of mana.
So, as soon as the devil's southward advance began and the Great Demon of Plague appeared on the battlefield, about 5% of humanity's troops were instantly destroyed without even fighting.
All of them were excellent talents who received the blessing of Mana.
If it weren't for Mion's Holy Sword, Ember would have died instantly.
'This! You bad guy! 'You were hiding such a secret!'
[What is that acting-like way of speaking?]
'Hmm, anyway, is it possible to remove that seed of negativity with the power of Hwajeong?'
[It's possible because mine is a very easy disease. If you mix fire spirit with mana, I can deal with it and get rid of it, but why do you ask? Are you sure you want to remove it?]
'Let's do it if we can.'
Because the moment you use the Seed of Negativity, your body is overloaded, the time you can amplify its power is at most one minute.
Just 1 minute.
However, it was also enough time to blow off a person's head.
I also had to be careful during that time.
In particular, knights with great natural talent, such as Ember Cutter, can come close to being a sword master even for a moment.
This is a really, really special case, but aren't Jo Joo-yeon in original novels all special characters?
"Please concentrate. If I kill you unintentionally, I, a commoner, will not be able to handle it."
Ember's aura was still dancing.
When viewed from a distance, you may not notice much of a difference.
However, from the position where we were directly facing each other, we could see that even passing by was dangerous.
You definitely have the right to brag.
Seeds of denial, this is more effective than you think, right?
If it's at this level, I'd like to have one too.
"You hate nobles and want to become one, and you hate those who protect your house and fight with them with power that is not yours. It's ridiculous."
"People inherently live in contradiction. It might be difficult to understand at that age."
"We're not even a few years older than each other!"
The moment the blades meet, the output is increased and my sword is cut.
I said, dodging her sword with my life.
"The sword you wield so blindly cannot reach anyone!"
"I think it will at least reach you."
Contrary to her firm response, her expression showed urgency.
Finally, as if she had decided to do something, she adjusted her sword and raised her mana.
The fluctuations of the aura rolled through her sword body like waves.
What she is preparing is sword technique.
A sword user can only imitate a skill, but her use of the Seed of Negation was, at least briefly, a skill she came close to being a sword master.
Indeed, since an opponent who knows what the seed of negativity is will never confront him, does he rather end it with an unavoidable attack?
Instead of getting excited during battle, react appropriately to the situation.
Easier said than done.
However, there are few people who can actually do it.
Her improvisation was indeed worthy of the last knight of the Lighthouse Corps who saved humanity.
The sword moved, and the air was belatedly cut.
The ground was hollowed out in the shape of a swing.
The formless and colorless sword energy spread like a half moon and rushed towards my body.
Yes, I understand that since you are a supporting character in the novel, the character settings are very tight, but let's finish this quickly.
'Jin! Goes!'
[Okay, pour it out!]
A sword technique close to that of a sword master.
At any rate, it is at a 'close' level.
A single strike at that level is enough to block it.
Because I have a secret weapon.
Not the scum of the great devil, but the essence of a true god.
Mana, as pale as dusk, flowed through the blade.
The mythical sacred fire that governs the cycle of life and death spread like a fan.
Like a hungry animal, the flames consumed Ember's sword energy.
The soaring flames soon engulfed her body.
"Wait, what the hell is this?! Huaaaaa?!"
The blue mana flames quickly penetrated Ember's body and disappeared.
This is because Jin erased the seeds of negativity with Hwajeong.
However, the reaction could not be eliminated.
A body that has been overused will demand a corresponding debt.
Amber's body collapsed, starting with blood flowing from her nose.
She sat down and tried to catch her breath, but even that didn't work.
"What on earth is this...?"
"The contradictions of this world."
The duel that heated up the night of Lighthouse Village ended with her body falling over.
*
Ember Cutter was immediately detained on charges of possessing seeds of infidelity.
Since I used that power in front of so many people, I was bound to get caught.
If the charges are found to be true, he will be disqualified from the entrance exam.
This is because it is difficult to accept that someone who fights against the devil uses the power of the devil.
"How did you get rid of the seeds of my denial?"
Of course, this did not apply to Amber.
Even if a priest comes, he will not be able to find even a trace of it, let alone a seed of denial.
Because I erased the roots with the power of Hwajeong.
I couldn't thank her enough. Amber, who had become haggard after half a day, was glaring at me through her iron bars.
"I told you, it's a contradiction in this world. It can be hard to understand at that age."
"That wasn't a knight's skill. What on earth are you?"
Even though it was difficult for her to maintain consciousness due to the reaction from using the Seed of Negativity, her Ember's eyes were still sharp.
Even though it was disguised as black to avoid the eyes of the audience, it seems that it was not enough to fool Amber, who was nearby.
"Am I obligated to answer the question? Or perhaps you left it to me to answer?"
"Then let me change the question. What happens to me now? Will I become your sex slave?"
She seemed to remember clearly.
That she risked her body and her heart in exchange for the duel, and that she had it taken away from her.
But when I actually heard that question, I was dumbfounded.
"Do it and will you do it?"
"No. I'm going to bite your dick and kill myself."
"But what are you asking? You're not even my type in the first place. I like red hair."
It is true that she risked her body and mind in a duel.
It is also true that dueling was a ritual of privilege for the noble class, risking their honor and lives.
However, it looked like that on the outside, but in reality, the two kids were fighting.
One of them was the eldest son of a northern marquess, so the knight could not subdue him.
And under normal conditions, it's a duel where you sacrifice your body and mind over just a few insults.
If it were a normal duel, it would be dismissed as a member.
It is shameful for a noble to even bring up these conditions.
Also, there is no such thing as a soul covenant in this world, so if you don't want to keep it, just don't keep it.
You don't burn to death if you disobey.
Sigh, this world is sorely lacking in fantasy romance.
If not my soul, it would have been nice to have at least a magic that would send my womb pounding every time I broke the covenant.
It would be very humiliating for a man to have it fucked in his prostate.
If you were to drag your pants down every time you broke a covenant, the contract holder would be more desperate to keep his promise than if his soul was burned to death.
After letting my imagination run wild for a while, Amber asked back with a blank expression on her face.
"What? So you're saying that even if I had won, I wouldn't have left Lighthouse Village?"
"You too. What did you just say, you crazy bitch?"
Is that what the bitch who said she was going to kill herself by biting that part of her head would say?
"You are the one who is crazy. Then why on earth did you duel?"
Amber seemed to think she had been tricked.
She seemed to be furious, as she gritted her teeth and hit the iron bars.
"Two people who had no intention of giving what they wanted fought a duel... What was the intention? Perhaps it was just the knight's desire to win with the strong man. It was close to their instincts, so they attracted each other."
"Stop talking about it and get to the point."
Sigh, I tried to tease him some more, but he gave up without any effort.
Leaning against the iron bars, I delivered the main point that Amber had been longing for.
"I hate nobility."
Amber made a bewildered face at the sudden remark.
"Looking at it, you hate nobles too, right? Being the plaything of a nameless border noble is a pretty good life if you don't have ambition. Was it a waste of your talent to end your life like that?"
Amber didn't look curious about how I found out.
The emotion that could be read on her face was closer to 'As expected of an influential person in the North, you have done your research in advance.'
In fact, the De Jeevitz family does not have the intelligence to uncover the daily tragedies that occur in the common people of the southern frontier.
I had a hard time thinking of a plausible excuse, but it's convenient to have someone come up with a good excuse.
"What are we going to do now? Do you want to form a consensus? Even if you get it right, do you think it would be the same as me, a commoner, hating nobles and you, a noble from the beginning, hating your own people?"
Amber reacted as expected.
She was just as expected, to the point where I burst out laughing.
Amber is right.
Of course it's different.
First of all, I like nobles.
Try being born a nobleman, wouldn't you like it?
But for my future to be comfortable, I have to take Amber under my wing and raise her.
What good is nobility when everything is swept away by the devil?
You can tell as many lies as you want for the future.
"So, if you pass the entrance exam and become a knight? Are you going to get revenge on that nobleman you hate so much? If you get a chance to restore your honor and cut off that guy's head, at least you'll feel relieved."
"I told you earlier that I would listen, so what do you know..."
"I don't know your anger. I don't know your desire for revenge either. But I am a noble, so I know about nobles better than you. I know that even if you take revenge, there will not be people somewhere who are going through something similar to you. In fact, they will be more miserable. You and Otherwise, you wouldn't have any talent for swordsmanship."
"So what do you want to say? Are you saying my revenge is futile?"
"That can't be possible. Rather, I am willing to help you with your revenge. But I wish you had set your sights on a slightly higher goal. You are only aiming for the head of one noble, but I will abolish the caste system itself."
Find out what the other person wants and offer greater value than that.
It was a basic virtue that a leader should possess.
Beyond the iron bars, in the dark prison, her eyes shined clearly.
"My mother was a collateral of the royal family. She died right after giving birth to me. I was the heir to the family to the outside world, but because I was not of Northern blood, I was also a burden that had to be removed. My stepmother tormented me every day, and my father was planning to kill me. "You're just doing it. Within a few years, you'll kill me and make my half-brother the heir to the De Jeevitz family. That's the kind of noble you want to become."
"..."
"We create myths in order to stand above others, act as if we have inherited noble blood, and select seeds to pass on to future generations. Then, the people who have gone through hardships together are busy bowing to the nobility and sanctity of that blood. "Jiji. You can't treat people like people."
Only the chilling wind and my voice echoed in the prison.
The prison was too dark for the feeble candlelight to illuminate, and her once clear eyes soon became dark and blurred.
"I will break the shackles of this nobility. I will bring about the end of an era where people stand on top of others as if it were natural and pass it off as something they are born with. To do that, we need talented people. So I challenged you to a duel. Check your qualifications. For."
Björn, this is an indescribably romantic conciliation.
Without even blinking, you spit out a lie that you will change the world just to get one article.
'Wow, don't I actually have a talent for hiring talent?'
[We'll see about that.]
Jin struck the candle without even being able to understand the atmosphere.
It's no different from something that's already over, so let's wait and see.
With Jin's words flowing through one ear, I continued speaking.
"Ember Cutter. As you said, you and I are different. I am a noble, and you are a commoner. You can't empathize with what I went through, and neither can I. But we hate nobles. I will lead that anger. Together with me, we will change the world. Let's turn it into a sea of fire."
The iron bars are not a hindrance when a knight swears loyalty.
I reached out through the cold bars.
But Amber didn't even move.
After a while, a faint sound came from inside the dark window.
"Pfft, puhahahahaha!"
The faint sound soon grew louder and more annoying to the ears, and it was not difficult to realize what the sound was.
Amber's sudden laughter made me feel that something was wrong.
"What's funny?"
Haha! If you were a kid who wanted to abolish the aristocracy, would you be able to stand it? You lack charisma. To charm someone like that, you would have to be at least several times more dependable than you are now."
I tried hard to suppress the overwhelming emotions inside.
It was a night when I deeply missed the store drivers who devoted their whole lives to the piece of bread they gave me when I was a beggar.
[Phew, what about recruiting talent?]
I was lost in thought, ignoring Jin who was scratching his stomach.
What should I do now?
Should I tell her to take time to think because I can't accept the idea of breaking up like a lousy lover?
I've already been criticized for my lack of charisma, but if I do that, the situation will only get worse.
Unfortunately, Amber is giving up.
Let's find out about other talented people.
As her thoughts reached that point, Amber spoke again.
"However, I like that you offer to join me in my revenge. It is clear that the power of the De Jeevitz family will help me in my quest for revenge. Of course, it is a sinking ship, but I will have to endure that level of adversity. So, let me change my offer. "If you promise to help me get my revenge."
Amber did not take the hand offered to her.
I knelt down to his hand level.
"Bjorn de Jeevitz, my lord. I pledge my allegiance to you, body and soul. My sword is yours, and my loyalty is directed only to you. All your enemies will die before me. ."
I could see her expression through the flickering candlelight.
The thing that could be seen beneath her lowered head did not belong to the knight pledging loyalty.
It was the face of an evil spirit bent on revenge.
Then I realized that it didn't matter what I said.
The moment I tried to appease her, she had already given her answer.
They decided to use me and the De Jeevitz family for personal revenge.
Then I will use you too.
I will push you to the forefront of the future when the devil will come.
I will not allow a peaceful end to my death on the battlefield as a mere knight.
Thus, the knighthood ceremony without loyalty or honor was carried out in a small prison in Lighthouse Village.
◈ Chapter 17 - 5-Existence of Godhead
*
"Bjorn, the water is here."
"..."
"You've been sweating a lot. I'll get you a towel right away."
In the backyard of the Lighthouse Castle, Barton Wigner looked at Amber passing by him and spoke to me as if he couldn't understand the current situation.
"What on earth is going on?"
"What, Barton Wigner? Didn't you go home?"
"No, how many times are you making me say this?! I got the second chance?!"
The duel between me and Ember, which caused an uproar in the small lighthouse village, passed without a word, and the second test proceeded as scheduled.
Barton Wigner took the second exam using Lighthouse Sword Technique, and fortunately, he succeeded in demonstrating all 11 stars so that my teaching was not overshadowed.
"Oh, that's right. Trembling like a fawn?"
The problem is that Barton completed the swordsmanship too sloppily.
The instructors tilted their heads and asked Barton to demonstrate again.
After three attempts, the lighthouse commander Sir Ragnar himself came forward and notified me of passing.
Barton, who was mentally cornered, fainted as soon as he received the notification of acceptance.
Because he looked like a newborn fawn, Barton was nicknamed the Deer Knight even before he was ordained.
"Hmm, I passed, so it's okay, right?"
"Don't go anywhere and tell me that you studied swordsmanship under me. Amber is 100 times better than you."
Amber took all three subjects in the second exam.
As a sword user, I had already achieved this from the moment I entered, so of course I passed. I also passed water walking without difficulty, and even Lighthouse Team's sword technique, which was my only weak point, passed with ease.
He was truly a great leader among the mankind in the Esteria biography.
"Ember was a sword user to begin with. Even so, in Bjorn's opinion, we are all the same. Even the instructor was amazed at your skills."
During the second exam, I took all three subjects like Amber.
The difference with Amber is that I handled those three subjects at once.
"You can demonstrate the lighthouse sword technique while walking on water and with your sword wrapped in aura. Is that something anyone can do if they become a sword expert?"
Barton exclaimed with admiration as if he was recalling the incident.
Judging by Barton's reaction, it seems that my plan to make it clear in people's minds that I am a sword expert was successful.
At least among the knights in Lighthouse Village, there will no longer be anyone who doubts my skills.
"It's okay. What's the point of saving face by taking a test that you can only pass if you become a sword user?"
"More than that, how on earth did you roast and boil Ember? No matter how difficult the duel conditions were, who would have thought that that cheap bitch would listen obediently."
"What do you mean? Roasted and boiled?"
This time, I looked at Barton with a puzzled expression.
Who did what to whom?
"I brought you a towel, master."
As soon as she could talk about herself, Amber came holding a towel.
A sigh escaped from between my lips when I heard the name 'master'.
"Lord, master?!"
"This is what a female knight who lost in a duel said. Barton, why are we surprised that you even became an initiate in the duel?"
"Then, really, body and mind...Huh!"
"Master, is there anything else you would like to ask? If it is your order, you can take it off here."
It's really dizzy.
I spoke in a sighing voice, my temples being crushed by an oncoming migraine.
"Barton, it wasn't anything you were thinking about. Amber, if you bully me with that bullshit one more time, I'm going to blame you for it."
"I guess I was too absorbed in teasing Barton. But wasn't it Master Bjorn who told me to sacrifice my body and soul? I just did as I was told."
In the past few days since being released from prison, Amber has been busy teasing me like a mischievous older sister.
The problem was that I wasn't used to talking to the opposite sex, so I couldn't deal with Amber's high-level anger well.
It was only during a duel that he intentionally provoked me, but what kind of crazy person would always go around spouting things like that to the opposite sex?
When I got annoyed, Amber noticed and made even more overtly sexual jokes to embarrass me.
Even though I swore the knight's oath, it seems that the wounds I inflicted during the duel were left behind.
Despite my threat that she would ask for my sins if I did it one more time, Amber shrugged her shoulders and said something like, 'A vassal's sins are my master's sins, so when that time comes, I will collect my master's sins with tears in my eyes.'
Ha, this is all because I, the lord, have no strength.
My sins are deep, so who can I blame?
Rather, let's be thankful that Amber's words and actions have made this world even more miserable.
"So why are you acting like this this morning? Did I order that too?"
"You're calling me a jerk for helping others."
Amber handed me a towel and glared at me.
Why are you angry?
As I was staring at her, I began to wonder if my choice in hiring Amber was wrong.
"The Lighthouse of Humanity is the knightly order of the De Jeevitz family, and isn't Bjerne the eldest son of the De Jeevitz family?"
"In terms of form, it is the Emperor's Knights."
"Formatically, the Knights of the Holy Cross also belong to the Holy See. Anyway, I was wondering if you know what the final test is, Bjorn. Even though the second test is over, the instructors haven't said anything, so I'm anxious. There's no way they'll leave us alone like this. "
"What, you don't know what the final test is? It's something that northerners already know?"
"I'm from the Southeast."
"Me too."
It seemed like she understood the situation in her own way, and Barton also sorted out his embarrassed feelings and said something.
Well, if you're from the Southeast and were born and raised in the countryside, you might not know.
[What is the last test?]
Jin also asked me if he was curious.
Unlike the first test, which changes every year, the second and final tests have been the same since the founding of the Human Lighthouse.
The content of this last test had a huge impact on the notoriety of the Human Lighthouse Corps entrance exam.
"The final test... Actually, the word 'test' is strange. It's easier to think of it as a rite of passage."
"Then is it easy?"
"If you're lucky."
"What on earth are you talking about like that?"
I gave the answer to Amber and Barton, who were looking at me with curious faces.
"The final test is to climb beyond enemy lines and catch the devil."
As soon as the word devil was said, both of their faces hardened.
Jin asked back in an astonished tone.
[Are you going to catch the devil with these blood relatives? Does that make sense?]
'At best, we can catch a few of the lowest-ranking demon icicle dogs on the outskirts of Homeland and perform a ritual on them.'
[I feel very anxious.]
'What are you so worried about?"
[Because, by my standards, this test is a pitiful judgment based on ignorance. It's because you've never met a high-ranking demon. Not a bastard like a frost golem, but a real high-ranking demon. When that moment comes, you will not be able to stand where you are now.]
'Don't worry. Because it's an annual ritual. 'Nothing will happen.'
In fact, Jin was the only one who was terrified.
Amber had a calm expression, as if her face had hardened at some point, and Barton tilted his head and asked me back.
"Well, I don't know if I can say this, but... Wasn't the whole devil thing a lie made up by religious people? I heard that the monsters that live in Homeland are devils and all? Are you going to catch those monsters?"
"You're saying something that would make the Knights of the Holy Cross fly off their heads if they heard it?"
"They're so busy beating up heretics that they don't care about country bumpkins like me. And no matter how much demonology I learn here, I still feel bad about it."
"You'll soon find out if it's real or a lie."
"When you say it like that, it doesn't seem real."
Amber also seemed to believe that there was no devil deep down.
Really, then why does the Human Lighthouse think that it is enjoying the sea breeze at the end of this empty continent?
I heard that the positivists who have been infesting the capital recently are ruining even the strictest places for no reason.
Academic advancement is important, but the problem was that it spread at a time when the devil was preparing to move south.
"From what I heard, maintenance on the Ma Seom-seon will be completed soon. We will be leaving for Homeland within 15 days."
There is no need to teach you every detail that your thoughts are wrong.
You will soon realize it yourself.
*
Candidates who passed the second test were given basic training such as chivalry, codes of conduct during battle, and demonology.
Other than that, it was all free time.
This is my last chance before heading down to Stemwind.
You must concentrate on personal training to increase your survival rate even a little.
[Hmm, I think my body will support it at this level.]
While I was concentrating on meditation in the backyard of Lighthouse Castle, I opened my eyes when I heard Jin pass the exam.
"Then finally!"
[Okay, let's use Hwajeong's power as is.]
Until now, in order to use Hwajeong, I had to go through Danjeon and neutralize it with my mana before using it.
It was a last resort solution that I had no choice but to use because my body could not withstand the fire.
So even after reaching the intermediate level of Sword Expert, I haven't done anything special other than training my physical strength and mental techniques.
I was starting to get impatient, but Jin finally gave me his approval.
[Listen carefully now. First, close your eyes and concentrate on your passion. What does the anger in your head look like?]
What kind of bullshit are you saying to focus on Hwajeong?
With nothing else to do but concentrate, I am strongly asserting myself from my chest.
Look, even now... , What?
When I focused on Hwajeong as Jin said, Hwajeong was wrapped around my chest in a different way from my previous perception.
As my body prepares, Hwajeong also seems to be regaining her original form.
"...A crystal of fire. It burns endlessly, spewing flames from its glass bead-like center."
[Never touch the center. Pull out the rising flames and guide them towards you. Do not tear it into large pieces. The important thing is to induce the mana of Hwajeong without going through the mana accumulated in the Danjeon. It won't be easy since I'm not dealing with your magic power.]
Jin's spell became more complicated.
To use the power of fire spirit without using my mana.
Isn't that the same as saying that you should use chopsticks without chopsticks?
However, the flames that rose from the fire were pulled out as thin as a thread, as if they had read my mind.
It felt instinctive.
This is Hwajeong giving me her power.
[Huh? Don't let me let you in so easily! You are more precious than that! What on earth is that kid that would do something like that!]
Is it the ex-lover you can't forget?
If you put it that way, it's like I played Hwajeong as NTR.
"I told you to focus. What if the leader thinks differently?"
[Keuhum, gather the power drawn from Hwajeong into your right hand. Even if your hands are hot, you must never stop until I tell you to stop.]
Swallowing a harsh moan down my throat, I concentrated on directing the mana extracted from the Hwajeong to my fingertips.
Now I understand why Jin declared that it was impossible to control all of Hwajeong's power.
Even though it was only a small part of the fire essence, I did not neutralize it with my mana, so it burned as if it would burn the inside of my body.
It felt as if his arm was writhing on a grill and crying out for help.
At that moment, my right hand became hot.
It shines bright red like hot iron and has the power to melt everything it touches.
Is this really the color that the human body can emit?
I looked down at my hands with a devastated face.
"This is the true power of Hwajeong. Any strong person who touches this flame will die, right?"
[Your anger is not at that level yet. However, any strong person will suffer great damage if he or she touches that fire spirit.]
I was amazed at the endless possibilities that Hwajeong possesses.
As long as I could use it properly, I had nothing to fear in the world.
[Right now, you're limited to one hand, but if you become more skillful with Hwajeong, you'll be able to use it like an aura on your sword or wrap it around your entire body. Although it is unclear whether a human body can endure it.]
If that happens, is Sword Master a great thing?
Even the sword saint Landeros will be able to kneel.
[In this state, you may be able to materialize me when you become a superior. I don't know how many minutes your body will last.]
Jin said that if my body becomes stronger, I can draw out the power of Hwajeong and create a physical body.
This meant that if he could withstand the output, he could summon Jin, one of the three gods, and wipe them all out.
This was the same as having one ultimate skill.
Hehe, just hit it, Kanniel. You're left behind."
"Who is left behind?"
When I turned my head toward the sound, Helga Sentle, a senior knight of the Lighthouse Corps, was standing there.
◈ Chapter 18 - 5-Existence of Godhead
He approached me, his huge body obscured by a dark lighthouse cloak.
"Sniff, what is this smell? The smell of burning flesh... Did you say you were playing with fire?"
I was in a hurry and hid my right hand.
Jin!!!
If someone comes, you don't have to tell them they're coming!
[I'm sorry, I feel like I lost Hwajeong and my stomach is twisted.]
'What am I taking away? Hwajeong opened her crotch herself!
[What?! What are you doing?! How dare this crazy person talk to my Hwajeong like that?! Cancel immediately!!]
'Yes, your anger is beneath me.'
I said hello to Helga, ignoring Jin's weak body slam.
"You always embarrass me."
"Would you like to do it, Master?"
"I heard you went down to Stemwind after the first exam?"
Helga seemed to be having a busy day with work in Stemwind.
Even when I saw him with sagging cheeks, I felt sorry for him.
"Something came up and I just came up to the lighthouse village. I think I'm pushing myself too hard just because I'm a senior knight."
"I will suggest this to my father."
Haha! You're going too far! Do you really want to see my head flying off?"
"Sometimes."
The pungent smell of ash from his cloak spread through my nose.
"It looks like ash is still falling in Stemwind."
"There is no sign of it decreasing. The good news is that Master Aidan has developed a method to mass-produce plate glass. If we modify the process a little more, we will be able to use glass to block ash and farm in the future."
"...Aidan developed a method for mass production of plate glass?"
"Did you not know?"
"Yeah, I have no way of knowing."
Because I developed that method.
There's no way Aidan would have stolen something that wasn't his. It must be Canniel de Jeviet's trick.
So, that's how Stemwind works now, right?
I did my best to hide my irritation at the pleasant news I heard about my hometown after a long time.
"Stemwind is in chaos right now. Because of the meeting convened by the Commander, the heads of powerful families in the North are all gathering in Stemwind."
"It's a shame, because there would be so much to see."
"Would you like to come down now?"
"That's it. There's no need to add more attractions."
How did you get this freedom and then throw it away and crawl back to hell?
Helga smiled at my answer.
"Oh, by the way, the Knights of the Holy Cross have arrived in Lothric Village. It looks like they are finally investigating the dungeon that you discovered."
"Anyway, those religious bastards need to know that their butts are heavy. When will they pay compensation?"
"They investigate and calculate things like the size of the dungeon and the level of risk before giving it to them. No matter how outdated it is, they are an order of knights under the direct control of the Holy See, so they won't make money and make a splash."
"You were so angry when I discovered the dungeon, but I guess you're happy to get money?"
"That is that, and this is this."
As I was stuck in a remote area, I was glad to hear this news.
It felt like my head, which had become stiff, was tightening again.
However, it was late and there was still training to be done, so the conversation had to end here.
"You must have come a long way, how about going in and resting?"
"There is still work left to do. That is why I came to you at this late hour. Lord Ragnar said he would like to see you."
"Lord Ragnar?"
I raised my eyebrows and asked Helga back.
That guy asked to see you separately?
Anyway, my status was a candidate, and Ragnar was a lighthouse commander.
Meeting separately could have led to unnecessary misunderstandings.
"Tell them I'll meet them after the entrance exam is over."
"This is important."
"So, I'll hear about that important thing later."
"..."
"What, why, what?"
If they call me, should I go?
Since when did the ranking in the North become like that?
When I didn't even snort, Helga changed her strategy.
"I have something to say about your letter, Commander."
"Yes, you have to insert a float for the fish to bite."
Helga's face seemed to say, 'Yes, this is what a master should be.'
As he was leaving, he told me one thing I had forgotten.
"Master, congratulations on his 15th birthday."
Ah, today is my birthday.
There are now three years left until Canniel gets a ticket to Homeland.
I headed to the lighthouse captain's office, pondering the impatience I shouldn't feel on my birthday.
The lighthouse commander's office was originally located in the operations conference room of the Human Lighthouse Corps.
Since there was no devil's invasion, there was no reason to discuss the strategy, so it was used as the lighthouse commander's personal space.
"Welcome, Bjorn de Jeevitz."
He got up and greeted me.
Even his eyes that had become wrinkled with age and his hair that was bald in a round shape could not hide his sharp expression.
"This is the first time we have seen each other like this since the day we came to the Lighthouse Castle, Lord Ragnar."
Even as I was saying hello, my eyes first caught sight of the strategy board, which was larger than Ragnar's.
The northern part of the Esteria continent, the sea, the long enemy line, and even Homeland.
All maps of the surrounding area were included on the large operation board located in the center of the lighthouse room.
"Everyone who comes here for the first time is often distracted by that operation board."
"It's quite elaborate. It must have been hard to make."
"No one knows who built it and when. The achievements of past lighthouse leaders are not recorded."
"That's surprising. Why don't they leave a record?"
"A knight's exploits will only be remembered in a bard's song."
He led me to the entertainment table.
"There are many knights who were impressed after taking the second exam. I never thought they would take the three subjects at the same time. I guess we should say that it is the De Jevietz family."
"There's nothing to embellish like that."
"I show my respect as a warrior."
Ragnar was an intermediate sword expert.
The stage where a knight with so-so talent settles at the end of his life.
It was safe to say that he devoted his life to the sword.
That's why he must be even more in awe of me, who achieved intermediate level Sword Expert at such a young age.
"Even those who have been saying that Bjorn's rumors are exaggerated will no longer be able to use their tongues carelessly."
"You didn't make fun of me too, right?"
"Even so, I no longer doubt your talent."
"So, what did you want to see me for?"
"Because of that talent."
I looked at Ragnar with a face wondering what he was talking about.
He got to the point.
"The Lighthouse of Humanity is a shield that protects humanity from evil, but they are also vassals who serve the head of the De Jeevitz family. The commander's orders are absolute and cannot be disobeyed, even if they are very political."
"What do you want to say?"
"If I were to guess your motive for applying to join the Human Lighthouse, it would be that you want to be one step away from the competition for succession taking place in Stemwind."
"..."
"My answer is you can't."
Ragnar showed me the torn pieces of the letter.
It was clearly a letter from my father, Canniel de Jeevitz.
[Do your best to avoid any setbacks during Björn de Jeviez's examination to join the Lighthouse of Humanity.]
I chuckled as I read the letter, which had just one line written on it.
It's an experience.
What I was saying was to get rid of the fact that I had taken the test to join the Human Lighthouse Corps.
Canniel de Jevec has just one goal:
Stability in the North.
If you understand this, you can understand his actions.
In order to protect the Northern Territory, the only vassal of the Oxburg Empire, Canniel must exclude the imperial family that wants to dominate the northern part of the country.
As I have royal blood mixed in, I am a troublesome child to Kanniel.
If I succeed the family and become a marquis, I will have a reason to snoop around the royal family.
However, we cannot casually break the northern tradition of primogeniture succession.
Therefore, there must be grounds for disqualification for me.
It was against this backdrop that I was allowed to take the Human Lighthouse Corps entrance exam.
Even if you are a sword user, you can join the Human Lighthouse as a senior member.
But what if I don't join?
It becomes clear evidence that the rumor is exaggerated, and furthermore, it makes you a liar who deceived people despite being incompetent.
That's what Canniel is aiming for.
Of course, it is difficult to change the succession structure just because he failed the entrance exam, but Canniel will gradually pile up the reasons for his disqualification in this way.
Of course, I had no intention of sitting down and dealing with it.
Revealing that I was a sword expert in a somewhat extreme and attention-grabbing way was all a form of resistance.
Rumors are things that come and go from people's mouths.
I may not be able to stop all false rumors from spreading, but at least those who have witnessed my skills here will refute them.
However, Canniel's method was more petty than I expected.
I thought at most you would hinder him from taking the position of chief, but you are even more petty than I thought.
Canniel de Jevietz.
I can't help but admire your pettiness.
"I question your words. Why are you showing me this?"
"Because the Lighthouse of Humanity is a knight before it is a vassal. As someone who wields a sword, I do not want to be at odds with you. So please judge for yourself."
"Words and actions do not match."
"I mean, please understand the situation."
In any case, Ragnar also had his own adventure in his position.
It's not easy to have the guts to sit down and talk about this to a 15-year-old who is behind in the succession battle.
That courage was worthy of consideration.
After much thought, I opened my mouth.
"If you really don't want to fight with me, just do me a favor."
"What would you like me to do...?"
"It's no big deal. All you have to do is follow what is written in this letter."
Ragnar asked back as if he couldn't understand my answer.
"That means..."
"Well, I'm saying you should stick to the original plan. Instead, there is a condition."
◈ Chapter 19 - 5-Existence of Godhead
*
After the private conversation with Lord Lagrare, time passed without much happening.
As the maintenance of the Ma Beom-seon came to an end, Jin became restless.
[No matter how much I think about it, this final test is too dangerous.]
"At most, you'll meet something as small as an icicle dog or a snail, so what are you worried about?"
[If the devil wasn't such a big deal, there's no way I wouldn't have been able to kill him even if three gods were attached to him, and I wouldn't have been sealed in an unknown cave for over a thousand years.]
"Worrying is too much. Do you think the Demon King Moloch will personally come to the shores of Homeland and personally punish the bastards of the Human Race?"
[It might be better to meet the demon king Moloch. At least he gets killed cleanly. If I meet even the highest-ranking devil...]
Jin continued speaking after a short pause.
[You will beg to be killed.]
Of course, there is no lie in Jin's words.
Because I fought directly.
I looked at Jin with a very serious face.
"So what do you want me to do?"
[Stop the test right now. The original purpose of taking the entrance exam was to buy time. We've achieved our goal, so let's stop here. If you lose your life, everything is useless.]
"You know that I can't do that. I already had a promise made to Lord Ragnar before. I can't waste the opportunity to give Kanniel a blow."
[What on earth do you gain by doing that?]
"Chagrin."
Jin, who was silent for a long time, soon spoke as if she had resigned herself.
[Yes, I knew so. Don't regret it later.]
You're really raising a flag.
At this level, isn't this a curse that something like that will happen?
No matter how worried Jin was, the joining test for the Human Lighthouse Corps had reached the end of the journey.
As the day dawned, all 14 candidates, including me, gathered at the port.
Those who remained until the end were already no different from the knights of the Lighthouse of Humanity.
Now all that remains is one final gateway.
A rite of passage for the Lighthouse Corps of Humanity, who ascends to Homeland to catch demons and offer them as sacrifices.
Unconcealed fear and even more excitement were clearly visible on the faces of the candidates who were inspecting them while standing at attention.
"Mr. Deer Knight. The bathroom is over there. Don't get tired of your pants."
"Don't ruin a good day."
Barton and Amber would fight whenever they made eye contact.
It was such a familiar scene that other candidates expected to do the same now.
What really captured the attention of the candidates was not Barton and Amber, who fought every day, but the Ma Sailboat of the Human Lighthouse docked at the port.
This horse sailing ship with three huge sails was driven by wind and magic power engines, and its mobility and combat power were unrivaled by any ship in history.
Although it was not the latest, it was the pride and main flagship of the Oxburg Empire.
The Human Lighthouse Corps had a total of three of these magic sailing ships, and in addition, twenty smaller sailing ships were used to patrol near enemy lines.
Unlike the candidates who were full of admiration, I gritted my teeth and glared at Ma Beom-seon.
Because that is the black hole that is creating a hole in the de Jeviets family's finances.
Along with the Keldarin Fortress of the Lighthouse of Humanity, which guards the threshold of the Gray Mountains, it is a complex that eats up a huge amount of gold coins every year with the intention of destroying the De Jeevitz family.
At least it would be less unfair if it had some effect in the war against the devil in the future, but in the "Biography of Esteria", As soon as the devil invaded the south, the entire sea froze over and became useless.
Today, the candidates board the sailboat and head to Paretta Island, an island near the Red Line and the outpost of the Human Lighthouse Corps.
And from there, we will transfer to a small boat and go up to the devil's land, Homeland.
Shortly after the candidates gathered, five instructor engineers and senior engineer Helga Sentle, who had been through hardships with the candidates for the past three months, stood next to the podium.
And the lighthouse commander, Sir Ragnar, went up to the stage to announce the end.
The knights were all wearing full body armor just like when they first met.
They wore helmets covering their faces and covered themselves with the cloak of the Human Lighthouse.
The towering lighthouse pattern was what the candidates had longed for.
"As you all know, the Lighthouse of Humanity has a long tradition and history. It started out as a small coast guard in the southern part of Homeland, but today we serve the imperial family and the De Jeevitz family and are a sword and shield that protects humanity from evil. ."
Ragnar loaded mana on the podium and began his sermon.
"But our goal is not only to protect humanity! Since the day we were driven out of Homeland to the continent of Esteria, one wish that has been passed down from ancestor to ancestor is to restore the lost homeland of our Rodal people! That will is From generation to generation, we are reaching the final stage of the Human Lighthouse Corps entrance exam."
I, who knew the inside story of the Human Lighthouse, sneered at Ragnar's words.
It is a desire and will passed down from generations of ancestors.
Which ancestor is this?
Those who tried to protect Homeland from the devil would all have become corpses and become the limbs of the devil without being able to find rest.
In any case, it was a perfect tactic to strike down candidates who were blinded by the halo of the Lighthouse Corps of Humanity.
The eyes of the candidates sparkled like freshmen drunk at a prestigious university.
Ah, it's so pitiful.
"Today, you cadets are going up to Homeland! We will kill the devil there, offer the sacrifice to our ancestors of the Lighthouse Corps who fell asleep in the sea breeze, and show that your will continues to this day!"
"When you leave on the ship, you will be mere candidates, but when you return to the port after completing the ceremony, I will accept you as members of the Human Lighthouse and as colleagues to fight the devil together. Good luck to you in your final test!"
After Ragnar's instruction, the candidates boarded a sailboat with their instructors.
The sailboat was packed with supplies for the Paretta Island outpost, lighthouse knights on rotation, wizards on board to operate the ship, and cadets.
Some of the mischievous lighthouse knights looked at the candidates and drooled like new sergeants.
Even so, the majority are sword users.
When the instructor knights, who said that only those who had proven their excellence by becoming a sword expert in the Lighthouse of Humanity could apply, looked at me with glaring eyes, I curled my tail.
However, not only was he unable to approach the fierce-looking instructors, but he seemed at a loss to harass them whenever he had the chance.
"If you keep doing this, you will die from the glare."
"I agree. I can't leave without knowing how much the senior knights are glaring at me."
Amber and Barton have come together for the first time in a long time.
Thanks to the outpouring of affection and attention from seniors, the candidates had a hard time even going out to do their errands.
Of course, this did not apply to me, the eldest son of the De Jeevitz family.
The drivers were afraid to even make eye contact with me.
They were the ones who had first-hand experienced the horrors of the De Jevitz family.
The candidates were jealous when they saw me like that.
According to the instructor, if the wind blows well, it will take about 10 days to reach Paretta Island.
"Is that true?"
One lunchtime, when we were sailing smoothly along the waves, Barton spoke to me while I was eating.
"What?"
"There are no monsters living in the northern seas. I'm afraid of demons. Is that true?"
As he said, there were no monsters living in the northern seas.
He must have instinctively sensed the natural disaster known as the Demon King, and he never went this way.
Thanks to this, the fishermen of Lighthouse Village were able to engage in fishing more safely than at any other sea.
At this point, it's almost believable.
Is it really that hard to believe that the devil exists?
Perhaps because he was from the southeastern part of the country, close to the capital, the devil seemed like a story from a distant world.
"It is said that iron horses have begun to run in the capital city of Octantium. In such times, the devil is an old-fashioned story."
"Well, that's right."
Compared to the central and southeastern regions, the northern part was almost like a rural village.
There is no need to mention that the central region is the capital, and in the southeastern region, crops were plentiful every year thanks to the moderate fall of ash and the vast plains.
The only gateway between the Oxburg Empire and other continents was in the southeast, and they were using this to accumulate enormous wealth through transit trade.
Indeed, it could be said to be the lifeline of the empire.
If it weren't for the class system, Barton Wigner would have no reason to insist on becoming a knight in this remote corner of the country.
"But what if I were to ask how an iron carriage can move?"
"..."
He looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"Yes, that is exactly the look I want to make. Wait calmly. Even if you don't want to believe it, you will have no choice but to believe it when the devil approaches you."
"...Let me see if it's true. Damn it, I made a bet with Amber!"
"I guess you bet on none?"
"That's right. Ember seems skeptical too, but I guess she guessed there's no point in making such a fuss about just catching monsters."
"How far did you walk?"
"Ten thousand libras."
"...What?"
This time, I looked dumbfounded.
Ten thousand gold coins?!
With that money, it was enough to buy a magnificent mansion in Oxstantium, the capital of the Oxburg Empire!
Even a luxurious mansion with a vineyard in the southeast bet a ridiculous amount of money?
"Well, it was just a bet for fun. I don't have that much money. Even Amber wouldn't have made a bet with the intention of getting all that money out of her."
It seems that Barton doesn't think much of it, just like a playful bet from his childhood, but that was only because he didn't know Ember Cutter.
In "Biography of Esteria," Ember was a huge miser.
She was willing to risk her money to rebuild the Lighthouse of Humanity.
Barton didn't seem to know that his nose had been pierced with a stone.
I put my hand on his shoulder and comforted him with pitiful eyes.
This incident will probably have his marrow sucked out.
Poor thing.
In your next life, be born in a world without Amber.
The boat sailed smoothly to Paretta Island without worrying about Barton.
◈ Chapter 20 - 5-the Existence of Godhead
Just as Helga Sentle had said, exactly fifteen days later, Paretta Island was visible from afar.
"Hmm, it's cold. We haven't even crossed the enemy line yet."
I adjusted the clock and watched Paretta Island get closer from the bow.
Jin trembled in the air as if he was startled by something.
[I can feel the energy of Demon Lord Moloch all the way here. The last time I encountered it, it wasn't this strong...]
"Because a thousand years have passed since you were sealed. The Demon King must have taken some kind of countermeasure."
[Why are you talking about other people and getting lost in it? Who do you think that idiot crawling in there right now is?]
... Jin, why are you talking more and more harshly?
Anyway, it wasn't good news.
The person who threatens my life right now is my biological father, Canniel de Jeviets, but the person who ultimately needs to be slain is the demon king Moloch.
If the Demon King was alive, there was no point in him running away to the end of the continent.
There was really nothing special about Paretta Island.
The port, which had only an assortment of features, and the outpost, which was half-built with wooden fences, were unsightly.
Except for a few wooden buildings, they were all tents.
It's not some kind of ancient Viking race. What is this thing?
I was able to roughly guess why the Knights of the Human Lighthouse Corps assigned to Lighthouse Village were in as much despair as those assigned to Keldarin Castle.
If other knights had been put in a place like this, a rebellion would have occurred immediately.
This was possible because they were a lighthouse of humanity with no social status.
"Hey, every time you breathe something comes out."
"What? Really? Oh, you too!"
The candidates who saw breath for the first time in their lives gasped in amazement.
Enjoy now.
I'm going to have to watch this tirelessly from now on.
The sailing ship anchored in the harbor picked up and disembarked the driver.
The candidates also set foot on Paretta Island following the guidance of their instructors.
"Now I can see the glacier from far away."
"Yes, sometimes you can see it when the weather is clear. It also snows much more often than before."
The candidates entered the outpost, chatting with the engineers and instructors who were boarding the ship for their shift.
At dawn, the cadets of the Human Lighthouse were scheduled to begin a grand ancient ceremony at the outpost.
During the remaining time, the candidates relieved their travel fatigue by getting to know the lighthouse knights.
The outpost leader gave alcohol to the candidates to warm them up.
Because it was just before the ceremony, there were only two or three drinks, but that alone made the faces of the candidates much brighter.
"Don't forget the bet. If there really is a devil, ten thousand libras are mine."
"...I do not know yet."
Barton seemed unwilling to believe it until he saw it with his own eyes.
Or maybe he just doesn't want to lose to Ember, who is rushing towards Libra with the determination to rip off Libra.
Either way, his future didn't look that bright.
After a long dark night, dawn began to break in the distance.
All the candidates got on a small boat.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared.
Setting foot in Homeland, a place I had only heard of in legend, was not a privilege granted to just anyone.
Only the Human Lighthouse was able to do this.
Before departure, the outpost saw us off.
"Congratulations to all of you who made it this far. You know where this is, right? Paretta Island is the end of the world where modern humans can go. Only a very few humans can come this far."
Spouting words that anyone who has served in the military has heard many times, he gave a short word of encouragement to his candidate.
"What you must do is very simple. Kill the first demon you come across in Homeland and bring its body here. As an offering, we will strengthen the resolve of the Lighthouse of Humanity that has been passed down from generation to generation at this outpost. .Good luck."
After a brief encouragement from the outpost, the ship departed for Homeland.
*
The time of dawn when even the rising sun appears blurry due to the haze.
The knights strengthened their eyes with mana and slowly drove the boat.
"The red line that you candidates are crossing now is the enemy line."
At those words, I also injected magic into my eyes.
Then, a huge line was seen dividing the vast sea in a straight line.
The red line glowed red between the blue and black.
'That's strange. But why is it red?'
No matter how poor my aesthetic sense was, I knew that I couldn't get red by mixing blue and black.
It was a phenomenon that made no scientific sense.
Jin solved my doubts.
[Because this enemy ship is a magic circle.]
'Magic circle?'
[Okay. Why do you think the continent of Esteria is warm? It's all because I, the dragon Draigonak, and the World Tree protected this continent.]
'What are you talking about?'
[During the past war with demons, I created numerous volcanoes in the sea to weaken the power of the demon king Moloch. The idea was to raise the temperature of the world and eliminate the cold of Moloch.]
'For a moment! No way, that volcano...'
[Yes, that place is probably Red Hill.]
Oh my god.
The Red Hill that spreads ashes across the continent of Esteria is this guy's work?
How many accidents has this guy caused?!
[My strategy was quite effective at that time. The temperature rose significantly, halving the power of the Demon King Moloch. Furthermore, the super dragon Draigonak created a magic circle using the mana generated from the volcano.]
"That's this enemy ship?"
[Yes, this enemy ship was originally a trap to trap Moloch. If Draigonak had gone ahead with his plan, Moloch would have slowly died without being able to escape due to the rising temperature and the union of the three gods.]
'You thought it was a checkmate, but it ended up being reversed?'
In her folk tales, Jin appears as a fool who is intoxicated with her own strength.
Moloch, who has been pushed to his limit by Draigonak's scheme, speaks to Jin.
I'm alone, so why are three people dealing with me?
Jin, are you afraid of me?
Jin, who fell for the Demon King's provocation, fought against Moloch alone, and was eventually defeated and sealed.
The Three Gods Alliance, which had driven the Demon King to a corner, was unable to finish off the Demon King Moloch due to Jin's absence, and the Demon King fled to the polar region, stockpiled his power, and drove out the humans who lived in Homeland, which is what it is today.
[... It's not much different.]
"Wow, I didn't see it that way, but you're dumber than you look?'
But Jin told an unexpected story.
[Moloch, trapped inside an enemy ship, massacred the people of the continent of Esteria.]
Jin's voice was as dark as frost, as if he was remembering what happened then.
Jin spoke to Draigonak and the World Tree.
We who came down to lead humanity cannot allow massacres to occur.
Draigonak and the World Tree ignored Jin's words.
If we attack Moloch now, the sacrifices we have made so far will be meaningless.
When the population of the continent of Esteria was reduced by half and even the groans of pain subsided, Jin led his followers and stood in front of Moloch.
[It was Moloch's plan to target me, who is easily swayed by emotions. Even though I knew that, I passed on it. Molok bit right at the weak link.]
In that case, it was as if Jin had released Moloch for the sake of the humans living in Esteria at the time.
It was a foolish act of abandoning the cow for the cow.
Still, I lost all desire to criticize Jin.
[By the way. I can understand if it is being breached by Moloch's power, but why is the enemy line itself fading? Red Hill is the same, but something is strange. What happened to Draigonak?]
Jin looked at the enemy ship in a serious tone, as if the past was all good.
Even though that wasn't the answer.
Leaving Jin's worries behind, the boat soon reached the frozen coast of Homeland.
"I'll walk from here."
The instructors also seemed nervous and drew their swords and lowered themselves.
The candidates also took their steps slowly.
From here on, it's the devil's territory.
A remote area untouched by humans for a long time.
No matter how coastal it was, no one knew what would happen.
The snow that lay lightly on the frozen sea made me shiver every time my feet touched it.
Feeling quite different from Jae, the candidates looked at their feet several times as if they were awkward.
Visibility was poor due to the thick fog.
I calmly scattered mana and searched.
Fortunately, only a few of the lowest-ranking devil icicle dogs were caught in the hunt.
Since this is a place directly under the control of the Demon King, Jin was much stronger than the icicle dog in the dungeon where he was sealed.
If there was only one, even a sword user would do something, but if there were more than one, their lives were in danger.
Of course, that only applies to sword users.
There were five sword experts here, including four instructors.
"This ceremony will go smoothly."
The instructors who completed the search just like me breathed a sigh of relief.
"Have there been any difficult times?"
One curious candidate asked the instructor.
"Yes, our seniors said that the first demon they encountered was Death Knight, and that at the time, two instructors and 8 out of 15 candidates died."
"Well, that's terrible."
Although the candidates had never encountered a demon, they had learned demonology and were familiar with its strength.
Even if you were a mid-level demon, you had to be a Sword Expert level to be able to deal with it.
But what a high-ranking devil.
It must have been no different from hell for the candidates at the time.
It was good that he came back alive.
'I guess I was overly worried, Jin.'
Jin, who was supposed to respond to my sarcasm, didn't react.
Come to think of it, at some point, I couldn't see the ball of flame that was always fluttering around and flying around the area.
I don't know the details, but something was happening.
That's probably a very bad thing.
"...Help..."
At that moment, a sound that I shouldn't have heard reached my ears.