I Was the Strongest Sword God in My Past Life

part 24

“Isabel, it’s your turn now. Can you burn it?”

This time, a man’s voice. Illusion turned his head.

A woman, no, the target, was grinning with gloved hands from a distance.

“Of course. I earn my keep.”

Isabel’s gloves emitted mana.

The warehouse was full of highly volatile perfume. What if a fire started? The result would be simple.

Boom!

Fire engulfed the warehouse. There were water bottles inside, so the spread of the fire was lessened. However, the impact of the explosion and the presence of water were irrelevant.

The warehouse was filled with thick smoke, but the outcome was uncertain. Isabel thought no one could have survived such an explosion.

“Using the terrain… A strategy to hide one’s presence and strike unexpectedly.”

If not for Illusion’s voice coming from behind the smoke… she would have continued to think so. The blackout lifted, and Illusion walked out.

“I heard you were a student, but your level is high. If not for the artifact, I would have been caught.”

He was unscathed. Instead, a straw doll at Illusion’s feet was burning.

“Our target is the daughter of the Tower Master, Isabel Blitz. On behalf of Desire, I, Illusion, promise. If you follow me, there will be no more victims.”

Illusion’s mask, turned away from the fire, was shaded with various light and dark tones, reminiscent of a malevolent spirit.

“Do villains have honor?”

Gien retorted, but Illusion’s gaze was fixed on Isabel.

“Your answer?”

Illusion’s body emitted a vicious mana. A Desire executive was not an opponent a student could handle.

Illusion’s combat power was similar to a 5th-grade Saber, while Isabel and Gien were just above 3rd-grade. An overwhelming difference in skill.

Yet, Isabelle spoke sharply.

“Get lost.”

Her raised middle finger and a fresh expression. Illusion clicked his tongue at Isabelle’s attitude.

“You’ve refused the offer and chosen the punishment.”

Between the two students standing off and the evil, a tension hangs like a bowstring that might be released at any moment.

“I’d like to call it bravery, but your opponent is bad and luck worse.”

Illusion’s voice spread through the silent corridor.

“My magic device is a fussy one; it has many conditions.”

Gien wanted to rush in immediately, but he couldn’t. He was certain that if their formation with Isabelle broke, there would be no next.

Illusion said in a leisurely voice.

“The name of my stigma is ‘Dream’.”

Gien and Isabelle did not respond to Illusion’s words.

Illusion took a step forward.

“It seems the school didn’t quite teach you manners.”

“My manners are quite selective, you see.”

At Gien’s response, Illusion’s stigma shone.

“I wonder how long that insolent look will last. I hope it becomes a sweet dream.”

Illusion made a clicking sound with his shoes. Then, time stopped.

It was not a metaphor. In an instant, Gien’s vision turned black and white. He couldn’t move a finger.

‘Were the shoes a magic tool?’

Under the stationary Illusion’s feet, the shadow writhed.

Probably a hallucinatory or hypnotic type of magic device. A quite tricky opponent.

Once more, the shadow writhed. It swallowed Gien. There was no pain, but his consciousness gradually faded.

‘Ugh!’

No matter how hard he tried to hold on, it was impossible for Gien to maintain his consciousness in front of the overwhelming mana.

Complete darkness had arrived.

Gien felt as if he was falling into sleep.

* * *

Chirp chirp chirp!

Awakened by the chirping of birds, Jian looked around. Though she had been in pitch darkness, the world had subtly brightened.

A forest lush with greenery.

Sunlight shattered through the leaves.

Contradictory as it may sound, the landscape felt both familiar and strange.

“Evan?”

A blonde girl called out to her with a name from a past life. But that wasn’t what mattered to Jian.

“…Liza?”

“Hmm?”

Jian touched her forehead.

“Could this be… magic?”

The warmth of the sunlight on her skin, the fresh scent of the forest—it all felt so real. Jian’s expression hardened in an instant.

‘Such scale.’

It was an illusion, but not hypnosis. Jian’s mind was clear. The situation was like a lucid dream, except she couldn’t wake up even though she knew it was a dream.

“Did you hurt your head during the duel?”

Liza looked at Jian with concern. 322 battles, 322 victories. That dazed expression might be due to the wooden sword hit she just took.

“I’m fine, really, Liza.”

“Then let’s hurry. Everyone’s waiting.”

Liza took Jian’s hand. A school building from a hundred years ago. Unlike the present, it was far from advanced technology and was known as Arpia, not Arcana.

From the familiar faces that passed by to every object around, nothing seemed different from reality. As they entered the cafeteria, Phail and Sara waved their hands.

“Over here!”

“Evan! Liza!”

Jian stood still at the sight of them. Liza gently pushed the stunned Evan forward.

“You’re really off today.”

Me, off? What’s truly off is not me but…

“It makes sense.”

Phail mumbled through his bread.

“The Gate test is today, right?”

Phail spoke as if it was nothing. It was hard to tell if he was being indifferent or considerate. Instead of responding, Liza dunked her bread into the soup and took a bite.

“What to do, Phail? She seems to have lost her appetite.”

“Then the hungry lady shall gladly eat.”

Liza picks up Jian’s dessert with a cheerful face.

“Why is it so quiet today, Sina?”

“It’s because of your breath.”

Sina spits out her biting sarcasm with a laugh. Pale smoothly brushes it off. Liza, eyeing not just the dessert but the bread as well.

‘Really dreadful.’

It wasn’t about Pale’s breath. It was a truly dreadful magic device.

* * *

The Gate Examination Hall.

Hundreds of students gathered in front of the academy’s portal, among them were Liza and Jian. In their eyes were fear, tension, and determination, a tangle of emotions.

For these students, the principal stood before the microphone.

“The Gate is imperfect. Born of chaos. Even humanity’s conjectures have variables!”

The principal, called hot-blooded, had a face turned red.

“Doubt. Be tense. Do not be complacent.”

The principal’s eyes blazed as he spoke, holding even his breath.

“Remember that you are the future of humanity, and remember the weight of the world’s existence and demise.”

After the speech of the principal, a 6th-grade Saber, restrained applause broke out. The students stood in front of the Gate with various expressions.

[Section 3 – Golden Gate]

Prediction – Difficulty Rank 3.

After reading the name of the Gate written above, Jian thought,

‘The Gate has changed…’

Wasn’t the magic of illusion just about reflecting the past? With a somewhat serious face, Jian asked,

“Liza, did you study for Section 3?”

“Study? I’m a martial artist! I smash with my sword!”

“So, you didn’t study?”

Liza squinted her eyes with a grin.

“Why does it matter? Evan the nerd will take care of it.”

“We don’t know what roles we’ll play or where we’ll land. We might be close or far apart, maybe we won’t meet until the quest is over.”

That’s right. The true danger of the Gate isn’t the demon king or the Megi monster.

Infinite parallel worlds. Infinite variables. What the Gate will demand of the Saber is unknown.

Even if it’s a demand to stop the heavenly demon with the Sword Saint, or to conquer a cave filled with codes, the Saber must do it. And so.

“Liza, always remember that preparation is key. There’s no such thing as too much preparation when facing the Gate. Understand?”

As the atmosphere shifted, Jian sharply rebuked her, causing Liza to deflate immediately.

“Ah… I understand, I’ll study more next time.”

“Approach it as if it’s always your last time. What if you receive a physical penalty? Then even your prized swordsmanship would be gone. At that point, knowledge truly is everything.”

Liza, about to say something, bowed her head again.

“I’m sorry.”

Jian sighed.

After all, the girl before him was just an eighteen-year-old student.

“I forgive you.”

At Jian’s forgiveness, Liza grinned broadly and stretched ostentatiously.

“Right from the start, I feel sooo~ uplifted. Ah, I must work hard.”

Despite having been scolded, Liza quickly bounced back, playfully frolicking, which made Jian feel a pang of emotion. The Gate had transformed into the ‘Golden Gate’ he had never seen before. It was a clear challenge.

‘With my current skills, I could surely change the outcome.’

Until now, he had navigated by memories of his past life. But now, the roles had changed. As Jian, he helps the inexperienced Evan. Although it’s a dream, he intends to change the past ending.

‘Surely, as I approach the ending, the illusion’s magic device will be deactivated.’

Having finished his thoughts, Jian passed through the portal with Liza.

* * *

Golden Gate (黃金門)

Upon seeing the dazzling room, Jian immediately understood the meaning of its name. From the desk to the bedchamber, everything shimmered with the symbol of the Golden Gate.

“Oh! You’ve opened your eyes! The young master has awakened!”

The physician exclaimed excitedly.

‘Young master? Is that my role this time?’

Jian tried to rise quickly, but it wasn’t easy.

He didn’t know how long he had been lying down, but his muscles felt melted.

‘What’s with this body?’

A frail body, struggling to stand on its own.

‘Could it be.’

Realizing the situation instantly, Jian frowned.

To balance things out in such a manner.

– You have entered the Gate of the 3rd District [Golden Gate].

– The quest’s objective has not yet been revealed.

– Your role is that of a [Young Noble].

– A penalty exists.

– You have received a [Physical] penalty. You will assimilate into the body of the role, [Young Noble].

No sooner had it been said than a physical penalty. Now, Gian’s body had become one with that of the role, the Young Noble.

‘Of all things…’

This meant that Gian’s swordsmanship, as well as his natural movements, had become difficult. The quest’s difficulty had significantly increased.