I Was the Strongest Sword God in My Past Life

part 95

Chris raised his middle finger at Bruno’s question. That was a swear word used in the 1st district.

“Eat this, I wouldn’t think of something like that. You’re a moron.”

“Teach me some manners.”

Chris provoked Bruno on purpose to buy time for Démona to escape. Bruno made a loud noise by punching his fist, while Chris remained calm.

‘One doesn’t brag about winning.’

Chris’s goal was to successfully escort Démona to safety, even if it meant…

‘I’ll die before that.’

* * *

Démona fleeing.

Chris risking his life.

In the tense atmosphere, Director Raymond of the Celian School spoke to Selphis in a serious tone unlike usual.

“You’re magnificent.”

It wasn’t empty praise. Raymond was deeply impressed by Chris’s actions as a Seyer.

“Really, you’re a magnificent Seyer.”

Long silence.

Raymond and Selphis seemed to be lost in thought for a long time, not saying a word. Raymond, who had already recalled an old incident, spoke up.

“Ah, my rival, Selphis. Your school students are indeed true Sabers. Chris, didn’t you say? I’ll definitely remember that.”

In the video, Chris was getting battered. His arm was broken by Bruno’s punch, but he still launched himself at Bruno with the remaining arm. It was a battle of a huge gap in level, bordering on violence, and the onlookers turned away. But Selphis didn’t back down.

“Okay.”

Raymond recorded Chris’s battle in his mind.

“You’re right.”

Selphis didn’t flinch at Raymond’s praise. Although this was a virtual gate, it wasn’t a matter of life and death. However, Chris’s unwavering will and accurate judgment had already been conveyed to the two chairmen beyond the screen.

“Now I’m curious about how this gate’s strategy will end. Raymond.”

“I’m of the same mind, Selphis.”

Seven Sabers, three Villains.

And just one gate.

The story was advancing rapidly towards its conclusion, like an intense relay race where a single mistake would mean defeat.

* * *

Broken tiles and shattered walls.

The 7th floor of the auction house was in a state of utter devastation. Yet, Bruno, who had caused all the commotion, was calmly changing his expression.

“…You’re a real scumbag.”

Bruno’s gaze was fixed on Chris, who had already had his right arm broken and was in a state of utter disarray. Yet, Bruno still couldn’t finish Chris off.

“It’s as if you anticipated my attack… Is that your characteristic?”

“Heh heh!”

Chris wiped his lips instead of responding. His insides were a mess, as if he had been hit when he was thrown.

“…It’s a miracle I’ve lasted this long.”

Before meeting Jen, Chris’s skills were barely at the 3rd grade level. But now, he was fighting against a 5th-grade Hunter. Unlike the other geniuses, Chris had worked hard with all his might.

“…Did Demon have time to escape?”

“That woman is going to die.”

It was as if Bruno had read Chris’s thoughts.

“Maybe I’ll catch her, and she’ll be grateful.”

“…Shut up!”

Chris spat out the blood in his mouth.

Bruno seemed to be in no hurry to chase after Demon.

“Is that so? I’ve taken the initiative.”

Bruno pulled out the earpiece from his pocket and showed it to Chris.

“The same 5th-grade hunter, but the guy chasing that woman is twice as strong as me. And the leader is at least three times stronger than me.”

“What’s with the size… it’s just a game of numbers.”

Bruno looked at Chris with an expression that was difficult to read. His tightly closed lips seemed to hold a determination.

“…What’s your goal?”

Bruno swung his fist in mid-air.

“Kkkt!”

A boulder-like rock rose from the ground.

Chris pierced his shoulder with the rock.

“Kkha!”

Chris’s cry was short, but the pain was unbearable. Bruno looked at Chris with a calm expression.

“You wouldn’t risk your life for simple theft. You’re not that kind of person.”

Chris’s expression hardened. It was as if Bruno was asking about the fundamental nature of a saber. Bruno’s intuition was accurate, but he wouldn’t reach the truth.

“…That’s…”

“It seems you can’t say it.”

Bruno slammed the ground.

The giant’s body crashed down on Chris like a bullet.

“Kktt!”

The impact made Chris collide with the wall.

“Kk! Uh, uh-uh!”

Chris’s mind was muddled, and it was hard to breathe. Bruno’s low voice echoed through the building.

“…There was someone we wanted to protect.”

Bruno slowly approached Chris. The heavy atmosphere of the air made Chris feel like he couldn’t breathe.

“…Is that a villain’s excuse?”

“There’s no need to excuse. That person is dead. They were a good person. I think that person wouldn’t even think of something like this.”

“But why… oooh!”

Bruno grabbed Chris’s throat and lifted him up.

“No, so that’s it.”

A life force burst out of Bruno’s body.

“Since that person, we’ve gone so far as to exact revenge.”

Bruno gritted his teeth.

A destruction power that was different from before. If he clashed with that attack, Chris would surely disintegrate without a trace.

“Ugh, this isn’t it!”

Chris kicked and struggled, but Bruno’s arm was as stiff as a board.

“That person’s revenge is only possible for us.”

Bruno pulled his fist back.

Just as he was about to thrust it at Chris.

Crunch!

Blood burst forth from Bruno’s arm, which had been as hard as a rock. Someone must have cut it with a sword.

“Ah! This is terrible!”

Thanks to this, Chris managed to break free from Bruno’s grasp.

“Yah, yah, yah!”

Chris gasped for breath and looked up. There, standing under the moonlight, was Lucia in her organization’s uniform, holding her elegant sword.

“Are you late?”

The black-haired Lucia, whose hair was swaying like a curtain of mana, looked at Chris with a hint of annoyance.

“No, it’s really… late.”

Chris hastily retreated to the corner. Bruno, who seemed to have lost interest in Chris, fixed his gaze on Lucia, as if intending to kill her.

“The dog of the organization has sent you.”

Lucia responded by pointing her sword at Bruno.

“That kind of toy… won’t work on me!”

Bruno’s arm turned into metal, and his power of metallization kicked in. Bruno lost his composure the moment he saw Lucia. He entrusted his body to his rage and began to swing his fists wildly.

“…slowly…”

But Bruno’s attack was clearly visible to Lucia.

“…compared to that person’s sword…”

This was the result of his training.

Lucia, like a reed that could withstand a storm, blocked Bruno’s attack and sent it back. Although Bruno’s physical strength was far inferior to Lucia’s, he was unable to subdue her.

“aaah!”

The enraged Bruno crashed his palms onto the ground, and the stones that had risen from the ground rained down on Lucia.

Kkkaaang!

It was impossible to block with a sword. Bruno was a hunter specialized in combat, and his characteristic was the ability to unleash devastating power.

“The king’s summons.”

But Lucia’s magical artifact was not a sword. The Holy Spirit had bestowed upon her the throne of the transparent, shining crystal.

Lucia’s surroundings were slowly transforming into the world of crystal. The moment she sat on the throne, her surroundings became equivalent to her domain. The rocks that had invaded the crystal world turned into crystal and fell to the ground.

“……You!”

Bruno rushed at Lucia, but it was a meaningless resistance. His powerful punch was blocked by the crystal soldiers, and the crystal-made swords and arrows rained down on Bruno.

“How! What! This is! Ahh!”

Bruno’s anger thundered.

The arrows and swords imbued with the power of the “Sage’s Claw” turned into crystal dust. However, this world would remain eternal as long as Lucia’s mana remained. With just one flick of her elegant hand.

Clang! Clang!

The crystal chains made by Lucia bound Bruno, and new soldiers emerged from the ground. Rebellion was futile in this world of crystal, where Lucia was the Iron-Willed Emperor.

“You have lost.”

Lucia’s voice was devoid of any emotion. She simply stated the result without any change in tone. But Bruno was not ready to surrender.

“Ahh!!”

Bruno let out a beast-like roar and thrashed about, and the more he thrashed, the tighter the crystal chains bound him.

“……”

Then, Lucia’s gesture caused the sword to pierce Bruno. Bruno no longer had the strength to unleash his characteristic.

“……Damn it.”

Bruno, whose body had fallen limp, was looked at by Kris.

“You……”

As Lucia stepped down from the throne, the crystal world began to crumble. Lucia had no mana left, but she didn’t show it.

“This is the Gate.”

This was a space that was no different from a game. Lucia gazed at Kris without expression.

“They are just characters.”

“I know.”

“Why do you look like that?”

“I don’t know……”

Kris’s gaze remained fixed on the fallen Bruno for a while.

**Gate Management Agency.**

Lucia’s victory finally brought Metis relief. This time, the success or failure of the Public Order Council’s operation hung in the balance, and Metis was monitoring it closely, barely closing his eyes.

“What’s the situation, Mr. Dennis? The students’ abilities are almost on par with professionals.”

“…Hmmm.”

Dennis was meticulously checking the Public Order Council’s judgment. He didn’t just look at the students’ combat abilities; he considered their acting, history, and judgment as well. His confirmation was a testament to his meticulous nature, worthy of a “7th-grade Sabeur” down to the smallest detail.

“…It’s almost perfect, yet.”

Moreover, Lucia had defeated Bruno, a Rebelion member who was notorious for being a villainous organization in the 1st Sector’s history. Although there was a difference in their animosity, the result was astonishing.

“‘The strongest member of the Rebelion, and I defeated two of them.'”

Of course, this was the first event of the Rebelion, and it was premature to compare it to its peak of infamy. However, the same was true for Jeon’s party, which included Jeon himself and other members who were barely 1st-year students.

“‘How much can they grow? But that’s why I’m even more……'”

Dennis’s scrutiny had to be colder.

If he were to put students who were still growing, like sprouts, into the Gate and let them die, the government’s losses would be incalculable. Dennis, who had been lost in thought, finally opened his mouth.

“I think the same way. This party is the most capable among the 1st-year students I’ve seen.”

Dennis’s praise was rare.

Perhaps it was natural. He had become a 5th-grade Sabeur at 18 and was now a 7th-grade expert. His standards were naturally high. However, Jeon’s Public Order Council’s performance had even satisfied Dennis’s demanding palate.

“Therefore, I will be even more cautious.”

Metis’s law had a significant impact on the history of Sabeurs.