chapter 52
52. Emperor (3)
As he picked up Balmung, Yuma felt a sound echoing in his head.
-Balmung, the sword of wailing and annihilation. It starts working.
It was a sound reminiscent of a modern, gentlemanly male artificial intelligence voice. Yuma narrowed his eyebrows.
“…Is it the Ego Sword?”
-My heart trembles at the first operation in a thousand years.
“What are you talking about.”
Wasn’t it a good thing that you were completely swayed from the hands of Increnu yesterday?
-See ego, Balmung. The ego cannot germinate in outside hands. There is only consciousness. 312 years ago, when I was imprisoned in the sacred bag of the ignorant and cold-blooded god Incrinyu. Most of the time it was darkness itself… It is finally in the hands of humans.
Balmung continued.
-That is also the hand of the God Slayer who murdered the god Incrinyu. I like it very much. It was very insightful.
I don’t know what it is, but I’m sure he’s a strange guy.
-Please use me, Balmung. All you have to do is perform the ownership ceremony.
There’s something about this guy that makes me uncomfortable.
“What powers does it have?”
-If I were to list the great abilities of this ego, the first is the ability to quickly recognize long-distance and long-distance attacks based on magic power or aura and detect the direction, angle, location, trajectory, etc.
Yuma tried to say that he would use it right away, but could barely suppress the desire.
The power to perfectly prepare for long-distance attacks.
It was a power Yuma desperately needed, but first, we needed to find out more about this guy.
“What are your other abilities?”
-All swordsmanship skills of swordsmen who have used Balmung so far have been recorded. These are the sword techniques used by five top-notch grand sword masters. Posture, swordsmanship, and footwork are all recorded.
‘This is not the power I need, but the power Belle needs.’
However, for that reason, I needed an ability similar to the previous ‘radar’ too much to hand it over to Bell. And that ability is probably one that Bell doesn’t really need.
Even if there is no such thing, if there is danger to you, you will be able to sense it through your energy sense.
A martial arts genius given by God.
That was Bell.
‘The sword techniques of Balmung’s squadron masters must have been the strongest of all time.’
While Yuma was pondering, Balmung’s words continued in his head.
-Although it may not be a function needed by the current owner, who is a god slayer, I can also use a veil-type defensive magic that is fully funded by the magic power implanted in me.
But surprisingly, it was the last feature that appealed to Yuma the most… !
Yuma felt his thoughts being organized in his head.
First of all, he concluded that he should be the owner of this Balmung.
‘lack.’
Evil God.
The next time someone like Increnu appears, he will eventually have to take action. Because Bell and Clone have not grown yet.
‘I have a feeling that it won’t be me who saves this world at the last, final moment.’
It doesn’t suit me.
To the <Clear> of this world. One’s own ‘paring’ is not suitable for the salvation of this world.
Yuma thought so. One day, Clone and Belle, who are currently powerless in the face of evil spirits, will fully awaken to their power.
‘Until then, I’ll have to protect it.’
In order to properly carry out that mission, Yuma decided to become Balmung’s master.
‘All I have to do is pass on Balmung’s knowledge of sword techniques and other things to Bell.’
Even if you don’t show it directly, if you write down a swordsmanship book and give it to him, Bell will completely learn the rules of the swordsmanship on his own.
Because he was literally a genius given by God.
“How do you achieve the sense of ownership?”
-Just drop a drop of blood onto the small jewel on the handle.
-If you become my master, I can only communicate with the master. Even if someone catches me, they can’t talk to me.
“Once you become the owner, can’t you do it?”
-I am not a magic sword. You can do it whenever you want. However, once you do it, you cannot become its owner again.
“i get it.”
The blood inside Yuma’s body must have started to turn into a blood clot, but the hemoptysis did not come out at the right time. Yuma eventually called an attendant standing in the hallway and asked for a needle.
Pop…
A drop of blood landed on a small gem on the handle.
The jewels shed a brilliant light.
-You have become my master. master.
Balmung continued.
-In order to communicate two-way, you have to hold me in your hand and talk to me like you do now, but I can always deliver information one-way.
“Yes, an attack is coming from far away. Unless it’s an emergency like that, don’t open your mouth.”
Balmung’s words did not come out of the sword.
It kept echoing in Yuma’s head.
And that wasn’t a very pleasant feeling.
There was no reply to the command.
“answer.”
-… I’m sad. master.
“answer.”
-All right. master.
Balmung scanned the state of his master’s body.
And I found out a surprising fact.
-Manahat does not exist. master. Auror… Are you not using sword energy?
There was a noticeable amount of astonishment even in the artificially intelligent, mechanical voice.
“It’s the body of a criminal. It doesn’t have any talent.”
Yuma gave a simple explanation.
If you successfully parry the opponent’s attack, you can return damage to the opponent that exceeds the attack power.
-With that… Did you murder God? What kind of life have you been living? master.
“Are you disappointed?”
-no. I’m thrilled. This is my first time meeting this kind of master. I am very touched.
You b*stard.
I think I am truly moved.
So I was a little scared.
Yuma spoke with Balmung and confirmed a few more things.
How do you use shield magic?
And how is the knowledge of swordsmanship stored?
Unfortunately, it only looks out into the world when Increnu uses it. Since I was still in the spiritual bag, I had no knowledge of the whereabouts of other evil spirits.
The conversation continues. The day went by quickly.
“…I’m just a little tired. Is that what you said?”
Brigitte looked at Chamberlain Roian standing next to her.
Roian, the middle-aged chamberlain, bowed his head as he looked at 1st Princess Brigitte.
“Yes, you said so.”
Brigitte couldn’t lift her fork when the chef had already prepared the pasta in front of her.
Belle and Clone on either side of Brigitte were equally unable to lift their forks.
Whoop!
Except for one person, the nineteen-year-old Miao swordsman Hestia.
“Ugh… I heard you asked for lunch! Wouldn’t that be okay? You’re probably exhausted.”
Hestia’s words were valid.
Thinking back on yesterday’s events, I naturally wanted to spend a day alone and get some rest.
Even if it’s not particularly painful.
“Yes, Yuma is definitely tired.”
But my appetite, which had already disappeared, did not return.
‘… Emperor.’
I am.
Is he truly qualified to be an emperor?
Brigitte thought deeply.
Yuma.
It was a result created solely by Yuma.
It was Yuma’s power that completely overturned the extremely unfavorable competition for the throne.
‘What kind of weak thinking am I having?’
Brigitte would have slapped herself if no one was here right now.
‘Yuma was proud even before God.’
However, I finally achieved the position of emperor that I had longed for. Now he’s scared.
‘Stand up.’
Like an emperor.
Becomes the empress of the great empire of Astes.
‘I prove it.’
To the people of this land.
To the nobles.
─And to Yuma.
We need to let them know that their choice was not wrong.
1st Princess Brigitte’s blue eyes shone brightly.
Clone slowly stood up from his seat.
“I’m not hungry. I’ll eat dinner. Sorry.”
With a faint smile. Klone bowed his head and walked quickly down to the first floor.
‘I am much weaker than Belle.’
The destination was the training ground.
‘It will be helpful to Yuma.’
I will definitely stand next to you.
Clone whipped himself.
Belle was lowering her head with her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
-I really just brought you here because of the trust.
‘Why did you say that?’
To the savior of the clan. He spat something foolish that he shouldn’t have said to his savior. In front of Yuma’s sword, which seemed so great. Alone with an inferiority complex.
Belle continued to reprimand herself.
And then I followed Clone to the training ground.
***
Early moning.
Sabbak sabaak…
Belle was hastening her steps while looking at the scenery of falling leaves.
Going for a walk every morning was a routine I did even when I was trapped in the castle in the midnight sun.
After taking a walk, Belle entered the entrance of the princess’s palace again and her eyes widened.
This was because he saw Yuma walking gracefully in front of him.
‘You went for a walk first.’
Let’s try to do it together next time.
Belle followed Yuma with her pink eyes.
Cough!
Belle stopped abruptly.
It was a fairly sharp coughing sound.
‘Was it painful? Yesterday too… .’
I was filled with worry.
At that time, Yuma’s deep voice penetrated Bell’s ears.
“Not much time left….”
After saying that, Yuma walked up the stairs.
Bell walked slowly, making sure Yuma was fully up.
And then he stared at the stair handrail that Yuma had just grabbed.
A very light red color was on the white handle.
“…blood?”
Belle’s complexion turned pale.
-Not much time left.
“…uh.”
The words Yuma had just muttered in a low voice rang in my ears one after another.
I started to feel dazed.
-You will definitely become a greater swordsman than me.
A strong headache oppressed my brain.