Extra in a Romance Fantasy

163 – Sword Master (3)

Bang!

The clash of my sword and the Sword Master’s echoed loudly.

Both of us swung our swords as if it were nothing, a strike far from our full power.

Rather than an attack, it was closer to a greeting, a light blow.

Thus, our swords collided and momentarily halted.

Over the two swords standing tall, I locked eyes with the Sword Master.

And then—

Bang! Crash!

As if that was the signal, a flurry of strikes began to exchange.

As if the earlier blow was merely a greeting, the speed and power of the swords we wielded only grew faster and stronger with each passing moment.

In the midst of that flurry, I thought: if an average master of the Ten Swords had been here, they would have been cut down and lost their breath long ago.

So, how long had the two swords been dancing?

Clang!

Once again, the two swords clashed and came to a standstill.

“…Is that the sword of a hero?”

For the first time since the battle began, the Sword Master spoke.

His gaze was fixed on my sword.

“Indeed, it seems that the claim of it being a sword unlike any other in the world is not an exaggeration.”

I read a hint of admiration in his eyes.

“…Well, it is an exceptional sword.”

I readily agreed with his words.

Though the conversation felt somewhat out of place for the situation, it wasn’t insincere.

The Hero’s Sword.

The sword wielded by the Hero Ferdion, renowned as the greatest warrior in history, and a partner that played a significant role in creating countless legends.

Before I held the Hero’s Sword in my hands, I had thought that the power of the sword described in those legends was somewhat exaggerated.

After all, tales from long ago tend to grow more grandiose with time.

However, after grasping the sword myself, I realized.

That the legend, the countless rumors, were by no means fanciful.

There’s a saying that a great warrior does not discriminate against weapons, but to be precise, that statement is incorrect.

Certainly, a skilled warrior could split rocks and even cleave steel with a subpar weapon.

But when it comes to actual combat, the story changes.

If the opponent is significantly weaker, it may not matter much, but even when the levels are equal—or rather, when the difference in skill is not substantial—the quality of the weapon has a tremendous impact.

That is why warriors are so fixated on acquiring good weapons.

They wander here and there in search of sturdier, sharper blades, and do not hesitate to part with their fortunes.

Among those, there is one aspect they pay particular attention to.

That is, the efficiency of magical power.

It is no exaggeration to say that the foundation of the superhuman strength displayed by warriors is magical power.

Cutting through rocks with a sword or breaking steel, barring a few exceptions, are feats that can only be accomplished with the accompaniment of magic.

By infusing a weapon with magical power, one can finally showcase such miracles.

However, simply infusing a weapon with magical power does not mean that all of that power will fully reside within the weapon.

With any material or weapon, there will inevitably be some loss in the process.

This is a law that cannot be avoided, regardless of how good the material or weapon may be.

Yet, the Hero’s Sword is an exception to that rule.

This sword accepts the user’s magical power completely, without a single point of loss.

That alone is already unbelievable, but in addition, the Hero’s Sword possesses other remarkable qualities.

It never breaks, it does not rust, and it does not dull.

With just one of its characteristics, it could be described as a treasure of the ages; the Hero’s Sword embodies them all.

Because of this, I am certain.

This sword is the greatest and most powerful weapon on the continent.

“I’ve heard that the sword originally belonged to the Order,” the swordsmith continued in a refined tone.

“…It seems so.”

I encountered the Hero’s sword within a tomb of a false hero, created by the Order’s design.

Considering the circumstances, the only ones who could have placed the Hero’s sword there were the Order, and for that reason, I had speculated that the Order must have originally possessed the Hero’s sword.

If the Order, a group shrouded in secrecy that no one could identify, had indeed held the Hero’s sword, it would explain why no information about the sword had circulated in the public.

However, there was something that weighed on my mind.

Why did the Order place the real Hero’s sword there? That question lingered in my thoughts.

From the moment the Order had decorated the Hero’s tomb convincingly, and from the instant the scholars of Alundel made their announcement, there was no need to keep the real Hero’s sword inside.

Yet, the Order had chosen to place the Hero’s sword within.

I was quite curious about the reason behind that.

With no way to resolve that question, I simply buried it in a corner of my mind.

But then, that question was unexpectedly unraveled.

“I’ve heard that the sword was originally a sacrificial offering.”

From none other than the swordsmith’s lips.

“A sacrificial offering…?”

A sacrificial offering? I looked at him with a puzzled expression, wondering what he meant, and the swordsmith opened his mouth again.

“The leader said that the sword was placed in the tomb as an offering to a ‘great being.’ They had already made sufficient preparations, but there was a possibility that it might not pique the interest of the ‘great being’ or ‘demon,’ so they prepared this offering just in case.”

“…….”

Hearing his words, I finally understood the whole story.

Why the Order had left the real sword there.

The Order intended to offer the Hero’s sword as a sacrifice.

In case their prepared rituals and offerings did not satisfy the ‘great being’ or ‘demon.’

“It is certainly a sword that would not be out of place to be called a legendary blade, yet within the Order, there was no one capable of wielding it properly. Contrary to its legendary reputation, it was said to exhibit poor magical efficiency… Perhaps that’s why they had no qualms about using the sword as a sacrifice.”

“…….”

“However… seeing that it is now in your hands, it seems the Order has made a blunder. They have given you wings.”

As he said.

In the end, the hero’s sword came into my hands.

In my hands, which oppose the order.

Though it feels strange to say it myself, if I recall Cheryl’s words, I could express that I am the greatest obstacle to the order achieving its goals.

The order has ultimately handed the most dangerous weapon to the most dangerous enemy with its own hands.

However.

“…That sword of yours doesn’t seem ordinary, though.”

This time, I looked at the swordsman’s sword.

The swordsman gazed at the hero’s sword with pure admiration, but to be honest, his sword was by no means an ordinary object.

It’s not that I say this because the blade didn’t dull even after clashing with the hero’s sword several times.

Given that the user is a swordsman, that’s only to be expected.

It’s just, how should I put it.

It resonates.

Just by looking, just by clashing like this, I can feel it.

That sword is not an ordinary object.

It’s only natural.

The sword wielded by the pinnacle and pride of the empire, which possesses the greatest national power on the continent, could not be an ordinary item.

“Of course, this friend is an excellent sword as well. It has been with me for many years.”

The swordsman nodded lightly.

On his face, in his eyes, there was a clear confidence and pride.

“Well, still, it seems to fall short of your sword.”

“…….”

I didn’t respond, but inwardly, I nodded.

He was right.

The swordsman’s sword is indeed an exceptional sword.

It would be nearly impossible to find a sword superior to it across the entire continent.

But.

My sword, the hero’s sword, is superior to his.

Both he and I could feel that for certain.

In other words.

When it comes to weaponry, I could definitely say that I have the upper hand over the swordsman.

Of course.

“Then shall we get started in earnest… What do you think?”

The old man before me, despite being ahead with his sword, was not someone who would easily guarantee victory.

“Indeed.”

With my calm agreement.

Suu—

The air around us shifted.

“I believe today I can truly enjoy this for the first time in a while.”

As I mentioned earlier, up until now, it had merely been a skirmish and a reconnaissance.

And now, at this moment.

The continent’s strongest warrior was revealing his true intentions.

As he unleashed the suppressed magical power, his ‘will’ was set free into the world.

A ‘will’ sharper and heavier than any other warrior’s ‘will’ seized the surroundings in an instant, making the air dense.

At the same time.

Sruuk—

A blade of light erupted from his sword.

A blade of intent, forged from the very essence of thought, capable of cutting through all things—sword intent.

That supreme technique manifested so naturally from the old man’s sword.

Witnessing that sight.

Swiik—

I too ignited the sword intent in the hero’s sword.

Sword intent must be met with sword intent.

Otherwise, no matter how legendary the blade, it would shatter in an instant.

One might think it unnecessary to envelop the hero’s sword in sword intent, considering its characteristics, but that would be a grave mistake.

Perhaps… no, without a doubt, the hero’s sword could withstand the sword intent of the swordsman.

However, sword intent is not merely a technique of sharpness.

Sword intent possesses an unparalleled ferocity and a violent destructive power.

If I were to face the current swordsman without igniting my own sword intent, I wouldn’t even be able to dissipate the shock, and while the hero’s sword might endure, my body would surely break first.

Knowing this, I ignited my sword intent in response.

Thus, with our respective sword intents ignited, the swordsman and I once again faced each other.

Bang!

The real fight had begun.