Episode 885 Sinners (5)
Castian is an Obsidian-grade adventurer with the epithet “Perfect,” and is one of the top forces the Adventurer’s Guild boasts.In other words, it meant he was a figure whose practical capabilities lived up to his reputation.
Verden displayed insight.
It appears clear at first glance, but is vague upon closer inspection.
When I saw him at the World Conference, I only got the strong impression of an Obsidian-ranked adventurer… but when I paid close attention, something felt strange.
What should I call this?
Should I say it’s out of focus?
Although Castian was supposed to be just one person, a sensation of many people overlapping overwhelmed me. It was like an afterimage following his movements.
Sreung.
Castian held a bastard sword with simple decorations in his hand. The blade was quite long, but the edge was strangely thick.
“Aren’t you going to draw that single-edged sword?”“Because I haven’t felt it was worth it yet.”
Adrian and Castian emerged from a snow-covered cabin and stood facing each other. Adrian had accepted the sinner of the fallen kingdom’s proposal to test each other’s strengths.Verden, Reginalf, and Andes gathered in one place and served as the audience.
“Since you are the one who dared to act arrogantly toward your lord, I will not treat you half-heartedly.”“I never acted arrogantly, but that is of no concern. A single clash of swords is enough to convey so much.”
Castian solemnly grasped the sword hilt with both hands and pulled it up to his temples. The sharp, thick tip of the sword was pointed at Adrian.Adrian stared at Castian with his wrists resting on the light sword.
Please ring the bell.
[I get it.]
Andes slowly reached out his finger toward the empty teapot. The aura of death flickered and spread out like small waves.
Verden secretly had expectations.
Since Arkand underwent the ritual of immortality that transcended the confines of life, Castian is effectively the last descendant of Xerion.
Through Andes’s memories, I have seen what the ancient king’s martial prowess was like. An apostle of destiny born with transcendence in a frail human body… … .Certainly, that power was something the Luas Cult and the Dark Warton Magic Tower would have been wary of for a long time.
Akand’s parents were merely a king and queen, and no one had ever heard of anyone similar to Akand existing in the Xerion royal family. Itcertainly could not have been the power of bloodline.Nevertheless, since Castian was a relative of the former king, it was not surprising that he possessed unique characteristics far removed from common sense.
“I wonder what it will be like.”
ridge.
A dull metallic sound emanating from the kettle brushed past my ears for a moment.
Adrian’s figure vanished before Castian could even rush in—*Crack!* Castian was pushed back with the sound of a fist striking his face.
“He is ordinary for the younger brother of a former king.”“He is nothing special compared to his older brother.” I have heard that remark so many times that I am sick and tired of it. And every time, I used to reply like this.
Castian pulled his chin slightly. His lip was split and blood was flowing, but his posture did not waver at all despite the blow that struck with sharp speed.
“The strange one isn’t me, it’s you, hyung.”
My entire body’s muscles tightened, and countless voices echoed from within.
Our aspirations.
* * *
Castian pushed off the ground. The snow covering the nearby trees poured down.A heavy sword strike sliced through the blizzard.
Adrian lightly twisted his upper body.
He has quite a bit of strength.
Sword pressure can be felt even without sword energy. He has considerable stamina, so he seems confident in hand-to-hand combat.
For now, is he just a weaker version of King Prohas?
Snow is swirling.
Adrian slipped out of Castian’s sword path at a precise distance. Having evaded five attacks in just four steps, he shifted his center of gravity.A kick that had found its way into the blind spot headed toward Castian’s side.
It was then.
Whoosh.
Castian lowered his stance at a crucial moment, closing the distance. It was a perfect counterattack. Adrian deflected the blow by pushing his blade away with his hand.
Adrian asked.
“Why are you saving your sword energy?”“I haven’t saved it.”
Castian affirmed.
“Because he can’t manifest sword energy in the first place.”“What?”
thud!
Castian swung his sword, which had sliced through the air, all the way down and struck the ground. Then, taking a big step with his left foot, he threw his left fist.Adrian, standing in place, caught that fist with one hand.
‘… … I can’t feel any energy.’
That makes no sense.
How could a warrior who has reached this level fail to awaken his ki? It is impossible. How can he run without legs?
Humans compensated for their inferiority compared to other races through qi, magic power, and divine power, eventually coming to reign as the dominant race of the continent.In other words, a human without these three powers is the weakest individual.
No matter how physically well-trained a warrior may be, their potential is limited unless they possess vital energy.Like a mage without magical power or a cleric without divine power, they have no future. At best, they can only grow a bit stronger and bigger.
In that sense, Castian was a warrior who, by common sense, should not have existed.
“……!”
Adrian’s arm twitched.
The power in Castian’s fist was gradually growing stronger. It felt as if the ‘human power’ of thousands, even tens of thousands, was slowly converging on one spot.
Crackle.
Cracks began to appear in the frozen ground Castian stood upon. The red aura in his pitch-black eyes grew even more intense.
“Is it worth it at this price?”“I guess I didn’t live this long for nothing.”
Their thrusting fists clashed. Shaking the air as they retreated, the two charged forward again. Adrian drew his lightsaber.
Kaang! Kang! Kagagagak───Zaaaang!
With every flash of the sword light, the snow piled on the ground surged upward. A winter wind arose, and a blizzard raged around them.The swift swordsmanship forced Castian to defend himself in an instant.
“His breathing is almost perfectly steady. He shows no signs of expending stamina. His swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat are distinctly rough and combat-oriented. His pure physical ability is monstrously formidable. Balance? Forget it.”
It was the first time I had seen a warrior whose physical harmony was so out of sync that it was twisted to this extent. What on earth would Grand Duke Rivandale, the master of offense and defense, say if he saw this?
Adrian raised his level slightly while maintaining his insight. He unleashed his true abilities to closely assess Castian’s full strength.
Tsugagagak───
The light sword slid in and shot up into the sky in an instant. Castian’s arm, sucked in by the pressure, was also flung upward.Even in the midst of this, Castian was gripping the sword tightly.
*Pow!*
Adrian spun around in the air and struck Castian’s hand. A bone-shattering kick exploded on the back of his hand.Although he had been nearly completely incapacitated, Castian still did not let go of his sword. Instead, he turned his body to follow the arm that had been pushed back and attempted a counterattack.
Leaving the era of 800 years ago behind, Castian woke up in the modern era, established himself as an adventurer, and started from the bottom.
From White to Copper.From Copper to Silver.From Silver to Gold.From Gold to Platinum.From Platinum to Mithril.From Mithril to Obsidian.
Castian completed numerous requests without failure thanks to his unique physical abilities, andno matter what critical situation he faced, once he grasped his sword, he never let go of his grip until all threats were gone.
Truly an exemplary adventurer.
That was precisely why Castian was given the nickname “The Perfect Adventurer.”
Paat.
A purple aura shimmered around Adrian’s light sword, [Silendar]. In the blink of an eye, dozens of blows were exchanged, sparks flying.Castian tried to calmly adapt to the sword’s movements while focusing on his defensive swordsmanship.
It would be fine to end it here… but it seems you don’t want to wrap it up so blandly.
It was the moment Adrian had nearly gauged the hidden potential Castian possessed. Boom!!! The guy stomped his foot and raised his bastard sword above his head.
Thump.
Just as the sound of a heartbeat was heard, unprecedented power was channeled into the blade. A piercing sound erupted from the strike, which sliced vertically with perfect honesty.
Concurrent light
The flashing light sword collided head-on with the bastard sword. A gust of wind carrying a shockwave spread out in all directions, sweeping through the surrounding area.
Whoosh───Crack!
The trees swayed, and the dilapidated hut collapsed as its pillars crumbled. Pure white snowflakes, rising like dust, brushed against the bridge.
You both worked hard.
“I enjoyed it.”“Good job.”
Andes and Reginalf clapped their hands to signal the end of the sparring match. Verden watched Castian with narrowed eyes.
“No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem like that power itself was built up by himself.”
Adrian sheathed his light sword.
“Is it an artifact?”“It’s probably something like that. Probably.”
Castian placed his hand right on the center of his chest.
“Within this place are those who sacrificed themselves in the Xerion Empire. You should view this not merely as the will of my father and mother, but as the will of all people. They are the source of my power.”
Verden asked.
“Does that mean a soul has taken root?”“I do not know if it is a soul, or merely an empty will. Even the First Necromancer said that he could not tell the difference.”
[There are extraordinary things among artifacts that cannot be understood with the mind. That which sustains Castian’s life must be one of them.]
Castian nodded.
“Well, I simply made a wish to a ‘National Treasure’ that didn’t even know what an artifact was, and that wish just happened to be granted in this way. I am satisfied. At least I can atone for my sins this way. In any case, given this, you must have grasped my true capabilities to some extent.”
He retrieved the sword.
I am participating in the search for Hiaremar through the Adventurer’s Guild. I will assist you in secret so that you may obtain the Dragon Sword Magras. Please keep this in mind as you formulate your plans.
New power has increased.
If the Adventurer’s Guild led by Castian provides assistance, it will be of great help not only in the search but also in handling various unexpected situations.
Then, Castian held out the golden key again.
“As far as I remember, I heard that you saw the Old King during the War of the Transcendents. However, you would be wise to take that with a grain of salt. Whatever you imagined or prepared for, it will be far beyond that. I know that better than anyone.”“I gratefully accept the advice.”
After receiving the golden key, Verden asked Castian.
“But why do you consider yourself a sinner?”“Just because you did not directly side with the former king does not mean you are without sin.”
Castian gave a lonely smile.
Because I am of Xerion’s blood.
The royal and imperial families must bear responsibilities befitting their lofty status. They have a duty to protect the nation and the people.
Sinner of a fallen nation.
The great sin of Castian Linigea Tain Xerion was the sin of failing to prevent the destruction of the nation while failing to protect everything that should have been protected.
* * *
“You say this is ownerless land? Damn it, I heard you were selling the treasure the Golden Skull gave you to high society. So you’ve been pouring that money right here.”
Galliac roughly rubbed his chin as he entered the city of Arrein. Nerien and God also marveled at how much faster the pace of development was than expected.Their appearance had changed significantly compared to this time last year.
Warriors as warriors.Wizards as wizards.
Even considering that Galliac is a Mithril-grade adventurer, he appears quite wealthy. It was all thanks to the treasure Verden gave him out of goodwill.Although they were the least valuable items in the Golden Sinner’s warehouse, treasure was still treasure.
The reason the Galliac party had come to the ownerless land at this point was simple.It was because Verden had summoned them.
Because the Galliac party made a contract with Verden to take them along when the Golden Path opens someday, in exchange for handing over the Golden Skull.
Gode swallowed hard.
“Anyway… what might be on that Golden Path? Ancient artifacts? Forgotten magic? There must be something like that, right? I’m so excited I can’t sleep these days…! Oh right, shouldn’t we at least bow to the Conqueror of Magic as a token of gratitude?”“Why would I bow to Asher? Are you crazy?”“Of course, everything we’ve eaten, worn, and bought recently came from the treasures He gave us! So, I’m telling you to stop using informal language and use proper honorifics from now on, okay?”“You bought everything you wanted, and now you’re getting all cocky. Give me that book. I’m going to tear it to shreds and use it as kindling. You bastard.”“Excuse me for a moment.”“Hey! Someone’s passing by! Both of you, move aside!”“What did I block the way? If you really want to pass, go around the side, you son of a bitch—”
Nerien pushed Galliac and God with all her might to the edge of the road. Galliac spat out an insult at the back of a passerby.
Leaving the street, noisy with the Galliac party, behind, a passerby let out a hearty laugh.
What a friendly party of adventurers.
The passerby—the Listener—walked leisurely toward the Arrain Fortress visible ahead.
The messenger of the Ark arrived in Eon’s domain.
