Golden Star.
One of the Five Great Families.
The golden authority wielded by the Gold family, descendants of the Fair Scale. To the public, it was known as a power akin to “an eye for discerning value.” However, Liam viewed the Golden Star differently: it was the power to find exactly what one needed most at any given moment.
“…Lord Caravan, do you know much about the Golden Star?”
“Not in detail.”
“The, the Golden Star is… Ugh. E-excuse me for a moment.”
Zeppelin Gold had led me into his mansion the moment I arrived. In the middle of our smooth conversation, he suddenly gagged and bolted for the restroom. When he returned, his face was deathly pale.
“M-my apologies. That memory from back then still…”
“…I should be the one apologizing. As you’ve heard, it was unavoidable if we were to become perfect partners.”
“I-I understand. I’ve heard the circumstances. B-but every time I look at your face, I can’t help but feel nauseous. You look too much like him , the one I saw in that horrible place…”
To think he felt like vomiting just by looking at my face. My master wasn’t that hideous.
「That is not what he means, you brat.」
I pointedly ignored Liam’s gaze.
Zeppelin Gold soon found his voice again.
“…The Golden Star is a power of the Gold family known even to the public. It’s said to be the reason we could establish the Red Bank in the Black Archipelago and sweep up all the gold on the continent. But in truth, the Golden Star is not that kind of power.”
“If it’s not that kind of power, then what is it?”
“The rumors known to the world are a facade. They are false rumors intentionally spread by the Gold family—lies created to ensure the truth of this authority remains hidden.”
Zeppelin Gold took a deep breath and continued.
“The Golden Star is the power of the scales.”
“The power of the scales?”
“Yes. The Gold family are descendants of the Fair Scale. The ‘Golden Star’ flowing through our bloodline is an authority worthy of that name.” Zeppelin Gold wiped away his sweat. “The power of the Golden Star is certainly formidable. It allows one to find what is most necessary at any given moment. However… the descendants of the Gold family use the Golden Star only a handful of times in their entire lives.”
“Is there a reason? If it’s such a powerful ability, why use it so sparingly?”
“Because the price it demands is as great as its power.” Zeppelin Gold held up both hands. “If you use the Golden Star, you can find anything you need. But the Golden Star does not activate without a price. To trigger it, one must pay a price equivalent to the ‘thing desired.'”
“By paying a price, do you mean I have to pay money?”
“No. Something of equal value to the ‘thing desired.’ To be precise… it strips away the ‘power to obtain what is needed.'”
Stripping away the power to obtain what is needed? It was difficult to grasp what that meant. Fortunately, Zeppelin Gold realized I was struggling to follow and offered a further explanation.
“Let’s use a simple example. Imagine a bird with wings. Through the Golden Star, the bird wishes to find and eat a very delicious fruit. If the bird seeks the fruit through the Golden Star, it will learn exactly where the fruit is. The fruit is hanging on a very high tree. But—”
“But?”
“The bird can no longer fly. Because the Golden Star took its wings as the price. The Golden Star is the power of the scales, and these fair scales reveal the ‘thing desired’ but take away the ‘method to obtain it’ in exchange. It is a very cruel set of scales.”
Taking the wings from a bird. That explanation made it crystal clear.
“…Then, can the price paid upon activating the Golden Star never be recovered?”
“No. If you manage to obtain what you sought after paying the price, you can get it back. But that process is nearly impossible.” Zeppelin Gold looked at me intently. “In the entire history of the Gold family, fewer than ten people have successfully obtained what they wanted through the Golden Star. Among outsiders who asked us to activate it, only two have ever succeeded. This is a dangerous power.”
“….”
“Lord Caravan, if there is something you need, please just ask me instead. I will find it for you. This power is far too dangerous. Even my older brothers avoid using it whenever possible.”
A power far too dangerous. After hearing that assessment, I looked at my master. My gaze carried a silent question: ‘Did you know about this?’
「Of course I knew.」
“….”
「Young descendant, where else could you find such a magnificent opportunity? It is a chance to obtain both a new sword and a grueling ordeal at the same time. Two waves of growth, crashing down at once.」
Damn it.
「Or are you scared?」
“Let’s do it. Use the Golden Star on me.”
I didn’t decide to do it just because I was provoked by the word ‘scared.’ A new sword and a grueling ordeal—as a Caravan, I simply couldn’t pass up the chance when two things I craved were right in front of me.
*
Zeppelin Gold said that using the Golden Star required preparation. Thus, I briefly left his mansion and returned to my lodgings.
‘I wonder what kind of ordeal is coming.’
I couldn’t predict it. But then again, wasn’t it my daily routine to face bizarre and unexpected trials?
I stayed in my room and took stock of what I had gained recently. First, I had obtained a wealth of information thanks to the Great Warrior Ismael. The gods’ purpose, the Sky Sword, Carlos. I could dig into those slowly from now on. Of course, I should only mention them in front of partners I could trust completely, like Zeppelin Gold. If I spoke of them in front of others and encountered an enemy I couldn’t handle, it would be the end of me.
Hadn’t I struggled even against the Great Warrior Ismael? I needed to be a bit more cautious.
‘…Come to think of it.’
There was one thing I had gained at the end of the battle with Ismael.
“Master.”
「What is it?」
“I felt a strange power the moment Ismael died. It was a warmth quite different from mana… but it vanished completely afterward, so I couldn’t identify it. You were watching then, weren’t you? Do you know what that power was?”
「Hmm, did you feel… love?」
“Don’t joke around. Just tell me.”
Liam burst into laughter.
「It was a Divinity Fragment.」
“A Divinity Fragment?”
「A key to transcendence.」 Liam crossed his arms and looked at me. 「I told you, didn’t I? You shouldn’t settle for being a hero; you must become a myth.」
“Yes.”
「Your myth has begun to stir, however slightly. Even if I explained the details, you wouldn’t understand yet. You’ll only start to get a feel for it once you’ve digested at least the ‘second fragment’ of my beloved sword that you swallowed.」
“Can’t you tell me even a little bit? I’m curious.”
At my question, Liam pondered for a moment before answering.
「Young descendant.」
“Yes?”
「Why did the seven chief gods and nine goddesses who created this land choose to cause division and war instead of simply destroying the continent, wiping out the seven races, and creating a new world?」
“Is it not for the order of the world?”
「That is also true. But it is not the fundamental reason. The reason the gods hide their true natures while spreading scriptures and doctrines… that essential reason lies within ‘Divinity.’」
“….”
「The high can only exist if there is a low. If all low things were to disappear, the high things would no longer be high, and even the highest would become the lowest.」
It was difficult to grasp. Listening to Liam’s words, I reached a conclusion.
“So you’re saying there’s nothing I can do with it right now.”
「Correct.」
Dammit.
*
Since obtaining “Soaring,” the only growth I had achieved was through the Demon Ore. My master talked about achieving a myth and whatnot, but there was nothing I could immediately do with the “Divinity Fragment” that supposedly appeared as my small myth began. I could feel my growth rate gradually slowing down after surpassing the level of a “Sword Runner.”
Well, that was only natural. Excluding those chosen by the gods, the realm of a Sword Expert was considered the pinnacle of swordsmanship. If I hadn’t set such an excessively high goal, achieving this realm at my age would have already made my name famous across the continent.
‘Well, it’s good to have learned various things, though.’
The gods’ purpose had expanded the scope of my revenge. The fact that Swordmaster Carlos might be the Sky Sword gave me a hint as to his justification. The overlapping goals of the Sky Sword and the gods also opened up the possibility of new allies. Their targets weren’t just the Caravans, but all Swordmasters and the Five Great Families.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. What if I could draw the other Swordmasters and the Five Great Families to my side, excluding Carlos? The tide of war would turn completely.
‘The Five Great Families and the Swordmasters must know about the fall of the Caravans.’
If they realize they might end up in the same position, there’s no telling how they’ll react. No matter how transcendent a Swordmaster might be, they were ultimately ‘human’ once. Just as Hugo Rhapsody threw everything away for his son, there might be others among the masters like him.
‘But I’ll have to qualify myself first.’
Caravan or not, if a mere Sword Runner goes to the Five Great Families, they won’t even open the door. They might just cut me down, telling the country bumpkin to get lost.
“By the way, there really is nothing to get here.”
「That’s just how the Southern Land is.」
The only growth I could immediately take was obtaining new equipment. If my master would teach me the next verse of the Demon Ore, I would train immediately, but Liam had yet to give any word regarding the next Steel. Consequently, after looking around, I only realized that the quality of weapons in the Southern Continent was excessively low.
「It has been peaceful for a long time, no dwarves live here, and even if there were good weapons, there are no people who would recognize them. It can’t be helped.」
Most of the weapons here were decorative—fine-looking pieces used for religious ceremonies. Naturally, they were useless to me. The only harvest I had managed was the “Sky Armor” gifted by Zeppelin Gold and three daggers useful for emergencies. Perhaps it was better to leave the weapon procurement to Zeppelin Gold. Maybe I should receive more gifts to commemorate becoming true partners and friends with perfect, unquestioning trust…
“Hmm?”
While walking with such idle thoughts, I saw people lined up in front of the Statue of the Sun. Unlike usual, the statue was glowing red. Drawn by the sight, I approached and saw a familiar face.
“May the Eternal Day be with you.”
“…May the Eternal Day be with you.”
They were the monks I had seen at the Sky Mountain Range. I received their greeting and awkwardly put my hands together to return it. As I bowed to the monks, an old monk soon stepped out from among them.
“We meet again in the Home of the Sun. It is a pleasure.”
It was Monk Butcher.
“What brings you here? I thought you were training in the Sky Mountain Range.”
“I have come for the persecuted. Not everyone can withstand the heat of the sun. There is no task more important than protecting the weak. Even if I must lose everything I have built throughout my life, it is my duty to protect a single, insignificant, lowly person.”
The practitioners of the Sky Mountain Range. It seemed they had visited to protect the Sun Order staying in the Southern Continent.
‘That’s a relief.’
With them here, the Crusaders won’t be able to trample Vicente as they did before. The strength of the monks is the real deal, and among them, Monk Butcher’s power is still beyond estimation.
‘…I feel it even more clearly after fighting the Great Warrior of Condemnation. Butcher, this old monk, is on a different level.’
Could I win if I used the Demon Ore? No, just because a sword can be aimed doesn’t mean it can reach. I still couldn’t visualize an image of myself fighting and defeating this old monk. As I grew tense on my own, Butcher spoke.
“I heard that you protected this Statue of the Sun and the persecuted people. You even spoke wonderful words during the process. That only one can protect oneself—our young priest Oren shared the teaching you gave him.”
“I only did what needed to be done.”
“You even defeated a Great Warrior who held a twisted belief. It is truly a magnificent feat.”
A shower of praise followed. Hmm. I prefer gifts over praise.
“From now on, the monks will protect this place. We also plan to walk where the sun shines and help those who suffer. That, too, will be another pilgrimage.”
But there was no gift.
“O traveler of the arduous Path of Steel.”
Wait, could this also be considered a gift in its own way?
“…Whatever awaits you at the end of your path, I hope you do not grieve too much.”
Butcher looked at me with a somewhat pitying expression before returning to the Statue of the Sun to offer a prayer. For some reason, it was hard to forget the words and the expression the old monk had given me. Ominously so.
*
“I heard the monks have arrived.”
“Things have become complicated. Not only was a Great Warrior of the Cross killed by a single swordsman, but the Crusaders can’t move because of the Great Warrior’s betrayal. Furthermore, we can’t move either. If it were just mercenaries living off the gold of the Black Archipelago, it would be one thing, but how do we drive out a Great Warrior of the Sun?”
“To drive out that old monk, we would need at least a successor of a Great Family… or perhaps an Orc warrior woman. A monstrous Orc who fought the Orc Chief ten times and won ten times, and who trampled a Sword Expert in just thirty exchanges.”
“Orc warrior women don’t move for money. And it would be a waste to pull out our core forces here. It’s just a port city in the Southern Continent, after all. It’s important, but… it wouldn’t be bad to wait until Monk Butcher leaves.”
“True. Since the Crusaders have stopped, let’s turn our attention away for a while. There are too many other things to worry about. The Rhapsody family, who are still missing without a word, and Khan of the ‘Great Land,’ who keeps looking for a chance to cross the sea. Of course, the most annoying one is—”
“Yeah, the Iron Kingdom.”
.
.
.
“It looks like the Iron Kingdom will… conquer the Machine Empire soon.”
*
“You’ve arrived…”
Zeppelin Gold looked exceptionally tired.
“Work has been piling up lately, and there’s a lot to prepare to use the ‘Golden Star.’ We have procedures to follow as well. We need permission to use this power on an outsider.”
“Whose permission are you talking about?”
“There is someone. Anyway, I’ve received permission and the preparations are complete.” Zeppelin Gold scratched his head as he looked at me. “There’s something you should be careful of before we activate the Golden Star.”
“What should I be careful of?”
“After activating the Golden Star, you will find it difficult to use powerful armaments. If what you wish for is something minor, it might be fine, but numerous restrictions will be placed on you. And after activating the Golden Star, it’s better not to receive help from others. It’s okay to travel with companions, but doing so might lengthen the journey to find what you seek, or your companions might get caught up in the restrictions and end up in trouble.”
“….”
“In the worst-case scenario, the desires of your companions might be what ends up on the scales instead.”
That wouldn’t do.
‘So that means the chance to test my newly acquired weapons is gone, I have to set aside Gaia’s Sword which I’ve used so well, and I have to throw away Zeppelin Gold’s reliable support.’
I only hoped it would be worth it.
“If you are ready, please take my hand.”
I took a deep breath. Then, I grasped Zeppelin Gold’s hand.
At that moment.
“…!”
My vision was dyed in gold.
A brilliant golden light gathered into one point and became a massive set of scales. Beyond the scales lay a single sword, its shape difficult to discern. As I stared at the scales, which were tilted steeply, an unknown force pulled me in. When I closed and opened my eyes, I was standing on the scales. Soon, with a creaking sound, my side of the scales began to descend.
The further the scales dropped, the more I felt the strength draining from my body. Was it the feeling of being exhausted after a long run? No, it was different from that. It was a subtle sensation, as if time were rewinding to a point before I had gained my power…
『───.』
And then.
The sword placed on the opposite side of the scales vanished. In its place sat a boy. A boy with a somewhat melancholic gaze. His eyes looked pure yet sad. The scales creaked as they slowly leveled out. When they were perfectly balanced, the boy and I were facing each other. Simultaneously, a voice echoed in my head.
It had been a very long time.
『What is most important is invisible to the eye.』
The voice of the Sword.
