LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 124
The blacksmith sought perfection. He burned his soul to prove that he had lived his entire life for this moment.
Nameless. He left no name behind. The traces he left in this world were sufficient with just two swords.
There’s a saying that a sword is an extension of one’s arm. The moment I grasped the two swords, that saying couldn’t help but come to mind. It felt natural. It was likely my first time holding a sword, yet the sensation wrapping around my hand felt strangely familiar.
These swords possessed the dual powers of annihilation and absorption. They encapsulated the essence of the dragon’s breath while safeguarding the power of Stormbringer.
Wooow-!
A faint vibration. Mana began to flow into my hand gripping the sword. A familiar sensation. Absorption, transformation, amplification. The three processes occurred simultaneously. It felt like I was holding two small mana circles with my hands.
Swoosh-
I raised the sword to capture the starlight from the night sky. The dimly descending light flowed softly along the blue and red blades, shimmering gently.
At that moment, the Nightmare approached, cutting through the remnants of breath beside me. The sound of clicking hooves echoed throughout the clearing, and from beneath it, a long crystal stone surged upwards.
It was hollow inside. Like a sheath. The length of the risen crystal stone was almost the same as the two swords in my hands.
“What is this…?”
Whoosh-
In a situation lacking a sheath capable of holding two swords, the Nightmare seemed to know what I needed. I reached out and grabbed the two crystal sword sheaths, and with a snap, they broke off.
Slither- Clink-!
It fit perfectly as if it were one body. The dragon’s energy that had flowed from the swords faded. Right after that, I pulled out the leather sword belt that had been slung over my shoulder and wrapped it around the crystal sword sheath, tying it to my waist.
It was a makeshift solution until I could craft a proper sword belt.
I exhaled lightly and placed my hand on the red sword. Until now, I had never used both swords simultaneously. To perform my familiar swordsmanship, one sword was all that was required.
Swish-!
As my arm moved, a flash of red light shot forth. The sword that had been drawn silently revealed its hot presence late.
Now it was the blue sword’s turn. The moment I sheathed the red sword, a new discharge followed. A blue light traced a trajectory in the sky, and an icy chill rose.
I frowned as I looked up at the tip of the blue sword. Each one was an extraordinary weapon, but to truly draw out their power, both swords had to be used simultaneously. The swords were born from a single breath. They were a pair.
“Mmm…”
I let out a small moan as I sheathed the blue sword. Both of them were no ordinary swords. They needed names befitting their grandeur.
Thus, the names Ice Dragon Sword and Fire Dragon Sword came to mind.
Since they were born from the dragon’s breath, it was only fitting to attach a dragon’s name to them. The reason I refrained from specifically naming them as the red dragon and blue dragon was due to my awareness of the dragon’s blood that remains in this land.
“Is it… all over…?”
“Ah. Yes.”
Wendy, who had been hiding behind a large rock, approached hesitantly. She peered at the spot where the man had stood with uneasy eyes while glancing at the two swords tied to my waist.
“Oh my… The surrounding mana is being forcibly drawn in… It’s not a mana stone…?”
As Wendy said, the blue sword drawn from the sheath absorbed the surrounding mana and transmitted a cold chill to me.
As the pure mana of chill filled my body, the red tail that had grown beneath me began to be dyed blue.
Clap- Clap-
With the tail of blue scales tapping against the ground, Wendy, who had been keeping a watchful eye, cleared her throat and spoke.
“Um, Seris?”
“Yes?”
“Do you happen to have any extra clothes…?”
“Ah…”
*
Two days had passed since I acquired the twin dragon swords imbued with fire and cold energy. During that time, while I was researching a new martial art by combining Kwanghwa Dragon Island Style Art of War and the Blue Dragon’s Chill technique, I received unexpected news.
“Are you planning to return already?”
I asked Wendy, who was packing her belongings. She nodded while stuffing her clothes into a large bag.
“Yeah. It’s about time to head back.”
“Is it because of the task from the Mage Tower?”
“Yep.”
“That’s too bad.”
“I feel the same. The adventure we had together was truly enjoyable, although it was dangerous…”
“Can we meet again next time?”
“Honestly, that’s a question I want to ask. If it weren’t for the Mage Tower task, I would have stayed with you longer…”
Wendy smiled at me with a sense of regret. Her smile resembled a gentle breeze.
“Have you had adventures like this until now? You know, the kind that ordinary people find hard to experience?”
“Not all adventures are like that.”
“Hmm.”
Wendy nodded thoughtfully after hearing my response. It seemed she was reminiscing about the adventure stories I had shared.
“Are you still thinking of staying here longer?”
“Yes.”
I nodded at Wendy’s words. The land of the Beastmen, where I arrived after crossing the fractured sky, was still full of mysteries unknown to me. My adventure was not over. I planned to continue wandering in search of new discoveries.
“Well then. Goodbye.”
After leaving the inn, I bid farewell to Wendy, promising a meeting whose timing was uncertain. She looked back one last time, smiling at me with lingering feelings.
“Take care.”
Wendy, cloaked in the wind, soared over large buildings towards the blue sky. Her control of the wind was far more skillful than before. Just as I had gained much from the end of this journey, it seemed she too had made some progress.
Wendy disappeared into the distance, riding the wind.
I turned away, leaving behind my regrets. I had put a period on yet another adventure. It was now time to move toward new mysteries.
“Hey, sorcerer.”
“Yes? Me?”
“Yeah. You.”
I turned my head at the suddenly heard voice. There stood an old Beastman with a stall set up, looking at me with shining eyes.
“You seem like a tourist. Am I right?”
“Well, sort of…”
Most magicians probably found this land for that reason. I nodded with a reluctant expression.
“If so, have you been to that place?”
“To where?”
“Oh, where indeed. The lonely island at the northern tip. It’s called Nangrangdo.”
“What’s Nangrangdo like?”
“My, my. You really don’t know anything, do you? But don’t worry. I have a book for tourists like you.”
The old Beastman said this while glancing around cautiously and began rummaging through his belongings. His gestures were exaggerated. The pitch of his voice was also intentionally comedic, naturally capturing my interest.
What the old Beastman pulled out was a seemingly old book. I frowned and curled my lips. It looked worn out, but a faint smell of ink made it seem new.
It wasn’t an ancient book. It was a book that had been artificially aged.
“Here, what do you think?”
[Total Compilation of Janghon Myths]
I received the book and skimmed through its content. It contained short explanations about specific geographical names and the myths related to them.
“This is a book I’m introducing only to you… You won’t find such items anywhere else.”
There were quite interesting stories contained within. I chuckled and asked the old Beastman.
“So how much is it?”
“Hmm… It’s a precious item, so it’s hard to price it…”
“Well then shall we just leave?”
“Ah, no. Two silver coins would be enough.”
Given the market rates here, it was an incredibly expensive price. Unlike the place I came from, this land didn’t have an abundance of ore, so the worth of currency containing silver or gold was exceptionally high.
One silver coin could cover a decent meal at an inn and a night’s stay. Since I didn’t readily ask for it, the old Beastman studied my reaction. How much time passed? Just as I was about to turn away, he hurriedly spoke.
“O-only one silver coin!”
Unfortunately, I didn’t carry coins below the silver. I pulled out a shiny coin from my pocket and flicked it to the old Beastman.
“Oh, oh dear! Thank you!”
Nangrangdo. I skimmed the book and turned away. When I had walked quite a distance, I glanced back to see the old Beastman had caught a clumsy-looking man and was shaking the same book I had purchased in front of him.
What a funny old man.
I laughed lightly and returned to the inn.
*
“Shall we head out soon?”
I tugged at the reins of the Nightmare. After resting for a few days, the Nightmare’s hind was plumper.
Whoosh-
The Nightmare ambled out of the city as if it couldn’t be bothered to run fast. I lay on its back, gazing at the clouds flowing above.
This time, my destination was that Nangrangdo. Looking over the text in the book, it spoke of a tale where a gigantic white wolf, like a mountain, used mystical powers to create an island for its mate.
A giant wolf like a mountain, and in a world where there were whales or turtles carrying giant forests. It was a story that was not surprising.
“Let’s go see that wolf this time.”
Whoosh-
The Nightmare wagged its tail as if it was pleased. It seemed happy to be left alone with me.
Heading north towards Nangrangdo. I didn’t look at the map to find my way. There was no predetermined path. I was simply going where I wanted.
Sometimes, I enjoyed strolling leisurely while soaking in the ambiance of the Bamboo Forest. The long bamboo swayed and rustled against the wind. It was not a bothersome sound but one that brought peace to the mind and body.
At times, I passed by the nests of gigantic birds with wingspan exceeding ten meters. During such passes, I borrowed a giant egg and roasted it over the fire. The Nightmare especially liked that.
I also met the king of golden monkeys. He ruled over a mountain laden with peaches, but as a monster, he wasn’t particularly intelligent.
Perhaps taking a liking to me, he tried to win my favor by offering me peaches, but the Nightmare chased him away with a headbutt. The giant golden monkey ran off, leaving a large hole in its belly.
After such a long journey, I finally arrived at the land of the Beastmen, the northern tip of the continent known as Janghon, in the city of Dawn Castle.
It was situated on the opposite side of where the airship’s dock was located. The wizards, who occasionally appeared, were nowhere to be seen. Here, I was a complete foreigner.
But what of it? As long as I was aware of my past life’s memories, I was a foreigner everywhere I went. There was nothing new about it. Holding onto the reins of the Nightmare, I headed toward the new city.