SWNOVELXO Chapter 197
Is this what they call a trial?
Lucius found himself utterly speechless in the face of the tragic scene before him.
“…….”
Over there.
Lucius, who had just made a confession, was visible.
The Master was already gone, and Lucius knelt where his Master once stood.
What could he possibly say?
Look at that man’s drooping shoulders, harboring unrequited feelings for his Master.
Could that man really find happiness for the rest of his life?
No matter how much he desires a new love, can he truly love someone else, just as his Master had said?
Lucius shook his head.
“Wind.”
Whoosh.
A holy sword formed in Lucius’s hand.
The holy sword, Ascalon, once again shimmered in Lucius’s grip, and he raised it high.
“If this is my future…”
Lucius turned around.
“I will cut you down without mercy.”
“…Do you think you’re any different?”
The soul-drained Lucius mocked Lucius.
“You will become just like me. You will end up like this.”
“Even if you curse me, it’s useless. This is merely the Trial of the Holy Sword.”
“What did you say?”
“No matter how you try to deceive me, it won’t work.”
Swish—!
Lucius swung the holy sword without hesitation.
A golden blade of wind slashed across Lucius’s body diagonally.
“I will not become like you. I am different.”
“Hah, on what basis…!”
Like golden mist, Lucius scattered, laughing at Lucius.
“You will also become like this!”
“My Master said. The world holds various trials and traps, and among them, there are traps like this.”
Lucius thrust the holy sword into the ground.
“A trial that inflicts mental pain by showing one the most undesirable situation. A trial that presents impossible illusions. Such illusions do not work on me. I believe in myself and my Master.”
“And so…?”
“This future will not happen.”
Lucius was filled with conviction.
“Begone. False illusion. You’re trying to deceive me by showing me a wrong future, but it’s pointless. I will not make choices like you.”
“Hah….”
“I am different. I will not become like you!”
Swoosh.
Lucius swung the holy sword once more.
What was once Lucius as mist was split into an X-shape, and it soon began to disperse like smoke.
“Remember those words.”
“……!”
“One day, you will understand. In the moment of choice, you will make a decision at the crossroads placed before you. I will be watching closely to see what choice you will make then.”
Whoosh.
Lucius vanished.
And from below the cliff, something began to rise very slowly.
[I will watch over your future. I will see where the wind called ‘you’ is headed, and what choice you will make.]
The golden giant reached out its hand toward Lucius.
[You may destroy the world using my power. You may forcibly obtain what you desire with my strength. However.]
Boom, boom, boom.
A door opened in the chest of the giant, which had risen to chest level on the cliff.
[Just remember this. Once a choice is made, it cannot be undone. I can grant you infinite power, but there is one thing I cannot do.]
“What is it?”
[I cannot reverse a choice once it’s made. The wind flows forward. Even if it’s a headwind, it merely changes the direction the wind blows. No one can ever turn back the flow of time.]
“……So the importance of choice is that great?”
[Correct.]
Lucius approached the door opened in the giant’s chest.
[I am the Wind God. The Spirit of the Wind. The guardian that protects all the atmosphere in this world. And I am the one who gives you a favorable wind on the path you take. The Great God who created me in the beginning called me ‘Sleipnir.’]
“Sleipnir….”
Lucius pondered, fiddling with his holy sword.
“It doesn’t seem to fit the name Ascalon…”
[That is a name you humans gave. Ascalon is just one of the many names used for the holy sword. It is sometimes called ‘Stormbringer,’ sometimes ‘Tempest,’ and even ‘King God General Ultra Hyper Majestic Blade,’ as well as ‘Gungnir.’]
In that moment, Lucius’s expression crumpled, yet the spirit continued calmly.
[I am wind, existing anytime and anywhere. It’s very common for a name attached at the beginning to change with the flow of time according to its purpose.]
“Then… is it the Spirit Device Sleipnir?”
[Yes. What will you do with me?]
Lucius slowly approached the giant’s chest.
Then, calmly closing his eyes, he reached out towards Sleipnir’s door.
“My Master said. If riding a Spirit Device feels burdensome, then make the power of the Spirit Device your own.”
[Oh.]
“I am the Master of the Holy Sword, Arthur Lucius. Therefore, whatever way I use your power is entirely my own business. Isn’t that right?”
[How interesting.]
Sleipnir’s eyes sparkled.
[So what are you planning? I am your power. The wind can take any form.]
“Then.”
Lucius reached out forward.
“Become my power.”
[…If that is your will. I, Sleipnir, will be your loyal power and tool.]
The golden form began to shine before Lucius.
[However. Let me just tell you one last thing.]
The golden figure emerging from the giant spirit raised its head towards Lucius, bursting forth with golden light.
[Do not forget. A choice is always made in a moment. Do not regret it after it has passed—]
“Grasp a proper future.”
Lucius extended his fist.
“……I will not fail.”
Whoosh.
The world began to glimmer gold.
The surrounding world started to return to normal, and Lucius slowly rose from the cavern of the Sky Island.
“Lucius!!”
His companions were running towards him.
Amidst worried gazes from everyone, only one person was smiling.
“Just as I thought.”
His Master believed in him.
“Lucius, my disciple. You’ve safely passed the Trial of the Holy Sword. Hehe, I knew you would surely defeat any enemy.”
Although he didn’t know the content of the trial, he was confident that Lucius would overcome any challenge.
“Master.”
“Huh?”
“This holy sword has another name. The name Ascalon was not its original name.”
“……Huh?”
The Master’s expression stiffened.
“Y-you mean the holy sword had another name?”
“Yes. It seems the name Ascalon was given by a previous user.”
“……Ah, I see.”
The Master’s expression darkened considerably.
Lucius couldn’t help but feel a sinking sensation, reminiscent of the moment he confessed during the trial, seeing that expression on his Master.
“Master?”
“…No wonder it didn’t sound like a good name.”
“…….”
“What does it matter? What’s important is that you’ve obtained the power of the Spirit Device. Congratulations.”
“Yes. But Master.”
Now.
It has become possible.
Lucius pointed at the Spirit Device behind him.
“Even if I can’t bring that down to the ground, I think we can fly from the Sky Island. Would you like to give it a try?”
“O…!”
In an instant, the Master’s eyes brightened.
Lucius smirked at the glimmer in his Master’s eyes that he hadn’t seen during the trial.
“Are you that happy?”
“Of course. How exciting it is to uncover the secrets of the world.”
“…Hmm. So Master, do you know the name of this Spirit Device, by any chance?”
“……Did they tell you that too? No, they must have told you. If you obtained the power of the Spirit Device. What is it? What is it??”
“Um.”
Lucius shrugged.
“I think only I will know.”
“…….”
That day.
“Sigh. What does it matter if you tell me…?”
For the first time, Lucius was able to see his Master shooting him a slightly annoyed glance.
And then.
“……It’s different.”
“Huh? What did you just say?”
“Nothing at all.”
Lucius found his Master’s unusually sky-blue hair color.
Irritating.
*
Realm of Leberced. At the end of the underground prison.
“I’m worried. I wonder if they’re doing okay.”
Even though he was confident that even the clones would be working hard, he couldn’t help but feel anxious.
“There’s only so much we can endure like this.”
Bang, bang, bang—!
The sound of something being pounded echoed.
The Empress, clad in the Holy Sword of the Earth as armor, charged at the barrier that stood between her and me with all her might.
Boom—!
The barrier did not break.
Even with the holy sword used as armor, that thin barrier of light, as delicate as paper, did not shatter at all.
“This…! This insolence!!”
“It’s useless. And I won’t tell you.”
I pointed my thumb at the Earth Spirit Device behind me, the Demon God Bahamut.
“Curious, aren’t you? How I’m managing this.”
“Tell me! Hurry! That belongs to the Empire!!”
“Don’t get so angry. You might get wrinkles on your face.”
“Witch!!!”
“I’ll hand this over to you if you just follow my terms. Why are you refusing to do that?”
The moment they brought me to Bahamut, this contest was already over.
“The two things I’m asking for are simple. My release. And for the Empire to commit fully to fighting against the Demon King’s Army. Then, I will give you what you call a Demon God.”
To put it metaphorically.
Even though the key to operating the Demon God is with the Empress, it’s me who is sitting in the pilot’s seat.
“If the Empire decides to fight for humanity instead of itself, I’ll cooperate with you.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Of course. It’s true. Where else will you find someone who thinks about humanity as much as I do?”
Even though there are clones, they are not pure.
Pure 100% Belphegor.
The one who led the Demon King’s Army that even humanity embraced.
That is me.
“Choose. Fight for humanity, or I’ll make sure you can never use that Demon God again.”
“T-this…!”
“Strength for the Empire? How laughable. This is strength for the world.”
I extended my fist, showing the back of my hand toward the Emperor, lightly tapping my wrist.
“If you’re not going to use the power of the holy sword for the peace of the world, then get lost.”