Chapter 400: Essence

Almost at the same time as Richard’s body was about to receive the magical devilish being’s palm, the purple light’s shadow covered the area and prevented the deadly attack. Fragments of the stone floor scattered in all directions, making a roaring sound. A roar that made one’s ears go numb.

In the midst of all this, Richard heard a familiar voice. It seemed that he made a grand entrance. The fact that his methods were rough had not changed from the past.

Richard opened his mouth, ignoring the fact that his right shoulder continued to spit out blood. His whole body was numb, but he didn’t know why he didn’t feel any pain. Maybe he was about to faint.

「…Hey, you’re late. Did you hook up with a woman on the way here? 」

Richard’s voice was painted with resignation and regret. But no one noticed them. Those emotions were stored only in Richard’s heart.

Contrary to his words, Richard wished that his former student’s footsteps had never arrived.

Richard understood everything once he crossed paths with that magical devilish being. Demonic beings were unmistakable monsters from the mythical age. The amount of heat was different from humans. They were so different from humans that it felt dizzying.

It was natural to give up one or two of their lives if they wanted to win against something like that. Poison and fire wasn’t enough. In fact, Richard thought it was still not enough.

Still, Richard hoped to inflict damage on that thing. Lugis could have survived if he avoided this forsaken place.

“You idiot”. Those words were muttered in Richard’s heart. Burned by fire, this place was now a deadly place. Richard’s subordinate soldiers had probably escaped. Was there any reason to come to such a place? Richard had no intention of teaching Lugis anything like that, only how to live.

As if to shake off Richard’s thoughts, Lugis, whose footsteps came engulfed in purple light, spoke out loud.

「Stop joking, old man. Why should I forsake the promise I made during that night? Since I’m late, I’m going to finish this early and go home. 」

Lugis stood in front of Richard and turned his gaze to the demonic being. Lugis didn’t have a single ounce of hesitation.

Lugis’ back reminded Richard of what Lugis looked like when they first met. Even the Elf Queen who now followed him probably didn’t know about it.

He was a skinny kid who didn’t understand the logic of things and had no talent.

That’s how he used to be to the point of making Richard feel like he could die at any moment.

—

Hero Killer. The treasure sword with that inscription seemed to be pleased in its master’s hands, but its soul trembled slightly. It looked like a nostalgic demonic being it had killed before, and its brilliant blade sparkled.

「…It’s you. Altia’s follower. What are you going to do? Will we fight again? Or have you decided to quietly return my treasure? 」

The Controller Drigman spoke as he shook his hair in a dignified manner. There was no anxiety, no fear, and no impatience. His appearance, which had not changed since the mythical age, was majestic.

The treasure sword was not conscious of its presence before because its master’s resentment eclipsed its consciousness. In fact, it almost seemed as if the sword’s feelings didn’t matter.

But the treasure sword finally understood the current circumstances. Not a single bit of that demonic being’s words entered its master’s ears. There was something very, very hot running from the tips of its master’s hair to the tips of its toes. The treasure sword was well aware of what that fever was.

That’s why it thought it was no good. The treasure sword heard his master unconsciously twisting his words.

「…Don’t talk so smoothly. Do you know that dead people don’t talk? 」

The moment those words were uttered, the treasure sword struck the demonic being’s body while drawing a line of purple light. The flash of light that swung down directly ripped out the demonic being’s left shoulder and heart. The feeling of cutting his flesh and organs in two vividly clung to the sword. The demonic being’s blood polluted the space in an instant.

If it was just an iron sword, the demonic being’s body would twist to repel it, but this treasure sword was an exception.

It was a miracle carved from Altia’s soul, who once killed a magical devilish being and even a great demon. There was no way the sword would be stopped by a demon-like body.

Lugis seemed to have forgotten how to breathe as he took one step forward to cut off the demonic being’s guts. Drigman’s eyes widened. Each swing was extremely violent.

The treasure sword split the sky and made a sound, mixed with several emotions.

It was probably the best time for the treasure sword to be wielded by its master in order to eliminate all troubles together. It was natural to have something ecstatic hidden within the blade at this moment. However, there was one big dissatisfaction right now. The blade that Lugis wielded deviated from what the treasure sword taught.

Ever since the treasure sword opened its eyes, Lugis’ blade had always been the treasure sword and no other. The master wielded a flash that the treasure sword taught and guided. The treasure sword gave its master all the observation records it had stored. A very joy that the treasure sword felt. There was no difference in saying that it was a spiritual union between itself and its master.

However, at this moment, Lugis had no intention of following that teaching. No, he couldn’t even see it.

Lugis wielded the blade with a ferocious murderous intent, with a twisted passion rippling through his entire body. Oh yes, he was furious. The master was furious right now.

No matter what happened, the person he called as a mentor and father was trampled upon and insulted. How humiliating would that be? Of course, he would be angry.

However, he was different now. The sword flickered, realizing that it was not a noble feeling, but something far more dangerous. That’s why it was not good.

The master didn’t love himself in his essence. He didn’t even try to appreciate himself.

Therefore, the reason for Lugis’ existence was always entrusted to others. Sometimes it were for the heroes around him, sometimes it was for his foster mother, and now, it was for his former mentor. It was for them that its master chose to live.

…That’s why it hurt. The master didn’t care about anything else. Even his own body.

Exposed to a storm of purple light, Drigman twisted his body and swung his arms. Although he was vomiting blood profusely, his body was far from clear death. The power within his body did not allow him to die.

In that case, a counterattack was natural.

Drigman opened his palm and used his arms to uplift the earth deep underground. With that blessing, even the slightest bulge in the earth would turn into a flesh-eating spear. In the past, the bodies of many enemy soldiers were exposed on the deadly ground. He only needed a short moment to accomplish that lethal attack.

But right now, Drigman couldn’t even accomplish that short moment.

His outstretched right arm was cut in half, and pieces of his flesh flew in the air, losing his upward mobility. And with that, the purple blade bit Drigman’s neck without stopping even once. It was not a big deal, but it didn’t seem like a human’s move.

No, in fact, those movements were not human at all. If a mere human were to move in the same way as Lugis did now, there would definitely be a crack somewhere. The joints would collapse, the flesh and bones would become distorted, and movement would surely stop.

Lugis’ body was not safe. His whole body was screaming at this very moment.

His muscles were torn to pieces, his bones were cracked, and his joints were collapsing. Even so, he was able to move because he had the strong blood of the giant circulating in his body, which was connected by magic. Moreover, the grace of the spiritual arts was covering his entire body.

Even so, the treasure sword didn’t know how long he would last. It was sure that Lugis himself had no idea how long he had. A few more minutes. Or maybe just a few more seconds?

But that was a good thing for its master. How so?

What he needed to do was kill this foe without leaving a single piece behind. To cut him down, to crush him, to make his existence disappear. That was all Lugis thought.

A devastating violence that knew no bounds. An unstoppable will that tried to accomplish its goals. Perhaps this was Lugis’ true nature. A nature that gave him a reason to live. The reason that held him back but was not pushing him over the edge.

He was now crossing that edge. There was no way to stop. Even if his own body collapsed and fell into ruin. A reason that insulted its master’s essence.

The treasure sword roared as it was swung at Lugis’ will. It tasted bad. It tasted very bad.

Although it seemed to be overwhelming with speed and violence, Drigman still couldn’t die like this. Lugis couldn’t stop himself even though he knew this. The loss of his former mentor was something that couldn’t be overlooked. He wouldn’t even allow his body to take a single breath.

The treasure sword hesitated for a moment. Then, it made up its mind. There was no time to be confused anymore. Lugis wouldn’t stop until it acted. What lay ahead was unmistakable death.

…My Lord. You’re going too far. It’s humiliating.

The treasure sword in Lugis’ hand was momentarily diverting its trajectory from its master’s intentions. It was a small thing that didn’t really affect the fight. However, the behavior of the treasure sword, which until now had achieved the trajectory that Lugis had envisioned, was clearly different.

Lugis’ eyes opened for a moment at the strangeness. His cheeks swayed as they were soaked in the demonic being’s blood. On that moment, a voice came through the sword as if she had predicted it.

「…Lugis! Ah, you’re overdoing it again, you damn knight! 」

The Elf Queen said in a clear voice, letting her black curse emanate from her fingertips.

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Happy 400^th chapter!!!

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