40. The more one delves into it, the more one discovers that power is limitless.
I practically fled from the queen’s office, then rushed back to inform Kephir about the appearance of the “Sword Saint” from the Great Yng Empire and the upcoming “showdown” with her.
Should I say that she truly deserves to be the main character in this script? Even when faced with the overwhelming power of the “Sword Saint,” Kephir showed no signs of panic. In contrast, I was about to be much more anxious for the next few days. After all…
How on earth was I supposed to tell Kephir about what happened with the queen in the office!?
The queen and I had a meeting.
How did it go?
She practically lay on top of me during it; we were almost face-to-face.
If I were to spill this, it wouldn’t just be Kephir clashing with the Sword Saint, but rather, it would be me clashing with her! It’s better to keep it under wraps; after all, I’m third most afraid of death, second most afraid of pain, and first… afraid that Kephir would be distracted by my “purpose.”
“Ogier, at a time like this, are you really thinking about any woman other than me?”
“Of course not!”
And Kephir, you should stop worrying about me right now. After all… soon, even if it’s just a “show,” you’ll be facing the rumored “Sword Saint” of the Great Yng Empire again!
A few days later, it was the night the queen had informed me about, the night agreed upon with the “Sword Saint.” Kephir and I were about to arrive at a place within the royal city of the Great Yng Empire, a “forbidden zone” that even nobles were generally not allowed to tread—where the Sword in the Stone lay.
I had no time to ponder the historical significance of this tourist-like title for the Great Yng Empire; I just needed to know: here, at this moment, there wouldn’t be any extra people to interfere. Kephir was about to face the “Sword Saint” once more, although this was merely a tactic to lure out the fairy sent by Nilu, I believed… Kephir wouldn’t take it lightly.
【Kephir wants to seriously compete with the Sword Saint.】
As the script uncontrollably unfolded, Kephir interrupted my thoughts.
“We’re here, I see her, Ogier.”
The clouds obscuring the night sky gradually shifted and dissipated, cold moonlight poured down, and in my line of sight, a young woman leaned against the legendary “Sword in the Stone,” exhaling puffs of breath while sipping from a paper cup.
Dressed in a maid outfit, she showed no hint of the tension one might expect before a duel with a “master,” appearing rather impatient, as if she were a temp forced to work late into the night!
“Sure enough, the instant coffee vanilla tea made in the United Kingdom of Meri really doesn’t compare to hand-brewed tea at all. Ah… I miss my master’s vanilla tea…”
In the next moment, she tossed the paper cup aside, straightened up, and noticed us.
I didn’t need Kephir to remind me: I, the dead weight, should find a safe place to hide and watch. Competing with the Sword Saint, then using false information and tonight’s events to lure out Nilu’s fairy, and then eliminate her.
This was the meaning conveyed by the “Fairy of the Moon” through the queen, and the script also revealed the final generous reward—the appearance of the Moon Fairy.
Now that everything seemed to be going smoothly, let’s stick to the plan, Kephir.
The “Sword Saint” turned her gaze toward Kephir, the white-haired, long-eared elf, so young that it was impossible to determine her age. Indeed… she was the same person who had attacked me when we returned to the royal city from Glamorgan Castle!
“Kephir, I already warned you about the hesitation in your sword. I wonder if you’ve resolved your weakness this time and become a bit stronger?”
“Miss Ludwig… today, let’s just ‘act,’ shall we?”
Kephir frowned.
“Huh? Act? I haven’t heard of such a troublesome request.”
Huh? Why does this Sword Saint seem… completely uninterested in “sticking to the agreement”!? Could it be that her orders were to get serious and personally deal with the fairy from Nilu that would appear!?
I sensed something was off, but it was too late! After all, between the two women before me, there was no room for a novice like me to meddle.
I’m here not because of the troublesome demands posed by the master, but simply because you are here, Kephir.
More importantly: battle does not necessarily require the clash of blades to be considered a battle. At this moment… the fight between Kephir and this “Sword Saint” has already begun!
“The divisions you humans make for strength—one, two, three, four, five, six, seven—are truly a troublesome decision. However, considering the lifespan of the vast majority of ordinary humans, such classifications are not without merit. But…”
That was… the kind of magic I had witnessed before, one that opened up space. Ludwig cleaved it open with a single stroke, and then… with some effort, drew out an exaggeratedly large sword from that void.
The moonlight cast a cold hue, and the hollowed sword seemed to be stained with a layer of the moon’s chilling brilliance.
“For an elf like me, it can be somewhat limiting. In a time so long it makes me want to vomit, I realized that so-called power… at least the power of martial skills and swords, seems to have no limits at all. The closer I get to what humans call the peak, the more I see an empty expanse ahead. What is this ninth tier, this Sword Saint… merely a one-sided wish of humans, just the end of their line of sight.”
This time, Ludwig did not engage Kephir with that heavy oversized sword.
I clearly saw her split that exaggeratedly large sword in half, transforming it into the dual swords that had previously put Kephir in danger with a single move.
The blade’s brilliance even severed her hairband as she swung, and for a moment, the elf’s white hair cascaded down.
“So, I am not here for any orders, nor do I care to accept any commands. Those matters are quite troublesome. I simply want to encounter power, to pursue power, because that so-called ‘Sword Saint’ is not the end; it is merely the door that needs to be opened at the top of the staircase.”
“And at that moment, the Moon Fairy appeared, and just when I felt she was a bit troublesome too, she told me… about your existence, Kephir. Don’t take this as a performance, Kephir, or else…”
In the blink of an eye, Ludwig was already right in front of Kephir, her dual swords spinning, ready to strike down!
“I might really want to kill you out of anger. Let me see what this genius of the Great Yīng Empire can bring me this time!”
I clenched my fists in an instant.
If possible, I want to immediately use my script to help Kephir, but… absolutely not! Not yet!
Before the right moment arrives, I must not use my script any further, nor expose more of my thoughts. Otherwise, the consequences would be far more terrifying than simply reminding Kephir now.
Kephir, you said you would trust my judgment without ‘prophecy,’ right? Then please continue to trust me now: for our true “victory.”
——
The queen’s illustration is ready; I will release it when the queen’s chapter comes out~
Everyone remember to cast some votes~