Chapter 197
—Just how much time has passed?
When I first entered the Soul Forge Hall.
Now, looking back at that hazy memory that has since faded away.
It all started when I entered the separate quarters provided by the Divine Beast known as Kanilisk and encountered a new space.
As I stepped into the room, what I saw and what it meant was all too clear.
A single scarecrow and a sword.
In a world devoid of dust, that was all there was.
Kanilisk said that the Soul Forge Hall was a place for training the soul. The space had no substance, and the scarecrow and sword were merely forms.
The beginning of an endless Closed Training.
At first, filled with will and passion, I even felt excitement as I held the sword.
I could train like this for a lifetime. If I had the persistence, I could do it forever.
Then surely, the talent that was barely crawling would eventually bloom!
With that hope, I swung the sword with bravado.
Looking back now, I was really thankful for the sound that came when the scarecrow and sword clashed.
If that hadn’t happened… No, let’s continue the story before I forget more.
—Thwack! —Thwack!
As I began my journey as a swordsman, I swung the sword without a single day off.
But when I think about it, I never truly “understood” even the most basic movements because I was always overshadowed and compared to those around me.
Therefore, I practiced the most basic yet somewhat confident fundamental move, the downward slash.
The action of bringing the sword down from above.
Until I could completely understand and apply it.
Again and again, I swung the sword.
—Thwack!
I swung.
—Thwack!
I swung again.
How many dozens of days passed? How many months? I began to realize that I was more mechanically swinging the sword than seeking enlightenment.
So this time, I tried adding some variation while moving my muscles.
Sometimes I brought it down a bit faster, while at other times, if there had been a butterfly, it would have sat on the sword as I brought the blade down slowly.
Observing my own reactions, I aimed to become sensitive with all five senses, even trying to grasp the very subtle movements of my muscles and the amount of breath flowing in and out.
After all, I didn’t feel hunger or fatigue.
There was no constraint of time.
What existed was a blazing passion. With just that, no matter how tough it got, I could overcome it.
I could achieve my goals.
An ego condensed with positive thought grinned as I brought the sword down.
……It must have been about ten years.
I’m not exactly sure, but it’s definitely around ten years.
Over those years, as I focused solely on that downward slash day and night, I realized something.
“Wow, I really have a horrific lack of talent.”
It wasn’t something I was unaware of.
I already knew, but I just felt it again more strongly.
Despite swinging the sword without a break, I became more confused rather than understanding anything.
In fact, halfway through, I considered whether I should practice horizontal slashes or other moves, but I quickly abandoned that thought.
How could I understand anything else when I couldn’t even comprehend that one fundamental move?
So I kept swinging the sword, over and over again.
But strangely enough, as time went by, the sword became more difficult.
On the bright side, it might be because my level had risen and I could see more, allowing me to grasp its profundity.
However… it was also true that the endlessness of it all intimidated me a little.
How far could I possibly go with this meager talent?
No… could I really achieve anything?
—Clang!
Every time that weak thought crept in, I slapped myself across the face.
I didn’t feel the pain, but it felt necessary.
“Right… let’s not have weak thoughts. It’s not like I didn’t know I had no talent, so I can’t let myself be like this already.”
I steadied my heart and swung the sword again.
To keep my mind from wavering.
To regain my resolve.
…Ah, come to think of it, I realized something at this point.
Perhaps because they had no substance, I could manipulate the scarecrow and sword as I pleased.
For over ten years, focusing solely on the sword and scarecrow without any other thoughts, I hadn’t noticed. I felt like I could train with various opponents and with various weapons.
It was like this.
—Thud!
I steadied my slightly disordered mind and swung my sword.
I want to become a hero.
I want to save people.
—Thud!
Thus,
I swung my sword.
Without resting for even a moment.
……
“Hahahaha! Isn’t this hilarious?”
From some day onward, I started talking to the scarecrow.
It was the only object resembling a person in this completely empty place, so it happened naturally.
“Say something. Seriously… you’re so tight-lipped. It would be nice if you could at least play along sometimes.”
It might seem a bit strange, but I didn’t think I was crazy.
I started talking because I felt like I would go mad if I didn’t, not because I was already crazy. …Still, I hadn’t even given it a name, right? So, I’m not that bad!
There’s no day and night here, things that were taken for granted outside.
There are no people, no living creatures.
I can’t even sleep, no pain, no bodily functions.
That’s why I missed those sensations of reality so much.
I just wanted to feel the sensations of the body, to relive the nostalgia of this world.
—Thud!
One day, I reversed the sword and stabbed it into my heart.
As expected, no blood came out, and there was no pain.
“I wonder what would happen if I cut my body like this?”
Prodding my body with the sword, I asked the scarecrow. Of course, it wouldn’t answer, but it felt like it was speaking to me now.
“Ah! Yeah, you’re right. I shouldn’t be doing this right now…!”
I received some harsh advice from the scarecrow.
Again, I wasn’t going crazy.
I was struggling to avoid going crazy, not that it could be considered madness.
So I pulled the sword out of my heart and aimed it back at the scarecrow, right?
…Oh, by the way, I stopped cutting myself.
I think it lasted for about 200 years before I got tired and couldn’t do it anymore.
Every time I seemed to get a little better, there was a higher peak waiting for me, so I decided to hold off for a while.
Just digging one well could become a poison.
Gaining different experiences would surely aid my understanding.
With that thought, I kept repeating various movements I had wanted to try.
Changing my stance bit by bit, altering the form of the scarecrow, making variations with the sword brought its own kind of fun.
—Thud!
Repeat.
—Thud!
Repeat again.
Repeat, repeat, repeat…….
Ha ha, if this goes on, someday when I get out of here, I’ll have what I longed for…… huh?
……Wait a minute, that’s weird.
Now that I think about it, why did I come here?
“Hey, Brown! What the hell did you just say?!”
And another 500 years passed, or was it a thousand? I don’t know, I didn’t keep track. Anyway.
One day, I punched the scarecrow.
That brown hunk of scrap suddenly started spewing out severe insults.
Unable to hold back, I grabbed Brown’s face and kept raining down punches.
Bang! Bang!
With each hit, there was a heavy vibration, and Brown’s appearance became wrecked, but the thing would soon be back to normal anyway.
Still, since it showed no signs of remorse, I beat it with the sword.
Using red aura, I stabbed it into its body.
“Damn it…! Do you want to keep talking like that?!”
Despite using red aura, Brown returned to its form with a triumphant expression.
Not liking that look, I decided to kill it, even if it meant severing my friendship.
“Alright, let’s see who wins today!”
I was about to use the technique I hadn’t used because I didn’t want to hurt my friend.
To make sure that it wouldn’t climb back up again, I was about to shatter it… when I dropped the sword.
Tears flowed from my eyes. My body trembled, and I felt guilt about what I was about to do.
“I’m sorry…! I’m so sorry!”
I hugged Brown and cried endlessly.
They say you don’t fight with friends, but after hearing that much abuse, I felt so guilty about wanting to kill my friend that tears burst out.
Even if it could recover again, what would happen if it got really pissed and left?
There’s no one else here but Brown…!
I’m sorry! I messed up, please forgive me!
Forgive me…!
Yeah.
What does it matter how long I’ve been here?
What does it matter what I’m trying to gain from this place?
The most important thing is friendship…! Isn’t a person a social creature…!
Whatever happens, it doesn’t matter.
I’m okay with anything!
While I was thinking that,
—Creeeak.
The tightly shut door of the special room opened.
Startled, I raised my head, and Brown, whom I had been hugging, was nowhere to be found.
Where did he go?!
“Where did you go…! Where did you go, Brown!”
“Hehehe, ah, you’ve completely lost it. I was expecting something, but here we are. Still, it’s quite impressive for a soul to endure for two thousand years.”
An old man approached with a bizarre laugh.
But right now, that’s not important.
Brown is gone! Why should I care about anything else?
We had promised to always be together, and now he’s off on his own!
Where the heck did he wander off to by himself!?
“Brown… where are you…! Come back…”
“Brown? Oh, you mean that scarecrow. There are indeed those who occasionally name it like that. Don’t worry, my dear, I’ll make sure you meet Brown soon enough.”
The old man, Kanilisk, slowly walked over.
Then, his wispy white beard moved independently, like a living creature, and suddenly plunged down.
—Thud!
Pain.
A sensation I hadn’t felt in ages.
That forgotten prick spread from near my heart.
“Ahhh!”
I had to scream.
That sensation I thought I’d welcome turned out to be horrendous.
As I screamed, Kanilisk said, “Oh no, I meant to cut it cleanly in one go, but I messed up. I’m sorry about that,” and severed the tough muscles and joints.
Kanilisk pulled my heart out completely.
Strangely enough, the sharp pain ended.
Consciousness faded, and darkness slowly took over….
‘Oh, hold on. Wait, wait…!’
Seeing that red lump made me feel like I was washed with ice water.
All my senses sharpened, and my vision became crystal clear.
‘I remembered… everything! That’s right. I came here to get stronger. It wasn’t about that scarecrow named Brown; it was to gain talent…!’
They say a person regains their senses before death.
Or perhaps it’s simply the pain.
Whatever it was, I understood the situation now.
‘So my mind crumbled, and the training ended, huh? Then… is that red thing I see my heart!’
…This can’t be happening.
It can’t end like this.
I don’t want to die.
I don’t want to die.
My soul remembers; I definitely saw something beyond that red aura…!
To have to die like this without even unfolding it physically!
I achieved remarkable feats!
Yet I haven’t done a single thing.
After all those years of suffering, am I really supposed to die without accomplishing anything?
No! I don’t want to die.
I don’t want to die—!
“P-Please save me….”
The divine beast, Kanilisk, in the guise of an immortal. His long beard coiling up just before I was about to be consumed.
I barely managed to move my lips and bought myself a moment.
“Ah, even with your heart taken out, you’re still trying to talk. Seems you didn’t waste 2,000 years of life.”
He remarked with interest.
Maybe there’s a chance he’ll return my heart and let me survive.
So I summoned all my remaining strength and strained my throat.
I can survive.
I might still have a chance to live!
“P-Please….”
“However, dear.”
Kanilisk deliberately cut off my words.
His old eyes slowly opened a crack.
Within those eyes gleamed an orange gaze. That cruel decision sparkled.
“It’s already too late.”
He smiled as if he found it amusing.
—Crunch.
And that was the last memory.
The world was consumed by darkness.
There would never be light again.
* * *
“Ack, my back.”
After finishing his meal, Kanilisk straightened his hunched back.
He patted his round belly with his short arms and glanced around at the splattered bloodstains.
“Sigh. Tsk tsk. Couldn’t you just grind it down nicely? When do you plan to clean all this up?”
A soul that endured for 2,000 years.
Though my heart was taken out, my body was sturdy enough to withstand two millennia.
“Ugh.”
Though it’s melting away inside him now….
Kanilisk decided to put off cleaning for later and strolled away leisurely.
Since he had eaten, he planned to take a walk around Soul Forge Hall.
As he walked, stepping over the pebbles here and there, he soon came to another annex.
Seeing it made his anger flare up.
“Damn it! Of course, it has to be this guy. If you’re going to repair it, you should do it properly! To just up and leave because you’re short on time? Just wait till you don’t come back; I won’t let it slide!”
The annex was cut precisely in half.
They tried to patch it up with shoddy carpentry, but the wind whistled through the gaps.
The Soul Forge Hall was filled with annexes, but currently, only this one was in disarray.
“That idiot!”
Just a few days ago, that wooden building was perfectly fine.
‘That idiot’ started causing trouble.
He even whined that he’d be late, so the repair work wasn’t finished, but he borrowed clouds and took off.
Before leaving, he bowed in thanks, but the moment I remembered that jerk who didn’t even look back, my blood boiled.
‘I’ve never been so kind to a mere human in my life!’
In all my long life, it was the first time I lent out clouds.
Yet, Kanilisk didn’t do it without reason.
Later on… after that brat died, I’d need to get close enough to devour his “sturdy soul” and flesh.
That’s when a gap would form.
A chance to devour that unbelievably strong soul!
“How many decades will I have to wait…?”
Kanilisk licked his lips as if wishing for that day to come sooner.
Although he spoke with irritation, as if he disliked him, he actually supported and acknowledged him more than anyone else.
“Hold onto that tough soul until the very end, huh?”
You’re more pathetic than any fool I’ve ever seen.
But you’re also the most stubborn one in the world.
You’ll somehow survive until the divine decree is cut off. By then, you should hand over that soul and body to me.
Nom nom.
Kanilisk, licking his dry lips with his tongue, soon walked along the path past the split annex.
Today, the Soul Forge Hall was filled with fog.
* * *
“……”
In the center of the arena, Kaiman waited for his opponent with his sword drawn.
The airship he was supposed to take was also not reserved.
He thought it was already far too late, but since Vargan, who he regarded as his superior, told him to wait, he had to comply.
His eyes were filled with dissatisfaction as he watched the time.
Five minutes left.
That was all that remained.
Meanwhile, in the audience seats.
“The preliminary round is going to start soon…”
Emily expressed with a sigh that Liam could completely relate to.
They had tried to postpone the time for as long as possible, but soon it would be time for the last match of today’s preliminaries between Kaiman and Finn.
If that happened, Finn, who was currently absent from the Academia, would be disqualified.
Emily was on the verge of tears.
She had tried for a long time to forget, but now that it was actually the day of the promise, it was causing her pain.
Ultimately, Finn had not returned to the Academia until the day before the preliminaries.
Understanding what that meant, Emily, a fellow group member and friend, shed frustrated tears.
“He promised to come back… Finn… you jerk.”
She tried to hide her tears, but her shoulders were trembling. Liam wrapped his arms around her to comfort her, but she seemed far from calming down.
Vargan was also there, sitting silently and staring at the arena, showing no signs of emotion, but his persistence in remaining seated made it clear that he didn’t treat Finn as just a mere lackey.
Three minutes left.
If three minutes passed, even if he showed up, it would be a disqualification.
Liam, who had no deep bond with Finn, honestly felt that if it would cause Emily so much pain, he would prefer Finn to just survive and show up, even if late.
Time flowed on.
Two minutes…
One minute…
As the countdown hit seconds, the announcer’s voice echoed across the arena.
—Yes… it seems that this match will proceed with Kaiman as the victor by default.
—Right. It feels like we’re just drawing things out for no good reason…
Then, a mechanical sound crackled, causing static noise.
Vargan’s head turned upward.
“Looks like quite the entrance.”
Finally, a smirk broke across his face.
—Oh, what’s that?!
A massive barrier surrounded the aerial city of Academia.
Something seemed to collide against its peak before passing through and was now rapidly descending towards this place.
A literal free fall.
Wherever it had emerged from and however it breached the defense system remained a mystery.
The mysterious object was plummeting towards the arena at an incredible speed.
All students and professors packed in the arena focused their gazes in one direction.
Boom—!
Soon, something fell to the ground like an asteroid.
As it collided with the floor, a storm-like pressure erupted.
Even the attached trees were swept away by fierce winds.
The professors, who were on standby, rushed in to form a protective barrier, preventing any harm from reaching the audience seats, but one student remained in the arena.
A middle-aged professor stepped forward to protect Kaiman, but Louisa held her hand out to stop him.
“Professor Louisa! There’s an intruder…!”
“Don’t worry, the barrier of Academia hasn’t been breached. It wasn’t ripped; it was let through. Keep your eyes peeled and watch closely.”
“What?”
The middle-aged woman focused, using magic to assess the target.
A man arrived as if riding on clouds, carrying an unidentifiable steam around his whole body.
He looked too young to be called an adult but bore eyes too heavy for someone of that age.
At the same time, he seemed somewhat familiar.
“No way….”
“Did he somehow keep his promise?”
Louisa smiled broadly.
Seeing her long-lost disciple brought warmth and joy to her face.
—Oh, right now! The identity of the person who burst into the arena has been confirmed!
—That identity is, surprisingly, Toylen Troa Finn! He miraculously made it before the start of the match with just 10 seconds to spare!
Toylen Troa Finn.
The student who had enrolled at the bottom of Academia and possessed the most lacking talent.
However, at the same time,
He was the first in history to enter and exit the Soul Forge Hall “three times.”
The holder of insane perseverance.
He returned to Academia.
