< Chapter 60 - The First Sword #3 >
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The history of the Pleiades is long, and there were several nations before the Kingdom of Cailun and the Empire of Argon.
Like the Magic Kingdom of Magellan founded by ancient elves, or the Iron Kingdom founded by ancient dwarves.
Among them, the Iron Kingdom was in fact a union of seven city-states, and since each city was located far from each other, they often developed their own independent culture.
‘Sword Seeker.’
One of the seven cities of the Iron Kingdom and the twin city of Frost Anvil.
As the city name suggests, the dwarves of Sword Seeker pursued the ultimate sword.
The most perfect sword.
The idea of the sword.
The sword of swords.
Of course, as expected from a place where numerous dwarven craftsmen gathered, each had a different idea of what the ultimate sword would be, and in the end, the dwarves of the Sword Seekers made one decision to concentrate their resources and talents.
‘Make seven swords.’
If we can’t agree on the perfect form of the sword that corresponds to the idea of the sword, then let’s make seven instead of one.
Although it was not the ultimate sword since only seven had been made, the dwarven craftsmen all cheered and agreed to this proposal.
‘Once we make it, the sword we make will be recognized as the ultimate sword!’
So until then, let’s keep our mouths shut to get the cost of the work. They probably think the same, but it’s impossible. After all, we’re the ones who’ll be creating the ultimate sword!
It is said that when King Endymion of the Magic Kingdom of Magellan heard this story, he immediately figured out the dwarves’ intentions and left the following comment:
“Arrogant bastards. But that’s what a dwarven craftsman should be.”
Those who are arrogant and self-righteous, but because of that, they can pour endless love and effort into their work.
As the Dark Lord Endymion had said, the dwarves created their own works for their own reasons, and this was the birth of the Seven Swords of the Sword Seeker – the so-called ‘Ultimate Seven’ series.
‘And the key to obtaining the Ultimate Seven series.’
‘The name is Key Sword.’
The dwarven craftsmen of the Sword Seeker, as expected, also made the key to the place where the Ultimate Seven series was sealed using a sword. They didn’t even make the key sword carelessly, lest anyone think they were not the craftsmen of the Sword Seeker.
Because of this, after the fall of the Iron Kingdom, the Key Sword was considered a famous sword rather than a key, and now, nearly a thousand years after the fall of the Iron Kingdom, only a very small number of people are aware of the existence of the Key Sword.
‘But here now.’
‘The fact that the key sword has appeared!’
Cordelia and Uther looked at each other and smiled again.
Lucas and the Northern hopefuls sitting at the same table felt puzzled by the two people suddenly smiling at each other, but it only lasted for a moment.
It was a well-known fact that they were a couple that made each other smile just by looking at each other, a couple that was just like honey dripping down from the sky.
Thanks to this, Uther and Cordelia avoided suspicion(?) and began to exchange specific stories through message magic beyond just eye contact.
[A key sword? It’s a lottery, a lottery.]
[If it’s the Ultimate Seven series, then I admit it, I admit it. If you just get this, it’s almost like a graduation item.]
[Woo-Hung-Hung, Jo-A-Yong. There are some in the Ultimate Seven series that can be used by magicians.]
I was talking about the magic sword Magic Blaster, one of the Ultimate Seven.
[Assault Sword?]
[Oh, the Ghost Sword.]
Cordelia’s eyes began to sparkle, and eventually she even began to feel ecstatic.
Explosive magic sword.
Magic Blaster, a powerful explosive sword with powerful explosive power.
[Ahhh… I want it so badly.]
[Yeah, yeah. I’ll definitely save you.]
It would have been better if the thing I wanted was something a little prettier, cuter, and more lovable.
‘Anyway, since Cordelia wants it, I have no choice but to get it for her.’
[But, Yuder. That’s what you’re after, right?]
[Oh, that.]
One of the Ultimate Seven series, and the one that would suit the current Yuder the most.
[Oh, oh …
[Well, I need to get my hands on that key sword first.]
[Huh? Wasn’t that already ours? Didn’t our Prince Yuder win it?]
When Cordelia spoke with a rare act of coquetry, Uther took a deep breath, looked around at Lucas sitting next to him and the other promising candidates around him, and muttered a deep apology in his mind.
‘Sorry, I’ll go at full speed.’
Because I really needed the key sword.
Moreover, Cordelia couldn’t help but show off her amazing appearance while everyone was looking forward to it.
But it was at that very moment.
As Cornwell stepped back after introducing the tournament prizes, the true host of this banquet, the Duke of Spencer, appeared.
‘Princess Darian is also next to me.’
It was just like Cordelia’s eyes.
Princess Darian stood quietly beside the tall and slender Duke Spencer. Her eyes wandered around the banquet hall, but when they met Uther and Cordelia’s eyes, she smiled brightly like a flower.
It seemed like he had been looking around here and there to find the two people.
“This is the Duke of Spencer. This is His Royal Highness Princess Darian. Everyone, please be respectful.”
His face was still somewhat pale, as he had recently recovered from a long illness, but his voice was very clear and powerful.
As the promising young men and all of the Spencer Dukes bowed in greeting, Princess Darian also gave a brief greeting in return, and Duke Spencer continued speaking.
“I’ll cut to the chase and get to the point.”
Whether it was his natural personality or because he still found it difficult to speak for long periods of time, the Duke of Spencer’s speech was short and concise, and to summarize it again, it was as follows.
Originally, we were going to hold a tournament in the traditional format of a competition.
However, at this year’s National Foundation Day, a martial arts competition will be held under the auspices of the Kingdom.
If someone were to get injured during the sword banquet, it would disrupt the schedule for the martial arts tournament, so after much deliberation, we decided to hold a slightly different format for this tournament.
Having said this, the Duke of Spencer turned around, and the man whose presence had been strangely absent stepped up to the stage and bowed.
“You all know this. This is Rune Proud, the Sword of Light, the pride of the Kingdom of Seilun and the best sword of our swordsmanship.”
Duke Spencer’s voice as he introduced the First Sword was full of pride, and the way he looked at the First Sword was also very warm, as if he was looking at his own son.
“Thanks to Rune’s cooperation, we were able to prevent injuries and hold a tournament for all the promising players gathered here. Rune, you explain the rest.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The first swordsman, who had bowed politely, stepped forward and continued speaking with a mischievous smile.
“This tournament is a duel between me and you. Of course, I’m not asking you to beat me. To be honest, that would be a bit too much. If we held the tournament with that in mind, it would be more like a fraud.”
The first swordsman spoke quite humorously, but no one laughed.
It wasn’t because Jeilgeom’s jokes weren’t funny. Rather, it was because the prospects were excited by the mere fact that they could spar with Jeilgeom.
The first sword.
The strongest at checkpoint.
A young genius who earned the title of Sword Master in his late twenties.
Cross swords with him.
He sees his sword right in front of his nose.
In the first place, it was far from the only promising candidates in the country to even cross swords with a swordsman of the level of the Ten Swordsmen, unless they were Lucas or Yuder, who had Ten Swordsmen as their parents.
But, I can face off against the First Sword, the Sword of Light.
It was natural that my blood would boil.
“The rules are simple. The first prospect I make use of the sixth move is the winner.”
Six numbers.
Jeilgeom, who had spread out five fingers, winked again, and this time the destination of the wink was very clear.
Yuder Bayer.
The second son of Count Bayer, one of the Ten Swordsmen.
‘Actually, it’s also because of you.’
The reason for having this form of sparring instead of the traditional tournament.
It wasn’t just because of the martial arts competition.
There was one more important reason.
‘Too strong.’
He’s so much stronger than the other prospects.
In this situation, isn’t Lucas the only one who can rub shoulders with Yuder?
If the skill gap is this big, isn’t it too pitiful for the other promising players?
‘The Sword Banquet is for promising young talents.’
It wasn’t to watch the sword fights of promising players from all over the country.
Since their growth was the goal, they couldn’t be thrown away carelessly as a survival of the fittest.
“What do you think? It’s only five, so don’t you think it’s worth a try?”
When Jeilgeom asked playfully again, the promising players’ eyes lit up and they let out heavy breaths.
It seemed obvious that everyone was very excited.
“Well, I like it. Don’t you think so, Your Highness?”
“I see. That’s a very good opening.”
The Duke of Spencer, with a smile befitting an educator, nodded to Lord Cornwell and stepped forward carrying a box that Lord Cornwell could put his hand into.
“I will now decide the order of sparring with the best swordsman. The promising players in the center should come forward first.”
The promising players in the center, including Lucian, stood up with nervous faces, and then the opportunity to draw notes came back in the order of the south and the north.
‘Yuder, Yuuder. How many times?’
‘Number 21.’
‘This is the last one?’
‘It’s a sequence worthy of the main character.’
When Uther smiled and gave her a look, Cordelia laughed in disbelief, but soon nodded.
‘Then you will show us your skills as the main character?’
‘Of course, because the heroine is watching.’
‘Huh, what are you talking about?’
Cordelia looked around happily.
I saw Lucas holding a note with an excited face like a child, and when I glanced at the note, I saw the number 19 written on it.
“Okay! Then shall we start right away? Number 1, come forward!”
The first sword, which had been shouted cheerfully, went up onto the stage that had already been prepared.
It was a huge stage, nearly 20 meters long and wide, and so high that you had to climb about five stairs to get there.
“You don’t have to be quiet. Just don’t cross the line.”
The hopefuls blinked in confusion at the Duke of Spencer’s words, and Lord Cornwell smiled and pointed to the lines drawn around the stage.
In other words, it meant that you could stand and watch.
“Well, then.”
“Me too.”
“Let’s go too.”
In any case, since most of them were promising young men born to noble families, they behaved quite well, but in the end, they were still people.
The sight of them running towards the line with quick steps as soon as they got up from their seats was cute in many ways.
“I wish the stands were a little higher.”
As Cordelia spoke, tiptoeing forward, Uther smiled and said.
“My princess, would you like me to give you a ride on a wooden horse?”
“Hey, I’m wearing a skirt?”
No, before that, what kind of wooden horse is this? Everyone will be looking at you.
Cordelia clicked her tongue as if to indicate the time and place, then looked back at the stage, and Uther snickered and looked away in the same manner.
“Okay, let’s begin.”
As Jeilgeom, standing in the center of the stage, spoke lightly with both arms hanging open, the promising young man from the South who had pulled out the number 1 note closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath.
Because I couldn’t waste this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Calm down and regain your composure.
Show the best you can.
The first swordsman was impressed by such a promising prospect. He waited long enough, and when the promising prospect finally drew his sword and charged at him, he displayed the swift swordsmanship that earned him the nickname of the Sword Saint of Light.
Tsukaha-!
Sword slipped sword.
The sword that the Southern hopeful swung with all his might flowed out so naturally.
“When I swung the sword, the power wasn’t fully transmitted. Again.”
As Jeilgeom spoke with a gentle smile, the promising southerner made a shocked expression, and so did the people watching offstage.
The words of the present.
The declaration that followed was again.
‘Map sparring!’
The first swordsman said that the one who uses the sixth number is the winner.
That is, it meant that he would give his opponent a chance up to the fifth number.
“Somewhat flashy techniques are okay. Techniques that you usually struggle with are also okay.”
The first sword’s next words were like a wedge.
The Southern prospect looked almost as if he was about to cry, but then he quickly picked up his sword with a very moved expression on his face.
I looked at Jeilgeom with respect, gratitude, and all sorts of good feelings, and Jeilgeom responded with a smile.
“Come.”
“yes!”
The promising southerner, who responded reflexively and loudly, charged at Jeilgeom once again, and this time Jeilgeom easily turned the promising man’s attack to nothing.
Four times like that.
And here are five more pieces of advice:
The Southern prospect missed the sword in the final fifth exchange, but his face was filled with joy.
“thank you.”
“Your skills weren’t bad. I’m sure you’ll be better next time we meet, right?”
“yes!”
“Okay, I’ll look forward to it.”
It was none other than Jeilgeom’s words.
The promising youngster, who looked like a boy playing with his idolized athlete, came down the stage in tears of emotion, and the northern prospect who drew the number 2 note – Rachel Bloom – stormed up onto the stage.
“Hmm, I feel sorry for friend number 1, but I like friend number 2 more. After all, a beautiful woman is a treasure of the world.”
Rachel blushed at Jeilgeom’s joke, but it didn’t show.
Her face had already turned red before she even went on stage.
“I will go.”
“As much as you want.”
And then five more numbers passed.
Rachel came down the stage with an excited face, and one after another, promising candidates came up on stage.
“Is this indeed the Holy King’s Cross Sword? You have inherited the sword skills of Count Hresvelg well. Five moves would have been insufficient.”
The first sword spoke while pointing the sword at Lucas’ neck, and it was not for nothing.
Unlike the promising prospects before whom he could deal with casually, even the best swordsman had to be quite serious when dealing with Lucas.
“Thank you for your kind words.”
Lucas’ expression was also different from that of the other promising players.
Rather than the joy of facing the first sword, there was a different emotion in their eyes: regret and anger at not being able to pull off the sixth move.
“Good.”
And that made Jeilgeom even happier.
Because I liked Lucas’s desire to improve.
“next.”
The 20th prospect.
The boy who was a promising prospect in the center was not much different from the previous promising prospects, and was able to finish the five moves in a relatively calm atmosphere.
And finally the time has come.
Lord Cornwall, who was watching with a relaxed expression, had a look of anticipation in his eyes, and the Duke of Spencer also sharpened his eyes.
“Juder Bayer.”
The second son of Count Bayer, the swordsman.
The younger brother of Gale Bayer, known as the next Ten Swordsman.
As Yuder came up on stage, all the promising fighters who witnessed his duel with Lucian swallowed dry saliva.
Lucas also looked at the stage with a face full of mixed emotions.
It was because of a fact that only Lucas and Cordelia knew among those present.
‘Lord Landius’s disciple.’
Iron Man Landius.
A man who may be the strongest among all humans in the Pleiades.
Uder was Landius’s only disciple.
No, even before becoming Landius’ disciple, Kirin-ah had already demonstrated tremendous skills.
‘The Thousand and One Body.’
The incarnation of the heavenly being.
Lucas wanted to see Uther pull off the sixth move of the First Sword.
But on the other hand, I didn’t want to see it. It was because of the petty jealousy that still remained in my heart.
‘No, that’s not it either.’
Because my desire to see you was much stronger.
Because he wanted to see his rival advance far and wide, which made him want to chase after him even more.
Lucas, who had made up his mind, looked at the back of Uther with his fists clenched, and Cordelia put her hands together and prayed.
‘Please let Yuder win!’
As always, please let me win first place this time too!
And the first sword.
The person who originally proposed this type of tournament.
“It’s time.”
Jeilgeom smiled as he looked at Yuder standing in front of him.
Very playful, yet somehow creepy.
‘no way?’
The very moment that Uder flinched, the first sword moved.
Unlike before, he took the sword and drew it.
Among the numerous swords of the swordsmanship, the sword of light boasts the fastest speed.
The fastest sword that gave Jeilgeom the name of Sword Saint of Light.
“Can I give you some special treatment?”
The first sword spoke, and at that moment, everyone around the stage went wild.
It wasn’t because I heard the voice of the first sword.
It was the fact that Jeilgeom had taken the sword style and the enthusiasm for Yuder who had made Jeilgeom take the sword style.
‘Fuck.’
Uther said to himself, and so did Cordelia, who was downstage.
‘The worst guy ever!’
It’s lethal!
But the first sword was one that didn’t even listen to the protests of Uder and Cordelia. Even if it had, it would have ignored them.
“Come on.”
Come and show me what you’ve got.
Juder took a deep breath at the first sword’s provocative gaze. He slowly turned his head to look at Cordelia and asked with his eyes.
‘Cordelia. Should I just do it?’
Cordelia blinked at Uther’s question, then smiled brightly. She answered while swinging her fist in the air.
‘show me.’
How strong is our home’s Yuder.
What is the heavenly body that caused curses to come out of the mouth of the world’s Landius?
Winning was impossible.
It was nearly impossible for Yuder to subdue him, who had the First Sword and the name of the Sword Saint.
But if we simply derive the sixth number.
If you don’t lose within five moves.
Uther took a breath.
I memorized the nine-thousand-nine-word formula and stimulated the newly developed middle-range technique.
From the moment I reached a new level in the Temple of Life until now.
A power that has never been seen before.
The Ultimate Sun God Art responded.
A pitch-black aura rose from Yuder’s body, and at the same time, the gates of the Nine Heavens and Nine Gates began to open one by one.
One question.
This is a different question.
Sammun.
A Buddhist temple.
and.
‘False question.’
The fifth door.
It takes you to a completely different level from the previous four gates!
bang!
The energy exploded.
In an instant, not only the atmosphere but also the stage shook, and everyone watching was startled and confused by the sudden release of power.
The first sword was no different.
A look of bewilderment spread across his once relaxed eyes.
And right after that.
At that time, everyone was still in shock.
Uther kicked the ground.
He turned into a black whirlwind and rushed towards the First Sword.
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< Chapter 60 - The First Sword #3 > End
