Episode 133: The Sword Master’s Long-cherished Wish (1)
“Well, then, please make yourself comfortable. If you need anything, please call me on this pager and I will get to you right away.”
The bank manager pointed to a round button on the table. Then he quickly left the room, backing away like a eunuch.
It didn’t seem particularly mean. To me, who had lived in Korea, it just seemed like a typical middle management position.
‘by the way…….’
I rolled my eyes and looked around the room. It was a sealed room with all the decorations made of glass and the walls and floor made of metal.
It was so confined that it was hard to breathe. According to the bank manager who left, only the minimum amount of oxygen was supplied to the room. I think I would feel dizzy if I stayed here for even an hour.
He lightly tapped the wall with his foot. Cancan – a sound that was foreign to iron. After all, it was not an ordinary material.
‘Isn’t that really made of something like vibranium?’
It’s just a joke, but the process of getting to this point is like that, so it’s not like it was just some empty, random thought.
I went through more than 10 security doors. The bank manager unlocked the door lock, then my fingerprint, my eyes, my face, and my voice. It was a security system that I only saw in science fiction movies.
At first it felt strange, but then I understood. I guess this level of strictness isn’t excessive when it comes to storing artifacts.
While I was looking around the room with curious eyes, the inspector called me.
“Come here and take a look, Cadet Kanggeomma.”
The swordsman and Charon stand before a table made of glass. On the table is a wooden box that is covered in the filth of time. It is charred and moldy. It really looks like an old box.
He approached them. Only then did the inspector briefly explain while placing one hand on the box.
“There’s Andvaranaut inside. It’s an artifact that people call the ‘Ring of the Nibelung’, but no one, including me, knows if it’s actually a ring. In fact, I’m curious too. I wondered if it really was a ring.”
“… … ?”
The original owner, the sword master, doesn’t know? All you have to do is open the door of that box the size of two palms. Is there some kind of tradition that says you can’t open it?
The inspector continued speaking as if he had read my expression.
“Wouldn’t I have thought of opening it? Of course not. The first thing I did when I became the lord of the Nibelungs at the age of twenty-six was to open this box. However… I failed. To be exact, I only succeeded half the time.”
“What do you mean it was only half successful?”
“That’s right. It was easy to open. However, after opening this box, all my memories disappeared. That’s proof that it failed. Even after that, I tried to open it several times, but it wouldn’t open.”
The inspector shrugged his shoulders as if it was nothing. However, his gaze, which occasionally turned to the box, was boiling with passion.
Although he was already old, his fighting spirit was still intact. He quickly took his eyes off the ship and looked straight at me. Then he opened his mouth softly.
“The previous lords were the same as me. I’m not the only one who feels wronged. Of course, it’s a shame, but what can I do? My abilities are lacking.”
The swordsman smiled bitterly. There was a hint of regret in his wrinkled lips.
The inspector closed his eyes once and opened them. Then he let out a deep breath as if shaking off his regret.
“But I guess our family’s long-held wish ends today, hahaha.”
The swordsman laughed out loud. Although small, the sound reflected off the iron bars of the closed room and spread widely.
As the sound of laughter lingered in my ears, an idea occurred to me.
I can understand why the Inquisitor brought me here. Not only that, but I also know that this artifact is no ordinary item.
But that wasn’t the point. The inspector clearly told me to ‘fulfill the inspector’s long-cherished wish.’
So he asked the inspector.
“…But, Your Majesty, what does opening this box have to do with the sword master’s long-cherished wish?”
“Hmm? Isn’t that obvious?”
Instead, the inspector tilted his head.
What is that expression, that of course I would have noticed it. What kind of person do I appear to this gentleman?
The inspector answered the question immediately.
“Since even the Sword Saint, Aaron Nibelung, could not achieve this, doesn’t the phrase ‘Sword Saint’s long-cherished wish’ fit perfectly?”
“… … .”
“Anyway, Caron and I will be outside. I want to watch from the sidelines, but I heard that none of those who did so got through without any trouble. When you’re done, press the call button that the bank manager mentioned earlier. Okay.”
The inspector opened the door without waiting for an answer.
Caron, who followed behind, had an embarrassed expression and quietly cheered, “Good luck,” before closing the door.
… … .
There was a small box and I left alone in a completely sealed room. I stared blankly at it and soon burst out laughing.
“Do you think I can achieve something that even the first swordsman couldn’t?”
How high are the expectations of the swordsman? He even rates me higher than his own ancestor. And that too, Aaron Nibelung, the so-called swordsman.
“…ha.”
A sigh escaped my lips. I thought I could just say that I couldn’t do it here and give up, but the words of the sword master, ‘a reward more valuable than material compensation,’ lingered in my throat.
The word reward made me hesitate to reach for the call button. It was natural for a Korean gamer to feel weak at those two words.
“… Well, it’s not like the inspector brought me here because he was bored.”
Let’s give it a try. I took a deep breath and placed my hand on the ship.
Then, a status window suddenly appears before your eyes.
Phew-!
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[NEW! A surprise quest occurs.]
Fulfill the Sword Saint’s long-cherished wish!
[※【???】’s memory fragments can be obtained. Total number of acquisitions (0/7).]
[※ You can expect additional rewards.]
[※ However, it will automatically end when you close the box.]
== ==
Would you like to accept the quest? (Y/N)
[????Time left until acceptance – 00:03]
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“… … .”
My worries were short-lived. I just rolled the box lid back.
Creak.
The sound of rusty hinges engaging. Immediately, darkness covered my retina.
·
·
·
(Y/N)
▲
* * *
At the same time, Castle Sigurd.
“… Hmm, is this the right way to wrap it?”
Before his personal training, Abel has his hands bandaged. These are called hand wraps to protect the health of his hands.
The original Abel would not have hesitated to get calluses, but recently he has been increasingly concerned about these things.
Curved calluses on the palms of her hands, and fingernails that were always kept short and trimmed. Fingernails that had never been colored.
Of course, the lines of the hand itself were orphaned. However, compared to girls of the same age, the hands were rather crude.
“Hmm.”
Abel fiddled with his hand for no reason. His palm felt rough like sandpaper. The more he touched it, the more her eyebrows curved downward.
“Should I buy some hand cream… … .”
-Knock, knock, knock. Three knocks. It was Shail.
“Come in.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Shail opened the door and came in. She was on vacation, but for once she was wearing everyday clothes instead of a maid outfit.
Shail was beautiful even with her bare face. But with her ribbon blouse and makeup on, she was a stunning beauty who caught everyone’s attention.
By the way, Abel’s makeup on his date with Kang Geum-ma was done by Shail. That day was the first time in Abel’s life that he put anything other than moisturizing cream on his face.
Abel’s eyes were filled with admiration as he looked at Shail. Shail, who was like his older sister, felt particularly distant today.
“… I, Miss. I was thinking about going out today. But since the Inspector General isn’t here, I thought I should tell you first.”
“Oh, really? Someone who hates going outside so much has been going out a lot lately. Come to think of it, I didn’t see Caron today… … Do you know where he went?”
“I heard that you took the swordsman out into the city for a bit early in the morning. I haven’t heard anything more specific than that.”
“… Oh, did that guy, Geumma, go out too?”
A small regret appeared on Abel’s face as he spoke like that.
‘I was going to ask Geumma to help me with my training while Grandpa was out… … .’
She thought so. However, it was somewhat different from the regret that Abel felt.
Maybe the training was just an excuse. Abel’s subconscious wanted to talk to Kanggeomma more. Because since his return, he had few opportunities to properly meet Kanggeomma.
Kang Geum-ma rarely came out except for mealtimes, just like her grandfather. He was a promising hikikomori.
Ugh- Abel smacked his lips silently. Then he smiled back at Shail.
“Okay! I’ll tell Grandpa and Caron that I went out when I get back. Have fun~”
“Yes, you too, Miss… … .”
Shayle trailed off. Her gaze briefly lingered on the half-wrapped, roughly bandaged hand.
‘That’s strange.’ Has the young lady ever had a hand wrap? She’s always been proud of the inspector’s calluses, thinking it was an honor.
Shail thought for a moment, then came to his senses. A new hypothesis flashed through his mind.
‘The young lady is in her teens now.’
No matter how dull Abel’s temper was, she was still a girl. It was natural for her to care about her appearance at that age.
What’s more, there was a person of the opposite sex who lived under the same roof. It was Kang Geum-ma.
A young lady who is ignorant of love would not be aware of it, but Abel was quite conscious of Kenma. No, if it was only consciousness, then it would not be noticeable.
In Shail’s eyes, who had a keen eye for romance, it was a look that clearly showed affection.
‘Well, even though Mr. Geomma is a madman at heart, he looks clean on the outside.’
Weakness, appearance, personality. In many ways, he was a weaponless boy. Was it because of this that the young lady was attracted to him? A little feeling of unease came over her.
It was a concern as a sister. However, apart from the thought, Shail’s lips moved sluggishly. The tip of her nose stung, and her tear ducts stung.
‘The young lady is finally interested in men… …!’
Shayle cheered inwardly. Abel stared blankly at her. A question mark appeared on his innocent face.
With strides, with strides.
Shail clung to him tightly. Abel flinched at that.
“Huh?”
Within moments, Shail took hold of Abel’s two hands. Her cheeks and the bridge of her nose were covered in a pink blush.
“Miss, would you like to go down to town with me?”
“Uh, uh… … .”
Abel hesitated. Shail’s hand, which was holding hers, gained strength.
“We drink coffee together and go shopping. I, Shail, am confident in my fashion sense.”
“… … .”
There was silence in the room. Abel moved his eyes furtively to examine Shail’s clothes. They were pretty.
Abel, who had been keeping his mouth shut, removed the bandage wrapped around his hand.
“Hmm, now that I think about it, Shail and I haven’t really been out and about. I’m not really interested in clothes, but let’s go together and make some memories.”
“yes!”
Shayle nodded repeatedly with a smile on his face. It was a smile so clear that it brought tears to his eyes.
* * *
“…what?”
As soon as I opened the box, darkness immediately penetrated my eyes. I felt as if I was being sucked down into a deep swamp.
And then there’s now. I’m standing in an open field, almost like a desert.
However, it was neither hot nor dry at all. The occasional breeze was pleasant.
At that moment, a familiar phrase appeared on my retina again.
Phew-!
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[Sudden Quest: The Sword Saint’s Long-cherished Wish.]
Of course, the test is to win the battle with yourself. Only then can you become a true expert.
-From a letter from Balor Joaquin to Aaron Nibelung.
[※ Reward – The ‘grade’ of one of the 【???】 fragments or protections will be randomly raised by one level.]
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… … !
After a while, the status window disappeared again with a pop. Then my gaze moved beyond it.
“No, shit. Is that really what you meant?”
I stuttered reflexively. Then I immediately took the sashimi out of my arms.
“Damn, this is why even that human couldn’t achieve it!”
I, that is, a guy who looked exactly like Ganggeomma, was running towards me, holding sashimi.
