We sat beside a weathered stone, just the two of us — the Sword Saint and I — surrounded by the stillness of the plains and the quiet whispers of the wind.
He was among the rare few who didn't fill silence with unnecessary words.
But this time, he asked me, in a calm voice:
"Is the pinnacle of the sword… the end?"
I smiled and slowly shook my head.
"No. It's the beginning — and that alone proves there is no such thing as the virtue of the sword."
"Because it's a path whose end cannot be reached?"
His gaze deepened, as though trying to dive into the meaning before it slipped away.
"The pinnacle of the sword is not a moment of triumph, nor an ending.
It's a moment when you realize that the sword was never meant to cut — but to understand the world.
The closer you get to the pinnacle, the more your desires fade before the sword, until only your sincerity toward it remains.
Even the most obsessed of swordmasters think of it as the end… yet in their dreams, it is ruin."
Some may think I was speaking of things beyond my reach.
But in that moment… I had touched that wall.
The forbidden wall of the Sword's Pinnacle — a height that surpasses even the Heart of the Sword.
The Sword Saint nodded and ran his fingers gently along the edge of his blade, as if searching for some inner echo of my words.
"Have you seen anyone reach it before you?"
I looked down at my palms — the tremor that had always haunted them was gone.
"Maybe. But that moment can't be measured… only lived.
Because of it, I touched that which they call the Wall of the Sword's Pinnacle."
---
A sudden cold breeze swept in, swirling dry leaves around us.
One settled on my shoulder.
That moment… felt like the world itself bowed in reverence.
I was breathing slowly, as if the entire world had become part of my breath.
If someone ever asked me to describe that moment… I wouldn't know how.
All I know is — I was alive.
And no, I didn't regret this conversation with the sword.
I was grateful.
---
A distant voice broke the silence of the plains.
"Teeelodeeeos!"
I turned, seeing three shadows approaching softly through the tall grass.
Maria was walking with steady, swift steps.
Behind her, Kugssa ran with excessive enthusiasm, her bag bouncing on her shoulder.
And the third was Junia — daughter of my master, the Dragon King. We had met recently.
They arrived, worn out, but their eyes sparkled with excitement.
Kugssa reached me first.
"We were watching from afar, master! We didn't want to interrupt! But what was that?! It was… unlike anything I've ever seen!"
I laughed, then turned to the Sword Saint — who had been silently watching, eyes half-closed, as if contemplating a phantom only he could see.
"That… is the Sword Saint."
The two girls hesitated, while Maria stepped forward more calmly and bowed respectfully.
"It is an honor to meet you."
Junia, however, remained silent — staring at him with a long look, part cautious… part curious.
He was the first — and most famous — outsider she'd ever met.
The Sword Saint nodded slightly.
"And what an honor it is… to meet those who helped shape Telodeos into who he is."
Maria sat down beside me, while Kugssa remained standing — still brimming with energy.
Junia seated herself near the Sword Saint. A brief glance passed between them — filled with unspoken tension.
sigh...
Maria asked,
"So… what now?"
I looked at them all — three girls walking vastly different paths — and yet, fate had brought us to this point.
"We're heading to the Warriors Kingdom… in the heart of the Dark Continent."
Junia froze with excitement, already imagining the adventures to come.
"The Warriors Kingdom? That place no one is allowed to cross into? Full of mercenaries and adventurers?"
I nodded, a quiet smile on my face.
"You remember the Queen there owes me a debt… She won't close her doors to me~"
Kugssa tilted her head, asking softly:
"Why are we going? Is there a new enemy?"
"It's not an enemy… but the past — and perhaps… the future."
Maria asked more directly,
"Are we looking for Lady Anya?"
"Yes… Seems you've already been told."
"Curiosity got the better of me, master…"
A moment of silence followed.
The Sword Saint chuckled faintly — more of a sigh than a laugh — then fell quiet again.
He stared into the horizon, eyes glinting with some hidden tension.
"The Warrior Kingdom, huh…"
His tone had changed.
I asked, watching his uneasy expression,
"Speaking of that — you're the reason I'm owed that debt."
"Me?"
"When I was attacked, I didn't know what was happening. But they were clearly tracking someone with overwhelming Sword's Intent.
After meeting you, I realized — they were after you."
He stared at me in silence — a tremble flickering in his eyes.
"What's between you and the Queen of the Warriors Kingdom…?"
No answer.
But his silence… was enough.
It could have been an old love, an unforgiven sin, or a promise left unkept.
That's when I realized…
This journey wouldn't be as dull as I thought.
---
We prepared to depart at sunset.
Silence accompanied us, though Kugssa never stopped talking — trying to fill the heavy air.
The Sword Saint hesitated for a moment, then spoke without looking at me.
"I'll come."
I didn't comment — just smiled.
It had been decided from the beginning.
As we walked along the barren hills, the wind tugging at our clothes, he and I spoke again.
"You and I… we're about the same level, right? Half-Virtue?"
"Yes. But don't be fooled by what I show…"
He paused, then admitted:
"I lack what you have… There's a vast gap between us in strength and experience. Judging by your bones, you haven't even reached fifty — yet what I saw in you goes far beyond that."
"You're not wrong to think that.
I've lived longer than you… in twenty-one different worlds — each lived through dozens of times."
He fell silent.
He didn't try to understand.
He just accepted it.
"A reincarnator, then? Am I right?"
"The logic of reincarnation doesn't apply to me. What I've lived through… was far more painful than that."
Honestly, I expected him to ask all this after our fight — but he surpassed my expectations.
Finally, he asked one last question:
"What's your full name?"
With that question, he was searching for two things — my name, of course…
But also, whether I belonged to a Higher Race.
For those of the Higher Races never reveal their full names… to anyone.
Now that he mentioned it…
When my mother once spoke of the man she called the Madman of the Sword Path…
"Ari Telodeos."
His expression twisted — as if unsure whether to accept the reality unfolding before him, now realizing whose son I truly was.
I began explaining slowly — about my mother, my father, and what happened with Lady Anya.
---
"Thinking about what happened to my companions… fills me with deep sorrow.
To have all that unfold while I was isolated from the world…"
We walked slowly.
The Sword Saint remained deep in thought, mourning those who had once meant everything to him, suppressing both grief and rage.
Even though he knew my mother's selfish desires were the root cause — he didn't blame her.
He blamed himself… for not being there to stop her madness.
"So when you mentioned Lady Anya… does that mean you're looking for her?"
"Yes.
Her… and my half-brother."
"I suppose I now understand why you wish to visit the Warriors Kingdom…
After all, both Ari and Anya were born and raised there."
Just as I thought.
We talked so much, we didn't even notice we'd reached its borders.
We arrived at the gate of the Warriors Kingdom's fortress.
It stood tall and proud — as if it reached for the sky.
The guard at the gate raised his spear, ready to shout — but something stopped him.
From behind the gate… she emerged.
[Queen of the Warriors Kingdom]
"Stop!"
The guard knelt before finishing his words.
She wore a silver armor cloaked in shadow — walking with unwavering steps.
Her eyes were fixed on me.
"Lord Virtue… it is an honor to have you visit us…"
She approached… but then froze the moment she saw who was behind me.
When her gaze landed on the Sword Saint…
In an instant — the fear and caution vanished from her face.
And were replaced… with something else.
Hatred.
A swift strike was moments away — her sword raised high toward the Sword Saint…
But I lifted my hand, warning her.
"Not now."
She froze.
Looked at me… then into my eyes…
She said nothing — but trembled.
She truly believed I was a Virtue.
She hesitated… then took a step back, her eyes filled with fear… and memories.
She whispered:
"If it weren't you…
I'd have sliced him down and drank his blood where he stood."
Is there truly such hatred between them?
"I didn't come here for your feud…
But to finish what we left incomplete."
Shame flickered across her face, and she lowered her gaze.
I didn't know then…
That stopping her at that moment…
Would weave together the threads of fate.