Chapter 78 - The Hypocrisy of Monsters
CLANG CLANG CLANG!
The sound of hammering echoed in the empty space.
Re-forging.
It was the process of heating Siltnaro, who had already been completed once as a sword, for a second time.
"The first process, forging, ended long ago. All that remains is to be reborn through bone-cutting pain. This re-forging will finally complete you."
As Siltnaro repeated the process of melting and solidifying, she let out a loud groan.
『AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!』
But Siltnaro's voice was soon buried by Naiad's scream, who came out after her.
『It's hot! It's SO HOT!』
"Supreme Spirit, why do you endure this pain along with it?"
Altanato asked without stopping his hammering.
"Is it to be recognized as one weapon by me?"
『YEAH!』
Naiad shrieked.
『Why else would I be here! It's all because of you!』
"It was something you didn't have to do."
Altanato said, as if muttering to himself.
"You didn't have to come to a place where you had to follow these rules in the first place. You can't tell me you didn't know anything about this ancient blacksmith."
『Stop revealing my age!』
HIIISSS!
The moment Altanato gripped Siltnaro with his tongs, a burst of steam shot out.
"Tempering."
Altanato's eyes lit up.
"Are you trying to be the water that will cool this sword?"
『The only water here is the water that seeped out of the cave.』
Naiad said, her teeth gritted.
『Nothing is as pure as the water I create.』
"I see."
Altanato's gaze moved toward Clay, who was sitting nearby.
"You don't look surprised, and you show no signs of impatience."
He was just holding his spot, even when the ancient blacksmith appeared and showcased his abilities and even while watching his sword screaming in pain.
"Normally, people would make a fuss just from meeting me."
"…It must have been a long wait."
Clay slowly met Altanato's gaze.
"If there was no reason for it, you wouldn't have had to fall into a deep sleep until a guest arrived in this empty space."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm just respecting your wait."
So that he could fully enjoy the feeling of finally reaching the end of his long wait.
"I heard that your greatest weapons, which were held by the ancient gods, were all destroyed by Elheim."
"…"
"So it doesn't matter, does it?"
If he could just create a weapon that would never be destroyed,
"My story or the distinction between good and evil won't matter at all."
If there was a being with even a slight possibility of reaching Elheim when he descended again,
"You would have no choice but to lend them your strength."
Altanato was a legendary blacksmith to the point that people said he had ascended to godhood. But he wasn't perfect.
He hadn't been able to surpass the best in the name of a blacksmith.
That was an unfair thing for him.
"Yes."
Altanato agreed.
"Equipment exists to protect its master. It is something I can never accept that something that was honed for such a long time would just be destroyed by the power of the source."
"Did it make you feel empty?"
"No, it was a feeling of resentment."
His eyebrows shot up like a flame.
"Because it didn't make sense for a being that just happened to be born to overwhelm one that had shattered walls of pain."
"Did you not think that was the way it was supposed to be?"
"It is not in my way of thinking."
Altanato looked directly at Clay.
"It is not in my way of thinking."
Forging, re-forging, and tempering.
In his way of thinking, the things that came out into the world only after being cut by flames, holding their breath in water, and being hammered like a bell all over their body, were the ones that had to be stronger.
"Blacksmiths like me live by making that the right answer. My job is to make it the right answer even if it isn't."
Even if it might not be a fitting story for reality, it was a belief that Clay needed right now.
"I'm glad I met you, Altanato."
Clay said softly.
"Because I need a result that someone like you has created."
CLANG CLANG CLANG!
Amidst the continuous hammering, Altanato let out a laugh that echoed through the massive space.
"That is the greatest wish a blacksmith can have."
The re-forging continued like that. And then at some point.
Naiad's screaming voice stopped. Siltnaro also no longer groaned.
"Was it Clay?"
Altanato, who had exchanged names with him, had stopped his hammering and tempering and was just standing there blankly, looking down at Clay.
"Do you know how to use a weapon that has been through my hands?"
"Because there are documents you left behind."
"That's fortunate. There is no more time."
Like a pottery that had been fired incorrectly, Altanato's body began to turn the color of soil and crack.
"I don't wish for anything else from you."
Altanato's body crumbled.
"So that everyone will remember that my weapon was the best, that I was the best blacksmith…"
CRUMBLE!
The final moments of a man who had forced himself to stay alive even after his lifespan had run out.
In the place where Altanato, who had shattered into dust, had been, Siltnaro remained with his name carved onto her blade as a signature.
"I promise you."
The sword was in Clay's hand again.
"That it will be remembered in history."
♧
Darbal, a mining city in Donon.
The magic tools that had been used to mine minerals were now stopped, and they were wary of the crimson being that was walking toward them from a distance.
"Oh, shit."
The miners cursed, each holding their mining tools.
"What the hell is that thing?!"
"Did it really come all the way here by devouring people's blood…?"
"That means half of Donon's land is gone!"
Darbal was currently located in the center of Donon. In other words, for that monster to have come all the way here was no different from half of Donon having fallen.
"Damn it, how are we supposed to protect this place?!"
Although it was a city, there were no proper troops here. That was because it was in the middle of Donon, so there was no threat from other nations.
In the first place, the surrounding nations imported minerals from Donon, so there was no place with bad relations. Donon, whose forging technology was poor, also had to rely on the help of other nations, so they were all mutually beneficial to each other.
"AAAAAAH!"
"SAVE MEEE!"
So, they couldn't help but be defenseless against the enemy who had suddenly appeared.
"P-protect the cityyyy!"
However, even though the crimson being began to sweep away the city, the miners didn't immediately run away. Instead, they ran and swung the tools they were holding. Because this was their home.
『I appreciate it.』
Vlad, the Lord of Blood, said as he captured another person and absorbed their blood.
『I appreciate you gathering here yourselves.』
People running away was just a nuisance to him. He moved forward and threw the corpse he was holding. And then he grabbed another, absorbed what he needed, and threw it away. As he repeated that process over and over, and took away people's hope,
RUMBLERUMBLERUMBLE.
A loud echo suddenly spread through the air.
『Hmm?』
A city gate appeared.
"Wh-what is that now?"
The people, who had been scattering in a panic from the merciless slaughter, were surprised and looked up at the sky.
SCREEEAK.
The city gate, which had an intersecting spear drawn on it, began to split open.
『…』
Vlad just stared at it. Until someone appeared from there.
A single man.
Black clothes and a sword filled with demonic energy. The man, who came out through the open door, landed on the ground, possessing those things.
THUD…!
It was controlled. He had clearly reduced his power just before impact.
However, without hiding all his might, he met Vlad's gaze with his crimson eyes.
"T-the Demon King…!"
Amusingly, it was the people around them who recognized him first.
"It's really the Demon King?!"
"So it's true that Beatrice created the Demon King from the hero's corpse!"
"Why did even a monster like that appear here…!"
Even though they had despaired at the fact that there was no hero to save them, they didn't welcome the being in front of them.
To them, the hero was a being who was no longer alive. That was just the shell of the hero who had become a monster.
『Demon King.』
Vlad's mouth widened, forming a bizarre smile.
『Indeed.』
He spread his arms, welcoming Clay.
『Indeed!』
Because the blood of the strong was what he desired the most.
『You are satiety.』
Vlad pointed at Clay and said.
『You will be able to satisfy my hunger.』
"I'm afraid I can't do that."
Clay tightened his grip on the demonic sword, Siltnaro.
"Because I prefer to be the one who devours rather than the one who gets devoured."
WHOOSH!
Clay's body pushed off the ground and shot forward. Vlad swung his Blood Blade down at him.
CLANG!
『How foolish.』
Vlad, who had bounced off the demonic sword, immediately swung his Blood Blade like a whip.
『My sword is on a completely different level from a bladed weapon like that.』
His words were true. The Blood Blade instantly turned into a liquid, passed through the sword Clay had swung, and solidified again to sharpen its blade.
SPLAT!
Clay's defense was useless. Against the Blood Blade, which could adjust its hardness as it pleased, Clay had no choice but to slowly back away.
『Why did you come here?』
Vlad mocked Clay.
『Did you think you could get the first strike, knowing that I would reach you anyway?』
The Blood Blade barely grazed Clay's shoulder.
『It seems you don't know exactly who I am.』
He was the absolute ruler who became stronger than anyone else if he had blood. He was the war incarnate who filled himself with countless sacrifices.
『Demon King. That is a truly interesting name.』
The Blood Blade continued to push Clay back.
『A king who was established to protect the demonkind. Right now, you are nothing more than a blood bag for me.』
Meanwhile, the people who had been suddenly watching the two beings fight were looking bewildered.
"W-what just happened?"
"They're fighting."
"Why are they suddenly here…?"
No one gave them an answer.
And at that moment, she appeared.
FLASH.
A blue light. The people's gazes instantly went to it.
"Huh, huh?"
"Th-that's!"
Soon, a small being, who had been completely revealed after being imbued with light, appeared. It was Naiad, one of the Spirit Kings who represented the nature of this world.
"La-Lady Naiad!"
"The Spirit King has appeared!"
"She has come to save us!"
People wept with joy and cheered at the appearance of a being they were certain would help them. But Naiad didn't look at them and opened her mouth.
"I didn't come here to save you."
And then, she said something unbelievable.
"I came here to watch over a man who hasn't forgotten you, even though you abandoned him."
"La-Lady Naiad? What do you mean by that…"
Those who were flustered by the incomprehensible words followed Naiad's gaze and turned their heads.
Her gaze was directed at none other than Clay. As if to clearly point out who it was that she was watching over.
"Who do you think is saving you right now?"
She spoke as if she was throwing a stone into a lake and causing a ripple.