Chapter 395: The Time He Waited, The Time He Walked (8)
After his master died, he wandered the world for a while.
He was unparalleled.
He walked alone. Yet, people lined up to block his path and queued to follow in his wake.
[Stop, you wicked demon! How dare someone like you claim to be a disciple of the Sun Sage and falsely represent the righteous factions!]
[My son, the Primal Blade! When will you return to us?]
[You are a formidable one. I pay my respects.]
[My lord, I am called Myohuseong, and I wish to light your way….]
There were those who swung weapons, those who clutched at his sleeves, those who sought a handshake, and those who bowed, but they all shared one thing in common— they all surrounded him. The weight of the footsteps he left behind was deepened by all those he met.
Thus, wherever he passed, great roads were formed.
It was the Great Road March.
[Sword Demon.]
[Sword Dragon.]
[Sword King.]
[Sword Heaven.]
[Sword Saint.]
The myriad titles bestowed upon him were unified on those great roads.
[Sword Emperor.]
That became his new name.
One whom all blocked yet none could obstruct. One whom none could follow yet all seeked to follow. One who walked with none yet was accompanied by all.
The Sword Emperor traversed this world of myriad swords like a comet.
However, this period wasn’t named the fifth slashing strike in the Ten Thousand Sword world solely because of the Sword Emperor’s path that cut deep like a blade’s mark. It was also the time when “that” appeared.
People whispered amongst themselves.
[What is that?]
It was a colossal tower.
Yet, this tower was too significant to merely be dismissed. It was tall and thick.
Those who had lived in cities would not dare to consider it a mere tower as it was larger than the largest city they knew. Those who had climbed mountains would find it taller than any mountain’s ridge they had ascended, and those who had ventured into the sea would not dare to think of it as a mere tower as it stood towering over the entire horizon.
[It’s like the hilt of a sword that a giant has thrust into the world to split it apart.]
That’s what people whispered to one another.
This murmuring spread in the following words.
[Who built it?]
[What dwells within it?]
[What being resides at its summit?]
And it was concluded with these words.
[Why can it be seen from anywhere?]
Just as they said, the tower could be seen from everywhere.
It was a strange phenomenon. It’s impossible for something to be in two places at once.
Yet, wherever one turned their head, the tower was there, beyond.
Beyond the city, beyond the mountains, beyond the sea, beyond the roads, like a backdrop that wouldn’t fade, casting its base far into the distance.
[Is it too big?]
Someone who claimed that by walking far enough, one would return to their starting point because the world is round, speculated as much.
[Is it a mirage?]
Someone who found it strange that no matter how much they approached or fled, it never got closer or farther, speculated as much.
[No.]
The one who provided a clear answer to the heated debates was the Sword Emperor.
[It’s following us.]
The people could not immediately comprehend the Sword Emperor’s words. The tower was following them? Did that mean the tower was alive?
The Sword Emperor affirmed it plainly.
[It’s waiting.]
[Waiting?]
[Yes. Can’t you feel this ‘waiting’?]
People looked at each other.
Anger is easily felt. Love, contempt, too, can be easily detected. But to feel ‘waiting’ was somewhat unfamiliar.
Yet, the Sword Emperor naturally used that unusual term. Even more astonishingly, what he said next surprised those gathered even more.
[I guess I should go and have a drink.]
“Ah,” the Sword Emperor stood up. He stretched leisurely.
He said,
[I’ll be right back.]
[Excuse me? Where to?]
[Up there.]
It sounded as if he was saying he’d pop by the tavern in front for a moment. His too-calm demeanor left the people unable to grasp the meaning of his words.
[Whoever wants to come, follow.]
And the Sword Emperor did not give them a chance to understand.
[I’ll be waiting.]
That day, into the Ten Thousand Sword world, marked by blades, a single forged blade entered.
It was over 150 years ago.
After paying my respects with a triple prostration at my master’s funeral, I entered the 98th floor.
[You are entering the 98th floor.]
The moment I set foot there, I was seized by a peculiar sensation.
-…….
A familiar feeling.
The sensation of peering into something familiar.
-This place is……
The Aegim Empire.
The very world where I met Shiny and fought with Ester.
I was standing in the quiet imperial audience chamber.
-It’s been a while since I’ve been here.
I murmured.
Beside me, floating leisurely, the Guardian Spirit crossed his arms and chuckled slyly.
-It’s been a while since you’ve seen someone too.
-Someone I haven’t seen in a while?
-Remember what your family’s advisor used to say?
-Eh? Ester?
-Right. Before she became your advisor.
-Oh, hold on. It’s been quite some time…… Ah, perhaps the one who said she would send me to the 99th floor…… Ah.
Indeed.
As if in tune with my realization, a familiar sound rang out.
-…….
It was the sound of raindrops.
Drip, drip… drip-drip-drip. Drip…
Rain. The abandoned droplets from the sky hit the audience chamber window. A blurred streak slowly spread before being swiftly washed away by a new downpour.
-…….
Even in a world that had come to a halt, only the rain continued to flow.
And then, a voice reached me.
“Lord?”
I lifted my head.
From afar, Ester was walking towards me. That face, which I hadn’t seen in so long, bore an expression as if she had seen a ghost.
“My Lord? …Is it really you?”
Hmm.
I raised a hand with a pleased expression.
-Yeah, advisor. It’s been quite some—
In the next moment, a terrifying shock struck me.
-Ugh…!!
Like a fly swatted by a flyswatter, I was slammed to the ground. Then, a waterfall of aura struck down on me again. I nearly perished!
-Wait, why are you suddenly— ugh!
“Why do you think!?”
Hmm.
Well, because it’s been too long… No, wait a minute.
-How can you see me— kheuk!
“Because I am! Here! The test administrator of the 98th floor!”
-Being able to contact me means— ugh!
“Yes! The pillars came and explained! That you, Lord, would be coming soon, so I should prepare!”
-That I can be touched means— kik!
“Yes! Really, what in the world… seriously!”
I closed my mouth. The rapid-fire explanations made perfect sense. Even more so, the threat of being shattered with each question added made me wary of opening my mouth.
Ester, seemingly unable to contain her emotions, huffed and puffed for a while before lifting her red aura-wrapped greatsword again.
“Anyway, please take a few more hits!”
No.
Even if I keep my mouth shut, am I still going to be hit regardless?
-Just a moment, advisor. Isn’t replacing the joy of our reunion with violence— gyaaak!
For a while, the beating continued. The sound of pouring rain and the shock that rang in my ears blurred together, indistinguishable, until Ester’s sword finally stopped.
Not by Ester’s will.
“That will be enough, advisor.”
It was Shiny’s voice.
I lifted my head. In my beaten view, I saw Shiny, step by step, descending.
Ester hissed.
“Hwiya.”
“Yes. I understand the sentiment but… still.”
Understood?
I wish she hadn’t understood— just as I thought that, Hwiya added something.
“Ester’s current look is just like those girls in the novel genres Viper loves….”
“Aaaaaack!”
Ester screamed. Hwiya extended a wing to gently pat Ester’s head before turning to me.
Hmm.
I spoke.
-Hello, Shiny. You are—
“I’m also the test administrator of the 98th floor.”
-Ah. Indeed. Just like Ester—
“I was also managing floors 11 through 20.”
-Hmm. The reason you’re interrupting me now is—
“Do you want to ask?”
-No…
I hung my head.
Both Hwiya and Ester, who had barely recovered her shattered self, glared at me with icy eyes.
Hwiya was the first to speak.
“Please come back soon.”
-…..Hmm.
I couldn’t argue against those words, laden with a sigh. After all, I had been walking among people for a long time without revealing myself.
-I’m sorry.
I had no choice but to bow deeply, sincerely.
-I’ll be back soon.
“Yes. …Hmm.”
Hwiya spread her five pairs of wings wide. The Goddess of the Sword stretching was like a blanket dried in the morning sun, scattering a soft fragrance around.
“We, along with the advisor, will help ensure you can do that.”
A moment later, a message window opened.
[The Goddess of Protection offers you a reward.]
[The Demon King of Autumn Rain offers you a reward.]
[Please choose one of the two rewards.]
-Uh.
I unwittingly blinked.
It was inevitable.
Because those were messages I hadn’t seen in a very long time.
-You guys…….
As if anticipating my reaction, a selection window floated up before me.
+
[The Goddess of Protection]
Description: The Goddess of the Aegim Empire, moved by your dedication, offers you the honor of preparing a meal for her…….
+
-Uh… wait a minute. Is this saying I should prepare the meal? Not that she’ll prepare one for me? And this is described as an honor?
+
You can prepare fried egg soy sauce rice, a Sormewin-style feast, or even fry chicken. Regardless of your choice, your cooking will undergo a strict evaluation and will be scored…….
+
-Excuse me!?
+
O Warrior of the Goddess! Please return soon.
And please, give Silvia a good thrashing!
*Why can’t I receive the Goddess’s reward if I choose the Demon King’s reward?
+
-No! The last part is really weird! Using a quest message like that, Shiny, you…….
As I stared at Shiny with a bewildered face, I was even more taken aback by the new message that appeared.
+
[The Demon King of Autumn Rain]
Description: The Demon King admires your feats. The Demon King proposes that you secretly collaborate with her. She promises the exact same reward as the Goddess, with an additional gift.
Hurry back and read 99 recommended novels by Ester and leave at least a 1200-character review!
If you promise that, the Demon King will use his power to transport you directly to the 99th floor.
*Only one person can receive the Demon King’s reward. (It’s just you anyway.)
*If multiple people choose this reward, one will be randomly selected. (But that won’t happen.)
*If no one chooses, the Demon King’s reward will be automatically selected.
+
-Ester, you too… Hey, you guys…….
As I muttered with a dumbfounded face, looking at their faces made me laugh.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
-You guys are really…….
Once upon a time.
There was a Demon King who became an avatar of vengeance after all it had was burned away. Because of that Demon King, a Goddess who could only watch as all she had achieved was submerged beneath a flood had no choice.
-Ester…….
The Demon King wished for nothing more than for others, even by a sliver, to not find happiness. Not even the future. Certainly not its own happiness.
The Demon King wished only for those who plunged it and its precious beings into misery, those who by their mere existence allowed this, to fall into hell.
-Shiny……. Hwiya.
The Goddess tried her best to prevent it.
Like scooping out water from an overflowing dam by hand. Desperately pleading with us to not fall for the Demon King’s tricks, to give their already ruined world one more chance.
-You guys….….
Thus, the two, while opposing each other, used every character in the quest window to point their swords at each other. Tempting us, begging us, mocking, lamenting, all so that we would choose them and not the other.
There was such a time.
-…….
And now, those two were speaking to me through that very quest window.
Hurry back, they said.
We’ll be waiting, they said.
That was.
That was a very beautiful thing to me.
-……Yeah.
From the 91st floor to the 97th floor, what I had felt once again enveloped me.
The experiences I had while climbing the tower were not meaningless.
-I’ll be back.
[Key manifestation complete.]
I said, wiping the corners of my eyes. Really, barely managing to speak.
Ester and Hwiya looked at each other and smiled faintly.
[The 98th floor administrator— the otherworldly managers you first encountered grant you passage.]
“Yes.”
“Come back safely.”
[The 98th floor stage has been cleared.]
Thus, they sent me off.
[You are entering the 99th floor.]
■.
As soon as the sandstorm dispersed, what enveloped me was an almost violent fragrance of flowers.
The fragrance of flowers in my sanctuary, is like a curtain soaked on a rainy day— subdued, only delicately touching and mingling with the weary lives, never overpowering.
But what filled this place was a completely different, vibrant scent.
The scent of those living unreservedly. The fragrance of those indulging in life without holding back.
“……Sigh.”
I steadied my dizzy head, and almost immediately, I noticed another anomaly.
My palm distinctly felt textures.
Breathing was perceptible.
Temperature could be felt.
“……Indeed.”
I clenched and unclenched my fist. I closed my eyes once and then opened them. A feast of natural colors as dazzling as the fragrance assaulted my eyes.
Amongst the living, I, too, was alive.
“…….”
And there, I saw him.
Sitting cross-legged atop the overflowing flower bed, he was there. Perhaps he had been sitting there for a very long time. Amidst the ever-changing seasons, he seemed to have been weathered alive into stone, covered in moss beyond grass, flowers, and trees.
The wind blew.
Because he had been so still, at first, it seemed only his robe fluttered. Caught by that fluttering, it took a moment to realize he had extended his arm to the side.
His large hand grasped the hilt of a colossal sword submerged beneath the flower bed.
His shoulder, arm, and hand writhed independently as if alive.
The sword was drawn.
With a movement as fierce as a rising dragon, the flowers were not crushed, nor were the grasses broken. Instead, the flower bed merely rippled like the surface of a lake.
Standing amidst the flower bed, soaking his feet, he rose.
He turned around.
The piercing sunlight shattered into light and shadow upon his angular muscles. The shattered sunbeams danced around the flower petals like beads, and his sprawling shadow merged with the shadow of the grass on the ground.
The open sky was traversed by clouds as grand as mountains. Within this narrow world, he stood alone, a mountain range unto himself.
The wind blew again.
Dandelion seeds, whoosh, scattered.
“Come on in.”
Under the azure sky, the Sword Emperor smiled.
“You’re late, you zombie bastard.”
