Since the beginning of the thousand-year human-demon war—
Among the human nations, no matter which version of the world map you unfold...
The first name that catches the eye
Will always be that village guarding the Hero's Sword:
—Village of Swords!
Now that the Unified Empire has split apart, and the Second Empire that inherited its northernmost territory is surrounded by demons,
Now that the Northern Nations, Southern Nations, and Central Lands are all deeply mired in warfare unable to extricate themselves...
What carries everyone's hope is precisely this small and inconspicuous village called the Village of Swords.
Yes, hope—
Every key point on the world map contains deep meaning and consideration from the masses,
And the birth of every new marking is accompanied by complex historical reasons.
Central Lands - Holy Capital Strahl
Trading City - Warm
Labyrinth City - Salantonde—
The legends forged by heroes and the heritage accumulated by history made them world-famous.
Most of these world-renowned special landmarks are like this without exception.
But compared to others, the reason the Village of Swords ranks highest is extremely special...
Hero's Sword—
This legendary divine artifact said to be sent down by the Goddess and destined to be drawn by the salvation hero to defeat the Demon King is precisely why this place attracts worldwide attention.
After all, on this continent now ravaged by the warfare stirred up by demons,
In the hearts of all people trapped in fear brought by death and slaughter—
Nothing is more important than 'defeating the Demon King.'
The hope that people place in the Village of Swords comes precisely from this.
Of course, over a thousand years, the Village of Swords carrying this hope has not been without questioning.
—After all, no one has ever been able to draw it out, so naturally no one could confirm the legend's authenticity.
But these doubts existed only briefly, most quickly crumbling on their own.
Because for hundreds of years, the Sanctuary emanated by the unmovable Hero's Sword—which automatically repels demons' approach and cannot be shaken even a bit despite multiple Grand Demons' full efforts—is enough to suppress all voices of doubt.
—The legend of the Hero's Sword is unquestionable!!!
...
At least before personally witnessing Agusheed step into the Village of Swords,
Himmel and his companions, including Frieren, had never doubted this even slightly.
—
Fifty-ninth year before the Sinseki Era, the first year of the hero party's departure.
The second day after the hero party's training ended.
After a thousand years...
Following that journey to and from Aureole with the great mage Flamme—
The strongest Grand Demon finally stepped into the territory of the Village of Swords once again.
—
"So..."
"Why can you, Agusheed, step into the Village of Swords' territory so easily?"
"Are the legendary Hero's Sword and its accompanying Sanctuary just rumors?"
Watching the strongest Grand Demon beside the Hero of the South strolling leisurely,
Who had easily stepped into the Sanctuary without any hindrance whatsoever—
Traveling with Himmel, Heiter, and Eisen,
The white-haired elf standing in the severe winter snow voiced her confusion.
Agusheed, who had separated himself from the snowflakes with an Isolation Great Barrier, didn't stop walking because of this.
Under the gaze of the Hero of the South, the only one who knew the Hero's Sword's master was friends with his teacher,
Agusheed just turned his head slightly, giving his answer casually.
"The Hero's Sword and Sanctuary do exist, and their ability to resist all demon invasions is no lie."
"As for why I can enter..."
"That's purely because the Sanctuary—or rather the Hero's Sword itself—has never resisted me from beginning to end."
"When Flamme and I traveled to and from Aureole, both times we journeyed here it was like this."
"Nothing has changed until now—"
Never resisted...
No change?
Walking through the vast white snow, advancing against the cold wind, Frieren was extremely puzzled by her old father's answer.
The legendary Sanctuary capable of resisting all demons—
Was completely useless against Agusheed, the strongest Grand Demon?
No matter how you put it, this was news that made Frieren find hard to believe.
And not just her—
Himmel, Heiter, and Eisen following alongside were equally confused.
"Feels so strange, I've never heard of such a thing..."
"Indeed."
"I think so too."
Their voices seemed particularly weak in the fierce wind and snow,
Plus there was already the interference of everyone's footsteps as they advanced—
So Himmel and the others' amazement had just left their mouths before dissolving in the cold wind.
However, even so, Agusheed still heard the surprise in their words,
And wasn't surprised that Himmel and the others would have such reactions.
As for why he wasn't surprised...
Thinking of this, Agusheed's advancing steps slowed imperceptibly.
He cast his gaze to the side—
That figure frowning in confusion seemed to appear beside him again.
The phantom silhouette murmuring 'Can't figure it out...' made his brows and eyes soften somewhat.
Why not surprised...
Hehe...
That was naturally because a certain fool had been surprised twice in front of him in succession.
She at that time—
At the last moment before entering memories,
Agusheed's thoughts were interrupted by questioning voices appearing beside him.
As expected,
It was indeed the white-haired elf with a face full of curiosity and completely clueless.
"Agusheed..."
"Do you know why the Hero's Sword specifically doesn't resist you?"
Frieren in deer leather boots trotted to Agusheed's side.
Even wearing a coat, the daughter with a little face red from cold asked her old father.
Then the answer she received was...
"I don't know."
Agusheed said... he doesn't know?
The white-haired elf's expression when hearing this answer was extremely astonished.
Because she could tell—
Although Agusheed was somewhat helpless about her sudden questioning,
Her old father's answer...
Wasn't brushing her off.
—
That's right...
Agusheed indeed wasn't brushing off Frieren.
The strongest Grand Demon truly hadn't figured out the reason even to this day.
Withdrawing his gaze from Frieren, who was touching her chin in thought and had gradually fallen behind to Himmel's side,
Agusheed, whose thoughts of his deceased wife had been interrupted, continued walking forward.
Why hasn't the Hero's Sword resisted him as a demon?
In fact, he had asked Kraft this question more than once when he had time.
But that elven warrior monk's response was always the same...
'When you personally grasp that sword, you'll know the reason'—
Riddle person.
This was Agusheed's evaluation.
So naturally, he who most hated riddle people cast this question he wasn't interested in anyway to the back of his mind.
After all, he hadn't had much curiosity about this question to begin with.
Whether this was due to Kraft or the Hero's Sword itself,
Agusheed didn't care either way.
So this question had been shelved until today without an answer...
It had been an hour since they walked down from the Heaven Vein Dragon,
And five minutes since they stepped into the Sanctuary barrier at the Village of Swords' outskirts—
So naturally, the village hidden here revealed its form in the dense wind and snow.
"We can see it now."
"That ahead should be the Village of Swords' only settlement—"
"That legendary clan that has guarded the Hero's Sword for generations?"
Himmel's light laughter made both Agusheed and the contemplating Frieren raise their heads.
Looking distantly at that small village appearing and disappearing in the wind and snow...
Agusheed, who had come to see Himmel and the others off on their final leg, knew very clearly—
The time for parting was about to arrive.
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Powerstones?
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