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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Power of the Holy Sword
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It was a moonlit night.
In an open clearing where thick snowflakes drifted down, Kankun swung her sword through the empty air.
She had no idea how many times or how many hours she had swung it.
Even in the frigid forest air that bit with cold, heat rose in her body, and sweat poured out.
Her arms trembled, her muscles screaming for her to stop.
Yet Kankun did not cease swinging her blade.
She had long since reached her limit, holding on only through sheer force of will.
…Every time a crisis struck the village.
Her uncle had killed her father and sparked a rebellion.
I had no power.
The Partas Tribe had raided the village and plundered it.
Every time…
The demon in the temple, the Constellation of Sin, had resolved everything.
But he never took the initiative.
He only stepped in once blades were pointed at them.
If something like that happened again, there was no guarantee he would intervene, so she couldn't blindly rely on him.
…The constellation accepted us, but he didn't promise to protect us. Uncle will come back. Until then…
She had to grow stronger.
But how?
How could she break through her limits?
As she swung her sword, she lost her balance and collapsed into the snow.
"Haa… haa…"
White breath escaped with her ragged gasps.
Her vision blurred, darkness creeping in at the edges. The intense cramps in her legs made it impossible to even think of standing.
Uh… cold?
Kankun tried to use her sword to push herself up, but her powerless arms gave out, and she face-planted back down.
No matter how many times she tried, it ended the same way—no sign of improvement.
D-Dangerous…!
She had come to this clearing, far from the village, to train her swordsmanship.
It was also the place where she had once trained with her uncle, Kudan Ragnar.
A site of fond memories with Kudan—and now, a place to train for vengeance against her enemy.
But few knew of it.
Even if search parties came from the village, they wouldn't find it easily. If she couldn't make it back, she would be in serious danger.
D-Dangerous. I have to stand… Ugh, f-first, just rest a little longer.
Her limbs were numb, her body heavy like a waterlogged sponge.
In the end, the snow falling from the sky began to blanket her form.
…By the time they find me, my body will be frozen stiff, right?
Her head spun. The ground was so cold. She couldn't stop her eyes from closing.
Will I… have a cold… then…? Ugh… yeah…?
In her fading vision, a raven appeared.
A massive beak and pitch-black feathers.
A gigantic raven the size of an adult man.
…Reaper?
Ravens had long been omens of ill fortune.
With their black feathers and habit of feasting on corpses, they were tied closest to death.
They even symbolized the messengers of death.
And now, one such ominous creature—an impossibly enormous raven—strode toward her.
The raven approached right up to Kankun's face and extended a talon.
Flutter…
It gently lifted her snow-covered body and poured a transparent, crimson liquid into her mouth.
Gulp… gulp…
Too weak to resist, Kankun's body instinctively drew in the red liquid as it touched her lips, desperate to survive.
And moments later… the sound of bones crunching, skin tearing—a horrific cacophony. Followed by excruciating agony!
By the time Kankun realized death had come, all the pain vanished.
"…!"
Startled, she checked her body.
Her frostbitten, blue arms had regained their natural pale hue, fully restored. Warmth returned to her limbs.
It felt as cozy as sitting by a warm hearth.
Amazed by her strangely recovered state, Kankun stared at the raven before her with wide, rabbit-like eyes.
"…Not a raven? A person?"
It wasn't a raven.
A strange man wore a massive beak mask on his head and clothes adorned with black feathers.
And behind him stood another unfamiliar figure—a blond middle-aged man who seemed to be his companion.
Outsiders she had never seen before.
"Who are you?"
Kankun called out boldly, though wariness filled her.
The man in the raven mask, Loki, stroked his chin with interest.
"Regenerating even frozen flesh. Lost consciousness restored as well. Truly all-purpose."
The voice was different.
But from his distinctive aura, Kankun knew who stood before her.
"Demon!? N-No, Lord Constellation!"
The sealed demon of the temple, Loki.
He was right there.
"Oh ho! The others couldn't recognize me… but you can."
Loki eyed Kankun with fascination.
"I-Is that so?"
"How did you know?"
"J-Just… a feeling?"
"Intriguing."
"Wh-What brings you here…?"
"Staying cooped up in the temple was boring. I came out to see the world."
Loki glanced at Kankun holding the holy sword.
"But what are you doing here?"
"Uh, well… sword training…"
"How?"
"Sw-Swinging at the air…"
"A fruitless method."
At Loki's words, Kankun deflated.
Loki looked at the sword still gripped in her hand, even on the verge of freezing to death.
The holy sword, Burtgang.
From Norse myth—the sword of Heimdall, god of light and guardian of Valhalla Palace.
"Why not use that?"
"…B-Before that… could you put me down?"
Loki looked at Kankun.
He held her by the hand, leaving her dangling like a puppet.
He set her down gently, and she looked up at him in wonder.
A person…? Demon…?
The warmth of his hand felt human, not demonic.
She hadn't imagined the demon as a statue-like figure when she first saw him.
Kankun caressed the hand Loki had held.
It really felt like a person's.
And the gentle way he'd lifted her showed considerable care.
His speech was stiff and heavy, yet it held a subtle gentleness toward others.
Feeling that, Kankun gazed at Loki. Recalling his earlier words, she asked,
"…But you mean use this sword?"
As Kankun lifted Burtgang, Loki nodded.
"Yes. With that, you could become the strongest being on this island."
"Eh, no way… you're joking…"
Kankun thought the constellation was making a joke.
But Loki just shrugged, saying nothing.
"…For real?"
"Half joke, half serious."
Loki didn't know the exact power of the strongest here.
But basing it on her uncle 'Kudan,' whom he'd first met… Burtgang would more than suffice.
Though its performance scales with the user.
Still, a mythic item changed nothing.
Wielding it meant transcending human limits.
"That sword has three abilities."
"…?"
"First, it can unleash Light Slash."
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Light Slash
Enables ranged attacks. Deals massive damage head-on and cleaves through all obstacles.
"Second, it can form Guardian Shield."
Not just for the user, but allies too—it infuses them with light's protection, like donning shielded armor.
It blocks a portion of damage for a set time.
"Third, it has Healing and Purification."
Recovers all abnormal statuses and purifies nearby undead. Instantly restores health.
Plus, it doubles the user's growth rate, as a bonus.
"A m-magic sword?! This is a magic sword!?"
Kankun's eyes widened as she stared at the holy sword.
She had suspected it wasn't ordinary.
Of course—a sword that sealed a demon.
"Yes. And using it is simple."
Suppressing his instinctive aversion, Loki took the sword from Kankun and lightly swung it at the air.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Light Slash
In an instant, a sacred, brilliant golden light burst from the blade.
As Kankun stared, mesmerized by the dazzling glow, Light Slash erupted from the swung holy sword.
Rumble—!!
It tore through the earth relentlessly—
Slash—!
Severing every obstacle in its path—
Boom boom boom—!!
And at its end, it exploded, obliterating everything around.
Fierce winds and white snow dust scattered everywhere.
Even as her hair whipped wildly, Kankun looked up at Loki in shock.
"Impressive power."
Loki nodded, gazing at the holy sword.
As the dust cleared, Kankun could see ahead.
A mere casual swing.
Yet the ground was split, trees and rocks cleaved, and at the end, only a massive crater remained—nothing else.
"…An attack skill. I don't know the power of this world's 'divine miracles,' but…"
Loki looked at Kankun and continued.
"This should offset them adequately."
"…"
Kankun fell silent.
Offset? No one could survive that strike head-on.
"Want to try?"
"M-Me?"
"Yes."
"C-Can I even do it?"
"Of course."
Kankun's voice brimmed with anticipation.
"H-How?!"
Loki glanced at her, then smirked as an amusing idea struck.
"Swing the sword and—"
He assumed a swinging stance and looked at Kankun.
"Say, 'Light, grant me your power. Yar yar yarala song—.'"
"…"
Kankun tilted her head.
"Shout it loud."
…No chant earlier?
Kankun looked up at Loki, who stared down seriously.
"Will you?"
"Th-The chant is real?"
"Yes. Make it big—voice, motion, with confidence. That's when Light Slash activates. You can use that strike too."
Loki offered the sword. Kankun hesitated, then took it.
She was scared, but excitement outweighed it.
Her unleashing that strike?!
Like a fairy-tale hero!
Kankun imagined herself blasting Light Slash after Light Slash.
Her anticipation swelled.
"Go on."
She gripped the sword tight.
"L-Light—!"
Voice loud, he'd said.
Kankun raised her volume.
Ugh…
"Grant me your pow—"
Motions big.
Heh heh…
"Yar yar yaral—"
Hahaha!
Kankun's face flushed redder by the second.
She glanced back at Loki.
"…Why are you laughing?"
Loki stood with arms crossed, watching her.
"When did I laugh…?"
"…Your mouth is twitching!"
Kankun blushed harder, embarrassed even saying it.
She'd heard mages chant for spells.
Similar principle, she'd thought.
But this childish fairy-tale incantation? Mortifying.
Anyway—chant complete.
Now swing!
"Yah—!"
She swung.
Nothing happened.
"…"
Kankun turned, eyes unfocused, staring blankly at Loki.
He waved dismissively.
"Kidding. Just swing while shouting 'Light Slash' or thinking it. That's the skill."
Kankun's face burned crimson, on the verge of tears. Loki smirked mischievously.
Loki.
True to his name as the trickster, he loved pranks.