Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 198 - Didn't I say I would light up the way?

The Colosseum.

 

Leonie was a berserker, so she knew the flow of the duel better than anyone else.

 

Therefore, she couldn’t open her mouth.

 

Just… What was she looking at right now?

 

“…Hey, Snake Eyes-ssi.”

 

“I’m listening.”

 

“Are you looking at it properly? No, can you see it?”

 

Shake.

 

Hisagi shook his head at Nam Taemin’s question.

 

These three were confident that they weren’t inferior to anyone in terms of physical ability.

 

But at this moment, the movements of Hoyeol and Sword Saint…

 

“It’s on a different level.”

 

Commander of the Lionheart, Harkon.

 

Even Harkon’s movement didn’t seem to be at this level. 

 

All three of them had experience competing against Harkon in training.

 

He was as agile as a lion, but they could still see his movements.

 

Swoosh–

 

Fuaa–

 

It was hard to catch their forms at a single glance.

 

Because of the speed, the rising sand dust blocked the view.

 

The moment was fleeting.

 

Clang!

 

Clink!

 

Clang!

 

A total of dozens of back and forth.

 

The sound reached their ears one beat slower.

 

It was literally proof that their movements were faster than sound.

 

“Camilla, what do you see? You can see it, right?”

 

Another area in the stands.

 

Dmitry took the seat next to Camilla.

 

Wasn’t Camilla ranked number one in long-distance martial arts?

 

Her eyes should be able to catch those movements.

 

“So who’s winning, huh?!”

 

But Camilla just let out a sigh.

 

“…I still have a long way to go.”

 

“Huh? What are you saying?”

 

“I can’t see a thing. My eyes can’t keep up.”

 

“!”

 

It was a response that made even Rox pause.

 

Camilla’s field of vision was one of Shining’s biggest weapons. Even when dealing with monsters hundreds of levels higher than themselves, Camilla’s eyes never missed the enemy’s movements.

 

Rox thought coolly.

 

‘It’s actually not surprising.’

 

Sword Saint.

 

Shegwin was also the only Grand Sword Master in the Continent.

 

Since the days when Arcana was just a game.

 

Who was the strongest NPC?

 

He was one of the characters that always came up when that talk went around.

 

Coincidentally, only a few players ever met with Shegwin in person.

 

His reputation never ceased in books, rumors, and even from the mouths of NPCs.

 

‘That’s possible because he’s the Sword Saint.’

 

Besides, Rox didn’t know how it happened, but.

 

Shegwin had regained his youth.

 

Since he was the pinnacle of the sword in the Arcana Continent, it wouldn’t be strange if Camilla’s eyes didn’t work.

 

But the problem was Lee Hoyeol.

 

Rox murmured.

 

“What the hell…”

 

Just a little while ago.

 

He had experienced Hoyeol’s unrivaled magic power.

 

The light that covered the Zero Mountain.

 

It was moved at once and used as a means of attack.

 

That level of magic implementation was more suited to the chief of the Mage Tower than to a player. Rox took the effort to understand that Lee Hoyeol, the co-chief, would be able to do that.

 

However.

 

“…How far are you going to go?”

 

Now he was fighting on equal footing with the Sword Saint with a sword?

 

Right.

 

That was no longer the realm of the Arcana system.

 

‘It can’t be explained in terms of level.’

 

For Lee Hoyeol.

 

There was ‘something’ they didn’t know about.

 

Rox wasn’t the only one who recognized that.

 

“…!”

 

The guild master of Second Sun, Schraig.

 

He had cleared the [City of Gloomy Rain] dungeon with Hoyeol, realized the sword aura, and unleashed it.

 

Thanks to forcing his eyes to open, Schraig was able to see it.

 

The silver sword force that pushed the Sword Saint!

 

It wasn’t a competition.

 

It was a one-sided attack.

 

Shegwin was busy blocking Hoyeol’s attack.

 

Schraig swallowed dryly.

 

He couldn’t follow it with his eyes, but he could tell from the sword aura.

 

‘…This duel won’t last long.’

 

No, apart from that, this match had been decided long ago.

 

Schraig could emit the sword aura.

 

That was why he knew that the presence or absence of sword aura made such a big difference.

 

He knew that in his own way.

 

‘I don’t know why, but he’s not emitting sword aura.’

 

All he could see was the silver sword aura.

 

Shegwin’s sword aura was nowhere to be seen.

 

So Schraig could notice.

 

“…No way?”

 

Several times.

 

No, the fact that Hoyeol had backed down dozens and hundreds of times to Shegwin.

 

Indeed.

 

This duel should have ended long ago with Shegwin’s defeat.

 

Once he realized that, he saw everything.

 

Clang!

 

Shegwin didn’t block it.

 

Hoyeol swung his sword.

 

So that he could block it.

 

Even Schraig, who realized the sword aura, barely realized the truth.

 

There was no way that the players watching would notice that.

 

There were excited voices everywhere.

 

“He’s on an equal footing with the Sword Saint!”

 

“Does this make sense?”

 

“Isn’t he really going to win at this rate?”

 

The match was already decided.

 

So Schraig wasn’t excited.

 

However, he just watched.

 

‘What on earth does that mean?’

 

At that moment.

 

Slide–

 

With that sound, Shegwin fell to his knees.

 

However, Hoyeol just swung his sword in the same way.

 

Shegwin’s body reached its limit.

 

“Crazy….!!!”

 

Hoyeol won the match.

 

Amid the cheers that erupted as if they had been waiting.

 

Schraig thought.

 

‘Attack so that he can catch it, and wait when he falls…’

 

“…!”

 

He realized it.

 

Because he had the same experience as Shegwin.

 

He recalled the image of Hoyeol holding a long umbrella.

 

– “What you will do from now on is simple. Watch me.”

 

– “To be precise, watch my sword aura.”

 

– “Believe in me who believes in you.”

 

Schraig murmured in disbelief.

 

“…No way, is he teaching the Sword Saint?”

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

I could feel it.

 

I was overwhelming Shegwin.

 

Yes, not only did I entrust myself to the ethereal iron, but I even emitted the sword force.

 

It was only natural that I could overwhelm him.

 

Furthermore.

 

‘…I can see it.’

 

Grandfel had incredible talent.

 

He was adjusting to Shegwin’s sword in real-time.

 

You’re so  great that it pricks at my conscience, Grandfel.

 

As a result, I gave Shegwin a significant blow.

 

Rustle–

 

Shegwin’s left arm began to bleed.

 

It looked as though I had been pushing him.

 

But wasn’t this the first time my attack was successful?

 

As expected, Sword Saint was a monster.

 

But what I heard was unexpected.

 

“…What do you want from me?”

 

…What are you talking about all of a sudden?

 

What I wanted was, of course, my victory.

 

I had no intention of losing and dying in a duel of time and space.

 

But he didn’t seem to be talking to me.

 

“You had hundreds, thousands of chances to take my breath away. Why? Is it to humiliate me, who is worse than the demon? Then has it gone the way you wanted?”

 

Shegwin looked at his wounds.

 

“I can’t even block the attacks that you swung at me to block. My body has reached its limit.”

 

…Really?

 

Did I really have that opportunity?

 

As I was startled, the ethereal iron answered on my behalf.

 

–  The brat hasn’t realized my lord’s intentions?

 

…Why are you suddenly escalating it?

 

Naturally, I, Lee Hoyeol, didn’t really have any intention.

 

It wasn’t me, it was Grandfel’s intention…

 

I couldn’t help but feel surprised.

 

Who was Grandfel?

 

Grandfel didn’t show any unnecessary mercy to the demons.

 

He didn’t even exchange unnecessary words with them.

 

Grandfel wouldn’t have had any sympathy for the fallen Shegwin.

 

“Raise your sword.”

 

As if to confirm my thought.

 

Grandfel spoke in a cold voice.

 

Had he really reached his limit as he said?

 

Shegwin straightened his creaking body.

 

Then he burst out laughing.

 

“Is it just your bad taste?”

 

Grandfel didn’t answer.

 

Of course, I knew even if he didn’t answer.

 

For Grandfel, the demons were not even a hobby.

 

They weren’t worth the trouble.

 

So why?

 

Rustle–

 

“…Kuh.”

 

Rustle–

 

“Ugh.”

 

Why wasn’t Grandfel ending the duel with Shegwin?

 

Yes, only I knew the answer to that profound question.

 

‘…Your mind is a flower garden, Grandfel.’

 

In reality, Lee Hoyeol and Grandfel were different from each other.

 

I was well aware of how hard it was for humans to change, but that was not the case for Grandfel.

 

To put it simply, Grandfel overestimated the animals called humans. He overestimated them too much.

 

It was obvious.

 

Here.

 

It was the same in the Zero Mountain.

 

– “I will light up the way, so feel free to chase after me.”

 

He thought any human being could regain their pride.

 

The fact that he jumped into the fire pit before anyone else was the proof.

 

It was unexpected every time.

 

As I said.

 

Since I knew that I was covered in stains.

 

It would remain the same in the future as well.

 

The human mind turned over like the palm of one’s hand.

 

Although I was now held up as a symbol of peace and a hero of humanity, human beings were creatures that might turn their backs on me someday, somewhere, for some temptations.

 

Nevertheless.

 

“Raise your sword.”

 

Grandfel believed in humans.

 

Even if Shegwin said he sold his body to the demons.

 

This was about not giving up Grandfel’s expectations of pride.

 

‘At the end of the day, all my hardship is due to my karma…’

 

In this rough world.

 

Who could sympathize with your stubbornness, Grandfel?

 

It was only me.

 

So, just like I had always done.

 

I would struggle as much as I could.

 

I made up my mind.

 

“…?”

 

I overlooked it.

 

Even if no people could sympathize with him.

 

The system could.

 

[Small changes occur due to the effect of Noble.]

 

Yeah.

 

As soon as that message appeared.

 

A change occurred.

 

From Shegwin.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

He slowly closed his eyes.

 

The body that had reached its limit cried out that it wanted to rest.

 

If he thought about it that way.

 

‘…Have I ever had a proper rest?’

 

It had always been the wrong path from the beginning.

 

He wouldn’t stop, he wouldn’t collapse.

 

You’ve been pushing yourself, Shegwin.

 

Don’t you think so, too, Atlas?

 

‘Everything is over.’

 

He felt like it was probably a relief.

 

He had taken the wrong path in the first place.

 

If he had gone further, he would have only made ugly moves.

 

He was just grateful to the man who stopped him.

 

Shegwin closed his eyes slowly.

 

‘…I will not ask for forgiveness.’

 

He wouldn’t hand out an apology that couldn’t be delivered.

 

He would just bear his sins and pay for them in hell.

 

Yeah, he had abandoned the humanity.

 

This would be a fitting end for a demon.

 

Now he had no power left to move his body.

 

He didn’t even have the strength to lift his eyelids.

 

“…?”

 

Yeah.

 

Since he closed his eyes.

 

He shouldn’t be able to see anything.

 

For some reason.

 

He could see something.

 

To be precise, he could see a single path.

 

“If this is the life that flashes before my eyes…”

 

Shegwin laughed.

 

“Really, it was a simple life.”

 

He supposed this was the futile path he had chosen.

 

Indeed, his speculation seemed to be correct.

 

The path was so dark that he couldn’t even see an inch ahead.

 

“….”

 

But it was the path he chose.

 

At the same time, it was a path he couldn’t go back from.

 

It was a path that had to be taken with responsibility.

 

Just as Shegwin began to take his steps.

 

He raised his sword.

 

“…?”

 

He heard a man’s voice.

 

Until the end.

 

Was the man scolding him?

 

“…Well, do as you please.”

 

He deserved it.

 

The moment Shegwin lowered his head bitterly.

 

For some reason, he saw something that shouldn’t be seen.

 

He had incorrectly entered this sword path.

 

Therefore, his sword shouldn’t exist here.

 

Atlas was in his hands.

 

He heard Atlas’ voice.

 

– You finally listen to me.

 

“…!!”

 

– My voice became hoarse from shouting so loudly.

 

“…Why are you here?”

 

– Why are you asking the obvious?

 

Atlas continued.

 

– The path with you, that is my sword path.

 

Shegwin kept quiet.

 

Atlas’ heartbeat came from his fingertips.

 

Really?

 

Seriously?

 

He hadn’t forgotten.

 

Shegwin struggled to open his mouth.

 

“…it will be a rough road.”

 

– Hasn’t it been rough so far?

 

“There may never be a way to come back.”

 

– What’s good about coming back?

 

“…This may be the wrong path.”

 

– But it’s still good.

 

“…I see.”

 

There was a moment of silence at the last word.

 

But the silence didn’t last long.

 

In the sword path where nothing could be seen.

 

“…!”

 

Somehow.

 

There was a ray of light in the darkness.

 

It was a flash of silver that was shining in a noble way.

 

“He’s being needlessly sweet. That man.”

 

Shegwin eventually smiled.

 

– They say that if you cry and then smile, you’ll be in big trouble.

 

“Shut up, Atlas. Didn’t you cry too?”

 

Who said that? I’m a sword. Swords can’t cry.

 

“Why don’t you say something about that high-pitched tone?”

 

– Didn’t I tell you? It’s because I was screaming…

 

He continued walking on the path.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

Return to light.

 

Shegwin radiated the bluest sword aura.

 

He just closed his eyes.

 

With Atlas in his arms.

 

His face suddenly returned to that of an old man.

 

There was a faint smile on his lips.

 

Shouts came to my ears.

 

“I believed in you, Hoyeol-ssiiii!”

 

“he won! Lee Hoyeol defeated the Sword Saint!!”

 

“Is this why the legend achievement came up?!”

 

“Well, if this isn’t a new legend, what is this?”

 

Eventually, a message appeared to me.

 

[You’ve won the duel of time and space.]

 

[You’ve met the conditions.]

 

[You will be rewarded.]