Extra in a Romance Fantasy

118 – Arrival (3)

Two of the Ten Blades.

Two titans, occupying that glorious and exalted position of the continent’s strongest warriors, had personally come to the hero’s tomb.

It was impossible for such news not to cause a stir.

No, it didn’t just stop at causing a stir.

A colossal shockwave struck the continent and this place.

In the case of the deities like Kahim and Baran, despite their outstanding reputations, there were still quite a few who dared to challenge them directly.

However, when it came to the Ten Blades, there were no such challengers.

It was because they understood.

The position of the Ten Blades was not one that could be attained through mere fame and notoriety.

It was a position that could only be reached with undeniable skill.

Unless one was completely oblivious, there would be no one bold enough to provoke them.

No, it didn’t even stop at that level.

Most of the warriors gathered here were cautious of their presence, avoiding any conspicuous actions.

Despite various disputes arising, they did not escalate into major conflicts for this very reason.

There were no fools bold enough to create a ruckus in the presence of two giants known as the Ten Blades.

So, who were the ones creating such an atmosphere? Which of the Ten Blades were they?

That would be…

“Could it be that the Silver Knight and the Blood Flower would appear here in person?”

Max spoke with a tone still tinged with disbelief.

“Indeed,” Hector nodded heavily, wearing a similar expression.

For two veteran mercenaries who had seen it all, the name of the Ten Blades carried immense weight.

And with two of them appearing simultaneously, it was only natural for them to react this way.

However, as Max was conversing with Hector, his gaze suddenly darted towards me.

“…Why aren’t you reacting much?”

“…Um, I’m quite surprised, actually.”

“No, that’s not the look of someone who’s surprised at all.”

Max squinted at me.

But to be honest, I felt a bit wronged about this; I was genuinely quite surprised by the news of two Divine Swords appearing.

It just didn’t show on my face.

…Well, to be fair, I wasn’t as shocked as others might be.

The Divine Swords are undoubtedly remarkable beings, and it’s true that they are rare, but my initial reaction upon hearing the news was more along the lines of ‘Oh, I see.’

I’ve never been one to be easily surprised, and besides, I had met a Divine Sword before, wielded a sword alongside one, and I myself possessed skills on par with a Divine Sword.

In fact, I had even come close to dying at the hands of a sword master who might very well be the strongest among them.

At this point, it was too late for me to widen my eyes in shock at the appearance of two Divine Swords.

…Of course, I couldn’t just say that outright, so I had no choice but to feign ignorance and avoid Max’s gaze.

“Stop bothering the kid.”

At that moment, Johanna came to my rescue from Max’s relentless stare.

“You don’t have to react the same way as you and Hector.”

She was also one of those who hadn’t been overly surprised, much like me.

She had been startled when she first heard the news, but it had only resulted in her widening her eyes a bit.

“…That may be true, but it just doesn’t seem very childlike. After all, it’s two Divine Swords…”

At Johanna’s words, Max, unusually cautious, continued speaking.

Beside us, Hector subtly nodded, seemingly in agreement with Max.

“Well… that’s…”

At that response, Johanna couldn’t immediately reply.

Her gaze turned towards me.

“…That’s definitely true.”

…It seemed she also agreed with Max’s opinion.

“…I’ll step outside for a bit.”

Feeling that the atmosphere had taken a turn for the worse, I decided to leave my seat.

I hadn’t expected the suspicious gazes to linger on my back until I stepped out of the tent, but I did my best to ignore them as I exited.

*

I stepped out of the tent and began to walk lightly around the hero’s grave.

Though only a few days had passed, the area surrounding the hero’s grave had transformed significantly from when we first arrived.

First, the number of tents had noticeably increased, and the crowd had swelled to a point where people were easily recognizable.

This was the result of the successive arrivals of the later groups.

Even now, the later groups were arriving without pause, and as time went on, the number of people was bound to grow.

Perhaps until the moment the grave’s door opened.

As the crowd became more noticeable, various things naturally began to emerge.

For instance, stalls displaying assorted goods, or someone picking up an instrument and strumming it.

It was likely a result of the boredom that came from waiting aimlessly.

Most of it was indeed a hodgepodge, but with so many people, there were all kinds of individuals; occasionally, one would come across someone selling rather exquisite and high-quality items, or a performer who could captivate even the ears of the nobility.

I started to walk slowly, taking in the chaotic yet vibrant scene around me.

However, my mind was not entirely consumed by those distractions.

While my gaze was directed that way, the conversation I had just shared in the tent replayed in my head.

Ten Blades.

And two of them had personally appeared at the hero’s grave.

If this grave was prepared by the “organization,” they surely could not have overlooked this development.

So what exactly were they aiming for?

With two of the Ten Blades and numerous renowned warriors from across the continent gathering here, it was a force that could truly shake the continent.

If this was indeed their intention, it would mean they had confidence in achieving their goals against such a formidable force.

“……”

This was a problem I had been pondering continuously, yet no suitable answer came to mind.

In the end, as I had mentioned before, there was no choice but to verify it directly.

As I walked, lost in such thoughts, I noticed a commotion ahead.

Sure enough, a considerable number of people had stopped in their tracks, as if watching something intently.

Moreover, the tension etched on most of their faces suggested that something unusual was happening.

I followed their gaze and soon discovered the reason for their expressions.

Everything began with two individuals facing each other.

A tall, middle-aged man clad in impressive silver armor, and a woman who appeared to be in her twenties but exuded an inexplicable, eerie aura, with blood-red hair cascading down to her waist.

The two stood facing each other in a spot where everyone’s gaze converged.

I recognized their identities at a glance.

That they were the ones shaking the camp now.

The first of the Ten Blades, the ‘Silver Knight’ Harfelt, and ‘Bloodfire’ Meliana.

It was only natural that I didn’t originally know their faces.

I simply recognized them.

The strength they possessed.

That they were warriors who had reached the realm of ideals.

If I could understand that much, the rest was simple.

With just a little more added to their outward appearance, it would be easy to guess their identities.

Two of the Ten Blades were standing face to face.

In such a scene, it was only natural that the surroundings fell silent as if a mouse had died.

“…It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Silver Knight.”

The first to break the silence was ‘Bloodfire.’

She smiled with an enchanting grin.

Her beauty was so striking that it seemed to brighten the area around her, but I knew that her smile was not merely beautiful.

Within it lay a sharpness that would easily draw blood if one were to reach out carelessly.

“It has indeed been a while, Bloodfire.”

The Silver Knight Harfelt also received Meliana’s greeting with a solemn expression.

Their faces were by no means heavy, and their tones were calm, yet the atmosphere between them was anything but light.

“What brings you here? It doesn’t seem like a place for someone as distinguished as you…”

“I have long admired and respected Hero Ferdion. So, upon hearing that his tomb had been discovered, how could I not come?”

“Oh, is that so? You didn’t just come because you were coveting the Hero’s sword?”

“Ha ha. Do I look like someone blinded by greed like you?”

…No, let me correct that.

The exchange of words was by no means peaceful.

They had already cast aside pretense and were smiling at each other while throwing daggers.

From the way they spoke, it seemed they had known each other for some time.

Yet, for all that, they certainly didn’t appear to have a friendly relationship.

In a way, it was only to be expected.

They had likely come here with their sights set on the Hero’s sword.

In other words, they were rivals fighting over the same prize.

—

A competitor who must be guarded against more than anyone else.

So the words exchanged between the two could not be pleasant.

“Looks like the Silver Knight will be returning empty-handed this time, doesn’t it?”

“Ha ha. You have big dreams. Let me tell you in advance: don’t be too disheartened.”

A clear spark was flying between them.

An invisible spark.

For now, it was merely a spark, but as time passed, that spark would ignite fully, growing into a flame.

Yes, if the gates of the grave were to open.

Thus, the psychological warfare over the hero’s sword had already begun.

“Go ahead, try your best. It might be useless, though.”

“I don’t know who’s saying that.”

After exchanging a final, not-so-encouraging compliment, the two took their leave.

And at that moment, the tension that had been building in the atmosphere dissipated.

As I quietly watched them disappear amidst the returning normalcy,

“Indeed, the Ten Blades.”

Suddenly, someone spoke up beside me.

Turning my gaze, I saw a woman with her hood pulled up over her head.

I was a bit taken aback by the suddenness, but I nodded readily.

“Ah… well, yes.”

It wasn’t a topic worth denying.

Though the two hadn’t directly emitted their energy, the momentum that naturally flowed from their emotions was enough to dominate the surroundings.

There was a reason such words were being spoken.

“But… are you okay?”

Then, the woman unexpectedly posed a strange question.

Seeing my puzzled expression, she pointed her finger around us.

The direction of her finger led to the pallid-faced warriors who were sighing heavily.

It was due to the pressure exerted by Harpelt and Meliana that their minds and bodies had weakened.

As soon as I saw that, I realized my mistake.

“Ah… um… wow, this is no joke. Just enduring the pressure has completely drained me.”

I tried to act as if I was struggling, albeit belatedly, but honestly, I couldn’t tell if it was convincing.

—

…No, I knew very well that this kind of act wouldn’t work on me.

As I subtly observed the woman’s reaction, I felt, as expected, a piercing gaze from within her hood.

I felt a discomfort at that realization and quickly made my decision.

I would leave.

“Oh, it’s already this late. I really must be going. My companions are waiting for me.”

“…Yes. If the opportunity arises, let’s meet again.”

Should I say it was fortunate? The woman let me go without resistance.

Feeling a small sense of relief at that, I hurriedly left the place.

*

“…….”

The woman, who had been quietly watching the back of the man leaving in haste, only took a step after he was no longer in sight.

One curious thing was that, despite the considerable number of people around, she neither bumped into anyone nor even brushed past them.

With ghostly footsteps, she walked through the gaps between the crowd.

Eventually, her steps halted at a rather large tent.

With a natural gait, she entered the tent.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Inside the tent, a man with striking white hair welcomed her.

“Yeah.”

The woman replied briefly, removing the hood from her head.

What was revealed was hair of the same striking white as the man’s.

“…Huh? What’s this? Did something good happen? Why do you look like that?”

Seeing the woman’s face, the man, Kahim, widened his eyes and adjusted his posture.

It was a somewhat exaggerated reaction for just a change in expression, but for Kahim, it was not something to be taken lightly.

Because it was quite rare for her to wear such an expression.

In fact, even after spending many years together, he had seen that expression only a handful of times.

In response to her brother Kahim’s question, the woman, Pana, briefly touched her face before finally speaking.

“I found someone interesting.”

A clear smile adorned her face.