NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 35
At that moment.
The wind was swirling from all directions.
The breeze, which should have flowed naturally, began to press against Lucius with a clear intent.
Front, back, left, right.
Sharp attacks were flying toward him from all four directions, aimed directly at his limbs.
Should I use the Holy Sword?
In an instant, his hand moved toward the ring, but Lucius bit his lower lip and kicked the ground to jump.
Pa-aat!
With just a single step and leap, Lucius soared higher than his own height.
The four wind arrows that had been heading toward his position lost their targets and scattered once again, while Lucius landed on the ground and picked up the sword that had fallen there.
‘Here they come.’
The wind arrows came flying again.
Lucius swung the sword he held forward, deflecting the nearest arrow, and immediately turned his body to the side.
Swaap!
An attack aimed at Lucius’ face darted forward.
It was Rosmas reaching out towards his face.
“!!”
He expected the approach of the wind arrows, but Lucius did not anticipate Rosmas’s advance.
In a hurry, Lucius tried to retrieve his sword, but Rosmas was already moving faster than him.
Swoosh.
Lucius, leaning back, froze in the stance he was about to swing his sword.
Rosmas clung to Lucius’s back, supporting him so he wouldn’t fall, while simultaneously reaching for his neck.
“You’re dead, Arthur.”
“…You’re strong, Rosmas. I accept my defeat.”
Lucius admitted his loss without hesitation.
He attempted to return to his original stance, but Rosmas did not let him go easily.
“Rosmas?”
“……No. Sorry, I was just thinking for a moment.”
Rosmas stepped back, releasing Lucius, with a face that seemed both slightly disappointed yet satisfied at the same time as she smiled brightly.
“You did well to hold on this time.”
“I’m still lacking. I must do what the Master has done.”
“…That’s not something just anyone can do, Arthur.”
Rosmas pouted, puffing out her cheeks.
“That’s the kind of thing only B-rank spearmen or even above-average fighters can pull off. But….”
“The Master is someone exceptional. There’s no reason to question that.”
Lucius spoke with conviction in defense of the Witch.
“She is the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus, who fought against a Demon King whose name should not be uttered. Even though she has some old-fashioned beliefs from 500 years ago, given the historical context in which she fought, it’s not strange at all.”
“That’s true, but.”
“She is like someone just returned from the battlefield. What I’ve seen of the Master’s skill could be just a drop in the ocean of her abilities.”
“Is it really that much?”
All Rosmas had seen was her use of fire and exceptional spear skill.
“Can she use anything else?”
“…I don’t know much.”
“Huh?”
“I can’t say for certain. I didn’t even know there was someone known as the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus, and when I tried to look her up in the Adventurer Guild, people didn’t recognize the name either. It’s not like Master draws on her full power….”
Creak.
Lucius sealed his lips.
After all, the Master hadn’t revealed her physical condition to anyone except Lucius.
No matter how much Rosmas had become a friend permitted by the Master, it was not for Lucius to recklessly mention it.
However.
“I mentioned it in passing. I asked how strong Master is. I inquired like that and….”
“You asked?”
“She said she could burn half of the continent if she exerted herself.”
“Pfft!”
Rosmas was genuinely taken aback.
“That’s the level of a Demon King from 500 years ago!”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“…Are you serious? Is she really that strong?”
“That’s according to the Master’s own words.”
“Hah, that’s unbelievable. Do you really believe that, Arthur?”
“Are you saying the Master would lie?”
Lucius glared, sharpening his expression at Rosmas.
“The Master is not someone to boast and speak groundlessly. Perhaps…”
“Perhaps what?”
“…No, never mind.”
He needed to contemplate further, but Lucius had a thought as he watched Bel wielding a spear.
A sorceress who appeared after 500 years.
Someone who knows the ‘activation word’ that allows anyone to wield the Holy Sword naturally, according to the Master.
What if she is not only skilled in magic but also quite formidable in close combat?
Could it be that the Holy Sword’s Master from 500 years ago…?
“Arthur?”
“…I’m sorry. I was just thinking for a moment about how hard it must be for the Master to wield that kind of power.”
“……Well, I admit that she is strong.”
Rosmas brushed off the dirt from Lucius’s shoulder with a gruff tone.
“But you’re stronger since you wield the Holy Sword, right?”
“……What are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying that you are just as strong as she is. Don’t misinterpret me.”
Rosmas’s voice quickened.
In that moment, Lucius’s expression froze cold, and Rosmas could no longer speak easily.
“Are you suggesting I’m trying to manipulate you or hypnotize you with such words?”
“…….”
“I’m not that kind of person.”
“…I’m sorry. I just had a friend like that.”
“Friend?”
Perking up.
Rosmas’s ears perked up.
“Who is it?”
“My childhood friend.”
“Girl?”
“Yes.”
“…Hmm.”
Rosmas looked around, seemingly lost in thought.
“She’s dead now.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”
“It’s fine. …However.”
Lucius drew his sword once more.
“Since I’ve rested, let’s continue our sparring until the Master arrives, Rosmas.”
“Can’t you rest a little more…?”
“No, I’ve rested enough.”
Lucius gripped his sword tightly again.
“I want to become stronger.”
*
Morning arrived.
I headed with the party to the Guild where Morzen would be waiting.
Chatter.
“There’s a lot of people today.”
“Yeah, why are there so many?”
“Should I go find out?”
“No, that’s okay. It’s probably just some famous adventurer attracting them all.”
That would make sense.
Looking at the crowd and listening to their conversations, it was all about curiosity and praise for a particular individual.
“…Mercenary King?”
Rosmas, whose hearing was sharp, seemed to have recognized who had come.
“They say it’s the Mercenary King.”
“Mercenary King?”
“Yeah. He’s supposedly the strongest among mercenaries.”
“Hmm, the strongest in the industry, huh.”
He would be S-class in ranks, and at least a Grand Swordmaster in swordsman skills.
Nonetheless, with a title like ‘king,’ a mere ordinary human could not—
“…Wait.”
I abruptly stopped the party as I sensed a powerful energy from inside.
“Lucius.”
“Yes?”
“Hide the ring.”
“…What?”
“Take off the ring, put it back on, then wear the gloves. Now.”
At my urgent command, Lucius hid the ring.
“Master, why…?”
“If we get caught, it could get awkward.”
“Eh???”
“That guy is a ‘Holder.'”
“……??”
Lucius still did not understand what I meant.
I felt a surge of irritation but held Lucius’s hand tightly, pressing on his ring while pointing inward with my chin.
“There’s another ring holder in there. Did you get it?”
“……Ah.”
“Sigh. If I say it slightly differently, will you understand it immediately? Got it?”
“Yes, Master.”
Thankfully, Lucius’s nervous expression relaxed as he smiled.
I was worried that some kind of resonance might happen between Holy Sword users and that the Holy Sword user inside—Mercenary King—might recognize Lucius’s Holy Sword, but there was no choice but to go inside.
‘I need to confirm it.’
If my instincts were correct, the Holy Sword inside must be….
“Thank goodness. As I thought, you’re out here?”
“Hm?”
A familiar voice reached my ears.
Turning around, I saw….
“Why are you dressed like that?”
“Why? This is the basic outfit.”
A beret atop her head.
A tight top revealing her midriff, a short jacket whose hem barely reached her ribs.
And what were those shorts? It was hard to say if they were clothing or underwear.
I couldn’t tell if she was heading off on an adventure or going to the beach wearing the least amount of clothing possible, but she was undoubtedly serious about wearing that.
“Arthur, Rosmas, and the Witch. I’m heading to the dungeon now for the D-class Adventurer examination. Is that okay?”
“Yes, understood.”
“Wait a minute. Isn’t it strange to wear that outfit?”
“No, not really?”
“Isn’t that abnormal?”
“…….”
Am I the one who’s wrong?
Or is it the world that’s wrong?
“Before we head out, I’m sorry I proceeded with arrangements inside without informing you beforehand. I was worried you might not get in….”
“That’s fine, but your outfit…”
“Outfit? It’s not a problem. Hmm, Witch, you might be surprised when you see the Mercenary King inside.”
“…What?”
In an instant.
The crowd outside parted immediately.
And cutting through the throng was a strong ‘woman’ exuding heat.
She was tall.
With alabaster skin.
Flowing crimson hair.
Her curves were eye-catching, with proportions so stunning they made my mouth water.
However….
“That’s the Mercenary King, the one who wields the Holy Flame Sword.”
“…No way.”
While I could feel the presence of a Holy Sword wielder, how could a Hero of the Holy Sword roam around like that?
“Is that… clothing?”
“I heard that because of the Holy Flame Sword, she generates a lot of heat….”
“…….”
All that covered were the crucial areas, and over that, she wore an almost transparent white dress that resembled lingerie.
The Flame Hero, Bearnes.
“Is she just a flasher?”
“…What??”
She said.
“Are you outright challenging the teachings of the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess?”
She was a devout follower of the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess.
“An unholy being who knows nothing of the Goddess’s grace!!”