Kays Translations

Chapter 26: The Mark of the Eye

Ricardo was in a bad mood.

Recently, many people have been telling me to take care of that sword because it is a good one, but I am the one exposed to the horror of the spell, not them.

My honest impression is that they are saying whatever they want from a safe position.

What is even more infuriating is that I have to carry a cursed sword that I don't like, just in case. I thought long and hard later about what would have happened if I hadn't had the bewitched sword during my last orc-killing, but I couldn't find a breakthrough. I shuddered as I imagined the scene of my own head being split open by a huge axe.

Because of these circumstances, Ricardo always carried two weapons, even though he was not a two-wielding user. Frankly speaking, they are heavy.

I had made up my mind that I would carry the sword but never use it, but the moment when I had to use it soon arrived.

The target of subjugation this time is a werewolf that appeared in a human village.

There is a labyrinth in the count's territory where demons spring up, and exiles and criminals often escape into it, but after being exposed to the labyrinth's miasma for days or months, their bodies and minds sometimes turn into monsters. This werewolf was one of them.

Neighbors reported correctly unlike last time. A lone werewolf was lurking in the woods, raiding fields and kidnapping livestock.

Ricardo had also come alone to take it down, but he was caught off guard..

With sharp claws and fangs, he was a werewolf that moved swiftly through the forest like the wind, but the hero Ricardo perfectly captured his movements.

He swung up and slashed the attacker's werewolf arm from a lower stance and used the momentum to slash it across the chest in a frenzied attack.

I killed it. As soon as I was convinced of this, the werewolf let out a howl that sounded like it was being squeezed out of its lungs.

A howl echoed through the forest. The werewolf, who had once been human, had a rich expression on his face and seemed to be saying, "Suck it up!"

Before long, there was a rustle and the sound of trees swaying. Something that was neither human nor beast approached.

A new werewolf. More and more came and finally Ricardo was surrounded by five werewolves.

I am confident that I can win if it is a series of five battles, one at a time. However, it is a different story when it comes to five at the same time. It would be difficult to deal with the fact that while I was fighting one of them, I was being targeted from behind.

The werewolves gradually narrowed the encirclement while hiding their appearance. I had to make a decision before they all pounced on me at once.

"You're all dead!!"

Half out of desperation, he held up his mystical sword. The nearest werewolf laughed and raised his claw. Then he thrust his claws into his own face.

The werewolf's face was pierced and fresh blood spurted out, but it was not over yet. The werewolf's face was gouged out as the claws were brought down in one fell swoop.

The right half of the body is gouged so badly that the eyeballs spill out, while the left half smiles in ecstasy. Between pain and pleasure, the werewolf took its own life.

The second closest werewolf was ripping into his own belly with his claws and dragging out his intestines while laughing like a madman. It was as if every time he spat out his guts, he got pleasure from the movement.

Ricardo felt sorry for them, even though they were his enemies. Such a death would be an insult to life.

If you talk about whether this sword is strong or weak, it is definitely strong. It is a gem that the best craftsmen have generously put their skills into.

However, if asked whether it is good or bad, it probably belongs to the latter.

What would happen if the church found out that I was using something like this? Worst case scenario, they might even burn me at the stake.

After all, it would be better to let go of this demon sword. I can't stay with the romance of a madman who can't tell the difference between a sword and a person.

The two werewolves seem to have escaped, and Ricardo feels a little relieved. However, the last one stands in the way.

He was blushing and breathing hard. Rather than wobbling on its feet, it looked more like it was rubbing its inner thighs together.

He approached slowly, resisting the pleasure. However, his movements were lackluster.

"Goooooooooo!"

The werewolf roared and attacked, but to Ricardo it looked like slow motion.

Ricardo calmly took a step forward and split the bamboo trunk from the front. In a flash, the werewolf's body split left and right and collapsed.

It was a tremendous, too tremendous cut. Ricardo was in disbelief that he had done this, and he was excited.

"Amazing, this is..."

Not only as the source of the curse, but also as a pure sword, it was a super first-class item.

I wanted to brag, I wanted to talk about it with someone. I wanted people to see the cut of the werewolf I had slain, let alone the two bodies that died from the curse.

At that time, I felt the presence of someone behind me and turned around.

"Hey, just take a look at this....."

There she was, a bloody, naked woman.

"a……"

I got carried away and did something terrible. I don't even know what to do now. Will I be drowned in the sea of pleasure?

Ricardo couldn't take his eyes off the woman, even though he felt terrified. Her bangs are long enough to cover her face, and her eyes, peeking through the gaps in her glossy black hair, glowed as if wet.

Eyes more beautiful than anything I've ever seen, more beautiful than the sun and jewels.

Ricardo stares intently. Eventually, the woman turns her head away and disappears as if blending into the landscape.

"Hey, wait!"

I reach out my hand, but there is no one there anymore.

He repeatedly retracted his sword and drew it again, but the woman did not come out.

I can feel the magical power and presence from the sword, so I don't think it's really gone.

"Camellia……"

Ricardo held his sword and muttered.

It was on the way back to the castle that I realized that the throbbing in my heart was something other than fatigue and fear.

As Gerhard walked down the corridor, he regretted that he had scolded Ricardo for unreasonable reasons.

He is not Gerhard's subordinate, nor is he his disciple. He is an equal in the service of the Count. If he complained about it in a one-sided way, it could not be helped that he was picking a fight.

I don't think I've lived such a splendid way of life that I can say that I'm great because I'm older. I refused to be even a role model. It was nothing but fear to unravel a life full of shame and regret as a teaching material.

Gerhardt has seen a lot of people who died because they handled weapons poorly, or because they were too involved with their weapons and could not let go. It is not something that can be imposed on a person's preference of how to deal with weapons.

I didn't mean to say anything wrong, but I went too far into the personal side of things.

On the other hand, it wasn't a relationship where you could say 'I'm sorry for saying too much' now. I will probably never forget the look of disappointment on his face when a sword was handed to him as a reward.

I have no intention of apologizing, but I was thinking that it would be okay to casually be nice to him, when I saw that Ricardo was coming toward me.

“Oh Ricardo, you had a hard time exterminating werewolves.”

“Gerhard-sama is also in a good mood.”

Ricardo's reaction was not awkward. I was beginning to feel foolish for thinking that I was the only one who cared, but I decided to continue as it was a kind of punishment to be nice to him.

“Oh, well, what is it? If you don't like the sword, I can buy it from you. Or I can ask Lutz to make you a more gentle one.”

Then, Ricardo opened his eyes wide enough to be able to see clearly even in the dark hallway, and he half-stood with his right shoulder out as if protecting his sword.

"Camellia is my beloved sword, I won't let anyone have it!"

He yelled at me and walked toward the audience hall at a strutting pace.

"Who is Camellia..."

Gerhard had avoided using words such as 'Young people these days' as much as possible, but he wanted to say it just now.

I don't know. I have no idea what that young man is thinking.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter