Kays Translations

Chapter 141: The Varna Temple  

“This is… twin swords?”  

The two blades were identical, almost identical to the sacred sword of light that had melted away.  

It was likely a single magic weapon split into two parts.  

—Thank goodness.

Lucius felt relief seeing the sacred sword, which had dissolved into nothing, return in nearly the same form.  

Next, his eyes were drawn to the colors of the blades.  

One blade was pure white, its edge gleaming with a reddish light depending on the angle.  

The other was jet black, exuding faint silvery, dull gray, and faint indigo glows.  

Something else was different this time.  

“The hilt’s design has changed.”  

The griffon feathers that once adorned the sacred sword’s hilt were gone.  

In their place were new decorations.  

The white sword bore white feathers reminiscent of the Fairy King.  

The black sword was adorned with dark, bat-like wings, resembling the Demon Dragon.  

Lucius gave a wry smile.  

—A result of the Evil Dragon’s distaste for Samael? 

Perhaps the transformation into twin swords stemmed from the two magic powers rejecting each other.  

Frankly, Lucius was more accustomed to single-handed swords. It would have been better if it had remained unchanged, but lamenting the roll of the dice was pointless.  

—Let’s test its magic.

First, he channeled energy into the white sword.  

A faint red glow emanated, and the surface of the blade was covered with intricate red patterns.  

It was a light magic formula.  

The design was different, but it reminded Lucius of the bluish-white glow on the Empire’s magic tools.  

Next, he tried the black sword.  

A faint black haze enveloped it.  

It was unmistakably a dark magic formula.  

The formulas matched the initial intent, and Lucius, mostly satisfied, examined the swords further. Beside him, Pallavis wore a grim expression.  

“…A multi-bladed magic weapon?”  

“Multi-bladed?”  

Looking around, Lucius noticed that not only Pallavis but the priests and spectators also shared the same tense expressions.  

—What’s going on?

Lucius felt left out by the reactions around him.  

“A multi-bladed magic weapon hasn’t appeared in decades. And to combine it with elemental formulas… Such a magic weapon is unheard of.” 

Even Nasaar, a master swordsman, forgot to hurl insults, his face stiff with unease.  

“Lucius, brother of Pallavis, you know this, but multi-bladed magic weapons are taboo. And to make it elemental? This must be reforged.”  

As if it were the most natural thing, the priests began preparing the ritual anew.  

“Twin swords… Multi-bladed, you say? Are such weapons subpar in performance?”  

“I’ve never seen one myself, but it’s said that training with them is challenging due to divided focus. However, the real reason they’re shunned is their association with an old legend. Surely you’re aware?”  

One of the priests extended a hand, signaling for the cursed swords to be placed in the cauldron.  

“No, these will do.”  

“What?!”  

The priests and crowd erupted in shock.  

Lucius couldn’t bear the thought of melting his beloved swords again just to conform to the Republic’s traditions.  

While respecting local customs was important, there were limits to what he could accept.  

Moreover, Lucius had long grown accustomed to elemental magic formulas, finding them practical and efficient.  

“These are fine. Thank you for your efforts.”  

Lucius bowed and stepped back.  

Pallavis immediately moved to his side to stop him.  

“Are you really okay with this?!”  

“I am. This will do.”  

“Don’t be reckless. Reforge them!”  

“There’s no need.”  

Lucius walked away calmly.  

As Pallavis continued to argue, a silent figure, Priéna, who had been observing among the crowd, quietly stepped forward to stand beside him.  

“Pallavis, it’s probably impossible. Lucius may seem gentle, but he’s actually quite stubborn. Once he makes a decision, he won’t budge.”  

“Still—!”  

“No way, no way,” 

Priena interrupted, waving her hand dismissively.  

Pallavis sighed, placing a hand on his forehead. 

“So he’s like that guy even in this way, huh?”  

Seeing his exasperation, the temple priests sighed as well, beginning to tidy up the area.  

They likely had little interest in Lucius, who was thought to possess only the most meager magic power.  

As the crowd dispersed, one man continued to glare at Lucius’s back.  

It was Nasaar, the Third Seat of the Sword Corps.  

Lucius noticed the piercing gaze but chose to ignore it, leaving the hall.  

He had no intention of involving himself in the conflict between Pallavis and Nasaar.  

With his two companions, he headed straight to the Holy City’s marketplace.  

Naturally, he sought a new sheath for his reborn magic swords. Carrying unsheathed blades was out of the question, especially now that his single-handed sword had become two, leaving him short a sheath.  

Following Pallavis’s recommendation, they visited a shop known for its excellent selection of sheaths.  

Lucius scanned the store, noting the wide variety of shapes and sizes. The shop’s stock was so comprehensive that there was no need for a custom-made sheath.  

“This really is the holy land of magic swords. So many sheaths… or rather, just sheaths!”  

In a normal weapons store, one would find not just weapons but also items like blade oil, whetstones, cloth, and paper. But here, the store exclusively sold sheaths and holders for spears, bows, shields, and staves.  

Truth be told, Lucius was a little disappointed not to see the magic equipment the store supposedly sold.  

“This isn’t the place for magic equipment. But the selection here is excellent.” 

Pallavis explained.  

“A sheath specialty store? What about maintenance supplies?”  

“Few shops sell ordinary metalworking goods. Magic equipment self-repairs when imbued with magic energy, so rust or small chips aren’t a concern. Instead, people tend to focus on the design of the sheath.”  

Both the Republic and the Kingdom valued design, particularly for sheaths and handles, as these were visible even outside of battle.  

“So magic swords have self-repair features. A bit of a letdown,” 

Lucius thought.  

The treasured sword he had before was a hybrid—a broken magic sword handle fitted with a regular steel blade. Unlike magic swords, regular blades required constant maintenance to prevent rust and dullness, a task Lucius had never minded. In fact, he enjoyed the meticulous work.  

But if maintenance wasn’t necessary anymore, so be it.  

Refocusing, he chose a sheath that matched the shape of his sword. He placed the black blade he’d taken from its cloth wrapping into the sheath.  

“Perfect fit. I’ll take this one.”  

“Got it!” 

The shopkeeper replied cheerfully.  

However, Lucius couldn’t immediately pay, as he carried no Republic currency. He needed to negotiate payment in silver instead.  

“We’ll head out ahead.” 

Priena and Pallavis said, leaving the shop.  

When traveling to foreign lands where currency exchanges were unavailable, silver was often used instead of gold. While gold was valuable, its worth fluctuated drastically depending on the time and place. Silver, on the other hand, was more stable, being widely used for everyday items like utensils.  

After some negotiation, Lucius handed over an agreed amount of silver to the shopkeeper.  

“Here, take this too!” 

The shopkeeper handed him a belt for securing the sheath at his waist. Lucius had planned to make do with a leather cord due to his budget constraints, but this well-made leather belt seemed ideal for securing both the swords and their sheaths.  

“Really? Is that okay?”  

“Today’s a lucky day. Just remember to come back! We’ve got top-quality gold-adorned sheaths too.”  

“Thank you.”  

Lucius fastened the belt around his waist and equipped the swords. While the weight of two blades was noticeable, it wasn’t burdensome.  

Still, something nagged at him. These swords felt weaker than his old treasure sword, likely because they had been completely reset during their rebirth. However, from what he had heard, it seemed possible to strengthen them again.  

After expressing his gratitude to the shopkeeper, Lucius rejoined Priena and Pallavis outside.  

“Look, I got this as a bonus. The Holy City is such a nice place—people are kind and easygoing.”  

“Well, yeah. Even though it’s a republic, most people here follow the teachings of Noah, so there’s not much strife. That naturally makes everyone more relaxed.”  

“I see. Still, it feels strange not having kings or nobles around.”  

Though he hadn’t had them in his previous life either, Lucius had grown accustomed to their presence in this world, making their absence feel oddly refreshing.  

“To me, it’s strange that a country can function when its leaders keep changing policies. But I guess it works for them.”  

“I suppose each system has its pros and cons. Anyway, I’m grateful for the belt, but…” 

Lucius turned to Priena with a serious look.  

“What? Is there a problem?”  

“…We’re out of travel funds.”  

“What!?” 

Priena exclaimed in shock, leaving Pallavis to explain.  

“In that case, we can hunt magic eaters in the forest. Their inverted magic equipment can be sold for cash. That’s how many in Musu Village make their living.”  

“So hunting magic eaters brings in money?”  

“With your skills, the Outer Forest shouldn’t be an issue.”  

Lucius hesitated. While he wanted to feed the magic equipment to Chiyou for its nourishment, he also needed funds for survival.  

“Pallavis, is there any downside to overhunting magic eaters?”  

“None at all. The Republic is more concerned with reducing their numbers.”  

“Good. In that case, I’ll hunt every last one.”  

Strength is power, after all.  

While Lucius had already planned to hunt until Chiyou was satisfied, knowing it wouldn’t cause problems for Pallavis or the Republic made him even more determined.  

“You’re really going all out! Might as well clear out the magic eaters in the Abyss while you’re at it.”  

“Understood. Once I finish with the forest, I’ll head to the Abyss and take care of them too.”  

Pallavis couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Lucius’s audacious reply.

“Haha! Confidence is an essential trait for a warrior.”  

“Lucius, good luck~!”  

Priena casually patted Lucius on the back, as if it was none of her concern.  

“Aren’t you going to do any work, Priena?”  

“I have Sai to take care of. Besides, you’re the one who brought her to the Republic, right? Take responsibility for her!”  

“Hmm… Is that so?”  

Pallavis slung an arm around Lucius’s shoulder.  

“Work hard for your wife. I’ll teach you how to hunt tomorrow.”  

“Wife? Well, in any case, Pallavis, thanks for everything.”  

“Of course! Also… don’t stress too much about your magic reserves. You can build them up over time.”  

Pallavis was probably trying to be encouraging, though the recent appraisal seemed to have shocked him too.  

He likely misunderstood Lucius as someone whose magic capacity hadn’t grown since infancy—a pitiable case.  

Still, Lucius didn’t bother to explain.  

There was no point in discussing magic reserves now. Staying under the radar was preferable.  

“Sure. While you’re at it, teach me how to strengthen my magic sword too.”  

“Leave it to me. Well, it seems like we’ve resolved Lucius’s issues for now. The next problem is…”  

Pallavis turned his gaze toward the summit of the rocky mountain.  

“The matter of Sai being targeted?”  

“Yeah. I can’t believe those guys were lying. But the temple seemed normal. Which means…”  

Lucius could guess the unspoken conclusion Pallavis withheld.  

Nothing unusual was evident to the public.  

Which suggested that any disturbance was happening deeper—closer to the core of things.  

“Let’s return to the village.”  

Just as the three were about to leave the town, a sudden chill washed over them.  

—What is this!?  

Lucius instinctively looked up at the sky, sensing a tremendous presence.  

There, he saw a massive magic circle, looming above and covering the temple at the mountain’s peak, as if obscuring the clouds.  

“What is that?”  

“That’s one of the Quadra Gods—Varna, the Illusionary Water God.”  

“Varna?”  

Turning to Priena, Lucius noticed something strange.  

Neither Pallavis nor Priena nor the townsfolk, seemed surprised.  

Lucius was the only one stunned.  

Everyone else was calmly singing prayers to the magic circle.  

This overwhelming presence… Lucius had only felt it once before in his life.  

When he faced Samael.  

The being before him was undoubtedly of a higher order than the fortress lord he once battled and was close to Samael’s level.  

Yet, despite the transcendental being’s presence, the townsfolk showed no confusion.  

—Don’t they realize the abnormality of this magic power!?  

Lucius couldn’t comprehend their lack of reaction.  

Focusing again on the sky, he noticed something he had missed earlier in his shock.  

Within the colossal magic circle, a figure resided.  

It was a semi-human creature.  

The upper body was that of a finely adorned, handsome figure, while the lower body was like a fish, resembling a mermaid.  

However, its tail bore dragon-like appendages with claws more akin to a crocodile’s.  

“So it’s true… The Quadra Gods are spirit entities.”  

The Illusionary Water God Varna seemed to peer into this world from a water-filled subspace.  

Looking more closely, Lucius saw something small flying through the air.  

“A woman?”  

She appeared young, certainly not elderly, and lay suspended as she was drawn into the magic circle.  

“That’s the previous High Priestess. She was an honorable figure.” 

Priena said, performing the Noah gesture of mourning.  

“The previous High Priestess?”  

“According to the contract with the spirit, her body is being offered.”  

“The High Priestess is dead? But…”  

Lucius realized that the other High Priestesses he’d seen earlier at the Varna temple were likely there for this purpose.  

He surveyed the town again.  

It still made no sense.  

Shouldn’t the death of their spiritual leader bring a somber atmosphere?  

—I remember the shopkeeper calling today a ‘lucky day’…  

The connection between the High Priestess’s death and the idea of a fortunate day eluded him.  

“The death of a High Priestess happens often. Every year, sometimes every few years.”  

“Are High Priestesses so short-lived?”  

Lucius knew there were only four Quadra Gods. Meaning there should only be four High Priestesses. If they died so frequently, how short-lived could they be?  

Priena’s masked eyes fixed on Lucius.  

“A contract with a top-tier spirit involves immense vows. Do you understand what I mean?”  

In contracts with spirits, both sides made exchanges.  

The spirit granted magic formulas and the right to summon itself.  

The contractor provided magic power—and sometimes, their body.  

As long as the exchange was balanced, there was no problem.  

But when it wasn’t, the contractor had to bear a vow of equal weight.  

“Wait… Are you saying they pledge their lives and lifespans!?”  

Priena nodded solemnly.  

“Even a High Priestess cannot balance out the Quadra Gods. So they offer their lives. For the sake of the world.”  

“That’s just human sacrifice! How can everyone act like it’s normal!?”  

“As I explained, the High Priestess is the god’s vessel. When she completes her life as the vessel and returns to her original form, it’s considered an honorable ritual.”  

Lucius couldn’t process her explanation and averted his eyes, scanning the surroundings.  

“The current High Priestess lived a long time.”  

“Fifteen years as a vessel, after all.”  

“She must be weary. Let her rest in peace as she returns to Varna.”  

These people, whom Lucius had thought of as kind and gentle, now seemed disturbingly warped.  

As if they were celebrating a death.  

Though a spirit might be one’s other half, life itself was separate, with its own will.  

Contracts didn’t transcend death.  

“Who will be the next High Priestess?”  

“Rumor has it there’s a very talented candidate.”  

“That’s exciting!”  

Lucius was dumbfounded.  

—They’re already preparing the next sacrifice!?  

He could only interpret it as training someone else to contract with a spirit akin to Samael.  

That kind of existence couldn’t be summoned without offering one’s life.  

Lucius himself had sworn a vow when contracting with Samael.  

To one day rebel against the “Master of the World.”  

A choice that might cost his life.  

Even so, Lucius had something he wanted to protect—something worth risking his life for.  

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter