LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 55
“….”
I opened my eyes.
Once I came to, I realized I was in the Emperor’s Residence where I usually stayed.
I racked my brain to understand the situation.
“Clearly….”
I had flipped the floor during a duel with Albrecht and struck with all my might at his chest.
Yeah, I remembered that part.
The fact that I couldn’t recall what happened afterward meant…
“Ugh.”
My body hurt.
And hurt like crazy.
It was pain I recognized from previous experiences. The aftereffects of the Mark.
However, this time, the aftereffects were unbelievably intense.
“Does it hurt, you idiot?”
At that sudden voice, I turned my head and saw Ophelia.
Dressed in her holy garment, she held a golden potion in her hands. That color was exactly like the status recovery potion from the game.
She opened the bottle and poured it into my mouth.
“Ugh.”
It tasted like absolute garbage.
But Ophelia smacked my throat and held my chin down.
“Drink it, you dumbass.”
With plenty of curses, Ophelia tilted the potion bottle, her face scrunched with disgust.
Once I drank it all, the pain subsided. I propped myself up slightly and asked.
“…What happened?”
“You collapsed. Just punched Albrecht and then fell over.”
“Ah….”
So I fainted after the effect of the Mark wore off.
I thought it was just a moment, but had it already been ten minutes?
While I accepted that, I asked.
“What about the winner of the duel?”
“Well, the Sword Saint declared he lost since he allowed himself to take a fatal blow. On the surface, it’s your victory.”
“On the surface?”
“People think the Hero lost. You collapsed first.”
“True, I guess that’s the case.”
Well, what’s it matter?
Isn’t it still good that I won?
I tried to lift the corners of my mouth, but my facial muscles were pulling too hard, so I gave up.
“Don’t use that.”
Ophelia spoke while I was recovering from the pain.
Seeing her, I noticed she was biting her lip and her eyebrows were twitching.
“What do you mean?”
“The Mark.”
“You mean the Hero’s Divine Mark?”
“Yeah. Don’t use that.”
“….”
Ophelia slapped my chest.
“If I say don’t use it, then don’t use it.”
“I’ll try my best.”
“Don’t try, just don’t. If you use it one more time, I’ll kill you.”
She was right.
I had pushed my body a bit too much during this duel.
“Do you know how bad your condition was?”
“How bad?”
“Both your arms are dislocated, and four ribs are broken.”
“….”
The swordsmanship I displayed at the end of the duel was well beyond the human range of motion.
I couldn’t win against Albrecht using mere human limits. I had to exceed common sense.
My movements were almost like a beast, or rather, closer to a monster.
It was no wonder my body couldn’t handle it.
If I had been the original Hero, thanks to the celestial physique granted to me and the compatibility of the Mark, I wouldn’t face any issues. But I’m just a substitute.
The fact that I was in such excruciating pain was probably because I overexerted a body enhanced by the Hero’s Divine Mark.
“If you hadn’t gotten treatment right away, just think about it. If that happened to your limbs, you’d just be dead. Forget about surviving or healing, you’d just die.”
“….”
“Don’t get it? The more you use that, the more your body is screwed up, got it?”
Ophelia seemed to be really angry.
“What the hell, you dummy! Did I tell you to win at all costs and throw your life away? Are you some kind of self-destructing idiot?”
“I didn’t plan on doing that.”
“What do you mean you didn’t plan on it! You… you bastard, you did the same thing last time. And the time before that.”
Ophelia clenched her fists tightly.
She was probably referring to the incident when the Shadow of God attacked.
“That was beyond my control….”
“Exactly! It was beyond your control! You used the Mark because of me and almost died! And then you barged into the Grand Assembly Hall to save me, only to be humiliated in every way possible.”
“….”
“I know. You’ve crossed paths with death because of me more than once.”
Ophelia vented passionately while tightly gripping the vial.
“That’s why I’m telling you to stop….”
Though I couldn’t see Ophelia’s expression with her head bowed, she must have looked distressed.
That’s just how she is.
I reached out and placed my hand over Ophelia’s hand, which was gripping the potion.
“Ophelia, you don’t need to blame yourself. I just….”
“It’s not blaming! It’s just… if the Hero dies, the world goes to hell… that’s just how it is….”
“….”
“In any case, that’s how it is.”
Understanding that it was her way of thinking, I shrugged and said.
“In that sense, I also acted with ulterior motives. Fighting the Shadow of God, escaping from the Cathedral, all because you’re the Saintess, Ophelia.”
“…Really?”
“No, that’s a lie. To be honest, I would’ve done it even if you weren’t the Saintess.”
“…Ugh.”
Her reaction was amusing.
I let out a silly laugh and lifted my upper body.
“Don’t worry, Ophelia.”
Pat.
I placed my hand on Ophelia’s head.
Lately, I hadn’t been brushing it away.
“I can take care of my own body.”
“…Idiot.”
“Still, I will pay attention to your worries.”
“It’s not worry! It’s just because you’re the Hero…!”
“Yes, yes.”
I responded casually and stood up. Ophelia shouted something as I walked away, but I didn’t pay attention.
I took a few steps.
My body ached, but not for as long as before.
Could it be that my body was getting used to the backlash?
If I keep repeating, I might be able to use it like the original Hero.
Well, I’m not sure if it means my body will break. I guess I’ll have to use Healing Magic to patch it up somehow.
“Oh, right, you.”
Ophelia spoke as if she had just remembered.
“You’ve got a nickname now.”
“The Hero, you mean?”
“Hmph. If it were such a noble name, I’d be happy too.”
Ophelia snorted and then said.
“You’re being called Rabid Dog.”
“Oh.”
Rabid Dog.
I did throw everything I had into that fight.
At the end, I was fighting without any sense, almost like an idiot.
“You’re being called Rabid Dog. They’re saying you’re a crazy bastard.”
“Yeah.”
“Doesn’t that bother you?”
“Well, it’s true after all. My nickname in the northern Mercenary Group was Mad Dog.”
You couldn’t survive in that environment without going a little mad.
I tried to brush it off, but Ophelia didn’t seem to feel the same.
“That’s why, if you’re known as Rabid Dog, it reflects badly on me too!”
“What does my being called Rabid Dog have to do with your image?”
“What do you mean it doesn’t matter! Because you said useless things in the Grand Assembly Hall…”
Ophelia’s face turned beet red.
I couldn’t find the words to say and clicked my tongue.
“That….”
In the end, I said this.
“Honestly, even without me, Ophelia’s image isn’t that great.”
And then I got slapped.
*
“How’s your condition?”
“Thanks to you. That potion, you sent it, right?”
Albrecht was in the Knight Order Barracks right in front of the residence.
He waved enthusiastically with a broad grin as soon as he saw me.
I wondered if he would hold a grudge for losing the fight, but seeing his reaction made me feel like a fool for worrying. Unlike Emily and Ophelia, the Sword Saint’s personality was apparently just like in the game.
“What’s that handprint on your cheek?”
“Oh, something like that happens.”
“I see.”
Albrecht didn’t pry any further and stood up straight.
“I would love to catch up on what happened a while back, but we’re being watched.”
Albrecht looked around and chuckled.
There were knights gathering near the barracks, their gazes not exactly warm.
Since I fought without caring about them, it’s no surprise they wouldn’t look kindly on it.
“Don’t worry about it. I understand.”
“No, understanding and whatever….”
“Should we move to another spot then?”
Albrecht gestured with his chin.
At the end of the path stood a huge mansion.
The house of the Sword Saint, the Ridensstein Duchy.
“You said if you win, you’d open the treasure vault for me, right?”
“I did.”
“Choose as you wish. No need to be modest. The winner of the duel is you, Elliot.”
“Um.”
I pondered for a moment, then turned around.
Through the window, I saw Ophelia glaring at me.
“Can I bring a companion?”
At my words, Albrecht seemed to understand my intent and opened his arms wide.
“Of course.”
*
The Ridensstein Treasure Vault was vast and opulent.
It wasn’t only stuffed with gold and jewels. It included all sorts of valuable weapons, letters sent from various countries, and even historical records counted among the treasures.
There was also a treasure vault in the Cathedral, but the Ridensstein Treasure Vault was equally lavish.
“…Wow, this is amazing.”
Ophelia mumbled.
Ophelia was my companion. When I first invited her to come along, she was horrified and refused, but when I turned my back, she looked flustered. She must have secretly hoped I’d insist.
In the end, I coaxed and persuaded her to join me.
“It’s nothing special. Just a lot of stuff gathered because it’s intertwined with the royal history.”
Albrecht said it nonchalantly, but his shoulders were raised a good inch higher than usual.
“Can I really take anything?”
“Of course. I promised, I’d give you anything from the treasure vault.”
“What if I want to take a legacy?”
“Regrettably, I’d have to part with it. That’s our agreement.”
If Albrecht’s words were true, it meant I could take the iconic sword of Ridensstein as well.
But, of course, I wasn’t planning on taking it. I already had the Holy Sword.
“Um….”
There were treasures scattered everywhere.
As I pondered, Albrecht nodded.
“Choose whatever you want. I’ve already got permission from the elders.”
“The elders probably won’t be too pleased.”
In response, Albrecht just raised his index finger to his lips.
He chuckled and turned to walk further into the treasure vault.
There were plenty of tempting treasures. Some were equipment I had used in the game.
But I walked past them all.
“….”
To be honest, the most valuable artifact in the Ridensstein Treasure Vault was something else entirely.
However, it wasn’t something I needed as a swordsman.
I stopped my steps.
“This one.”
A golden ring placed on a small shelf.
I recognized it from the game.
I picked it up.
The star shape engraved on the surface glimmered brilliantly.
“Good choice.”
Albrecht was impressed, and I grinned.
The joy of finding treasure.
“This ring’s name is….”
“Star of Dawn Ring.”
“You knew that. Well, it is a famous treasure across the continent.”
Artifact, Star of Dawn Ring.
The ultimate weapon for caster characters.
“But Elliot, let me give you a piece of advice. The Star of Dawn Ring isn’t very efficient for a swordsman to use.”
“I know. I don’t intend to use it.”
Albrecht’s eyebrows twitched.
I turned around.
My companion, Ophelia, was staring at me intently.
“Ophelia.”
“Uh, uh…?”
“You said before that the hairpin I gifted you was too cheap and complained.”
“…I said that.”
“This time, it’s expensive, so treat it with care.”
I handed the Star of Dawn Ring to Ophelia.
Ophelia, surprised, was frozen and didn’t seem able to comprehend what just happened, so I placed it on her finger directly.
I originally intended to put it on her index finger, but the ring was smaller than I expected. After contemplating between the ring and little finger, I ended up on the ring finger.
“It suits you well.”
The Star of Dawn Ring.
It had the effect of drastically increasing the recovery speed of consumption resources such as mana and divine power.
Moreover, when in a dire situation, it could use mana or divine power to generate a barrier.
With mana recovery amplification and mana shield features, it was the literal final item.
Especially for a caster character like Ophelia, it was the ultimate boon.
“….”
Ophelia stared at the ring on her ring finger, blinking.
She looked up at me, her amber eyes filled with confusion.
Ophelia opened her mouth, preparing to speak, but her words didn’t form into sentences. Her lips flapped open and closed like a goldfish.
In the end, what came out of her mouth was:
“Mu….”
“Mu?”
“Muaa….”
She just made a noise like air escaping.
“…Hmm.”
Albrecht, who had been watching this, shook his head.
“Elliot, you really….”
“Huh?”
“You’re quite the player.”
He said something unclear.