I Became the Academy’s Defensive Swordsman

Chapter 193

Chapter 193

- This is it, my child. This is the right path. Do as I say, and we will be able to seize another chance.

“Should I place my hand upon this… and spill my blood here?”

Rage looked at the object before him with a doubtful expression.

A massive helmet that continued to burn.

It had recently been excavated from the southern region of Muktaba, using soldiers.

This object, buried under a pile of stones, was unearthed once more under Bedir’s command.

- Yes, if you do that… you will be able to receive my power in full.

“…O Great One, may I ask—what exactly is this?”

- Before I was expelled from your world, I left behind a part of myself. It is the only means that can fully convey my power… at least for now.

Rage continued to stare at the burning helmet.

That helmet had been burning ever since it was found among the stones—

—as if it had been aflame for centuries.

“So this helmet… was buried here hundreds of years ago by the Swordsman of Water you mentioned before?”

- Indeed. Through this, I ceaselessly shared my power with your ancestors. But that swordsman discovered the source of that power and sealed it away. I do not know how he found it, but it seems the other races lent him their strength.

“To think he defeated all my ancestors who carried your power, and even went as far as sealing and burying this helmet deep underground. Though he was an enemy…”

- Yes, an enemy, but one worthy of respect. I still loathe that swordsman who ruined my plans, but his resolve was not something a mere human could possess.

Bedir recalled that time and let out a dry, hollow laugh.

- Enough of the past. Now, my child. Do as I have told you. Hurry.

“……”

- That man is coming. Do you believe you can defeat him without my power? The man who defeated your younger brother, Eisen Isrinbloom, who was said to be stronger than you?

Despite Bedir’s urging, Rage continued to hesitate.

He simply stared silently at the burning helmet before him.

Plunging his hand into that fire was not an easy thing to do.

- You were quick enough to throw your little sister into lava and flames, and now you can’t even put your own hand in?

“That was different. There were safety measures in place—”

- You’ll be fine if you put your hand into those flames. It will only be unbearably hot; your body will not suffer a single wound.

Even at Bedir’s reassurance, hesitation still filled Rage’s eyes.

It wasn’t because he feared pain.

Anyone who spent their childhood in Muktaba inevitably got used to burns, whether they liked it or not.

The real reason Rage hesitated now was—

“…The power I will receive… is it safe?”

- What is it that you want to ask? Speak clearly.

“I have never directly received your power before, Lord Bedir. I am unsure if I can endure it…”

- Then let me ask in return—are you confident you can face Gideon Kyrgram, who will arrive any moment now, with your own strength alone?

At Bedir’s question, Rage fell silent once more.

Bedir chuckled softly and continued.

- If you do not take my power, you will be subdued and executed—or, if you’re lucky, rot in prison for the rest of your life. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to gamble?

Rage still said nothing.

But moments later, he slowly raised his hand.

“I think it was this way.”

***

I let out a heavy breath as I looked around.

The southern region of Muktaba.

The terrain here was truly a nightmare.

Steep mountains of rock, both large and small.

Streams of molten lava flowing here and there.

It was not a place meant for people to tread.

‘So this is where Bedir’s fragment was buried?’

Through the wind, I located Rage’s position once again.

The distance between us was now very small.

Close enough that I could almost reach him.

And Rage was standing still—motionless.

‘Looks like he found the fragment.’

It seemed I had arrived too late.

But after coming all this way, there was no way I could turn back.

Before giving up, I had to fight him at least once.

So I kept running forward.

“Huuh…”

My stamina was nearly depleted.

Moving at this point was difficult, but I kept running.

And soon, I saw him.

A black-haired man.

And behind him…

‘Is that the fragment of Bedir he mentioned earlier?’

A massive, burning helmet.

Flames that never ceased, as though they had been burning for hundreds of years.

In the meantime, perhaps realizing my approach, Rage turned and smiled at me.

“You’ve finally arrived, Kyrgram.”

“Hm?”

His appearance and voice were exactly the same as the Rage I knew.

But his tone, expression, and the very air around him—

—were different.

I caught on immediately.

“…Bedir, is that you?”

“You recognized it right away.”

“I tend to have a good sense for things like this.”

I gave a faint grin and drew the Mistcatcher.

However, Rage—no, Bedir—merely looked at me with composure.

“I heard Rage went to find the fragment you left behind, to gain your power… So this is what you meant by receiving it.”

“I didn’t lie. I really did give him my power. I only took his body in exchange.”

Bedir said this with a smirk full of mockery.

“The humans of the Isrinbloom Family are always the same. Whether centuries ago or now, all it takes is a few clever words and they’ll do anything for me.”

“Well, humans can’t exactly be free from desire. It’s easy to fall to temptation.”

“Heh. Yes, that’s true for ordinary humans. But not you… nor your ancestors. Especially your ancestors—they never gave in, no matter how I tempted them.”

Bedir looked back at the helmet behind him.

“This helmet I left behind—it was sealed for centuries, buried beneath stones, and only recently rediscovered.”

“So I’ve heard. From what I gather, one of my ancestors somehow managed to seal it and bury it deep.”

“That was the work of Nawiwo Mainac. That swordsman defeated five Isrinbloom warriors who had received my power, then sealed my helmet and buried it deep within the ground.”

I silently listened to Bedir’s story to buy as much time as possible, and to look for an opening.

“And perhaps you know this part as well? What your ancestor did right before he died?”

“That… I’m not sure.”

“I heard there was a strange Lava Golem wandering around here. And you got rid of it, didn’t you?”

It sounded like he was referring to Bukar, the one that spewed poisonous gas.

“Yes, I destroyed it a few months ago.”

“That Lava Golem was a creature your ancestor created right before his death.”

“…What?”

At the unexpected words, I tilted my head.

Bedir continued, as though amused by my reaction.

“Although he had defeated all the Isrinbloom warriors who wielded my power, Nawiwo Mainac was gravely wounded. Yet, even with a body that could have collapsed at any moment, he sealed my helmet and buried it deep underground. And that wasn’t the end.”

From just a few words, I could already picture what must have happened.

“The Water Rune that Lava Golem possessed… did it belong to Nawiwo Mainac?”

“Correct. He didn’t stop after burying my helmet—he threw his own Water Rune to a Lava Golem that lived nearby.”

“Then that mutated Lava Golem was actually…”

“His creation. Nawiwo Mainac’s final work. Even in his last moments, he took measures to ensure no one would ever find my helmet again. Because of that Lava Golem, for centuries, no one could discover my relic.”

“…My ancestor was quite a thorough man.”

Indeed, that Lava Golem—or rather, Bukar—had emitted deadly poisonous gas.

Because of that gas, the southern region of Muktaba had been uninhabitable for ages.

I wasn’t sure if he’d intended it that way, but thanks to Nawiwo Mainac, Bedir’s fragment had remained hidden all this time.

“With a dying body, he still tried to hinder me until the very end… I can respect that much. But still, Gideon Kyrgram, you are quite an amusing human.”

“In what sense?”

“You destroyed the Lava Golem your ancestor created, giving my helmet the chance to be found again—and now you’re standing here trying to stop my plan. You truly are… an unpredictable human.”

“Yes, I find myself rather unpredictable too.”

I gave a faint grin and replied lightly, then raised my Mistcatcher, preparing to fight in earnest.

“So, may I ask what you plan to do now?”

“I’m heading north.”

“To the nomads?”

“There are still some who follow me. Even though I inhabit a human’s body, they’ll recognize who I am immediately. I’ll begin anew with them.”

“A simple plan. Thanks to that, my task seems just as simple.”

“You mean to stop me?”

At my words, Bedir laughed scornfully.

“It won’t be as easy as you think. Though I dwell in a human’s body, I am still a god. Do you really believe you can stop my power?”

“Well, we’ll just have to find out. But now that I think about it—what about that helmet? Leaving it here seems a bit risky, don’t you think?”

“…That’s none of your concern.”

For just a moment, Bedir’s response came a bit too slowly.

So I looked toward the massive helmet.

Now that I focused on it, the great helmet was slowly turning into light.

And part of that glowing helmet was being absorbed into Rage’s body.

“I don’t know the details, but it seems you haven’t completely adapted to Rage’s body yet.”

“Hm, so you noticed after all?”

“As I said, I don’t know for sure. But one thing’s clear… I should probably stop that helmet—your fragment—from being fully absorbed into Rage’s body.”

“And how do you plan to do that?”

“Well… I can think of plenty of ways.”

With that, I charged straight toward Rage—no, Bedir.

Bedir smiled and drew the rapier from his waist.

My Mistcatcher and Bedir’s rapier clashed head-on.