CH.50 14-2. The Black Heart of a Knight
“So, what do I need to do, Heavenly Demon?”
Back in the depths of the forest, I asked Baek Mok-ryun for a clear explanation of my training regimen.
However, she simply stood there, arms crossed, deep in thought.
“Heavenly Demon?”
“…Boy, for now, swing your sword once. That’s the most accurate way to gauge your level.”
“Huh? You’re not going to demonstrate first or teach me specific movements? No meditation or a quest for inner power?”
Her response puzzled me. In martial arts stories, enlightenment came from mental breakthroughs or rare techniques that instantly made you stronger.
“Silence. A swordsman speaks through their blade. When did swords become things to debate with words?”
“…Understood.”
My further questions only made her sigh and press her fingers against her forehead, visibly irritated.
─Schling.
The sound of steel leaving its sheath rang out. Without the Holy Sword, which had returned to Kainel, the only weapon I had was a generic common-grade item.
“Maybe Shadow Slash will suffice.”
I adjusted my stance, preparing the First Form of Drake Swordsmanship—the Shadow Slash. It was a technique meant to cut shadows, impacting the linked physical entity. I planted my feet firmly, drawing in a deep breath and letting my blood flow through every part of my body.
“Stop, boy.”
“…What? Why?”
Why did she stop me? Did I use too much force? The Heavenly Demon began approaching me, displeasure clear on her face.
“…You have too many stray thoughts.”
“Me? Stray thoughts?”
“Yes. That sniveling brat’s swordsmanship—Drake’s—wasn’t meant to involve so much overthinking.”
Her words seemed to slight Drake, but I listened closely. Stray thoughts? This was the first time I’d ever heard such a critique.
“Here you go again, boy.”
“…”
I’d relied on careful thought and analysis to survive this world. My inability to trust anyone but the Saintess had ingrained this habit deeply in me. It was indeed a negative reflex.
“To escape this forest, you need to reach the realm of the Heart Sword—a state where sheer willpower can cut through the Authority of a Demon Lord.”
“Can’t I just swing my sword and cut like in the Demon Lord Slayer technique?”
“Wrong. Hah, where do I even start?”
Turning away, the Heavenly Demon sat on a distant boulder, pulling a sword from her belt and throwing it between us.
“It’s not about physical technique. It’s about your mindset, boy.”
The blade pierced the ground with a solid thunk, standing upright.
“…”
“You think too much about your sword. While that can be an advantage, it’s of no use in escaping this place.”
“…I see.”
She wasn’t wrong. Overthinking had cost me before. When I learned that Charitines was the second Saintess, I had lost my composure. Instead of considering every route, I failed to protect the Nameless Saintess properly.
“Have you never lost out because you overthought things, boy?”
“…More often than I care to admit.”
“Exactly. How ridiculous. Khehe! A brooding swordsman—what a laughable concept. The leaders of the martial arts world would love you,” she said, a smirk spreading across her face as if we’d finally reached common ground. Her black robes billowed as she strode back toward the sword.
“Right now, boy, you’re running from something in your heart.”
“…What do you mean?”
“It’s what they call a Heart Demon. You may not know the first thing about such things, but it’s already taken root in you. That’s where we’ll begin your training.”
Gripping the sword’s hilt, she drove it even deeper into the ground with a resounding thud.
“…Even I have learned much since coming to this world.”
“You, Heavenly Demon? Learning something new?”
“This place is a chaotic quilt, sewn together with threads from countless worlds. Of course, there’s much to learn.”
She wasn’t wrong. Emperor Roque Gransia had only recently unified four nations into the Gransia Empire.
“True enough.”
Nex’s dream wedding venue had once been called the Water Nation, and the Emperor himself hailed from the Earth Nation, a master of earth magic.
“I’ve heard some curious things from that brat Drake as well.”
“…Could it be?”
I had a hunch about what she meant. My eyes shifted toward the sword embedded in the ground. The Heavenly Demon stood silently, observing me with unblinking eyes.
“This looks familiar…”
The sword, buried over halfway into the ground, resembled countless depictions from other games—a crude but iconic sight.
“‘Pulling a sword from the stone to become king.’ What a ludicrous tale. As if something so simple could determine a person’s worth,” she scoffed.
“…”
Even Kainel’s situation was like that. He hadn’t been chosen as the Holy Hero because of his virtue or righteousness; he had always been a decent person at heart.
“You’re right, Heavenly Demon.”
As a hero, Kainel’s position had been precarious due to the oppressive Hero’s Order. According to lore, even his own village had scorned him.
“Do you see now, boy? Do you understand what I’m trying to tell you?”
“You’re saying that the wielder matters more than the sword itself, correct?”
So, being a hero wasn’t about being chosen by a Holy Sword. I understood her point clearly now.
“Exactly. A foolish story, but also a fable, and a metaphor for metamorphosis. To overcome this, boy, you need a mindset that transcends such tales.”
“…So pulling this sword is my task, then, Heavenly Demon?”
“Khehe! As expected of Dennis’s disciple. That man was chosen by the accursed god of intellect. I miss him dearly.”
It wasn’t about becoming a hero by pulling the sword; it was about pulling the sword because you were already a hero.
I approached the weapon, the silver steel gleaming in the dim light.
“…No good. It won’t budge.”
I gripped the hilt and pulled with all my strength, but the blade didn’t move an inch. This wasn’t just any buried sword.
“Khehehe! What’s wrong, boy? Not going as you planned?”
“…No, not at all. Please, give me some guidance.”
“It won’t budge.”
The sword was firmly embedded, as if the intent to keep it there had been deeply carved into its essence. Ordinary strength was useless. Straining and grunting, I finally called out to the Heavenly Demon for help.
“It’s simple, boy. You must find your Heart Demon,” she replied.
“And that is… exactly what?”