Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 131 Elisia widened her eyes. She was a sword, but anyway. -You want to conduct the Sacred Sword Trial in abbreviated form...? It was a statement that would treat even the Sacred Sword's pride in abbreviated form. -Jallak, what on earth are you talking about right now? -I'm saying I'll coordinate things so there's no disruption to tomorrow's ceremony! It seems the ceremony is a major matter to that friend! "No, Jallak...! How can you be so thoughtful!!!" -How about it, does your heart stir!? "Of course it stirs! When you're being so considerate, I should participate with a willing heart!" -Kuhaha! What a flexible friend! The more I see, the more I like you! -...? "...?" "...?" Was this conversation flow really correct? Hero. Sacred Sword. Elf. They looked at each other. Eventually, their gazes turned toward Belota, who was standing far away. "..." Belota averted her gaze. "???" Why was she avoiding their gaze? It shouldn't be a difficult question, right? Our girl isn't that kind of person, right? Their confusion was mounting by the moment when it happened. "Then, when do we start?" -When would be good! "I think it would be good to start right now, wouldn't it? Since we're all gathered here anyway." -Good idea! -...Huh!? W-wait a minute! Jallak!!! Surely they weren't talking about the Sacred Sword Trial? They couldn't be, right? But just in case. Elisia quickly made her judgment and hurriedly interrupted, but it was still too late. -I, Jallak the Sword of Advancement, ask you! Are you prepared to prove your qualifications! If you are ready, state your true name along with your intention! Jallak announced the start of the trial with the prescribed words. Kyaaaaah!!! Elisia let out a scream. "J-Jane...!" "Right-" Jane left Elisia behind and steeled his resolve. Now that it had come to this. No matter what happened, he intended to pass Jallak's trial. "Jane! I will prove my qualifications!" "Risir. I'm ready." "Good! If you're ready, then grasp me!" Jane grasped the Sword of Advancement faster than Risir. "Jane, I ask you! What is a sword to you!" "..." The moment that question was thrown, great ripples arose in Jane's inner world. What is a sword? Indeed, befitting the Sacred Sword Trial, even the first question was incredibly difficult. Jane fell into deep contemplation. He closed his eyes and sank deep into his inner self, asking himself the question. What is a sword to me? For what do I wield a sword, and what do I seek to gain at its end? It took a long time for Jane to open his eyes again. His pupils were trembling slightly. Because he couldn't be certain whether the answer he had obtained through repeated self-questioning was correct. Nevertheless, he steeled his resolve and opened his mouth. "Great cause and ideals. A struggle to not lose oneself." Jane put more strength into the hand holding the sword. His pupils were still trembling, but his gaze was directed straight ahead. The hero was weak because he knew how inexperienced he was, and he was upright because he knew his own weakness. Jane put more strength into the hand holding the sword. The mental image that his swordsmanship contained unfolded through the Sword of Advancement. -Oooh!!! Jallak groaned deeply. -I can clearly feel it! The mental image you contain within your sword! To have this level of contemplation at such a young age! I understand why that prim Elisia chose you! Tua and Mangnus, who had been watching all this from nearby. They too were looking at Jane with eyes full of interest. The young swordsman's attitude toward the sword. The sincerity contained within it reached them. It was certainly uncertain. But it was utterly upright. They could be certain. In the not-distant future. Jane would be able to sweep away all the delusions that made up uncertainty and face his complete sword. At that time, where would his sword be pointed? No one could know. A swordsman's fate could easily change with even a single drop of blood and tears. Therefore, those who know swords neither expect nor believe carelessly. Nevertheless. That young swordsman had something that made them have expectations. It was the reason the Sword of Ideals chose him as a hero. It was the reason his companions followed him. The young swordsman's presence settled clearly in the place. He was not lacking to be called a hero, and he was not lacking to become the master of a Sacred Sword. "..." At that moment. Jane looked at the Sword of Advancement in his hand. He felt as if it wasn't he who was holding the sword, but rather the sword was holding him. It was a familiar sensation as the master of a Sacred Sword. Jallak, the Sword of Advancement. It was gauging him. Just like a swordsman testing a sword that caught his fancy. 'Good.' The process that led to the trial was still bewildering. But it was fine. The Hero of Ideals showed a confident smile. He was confident he could bring about the best results in any situation. He drew a leisurely smile across his face and handed the Sword of Advancement to Risir. -Risir! What is a sword to you! The question was thrown immediately. And immediately, the answer was thrown back. Risir put more strength into the hand holding the sword. The mental image that his swordsmanship contained unfolded through the Sword of Advancement. "A technique for harming people." That answer, given without a moment's hesitation and feeling almost careless, stood in stark contrast to Jane's answer, which had been carefully deliberated and had his very self melted into his words until the very end. Camilla and Elisia were momentarily dumbfounded. What kind of hero candidate would give such an answer in a discussion about swords? Their belief grew even stronger. Indeed, the person suited to be the master of the Sword of Advancement was already decided. That person was- -Ooooh!!! Marvelous! Risir!!! Excellent!!! "..." -Jallak! Enough!!! Leaving behind Camilla, who had lost her senses again, Elisia shouted. -Excellent!? That shallow belief that contains no contemplation whatsoever!? -No! It's not shallow! -No! It couldn't be more shallow than that! That's the kind of thinking an outlaw would have! -That's exactly it! -What? -The sword that Risir wields is an Evil Sword that only a murderer would handle! It's a sword that exists solely to thirst for blood! Risir understands exactly the essence of the sword he wields! -...Evil Sword? Did you just say Evil Sword? You want to make a swordsman who wields an Evil Sword the master of a Sacred Sword? -As you said, this friend is 'handling' the Evil Sword. He's neither dominated by it nor swayed by it. -What does that... -The more I see, the more interesting this friend becomes! Walking the righteous path while wielding nothing other than an Evil Sword! The complete opposite of a novice who walks the righteous path while knowing nothing about his own sword! -...Jallak! Your taste is closer to the latter! How can you choose a mutant who walks the righteous path while wielding an Evil Sword- "Elisia." At that moment, Jane stopped her. "I'm grateful, but it's fine. I don't want to be chosen that way." -Jane... Even in the midst of all this, Jane was smiling. A very spirited smile. "Jallak, surely this isn't the end!?" -Of course not! How could it be a trial without proof! The Sword of Advancement left Risir's hand. It floated in the air while emitting a golden flash. When that flash subsided, semi-transparent golden Mana Barriers stood before both Risir and Jane. -What is a limit! -It is a wall and a stepping stone for advancement! Jane looked intently at the golden barrier before his eyes. "This is..." -This barrier was created based on your limits. Elisia began explaining in place of others to ease her frustration. "What does that mean?" -It means it's a structure that absolutely cannot be destroyed with just the power you possess. So what should you do? "The Power of Advancement." Jane, who had already heard about the Sword of Advancement from Elisia, muttered. -Right. This trial will test how well you can handle the Power of Advancement. -Elisia is right! This barrier absolutely cannot be destroyed with just the power you possess! So if you want to prove your worth, advance! Break through your limits and shatter the wall! Jane reached out and touched the barrier. It was a kind of Divine Authority. A solidity that would never crumble for those who could not transcend their limits. -This is ridiculous. Interpreting Jane's actions somehow, Elisia voiced her complaints as if speaking for him. -Originally, this trial should have been conducted over a long period. That way, sufficient time would have been given to understand the Power of Advancement. "..." Jane listened silently to Elisia's story. Then Elisia's tone became even more agitated. -What on earth does Jallak want to do? What meaning does this trial have? What can you overcome, prove, and achieve in this ridiculously short time? "Elisia." -No! This time I have to say what I need to say too. I can't stand it anymore either. What kind of whim is this? Conducting the Sacred Sword Trial this way is insulting not only to you but to me as well. "It's fine." -No! It's not fine at all! Let me be clear, giving in here isn't being kind or generous. It's just foolish! "I know. I have no intention of giving in either." -What? Elisia belatedly checked Jane's expression within the mental world. His two eyes, gazing straight ahead, were growing sharper by the moment. "I can do it. I will do it." It was not the face of an easygoing young man who would easily bow his head and give in. The Hero of Ideals. He muttered as if driving himself forward. There was not a trace of doubt in it. -...Right, you can do it. Jane approached the Sword of Advancement without hesitation. Then Jallak, who had been waiting for their conversation to end, was about to deliver the lines he had prepared. Since this trial couldn't proceed without the Sword of Advancement, the opportunities to attempt would be given one 'strike' at a time in turn. If you're ready, grasp me. It was the moment when the trial was about to begin in earnest. "Whoo." It was a clean breath. Along with it, Risir's foot stepped forward. Then came the sound of a sword leaving its sheath, followed by the sound of a blade cutting through the air. The gazes that had been focused on Jane, Elisia, and Jallak turned toward the source of the noise. Risir. His sword had already been swung. The semi-transparent golden Mana Barrier, split in half, slowly lost its form. Risir watched the scene quietly while nodding his head. "The Power of Advancement... was that what it was called?" No. He was making assumptions. "...?" Jane and Elisia's gazes intensified. They unconsciously checked the sword in Risir's hand. It wasn't the Sword of Advancement. Of course not. It was right there in front of them. Look here. They turned their gazes back to look at the Sword of Advancement holding its position. Then what on earth was it? 'What did he understand?' Jane and Elisia became serious. At that moment. They recalled the strange behaviors Jallak had shown. Could it be that Jallak had seen through all of this- "Huh?" Jallak made a dumbfounded sound. "?" "?" Jane and Elisia also became dumbfounded only then.