Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 88 The young Swordmaster realized too late. The reason his master had abandoned him. The quality that had been lacking in him. He recalled his master's sword. The imagery contained within that blade was like a Withered Flower. The Swordmaster had not understood the meaning of that sword. But now, he felt he might know. It was an unquenchable thirst. What is withered should be moistened. If the thirst cannot be quenched no matter how much one drinks, then one simply needs to enjoy the thirst itself. The scoundrel gained enlightenment. He was no longer a scoundrel. ▷Fate 8: At the Boundary Line ───── "Wow..." Pyeon, the owner of the weapon shop 'Blue Steel Sword'. She unconsciously let out an exclamation at the scene unfolding before her eyes. Having a weapon that passed through her hands be carried by a great swordsman and gain renown. That was the greatest glory and dream for dwarves. Because of this, dwarves were very interested in swordsmen. Swordmaster Outer Sword. The single blade he stubbornly insisted on. It was one of the topics that drove dwarves crazy with excitement. So when that Outer Sword came to her shop seeking advice about weapons, Pyeon had nearly lost her mind. Outer Sword's beloved blade. That sword was none other than an Ego Sword. And that Ego Sword was even his master! Pyeon's small body was trembling with excitement. Just the information she had discovered so far was enough to make her lose her mind with excitement. She was barely restraining herself from rushing to the tavern where dwarves gathered to proudly spill the story. But then, one more piece of new information was added. "Outer Sword's master took on a new disciple...?" Such tremendous information that made all the shocking information so far seem trivial! That Ego Sword that Outer Sword served as master had abandoned Outer Sword and taken on a new disciple. And a young brat who appeared to be a mage at that!!! Pyeon watched the scene unfolding before her eyes with fascination, almost breathing out hot air through her nose. "..." Outer Sword's appearance of being unable to easily accept the story made the dwarf even more fascinated. He had been showing signs of being stunned and unable to recover from the shock since just moments ago. "...No." Finally, Outer Sword muttered resolutely. The Swordmaster's body emanated a spirit filled with hostility. "Ooh...!!!" The dwarf Young Lady's eyes sparkled mercilessly. For a Swordmaster's composure to be broken. It was an incomparably rare sight. She stared intently at the face of the man who had orchestrated this entire spectacle. 'Who on earth is he!?' The face of that unknown 'genius swordsman' who had gained recognition from Outer Sword's master and provoked the wicked emotion of jealousy in Outer Sword. *** Rodan stared into Risir's eyes. He was the most interesting person he had encountered recently. Finding cultists hidden within a city was as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack. If he had been in Risir's position, could he have thwarted Dranoff's plan like that? It would probably have been impossible. If not for him, the White Shadow Cult's High Priest Dranoff's plan would never have been stopped. Therefore, he acknowledged it. Rodan had no intention of denying that he was an extraordinary person. However. That and this were separate matters. 'Master...!' That unknown someone contained within the Ego Sword. Yes. Unknown someone. Rodan still didn't even know her name. Moreover, she had never once considered Rodan as her disciple. Never once had she given him direct teaching. A sword containing an unclear will. That indirect teaching left like homework was all the instruction she had given Rodan. Even so, Rodan revered her as his one and only master. Because thanks to the power she gave him, he was able to break through the wall and reach the 8th Rank. Because he was able to escape from his mother's shadow. Now that he had fulfilled his long-cherished wish to escape from his mother's shadow. The only remaining hope for Rodan was to gain her recognition. He resolved. He would definitely solve the homework she left behind, receive her teaching, and be reborn as a proper disciple. The sudden farewell came before all those wishes could be fulfilled. A sword that no longer drew from its sheath. Her voice that no longer reached him. An indefinite farewell and absence. This drove Rodan's mind to its limits. To the extent that the arrogant Swordmaster willingly approached a group of cultists and bowed his head to them. In the midst of this, news of his master finally reached him through another's mouth. The news that his master, who had abandoned and left him, had taken on a new disciple. With this, what the series of situations implied became clear. His master had completely abandoned him and found a new disciple to replace him. "That can't be." How could he accept that. How could he acknowledge it. Rodan's strong will manifested in the wrong direction. He concluded that the man before him was a deceiver and harbored not the slightest doubt about that fact. "Risir. I misjudged you. Were you only a man of this caliber?" Clear contempt was contained in Rodan's twisted lips. "You guaranteed you could help me and received compensation. But contrary to your expectations, your little friends couldn't be of help, and you found yourself in a position to worry about the consequences. The solution you came up with is exactly this. Lying that you can hear my master's voice. Isn't that right?" "..." Instead of answering, Risir held up the sword in his hand before him. -Shing The sword that had been trapped in its sheath was drawn without resistance. "...!" Rodan's pupils wavered, but only for a moment. "Master." He spoke to the sword. "Master." Her voice did not come. That wasn't all. That presence he had clearly felt even when her voice couldn't be heard. That presence could no longer be felt. Even that power that had helped him break through the wall of the 8th Rank. An unprecedentedly strong ripple arose in the Swordmaster's inner self. His perfectly controlled breathing was disturbed by anger. "You..." Gasp! The dwarf Young Lady who had been watching with sparkling eyes unconsciously stopped breathing. She couldn't move her pupils. It was as if she were naked in the middle of a snowy field, surrounded by a pack of wolves. Killing intent thick enough to take physical form dominated the entire area. "..." Rodan's following statement. "What did you do to my Master..." His hand wandered around the sword hanging at his waist. *** Clana. She was watching the entire situation with satisfaction from the Inner World. Good flow. Rodan's arrogant and stubborn personality. And his obsession with her. She could be certain. Right now, no voice would reach Rodan's ears. This bastard would absolutely never be able to persuade Rodan. The best scenario was drawn in Clana's mind. Risir meeting his death at Rodan's hands. Escaping from this terrible situation and space was not far off. Clana's lips curved in an arc of anticipation. "I'll ask one last time. Tell me what you did to my Master." "...As I've said repeatedly, I have done nothing to your master." If Risir had shown even the slightest panic or hesitation, Rodan would have subdued him without delay. However. Even in this situation, Risir's attitude remained calm without the slightest disturbance. 'If I show weakness, I die.' Risir had already finished grasping how to deal with the being called Rodan. He acted with calm composure with all his might. "..." Then hesitation crept into Rodan's attitude. -This half-wit!!! You disappoint me to the very end! Clana shouted in frustration, but naturally that voice did not reach Rodan. "I merely spoke the truth as it is. Your master recommended that I become her disciple." "..." True to his words, Risir was speaking the truth as it was. Risir's attitude was simply confident, and Rodan felt confused by his appearance. "Why..." Thus, Risir succeeded in inducing an opening from an opponent far stronger than himself. It was an opening of the heart. Through this, Risir glimpsed into Rodan's inner self. He discovered that the emotion driving him now was not anger but fear. Persuading someone dominated by anger is terribly difficult. On the other hand, persuading someone dominated by fear? It's surprisingly simple. At least Risir thought so. Therefore, he could act without hesitation. "Actually, all of that was for your sake." "...What?" Risir's thoughts spun at high speed. Right now. What's the best situation I can create? Also. What's needed to create that best situation? Risir's attention naturally turned to her. The root cause of all this trouble. The killer who had occupied his Inner World- No, to the Ego Sword that had become bound to him. "..." That was when it happened. Risir felt some power that had become bound to him along with the Ego Sword. One possibility flashed through Risir's mind. He immediately tried to deploy the Ego Sword's power. "That's-" Horror appeared in Rodan's eyes. A subtle imagery emerged from the Blue Lotus that Risir held. Withered Flower. "Master...?" Rodan looked at Risir and unconsciously spoke that name. Because it was unmistakably his master's sword. -What the...! Clana's words were completely blocked. She had no memory of granting him her sword. But how was he deploying her sword technique? "Master- Master!!! Are you there!?" Rodan's appearance spurred on the frustration Clana felt. -Yes! I'm here!!! Your master is trapped here!!! So hurry, stain that sword with blood!!! You half-wit dimwit- "Yes. She is here listening to your words. Through my body, to leave you one final teaching." "What do you mean... final teaching... huh?" Rodan stared blankly at Risir's sword. No. He stared at his master's sword. His eyes widened greatly. The imagery contained in the sword was changing moment by moment. The Withered Flower bloomed in full, filled with freshness. *** [You have acquired a Unique Skill] ▶Unique Skill : Flower That Does Not Bloom (C- Grade) [Your Unique Skill responds to your Trait!] [Your Unique Skill has been enhanced] ▶Unique Skill : Bloomed Flower (C+ Grade) *** "She said. That you... are far from blood. That you would never become a sword that thirsts for blood." The pangs of conscience that followed his flexible interpretation. For the first time, traces of deception appeared in Risir's expression. However, Rodan could not read his deception right now. The first warm words his master had given him. Because he was absorbed in the first teaching his master had given him. -What is this shameless thick-skinned bastard babbling about!!! -I never said such things!!! -Rodan!!! You're not such a great person!!! -You're just a mediocre person who can neither be a hero nor a villain!!! -But if you just take one more step! You can become the complete version of yourself! -Rodan!!! -Kill him!!! -Then I will pass on everything I have to you!!! Clana shouted. Rodan pondered his master's words. "Cannot become a sword that thirsts for blood..." Swordmaster Outer Sword. He performed the action he had hesitated about until the very last moment. Drawing another sword instead of the unique Ego Sword that symbolized Outer Sword. Thus Rodan closed his eyes while holding the sword. He calmly sank into his inner self. His mother's shadow. His master's shadow. He had time to face himself, free from all of that. In fact. He was a person far from Risir's interpretation. His nature was neither completely evil nor completely good. An arrogant scoundrel. His current appearance could be said to be his innate essence. However. He longed for his master's teaching more than anything else. Such warm teaching from his master was more than enough to change his perspective. 'I am...' The image of himself that Rodan faced within was murky and dirty. -You will never become a sword that thirsts for blood. It was an appearance that contradicted his master's faith. Rodan was ashamed of that. Therefore he denied it. That was not his true self. If he wished to, he could change as much as he wanted. There was no reason to doubt. His master's faith surely had grounds. "..." When Rodan opened his eyes again, the sword he held came into view. A sword containing a Bloomed Flower, completely filled without the slightest lack. The scoundrel gained enlightenment. He was no longer a scoundrel. "Master..." Rodan looked at the Blue Lotus with peaceful eyes. That was when it happened. The imagery contained in the Blue Lotus began to fade. -Rodan!!! You half-wit!!! Rodan saw this and thought it was like a faint smile befitting farewell. Therefore, Rodan also wore a faint smile in response to his master. Risir dropped the sword in accordance with this. "Master, thank you for everything." Rodan bid farewell to his master. -No!!! Please, please get me out of here!!! Rodan!!! My disciple!!! Master and disciple. It was a clean farewell that left no one with lingering regrets. *** ■Rodan Level : 68 > 70 New Unique Skill : Filled Flower (C Grade) *** ■Risir Level: 52(44) > 52 *** ────────── ▷Fate 8 : At the Boundary Line - has been deactivated. Perks will be granted accordingly. ────────── *** -'Master'. It was a voice awakening Clana from her despair. -Please take good care of me from now on? He had just been wanting to delve deeply into swordsmanship when a precious(?) connection had come to him. Risir smiled brightly. -Ah, ah... The killer. Feeling the emotion of fear for the first time.