—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Cyno
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Heh. I came to catch a runaway bluebird, but I found something even better.”
As the woman gazed at me with a meaningful look, I responded curtly.
“So?”
“This outfit—it’s the formal attire of Archduke Karl, who died not long ago, isn’t it?”
“Maybe.”
“Little red-haired brother~ How did you get your hands on this outfit?”
The woman fixed me with a hawk-like stare, as if she were hunting for something. The strange tension made me casually rest my hand on Yozo.
“Won it in a gamble.”
“Oh? You must have incredible luck.”
“You could say that.”
Suddenly, the woman’s expression turned greedy as she clung to me.
“Brother. Please, sell me this outfit. Hm?”
“Sell it?”
“I want to display it at home and invite my stuck-up friend over. It’d be pure art. You have no idea how infuriating she is. But with this outfit, I could totally humiliate her. I’ll pay well—sell it to me.”
It seemed this woman was after my outfit to get revenge on her friend. Well, I had made plenty of women cry before.
With the tension easing, I sheathed Yozo again and began haggling.
“Fine. Then make it eight large ones.”
“Isn’t that too expensive?”
“Expensive? Hmm. Then if you tell me your beautiful name, I’ll knock off one.”
“You’d cut 1,000 Leaf just for my name?”
“Of course~ A name as lovely as yours is worth at least that much.”
The woman burst into laughter. She seemed pleased by the compliment. But this lady seemed a bit… simple. Just a little praise, and she was ready to buy this outfit for 7,000 Leaf.
She extended a hand as pale as white jade.
“You’ve got good taste, little brother. Alright. I’m Armida. And you?”
As I shook her hand, my eyes rolled slightly. Armida. I’d heard that name before. Armida of the Abyssal Blade—the senior supervisor leading the newly appointed Guardians from the dark faction on their pilgrimage. Rumors said she was a notorious troublemaker, dragging chaos wherever she went. And this lady definitely gave off that vibe.
But it was more likely she was just a namesake with a similar personality. The real Armida should’ve been preparing for the pilgrimage with the new Guardians by now. She definitely shouldn’t be here.
“I’m Kaoyan Anukin. A lone wolf utterly captivated by Armida’s beauty.”
“Hohoho. You’re quite the charmer, little brother.”
“I’m serious. If a man doesn’t drool in front of you, he’s not a man—he’s a eunuch. Hehe.”
Armida grinned like she was over the moon.
“Brother, you’ve got quite the sales tactic.”
“Eh, not really. Just speaking from the heart. Hey! If you agree to be my lover, I’ll give you this outfit for free. Deal?”
Armida tilted her head thoughtfully.
“Really?”
“Of course~ Even if I had a hundred of these, I wouldn’t trade them for you. No—I wouldn’t trade you for the whole world.”
Armida clutched her stomach, laughing. She looked like she’d just received the highest praise possible.
“Hahaha. Brother, I really like you.”
“So, deal?”
Armida stopped laughing and gave me a regretful look.
“Can’t do that. Love isn’t something you buy and sell.”
“Tch.”
“Anyway, sell me that outfit. I’ve got a good use for it.”
“I’m sulking now. Not selling. If you don’t like me, what’s the point of money? Forget it.”
“You don’t want money…? Then how about a gift filled with this sister’s affection? It’s probably worth way more than that outfit.”
My interest was piqued. A gift worth over 7,000 Leaf? There were only a handful of things in the world that valuable.
“What is it?”
“Something you’ll love. You’ll go crazy when you see it.”
Armida pulled out a large, translucent object covered in runes from inside her coat. An Essence. But it was unimaginably huge. The largest Essence humans could crystallize was barely the size of a walnut—this one was as long as a gourd and thick enough to barely fit in one hand.
This was clearly an off-grade Essence, something only the floating city of Chronos could produce.
I snapped back to attention and stared at Armida. Which meant… this woman might actually be a Valkyrie.
I glanced at the massive onyx axe slung over her shoulder. On closer inspection, it looked familiar. That axe was Talathas, the Four-Star Division of the Dark Moon—one of the Seven Sacred Relics. Recently, someone had stolen it from the Hall of Divinity and replaced it with a fake. And the culprit seemed to be this very woman. That meant Armida was definitely a Valkyrie. Only a Valkyrie could sneak into the Hall of Divinity and walk out with a Sacred Relic.
‘First Katrianne, now Armida…? Wait, there’s one more—the owner of Rothsim. What the hell is going on?’
But I quickly brushed it off. I didn’t want to get tangled up with Valkyries anymore. Besides, until the Age of Ruin, nothing major would happen beyond human wars anyway. No reason to care.
I picked up the massive Essence Armida had set down.
“So, what’s this?”
“A magical artifact that summons the Abyssal Blade Steed. Faster than any horse in the world, and it never tires. Plus, it can breathe flames that reduce everything around it to ashes. Pretty amazing, right?”
My hands trembled. If her words were true, this was the ultimate survival tool. Speed and endurance were the two most crucial factors for surviving the Age of Ruin—and the Abyssal Blade Steed had both.
“Really? Can I try summoning it?”
“Sure. But first, you need to perform the Owner’s Ritual. Only the owner and those they permit can ride it.”
“How?”
“Mark it with your blood.”
I nicked my finger with Yozo and let a drop fall onto the Essence. Soon, black smoke-like aura billowed out and connected to me.
After completing the ritual, I memorized the summoning and dismissal methods Armida taught me and prepared to summon the steed.
I tossed the Essence into the air and shouted:
“Summon—Abyssal Blade Steed!”
Black smoke erupted from the Essence, coalescing into a steed clad in dark armor, its body wreathed in shadow. Crimson flames flickered from its nostrils and eyes with every breath, and its smoky mane and tail swayed as if caught in an unseen wind. Its core Essence was securely hidden beneath its armor.
Just one look told me this thing was powerful. Then again, nothing from Chronos was ever ordinary.
Armida stepped closer.
“Like it?”
“Yeah…”
“Then can I take the outfit?”
“Sure.”
My answer was automatic. I was too mesmerized by the steed to care. Sorry, Armida, but right now, the Abyssal Blade Steed is way more beautiful than you.
I shot a glare at the greedy-eyed guide-knight nearby before hastily dismissing the steed. Don’t even think about it. This is my precious now.
‘I’ll gut you if you try anything.’
As Armida took the outfit, she spoke up again.
“Alright, brother. Now, let’s get to the main point.”
“Main point?”
“Yeah. The reason I came here was for that runaway bluebird.”
She glanced meaningfully at Shura. I looked between them.
“Wait… is that ‘bluebird’ our Shura?”
“Yep. She was supposed to be on her pilgrimage, but she vanished halfway. I’d appreciate it if you’d hand her over.”
“Oh~?”
I drove my fist into the face of the black-armored knight standing nearby. BAM! He crumpled to the floor, unconscious. No wonder I disliked him from the start.
Armida narrowed her eyes.
“Brother. What’s the meaning of this?”
“Nothing much. This guy’s been leading us in circles. Now I know why.”
“Oh? What a naughty boy.”
“Yeah. He got what he deserved. Normally, I’d kill him, but since I got something good earlier, I’ll spare him.”
Armida smirked as she studied Shura, who gripped Dalaham warily.
“So, brother. What’ll it be?”
“What do you plan to do with Shura?”
“Train her into a swordsman worthy of Dalaham’s master.”
“Oh? You’re going to teach her?”
“You catch on quick. That’s right.”
I scoffed.
“Don’t joke around. You might be the most beautiful woman in the world, but you’re not fit to teach Shura. Don’t ruin a promising seedling—just give up.”
Armida’s eyes sharpened.
“You say that because you don’t know me.”
“I do know you. That’s why it’s a no.”
“Hmph. Why?”
“Those born strong don’t know how to become strong. Why? Because they never had to. Sure, you might be the strongest in the world, but as a teacher? You’d be terrible.”
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Armida’s eyes.
Valkyries were strong from the moment of their creation by divine will. So when I said “those born strong,” I was referring to her as a Valkyrie.
“You figured out who I am?”
I toyed with the Abyssal Blade Steed’s summoning gem while eyeing her axe.
“Only an idiot wouldn’t. Talathas has never been seen in the world before.”
“Ooh~ Sharp-eyed and clever. I like you more and more.”
“Anyway, give up. I can’t let Shura walk the wrong path.”
Armida’s ears twitched as she rested her chin on her hand. She couldn’t deny it—being strong didn’t automatically make someone a good teacher. If anything, she might ruin Shura’s potential.
“Hmm. You might have a point… but what do I do? I made a bet with that stuck-up friend of mine. Whoever trains the stronger disciple wins.”
“Who?”
“You know—that brat who became a Dung Beetle despite not even being blonde. A first in history.”
I smirked. I had a pretty good guess who she meant.
“Sister, how about this? If Shura needs help mastering Dalaham, you teach her. I’ll teach her the way of the sword. That way, you’re still her teacher.”
“Is that so?”
“But no pilgrimage. That’s not a pilgrimage—it’s child’s play. I hate pointless time-wasters.”
Armida shook her head.
“Can’t do that. I’ve got a friend to find under the guise of the pilgrimage. It’s important.”
“Then it’s even more reason not to go. Do you really think running around everywhere will help?”
“Then what?”
“Make them come to you.”
“That won’t work either. If they come, we’ll all die. They’re… too strong.”
“Ugh, you’re so stubborn. If you go to them, you’ll die even harder. Even a mutt fights hardest on its own turf.”
I wasn’t wrong. There’s a saying: “To catch a tiger, you must enter its den.” But common sense says that’s insane. If you’re hunting a tiger, it’s safer to lure it out.
“Hmm. Now that you mention it…”
“Anyway, I’m done here. I’ve got places to be.”
“Brother. Where are you going?”
“The desert city of Kara.”
“That’s far.”
“Yeah, it’s the best place to live. Follow me or don’t—your choice.”
As we left the shop, Armida hurried after us.
“Brother! Hey—wait up!”
I smirked. Got her. I thought I’d have to fight another Valkyrie, but she was surprisingly easy to trick.
Besides, having her around was like carrying insurance. Valkyries were the most exalted beings in this world.
The Church wouldn’t dare touch me now. The highest religious authorities—the Popes—were her underlings. What more did I need? If she decreed it, even blasphemy or destroying the Divinum Grand Temple would be forgiven.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[Your Text Here]
