Summoning the Holy Sword

Emily turned to the voice of support and saw ‘Miss Seren’ emerging from the crowd haughtily with her two maids. Everything seemed as per usual. But… Emily sensed that something was off.

There was something different from this ‘Miss Seren’.

When they first met, Emily felt that ‘Miss Seren’ was knowledgeable and outspoken, which all merchants must be. Otherwise, how did one expect their business to be successful if the customers didn’t like the words that one says?

Back then, Emily had always felt at ease being around ‘Miss Seren’. But now, ‘Miss Seren’s’ sweet-tempered personality had suddenly become cunning, tough, and overbearing. Emily realized that this was the arrogance of the Country of Light people. When they were escaping to the surface, Emily felt safe being with ‘Miss Seren’ and she didn’t feel vexed no matter the predicament. To her, everything would be fine with ‘Miss Seren’ taking charge.

But now, Emily couldn’t feel the sense of security from ‘Miss Seren’ anymore. Instead, all Emily felt were the slyness and arrogance from her as though she were a dangerous person.

It was indescribable by words. Emily felt as if the solid ground beneath her feet had transformed into a frozen lake with cracks spreading wildly on its surface. It was as though if she moved an inch, the frozen lake would crumble entirely and she would be completely devoured by the bone-piercing, cold river.

‘Miss Seren’ walked at a slow pace and Emily could see the shapeless ‘ice’ rippling in her every step and shrouding the entire plaza. Even though it was a stifling hot night, Emily felt chills all over her body. The bone-piercing chills struck her spine like an upward flowing lightning bolt. There was an instant when she wished to return to the Trade Association and cover herself in the fur clothing that was pressed underneath the chests and drink a cup of warm red tea to dispel this torturous chilliness.

The Howard Trade Association members stopped cursing in rage. Their hearts pounded violently and they stared at the ‘woman’ fixedly with pale expressions like the blizzard of the North was blustering and engulfing them entirely. They could even feel the snow accumulating around their feet and every inch of their bodies was frozen to the spot.

“As merchants, empty promises are undesirable. No matter how extravagant you describe your merchandise to your customers, your customers should at least see, touch, and obtain the value of it. Only swindlers behave in this manner. Why don’t we take a look at the merchandise since everyone has been hard-selling it?”

“I can!” A man let out a thunderous bellow.

He emerged from the back in big strides and glared at Rhode coldly with eyes emanating flames of rage. An Elf young lady in a Mage robe stood beside him with her hands folded, quietly gazing to the front.

Who were they praying to survive that…

Rhode twitched his brows and swept the grounds for the mercenaries who were in the underground with them.

“May I know who you…” Rhode lifted his chin and looked at the man disdainfully.

“I didn’t know you had such a poor memory, Miss Seren.”

“I’m sorry, but I really don’t know your name.”

“…”

Indeed, he didn’t introduce himself when they first met because, back then, the lesser the complications the better for him. But now, the rage in his heart burned stronger after he was provoked by her and especially after he recalled Uncle Raul’s pitiful state before he died. He wished that he could kill her on the spot, but his rationale held him back… On the other hand, the elderly man who was intimidated by Rhode’s aura came back to his senses. Perhaps witnessing that his reinforcements were here, he retreated behind the man hurriedly. “This is Mr. Andre. He is a student of the ‘Thunder Sword’ Sir Soderfast. I think you are aware of who he is, right, Miss Seren?”

“Oh?”

Of course, Rhode knew who this ‘Thunder Sword’. Even though the Light Parliament had produced a bunch of weak-minded ones, there were also quite a handful of powerful men. However, not all the powerful men would serve the Light Parliament devotedly as that pitiful Mist Sword Saint. The ‘Thunder Sword’ Soderfast was one of the eight guardians of the ‘Sword Guardians’. He had a strange personality and paid no attention to the affairs of life. But even so, he had a flourishing reputation all around the continent.

The ‘Sword Guardians’ organization was established by the descendants of a country that was destroyed a long time ago. The eight guardians of this organization individually protected the eight weapons left behind by the ancient nation. Rumors said that when eight men qualified for the weapons that appeared, an ancient nation would re-emerge. Of course, this was simply a background introduction of this organization in the forums. Rhode had never seen the re-emergence of this nation and players failed to search for the eight weapons. But he remembered that Neptune’s Sigh was one of them…

It seems that this man was the heir of the Neptune’s Sigh that Soderfast has been searching for? Interesting. I didn’t hear about this man in the game.

This thought flashed in his mind for a mere second. After all, his emergence in this world had changed it. The experiences he had gained in the game were for his reference and couldn’t be relied upon as evidence. Andre laughed grimly at Rhode’s silence and he strode forward. “I swear with my identity and my teacher’s honor that this underground mess was created by this lady here, and she has awakened the monsters!!”

“Ah… This…”

Although the merchants usually deal with black and white documentation, they knew that it had the same effects as long as the people involved swore in their honor. As Soderfast’s student, this man surely wouldn’t throw Soderfast’s honor out in the open and lie! Could it be that…

“Huhuhu…”

At this moment, a series of crisp laughter sounded. Rhode placed the opened fan by his mouth. “This is interesting, Mr. Andre. Real interesting.”

“What’s interesting?!” Andre snarled with crooked brows.

Rhode continued. “According to you, I headed into the underground and awakened the monsters. In other words… I’ve premeditated it?”

“… Yes.” The man hesitated for a second and nodded swiftly.

Rhode’s smile widened after hearing his response. “That’s interesting… According to you, if I’ve premeditated everything before entering the underground, how did you witness my every action, Mr. Andre? Is it possible that you were just taking a walk and bumped into me by chance? Did you recognize the wrong person?”

“You—!” Andre was stricken into silence and he pointed at Rhode grudgingly.

Rhode placed his right finger on his lips and squinted. His eyes gleamed coldly. “… Do you really intend to do that, Mr. Andre?”

A distinct voice sounded in his ears. “Surely you wouldn’t think that you can convict me based on such senseless accusations, right? But, so what if you did? What’s the purpose? You want to seek revenge? Right here? I don’t have any objections, but…”

Rhode glanced to the crowd. “If you don’t mind me turning this place into a blood river, I will gladly play along until the end with you. These people seem to trust you a lot, Mr. Andre. But I’m not sure if they’re willing to pay the price with their lives.”

“You…!” Andre clenched his fist subconsciously.

At the same time, Rhode approached him with a generous smile. “This is a warning… Mr. Andre. Sir Soderfast deserves respect, but it’s a pity that I’ve something later, so I hope you won’t hinder me… Besides, you don’t wish to lose that woman behind you, right?”

“…”

Andre flinched and drew a distance away hurriedly from ‘Miss Seren’s’ beautiful face. He clenched his fists and glared fumingly, reaching out to the Neptune’s Sigh subconsciously. However, he came to a stop after witnessing the crowd around him.

He believed that this vicious young lady was capable of doing it. If he attacked now, she would surely annihilate the people around him without a doubt. Andre had sensed her powerful strength from their previous clash and he could barely defeat her with his Neptune’s Sigh.

If this breaks out into a fight, can I protect the people around me? But, do I give up on seeking revenge for Uncle Raul and the others? But… I can’t drag these innocent people in…

The man pondered in silence. In the end, he gritted his teeth, let out a helpless sigh and turned around. “Maybe I’ve seen the wrong person… Cheryl, let’s go!”

“Eh? … Okay.” The Elf Mage revealed a look of astonishment and nodded thereafter, leaving together with the man.

At this moment, ‘Miss Seren’s’ melodious voice once again sounded. “It seems that our misunderstanding has been resolved, Mr. Andre. Alright then, I wish you well.”

I will definitely… seek this revenge!

Andre clasped his sword hilt and decided firmly.

You won’t be this lucky next time!