Chapter 66 (2/2)

It is a jet-black, one-handed sword of hideous and terrifying design.

Even just looking at it gives me chills.

”You can't use a sacred sword unless you take it off its pedestal, but a demonic sword is different. Anyone can use it and become its owner.”

”What happens if the owner dies?”

”It comes back here. It's the same as the sacred sword in that regard.”

I rose from my throne and picked up my demon sword.

I grabbed the hilt and tried to pull it out of the holster, but quickly stopped myself.

The sacred sword has had its trials. It is normal to think that the demonic sword also has them.

Lisa knew what I was thinking, so she gave me a brief explanation.

”There is only one test for the demon sword. It is to draw the sword from its sheath. However, a pain more terrible than death will try to prevent you from doing so.”

”I just have to take it out? It's easy.”

Klank

I began to draw the sword quickly.

I immediately felt a tremendous pain throughout my body.

”Ahhhhhhhhhh!? Waaaaahhhhhhh!!!”

Plank

I dropped the sword and crouched on my knees.

An unpleasant sweat broke out all over my body.

It was as if I had submerged my body in lava, or rather, as if I had been naked and exposed to extreme cold.

Is it really something a person can endure?

This is, in fact, hell.

”I forgot to mention that the more you pull the sword out, the more painful it becomes. You can pull it out once, but it's better not to do it again. It will probably break your spirit.”

”I need time.”

”Sure, have as much fun as you want.”

I was left alone in a room Lisa gave me.

”Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

Plank

I dropped the sword again.

I wonder how many times I've done this.

Wouldn't it be better to forget about the demonic sword and strengthen myself by other means?

But Lisa said that no one will follow a hero who is not the owner of the demon sword.

In this dark realm, power is everything, and the symbol of that power is the demonic sword.

Those who cannot use a demon sword are not accepted by the demon race.

In order to make an appearance here, I must first successfully weild this demonic sword.

But it is incredibly painful and agonizing.

It's so painful that I want to drop everything and run away right now.

”I'm not going to stop... I am a hero, a hero who will take over the world and all it has to offer. Toru, I'm going to show you who you've made your enemy.”

I grabbed the sword again and quickly pulled it out of its sheath.

”Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

A horrifying pain ran through my whole body, and for a moment my vision went blank.

”Congratulations, Sain.”

I must have fainted and fallen backwards. And when I came to, I saw Lisa with a big smile on her face standing over me.

I felt a sword in my right hand.

I have taken it out.

”It's more than I could have imagined. I thought you'd give up sooner.”

”Don't be silly...”

”That's not true. In fact, the one I gave you was one of the strongest demon swords. Throughout the history of the world, there are only about nine people who have been able to pull it off, which means Sain is the tenth.”

I sat and thought about it for a moment.

The most powerful of all demon swords?

What is it?

”Unlike the Sacred Sword, the Demon Sword has its own rank. The Sixth General possesses the second from above. That one is a very powerful sword.”

”Did you trick me?”

”That's not true. If you were to become prejudiced of its power, then you wouldn't be able to pull it out. I didn't dare tell you because I was thinking about your well being Sain, and it was hard for me.”

Lisa hugged me.

....Hmm, okay.

Results are everything to me.

As long as I can get the strongest sword among all the demon swords, the rest doesn't matter.

”Does this mean I've surpassed Toru?”

”I don't know. I don't have the assessment skill, so I don't know his level. If he's that strong, he'll probably come to the Dark Realm, and then we can check it out.”

”...Will Toru come here?”

”Since the nations don't have a hero to fight the demon king, they'll have to find a replacement, and I think the Manyu Brigade are the most qualified for the job, so they will be chosen. At least, that's what I would do.”

Toru's face looking at me crossed my mind.

That damned nuisance was looking at me with those eyes of contempt.

I will not forgive you. I will make it very clear who is above whom.

Toru, I will kill you.