Volume 1 epilogue (1/2)

Volume 1 epilogue

After the battle with the mutated Killer Ape, investigations were conducted and by the time we were released, the sun was about to set. Towards the end of the investigation, word was received that the guild master was finally apprehended. That is to be expected, since he and Phil were the ones pursuing him. Borrowing Til’s shoulder, we somehow managed to return to the inn where quickly washed up before going to bed as we were all exhausted.

Suddenly, I felt an intense blood lust and got out of bed.

[Honestly, is this how you greet someone?] (Youya)

After grabbing a change of clothes, I grabbed my sword and left the room.

It would appear that we have an unexpected visitor.

.

.

.

I headed towards the back of the inn alone to meet the guy who emitted a large amount of blood lust towards my room.

[What is with you, being all stealthy like this. How about showing your face for once? Since we are on the same side, we don’t have to hide things from one another.] (Youya)

When Phil went after the guildmaster, she wasn’t alone. There was a handsome youth in his mid-twenties with silver hair extending to his shoulder wearing a mask. At a glance, it would look like he is an old man. However, if you look carefully, the person carries the air of a dignified swordsman that has zero openings.

[It’s been a long time. Teacher.] (Masked Man)

[You don’t have to be so polite with an old man like me, hero..Leonard.] (Youya)

It is the hero Leonard. One of the only men who managed to conquer the Tower of Trials that has a 2% survival rate, increasing his level limit to 70 and becoming stronger than anyone can hope to be. A man who could be said to be the strongest adventurer. A disciple who had everything drilled into him by me. This is our first meeting in ten years.

[No matter how much the circumstances has changed, you are the master whom I respect, and the teacher who guided me back when I was a reckless young youth..and my important friend.] (Leonard)

[Don’t you have a grudge towards me for what I’ve done?] (Youya)

[Of course not. Back then I knew that teacher’s decision was the correct one. Or rather, it was me that was stupid. Because of my actions, my teacher abandoned me and Phil decided to leave. Once I matured, I finally conquered the Tower of Trials.] (Leonard)

The Leonard standing before me feels completely different from the Leonard that I remember. Just what did he experience this past decade?

[I was watching the entire time. From the audience seat. It was an amazing fight. But aren’t you being too cruel teacher? This whole time you have never showed me such a technique.] (Leonard)

[It’s been ten years since we last met you know. Even I can learn a trick or two in ten years. And about that, if you were in the audience then you could had lent a hand in the battle a little earlier. Letting me, a level 20 adventurer to battle that monster all on my own.] (Youya)

[I thought about lending a hand, but despite being level 20, my teacher was as strong as I remember back when he was level 50, with skills that were even stronger. I would never give up the opportunity to observe such wonderful swordsmanship either. As expected of teacher, you are amazing. Even with the title “Sword Hero”, I’m still nowhere close to my teacher’s level. It’s frustrating.] (Leonard)

Note: the original name for sword hero is 剣技, which sounds a lot like swordsmanship / technique

I was caught red-handed.

I felt intense blood lust coming out from Leonard.

[I came to this town today for the sake of meeting Phil once more. Lyle received a message from the guildmaster in this town that Phil is currently living in this town, and told me about it. Once I heard about it, I didn’t stop until I got here.] (Leonard)

That guildmaster. Did he seriously dig his own grave?

He went out of his way to showcase the power of his monsters, just to let Leonard come out and arrest him by giving out Phil’s location? That is unexpected.

[I thought that if it was the current me, then there was a chance that Phil would accept me. However, I miscalculated. I had forgotten about my own teacher after 10 years. Unfortunately my teacher reunited with Phil before I did. The teacher who was superior to me in every aspect except for swordsmanship. And although it wasn’t easy to catch Phil’s affection. You did it just by reuniting with her earlier than I did, isn’t that too cruel?] (Leonard)

Leonard’s hand started to grip the sword on his waist.

[Your blood lust has been growing stronger for a while now. Are you thinking that you can win Phil’s heart just by killing me? It seems that you have changed quite a bit this past ten years.] (Youya)

The possibility of me beating Leonard in the current situation is impossible.

He is a genius who managed to master all my techniques and even improved them further. In addition his level was raised to 70 thanks to the Tower of Trial.

[I do. However, the way I am right now, I will completely overwhelm teacher. That is why I have a request. One year from now, we will have a battle to the death. So please do your best to become stronger from now on. A year from now, I will steal every technique and skill that you possess and become the true “Sword Hero”. Then I will steal Phil’s heart. After all, I’ve managed to obtain everything I ever wanted after teacher left.] (Leonard)

That wasn’t a joke. He is serious in killing me.

[Even if you kill me, there is no way that Phil ever falls for you,] (Youya)

[Ahahahaha. Don’t worry about that. I have my ways of forcing her into submission. It doesn’t matter what she feels. Right now at least. I understand it now. It’ll never work because teacher is here. It’s uncool of me to be inferior to my teacher isn’t it? Teacher, I’ll take my leave. I look forward to seeing you again.] (Leonard)

Leonard turned and walked into the night.

He was always this hard-headed even back then, but he wasn’t like this. Just what happened to him to make him change this much?

Regardless, there is something I have to do. When a disciple strays from the right path, it’s the master’s job to bring him back. A year from now, I will beat him down with my full strength.

.

.

.

Several days have passed since my reunion with Leonard.

Due to the incident caused by the guild master, the entire guild was suspended, making it impossible to enter dungeons or to accept quests. Rather than sitting idly, I’ve been spending this time training with Luna and Til without entering the dungeons.

The guild master’s intention was discovered as a result of the investigations. After advertising the ability to evolve and control a monster in the Colosseum, he planned to escape from the town and make a living selling monsters. He thought that he would be able to escape due to having three monsters on par with the mutated Killer Ape as his bodyguards, however it was thanks to his unusual bodyguards that he was discovered and eventually defeated by Phil and the hero Leonard.

[He was a nuisance until the very end huh.] (Youya)

Causing a national scandal during the festival, ruining the event and incurring the hate of the people. Even adventurers were unable to hold in their anger and stress towards the guildmaster. His plan was to hold the audience hostage and force the adventurers in the event to make the decision to escape with their life, leaving the hostages to die and displaying the disgusting personalities of adventurers . Simultaneously, he would prepare his escape while the mutated Killer Ape would display it’s strength by battling Phil or Leonard who would be attracted by the noise.

Furthermore, in order to ensure the plan’s success, he leaked the information about Phil’s whereabouts to her former party member, the Thief Lyle in order to lure Leonard here and created a situation where a novice adventurer would have to either escape from the arena or defeated by the monster.

[His well-thought and meticulous plan was ruined.. By me huh.] (Youya)

Not only did I choose to stay without abandoning the audience, I even defeated the mutated Killer Ape which possessed overwhelming power. The public image of adventurers was protected by a “novice” adventurer who chose to confront the monster with overwhelming strength, even ruining his display of power by defeating the monster. His bodyguards were also easily defeated, resulting in his arrest. In the end, even if he managed to escape, his plan wouldn’t had succeeded. Everything turned out near perfect for us. However, afterwards it was discovered that the guildmaster was assassinated in the prison, most likely by his collaborators to prevent any information from leaking out. This confirmed to us that the true threat hasn’t been eliminated, and there were more people with the similar ability to evolve monsters.

[Luna, Til, it’s about time to take a break.] (Youya)

[Uhn. I understand.] (Luna)

[My throat is soo dry, I want a cold drink~.] (Til)