129 Chapter 129: Sword Sain (1/2)

”The Sword Saint, huh?” I repeated with a nod. I had heard of the title before. It was granted to the most skilled swordsman or swordswoman of the era. But this girl…even though she was undoubtedly skilled with a sword, I had seen far more skilled and superior swordsman.

She couldn't even hold a candle to my dad.

”What's with that look of disbelief?” Kureha Franklin demanded. ”I can show you the certification, you know! I have it somewhere…”

She began rummaging for her smartphone, and then beamed a holographic projection that displayed her certificate that declared her as the eighty-ninth Sword Saint of the Franklin family.

”I don't doubt that.” I frowned. ”But I find it hard to believe that you are the most skilled swordswoman in the Global Federation. Forgive me for being rude, but I have seen swordsmen more proficient than you are”

”Ah, well…” Kureha suddenly blushed a deep red. ”I may be the Sword Saint, but I'm not the most skilled swordswoman in the Federation.”

”…say what?”

”It's just a title. To say that I inherited the Franklin sword style, and completely mastered it. That's all.”

I was suddenly reminded of all the techniques that Shawn Franklin used, and the cheesy names of those techniques. I imagined Kureha shouting out those names, and couldn't help but stifle some laughter.

”What's so funny?!” Kureha demanded.

”No, nothing. Sorry.” I suppressed a chuckle and tried to look serious. ”That's what the Sword Saint title is for? It's specific only to the Franklin family?”

”Well…yes.” Kureha sulked. ”The Franklin sword style is known to be the most beautiful form of swordsmanship in the world. The Franklin family is the strongest house of swordsmen, and one of the ten great families who is feared by the others. We are known by the name, the Sword of the Global Federation. Our lineage has given birth to men and women dedicated only to polishing their swordsmanship. We are the Blade Gods and Goddesses who stand in defense of the Global Federation, ready to cut down any foe who dares bare their fangs at us.”

”…uh, okay.” That sounded grand and all, but I wasn't sure if it matched the reality. If this girl was the current Sword Saint of the strongest house of swordsmen in the Federation, then we were pretty much fucked.

Kureha caught sight of my disbelieving expression, and she looked even more embarrassed, squirming under my gaze.

”Okay…I'm the Sword Saint of my generation. I'm not the only Sword Saint in my family. My mother is also the Sword Saint, and so is my grandmother. It's just that…I succeeded the Sword Saint title ahead of Cousin Shawn, before he was…” She trailed away. I didn't press her. After all, I personally witnessed his death with my own eyes.

Then she brightened up.

”But…but! I've often been told that I'm the greatest genius in the history of the Franklin family! That I will surpass my mother in five years! Give me some time and I'll prove it on the battlefield!”

”You already proved your skill earlier,” I assured her. ”Not many girls your age can fight off so many professional mages singlehandedly. I can tell you that I would never be able to cut down so many magical projectiles with a sword alone.”

That was true, because I wasn't really a swordsman. I was a summoner, so obviously I wouldn't be able to polish my swordsmanship to its pinnacle.

”Speaking of which, why were all those guys after you? They looked like they were trying to kill you.” I scowled as I folded my arms. ”And they even attacked me when I poked my head out of the door. Are they some kind of criminal organization or something?”

Kureha turned solemn. ”They were sent to assassinate me.”

”Assassins? Those guys?” I burst out laughing. Kureha gave me a look of astonishment. I wiped the tears from my eyes as I chortled. ”Sorry, but I've seen amateurs who do the job much better than them. They may be professional mages, but they are in no way assassins.If that's what they're calling themselves, then they're insulting the vocation.”

”They're not professional assassins,” Kureha conceded. ”But they were still formidable enemies.”

”That I don't doubt,” I admitted, remembering how easily and quickly they overcame Aries, Capricorn and Taurus. Granted, there were a dozen of them, but even then, to obliterate three of my Constellation spirits in such a short time was no mean feat. ”Do you have any idea who sent them after you? A rival great family, perhaps?”

Honestly, it was none of my business, but I allowed my curiosity to get the better of me. Better to know than to remain ignorant. I might even be able to use these politics between the great families to my own advantage.

”Or perhaps an underground organization? A criminal syndicate?” I continued when Kureha didn't reply immediately.

The Franklin family, according to her, was a house of swordsmen, after all. It was inevitable that they would clash against underground organizations and criminal syndicates while carrying out their duties to protect the Global Federation. I had no doubt that they had made plenty of enemies along the way while swinging their swords to cut down foes of the Federation.

However, Kureha shook her head.

”No…these men…they were most likely sent by my own family. Or to be more accurate, my relatives.”

”…what?”

Now I didn't expect that. I stared at Kureha in surprise.

”Your relatives?”

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”There's fierce competition between the various families in House Franklin,” Kureha explained sadly. ”If I die, then one of my other cousins will get the Sword Saint title. My uncles and aunts must be aiming for that.” she hardened her gaze. ”Especially after Cousin Shawn's death. He was the next in line to get the Sword Saint title after me, so before then, they had not much of a reason to eliminate him. But ever since his death, these…attacks began growing more frequent.”