novelnext Chapter 177 : Chapter 177
Chapter 177 : Chapter 177
Translator: AkazaTL Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
A classic-style villa in the port city of Visente.
Among the countless villas owned by Zeppelin Gold, one called “The House with a View of the Sea” was famous for the breathtaking scenery visible from its bedroom windows. Even in this wealthy coastal city, known for its tourist appeal, “The House with a View of the Sea” stood out as exceptionally luxurious. Of course, by Zeppelin Gold’s standards, it was “an old, cramped, unimpressive cabin—just good for enjoying the scenery.”
Still, gazing upon the crashing waves and endless horizon never failed to clear his mind. For Zeppelin Gold, who believed that the beauty crafted by human hands could never rival that of nature, this place was a rare retreat.
“Phew…”
But today, unlike usual, Zeppelin Gold sat in the parlor, sighing heavily. Seeing his mood, his personal secretary, Voltimo, spoke up.
“Why do you look so down, sir?”
“…Do I look that way?”
“Yes. You look even more dejected than when you believed that rumor years ago—that Black Herb was good for stamina—and bought it in bulk, only to discover it was nonsense and lost a fortune.”
“……I knew Black Herb wasn’t actually good for stamina. I only bought it because I planned to ride the market trend while the rumor was hot. It’s just that—”
“—You missed the timing to sell at peak price, right?”
“……Yes.”
Zeppelin Gold scratched his head awkwardly, words failing him.
Voltimo smiled brightly at his flustered employer.
“It’s because of Lord Karavan, isn’t it?”
“……”
“You finally rescued him two days ago, but since then he’s locked himself in his room and hasn’t come out once. That’s what’s bothering you, right?”
“Voltimo, did you perhaps study psychology at the Sky Empire University?”
“I did, actually—but I didn’t need any of it to read your face. To these Voltimo eyes, your thoughts are as clear as day.”
“Gasp… Voltimo. I’m beginning to think it’s you, not my brother, who should inherit the Red Bank. To read minds like that!”
At that, Voltimo giggled.
“You do know how to joke.”
“……Anyway, you’re right.”
Zeppelin Gold admitted it honestly.
Just as Voltimo said, two days ago he had dispatched the entire mercenary corps to dig deep underground and rescue Lord Karavan. During the operation, the mercenaries also found the corpse of Ismael, the Great Warrior of Judgement. After entrusting the grievously wounded lord to the priests, Zeppelin Gold suddenly found himself buried under a mountain of work.
Even if the Great Warrior’s side had initiated the fight, it was still a serious matter—people of noble status never took one another’s lives lightly. To have slain one of the holiest figures of the Order of the Cross… that was no trivial incident.
“My head is killing me, in more ways than one.”
To prevent an all-out war, Zeppelin Gold sent an envoy flying the flag of the Black Archipelago to the Order of the Cross. The envoy carried Ismael’s corpse, a generous amount of reparations, and a shipment of war supplies. Astonishingly, the envoy returned the very next day.
“Lord Karavan is one problem, but what’s wrong with them…?”
The Order of the Cross had refused to take back Ismael’s body. Instead, the Crusaders from the Papal Court had drawn their blades and desecrated the corpse on the spot. According to the envoy, they had exploded in fury at the sight, shouting one word in the Southern Continent tongue over and over again—“Traitor.”
Zeppelin Gold couldn’t comprehend it. Even if she had died, she was one of their own. Why mutilate her like that? And why call her a traitor? Was losing a battle considered betrayal now? Or had something happened between Lord Karavan and the Great Warrior? There were far too many questions.
“I just wish the lord would talk.”
Karavan, who surely knew the truth, had said nothing. Since the rescue, he hadn’t uttered a single word. The priests said his physical wounds had fully healed, but he still hadn’t stepped outside his room.
“There’s so much I’d like to know. But badgering someone who fought for his life just two days ago feels… discourteous. And the Order of the Cross—who knows what they’re scheming? My once-stable business suddenly feels full of risk.”
“Like that time five years ago, when a sudden storm overturned the ship carrying your cargo and you lost everything?”
“Yes! Exactly like that. Ah, if only that venture had worked, I’d have made a fortune—no, wait, that’s not the point.”
Zeppelin Gold scratched his head again.
“Anyway, the situation has changed. The port city of Visente, once a secure trading hub, might now turn into a battlefield at any moment. The Order of the Cross hasn’t protested Ismael’s death yet, but people are fickle like the weather. They might suddenly use her death as a pretext to invade. Visente is a strategic point, after all.”
“You’re right.”
“I brought the lord here and began shaping public opinion in Visente’s favor—retreating now would be a huge loss. The Godmother herself once said, ‘War is the oldest business, and the most profitable one.’ My siblings will be jumping in too—I can’t just sit it out.”
He sighed deeply.
“To move forward, I need information. What really happened between Lord Karavan and the Great Warrior of Judgement? If I knew that, I’d understand why the Order is acting so strangely—and how we should respond.”
“Reasonable.”
“But still, I hesitate to ask him directly. He dealt with the Crusaders himself, and then took down the Great Warrior. I did nothing but stand behind him. Damn, I should’ve learned the Gold Sword when I had the chance!”
“Little master, you’ve said ‘I should’ve learned the Gold Sword’ over five hundred times now.”
“Cough, ahem!”
He looked sheepish again. But what could he do? He had no talent for swordsmanship, and above all, he hated sweating and swinging a blade. Making one more gold coin was far more enjoyable. Even the Godmother had told him, “A man must live according to his station. You learning the sword would be a colossal waste of time.”
“Could it be that the lord, shaken by near-death, locked himself in out of fear?”
“The same lord who faced the Rhapsody Legion alone, like a hero?”
“Y-yes, fair point. I’ve seen his resolve myself.”
“Then what could be wrong?”
Voltimo smiled sweetly.
Zeppelin Gold replied gloomily.
“Is it because I’m unreliable, and he’s thinking of breaking our contract?”
“Hm.”
“Or maybe trauma? Being buried underground next to a corpse for half a day… could’ve given him PTSD.”
“Hmmm.”
“Right, right? You think so too? Give me a hint, Voltimo. This business is important. The war between the Order of the Cross and the Holy Empire of the Southern Continent is about to reach its peak—that’s when my role begins. I’ll make the lord a hero, use the other heroes I’ve gathered to shift the tide, and become the key to the southern war. There are plenty of battlefronts brewing—it could become my next big enterprise. So—”
“I don’t know.”
Voltimo’s smile remained bright.
Zeppelin blinked.
“I don’t know. How would I know what someone else is thinking? You just said it yourself—people change like the weather. The only heart I can read is yours, little master.”
“……Even so, I’m not taking you as my sixth wife. It’s hard enough placating the third sometimes.”
“It’d be an honor to be the tenth. Anyway, no matter how long you sit here talking, you can’t read someone’s heart from behind a desk. Even the sages of the Sky Empire can’t do that.”
“Then…?”
“You go ask him yourself, little master.”
Voltimo spread his hands and blinked playfully.
“Go and ask what you need to know.”
“……Do you think he’ll answer?”
“Oh, come now. Have you forgotten what you learned while working as an apprentice at the Red Bank? The basics of business—run on your feet! The first to move is the first to gain. And it’s not ‘will he answer’—you make sure he has to. The world is give and take. If you want something, offer what they want. That’s the foundation of trade, isn’t it?”
“……”
“So, don’t just sit here—go. Cheer up. Even a man selling fruit smiles to sell a single apple. No one buys from a gloomy merchant. Surely you haven’t forgotten the proverb of the ‘Golds,’ have you?”
Zeppelin Gold chuckled.
Yes. If you want something, give what they desire. Though Karavan was his hired mercenary, the man’s duty ended with combat. That much was written clearly in their contract. Thinking of him as a friend might sting a little, but this was no time for sentiment. His essence was not “Zeppelin.”
“…If they want it, give it. And once you’ve given, take what you deserve.”
He was Gold.
“I’ll go, Voltimo.”
“Yes, sir. And don’t worry too much.”
As the gloom on his face faded, a mask slipped over his expression— and his eyes began to shine gold, the light symbolizing the descendants of Gold.
***
It had been two days since I shut myself in the mansion. My mind was still in chaos.
‘Carlos. The Sword of Heaven. The gods’ purpose.’
Too much information. In her final moments, Ismael had said that the goal of the Seven Lords and Nine Goddesses was to annihilate all transcendents—and all who could become transcendent. And in this continent, there was only one kind of being known as a Transcendent—the Swordmasters, those who had reached the end of the sword.
‘So the gods’ goal is to erase all Swordmasters… and even destroy the Five Great Houses that could produce them. Is that really the truth?’
According to everything I knew, the Five Great Houses were beloved by the gods. Born during the Age of War, they maintained order in the mortal world and fulfilled their duties, thus earning their title. Even history books made that clear. Swordmasters were said to be chosen by the gods, divine agents carrying out holy will—some texts even claimed only those chosen by heaven could become Swordmasters.
But the Seven Lords and Nine Goddesses wanted to destroy them?
That was a contradiction.
Why break the most loyal and powerful blades that served them?
Yet one thought rose unbidden.
‘…Hugo Rhapsody.’
The Head of House Rhapsody. What kind of man had he shown himself to be? Did that Swordmaster seem friendly with the gods? No. Before Toma Rhapsody, Hugo had raged like a beast—not a servant of gods, but an enemy. His defiance hadn’t been born in that instant—it was the culmination of years. His words still echoed in my mind:
“Divine favoritism… everything changed after Carlos appeared… I’m tired now… the gods will pay the price for their neglect… the Six Masters’ blades can even reach heaven…”
Hugo Rhapsody had glared directly at the Seven Lords and Nine Goddesses and defied them. Yet he wasn’t punished—only warned. I hadn’t thought much of it then, but now it struck me as strange. Why hadn’t the gods judged him immediately? To preserve the world’s order? No. They couldn’t.
‘Because a Swordmaster’s blade can reach even the gods.’
The House of White had severed Hugo Rhapsody’s arm. They claimed to serve the gods, protecting the northern lands under divine duty. But were all five houses truly loyal to heaven? As Hugo had said, might there not be those disillusioned with the gods? The thought spun around and around in my head.
Then another question struck me.
‘…The Great Five Houses were born in the Age of War, founded by Swordmasters. But among them now, there is no Karavan. So—what house filled the void left by ours?’
I had no way to know. My head pounded with confusion.
What was the gods’ true goal? If Carlos was the Sword of Heaven, an executioner sent by the gods, then had my domain been erased and my loved ones slaughtered solely because of that? If so, was my vengeance not only against Carlos—but against the Seven Lords and Nine Goddesses themselves? Did that mean Carlos intended to kill not only the Karavans but all five houses, and every existing Swordmaster save himself? To erase their legacy from history as he did ours? Could such a thing even be done? No matter how strong he was—could one man truly defeat the five greatest families and the Swordmasters within them…?
My head hurt. It throbbed violently. Everything tangled into doubt—I couldn’t trust anyone. Not even Zeppelin Gold. What if Gold followed the gods’ will? What if his family had been complicit in erasing Karavan? What if his aid had been a long-laid deception?
「…Compose yourself.」
What if Gold had replaced Karavan as a false member of the Five Great Houses? What if he had only pretended to help, waiting to take my life? What was real, and what was false? Was anything around me real? Was Seol Yoon truly my ally? Hadn’t she appeared too conveniently? Could an old enemy truly become a friend? Tom? Could the Hall of Honor’s caretaker really be that kind to me? Hailyn? Audrey? Sancho, who abandoned me only to return? Was there anyone left I could trust? The doubts wouldn’t stop.
「Compose yourself, young descendant.」
“……Ah.”
Through the chaos, I heard Liam’s voice. When I opened my eyes, I found a handful of my own hair clutched in my fist. The unbearable headache and stress had driven me to tear it out myself. My body wasn’t much better—my arms and neck were scratched bloody by my own nails. I wiped the dried blood from my eyes.
“……It’s been a while since I’ve had a headache like this.”
Familiar, in a way. Before I ever held a sword, I often felt like this. A boy who’d lost everything, spending a year alone in a blood-stained, abandoned land, consumed only by revenge. It was a miracle I hadn’t gone insane.
“I’m confused. I can’t fully trust Ismael’s words, but if they’re true, things become complicated.”
「Complicated indeed.」
“If Carlos truly was the gods’ executioner, then my revenge must extend to the Seven Lords and Nine Goddesses themselves. And I’ll need to reevaluate the Five Houses—one of them might have aided in erasing Karavan. If so, they too must face my blade.”
Swordmaster Carlos. What he had done was clear, but his reason remained hidden. If the theory was true—if he was the Sword of Heaven, sent to erase all with potential for transcendence—then it made sense why the strongest blade on the continent had hunted down the fallen Karavan line. As heirs of the First Swordmaster, we would have been intolerable to the gods. Still, it wasn’t a complete explanation.
‘An agent of the gods—why would such a man serve Ian Cherville as his executioner? Too many pieces don’t fit.’
If it wasn’t clear, it could only mean one of two things— either the theory was false, or there was a truth still hidden.
Either way, the goal remained the same. Whether I killed only Carlos, or the houses that helped him, or even the gods themselves, I still had to become a Swordmaster—because only a Swordmaster can kill another.
Only one thing would change, once the truth was revealed:
‘Where my sword will point.’
That was the crucial question. I turned to Liam.
“Master, may I ask you something?”
「What is it?」
“Do you believe the words of Ismael, the Great Warrior?”
「Hmm.」
Liam stroked his chin.
「Her account of the gods’ purpose sounded plausible.」
“You mean—their goal to eliminate all transcendents and those with the potential to transcend. But isn’t that contradictory? Weren’t Swordmasters allies of the gods?”
「Allies, perhaps. Some of the current Swordmasters might still believe that. But do you think the Seven Lords and Nine Goddesses think the same?」
“……”
「Even humans are like this. They pet and adore puppies, but if a grown dog bites and injures someone, they beat it to death. If a wild beast harms a human, they hunt its entire kind to extinction. Humans nurture what poses no threat, but the moment there’s even a chance of harm—they reveal their true nature.」
He smiled faintly.
「Humans cling desperately to life despite their brief century of years. Then what of the Seven Lords and Nine Goddesses—who have lived since the world’s creation?」
“……”
「Look at the elves. Long-lived beings fear death even more, flinching at even a scratch—because they’ve never truly known mortality. They fear anything that brings them closer to it.」
Fear. A strange word to describe “gods.”
「Since the creation of the First Land, they’ve never known wounds or death. For ages beyond measure, they lived in eternity. And then, during the Age of War—they met me.」
“……”
「They realized that a being capable of killing them could exist. Can you imagine their terror at that moment? No, you can’t. And even now, they’ve never forgotten that fear. Though centuries have passed since the Age of War, to the Seven Lords and Nine Goddesses, centuries are but an instant—like a day or two to mortals.」
He looked me in the eyes.
「I once saw something curious in the Sky Empire. A woman walking her cat—and she had pulled out all its claws, filed down its teeth until soft. When I asked why, she said she feared being scratched or bitten. Her dog, too, had its vocal cords cut—she said its barking frightened her.」
“……”
「Swordmasters are to the gods what claws and fangs are to that cat. The gods don’t merely wish to dull the blades that could wound them—they wish to tear them out forever. I assure you, they do not want Swordmasters to exist. Ever.」
Liam’s eyes glowed faintly.
「I met the Seven Lords and Nine Goddesses. I pointed my sword at them in the heavens. Believe me, they have not forgotten my blade—and never will.」
Spoken by the one who had shown the gods the true danger of a Swordmaster— there was no reason to doubt it. It made sense why they would seek to destroy not only Swordmasters but also their bloodlines and potential heirs. From their perspective, it was the only logical move.
Now, the remaining question concerned Carlos and the Sword of Heaven. Was he truly that being? If so, why was he serving as Ian Cherville’s executioner? What could he gain from standing beside him? That part remained shrouded.
「As for the Sword of Heaven—I know little.」
“……”
「You’d have to ask your other ancestors. In my era, such a being didn’t exist. And even if it had… honestly, I wouldn’t remember.」
“You wouldn’t remember? What do you mean?”
「I was too strong back then.」
Too strong? It sounded absurd—yet I soon understood.
「…Young descendant, you remember Seol Yoon and the Rhapsody heir, yes? But do you recall every uninvited guest who came to your domain, every swordsman you cut down in a single stroke?」
“Well, no, I suppose not… wait—don’t tell me—”
「That’s how it was for me.」
Liam Karavan. The First Swordmaster. And.
「After attaining complete Steel, whether they were street duelist, Sword Walker, Sword Runner, Sword Expert, or even Swordmaster—they all felt the same.」
The strongest Swordmaster in history.
「So, seek your answer elsewhere.」
“Elsewhere? Where—”
「Ah, he’s coming.」
Coming? I thought he was joking—then, from outside the door, came a knock.
“My lord?”
Zeppelin Gold’s voice.
“My lord, may I come in?”
Hmm. I didn’t want to open it just yet. My thoughts were still tangled. After learning that Carlos was the Sword of Heaven and hearing of the gods’ purpose, suspicion had consumed me—rational and irrational alike. At that point, I was practically a paranoid madman. Meeting anyone like this would be difficult.
「Do not worry.」
Liam’s voice was calm.
「Any house might concern you—but not Gold.」
“……And you’re sure of that?”
「There is one among the Golds who has lived since the Age of War, is there not?」
His tone grew solemn.
「Among those who survived that era, not one Swordmaster would ever side with the Seven Lords and Nine Goddesses. Not one.」
If my master said so, I could believe it.
「Besides, Gold will be of help to you.」
“Help—as in financial support?”
「No. I mean their true power.」
True power?
「The golden blood flowing in their veins—the power far greater than wealth or information. The divine heritage of Gold: the Golden Authority.」
“……”
「The world believes it to be an eye for value—a knack for finding pearls in the mud. But that’s only a fraction of its essence. The true nature of the Golden Authority is ‘the power to find what is needed most in this moment.’ During the Age of War, the lesser beings spoke of it in awe, calling it—‘The Golden Star.’」
What I needed most, now. Did that mean Zeppelin Gold could find the truth of the Sword of Heaven, Carlos’s secrets, the gods’ plans? I wondered, but Liam chuckled.
「I can read your thoughts easily. No, young one—that’s not what you need right now. Those are things you’ll learn someday, but not yet.」
“Then what…?”
「First, you must earn a qualification. Equal standing with those you’ve named your enemies.」
Qualification.
「You heard the voice as you neared the Southern Continent, didn’t you? A distant descendant of Gold will lead you to it.」
“……A new sword.”
「Yes, young one. It’s about time, isn’t it?」
He was right. Secrets, hidden truths, knowledge of my enemies—those were all important. But none of them would change the present. To use that knowledge, I had to grow stronger.
「It’s time to eat a new sword, young descendant.」
As always— The Karavan way.