Chapter 307: Honcheon Sword (6)

As Louis stared at the sword in a trance, Guff approached him.

“Hey, kid.”

Louis turned his gaze toward Guff’s gruff voice.

Guff’s face looked utterly exhausted, as if he had aged a decade in just a month. Yet his eyes burned with an intensity brighter than ever before.

“My part is done. Keep your promise.”

If you forge the Honcheon Sword, Guff had promised, and use it to defeat Kaiders, I will break the blood-bound chains that bind the dwarves.

Remembering this vow, Louis nodded firmly.

“Don’t worry, Mister. I’ll keep my word. Don’t you know the Trusting Dragon?”

“Trust between me and dragons vanished long ago. I’m helping you only because being betrayed one more time can’t make things any worse.”

“Yeah, yeah. Sure, you would.”

Guff sighed as he watched Louis dismiss his sharp retort with a shrug.

“Anyway, what about the Soul?”

“Ah, that? I’m already working hard on extracting it.”

“Extracting? You mean the Soul?”

“Yeah, that’s a thing.”

Explaining this would require Louis to reveal everything—from Wang Cheolsoo’s existence to the random gacha box. So he deliberately kept his answer vague.

Guff didn’t press for details. His part in this was already done.

“Do as you please. I’ve forged the sword. Whether you use it to slit Kaiders’ throat or dig your own grave is your business. But remember this…”

”…?”

“The Honcheon Sword isn’t an ordinary blade. It chooses its owner. It’s a haughty child, so ordinary owners won’t meet its standards.”

“Another thing: a dragon can never become its master.”

“Why not?”

“If you imbue it with a dragon’s soul, the weapon to slay dragons will be complete. From that moment on, the Honcheon Sword will reject any dragon.”

“So, it’s like opposite extremes? The Honcheon Sword rejects dragons precisely because it’s a dragon-slaying weapon?”

“You could think of it that way.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Search carefully. The Honcheon Sword will likely react when its true owner appears. Though… finding an owner who meets its standards won’t be easy, will it? Kluk.”

Louis chuckled, seeing the glint of “good luck with that” in Guff’s eyes.

“Don’t worry about that. Its owner has already been chosen.”

In the original work, the Honcheon Sword had selected Kendrick as its master without the slightest hesitation.

In truth, Kendrick was practically destined to be the Honcheon Sword’s owner from the start.

“No one could wield it better than him.”

Kendrick was only thirty-five years old.

Yet no swordmaster in the Human Realm could surpass him.

Though he hadn’t broken through the Wall of Zero, he was poised to shatter it and reach rank zero the moment the opportunity arose.

If not him, who else could become the owner of the Honcheon Sword?

Seeing Louis’s smug expression, Guff’s face twisted in displeasure.

“I’m off to rest now,” Guff grumbled as he stomped out of the cave.

After Guff left, Genelocer approached Louis.

“Louis, I have something to tell you.”

Seeing his unusually serious demeanor, Louis tilted his head curiously.

“What is it?”

“The ice wall surrounding Maha is thinning.”

”…?!”

Louis’s face stiffened as he listened to the story.

“And I conveyed the information you shared earlier to the Elder Council… They’ve made a decision.”

”…What decision?”

“If the ice wall breaks completely, that moment would be exactly what Kaiders has been waiting for.”

”…”

“Therefore, before the ice wall around Maha thins any further, all dragons will be summoned, except in special cases.”

“A full-scale assault?”

“Yes. If we have to fight anyway… the Elders believe we should choose the timing.”

“Ah…”

Louis let out a small sigh and nodded.

The ice wall around Maha is thinning… That means Kaiders might reappear soon.

If the ice wall were to shatter completely, it might mean that Kaiders, who had imprisoned himself to achieve some goal, had finally accomplished his purpose.

Therefore, the Elders believed it was better to confront Kaiders directly and disrupt his plans rather than wait passively for the ice wall to break.

It was a natural decision.

As Louis nodded with a hardened expression, Genelocer continued his explanation.

“Furthermore, your role in this attack is crucial.”

“Am I leading the vanguard?”

“Though the barrier is weakening, it remains difficult to breach. You may be the only one capable of piercing the weakened barrier.”

Genelocer’s roundabout phrasing merely confirmed that Louis would indeed lead the vanguard.

Of course, Louis had no intention of refusing this role.

I was already timing my move… and the Elders are setting the stage for me.

A summons for all dragons, except in special cases.

Where else could they find reinforcements stronger than these?

This might be the first and last chance to kill Kaiders.

It’s time to settle this long-standing, twisted karma.

The only regret was not having fully completed the Honcheon Sword.

Well, there’s still time.

Perhaps Wang Cheolsoo could extract his soul within the next few days, completing the Honcheon Sword.

It was too early to despair.

Having sorted his thoughts, Louis turned to Genelocer.

“When does the plan begin?”

“In two days.”

”…That’s sooner than I expected.”

“It’s only taking that long because we need two days to prepare. Your impatient grandfather was clamoring to attack today.”

“Well, that’s Grandfather for you. Anyway, it’s in two days, right? I need to prepare some things too…”

Louis, who was about to leave, paused and looked at Genelocer.

“Come to think of it, Father,”

“Hmm?”

“Are you participating this time?”

“Of course. How could an Elder like me possibly stay out of it?”

“But… what about Ariana?”

“Hailin has agreed to take care of her. She said she’ll be responsible for her until your mother wakes up.”

“The Twins’ Aunt?” Louis’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

For a dragon to entrust their child to someone else—or to care for another’s offspring—was highly unusual.

This must mean the situation is even worse than I thought…

Seeing Louis’ darkening expression, Genelocer smiled gently.

“How could a father just stand by while his son risks his life in battle?”

”…Don’t push yourself too hard. Remember Ariana is here too.”

“Don’t worry. This old man still has plenty of fight left in him. My skills haven’t dulled a bit!”

The father and son exchanged smiles. Louis’s gaze then shifted to the Twins.

“You two, try not to cause too much trouble.”

“Are you calling us kids?”

“We know when to go wild and when to stay put, you know?”

Louis shook his head at their indignant shouts.

I’d bet my entire fortune those two will never grow up.

That much, at least, he was absolutely certain of.

He waved his hand dismissively.

“I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Where are you going again? Aren’t you already stretched too thin these days?”

“Nowhere special…”

The pout in Kani’s voice tugged the corners of Louis’s lips upward.

“I’m going to find the sword’s owner.”

With that, Louis’s figure vanished before anyone could stop him.

Upon returning to the Great Wall, Louis summoned his people.

He had personally brought the Tower of Wishes party and Pablo himself.

The massive tent overflowed with those who had answered Louis’s summons.

Among them were the three Grand Masters of the Tower of Wishes;

Pablo, representing the Order of the Divine Body and the Frenche Empire;

Lokan VII, Guardian of the Great Wall;

The Crown Prince of the Dominant Empire, representing the various nations of the Winter Continent;

And the Dragon Slayer Party from the original work, united around Kendrick.

As Louis’s gaze swept over the assembled group, it paused momentarily on Jerome.

Seeing that Jerome had reclaimed the Sea God’s Bow from Tania and slung it across his shoulder, Louis concluded that the matter with Abel had been resolved.

Louis chuckled inwardly and opened his mouth to speak.

“I’ve gathered you here to share a story,” Louis began softly, recounting the tales of Maha and Kaiders.

They must know, even if no one else does.

Each of them represented a crucial asset. Only by knowing the truth could they prepare for the possibility of a prolonged war.

As the lengthy tale concluded, reactions split into two camps.

“Hmph… A dragon? So those creatures really exist after all.”

“Not just any dragon—the legendary Dragon King himself, the one from ancient tales.”

Those unaware of Louis’s draconic nature were stunned to learn that the enemy lurking in Maha was a dragon.

“Ahem…”

“Hmm…”

Those who knew Louis was a dragon fell silent.

It was then that Lokan VII spoke up.

“So, what’s our plan now, Priest? You must have gathered us here for a reason.”

“Wait.”

“Wait?”

“War is coming soon.”

“What?! Then we need a plan even more urgently!”

“You’ll understand what I mean in a few days.”

At those words, some tilted their heads, completely clueless about his intentions.

But the perceptive ones, especially those who knew Louis was a dragon, realized the situation was far more dire than they’d imagined. Their faces hardened.

Despite some further commotion, the day’s meeting concluded smoothly.

As everyone rose to leave, Louis called out:

“Floria, Douglas, Erica, Pablo, Kendrick, Tania.”

“You all, come see me.”

Every individual Louis had summoned knew he was a dragon.

As everyone else filed out, Louis turned to those who remained and spoke.

“In two days, all dragons will be summoned to war. Against the Kaiders.”

”…”

The news was somewhat shocking, yet the remaining individuals showed no outward reaction, as if they had anticipated it.

Only Tania clenched her fists tightly.

“Will you… be participating in this war, Teacher?”

“Of course. A capable dragon like me can’t afford to sit this out.”

“Then… please take me with you.”

”…”

“I followed you in the first place to fight the Mad Dragon alongside you. I’m not sure if this Kaiders thing is the Mad Dragon or not, but if it’s your fight… I’ll join the battle too.”

“M-me too!”

Tania’s unwavering determination prompted Kendrick to raise his hand and join in.

“Even if the teacher tries to stop us… this time, we’re definitely going with you.”

“Me too!”

Tania seemed determined not to back down, as if the seven years she’d lived without Louis had left an unfillable void.

Louis shrugged.

“I won’t stop you.”

“Th-then?!”

“Actually, I needed your help anyway.”

With that, Louis drew the Honcheon sword he had brought with him.

The appearance of the strange sword with its transparent blade drew everyone’s attention.

Only Dwarf Douglas, who recognized the sword’s true value, let out a sigh of awe.

“Hah… who on earth could have forged something like this…?”

The sword’s balance and sharpness defied all conventional wisdom. It was nothing short of a perfect masterpiece.

As a Swordmaster with an exceptional eye for fine blades, Kendrick’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

Is this mine?

Louis had drawn his sword to give it to someone. But no matter how Kendrick thought about it, he was the only one among the remaining group who used a sword.

It… it must be mine, right?

As if the sword knew it belonged to him, Louis chuckled at Kendrick, who was shifting impatiently.

He’s so eager.

Louis considered teasing him a little longer, but decided against wasting time and handed over the Honcheon sword immediately.

Kendrick’s eyes widened, and he swallowed hard before asking, “I-is it really mine?”

“Yeah, it’s yours.”

“Really?”

“Well, who else here uses a sword besides you? What, don’t want it?”

“Ah, no! Thank you so much!”

Afraid it might be taken back, Kendrick snatched the Honcheon sword at once.

“Wow…”

The moment he held the sword, Kendrick gasped in awe.

He knew the moment he grasped the sword.

This was an extraordinary blade.

A truly magnificent sword.

What swordsman wouldn’t covet such a weapon?

Kendrick’s face lit up with excitement.

Just then, Louis’s low voice cut through the air.

“Kendrick.”

All eyes turned to him.

“Your role is crucial.”

“My role?” Kendrick blinked in surprise.

Seeing his confusion, Louis briefly explained the Honcheon sword’s origin and purpose.

“Once the Honcheon sword, imbued with a soul, is complete… you must become the dagger I’ve prepared—the blade that will pierce Kaiders’ heart! That is your role.”

”…A sword that can sever a dragon’s soul?”

“Can you do it?”

The immense power of the sword, far greater than he’d imagined, darkened Kendrick’s expression.

But that darkness quickly lifted.

Kendrick nodded solemnly.

“I will accomplish this, no matter what!”

Louis, who had been smiling, tilted his head slightly.

“But, you know… don’t you feel anything?”

“What kind of feeling are you talking about?”

“Like… hearing the sword’s voice or feeling a vibration? Something like that, roughly?”

”…Nothing at all.”

“Hmm, really? That’s odd. Is it supposed to be like this?”

Or maybe the signal is just delayed?

Guff clearly said the sword would react when it found its owner.

Louis crossed his arms and fell into thought, wondering if something was wrong.

Meanwhile, Douglas glanced around furtively before asking, “Ahem, Kendrick?”

“Yes?”

“Could you… show me that sword?”

“The sword?”

“As a master craftsman, I can’t simply overlook that sword… it’s truly remarkable. Would you grant me a moment to examine it?”

Kendrick smiled and nodded in response.

“What’s so difficult about that?”

Just as he was about to hand over the sword, Tania, who was seated between Kendrick and Douglas, grimaced at the blade passing back and forth in front of her.

Since the Honcheon Sword lacked a scabbard, its lethal sharpness was fully exposed.

“Ugh, what are you doing, playing around with something so dangerous? Give it here!”

She snatched the sword to pass it over herself, and Kendrick handed it over without a second thought.

And then…

Tsu tsu tsu tsu—

Crimson flames began to flicker along the sword’s blade.

”…Huh?”

“Huh?!”

A shimmering, mirage-like red aura made Tania’s hair flutter, while flames erupted within the transparent blade of the sword, crackling and roaring.

Startled by the sudden turn of events, Kendrick and Douglas, who stood on either side, leaped back in alarm. Louis was equally astonished.

Huh?!

The moment Louis saw Tania standing bewildered with the sword in her hand, a lightning bolt of realization struck him.

Holy shit?! How could I have overlooked this?!

In the Original Work, the Honcheon Sword had unequivocally chosen Kendrick as its master.

This was because Kendrick possessed the greatest talent in the Human Realm.

But now…

Even though the difference is slight… Tania surpasses Kendrick!

Louis, who had raised them both personally, knew this better than anyone.

Originally, Tania should have died, but her survival had altered fate, transforming her into the Human Realm’s greatest prodigy.

The problem, however, was…

Damn it! Tania is a Fist Master!

That blasted Honcheon Sword had chosen as its master someone who had only ever used a sword as a blunt weapon for brawling.

Tsu tsu tsu tsu-

After a prolonged selection process, the Honcheon Sword finally settled on its owner.

Swoosh-

Tania’s soaring hair settled back down. Breaking her gaze from the flames swirling within the transparent blade, she cautiously asked Louis, “Did I… do something wrong?”

Louis sighed deeply and shook his head.

“Haa… Kendrick.”

“Huh?”

”…Give the sword to Tania. It seems it wasn’t meant for you.”

Tania blinked, still processing the words.

“Eh?! That, that—?!”

As the gift was snatched away right before his eyes, Kendrick’s face drained of all color, as if his very soul had been torn from him.