Raidorl closes his eyes in silence as the inevitable death looms.
The rays of light from Granard will arrive in less than a second, and will pierce countless holes in Raidorlâs body. The number of rays might not even leave a piece of bone.
But â strangely enough â Raidorlâs mind is calm.
The surface of his mind was calm, without a single ripple, and he had the clarity of an enlightened ascetic.
It is said that at the moment of death, a person goes back over his whole life like a running lantern.
Raidorl wonders if this is the same phenomenon. For him, the moment before the light reached him seemed as long as eternity.
âNow I canât defeat Granard in his magic armor. Then âŠâŠâ
All he has to do is grow to a level where he can beat them. Itâs that simple.
It would only take a moment for Granardâs rays to kill him and fill the precipice of the far bank that stretched between them.
âI have to thank thatâŠâŠ battle-crazed emperor. Thanks to him, I know how to knock on the door that leads to the other sideâ
With his eyes closed, Raidorl opened a door in the depths of his mind.
The door opened as easily as if it had known how to open from birth.
Even after ten seconds, twenty secondsâŠ..and more than a minute, death has not come. There is no light burning, there is no pain, there is no heat.
ââŠâŠâŠâŠ.â
When Raidorl slowly opened his eyes, he saw a strange sight in front of him.
It was a meadow of lush green grass. White clouds swam lazily in the blue sky, and occasionally a bird like a kite crossed the border between heaven and earth.
Beside the table, there was a boy sitting in a chair with his legs crossed, tipping his teacup.
âIâll interrupt you.â
Raidorl said one-sidedly and sat down on a chair facing the boy.
He picked up the teapot and unused cup on the table and made himself a cup of tea.
He took a sip of it âŠâŠ and immediately frowned.
âItâs bitterâŠâŠ.Do you have any milk or honey?â
ââŠâŠYouâre really brazen, coming in out of the blue. Itâs a bit of a stunner.â
The boy muttered in a high-pitched, depressed voice.
When Raidorl looks at the face, he sees that the boy has a very well-defined face.
His eyes, nose, lips, eyebrows âŠâŠ and all the other parts of his face were impeccably shaped and arranged on his face in a harmony like the golden rule.
His hair was a pale golden colour. His hair is soft, feathery and has a texture that makes him want to reach out and stroke it.
As if the boy had read Raidorlâs mind, he held his head in his hands and pulled back his chair to get some distance.
Apparently he had missed a stroke. Raidorl shrugs his shoulders and opens his mouth.
âDonât be in such a bad mood, DĂĄinsleif.â
The name Raidorl spoke was the name of the holy sword he owned.
It was the first time they had spoken to each other, but Raidorl knew that the boy in front of him was his matchless partner.
ââŠâŠThatâs impossible advice, Raidorl. Iâm in a very bad mood.â
The boy, DĂĄinsleif, waved his right hand with a sultry pout. A pot of milk suddenly appeared in his empty hand and was bluntly placed on the table.
âOi,oi,oiâŠ..what did I do? I donât remember Iâm being hated by you.â
âWhat? Youâre asking me that!â
As Raidorl poured milk into his own tea, DĂĄinsleif slammed the table.
âFirstly! Youâve been too rough with me, havenât you? I chose you to be my wielder, but you neglected me for five years, and then when you finally picked me up, you threw me away without a second thoughtâŠ! Iâm the legendary holy sword! Do you have any idea what an honor it is to be chosen by me?â
âAaa, I think I know what youâre talking about. âŠâŠ Iâm sorry, but I didnât mature up well either. And Iâve got something to complain about too. Iâve been banished from Royal Capital because of you.â
âThatâs your brothersâ business! Itâs none of my business!â
DĂĄinsleif says indignantly, crosses his arms and sniffs with a huff.
âSo? Why did you come all the way out here to open the door for me? I wouldnât know if it was a trivial matter, would I?â
âYou know what I want. Tell me how to use the holy armour.â
âFuâŠnnnâŠâ
At the frank request, DĂĄinsleif turns condescending. He flicks his finger lightly at the cup on the table and twists his lips sarcastically.
âYou talk big, but in the end you need my help? People are so selfish, arenât they?â
âSelfishnessâŠ.Sure, itâs human karma. Forgive me.â
Raidorl shook his head and drank the contents of his teacup in one gulp.
Raidorl, with his unusually relaxed attitude. DĂĄinsleif raises an eyebrow, not amused.
âYouâre taking your time. Arenât you worried about whatâs going on out there?â
âNot much time has passed anyway. I know what Iâm doing.â
Raidorl knew instinctively what this place was like.
This is the world of Raidorlâs mind. It is the inner world of the soul, so to speak.
No matter how much time he spent in this place, not a second would have passed in the outside world. Raidorl understands this instinctively, without anyone telling him.
And as DĂĄinsleif knew that intuitive understanding and adaptability were the most necessary talents of a holy sword wielder.
âI have to say, you are a genius holy sword holder. The previous wielder would not have come to this place if I had not invited him. Even that knowing-looking emperor wouldnât have reached these heights in less than a year with the Holy Sword in his hands.â
âItâs a compliment. ThenâŠ..â
âBut!! Youâre being too rough using me! Youâre not graceful enough! I demand more care and attention, and more respect for me!â
âOh come on..thatâs a lot of demands. Iâm sorry, Iâm telling you. Iâll make it right, so give me a break.â
âOf course! Youâd better be careful from now on!ââ
â[From now on]âŠâŠ I take that as consent, right?â
Raidorl asked, and DĂĄinsleif nodded disapprovingly.
ââŠâŠfine, Iâll help you. I donât like your attitude, but itâs annoying to see my wielder defeated by that holy sword monster!â
âThanks a lot, Partner.â
âIâm really feeling goodâŠ.D-donât pat me on the head! Donât treat me like a child!â
Raidorl patted the dumbfounded DĂĄinsleif on the head. The holy sword in the form of a boy resisted indignantly, waving his hands in the air.
Shaking off Raidorlâs hand, DĂĄinsleif bites back, bared his double teeth and says
âIâm going to help you. If you lose, I wonât be happy! Youâve got to win!â
âYes, of course. Iâm not going to be beaten by my brother, who is a fool to be tricked and used by a witch.â
âHmph! Then letâs see you win!ăIâll beat that pissant witchâs apostle with ease, without even a paper-thin shred of a chance! My holy armourâs name is âŠâŠâ
ăăăăăăăăă
âHoly armour, Hvezlung, The twilight trickster!â
Raidorl opens his eyes and makes a decisive statement.
At the same time, âtimeâ, which had stopped, began to move. The plains and the boy disappear, and a myriad of looming lights appear.
Slightly earlier than the rays of light reached Raidorl, an explosion of miasma erupted from the jet-black holy sword.
An aura of evil enveloped Raidorlâs body for a moment, as if the gates of hell had opened.
However, Granardâs attack did not stop.
Like a tidal wave, it swallowed up the miasma covering Raidorl.