Chapter 173.1

Chapter 173 : The balance of pride and love

When Shin sheathed the Jewel Sword Eilarrow, he drew a magic circle and put his hand in the center of it.

With a loud buzzing sound, particles of magic power swirled around it.

What he pulled out of it and exposed was a sword whose blade was emitting a cold, penetrating radiance.

The name of that sword was Deltoros.

It was a double-edged sword with a sharp blade that cut whatever it touched into pieces, and was cursed to consume the magic power of its wielder.

Of all the thousand swords in Shin’s possession, this one possessed the highest striking power.

“Hmm. That’s not something just anyone can pull out with half-baked resolve, is it?” (Anos)

Without replying, Shin languidly lowered his Sword of Severance Deltoros.

With both of his eyes, he who had become one with his sword was staring straight at me without dropping his guard at all.

“Tell me.” (Anos)

With a firm voice, I spoke to him.

“Shin, what are you fighting for?” (Anos)

With his eyes down for a moment, he asked back.

“Do you know everything?” (Shin)

I didn’t need to ask him what he was talking about.

“I do. Just a while back, I saw everything that took place two thousand years ago. What I don’t understand is why you are pointing your blade at me right now.” (Anos)

I kept talking to Shin, who was looking at me in silence.

“I’ll destroy Avos Dilhevia. But I’ll also save Misa. This is how I’ll settle everything. And that’s the reason I went back two thousand years in time.” (Anos)

“…I knew you would say that.” (Shin)

Shin’s fighting spirit didn’t vanish from his Magic Eyes.

If I let my guard down, he would strike me with Deltoros the next moment.

“Tell me. Why did you raise Avos Dilhevia? I’m not so petty as to condemn my subordinates for their actions while still knowing the reason behind them.” I told Shin as our gazes crossed.

“I won’t blame you. If I had been there, I would’ve ordered you to do just what you did. You’re my right-hand man, and it’s a fact that hasn’t changed one bit for the past two thousand years.” (Anos)

“Such generous words are more than I deserve. You truly are the Demon King of Tyranny. The one that I, the Disastrous God-Slaying Sword, have acknowledged as my owner.” (Shin)

Shin slowly walked my way.

“If you still accept me as your subordinate, please show me your compassion in my last moments.” (Shin)

Calmly and quietly, he spoke up.

“ I wish to resume the event of that night, and challenge you with our lives on the line.” (Shin)

I knew what he meant by that.

Shin was neither arrogant nor overconfident in his own strength so much that he believed he could win against the Demon King of Tyranny.

He only wished for one thing.

“You wish to die, huh.” (Anos)

“I am the Demon King’s right-hand man. Forever and always. I cannot allow myself to be defeated by anyone other than you.” (Shin)

Shin came to a halt just one step away from the Sword of Severance Deltoros.

“For two thousand years, I have been protecting Misa from the shadows. I turned against you, Anos-sama, in order to keep the rumors about the Demon KIng of Tyranny alive. And finally, she awakened to her true form. If you are here, then Misa is already as good as saved.” (Shin)

A faint amount of tenderness spilled from his cold eyes.

“…I have lost everything. My pride of being loyal to you as a sword, and the faint heart in my chest that you granted me. Even the feeling of love I was so convinced I had developed fell out of my hands. I suppose this body of mine, which used to be a sword, is incapable of holding anything in the first place…” (Shin)

Shin said he even lost his heart.

And yet, his cold voice was filled with an irrepressible sadness.

“I wanted to make my wife happy. She never stopped showering me with love. But it was all for naught. This inhuman vessel of mine had a gaping hole in it. No matter how much she poured her heart and soul into it, it was a void that could never be filled.” Shin said dispassionately.

His emotionless words were overflowing with the desire to cut himself down.

“Since then, I have traveled. I have visited Dilhade, Azesion, and many other places. And when I did, I heard her rumors. About the mother to all spirits everywhere, the mother who lovingly cared for spirits, ever smiling, and full of affection. I heard them many times over.” (Shin)

The lore of the Great Spirit Reno remained, even two thousand years later.

It had probably been passed down from one generation to the next one, then to the one after that, for a very long time.

Most likely as a fairy tale.

“…If she had never loved a loveless being like me, and if I had never wished for love…” (Shin)

Eyes downcast, he gritted his teeth.

“Then she would still be alive, somewhere in this land…” (Shin)

Shin raised his head, stepped inside the range of his sword without hesitation, and walked right in front of me.

“For two thousand years, I have lived in disgrace to atone.” (Shin)

Shin suddenly knelt down and held the blade of Deltoros with both hands.

While presenting the hilt right in front of me.

I took the sword in my hand.

“I implore you as a last request, My Lord.” (Shin)

He bowed his head as if to plead.

“Please put an end to this empty life of mine with your own hands.” (Shin)

He was the Demon King’s right-hand man, and he was more loyal to me than anyone else two thousand years ago.

Even if I didn’t condemn him for it, Shin himself was still aware that he betrayed me.

He sought love, was betrayed by that love, and lost everything.

He turned his blade on his master, and even went against his own demon sword source.

What remained in his heart was literally nothing but emptiness.

For the past two thousand years, he had lived alone, with that void in his heart.

To keep his promise to Reno.

Just for that, and that alone.

And while punishing himself, he had lived to this day.

I wonder how much pain was swirling in Shin’s heart when he appeared in front of me wearing a mask on the day of the Demon Sword Tournament.

Unable to even reveal his true identity, he turned his blade on me.

For Shin, this was an irreversible deadly sin.

He went as far as to betray his own pride and convictions.

In order to protect Misa.

And to keep his last vow to Reno, who had faded away.

And now, his work was done.

Because I was here, standing right in front of him.

Because the Demon Long of Tyranny was here.

“Shin, my faithful servant.” (Anos)

I picked up the demon sword, and lightly tapped him on his left and right shoulders, as if to welcome him back into my service.

“You did well surviving this living hell for the past two thousand years. I’m proud of you.” (Anos)