The Great Sword is not the Main Body!
Chapter 196 – Prayer

Time began to stretch.

Amid the blurring scenery, Kartia’s voice rang out crystal clear.

[Kill that bitch pretending to be Frey.]

It was a fury unlike anything I had ever felt from her before.

A far deeper rage than any anger she’d shown until now.

‘You mean… that person isn’t really Frey?’

[Yeah. It’s like another soul has entered Frey’s body. No, maybe it’s better to say it’s eating away at Frey’s soul. Tsk… Whatever the case, it’s something like that. I’m sure of it. That thing is nothing like the real Frey.]

Her voice brimmed with certainty, and I nodded without realizing it.

There was no evidence. But I understood the feeling.

Even I could instantly recognize it if someone else took over Rubia’s body and tried to act like her. It was like that trial…

And even if that weren’t the case,

If it’s Kartia saying it… even if I don’t understand, even if I don’t know what it means, I can trust it.

Because it’s Kartia.

‘I understand.’

[…You’re not gonna ask anything?]

I smiled at Kartia’s confused voice and gently poked my own chest with a finger.

‘You can feel my emotions, right?’

[Uh, well… yeah, I can…]

‘I can feel yours too, Kartia. That’s why I said I understand.’

[…Yeah. Thank you.]

I couldn’t see it.

I couldn’t visualize it.

But I felt Kartia’s warmth touch the top of my head.

It was the usual rough and half-hearted gesture, but I tilted my head slightly, wanting to enjoy it just a bit longer.

Then, as if tidying up my tangled hair, Kartia’s voice returned.

[Before we officially start, there’s good news and bad news. Which do you want first?]

‘…Th-The good news.’

[I can sense the power to open the Gate of the False Paradise in that bastard devouring Frey’s soul.]

‘The Gate of the False Paradise…?’

If that’s the Gate of the False Paradise…

It’s the one that can be opened by gathering fragments of the key…

[But that thing, it’s not on the level of just a fragment. I can feel a mighty force strong enough to form a complete key on its own. So.]

Huh?

[If used right… you could make your wish come true…]

‘Th-Then… Kartia, does that mean you can stay?’

[W-Well…]

‘And everyone else too? Even those like Carpeng… all of them?’

[You could say… yeah, probably?]

Kartia nodded, looking a bit awkward as she turned her eyes away.

I immediately gripped Frey and prepared to move.

[What, you’re not even gonna hear the bad news?]

‘No. I don’t need to.’

I don’t need it.

If there’s a way no one has to be sacrificed.

If we can all smile together, then that’s enough.

If we can all witness our shared wish fulfilled, then nothing else matters.

Of course… once I’m done talking with Kartia, there’s still one thing I need to ask Laila.

But strangely, I have a good feeling about that too. After all, entering Paradise means going beyond the laws of this world.

So, I pushed all thoughts aside and began to walk.

[You should still hear it.]

…But I stopped in my tracks.

Her voice was too heavy to ignore.

‘…What is it?’

[It’s connected to what I just said. That bitch’s soul could complete the key on its own, meaning, if something goes wrong, Rubia might be the one in danger.]

And also,

[That kind of immense force… it might belong to the one we’re fighting against.]

Kartia ground her teeth with a harsh sound.

[It might be “the Nameless One” itself, or at least an offshoot extremely close to it.]

The Nameless One.

The evil god who twisted this world into what it is.

I exhaled heavily and gripped my sword.

I could feel the hard sensation at my fingertips.

I could feel its weight.

I recalled the hopes of those who gave everything for this world.

‘I’ll try.’

If I don’t hesitate.

If I don’t overthink.

If the power within “that,” connected to my soul, is what I believe it is,

Then I can do it.

So,

‘I’ll make it work somehow.’

I buried the emotions rising within me. Cleared away the hesitation. Banished all idle thoughts so Kartia couldn’t read them. So no other being could sense them. Not even myself.

I buried them deep, deep inside.

And then, as always,

I focused on the one wish I had held onto the most.

To save Rubia.

To protect her joyful smile.

To bring her a tomorrow.

That’s enough.

Beyond Kartia’s curious gaze, time began to flow again. The blurry scenery regained its clarity.

The fragrance of flowers, infused with Rubia’s scent, created by Laila, tickled my nose.

Into that scent,

I stepped forward, my steps heavier than before.

* * *  

“Kartia! Are you really going to ignore me to the end?”

Frey’s voice immediately followed.

Kartia replied with her usual nonchalant expression.

[If you’re so mad, go beat up my disciple first.]

“Disciple? Did you just say disciple…?”

[Yeah. My one and only disciple.]

Heh,

Frey’s sharp gaze locked onto her.

Kartia gently patted my shoulder with a hand full of trust.

“Disciple… But she doesn’t seem anything like you.”

[I don’t force my personality onto people like someone I know.]

“If that’s the fastest way to victory, then it must be followed unconditionally. Wasn’t that what you believed too?”

[Yeah. I used to think that way too. But I was wrong. Victory achieved like that wasn’t true victory. It was just a hollow win. You know it too, what happened to us because of those kinds of victories.]

For a brief moment, a fragment of Kartia’s hidden rage bled into her voice. But not even Frey, or anyone else present, seemed to sense her anger.

It was only natural.

Even I, with my soul directly connected to hers, had only felt it for the briefest instant.

[Tsk. Anyway, that brat you people call the Challenger is my disciple. So if you want to take me on, go beat my disciple first.]

At last, Kartia, having gathered her emotions, lightly pushed my back.

[Obviously, this isn’t a fight to the death. Just a light sparring match. A friendly duel. I still have things left to say to you, Frey.]

“You’re saying that like you’re assuming I’ll lose.”

[Well, yeah. You’re gonna get wrecked.]

With a loud clang, Frey drove her massive greatsword into the ground. She no longer responded to Kartia’s words.

She simply reached for the helmet tucked under her arm and put it on.

[So that’s how it is. The guy next to you’s just gonna watch, right?]

“Then I’ll make a condition.”

Aaron, who had silently watched until now, finally spoke.

“Regardless of who wins or loses, once this duel is over, I ask that you listen to what we have to say.”

Kartia’s gaze brushed past me, Rubia, and Serr. I followed her eyes and looked at Rubia and Serr, giving them a small nod.

Rubia answered immediately.

“Alright.”

Next came Serr, her tone clearly displeased.

“Tsk, fine.”

[Good enough?]

Aaron stepped back.

In response, Frey stepped forward.

I also took a step ahead.

And from a distance, Laila, who had been observing the situation in Cartia, stood up.

Perhaps she had sensed that the Primordial Beast, the source of great power, had been subdued, her expression was a little more at ease.

[You’ve set up something interesting, Kartia.]

Laila… did she notice something was wrong with Frey too?

[Just shut up and come judge already.]

Srrrk,

[Very well.]

Without a sound, Laila stepped up beside us and waved her hand gently, casting a barrier around me, Frey, and Kartia.

It was the same type of barrier filled with unknown power, just like the one I had felt when first arriving at the End of the World.

Thud, thud.

Kartia tapped the barrier with a baffled expression and clicked her tongue.

[Feels weird getting trapped in this damn thing again.]

[This situation is nothing like back then.]

Unlike Kartia, Laila chuckled as if reminiscing on a fond memory.

[It’s just as strong as before, right?]

[I assure you. No matter who it is, they won’t escape this barrier so easily.]

[Good.]

It was a light question, but the weight of the answer made Kartia look ahead with satisfaction.

[Try not to die by accident, alright?]

“Quit the nonsense.”

Creak.

Frey, fully prepared, pulled the greatsword from the ground.

[Noah, go a little easy. Respect your elders, you know?]

I nodded.

[It’s still the same Frey you’re swinging. But you need to clearly recognize what it is you’re trying to cut.]

I engraved her voice deep in my mind.

[Hard to explain, but simple. You’re good at using your ki sense, so it should come naturally.]

A vague explanation.

But I understood exactly what she meant.

[And just like Laila said, no one can easily leave this barrier. So even if something strange pops out, don’t be scared.]

One step, then another, I walked forward.

[You can do it, right? I said you’re my one and only disciple. Don’t embarrass me.]

I gave a small smile.

I tightened my breath. Sharpened my focus. Unleashed my ki sense. I erased everything around me, focusing only on the presence before me.

Thick armor.

Within it, Kartia’s old friend.

And,

The thing slowly devouring her soul.

An unknown blackness.

It looked like the end that Valoran once showed me, but,

It felt entirely different. Something unknown was layered over Frey’s soul.

Recognizing it clearly,

I raised my sword.

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