Reincarnation of the Sword Demon - Chapter 184

WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Chapter 184: Ah, What Do You Want Me to Do?

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Velatus, the Dragon Queen.

Kyle had only heard her voice at the Sword Tower's Ascension Platform, so this was the first time he had seen what she looked like.

Of course, Velatus was a dragon. The form seated before him could not be her original body. Kyle stared quietly at Velatus, who sat with her chin propped on one hand.

Red hair and golden eyes.

It was not merely the coloring. He had felt the same thing when he first saw Fragment, but Velatus looked remarkably like Ruin. If Ruin had been a woman, he would likely have looked like Velatus did now.

That appearance had been created with magic. It was also proof of just how obsessed Velatus was with Ruin.

"..."

Kyle stroked Fenris at his waist. Tension hung on Katarina's face, and the knights swallowed hard. Soha still covered her mouth as she looked at the rotten, blackened Spirit Tree, the pool of blood, and the heaps of white bones.

The Spirit Tree.

Its trunk was rotten and twisted, its roots blackened, and red leaves hung from its branches. Looking at it, Kyle felt an instinctive revulsion. It was different from the disgust one felt upon seeing filth.

[Ugh...]

Jor trembled inside him.

[Master. The Spirits are trapped in there, rotting away...]

With those words, Kyle understood what caused the revulsion he felt. It came from the immense Spirit Affinity he had been born with.

The strange thing about this land, the East, was that mana was abundant, yet no Spirits existed here. Now he knew why something that defied common sense had happened.

The monsters made from Velatus's blood were not the only things she used as scapegoats to ward off misfortune. She had turned the Spirit Tree into a massive vessel, stuffed Spirits inside it, and used them to defy her own death.

'The other guardian spirits must be the same.'

The five great families of the East had served their respective guardian spirits for generations. Velatus had captured those spirits and used them to create a barrier protecting herself. This entire land was a life-support ward she had made to resist death.

"You."

Kyle spoke.

"You aren't here."

A being like Velatus should have possessed an overwhelming presence, yet he could feel none from the Velatus before him. Besides, Imugi had said it, and Velatus herself had said it as well.

That insane dragon could not leave the Dragon Nether.

"You're right. The form before you is only an illusion."

Velatus slowly nodded.

"I cannot leave the nest where I reside. Your welcome was botched, and there are many things about your actions that I do not understand. So I forced myself to arrange this meeting."

"Your followers attacked first."

Kyle lowered his hand from Fenris and shrugged. Since the thing before him was not Velatus's true body, there was no need to show hostility.

"They all went insane and tried to kill me the moment they came close."

"That was an unforeseen variable."

Velatus narrowed her eyes at Kyle. Feeling where her gaze had settled, Kyle grinned and lifted the necklace beneath his clothes.

"Because of this?"

"I was careless."

Velatus clicked her tongue and muttered quietly.

"Where did you get something so dangerous?"

"I received it when I entered a Secret Realm. From a being that called itself an angel."

"Do you know what that being is?"

"A dead dragon."

"You know well. Did that necklace tell you? Or did the earth dragon hidden underground tell you?"

Velatus frowned as though displeased.

"You are correct. Every dragon and Eastern dragon dies and becomes a servant of a sky god. The fact that such a being gave you something means a sky god has seized and is using your fate. Throw that dangerous thing away at once."

"It seemed rather favorable toward me. I've benefited from it quite a bit too."

"That is because you have value to it. You know better than anyone how valuable you are, do you not?"

"I don't want to talk much about myself. You know what I'm trying to say, don't you? If you say anything unnecessary, I will never come to meet you."

Kyle was not alone here. He still did not wish to reveal that he was the reincarnation of the Sword Demon.

"If I do not allow it, you cannot leave this land."

Splash.

Velatus's foot sent ripples through the pool of blood. It was an obvious little kick to show she was displeased.

"You have no choice but to come meet me, unless you wish to live in this land for the rest of your life."

"It seems the choice is still mine. You can't leave your nest, can you?"

Kyle grinned.

"Even if you want to drag me there by force, your followers go insane if they approach me. And the monsters that follow you in this land don't seem strong enough to capture me."

"..."

"I may not be able to cross the Wall of Severance right now. But I don't think I'll be unable to cross it forever. If I return to where the wall is and swing my sword for a few years, I might be able to open a path."

"I..."

Splash.

Velatus kicked the water again, frowning.

"I do not understand why you are acting this way. I understand none of it. Do you not wish to meet me?"

"I do want to meet you. As long as you don't say anything unnecessary."

Her kicking stopped at that answer, but her brow remained furrowed.

"Why did you cause such a disturbance today?"

After staring at Kyle for a moment, Velatus spoke.

"Those you killed were of great help to me. Why did you kill them? They would not have harmed you in any way. Even if they misunderstood and attacked you, had you revealed that you were my guest, they would have treated you with the utmost respect and guided you to me."

"And why did you turn this land into such an insane hell?"

"An insane hell?"

Her furrowed brow loosened slightly. Velatus slowly tilted her head.

"Why do you call this land an insane hell?"

At her question, everyone, including Kyle, was left speechless.

"I do not understand what you are saying. Is hell not one of the worlds you humans imagine after death? I have not died, and neither have you. This is the world of the living. Why do you call it hell?"

Kyle's mouth fell open.

That insane dragon did not understand that the hell he had just mentioned was a metaphor.

Because Velatus did not feel this world was hell at all. Dragons were a race that was thoroughly self-centered.

"...It's a metaphor. A metaphor from a human perspective, not a dragon's."

"I am a dragon, so I do not think from a human perspective."

"This land is crawling with monsters that eat humans. Humans are being raised by those monsters like livestock."

"So that is why you call it hell. Human, you are arrogant for a human. Is there some law stating that humans must not be raised and eaten?"

Velatus let out a hollow laugh. She truly found Kyle's answer absurd.

"In the distant past, humans were no different from beasts. As time passed, humans multiplied too greatly and came to think it natural to raise and eat beasts. You raise and eat chickens, pigs, and cattle. Even when you are not hungry, you kill them because you need their hides and bones. You even treat hunting as entertainment."

"..."

"I do not say that humans are wrong, or that a world crawling with humans is hell to beasts. That is simply the order of the world. That is simply its natural law."

"The monsters in this land were made by you."

"That is true. I made them because I needed them. Human, surely you are not blaming me?"

Velatus was no longer frowning. She looked at Kyle with wide eyes, as though she found this utterly absurd.

"What have I done wrong?"

It was a sincere question. Velatus found this argument utterly ridiculous.

"You raise, use, and eat beasts because you need them. What I have done is the same. I cannot move freely, so I created things to act in my place."

"So you wouldn't die?"

"You understand well. Human, you are correct. I reject death. I have lived for a very long time, and my Lifespan has reached its end. But I have a reason why I must not die."

Velatus did not avoid answering.

"Human, do not say that my continued life is ugly or wrong. Who in this world can humbly accept death?"

"You reject death and use an entire continent for your needs in order to continue living. You think that isn't wrong?"

"Why is that my fault? I am a dragon, and the queen of dragons. I am the greatest and noblest among the great races. For all beings, being used to prolong my life is a glorious thing."

Good grief.

Kyle could not help muttering to himself. He had already heard enough about dragon values from Fragment, but he had never expected them to be such an arrogant race.

"Moreover, the reason I reject death is not solely because of my desire to live. The reason I have prolonged my life in such a wretched and miserable way is because I must give you my heart. My heart will aid Ruin's unfulfilled wish. Therefore, it is also for the sake of the world."

"..."

"Human, do you think the fate your kind suffers in this land is miserable? That is mistaken. I am great and merciful. If I had wished it, every human in this land would have gone extinct three hundred years ago."

That was not an exaggeration. Humans three hundred years ago did not all possess Spirit Roots as they did now. If Velatus and the dragons who crossed into the East had wished it, the humans of the East would all have gone extinct, just as she said.

"But I did not do so. Even now, I permit the human species to exist in this land. You say that the humans of this land live no differently from beasts, but to me, humans and beasts are all equally insignificant."

"You kept humans alive because they are necessary to prolong your life."

Kyle said coldly, and Velatus burst into laughter.

"That is also true. You understand well how this world is structured. Those who received my blood in this land and the humans are both necessary for my continued life. But human, even the humans gathered by the earth dragon underground are not necessary to me."

That was true. The land of the East had been developed over three hundred years as a sickroom for Velatus's continued life, but the humans and Imugi living in the Underground City were of no use to her at all.

"Yet I allowed them to exist. Why? Because I am great and merciful. Human, I understand why you are displeased. I will understand the human perspective that calls this world an insane hell."

Velatus nodded as she giggled.

"Then all you need is for it to cease being hell from your perspective. Those living in this land who received my blood can disappear. That is not difficult. If I wish it, they will all become blood and vanish."

Still laughing, Velatus pointed upward. The bright red leaves hanging from the branches of the rotten Spirit Tree began to sway.

"They were made for my continued life in the first place. Once you meet me and receive my heart, they will no longer be needed. If they all disappear, this land will become peaceful for humans. Is that your wish?"

"...You made them with your own hands, and they serve you. You're saying you'll kill them all?"

"I made them because I needed them. Why should they continue to exist once they are no longer needed?"

That conversation made Kyle certain.

No matter what circumstances or feelings Velatus had, there was no need to sympathize with or understand her. Just as Velatus treasured nothing but herself, Kyle decided he would do the same.

"Of course, all of that will happen after you come where I am and receive my heart. So, human, throw away that dangerous necklace at once."

"I can't take it off even if I want to."

Though he felt revulsion and killing intent rise from deep in his chest, Kyle smiled. Smiling, he lifted the necklace around his neck.

"And I don't want to take it off. Does having this mean I can't come meet you?"

"It displeases me, but..."

Velatus frowned again and thought about something for a moment.

"There is no problem. No problem at all."

"Then I'll come meet you."

"Ahahaha! Have you finally understood my heart?"

Velatus's frown disappeared, and she smiled brightly. She sprang up from the root where she had been sitting and pointed behind Kyle.

"Leave this place and follow my followers. Do not get too close to them. Those lowly things will have a fit because of the abomination you possess."

"Before that."

Kyle tilted his head and looked up at the Spirit Tree.

"I heard that you command the guardian spirits of the East, including that tree."

"To isolate this land from the sky. It was necessary for my continued life."

"I have business with that tree."

Kyle spoke calmly and strode forward. Katarina and the knights flinched and tried to follow, but Kyle raised a hand to stop them.

"However, because of what you've done to that tree, I can't resolve that matter."

He whispered as though soothing her.

"You won't die immediately just because you let one tree go, will you? I'll be coming to meet you soon anyway."

"What business do you have with this tree?"

"An acquaintance's family has its fate tied to the Spirit Tree. They say the entire family will die if the Spirit Tree dies."

"What a truly insignificant reason. I do not understand why I should take a risk for that. Once you and I meet, this tree will naturally be freed anyway."

"Hey, honestly, why should I trust anything you say and come meet you?"

Kyle snorted.

"The things I've seen since coming to this land have been completely fucked up. The monsters you created eat humans, and I've heard they regularly offer you living sacrifices. What guarantee do I have that you won't eat me too?"

"Human, human...! Are you serious?"

Velatus's face, which had been smiling brightly until moments ago, twisted again. She struck her chest in frustration as she spoke.

"Why would I ever have a reason to eat you?! You are, you are...! Ruin's..."

"If you say it, I won't come."

"You...!"

Velatus's body trembled with anger and irritation.

"I...! Have no reason to eat you...! Nor should I! You know that as well, do you not? How long I have waited for this meeting with you! How desperately I desire it! That is why I have prolonged my life in this land!"

"So what do you want me to do about it?"

For the meeting Velatus had waited for to happen, Kyle had no choice but to visit her himself. So he acted as boldly as he pleased.

"Just let the Spirit Tree go. Then I'll trust that you won't harm me and go straight to where you are."

"What unreasonable..."

"You don't want to? Then don't. I won't do anything I don't want to either."

"Grit...!"

Velatus ground her teeth and raised her hand. Wooooong! The Spirit Tree's red leaves trembled, and the pool of blood covering the ground began to surge.

"Promise... no, swear, human...! This is as far as I can yield. If you accept this concession and ask anything more of me, I will...! Kill every human in this land...!"

"Th... that can't happen...!"

Kyle gasped and covered his mouth.

"Kill every human... You're saying you'll do something so horrible? Absolutely not...!"

She could not do it anyway. Though he thought that inwardly, Kyle acted with all his might.

"All right, I'll swear. I won't ask anything more from you. If you yield this once, I'll trust you and come meet you at once...!"

"You said you would swear."

Velatus's expression softened slightly at Kyle's desperate cry. Even so, she hesitated for a moment, then squeezed her eyes shut and clenched the hand raised over her head.

Rumble...!

The entire Spirit Tree shook, and the red leaves hanging from its branches melted into blood. The blood did not pour down. It changed into a red mist and slowly began to disappear.

The pool of blood did the same. It bubbled and evaporated. At the same time, Velatus's form began to fade.

"If you break your oath, every human in this land will die...! Do you understand?"

Velatus glared at Kyle as she panted.

"So do not make me wait too long...!"

With those final words, Velatus completely disappeared. The Spirit Tree's red leaves and the pool of blood vanished as well.

"..."

Kyle stood still and looked at the Spirit Tree. The revulsion he had felt from it until moments ago was gone. That meant Velatus had completely withdrawn the binding with which she had held the Spirit Tree.

Velatus could no longer interfere here.

"My acting isn't bad either, right?"

Kyle shrugged and turned around. Everyone was looking at him with stunned expressions.

"If I didn't have talent with a sword, I could've become an actor. Right?"

Come to think of it, in a sense, Kyle had been acting ever since the day he was born.

"A... as expected of you, Sir Kyle."

Lucia spoke haltingly. Kyle grinned and turned back around.

"Either way, we accomplished what we came here to do."

He had freed the curse that had been sucking the Spirit Tree dry. The hereditary curse binding Izelion to the Spirit Tree's roots likely had not disappeared yet, but freeing this curse was clearly a loss for Velatus.

'That's why she was reluctant and made a threat she couldn't actually carry out.'

Velatus needed humans to prolong her life for even one more day. Yet she threatened to kill every human.

'That means Velatus is just as desperate.'

Thinking that, Kyle approached the Spirit Tree. Just because Velatus had withdrawn the curse did not mean the already rotten Spirit Tree had immediately returned to normal. Its branches were pitifully bare now that the red leaves had disappeared, and its trunk was still rotten and twisted.

But its roots were no longer black. Given time, it would likely recover on its own and grow new leaves. Thinking that, Kyle reached for the Spirit Tree's roots. He wanted to check on the Spirits that Jor said were rotting away inside it.

The moment his hand touched it.

Kyle's body jolted.

The emotions of countless Spirits, too many to count, crashed into Kyle like waves. The overwhelming torrent of emotion shook his reason for a moment.

Only shook it. Kyle quickly steadied himself. The torrent of emotion was fierce, but it was not unfamiliar.

Killing intent.

'Spirits feel this kind of emotion too.'

Killing intent toward the culprit who had thrown them in here and left them to rot. It was turning into another curse.

'You want to kill her too?'

Kyle gave a small smile and gripped the roots tightly.

'I do too. That's why I'm going to kill her.'

This curse was a collective of rotting Spirits.

'I'll kill her for you, so lend me some strength.'

Even if she was nearly dying, Velatus was still a dragon. She was the Dragon Queen who had devoured the other dragons and the eastern dragons.

The more preparations he had to kill such a monster, the better.

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