Episode 250: Farewell (3)
Damian hesitated, unable to reach out for the fragment of Erebus that lay before him.
“Are you really giving this to me, knowing what it is?”
Erebus was a weapon shrouded in mystery. The only known facts were that it was indestructible and that even a small fragment held immense power.
“I know it’s dangerous if misused.”
“And yet, you’re still handing it over to me?”
The Empire’s greatest swordsman lifted his gaze, staring into the distance. “Because its destiny is tied to you.”
It was a reckless decision, handing over a piece of Erebus for such a reason. But Damian couldn’t refuse. The fragment was substantial, and absorbing it into Erebus would undoubtedly amplify its power, possibly unlocking new abilities.
Considering the upcoming battle with the Weapon Master, it was a gift too valuable to pass up.
“Thank you. I accept.”
Damian grasped the fragment, feeling Erebus, dormant as a tattoo on his wrist, react to it.
“Damian Haxen, do you still have the sword His Majesty gave you?”
As Damian accepted the fragment, the Empire’s greatest swordsman asked an unexpected question. Familiar with his peculiar way of speaking, Damian replied calmly.
“Yes, I do.”
“I heard you used it to impersonate imperial authority.”
“I’m ready to face the consequences.”
“No, continue to do so.”
”…What?”
Damian looked at him, bewildered.
“I’ve already discussed it with His Majesty. Use his authority as you see fit for your goals.”
Even Damian and the Sword Saint were taken aback. The swordsman’s words implied that the Emperor himself would back Damian, a privilege beyond even the royal family.
“Even if others discover you’re a dark knight, you’ll still be allowed to use the sword. Not only His Majesty but I will also stand by you.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“Correcting the distortion is more important.”
Using dark magic was the ultimate taboo, which was why Damian had only used it when unseen. But with the Emperor and the Empire’s greatest swordsman supporting him, the situation changed.
Of course, he had no intention of recklessly using dark magic in public. It was too dangerous and would invite unnecessary trouble.
‘But if the situation demands it… I can use it without worry.’
He now had the right to use dark magic without concern for others’ opinions. It would surely come in handy one day.
“Oh, and His Majesty asked me to tell you to visit the royal palace.”
“I should go once the investigation is over.”
“No, it’s better if you don’t.”
“Excuse me?”
“If you go, you’ll be caught by His Majesty and the officials. But you have many tasks to attend to.”
With those words, the Empire’s greatest swordsman turned and left the room without a farewell.
”…”
Damian stared at the door, dumbfounded. He thought he had grown accustomed to the swordsman’s eccentricities, but it seemed he was mistaken.
“That guy just leaves without a word,” the Sword Saint clicked his tongue, as if he had expected it.
“Is what he said true? Are you really a dark knight?”
“Yes.”
”…You’re joking, right?”
There was no need to hide it anymore. Damian removed his bracelet, releasing a bit of dark magic, and demonstrated its manipulation with his fingers.
”…Good grief.”
The Sword Saint rubbed his face with both hands, visibly shocked.
“Can you use dark magic too?”
“What? This is unbelievable.”
The Sword Saint sighed deeply.
“Are you going to execute me?”
“No, I won’t.”
The Sword Saint spoke firmly.
“That guy is strange, but he never compromises with dark mages or dark knights. He kills them all. If he spared you, there must be a reason.”
The Sword Saint seemed to trust the Empire’s greatest swordsman more than expected.
“I can use dark magic, but I’ve never killed anyone with it.”
“Then what about this?”
“I killed dark mages and used the scattered dark magic.”
“So that’s why he left you alone.”
The Sword Saint scratched the back of his head.
“I should get going too. I can’t leave that guy unsupervised.”
Before leaving, the Sword Saint added, “And I also recommend not going to the royal palace. His Majesty might never let you go, just like that guy said.”
With that, the Sword Saint left the room.
But not long after the two had left, there was another knock at the door.
Damian thought they had returned, but it wasn’t the Empire’s greatest swordsman or the Sword Saint.
“Sir Damian, thank you for opening the door.”
It was Altman Bedepulite, the headmaster of the academy.
At their first meeting, Altman Bedepulite hadn’t taken a liking to Damian. In fact, he had made his dislike quite apparent.
“May I come in?”
But now, things were different. He seemed subdued, watching Damian’s reactions closely.
“Please, come in.”
“Thank you.”
Damian led Altman into the room, and they sat across from each other at a table.
“I’ve decided to step down as headmaster.”
As soon as he sat, Altman announced his decision. Damian blinked in surprise.
“That’s sudden.”
“It’s the natural course of action. Not only did I fail to prevent Slara from infiltrating the academy, but I also couldn’t protect the students.”
Slara had kidnapped students with special bloodlines for research purposes. The investigation into Slara’s presence at the academy had revealed these facts.
“As headmaster, it’s only right that I take responsibility. The entire faculty will undergo a major overhaul.”
There was no trace of regret or resentment in Altman’s voice.
“If anything, it’s overdue. This happened because of my shortcomings.”
Instead, he was filled with guilt.
“Stepping down as headmaster is no small task, so I’ll be busy starting tomorrow. I wanted to see you before then.”
Altman stood up, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head.
“Thank you.”
He spoke softly.
“Thanks to you, we stopped Slara. Without you, more students would have been lost.”
Altman’s gratitude was heartfelt and extended beyond a few words.
“And thank you for saving the students of Class 13.”
“I thought you disliked Class 13.”
“I don’t like them, but what teacher wishes for their students to die?”
Altman slowly rose and took a small vial from his pocket, offering it to Damian.
“Please accept this.”
Inside the vial was a golden liquid. Damian looked at it curiously.
“What is this?”
Altman replied quietly, “It’s an elixir.”
At the mention of an elixir, Damian nearly dropped the vial.
An elixir.
A legendary potion said to bring the dead back to life.
Of course, it couldn’t truly resurrect the dead, but its reputation was well-earned. It could heal even the gravest injuries if administered just before death.
“I heard only the Alchemy School succeeded in recreating elixirs.”
“I have a personal connection with the head of the Alchemy School. I received this as a rare gift.”
Altman placed the elixir before Damian and added, “An elixir is like an extra life. But it has another effect. If a healthy person drinks it, their body undergoes a transformation.”
A transformation.
Damian’s eyes lit up at the prospect.
“You’re talking about a metamorphosis.”
A metamorphosis was a rare awakening of the body that occurred when master-class individuals surpassed their limits.
It wasn’t merely growth or mutation; it was a complete restructuring of the body, reaching a higher state.
That was what a metamorphosis entailed.
“However, drinking an elixir doesn’t guarantee a metamorphosis. It depends on the individual’s capabilities.”
That was fine. Just having the chance for a metamorphosis was an incredible opportunity.
“Are you sure I can accept this?”
“I’d rather you take it. It would ease my conscience a little.”
As Damian nodded and stored the elixir in his spatial pocket, Altman’s expression softened slightly.
Several days passed before the investigation concluded.
Once it was over, Damian prepared to leave the academy.
He packed his belongings and left his quarters, but instead of heading to the main gate, he went elsewhere.
Damian arrived at the site where Blanca Roche had died.
The building was completely burned down, leaving only blackened ashes and debris.
“What a foolish woman.”
Damian had told the investigators everything about Blanca Roche, leaving nothing out.
He didn’t care if her name was tarnished and she was forever branded a traitor.
She had collaborated with Slara to save her child, sacrificing countless students in the process.
Simply dying wasn’t enough to atone for his sins.
“I told you, didn’t I? You’d lose everything.”
Damian opened a pocket of space and pulled out a spear, driving it into the ground.
“The enemy has been avenged.”
The reason Damian took Blanca Roche’s spear in the end was to finish off Sla with something of hers.
He felt sympathy for her.
What she did was unforgivable, and Damian had no intention of forgiving her.
But seeing her manipulated and killed by a dark sorcerer reminded him of his past life.
So he offered her this final kindness.
“Farewell.”
Damian turned away, heading for the gates to leave the academy.
But as he approached, he saw familiar faces gathered there.
“What brings you all here?”
Oliver, Penelope, and the students of Class 13 exchanged glances. Then one of them shouted out.
“Th-thank you for everything!”
With that, others began to call out.
“Th-thanks to you, I got a good grade for the first time!”
“My family contacted me! They couldn’t believe it was really me!”
“It’s been so long since I’ve been praised like this!”
Damian looked at Class 13 in surprise.
He never expected these unruly kids to wait just to thank him.
In that short time, it seemed they’d matured a bit.
”…Sir.”
Oliver and Penelope stepped forward from the group, unable to meet his eyes, as if they were guilty of something.
“We’re sorry.”
“What for? Did you get into trouble again?”
“You saved us… but we… well…”
It seemed they were still haunted by the fear they’d felt when they first met Damian.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m fine.”
Damian spoke sincerely, but their expressions remained somber.
“Come here.”
He gestured for them to approach. Hesitantly, they did, and he embraced them both.
“Oliver, you have a talent for swordsmanship. Keep honing it.”
“Y-yes!”
“Penelope, to be honest, you’re quite average. You’ll need to work tirelessly to reach a higher level.”
“I’ll remember that…”
Damian released them from his embrace.
A bright smile had spread across his face.
“I don’t get why you insist on walking.”
The Sword Saint grumbled as they walked along the path.
“We rushed here, saying we had to be quick. So why are we taking our time now?”
The Empire’s Greatest Sword didn’t respond. In fact, it seemed he hadn’t even heard the Sword Saint’s complaints.
”…Huh?”
Suddenly, the Empire’s Greatest Sword stopped in his tracks. The Sword Saint spoke gruffly.
“What is it now? Did you see another destiny or something?”
“Yes, I did.”
“What? Really? What did you see?”
“Strange. New destinies have appeared. The distortion has eased a bit. How did this happen? Did Damian Haxen do something again?”
Muttering to himself, the Empire’s Greatest Sword resumed walking.
“At least pretend to listen when someone talks to you.”
The Sword Saint grumbled, following after him.