A single beam of light sliced through everything Sidhurst had created.
The arrangement of mana, the structure of magic, the blazing flames of mana, even the dazzling illusions—all were severed as if they were one solid mass, now cleaved in two.
The world wobbled from the crack, tilted, and then slipped downward.
Sidhurst’s eyes widened.
“Ah…”
He couldn’t comprehend what he was witnessing.
Magic had been cut off at its very root.
Was such a thing even possible?
Sidhurst stood there, dazed, watching the world shatter into pieces.
His domain was slowly fading away.
Now, he stood in darkness.
“This is…”
The Prince of Briol, standing at an angle, leveled his sword.
“Well? Sidhurst. Feeling a little scared now?”
“Who exactly are you…”
“Oh, good. You look a bit more presentable now.”
Sidhurst reflexively reached to where Yuri’s gaze fell.
The proud, thick white beard he once boasted was gone. Instead of hair, only the edge of his robe was left in his hand.
As Yuri had warned, he had cut off his beard.
“Th-this can’t be…”
A flash of anger sparked in Sidhurst’s eyes.
“My precious beard!”
He summoned mana again. A violet magic circle glowed beneath his feet, then rose one by one, multiplying. Dozens of magic circles formed a cylindrical barrier, spinning around Sidhurst.
He stretched out both hands.
“I won’t let this go!”
But Yuri calmly swung his sword.
And that was enough.
The sword’s ki ruthlessly shattered Sidhurst’s mana.
“My goodness…”
It resembled a dispel, but the principle was entirely different.
If a dispel interferes with the arrangement of mana to scatter it, Yuri’s sword ki was cutting through the mana itself.
Could this even be called swordsmanship?
Sidhurst felt an instinctive fear toward Yuri.
“You don’t mean to say…”
He swallowed hard.
As the master of the mage tower, Sidhurst had reached heights no one else had. He was the archmage managing the tower, a grand wizard like Inariel or Hernando.
His unique magic was the “Complete Separation Style.”
He created his own dimension, completely cut off from the outside world.
When Sidhurst willed it, no one could find him.
That was why, despite the threat of black magic looming over the world, he never felt truly threatened.
But this sword was different.
Sidhurst instinctively took a step back.
He could sense it. The sword wielded by Yuri Briol cut through everything. Even his Complete Separation Style couldn’t withstand the sword’s ki.
“Yuri Briol.”
“Scared now?”
“You don’t mean to say…”
Sidhurst asked seriously.
“Could it be… that you can cut through black magic?”
Yuri, with a cloak draped over his shoulder, looked at Sidhurst and smiled faintly.
His jet-black hair blended into the surrounding darkness, making it hard to distinguish, but his eyes—though also black—shone brightly, as if holding light within.
Yuri answered.
“I cut it.”
“Ah…”
Sidhurst finally understood.
He realized now.
He was nothing more than a fleeting bubble rising and falling in the flow of the world.
Being the master of the mage tower, a wielder of unique magic, all the magical heights he had achieved meant nothing.
He had thought humanity was being punished.
But it was the opposite.
Not punishment, but an opportunity.
Now he could understand why two brilliant mages, Hernando and Marirose, followed this young man.
Shaken, Sidhurst spoke.
“What is the name of that sword of yours that even cuts through black magic?”
“Simhoncham. Soul Sever.”
“A sword that cuts the heart and soul…”
Heart and soul.
If a sword that cuts flesh can go beyond that—
Wouldn’t that be akin to cutting a god?
Sidhurst closed his eyes.
Even now, he could feel it. The beings lurking beyond dimensions continued to watch this world.
It was like a disaster. When a storm rages, humans can only hide in their burrows, trembling silently until it passes.
But now, a being had appeared to oppose them.
“I see.”
Sidhurst spoke.
“What you intend to do will surely not be easy.”
“I don’t care.”
“Countless enemies will stand in your way.”
“I will cut them down.”
“And your brothers?”
“I will kill them.”
“If a god stands against you?”
Yuri Briol smiled, lifting the corner of his mouth, answering without hesitation.
“When I meet a god, I kill the god.”
Sidhurst burst into loud laughter. Yuri looked puzzled.
“Why the hell are you laughing all of a sudden?”
Though his words were harsh, Sidhurst didn’t mind and laughed for a long while.
“Yuri Briol, you may not even realize the true meaning of the sword you carry…”
Lowering his staff, Sidhurst approached Yuri.
With every step, his shoulders felt lighter.
The heavy burden he had carried for so long was slipping away.
Perhaps it was a rash decision.
But the sword the Prince of Briol wielded held that much significance. Even if he were to fail, he would never regret this moment.
“Now that I’ve met that sword, there’s no turning back. I will cooperate fully from here on.”
“Why the sudden change? You’re making me feel bad about speaking casually.”
“Speak as you wish.”
“N-no, I’m too old for that.”
“Hahaha…”
“If we’re on the same side, I’ll treat you with respect again.”
“You’re quite the sly one.”
Sidhurst said,
“Let me warn you in advance. You will have to fight enemies far greater than you imagine.”
“I’m prepared.”
“Never forget that. Only a stronger soul can cut through a soul tainted by darkness.”
Before they knew it, the space they stood in changed.
The darkness receded, and the two found themselves inside a worn log cabin.
“Where is this?”
“My dwelling.”
It was a humble place for an archmage. There was nothing of note. Outside the window, a dense forest stretched out.
Yuri looked around.
“Why here? If we’re cooperating, let’s head back quickly.”
“Wait a moment.”
Sidhurst stood before a wall mirror.
“Do you know why I grew my hair and beard so long?”
“To avoid the hassle of cutting it?”
“No. The opposite. Do you know how hard it is to manage long hair and beard? Honestly, I wanted to cut it every day.”
“Then why did you grow it?”
“To not forget.”
Sidhurst picked up a dagger from the table.
“To remind myself that I am a very old man. To avoid foolish thoughts and simply let the years flow by as an old man should.”
He then removed his robe and lifted his shirt.
Yuri gasped.
“Oh…”
The body revealed was strong and healthy, hardly what one would expect from an old man. Not bulky, but lean and densely muscled.
Sidhurst smiled at his reflection.
“But now, there’s no need for that anymore.”
With those words, the dagger moved.
His long white hair fell down. Like a soldier, he cut his hair short, shaving off even his beard, leaving only faint gray stubble on his face.
One strand of hair remained, falling over his face.
“Si-Sidhurst… you…”
Yuri called his name in a trembling voice.
At first, he had seemed like a wrinkled old man with wild white hair.
But after trimming his hair and beard, he looked like a strikingly masculine man in his prime, the kind you might see on a grand stage in the imperial capital.
“How do I look now? Different?”
“Like a revolutionary fighting against the empire. Before, you looked like a wicked mage siding with the empire, chasing wealth and glory.”
“Hahaha…”
Sidhurst laughed and waved his staff.
“Let’s go back now.”
In an instant, they were back atop the cliff.
Hernando and Marirose, sitting alone, stared blankly at them.
Sidhurst ignored their sharp gazes, turning his body to gaze out over the vast land beyond the cliff, reaching out his arm to Yuri.
Despite his age, Sidhurst was tall enough to put his arm around Yuri’s shoulder.
Side by side, they looked out over the wide expanse.
Behind them, Hernando and Marirose whispered.
“Where did his hair and beard go?”
“Probably cut off by His Highness. He had no choice but to tidy up.”
“Did he lose the fight?”
“Of course. How can a mage beat one of the Ten Strongest Swordsmen?”
“I thought Sidhurst would handle it.”
“Yeah, right. By the way, why are they suddenly so close, arm in arm like best friends?”
“That’s one of His Highness’s tricks. Beat you up, then act kind and make you an ally. Then everyone becomes a loyal subordinate.”
“Did Hernando fall under His Highness like that too?”
“I didn’t! I recognized His Highness’s potential and have been with him since we were young.”
“Yeah, sure.”
After a while, Yuri and Sidhurst returned to the table.
The two who had once argued over cutting beards and scoldings now looked at each other with warm eyes.
“Sidhurst, I look forward to working with you.”
“It is I who am truly honored to meet you.”
Hernando and Marilose were left speechless.
Yuri continued speaking.
“Will you condemn the Empire and their use of black magic?”
“Of course. But before that, there’s something you need to know.”
Sidhurst absentmindedly brushed the spot where his beard used to be, then lowered his hand.
“The Empire has likely already completed the ritual they sought.”
“What?”
“I’ve witnessed black magic myself. That Cedric fellow too.”
Yuri’s expression hardened.
“He wields black magic skillfully. The power to perform miracles fueled by human life and souls isn’t limited to our world alone. There are others who delight in such things.”
“You mean…?”
“He has already summoned beings from another realm. Horrific creatures that feed on human souls and suffering. To put it bluntly…”
Sidhurst paused for a moment before continuing.
“The Empire has summoned a god from another world.”
Kori took Laurent to a small village within the coalition of minor states and admitted him to the local temple.
The shrine was tiny, barely enough space for a patient to lie down. On top of that, when the priest saw Kori and Laurent’s faces, he demanded a hefty additional fee.
Kori had no choice but to pay it all.
It was most of the money they had managed to gather together.
Laurent lay in the infirmary, his entire body wrapped in bandages, while Kori stayed by his side, nursing him tirelessly.
The priest scolded Kori every time he passed by.
“Hey, you. Planning to stay here all day?”
“There’s still bleeding…”
“If you’re going to camp out here, you’ll have to pay lodging too.”
“Please, just this once. I have to care for him.”
“And who are you to be nursing anyone?”
“Please, sir. Hehe…”
“Ugh, what a bunch of lepers…”
Muttering cruel words, the priest turned away.
The priests Kori had met before at least pretended to follow the will of the gods, but this one was nothing more than a petty merchant.
Still, there was nowhere else to go.
Kori looked down at Laurent, who was slipping in and out of consciousness.
“Phew…”
Meanwhile, from a distance, the priest’s voice carried as he chatted with some villagers who had come as visitors.
“Admit patients? No way. Two ugly monsters came in here. What do they look like? Better not ask—it’s horrifying. I only took them in out of mercy, since I’m a priest. Tsk tsk…”
Kori’s eyes fixed on the symbol of the god hanging on the wall.
The priest, who claimed to practice divine mercy, was openly despising them for their grotesque appearances.
The priest’s faint voice continued.
“Not just one, but two monsters. I really have no luck, do I?”
He went on and on.
“They’re both monsters. Monsters…”
Kori looked down at Laurent’s face.
Since the unnecessary hood had been removed for treatment, his hideous features were fully exposed. The handsome face he once had was nowhere to be seen. In some ways, he looked even more monstrous than Kori himself.
“Sir Laurent.”
Kori called his name, but there was no response. Only shallow breaths hissed through his crushed, split nostrils.
Kori remembered Laurent’s former self.
A radiant man.
His appearance, his character, his noble bloodline, and the abilities he possessed—all shone brightly.
But not anymore.
Now, he was a greater monster than Kori, scorned by everyone.
Kori placed a hand gently on Laurent’s cheek and forced a smile. He struggled to hold back his own laughter, and the suppressed sound of his breath echoed quietly in the room for a while.
In a soft voice, Kori murmured,
“I won’t betray you, Sir Laurent. Hehe…”