The Swordmaster Who Returned After 1,000 Years

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 181

At Kaylen’s words, High Priest Benedict narrowed his eyes before letting out a faint chuckle.

[So it wasn’t just the elves who arrived—His Majesty is here as well. No wonder you arrived earlier than I expected.]

“How did you appear when I summoned the Spirit King?”

[Why do you think?]

—Whooooosh—

Winds swirled around the High Priest, and his body began to shift like smoke.

Along with it, large ears emerged from his hair.

Ears that were all too familiar to Kaylen.

Among elves with large ears, these were exceptionally long—

A trait unique to High Elves.

[Because the Spirit King is with me.]

“…High Priest… Are you a High Elf?”

[Ho. You caught on quickly.]

As Benedict smirked, Kaylen’s expression hardened.

“…To think the High Priest of the Holy See, who despises other races more than anyone, was actually a High Elf… I can’t believe it.”

[Why? I do despise them. Especially those lowly elves. By the mercy of the Celestial God, we High Elves barely survived… but our descendants have become so weak and inferior.]

Benedict’s face twisted in disdain as he pointed at Eldir and the other elves.

[Born in human lands, they have become degraded… How could I, an elf of the homeland, not despise them?]

“The homeland… You mean the continent where the wind’s mana gathers?”

[Hoo… You know quite a bit, Emperor. You must have met the ‘Lich.’]

The High Priest even knew about Johannes.

As he raised a finger, the wind coiled around it.

[That’s right. Our homeland is the Continent of Wind, Elpencia. We lived there peacefully… until the dragons awakened. When they did, we were annihilated in an instant. If not for the Celestial God’s blessing, even the few survivors wouldn’t have remained…]

“There were dragons back then too?”

[Indeed. Dragons have always appeared in times of destruction.]

Kaylen recalled the New Continent Johannes had spoken of.

Aside from the Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm, no living beings existed there.

Had dragons descended there as well?

[You worthless beings… I know why you came to the Spirit Realm. You seek to escape this world, don’t you?]

“Ugh…”

“Y-Yes, that’s correct.”

Faced with the High Priest’s blunt question, the elven leaders stammered as they answered.

Though he looked down on them, they could not ignore the authority of a High Elf.

[You cannot live in the Spirit Realm. As you can see, this world has been twisted by the dragons’ schemes.]

“Th-Then… Is this truly the Spirit Realm?”

[It is, lowly one.]

“This… this can’t be…”

[However, there is space for you to reside in the Sanctuary.]

Pointing at Eldir, Benedict spoke.

[If you properly create an Artificial Spirit and reopen the gate to the Spirit Realm, I shall allow you entry.]

“Y-You knew about Artificial Spirits…?”

[Who do you think first conceived the idea?]

“…Ah… It couldn’t be…!”

[Even the magic circle to open the gate to the Spirit Realm—I designed it all.]

At that, Johannes suddenly stepped forward and spoke.

“So that pathetic magic circle was your creation?”

[Johannes… I have no desire to be criticized by someone who abandoned the Celestial God's blessing and ran away.]

“Blessing? Don’t make me laugh. You’re the ones who turned me into an undead. You, specifically. You don’t seem to have any fondness for dragons….”

He pointed a finger at Benedict.

“Why did you say the scale on Ernstine’s nape was a dragon’s scale? After hearing your confirmation, he completely lost it.”

[Hoo… You remember the old days well.]

“My memory is sharp, that’s why.”

[It’s simple. The dragon's descent was inevitable. I decided it was better to bring about an early resurrection rather than face a stronger dragon later.]

“Was that the will of the Celestial God?”

[Hoo… Of course. I am a servant of the Celestial God. I only follow His will.]

To summon the Dragon God early.

And through Johannes and Baldrix, to extract the mana suit containing the Six Sword and create an incomplete Dragon God.

All of this was supposedly the will of the Celestial God.

Kaylen, his expression hardened, listened to their conversation before speaking abruptly.

“High Priest. You’ve been quite generous with your information.”

[Hoo… It’s because you’re someone who deserves to know more.]

Deserves to know more?

Kaylen looked at the High Priest, who spoke with a meaningful smile, and asked bluntly.

“Is that so? Then let me ask you one thing.”

[Emperor, what is it you wish to know?]

“What is the relationship between the Celestial God and the White Demon King?”

[…You ask something I cannot answer.]

Benedict’s smile faded as he shook his head slightly.

[If you’re truly curious, come to the Sanctuary. Then I shall teach you specially.]

With those final words, the green infinity returned to its original form.

The High Priest, who had appeared like a storm, vanished just as swiftly.

His words left the elves in a state of panic.

“To think this really is the Spirit Realm…”

“High Priest Benedict was a High Elf?”

“What are we supposed to do now…?”

They had believed that simply reaching the Spirit Realm would allow them to settle in a new world.

But the reality before them was harsh.

First, they could never survive in such a confined space…

‘Going to the Sanctuary feels unsettling.’

‘Relying on a High Priest who despises elves…’

When they first heard Benedict’s words, they had followed as if entranced.

But now that he was gone, they could think more clearly.

The High Priest’s promise to invite them to the Sanctuary once they completed the Artificial Spirit…

Given his attitude, it wasn’t something they could trust.

‘Still, it wouldn’t be right to completely distrust the words of a High Elf.’

‘We should decide whether to follow the High Priest’s words through a council…’

‘But the Artificial Spirit must be made, regardless.’

In the end, the elves reached one conclusion—

They could not surrender Eldir’s ‘Eye.’

To summon the Artificial Spirit, the spirit stone was essential.

“Your Majesty… I’m sorry, but Eldir’s Eye…”

“The situation has turned too unfavorable to hand it over as it is.”

“Do you all trust the High Priest's words completely?”

“Not entirely. However, since the Spirit Realm we hoped to settle in has turned out like this…”

“No matter what, we believe the process of creating the Artificial Spirit through Eldir must continue.”

Kaylen’s face turned cold.

“I didn’t expect the elves to be this shameless. Our deal was to hand over Eldir’s Eye once the gate to the Spirit Realm was opened. Wasn’t that the agreement?”

“Ugh. That is true, but…”

“Because the truth doesn’t meet your expectations, you’re breaking the deal as you please? You’re making light of me and the Starn Empire.”

No sooner had Kaylen’s words ended—

Swish—

Golden Aura Swords appeared at the elves’ necks.

Though Kaylen hadn’t moved at all, the Aura Swords formed in an instant.

Seeing the blades threatening their throats, the elves shivered.

‘W-We underestimated the Emperor…’

‘I spoke too hastily…’

They had grown used to Kaylen’s lenient rule and had unknowingly spoken out of turn.

The result was devastating.

As the tense atmosphere persisted and the elves struggled to find a way out of the situation—

A hooded woman grasped Kaylen’s arm.

“Father.”

“What is it?”

“Before punishing them, may I try summoning a Dark Spirit?”

“A Dark Spirit?”

“Yes. If this is the Spirit Realm, shouldn’t a Dark Spirit appear from somewhere?”

“That makes sense.”

The four elemental spirits had emerged from the four Infinities, but the Dark Spirit had no such source.

It was uncertain where one might appear from.

“Try summoning it.”

“Yes, Father.”

As Melvria removed her hood, her completely concealed face was revealed.

Melvria—known even in the elf village for her exceptional beauty.

When she appeared as a Dark Elf, the elves’ eyes widened in shock.

Among them, Irene’s surprise was the greatest.

“Melvria… sister?”

There was something familiar about the voice, but to realize it was her sister-in-law—Melvria.

Irene glanced at Eldir.

Seeing his surprisingly calm face, it seemed he had known all along.

‘What? When did they meet without me knowing?’

Irene pouted slightly as she looked at Melvria.

It had been hundreds of years since her disappearance.

What had happened for her to become a Dark Elf and summon a Dark Spirit?

And why was she calling Kaylen “Father”?

Confused emotions swirled within her, but for now, she focused on watching where the Dark Spirit would emerge from.

“O Spirit of Darkness, answer my call.”

When Melvria summoned the Dark Spirit—

Brrrrr…

At the outskirts of the Spirit Realm, the darkness beyond the boundary began to tremble.

The darkness, rippling like waves in the night, soon surged toward Melvria.

“Wow…”

As the pitch-black darkness, like the night sky, approached, Melvria tilted her head and spoke.

“Why is it so scattered?”

At her words, the dispersed Dark Spirit quickly gathered into a compact form, shrinking to the size of a fist.

To think that the massive Dark Spirit could be compressed this much…

Irene watched in surprise, then turned her gaze toward where the Dark Spirit had come from.

“Huh…?”

The space that was once pitch-black had now transformed to resemble the current Spirit Realm.

“So the darkness that shrouded the outskirts of the Spirit Realm was actually a spirit?”

“If we compress all those spirits like that, couldn’t we turn the vast darkness back into open space?”

“Yes. It’s worth trying.”

Melvria responded to Johannes’ muttered thought.

“If Melvria continues clearing the way like this, wouldn’t the elves be able to settle here? What do you think?”

“Hmm…”

“There’s an abundance of spirit energy. If space can be secured, settling here could be possible.”

If Melvria’s method continued to work, there would be enough space for migration.

As the elves gave positive responses, Johannes grinned.

“Then, we’ll take Eldir’s Eye?”

“Ahem…”

The elven leaders exchanged wary glances.

Ideally, they wanted to wait and see the outcome before handing over Eldir’s Eye.

But with the Emperor’s overwhelming presence, it was difficult to keep adding conditions.

“Understood…”

“Still, could you wait a few more days to observe the progress before taking it?”

“Fine.”

Johannes agreed readily.

“We were planning to forge the trial sword first anyway.”

His gaze shifted toward Violet.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]