The Swordmaster Who Returned After 1,000 Years

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 197

The Spirit Realm.

The elves were actively pioneering the area with the help of Melvria’s power.

"Father. You're here?"

"Yes. How is the situation in the Spirit Realm?"

"We're summoning dark spirits to restore the Spirit Realm to its original state, but..."

Melvria glanced around and sighed.

Though it had expanded compared to before, it was still engulfed in darkness.

"It's still not an environment suitable for elves to settle in."

"It hasn't been long since the gate to the Spirit Realm was opened. But... are you the only one who can summon dark spirits?"

"Yes. To summon dark spirits, one must be a Dark Elf... but all the Dark Elves are in the Demon Realm."

"I see."

Kaylen gazed at the area covered by dark spirits in the Spirit Realm.

It was too vast for Melvria to handle alone.

"Is there no way to bring some Dark Elves here? It seems impossible for you to manage this by yourself."

"Even if it costs them their lives, the elves wouldn't accept that. To them, Dark Elves are nothing but traitorous enemies."

Melvria gave a bitter smile and pointed to herself.

"In fact, just tolerating me is already a big concession for them. It's only because they remember me as a former half-elf..."

"Tolerating? Who dares to speak as if they have the right to decide whether to accept you or not?"

As Kaylen's voice cooled, Eldir, who stood beside Melvria, quickly intervened.

"F-Father-in-law. No one in our tribe dares to belittle Melvria. On the contrary, everyone is grateful for her dedication."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. If there were anyone who did, I wouldn't stand for it."

"Alright. I trust you'll handle it well."

"Yes, sir!"

"By the way... is your body alright?"

At Kaylen's question, Eldir smiled and lightly touched his eyepatch—the area where the spirit stone had been extracted.

It was likely hollow underneath.

The massive wind mana that had once filled it was now gone, and it wouldn’t be strange if Eldir felt a sense of loss.

"I'm fine."

Eldir glanced at Melvria and replied.

"Rather, since my runaway wife returned and keeps sticking by me, every day has been happiness."

"You! What are you saying in front of my father?"

"I'm just showing him how close we are."

"Seriously..."

Though Melvria scolded him, she didn’t seem entirely displeased.

Kaylen watched them with a slightly awkward expression.

"Well then, it's about time to go."

He turned his head back.

Behind him stood the archmage Johannes and Violet.

"Heh. Looks like the couple is doing well. As a father, you've got nothing to worry about."

"Johannes, do you think Eldir will be alright?"

"He should be fine. Though extracting the spirit stone must've cost him a lot of wind mana... he's still a Sword Master. His body should be fine. Though it's inevitable he's weaker than before."

The Spirit Stone that once shaped the Wind God’s Blade belonged to Eldir.

Now that the massive wind mana contained within it had vanished, his strength would inevitably be diminished.

‘But even back then…’

Kaylen recalled his first encounter with Eldir.

He had fought Kaylen while wielding wind mana, even attempting to summon an artificial spirit.

He had shown significant strength for an elf, but…

‘Even with his past strength, he wouldn’t be a match for Melvria now.’

Given the current gap in strength, even a hundred Eldirs wouldn’t be enough to stand against Melvria.

There’s no rule that says the husband must be stronger, but as a father, Kaylen privately wished his son-in-law could protect his daughter.

“Ria. When Kaina came to the capital, she seemed aware that you were with us.”

“Kaina?”

“Yes. She couldn’t pinpoint your exact location because you were in the Spirit Realm, but it’s something to be cautious of.”

“I see…”

Melvria’s expression grew serious.

For Kaina to be looking into her whereabouts…

She wasn’t sure what her intentions were, but it didn’t seem good.

“So Eldir, don’t neglect your training. If Kaina attacks, you’ll need to protect Melvria until I arrive.”

“Understood!”

“Alright. We’ll be heading off now.”

“Yes, Father. Take care.”

“See you next time.”

Kaylen and Johannes began walking first.

Violet, her eyes wide with curiosity, followed after.

‘So he really is her father…’

She recalled the time just days ago when she had been excluded from official duties.

—“Violet, Johannes and I will handle administrative work. Why don’t you focus on researching your origins?”

She had wondered if she was about to be dismissed before she could resign, but Kaylen’s proposal was one she welcomed wholeheartedly.

—“Really? But… is it okay?”

—“What do you mean?”

—“The state of the office… It’s unsettling, like something could explode at any moment.”

Even though she had been freed from administrative tasks, years of experience still left her concerned.

After all, the Saintess and the Death Knight were working together in the office.

—“It’s fine. Though their mana is incompatible, my son won’t act recklessly.”

—“Your son? You mean that Death Knight?”

—“Yes.”

That undead is his son?

Violet’s mouth fell open in shock.

But Kaylen only looked puzzled.

—“Hmm? Didn’t I mention it before?”

—“No! I’ve never heard that!”

—“Really? I thought I had… must’ve been my mistake.”

Now that it had come this far, there was no reason to keep it a secret.

Kaylen decided to reveal the truth.

—“Do you know of Emperor Ernstine, who unified the continent a thousand years ago?”

- "Are you referring to Emperor Ernstine? Of course, I know about him."

- "That’s me."

- "…What? Weren’t you his descendant?"

Violet had assumed that was the reason the empire was once named after the Meier dynasty.

To her surprise, Kaylen roughly explained his true identity and the current circumstances.

'It’s such an unbelievable story...'

Violet followed behind Kaylen, still stunned.

'It's shocking enough that he's actually Emperor Ernstine, but to think he's confronting the gods...'

Kaylen had also briefly explained about the Celestial Demon and the Dragon God, but Violet was still confused.

'To think the Demon King is actually a Celestial God, wielding both heavenly and demonic power... Normally, I’d never believe it.'

Even now, she remained skeptical.

After contemplating the situation, Violet cautiously asked,

- "Can you check my origin?"

- "Yes, I’ll do that."

For now, she decided to follow Kaylen’s suggestion and examine her own body.

There was no point in pondering things like the Celestial Demon or the Dragon God alone, as it wouldn’t lead to any answers.

"There it is."

...

The blue star, resembling infinity, that they had seen in the Spirit Realm.

As Kaylen approached it, Violet followed behind him, her expression dazed as if she was entranced.

All the complicated thoughts in her mind had vanished.

She was completely captivated by the blue star before her, unable to tear her gaze away.

"Emperor, by the way, did you properly refine the mana you absorbed from the star last time?"

"Yeah. It’s fully mine now."

Kaylen manifested his sword and gently stroked it.

After absorbing the water mana from the blue star, his sword's power had increased by 10%.

"Then why not absorb more this time?"

"I absorbed water last time, so now I should absorb fire mana."

Kaylen nodded at Johannes' suggestion and pondered.

'Along with fire mana… If I use the Six Swords imbued with the Divine Sword, I could absorb even more. Now that the Wind Sword is complete, I should absorb wind mana today.'

He planned to gain as much as he could without disrupting the balance of the Six Swords.

Kaylen smiled as he looked at the stars positioned in each direction.

"But first, let's handle today’s tasks."

"Right. Mana can be absorbed anytime. Let’s first explore the underwater continent."

Johannes pointed excitedly at the blue star.

"Start by touching the blue star like last time."

"Alright."

When Kaylen gently stroked the blue star, the undersea world revealed itself.

In the deep ocean, where even light barely reached, a vast landmass floated.

"That land... No matter how many times I see it, it’s strange. It’s floating so unnaturally."

"C-Can I take a closer look?"

"Sure. Come here."

Violet, as if entranced, walked forward and stood beside Kaylen, slowly reaching out toward the blue Infinity.

"Wait. Don’t touch it yet."

Kaylen grabbed her arm. Just like before, water mana extended outward from the blue Infinity.

"It’s… changing again."

Violet’s body began transforming into water, as if she were undergoing spiritization.

The transformation was happening much faster than before.

"Can I… touch it now?"

Kaylen looked toward Johannes.

"Let’s try."

As Johannes nodded, Kaylen cautiously released his grip.

"Ah…"

Whoosh—

The moment Violet’s hand made contact with the blue Infinity, a vortex swirled around her.

In an instant, her body was sucked into it.

"Violet!"

Where she had disappeared, the water vortex continued spinning, expanding in size.

It grew into a massive whirlpool, over five meters wide.

"There was no time to react… Let’s go in too."

"Yeah."

Kaylen and Johannes threw themselves into the vortex.

It felt as if they were passing through a warp gate, and a new space unfolded before them.

"This is… the underwater space from earlier."

"So this must be the landmass floating like an island."

A lone piece of land drifting in the ocean.

Strangely, the moment they set foot on it, the surrounding water receded in all directions.

There was no need to swim—it had transformed into an environment just like the surface.

"This is incredible…"

"Where’s Violet?"

-"This way."

Kaylen turned toward the voice.

At the center of the floating land, he could sense Violet’s presence.

"Let’s go."

Following the voice, Kaylen and Johannes reached the central area.

But instead of Violet, they found—

A large, blue coffin.

"This is…?"

And on the ground, an unexpected inscription was engraved:

"Here lies Emperor Ernstine."

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]