Hard Carried by My Sword-Chapter 109

The Titan Mountains were treacherous even without the monsters that infested them. With steep, rugged terrain, densely packed ancient trees, and uneven ground, even well-trained soldiers found it difficult to navigate.

The whole area was practically a swamp of death where one wrong step meant never getting out, with canyons that frequently suffered landslides due to chaotic wind currents. It was a true realm of the demons.

Nature’s brutality could be learned the hard way in what was one of the most dangerous places in the world. And if the harsh environment wasn’t enough, the countless monsters only added to the nightmare.

Adventurers below B-rank weren’t even allowed to accept exploration quests for the outer edges, and even A-rankers hesitated to venture into the depths. Rare monsters worth a fortune roamed the area, but one failed hunt could cost one’s life. It just wasn’t a profitable gamble.

And yet, through the deep zone of this brutal mountain range, two shadows were streaking across it as if sprinting across a pleasant grassy plain.

Karen stepped on a branch and vaulted into the air, flipping twice midair before accelerating again toward her next landing point, a distant tree. It was like she had springs in her legs. Leon couldn’t quite match her acrobatics, but using the energy of the Stigmata, he managed to catch up with a single leap.

“Wow! So fast! So fast!” Karen shouted like an excited child. “You can use Aura like this, too?! Give it elasticity like a rubber band, then launch yourself forward like a slingshot—”

Before she could even finish, a surge of teal Aura wrapped around her and blasted her forward. The sudden acceleration broke the sound barrier. However, before she could celebrate, her face scrunched up in pain.

“Ow, ow, ow! What the—That stings!”

The unexpected burst of speed had left her skin red and swollen in places where her Aura hadn’t fully shielded her. The friction from air resistance when breaking the sound barrier had seared her skin.

Unlike a drake, human skin wasn’t covered in tough, flexible scales. Considering that even metal warped or broke under that kind of pressure, the fact that her skin hadn’t peeled off entirely was a miracle.

She really has reached the level of a Master, Leon thought, once again trailing a beat behind her.

El-Cid agreed, —She hasn’t quite reached materialization, but if she can imbue released Aura with physical properties like she just did, then yeah, I’d say she’s at the entry level.

By materialization... You mean Aura Blade?

—Exactly.

Aura Blade, formed by materializing Aura into something physical, was the proof of an Aura Master’s power and a symbol of their status. Although it was simple to describe in words, it would take volumes of rigorous documentation to properly explain. A single slash could bring down a castle wall, and a single thrust could pierce a fortress gate.

—Of course, the effect varies depending on the user’s attribute and capability. But Aura Blade is essentially a highly specialized form of psychokinesis.

Specialized? How?

—It’s like a tool that only does a few things but does them extremely well. It might freeze everything it cuts or incinerate it. Even bending the laws of physics becomes possible. Remember when you severed space during your drake hunt? Same deal.

This was why once someone reached the Master level, their power was on a completely different scale from all those below. Aura Blade was a perfect upgrade to Aura Weapon. No matter how much power one packed into raw Aura, it couldn’t beat an Aura Blade—even one barely strong enough to break a slab of rock.

It was an almost unfair extreme of martial strength. And Karen had stepped into that transcendent realm.

“Leon!” Karen called out as she slowed down and glided naturally up beside him. “I just realized that I forgot to ask. Where are we headed next?”

“Jugend Kingdom.”

“Jugend? Oh, the Dwarf state?”

Leon nodded. Jugend, better known by its nickname, the Steel Kingdom, was the home of the Dwarves. It lay in the southeastern part of the continent, wrapped protectively around a massive mountain range rich in rare minerals. Its territory formed a distinctive, coiled shape.

The nation also blocked off one of the continent’s four major monster zones: the Mirror Canyon. With the straightforward nature of its dwarves and the pride of the easterners, it functioned as a fairly respectable country.

“There’s a yellow marker in Jugend. It’s also where we’ll meet the Saintess, and we should check in with a church anyway.”

It wasn’t far from the Titan Mountains—maybe three or four days’ travel. For Leon and Karen, however, conventional travel estimates didn’t apply since they could move faster than a horse and run all day.

And for Leon, Jugend made the most sense. It brought them closer to the approaching Saintess, there was a task waiting for the Hero to resolve, and they could visit a church housing a Cardinal. There weren’t many chances to kill three birds with one stone like this one.

“The Saintess...”

At the mention of her, Karen fell uncharacteristically silent, her bright expression shadowed. In the Hero’s party, the Saintess’ importance was absolute. Unlike rogues, warriors, or mages, she was an irreplaceable force, not to mention her astronomical social status.

Would things still be this smooth after she joined? To Karen, once just an assassin, the Saintess was someone who naturally evoked inferiority. Unaware of her feelings, Leon asked about the race he’d never met.

El-Cid, what are dwarves like?

The dwarves were creatures of iron and the signature race of Jugend, known for their masterful hands, boozy tongues, and thick beards. Short in stature, but with thick, powerful muscles and bones, they were said to outperform humans in both strength and stamina, making them exceptional warriors.

El-Cid, of course, crushed the almost romantic image with a single word.

—They’re blockheads. They drink themselves stupid as soon as the sun sets. They’ll spend days forging something and then smash it because it’s not ‘perfect’ enough, blowing up their own deadlines. Teach them tactics? What for? All they know is frontal assault.

Is that another one of your ‘personal stories’?

—Honestly, I’m probably public enemy number one for them. I snapped every ‘masterpiece’ they ever brought me.

At that, Leon let out an “Ah” as he remembered a tale. The Holy King Rodrick’s strength had been so absurd that he broke every weapon given to him except the one the goddess made herself.

This included the treasure sword said to have been found in a Gold Dragon’s lair and the legendary blade the dwarven smiths spent two whole weeks forging.

The dwarves took immense pride in their craftsmanship. So, it was only natural for them to be furious when El-Cid shattered every one of their masterpieces—each forged with heart and soul—leaving nothing but splinters and crushed egos.

—Would you call a metal stick that snaps in mid-air, a ‘sword’? They’re the ones calling defective junk a ‘masterwork’—not my fault it broke when I swung it. And now they’re throwing tantrums? Give me a break.

Leon listened with one ear and let it slide, silently offering a moment of respect to the dwarves who had surely wept blood back then. Knowing El-Cid’s temper, there was no way he’d just casually swing those swords.

The dwarves had probably puffed out their chests even in front of Rodrick, and the attitude must have irritated El-Cid enough to break them on purpose. Just as Leon was drawing a picture in his head, El-Cid continued.

—Still, don’t underestimate them. Dwarves are a race with twice, sometimes triple, the muscle mass and density of humans. Their height and weight are practically the same, and they can also wield the power of earth and fire spirits. With both feet planted on solid ground, they can hit harder than a battering ram.

Seriously? And that’s without Aura?

—They’re not completely cut off from nature like humans. Just like an elf’s arrows ride the wind, dwarves get tougher—like minerals—when their feet touch the ground.

Being only 1.3 meters tall would usually be a huge disadvantage for a warrior. But if that small frame weighed 130 kilograms of pure muscle?

Short reach could be compensated for with longer weapons. Compact, heavy bodies had stable centers of gravity. If they added the natural durability unique to their race—like iron itself? Their combat power would far surpass that of heavily armored infantry.

—They might not have overly outstanding individuals, but all dwarves have above-average combat power. Some drunk, untrained lout could probably toy with a ten-man squad.

And in the Kingdom of Jugend, the dwarves’ ingenuity had given rise to numerous mechanical devices. Without knowing how to handle them, one would easily fall prey to these advanced weapons.

Their cold weapons were several levels above what other regions produced, and even firearms powered by gunpowder and steam were mounted on their fortress walls. It was why they could completely seal off the monster zone known as “Mirror Canyon” and rise as the dominant force in the southeastern continent.

—More importantly, if it’s Jugend... that guy might still be there—

El-Cid suddenly stopped mid-sentence. It didn’t sound like he forgot. More like he said something he hadn’t meant to.

Leon didn’t miss the slip and asked, That guy? Who?

—Nothing. No one.

What do you mean ‘no one’? Is this another one of your old vendettas, like with Kasim?

—I said forget it. Even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you. What’s the fun in knowing everything ahead of time?

And you call yourself a Holy Sword?!

—Starting today, you can call me a cursed sword.

Leon grabbed the back of his neck in exasperation, but as usual, El-Cid offered no more details. There were two proven ways to infuriate someone: one was to start talking and then stop. And El-Cid was a master of it. Leon smacked the sword hilt a few times, but if even Kasim’s punches hadn’t damaged it, Leon’s taps wouldn’t do a thing.

Then, suddenly, light burst from the sword and revealed the surrounding terrain. Not far away, a blue marker lit up.

It was a quest. As Leon instinctively reached out, the details appeared before him.

Cursed Sword Destruction

Difficulty: Normal

Scale: 1

Threat: Incomplete Cursed Sword

Overseer: None

A cursed sword made from minerals corrupted with evil energy has been discovered. It dominates its wielder and continues to grow by feeding on blood and life force, ultimately twisting its host into something inhuman. Destroy the cursed sword controlling mercenary Garlond and save his mind.

Just as he finished reading, Karen’s voice rang out ahead.

“Leon! People are fighting on that slope!”

It matched the direction of the marker on the map. If a fight had already broken out, every second could be the difference between life and death. A Hero wouldn’t be needed unless it was truly serious.

Leon made a snap decision, rushed forward beside her, and said, “Let’s go!”

“Yeah!”

They kicked into full speed, accelerating even faster. Leaving only afterimages in their wake, they covered two kilometers in about ten seconds before arriving at the uphill path where the commotion was happening. Leon stopped at the treetops and looked down at the scene.

Three wagons, fifteen people. A small merchant convoy...

It was easy to tell the friend from the foe. The convoy had hired seasoned mercenaries and held formation well. Blocking their path was a single man.

Even at a glance, the man with glowing red eyes didn’t look sane. Drool dripped from the corner of his barely parted lips, and the veins on the hand gripping his sword were bulging unnaturally.

It was the cursed sword. Even from this distance, the malice radiating off it made Leon’s eyes go cold.

Karen, observing the convoy, suddenly widened her eyes.

“Wait, huh? Leon, that guy...”

“Huh? Oh.”

Leon followed her pointing finger and instantly recognized a familiar face. It was none other than one of the mercenaries they’d traveled with through the Titan Mountains.

Hamel, a former ranger from the Steel Claw Mercenaries, stood in the merchant lines, facing off against the cursed-sword-wielding mercenary.