Sword Master Yuel Razian.

Every epithet attached to the woman, whose rank equaled that of the Order of Starblood’s High Priest, was chilling. Murderous fiend, lunatic, butcher, executioner... They were less descriptions of her than names meant to emphasize the danger she posed.

It could hardly be otherwise. Yuel Razian was, objectively, a dangerous person.

Given a suitable justification, she would gladly draw her sword. Gladly kill. She felt neither hesitation nor resistance when taking a life. All she considered, and only very briefly, was whether killing the person would cause trouble afterward.

["She’s a psychopath."]

["A lunatic utterly divorced from common sense!"]

["To think someone like that represents the will of a star. The Order of Starblood really has hit rock bottom..."]

Countless powerful figures discussed Yuel’s disposition, though they never dared say such things to her face. Their opinions were mostly negative.

["But as for her appearance..."]

Yet a slight change of subject—turning, for instance, to Yuel Razian’s looks—would make those negative opinions vanish without a trace.

["She is a beauty without equal."]

["Snow-white hair, red eyes, an infinitely cold face. Her lack of expression could make her seem lifeless, but even that becomes part of her charm."]

["She captures your gaze as though you’ve been bewitched. There’s a rumor that the corpses of those she executes wear entranced expressions."]

["Her exterior belies what lies within. Aren’t the two completely different? Inside lurks a blood-crazed murderous fiend, yet all one sees is a peerless beauty."]

["Isn’t that part of her appeal?"]

["Hmm. I must agree."]

Her appearance was utterly at odds with that of a Sword Master known as a murderous fiend. Thus, countless nobles chattered about her beauty in the back corners of social gatherings. Talking about it in front of her would surely cost them their heads.

["Even without an expression, she is a work of art."]

["What if a smile brought life to that face?"]

["I hear she’ll smile for you if you serve her very expensive liquor."]

["Wouldn’t it have to be on the level of starblood wine?"]

Some of them poured out gold coins simply to see Yuel Razian smile once. Nobles who had witnessed it would say, “Present her with an armful of the finest wines and spirits, the sort that cost whatever the seller asks, and she will give you a faint smile. It’s worth the price.”

A smile from Yuel Razian was worth hundreds of platinum coins.

While even such rumors circulated among the powerful, there was a boy here with Yuel Razian smiling brightly before him. Her smile was indeed beautiful, but...

'I think I’m fucked.'

The boy, Najin, could not appreciate its beauty. He could feel the thick killing intent lurking behind it. Cold sweat ran down his spine.

“Explain yourself. I will give you a chance.”

Yuel Razian was still smiling.

Some people would empty their purses of hundreds of platinum coins to see that smile. To Najin, it was a smile that made him want to leap up and flee immediately.

2.

Merlin’s laughter echoed in Najin’s ears. When he narrowed his eyes, he could faintly see her clutching her stomach and cackling.

“Looks like you’re really on her bad side now. Pfft, ahahaha...”

He was seriously trying to think of an excuse. Was his guide allowed to behave like this? Najin shot Merlin an icy look. Paying him no mind, she had gone beyond cackling and was now choking with laughter.

“In truth, this is not something that requires an explanation.”

As Najin remained silent, Yuel spoke. Her killing intent vanished in an instant, as though everything she had directed at him until now had merely been a greeting exchanged in ordinary conversation.

“I did not learn your name, but I did learn your age, and that was the truth. I will let it pass. I am somewhat displeased that you encountered the Sword Saint first, but...”

She spoke while chewing on a snack.

“In light of what you showed us today, I will let that pass as well.”

“... What I showed you?”

“I mean your sword aura. Sword aura shaped like a constellation. It was beautiful. Yes, truly beautiful.”

Yuel repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fist in the air. Najin recognized the gesture. It was how she summoned her weapon, the Starblood Greatsword.

“I almost drew my sword without thinking. When I see something beautiful, I want to cut it. Fortunately, with the other two Sword Masters and His Majesty watching, I managed to restrain myself...”

Yuel glanced at Najin with blood-red eyes full of killing intent. Looking at the sword at his waist, she smacked her lips.

“I still find it tempting. What do you say? Would you care to duel me? I would like to try cutting through that sword aura. I would also like to take it apart.”

“... Didn’t you clearly say last time that you would put it off?”

“I did, but words have a way of bouncing this way and that.”

“I must respectfully decline.”

“What a pity.”

Yuel sipped her drink.

As the deeply uncomfortable encounter continued, someone knocked on the reception-room door. Yuel’s eyes narrowed at once. She was not a stickler for hierarchy, but this was an entirely different matter.

She had arrived first. She, the order’s executioner and a Sword Master, was sharing drinks with the boy before her. Who dared intrude on this precious time?

Her eyes narrowed at the interruption to her enjoyment, but only briefly. When she saw who opened the door and entered, they widened a little. Someone worth interrupting this time for stood there.

“Ah, you already have a visitor.”

The master of the Order of the Sword. Karon, the Sword Saint.

Scratching the back of his neck, he entered the reception room. Of course, Karon’s relationship with Yuel was rather uncomfortable too. Who would like someone who came charging at them, intent on killing them, at every opportunity?

Nevertheless, he had come here and entered this room despite knowing Yuel was inside for one reason alone: to help Najin. Karon gave him a shrug.

Like a lamb that had found its savior, Najin nodded at Karon. At the sight, Karon smiled wryly and settled onto the reception-room sofa.

“You don’t mind if I join you, Yuel?”

“Of course not. You have that right. Would you like a drink as well?”

“I’ll pass. That stuff tastes like shit.”

“What did you say?”

“It’s strong, but it has no flavor. No flavor at all. What pleasure is there in drinking something that does nothing but burn your throat...?”

While Yuel glared at Karon with wide eyes, he casually turned his gaze toward Najin.

“So your name was Najin? And you’re even younger than I thought. You really are something. Congratulations on becoming the youngest Sword Seeker, boy.”

As he spoke, Karon tossed Najin a sword. The emblem of the Order of the Sword was engraved upon it.

“This is a gift I, Karon the Sword Saint, give you as master and representative of the Order of the Sword, as well as a token of my personal goodwill.”

Najin looked at the sword he had caught.

Drawing it slightly from its scabbard revealed a jet-black blade. It had been forged from “rare metal,” which only master artisans could work. A truly top-quality piece, worth whatever price its maker asked.

Najin looked at Karon with wide eyes. Karon grinned and spoke.

“The Order of the Sword celebrates the emergence of the youngest Sword Seeker. A swordsman who has marked a new milestone in the history of the sword should wield a blade worthy of his renown.”

“Thank you. Truly.”

“Take your old longsword with you and visit a mage tower sometime. Rare metal can absorb well-refined metal to reinforce itself... You may be able to keep your current sword with you.”

Najin looked back and forth between the sword at his waist and the one Karon had given him. The former was the sword old Hogel had made for him. Its edge was growing dull and the blade was deteriorating, so it needed replacing, but he had felt reluctant to part with it and kept putting it off.

'But now... '

A smile spread across Najin’s face.

“That’s a relief. I wanted to stay with it a little longer.”

“You always grow attached to your first custom-made sword. I understand. The first sword my teacher gave me is melted into the blade I use now, too.”

Karon laughed, tapping his sword’s hilt.

While the two smiled, Yuel silently sipped her liquor. After a while, she set her glass down with a loud sound.

CLACK

“...”

Karon and Najin turned their eyes toward Yuel, as if asking whether she had something to say.

“Do not look at me like that. I did not come empty-handed either. I have my own position to consider.”

“... Pardon?”

“I am the Order of Starblood’s executioner. The High Priest and I may use each other, but I am still a member of the order. I must do my job.”

She took a letter from inside her clothes.

“Considering the vows you made before the Sun of the Empire, you have no intention of joining any particular group. The letters sent by the order would therefore be meaningless...”

Yuel had taken out five letters.

Muttering that they were meaningless, she flicked her fingers. Four of them crumbled to dust and scattered. She then handed Najin the remaining letter.

“In recognition of your distinguished service in slaying the dark mage Pauve and in the campaign against the Demon Knight, the Order of Starblood grants you the right to own Masterpieces.”

The letter she handed him bore the words <Masterpiece Ownership Rights> and the emblem of the Order of Starblood.

“Since ancient times, the Order of Starblood has managed and overseen Masterpieces together with the Empire’s central authorities. While the Empire holds <Masterpiece Bestowal Rights>, the right to possess them, <Masterpiece Ownership Rights>, belongs to the Order of Starblood.”

Yuel pointed to the letter in Najin’s hand.

“That grants you the right to possess a Masterpiece if you confront or slay someone who owns it without authorization, or if you discover a new one.”

For instance, had he possessed those rights when he slew Pauve, he could have kept the Masterpiece Flameshadow. After explaining this, Yuel let out a short breath.

“In the Demon Realm, you will encounter quite a few people who own Masterpieces. The high-ranking demons who rule it possess them. This will probably be of help to you.”

Najin glanced at her, his eyes asking why she was giving him this. Yuel shrugged.

“Did I not tell you? The Order of Starblood holds your accomplishments in high regard. This is a sort of bribe, offered in the hope that you will continue helping us hunt demons and dark mages.”

“Well,” she added.

“When you have time, visit the Order of Starblood’s main church and seek out High Priest Milsentia. She seems to have taken a great interest in you.”

3.

Najin had left the imperial palace and was staying in a reception room. As that rumor spread through the imperial capital, countless people headed toward his lodgings.

Najin, the youngest Sword Seeker.

He had accomplished something unbelievable, and his future was bright. If he had joined the imperial knight order, they would have to abandon all thoughts of snatching him up. But the imperial court had yet to make any further announcement.

So now was their chance. If the boy was still weighing his options, this was the perfect opportunity to seize him!

With that thought in mind, countless groups based in the imperial capital began sending representatives. Laden with bribes, they headed toward the reception room where Najin was said to be staying. Mage towers, guilds, knight orders, mercenary companies...

These were representatives sent by some of the Empire’s foremost organizations.

None of them had any reason to feel inferior wherever they went. The mere announcement that a representative from their organization had arrived would make even most nobles start in surprise and receive them as honored guests. Thus, even as they plotted to claim Najin, they arrived outside the reception room maintaining a measure of dignity.

But the moment they arrived, not one of them dared knock. They could only abandon their dignity and stare wide-eyed.

There was no helping it. Two transcendent figures were inside the room.

Karon, the Order of the Sword’s Sword Saint, and Yuel Razian, the Order of Starblood’s executioner. With two Sword Masters already there as guests, who would dare knock on that door?

No organization could insist on its prestige before a transcendent figure. Thus, unable even to announce their arrival, they stood silently outside for hours.

STEP

As they spent their time waiting endlessly outside the door, footsteps sounded from somewhere. They raised their heads and looked toward the sound.

'Another person to join the wait.'

Thinking this, they turned to see which organization had sent someone this time. The moment they saw the new guest’s face, however, their eyes widened and they immediately fell to their knees, bowing their heads.

TAP

Without so much as glancing at those bowing before him, the old man stopped in front of the door. No one else dared knock on a door behind which transcendent figures sat, but this man was an exception. He, too, was a transcendent figure.

The First Pillar of the Empire.

Gerd, the Empire’s foremost warrior, knocked on the reception-room door.