Vol 1 Chapter 18 – Lament of the Dead

Every Holy Sword possesses a unique, special power.

That held true for the one Ruru carried as well.

It was the power she had intended to unleash as her trump card in the earlier battle with Ludrick.

Ruru didn’t know the details of the other Holy Swords, yet she understood that the force sleeping in hers was nothing short of tremendous.

Naturally, she assumed the other swords must be just as overwhelming.

Because five genuine Heroes had already been confirmed, she judged Alvarado to be a counterfeit.

So—what power does the sword that makes a Hero a Hero actually wield?

Ruru was intensely curious.

“Whatever you’re planning, I’ll kill you before you even start.”

Ludrick was certain of it.

It wasn’t as though Alvarado were about to launch an attack—he had already finished doing so.

And his strike was a swift assault of shadows.

Ludrick’s place among the Demon Lord’s Four Heavenly Kings was owed to this power alone.

He could control shadows.

As long as there was sunlight—or any light at all—shadows could form anywhere.

That meant he could summon weapons on the spot, with no special preparation.

Because shadows existed everywhere, the enemy had to guard in every direction at once.

It was a highly versatile ability with lethal potential—perfect for a Heavenly King.

He had already shaped those shadows into spears that hurtled straight for Alvarado’s body.

In fact, he had forged them from Alvarado’s own shadow.

Coming entirely from a blind spot, the thrusts could easily kill even a hardened veteran.

(No matter how tough they’ve been, only the Demon Lord and my fellow Heavenly Kings have ever reacted to this surprise attack on first sight. Too bad for you, fake Hero.)

Ludrick grinned. “Niyari—smirk”

A true ambush—an attack from nowhere.

Who would imagine their own shadow would sprout a spear and pierce them?

He was certain his strike would land.

Even Ruru, gifted as she was, thought the same.

“Feh. Won’t work。”

That was why both of them were stunned to see the shadow spears vanish a hair’s breadth from Alvarado.

“The attack disappeared…? No—he canceled it?”

Ludrick’s eyes caught sight of an inky haze swirling around Alvarado’s body.

It shifted like smoke but was so black it swallowed every glint of light.

“What…is that?”

“This is the bond between me and my beloved blade!”

“There is no bond,” the Holy Sword’s spirit said flatly.

Alvarado puffed out his chest; the spirit shot him down without blinking.

“Shadows, hm? Quite handy. I see—an impressive talent, worthy of a Heavenly King.”

The spirit nodded, uh-huh, uh-huh.

For the record, she never praised anyone purely out of goodwill.

Whenever she raised someone up, it was only to drop them harder right after.

The bigger the fall, the bigger the damage.

She curled her lips into a grin. “Niyari”

“But those shadows are powerless in darkness.”

“D-darkness…!?”

A chill rippled from Alvarado’s Holy Sword. “Zowari—a shiver”

It was deeper, darker, than any shadow Ludrick could command.

Without light, shadows lose their strength.

A shadow can never conquer darkness.

“No matter how magnificent an attack you devise, if it’s born of shadows, it will never reach me.”

Swathed in the darkness that spilled from the sword, Alvarado smiled with overflowing confidence.

“All your effort is meaningless.”

“I’ve never heard of a Hero who says that…”

A Hero who declares another’s efforts worthless—could he really be a Hero?

The spirit was utterly lost for words.

And she wasn’t the only one.

“Hold on, a Holy Sword that controls darkness? That can’t exist, nya!”

Ruru’s yell rang out.

A Holy Sword may only be used by one with a heart of goodness and justice.

Not just the wielder—the sword itself is a symbol of those virtues.

Yet this sword’s power was darkness.

How is that holy at all…?

“It’s standing right here, isn’t it? Don’t be silly. There’s no sword more ‘holy’ than I am.”

“Shouldn’t a Holy Sword be all about light? Darkness is the exact opposite—it’s practically a cursed blade!”

“Did you just call me a cursed blade? Say that again and I’ll slaughter you!”

“I’ve met my own sword spirit and the others’, but I’ve never seen one this murder-happy… Definitely a fake…”

The spirit who firmly believed she was a Holy Sword was no different from Alvarado, who firmly believed he was a Hero.

While Ruru stood there slack-jawed, the spirit egged Alvarado on.

“Go, Al! Wield the most beautiful Holy Sword in existence—me!”

“Lament of the Dead!”

“What kind of wicked move name is that!?”

Following the spirit’s urging, Alvarado unleashed his Holy Sword’s power—for the first time.

Yes, the very first time.

Up until now he’d just beaten enemies into paste.

Frankly, he was no better than a common thug.

But here, at last, he swung a Hero’s power—and it was overwhelmingly strong.

Darkness crackled around the blade.

He raised the sword high and brought it down.

“UOOOOOOH!?” “Uooooooh—battle cry”

Faced with the oncoming wave of darkness, Ludrick cast aside every scrap of pride a Heavenly King should have and threw himself backward to survive.

That reckless move saved his life.

He dodged the slash by the narrowest margin.

But the true terror of the Holy Sword’s power was only beginning.

In fact, this was the real show.

“The slash…stopped, nya…？”

The dark blade hadn’t felled Ludrick, its target.

Normally it would keep going until it struck something and dissipated—yet it hung there in mid-air instead, roaring like a raging storm, radiating a horrific presence.

And then the darkness bared its fangs.