SWS CH 38

Chapter 38

“You’re not even going to ask why I went to the border?”

“I’m not curious.”

“Hey! It was because of you! I stopped you and that delinquent bastard from getting kicked out. Nikolai was about to ask Father for permission to throw you out while he’s at war. I stopped him!”

So Nikolai must have tried to send urgent word to the Duke at the battlefield—and Helbern blocked it.

“I see.”

“What’s with that reaction? Aren’t you going to thank me?”

“Did you do it because you wanted thanks?”

Of course not. Everyone in this family knew Helbern hated Docep. If he went all the way to the border to stop it, he definitely had some hidden motive.

“No. I said it was because of you.”

One corner of Helbern’s mouth twisted upward dangerously. Then he staggered a little and stepped closer to me.

“My ribs still ache from what you did.”

“What strength do I even have?”

I pretended not to know.

The one with real power isn’t me—it’s Junel!

“We’ll find out when I dissect you piece by piece.”

Helbern would never believe me anyway.

Don’t come closer!

“Wait! Let’s just talk from there!”

I waved my hands and stepped back, but he only quickened his pace.

“We can talk here if talking works.”

He clearly had a lot pent up. Losing to my power before must have hurt his pride badly.

“That wind from before—I told you, I don’t know anything about it! I fell too! It must’ve just been a sudden gust!”

“Don’t make me laugh. Do you think I’m too stupid to tell the difference between wind and sword energy?”

“I can’t tell! I don’t know!”

There was nowhere left to retreat.

As soon as my back hit the wall, Helbern loomed right in front of me.

He was as tall as Docep and looked down at me like I was insignificant.

“We’ll find out what you are once I expose your true identity.”

“How? I’m just a commoner with nothing.”

You’re not planning to dissect me, are you?

I kept my mouth shut because he looked like he actually might.

He rolled up his sleeves. Thick muscles bulged, veins standing out ominously.

“There are plenty of ways.”

“W-what? Are you going to hit me?”

“Torture? That’s the standard method.”

This lunatic!

“Are you out of your mind? I entered this house as your sister-in-law!”

“Sister-in Do I look like I consider that delinquent family?”

“Even if you don’t, you’re still blood-related brothers. And the duchess told you not to touch me.”

If Docep doesn’t work as a shield, I’ll use Francesca.

“Ha! If you weren’t here, my mother would be much happier. A commoner daughter-in-law? “Do you think she likes you?”

Well… that part is true.

“If that were the case, she wouldn’t have accepted me. She said she liked that I truly love Docep.”

Back then, I didn’t even know Docep’s face and just said whatever—but it’s true Francesca valued that.

“Love? Loooove?”

Uh-oh. That backfired.

“You dare talk about love in front of me?”

Helbern’s eyes flared. His hands trembled like he wanted to crush me on the spot.

“You could fall in love too!”

“I will!”

“Want me to introduce someone?”

“…Introduce?”

I just said it casually, but his tone dropped. He suddenly sounded serious.

“Hey! Are you going to introduce someone or not?”

“Uh? I mean…”

Oops.

That was a mistake.

I don’t even have anyone to introduce—and even if I did, it’d be a perfect way to lose a friend.

Better to cut it off now.

“I—if someone suitable appears.”

Maybe someone slightly unhinged.

Or someone with saint-like patience who could embrace him entirely…

“Are you changing your words already? Want to die?”

He clenched his fist again.

This time, he was truly angry.

How do I get rid of him?

Then something flashed in my mind.

“I have something better instead.”

“Better? Are you finally going to show me that power of yours?”

“I told you, I don’t have power. But I found something much better.”

I held out the Blood Sword I was still carrying.

[Nooo! How could you give the awakened Blood Sword to that guy?!

Sorry, Junel. I need to survive.

“What’s that? It looks strange.”

“I found it here.”

“A sword? What sword?”

“A legendary one.”

The one you idiots shoved into storage.

“What nonsense. You think we’d toss a legendary sword into a warehouse?”

“You did.”

“Even if that were true, how would you recognize it?”

“I read about it in a book.”

Simple answer.

I wasn’t about to use some transmigrator cheat like claiming foresight. Not on Helbern. That would only turn me into a hunted fugitive again.

“I saw it in a book once. I happened to hide here while running from you and found it. Honestly, I was going to tell my husband first—but I’ll give it to you instead, since you’re single.”

“What kind of legendary sword?”

At the word “legendary,” his temper cooled slightly.

[Halara, don’t do this! Do you know how rare that sword is?!

It was originally theirs anyway.

I planned to bribe Junel later with sweets.

“I saw it in a book called I Am a Legendary Sword. The crest was unique, so I remembered it. It’s been a while since I read it, though.”

“Hm.”

“Just take a look. And please stop chasing me.”

“What if it’s not legendary?”

“If it’s not, then fine. Let’s just reconcile. I really don’t know what happened that day. I was planning to give this precious sword to Docep—but I’m giving it to you first. So please let it go.”

I forced a smile and handed it over.

If not for Helbern, life here wouldn’t be that bad.

He took the sword.

I quickly stepped far away and waved both hands.

“Have a nice day!”

Hopefully, we never meet again.

***

A legendary sword?

“That tiny woman is playing me.”

The warehouse Halara hid in stored trophies of past dukes.

Anything valuable had already been sold.

There was no way a legendary sword remained.

“She’s mocking me.”

Helbern spat curses and lifted the sword.

He knew he might be getting fooled—but the strange sword energy pressing down on him since earlier made him curious.

His already injured body trembled under it.

He had actually followed that sensation—and found her there.

Even after she left, the pressure remained.

It felt like gravity crushing his shoulders.

Unable to endure it, Helbern dropped to one knee.

“What the hell is this?!”

He braced himself on the scabbard she had shoved at him.

At eye level, he noticed the strange crest she mentioned—an eye-shaped symbol.

The moment their gazes aligned—

The sword resonated.

With a doubtful heart, Helbern drew it.

A crimson blade gleamed.

Fwaaaak—!

Red sword energy exploded and wrapped around him, then sharpened like arrows and pierced him from all directions.

“AAARG”

Pain tore through his entire body.

He tried to let go—but red veins wrapped around his hand, binding him to the sword.

Sword energy poured endlessly from his fingertips, stabbing through him again and again.

“Damn it!!”

His body was shredded, but the sword showed no sign of releasing him.

The warehouse was remote—no one would come.

Only his screams echoed.

“That woman… I won’t let her go!!”

Helbern writhed in agony for a long time.

***

[How could you give him the sword?!]

Junel scolded me nonstop.

“We can find another legendary sword. I’ll help.”

Docep needs one anyway.

It’s frustrating Helbern took it—but I had no choice.

The Blood Sword is not just any sword. It revived with your blood. If someone who cannot withstand its blood energy wields it, it will devour him alive!]

“Devour?”

He could die! If an unworthy swordsman tries to tame it, the sword will drain all his energy and kill him.

Wait.

“So Helbern could die?”

[If he cannot endure it.]

That… might not be so bad.