[Vol. 8] Chapter 224: The Familiar Chess Player
“~”
Violet smiled but didn’t take the sword from Blue Butterfly as expected. Instead, she simply pressed a finger against the blade, which gave off a faint icy chill. A flash of white light passed over it, and within three seconds, she withdrew her hand and nodded at the girl.
“All done.”
“?”
She didn’t explain to the confused and surprised swordswoman. In fact, as soon as the priestess saw the results from her [Information Detection], especially the ridiculous name ‘Let Me Show Off’, she already understood everything about this sword, its full abilities and secrets.
“That guy really went all out… Looks like he truly cared about his old companions. Well, this time he did a good deed.”
Mr. Vicious Wolf Nicholas was one of the Sword Saint’s many disciples. Before he met Violet, and before the civil war in the Human United Kingdom ended and he earned the position of Royal Guard Captain, his life had been full of hardship and wandering. Violet didn’t expect that he would turn out to be a companion of Minchen.
She remembered that when Minchen left the Demon Mountain Range to find his old friends in the Human United Kingdom, he discovered Nicholas’ background and decided to take him in and teach him personally. Even though he didn’t show too much emotion, the sword he gave to Blue Butterfly made it clear: the former leader of that time-traveling squad was trying his best to make up for the mistakes that cost his companions their lives, even going so far as to ensure their descendants were not mistreated.
This [Blue Butterfly Sword] was, in fact, a sacred-tier weapon.
No doubt, this sword came from the Illusory World. It was likely a special reward given by the [Will of the World] through the so-called system interface during one of Minchen’s quests, very different from weapons made in this world.
Unlike spirit tools or rare treasures, a holy weapon contains the power of actual laws. Even if it’s just a little, it makes a huge difference. These weapons have a minimum usage requirement, often called the Transcendent level, usually level 50 or higher.
This is a key turning point. Only when a being evolves in nature beyond that threshold can they handle and bind a holy weapon. Although Blue Butterfly was strong, she was clearly far from reaching that level. So when Minchen gave this sword to her and to the Sword Saint’s dojo as compensation, he also sealed and restricted it.
Just like the Three Holy Artifacts of the Holy Empire, although Minchen’s sealing techniques couldn’t compare to the [Tree of Creation], he still greatly limited the sword’s abilities, lowering its required level so it could be used.
But no matter how much it was weakened, it was still a holy weapon at its core. Even if many powers were sealed, the faint aura of law it held remained.
This showed up as a natural chill around the blade, which helped calm the user’s mind, shield them from evil influences, and stop inner demons from growing.
That was probably why Blue Butterfly, with her strong will as a sword practitioner and the protection of the Blue Butterfly Sword, was able to temporarily withstand the “blessing” she carried. She got the benefits without falling into madness due to the terrifying side effects.
If Minchen hadn’t given her that sword, what they would be seeing now… would likely be a completely different outcome.
Hmm…?
Suddenly, the priestess’s heart skipped a beat.
Wait a second… if we think about it like that, why did that guy suddenly decide to take Nicholas all the way across the world to the Sword Saint’s main dojo in the Austre Empire?
Something feels off… If it were just about learning some techniques, knowing both Nicholas and Minchen’s personalities, they shouldn’t have cared so much about the dojo’s rules. After all, it was Nicholas learning the techniques, not spreading the Swift Wind Style to outsiders.
In the past, Violet might not have noticed such small details. But after meeting the Sword Saint in person and interacting with several of his disciples, this vague sense of something being off had slowly grown stronger.
The Swift Wind Style wasn’t a rigid or overly strict school. So the idea of “separate sects” or “not sharing teachings” probably wasn’t something Nicholas came up with on his own. Instead… could it be that someone subtly hinted this to him?
And if she connected all the earlier guesses together…
It was like clouds parting to reveal the sun. The fog in the priestess’s heart slowly cleared away, and she seemed to catch a glimpse of the truth hidden beneath the surface.
So that’s how it is… This sword, the Blue Butterfly Sword, was deliberately given to Blue Butterfly by someone with a plan?
And the place where Minchen had met Nicholas, was the capital of the Human United Kingdom, the Courage City…
Now she felt like she finally understood who had been secretly setting all this up behind the scenes.
“Miss Violet?”
Seeing the black-haired girl silent for a long time, seemingly lost in thought, Blue Butterfly waited patiently but eventually couldn’t hold back and called out softly.
“Oh… it’s nothing.”
Violet smiled and motioned for her to hang the sword back on the wall. Then she casually explained.
“This sword is definitely something special. It’s also the main reason why you’ve been able to resist that kind of [Will] corrosion so far. But what you’ve seen now still isn’t the full power of this weapon. Also, its usage requirements were based on your level at the time you first got it. So right now, it’s a bit of a waste in your hands.”
“I’ve just made a few adjustments. Its power and effects should improve a bit. You can slowly discover what it can really do yourself. For now, just make sure to carry it with you as much as possible, preferably keep it by your side at all times. It will help you with your mental training.”
Hearing that Violet had intentionally or unintentionally mentioned a certain keyword, Blue Butterfly wasn’t even focused on the sword’s upgrade anymore. Her expression slowly turned serious.
She suddenly realized… the girl in front of her probably knew a lot more than she’d ever imagined. And the real reason she had come to speak with her had quietly shown itself just now.
“Miss Violet… the [Will] you mentioned earlier… could it be that you’re talking about…”
The white-robed girl gave a small grin and didn’t answer directly.
“What do you think I meant?”
“……”
This time, Blue Butterfly was silent for a long while.
Finally, she nodded and took the initiative to continue the conversation.
“To be honest, this is the first time I’ve heard someone clearly acknowledge the existence of It… and it’s coming from someone who isn’t insane. Everyone else says it’s just an illusion, a kind of mental attack. Something made up by the mad cultists who worship fake gods. But I’ve always felt like that [Will] really does exist.”
“I’ve never dared to tell anyone about that feeling. Sometimes it even makes me wonder, ‘Have I already gone crazy too?’…”
She brought her hands together and bowed her head in a respectful gesture, asking for guidance.
“Miss Violet… could it be that you can also hear that voice, feel that overwhelming [Will] from the unknown? Can you tell me who It really is?”
“~”