I Obtained Sword God Level Talent - Chapter 17

1. Letter (2)
Maria had left.
I silently stared at the elixir pill in my palm.
This bead-like object was an ‘elixir pill.’ Made by grinding up a thousand-year-old mountain ginseng, the fact that it was something you couldn’t obtain even if you offered a fortune remained unchanged.
“…Why did she give me this?”
It was a question I couldn’t answer, even when I asked myself.
The (Mad Sword Slayer), Maria Theresa von Britzhardt.
Her taking an interest in me? I could understand that. Her perspective, as someone who stood at the pinnacle of humanity, would be vastly different from that of ordinary people. There was also the fact that she had mentioned ‘light’ during our previous encounter.
But that wasn’t a strong enough reason for this gift with no strings attached. First the sacred treasure of Britzhardt, and now an elixir?
“Well, I’ll be taking it anyway.”
I muttered to myself, rolling the elixir pill in my palm.
Overthinking could be toxic. Knowing this, I decided to stop agonizing over it.
‘How do I consume this?’
‘First, sit in a cross-legged position and put it in your mouth. The effects of miracle elixirs usually result in a 50% loss of potency. There’s no need to forcefully hold onto the energy.’
Recalling the conversation I had with her just before she left, I slowly brought the elixir pill to my mouth. A tingling, refreshing scent tickled my nose.
Gulp!
T h i s w as co p i e d f ro m kin gmt l . o rg
Without hesitation, I swallowed it. A burning sensation, like drinking strong liquor, spread down my throat and into my esophagus.
Boom!
The mystical experience didn’t end there.
As the elixir pill began to melt in my stomach, a tremendous shock struck my body. It felt like a massive orc was punching my internal organs.
Hooo…
I sat cross-legged and closed my eyes, but I could vividly feel the enormous energy coursing through my body.
Kwaaah!
The surging energy of the elixir was like a wild horse that knew no fatigue. The unbridled wild horse circulated through my meridians, organs, Lower Dantian, Middle Dantian, and Upper Dantian, wildly releasing its raw power.
‘…Is this enjoyable?’
It was obvious that mana, or ‘Qi’, had no will of its own.
T hi s w as co p i e d f r om k i n g m t l . or g
But why? I instinctively knew that the energy coursing through my body was filled with excitement. It seemed like a horse galloping through a meadow, or a child discovering a playground for the first time.
‘Is it getting… tired?’
I didn’t know how much time had passed, but the energy, which had been raging for a while, gradually calmed down.
Then it did something unexpected.
The large mass of energy split apart, with a portion moving to my head, another to my chest, and the last to my lower abdomen.
And like a sapling taking root in fertile soil, the silent energy stopped moving. It had completely assimilated into me.
At the end of the circulation, a strange feeling of refreshment awakened my entire being from a deep sleep.
***
Atop a tall tree with a clear view of the second-floor hotel room.
Maria quietly observed the scene unfolding inside the room.
Frey sitting cross-legged, swallowing the elixir pill without hesitation. Those scenes unfolded vividly before her eyes.
Creak!
It was at that moment that Lancelot returned to the room.
Shing!
Lancelot, who had brought back a tray of food, suddenly drew the sword from his waist. It was an action he took the moment he saw Frey on the bed.
“….”
And so, time passed.
T h i s w a s co p i e d f r om k i n g m t l . or g
One hour, two hours, six hours, twelve hours.
Lancelot’s sword, as he silently guarded the room, never wavered. Like a bird of prey protecting its nest, he kept a sharp lookout, wary of any potential intruders.
“….”
After some more time had passed, something amazing happened.
Flash! Flash!
A dazzling light emanated from Frey, who was sitting on the bed with his eyes closed.
Green laurel leaves, symbols of enlightenment, materialized in the empty air, accompanied by a faint glow. They hovered over Frey’s head for a while before disappearing.
Hooo…
“….”
Frey, who had been sitting cross-legged, opened his eyes. It was only then that Maria deactivated her concealment and left the hotel.
Her mind was in turmoil. She was deeply lost in thought, wondering what gift she should give him next.
***
“I’m exhausted.”
“…Exhausted? Why?”
T h is w a s co p i e d f ro m k i n g m t l . or g
When I opened my eyes, I saw Lancelot with a haggard expression.
“Alright, I’ll go rest now. My mother must be worried since I’ve been away for so long.”
“Alright. Go ahead.”
Lancelot, with his weary face, left after a few brief words.
“…?”
Th is wa s cop i e d f r o m k i n gmtl. o r g
Feeling puzzled, I slowly got out of bed. As I approached the window, I saw the scenery outside, much the same as before I had closed my eyes.
“Don’t tell me… a whole day has passed?”
My body, which had been heavy until now, felt much lighter. No, it wasn’t just lighter, it felt like my entire being was so light that I could float away. Considering that it wasn’t a problem that could be resolved in just a few minutes or hours, the answer was clear.
T h is w a s c o p ied f r o m k i n g m t l . o rg
‘So much time has passed?’
A wave of guilt washed over me as I grasped the situation.
It seemed Lancelot had stayed by my side, guarding me against any potential danger during the time I was unconscious. There was no other reason why a knight, for whom stamina was life itself, would have such a tired expression.
“…Ah.”
I came up with a decent solution.
I had forgotten for a moment. Wasn’t there money I had to receive from the Mercenary Guild?
If my assumption was correct, it would be a substantial amount. It wasn’t some trivial request I had been involved in; as a mercenary who had been part of the Empire’s main expeditionary force, I expected an unexpectedly large sum of compensation.
‘I should buy him some gifts with that.’
Now that Lancelot had given up the support of the Armance family, it was inevitable that he would face financial difficulties. Why did such a bizarre profession as a wandering knight even exist? It was all because of money.
I got dressed. A clean, refreshing scent emanated from my freshly laundered clothes. I then grabbed my sword and headed towards the Mercenary Guild in the central district.
Clack!
“Welcome! I’ve been waiting. I was worried because you showed up late than the scheduled date.”
“…?”
Inside the Mercenary Guild, which I was visiting for the second time, was the same bartender I had met before.
However, what was strange was that his greeting was excessively loud, drawing the attention of everyone inside towards me.
“I want to collect the compensation I applied for before.”
“Oh! All the procedures are complete. How would you like to receive it?”
“In cash.”
“Yes! Understood! Please wait a moment.”
“…Alright.”
I felt suspicious of the bartender’s overly friendly demeanor. Several mercenaries were also muttering, ‘What’s with that guy?’ It seemed my feeling wasn’t unfounded.
T hi s wa s c o p i e d f r o m k i ng m t l .o rg
After a short wait.
The bartender returned with a heavy pouch. At a glance, it seemed like it contained a considerable amount of money.
“Here is your compensation. The Mercenary Guild sincerely appreciates your participation in the expedition, Master Frey.”
“Alright. Thank you.”
The weight of the pouch made me feel inexplicably happy.
Swoosh.
I pocketed the money and turned around. Now that I had the money, it was time to say goodbye to the Mercenary Guild. To begin with, I had no interest in the (Mercenary) route, and being a mercenary didn’t suit my temperament.
But then.
“W-Wait a moment! Master Frey!”
“…?”
Perhaps he hadn’t expected me to leave just like that; the bartender called out hurriedly. I turned around with a puzzled expression, and the bartender bowed deeply and said,
“A magic mail arrived at the communication channel.”
“…Mail?”
It was something I couldn’t help but to be surprised at.
T h i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m ki n gm t l .o r g
To begin with, there were very few people I knew in this world of (Silver Ring). This meant that there was no one who would send me mail through the communication channel.
‘…This means.’
Someone who knew my name and identity had contacted me.
“The sender is ‘Helios Magic Tower’.”
The bartender muttered, putting extra emphasis on ‘Helios Magic Tower’, as if he was intentionally saying it for the other mercenaries to hear.
His intention worked, as the mercenaries who were sitting at their tables, drinking, began to stir.
Th i s was c o p i e d fr om k i n gm t l. o r g
“H-Helios Magic Tower?”
“Good heavens. That friend seems to be a bigger shot than we thought!”
“Is he a mage? He doesn’t look like one.”
“….”
T h i s w a s c o p ie d fr om k i ng mt l. o r g
Magic tower, it was certainly an unexpected word.
The Helios Magic Tower, considered to be the best among magic towers, was like the headquarters of magic. If you were to ask a random person on the street to name the magic tower with the longest history, they would all say Helios Magic Tower.
“Would you like to receive the mail?”
“Yes.”
I answered nonchalantly. Helios Magic Tower is Helios Magic Tower, I didn’t understand why he was making such a fuss.
“Understood. Please wait a moment.”
After a short wait, the bartender returned with a postcard. The gold foil on the surface was impressive.
[(From. Helios Magic Tower, Ariel)]
‘…Ariel.’
It was a name I didn’t recognize. This meant that the sender wasn’t a significant figure in (Silver Ring).
“Delivery complete. Master Frey, please use our branch again next time.”
“Okay.”
I replied curtly to the bartender’s greeting and turned around. And step by step, I walked towards the guild entrance, breaking the seal of the postcard as I walked.
Rip!
And then.
Flash!
Something absurd happened. A dazzling golden light erupted from the opened postcard.