Sword Devouring Swordmaster-Chapter 52 : Chapter 52

Chapter 52 – Race Duel (1)
There existed seven races across the vast continent.
These seven were the intelligent beings—creatures capable of communication and exchange—set apart from the mindless monsters or the undead who hated the living unconditionally.
The wandering race that thrived on battle — Orcs.
The children of the forest, dwelling near the World Tree — Elves.
Beasts who gained reason through Mana’s influence — Beastkin.
Friends of fire and steel, living among the Sky Mountains — Dwarves.
Descendants of demons, guarding the 「Wall of Despair」 — Demons.
Lords of the skies, the most exalted race — Dragons.
And the race that most resembled the gods — beings of possibility — Humans.
The seven races had lived intertwined across this continent since time immemorial, leaving their own marks throughout history.
Entire disciplines of study were devoted to researching them—why the gods had created such diverse races and scattered them across the world was a mystery that scholars continued to ponder.
Even now, this enigmatic continent brimmed with wonders, and the true origin of the 「Seven Races」 remained unsolved.
But not everyone on this continent possessed such noble curiosity.
Far more common were those childish fools who clung to far simpler, more provocative questions.
Like this one—「Young descendant, which of the seven races do you think is the strongest?」
“……Please, could you speak like someone your age?
Are you a child?”
「Heh heh. What does age have to do with such a thrilling question?」
I glared at Liam, who chuckled heartily.
「The clowns of the Arena know exactly what excites the masses.
Had such a duel existed in my day, I would’ve run to watch it myself.」
He wasn’t wrong.
To gather all seven races in one place and have them fight to see who was superior—there wasn’t a simpler or more stimulating concept in existence.
Just hearing it made you want to know the outcome.
「People have always argued over who would win—lion or tiger. Humanity’s nature is pettier than you’d think. Always ranking, always comparing, by instinct.」
“…The tiger would win, I think.
Lions fight in packs, but tigers—”
「Heh heh, young descendant, you sound even more like a child now.」
“I’m not even eighteen yet, so yes, I am a child.”
「Heh heh heh.」
“Haha.”
If I were just a spectator, I might’ve enjoyed this match too—snacking while watching others fight. But as one of the combatants, there was nothing enjoyable about it.
“Enough jokes.
If I die because you distracted me, will you take responsibility?”
「Heh heh, fine.
I’ll stop the jokes here.」
I held my breath and focused on the situation. But Liam continued.
「Just remember this, young descendant.」
His voice was different this time—calm, heavy.
「There is no ‘strongest race’ on this continent.」
“……”
「Absolute, unconditional strength doesn’t exist.」
Liam’s gaze sharpened as he looked at me.
「Because I no longer exist in this era.」
“……”
「So even if many powerful beings surround you, don’t cower and run. If you only ever flee from great danger, you’ll become a half-wit who knows nothing but how to run.」
His eyes were like blades—keen and unyielding.
「Any being can die. And you—possess the talent to find the way to make it happen. Your unending suspicion.」
“……”
「Use it again this time. Doubt everything, fight head-on even if you break or fall. The Steel Blood flowing through your body will only grow stronger through such trials.」
“……”
「Mark my words. There may be no strongest race, but there exists the strongest blood. Search the world, and you won’t find any blood more powerful than that of Steel.」
Yes—like a sharpened blade.
「I am proof of that. So heed my words.」
“……”
「Be afraid—but do not run.」
My heartbeat quickened.
Liam’s words struck deep into my mind.
「Those hardships will forge you into true Steel.」
His words lingered, heavy and unforgettable.
「And besides, you’re not here to win this thing for humanity’s pride, are you?」
“Ah.”
「Strictly speaking, you’re a half-blood—human and dwarf. So whether you get captured or fall doesn’t really matter, does it? What freedom! Responsibility-free pleasure!」
“Please stop.”
…If only he didn’t ruin the ending every time.
He always had to spoil the moment.
Well—‘He’s not wrong, though.’ Not wrong, just annoying.
As Liam said, my goal in joining the 「Infinite Duel」 wasn’t to glorify humanity—it was to gain experience on my path to becoming a Sword Runner.
But still, I’d rather not die meaninglessly.
‘If my identity as the King is exposed, I’ll be in serious trouble.’
There were too many variables here.
Especially—the orcs.
“Have you all lost your courage?! I told you to challenge the mighty Orc Behera! What’s wrong, you cowardly elves and dwarves?! You all look like frightened kitchen wenches! Even our orc women don’t flee from battle! That’s what makes us greater than you worms! Chhhk, chiiiiiik!”
Those green-skinned lunatics still hadn’t stopped yelling.
‘The orcs aren’t the only ones to worry about.’
It was just that their loudness hid the danger from everyone else.
Every other race here was just as much a threat to me.
‘I can already tell from their presence. Most of them are stronger than I am—and some could probably kill me instantly.’
Ever since the Arena became an official battleground, fighters had generally avoided killing.
But whether that would hold true in a massive event like this was doubtful.
In real combat, accidents happen—and restraint is a luxury.
Would these kinds of monsters hold back when they didn’t even know their opponents’ strengths?
If it were me, I wouldn’t.
And since I wouldn’t, I had to assume no one else would either.
That’s how I always began—through suspicion.
“Little Gladiator—or should I call you Sword Demon now?”
“Call me whatever you like.”
As tension filled the air, Seol Yoon approached.
Still wearing the armor and helm from her days as the Black Bride, she was easy to recognize.
“So what’s your plan?
Are you going to reveal yourself—or stay hidden?”
“I’m not sure.”
She was asking whether I intended to show myself as the King or keep it secret.
Before I could answer, she continued.
“If you ask me, you should reveal it.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Because compared to most fighters here, you’re weak.
Better to reveal yourself early and let the other humans protect you.”
“Ah, that’s… one way to see it.”
Her reasoning was sound.
She believed revealing myself would make me safer—if I stayed hidden, the other humans wouldn’t guard me, and I might get randomly attacked by stronger fighters.
And given my odds against anyone here, that made sense.
But still—“Seol Yoon, that won’t be necessary.”
“Hmm?”
“For now, let’s just wait and watch.
Because…”
There was a better option.
“That’s what my suspicion tells me.”
“Things are about to get interesting.”
Everyone here had come to the Infinite Duel for different reasons.
Some for their race’s honor, some for the rewards, others for glory and fame.
And those kinds of people wouldn’t stay quiet right now.
They had a much better move to make.
“Orc Elder Behera, was it?
You really claim to be the King of Orcs?”
If one sought glory for their race, they had to win the Race Duel.
If they wanted fame or wealth, the same—victory was everything.
And to win this event, they had to protect their own King and hunt down the others.
The tag marked 444 was the symbol of the King.
I had drawn it.
So what was the most rational move for the other human fighters who hadn’t drawn it?
Simple—“I am the King of Humanity!
I, the warrior Niel, who drew the sacred tag 444, challenge you to a duel!
Orcs never refuse a fight, do they?!”
To declare themselves the King.
“Enough talk!
Let’s see which King truly stands above all!
Come, you brutish orc!”
Even those chasing fame would do the same—for attention.
And nothing drew attention faster than claiming the title of King.
‘If I were in their shoes, I’d do the same.
Especially if I had the strength to back it up.’
Once again, my suspicion was right.
As things grew chaotic, Seol Yoon frowned.
“What the hell?
Why is that guy pretending to be—”
“Because it’s the most logical move for him.”
I could predict this flow easily.
“Also, the first orc who made that scene—Elder Behera—probably isn’t the real King either.
His behavior felt… exaggerated.”
There had been something off about his words and movements—a subtle discord.
A real orc wouldn’t act that theatrical.
My suspicion never missed such details.
And as expected—“How dare you call us crawling dwarves?
You can’t even forge your own spoon, you fool!
Fight me instead, orc!
I, the King of Dwarves, who drew tag 444, will crush you!”
“No, it’s us first!
Calling elves filthy?
You reek worse than any beast!
I, the King of Elves, will judge you in the name of my kin!”
“How dare you insult the demons—”
“Half-brained beasts, you said?
Green dung-heaps, you’ve crossed the line—”
A complete brawl erupted.
An utterly glorious mess.
“What the hell is this…”
Seol Yoon muttered, bewildered by the chaos.
I just said—“Let’s watch.”
Right.
No need to get involved yet.
“Chhhhk!
Come, all of you!
Come at once, you crawling worms!
I, Behera, will show you the true might of the Orcs!”
They’d all fight each other now—showing their powers, tactics, and weaknesses.
Once they’d bled each other dry, my fight would begin.
The vast Black Forest.
The moment the Race Duel began, Elder Behera’s provocations triggered a chaotic melee—and it was far worse than I’d imagined.
「Now I see why the orcs have won nine times in a row.」
“They’re monsters.”
「Indeed, that very question has plagued scholars for ages—whether these green-skinned friends should be classified as Monsters or Intelligent beings.」
“……”
Fighters from every race who had claimed to be Kings lunged at Behera—and within two minutes and seventeen seconds, it was over.
The result?
“Chhhhik!
Pathetic weaklings!”
Massacre.
Elder Behera had kept his word.
“These teeth are so small!
The Beastkin’s fangs are the only ones worth wearing!
Hahaha!”
At his feet lay crushed corpses, heads caved in, bones twisted.
He plucked their teeth one by one and strung them into a grisly necklace, the bloodied fangs clattering against his chest.
That wasn’t a duel—it was slaughter.
“Come again!
More!
It’s not enough yet!”
His feral roar shook the forest as orcs everywhere stamped their feet and bellowed “U!
U!
U!”
chanting Behera’s name.
Their green madness filled the forest like wildfire.
In this pitch-black woodland, they looked less like a race and more like demons—war spirits possessed by violence.
‘No point trying to gather intel from this mess.’
Fighting that thing was suicide.
Even the winged human fighter had lasted less than ten seconds—wings snapped, neck broken, skull crushed.
Elder Behera was as powerful as the Orc Elder I’d once met at the Sacred Ground of Wild Instinct.
“Shit!
Damn orcs!
They don’t follow any duel rules!”
“Chhhhk!
Rules?
Orcs know only two outcomes—victory or death!
If we don’t win, we die and join our ancestors!”
The remaining fighters scattered in panic through the forest—and I slipped away among them.
Staying here meant getting my skull smashed and my teeth ripped out.
Then—“Little Gladiator, where are we going?”
“Toward the outer edge.”
As we moved, I realized something.
“Alright, got—”
“Seol Yoon, stop!”
The orcs weren’t the only danger here.
“Hup!”
A sharp sound sliced the air—a volley of arrows.
Using 「Path」, I sensed the ambush just in time and yanked Seol Yoon backward.
The arrow scraped across her helmet with a vicious clang!
“Damn it.”
Seol Yoon swore.
“You alright?”
“Yeah.
Thanks.”
I turned toward the direction the arrow had come from.
Hidden by the shadows, but my 「Path」 traced the attacker.
A shimmer of hair like silk—A pointed ear—An aura of the forest itself.
「Ah. An elf. Children of the World Tree.」
“……”
「Even a fool must’ve heard of them—how elves rule the forests as predators among hunters.」
“I know.”
The elf emerged from the darkness, face expressionless.
Without hesitation, they drew another arrow, nocked it, and pulled the string taut.
「There’s no race more suited to the word hunter.」
Indeed.
The very term ranger had originated from them.
No race was better attuned to the forest—or to the hunt.
“Seol Yoon, another one coming.”
“Yeah, I see it.”
The elf drew the bow with inhuman ease, and as the string stretched fully—Mana surged around their body.
Then, two entities appeared beside them—on the left, a flickering flame; on the right, a clear droplet of water.
They were beautiful—mysterious.
Magic?
Possibly.
The elves were Mana’s chosen, after all.
But no—that wasn’t magic.
「Spirits.」
“……”
「Young descendant, you can’t block those with a mere sword.
The arrows will become flame or water—piercing steel to strike your flesh.」
“Then what do I do?”
「Wield mystery with mystery.」
Mystery?
I didn’t understand.
I looked to Liam for an explanation—but he only smiled.
Even as the elf released the string, even as the arrow flew—
He stayed silent.
The answer came from somewhere else.
『The wind never stays anywhere.』
My sword.
The incomplete memory of 「Gale」 roared to life inside me.
『It either gets swept away—or sweeps everything else away.』
Yes—That intense, all-consuming feeling surged once again.
『Designation: Elf』
『One of the Seven Races of the Continent.』
『Children of the forest dwelling near the World Tree, living nearly eternal lives, loved by Mana.』
『Masters of the hunt and wielders of countless Mysteries.』
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