Sword Devouring Swordmaster-Chapter 67 : Chapter 67

Chapter 67 – War Duel (2)
- “Everyone, don’t be alarmed! This isn’t an error!”
The host’s voice rang out, filled with excitement.
- “This was our intention! Those who chose the Han faction will be assigned to the Great Land! And those who chose the Great Land will now fight for Han! We’ve deliberately reversed your choices!”
There was laughter mixed in his words — unmistakably deranged.
“After all, wouldn’t it be too dull if all the eastern warriors fought for Han, while the rest became invaders of the Great Land? Predictable! Boring! Expected! So we decided to make it more fun!”
Madness. There was madness in that voice.
- “To all you eastern warriors trembling in your boots — fight now as the conquerors who destroyed your own lands! Crush your homeland with your own hands! And to you opportunists who hoped to enjoy the thrill of invasion — despair before overwhelming might, and show us your pathetic faces! So that we, the audience, may be entertained!”
Right. Nothing surprising there.
- “There will be no preparation time. Because that’s what war is.”
They had always been insane.
- “Now — go out and fight!”
Utterly, irredeemably mad bastards.
***
Han. A peninsula on the eastern frontier of the continent — a nation that vanished without a trace after being swept up in the Great Land’s war of conquest.
That fallen land was now perfectly reconstructed through the witches’ mystic arts.
The re-created Han encampment was pitiful.
The barracks held not a single decent weapon — just rusted iron swords, dented helmets, crude armor, and bows with slack strings. The beds were little more than straw mats fit for slaves, and the floors were crawling with centipedes.
Inside those neglected barracks, countless warriors frowned in discontent.
“Why… why the hell am I stuck here?”
They were all fighters who had chosen the Great Land side — those who wanted to rampage as invaders, revel in destruction, and bask in violent glory. But their plans had just been flipped upside down.
Most of them looked displeased, but I couldn’t afford to care. Whether the situation was miserable or not, the 「War Duel」 had already begun. And in war, one had to adapt to the battlefield as it was.
‘My equipped gear remains the same.’
Even within this spiritual world, my equipment hadn’t changed. The dwarven-made arms Dwight had given me still protected my body. That was fortunate, since Han’s native gear was garbage.
The weapons hanging on the walls were useless junk — the swords would shatter mid-fight, and the armor wouldn’t stop even a single arrow.
‘And since the Great Land has its recreated invasion army, we must have our own defenders here as well.’
Indeed — outside the barracks, beyond the warriors, stood soldiers of Han. Unlike the listless fighters, these soldiers looked grim but resolute. They knew the Great Land’s forces would come, and yet, they hadn’t given up. They would serve as valuable allies in this war.
And—
“So they swapped the factions. A foul trick… but since it’s begun, I’ll do my best.”
“Hah! Fighting from the losing side is thrilling in its own way! The Goddess Refri herself says there’s glory in overturning hopeless odds!”
Not all fighters had lost their spirit. Some, like me, accepted the situation immediately.
And then—
“You miserable lot! Stop whining and gather up! Grumbling won’t change a damn thing!”
A voice roared across the barracks — rough, booming, unmistakably full of vigor.
“We’re fighters, aren’t we! Idiots who only know how to fight! So quit your whining and fight! Nothing’s uglier than big men sulking like children!”
The tone was distinctly orc-like. At first, I thought an orc had spoken. But the voice, for all its force, carried a subtle feminine note. And sure enough — it belonged to a woman.
“And besides — isn’t this a good opportunity? Instead of fighting as the broken army of a ruined nation, we get to face one of the most powerful legions on the continent — the Great Land’s Conquest Army! What fighter hasn’t dreamed of facing them at least once? And here, you won’t even die! You can fight— all you want—!”
She was large, muscular, with sun-bronzed skin and armor that covered only her vitals. A massive greatsword rested in her hands. Her long, thick hair was tied high, swaying like a horse’s tail. Everything about her screamed warrior.
For a moment, the others went silent. No one mocked or laughed at her for being a woman. Because her exposed limbs, shoulders, and legs were covered with intricate violet tattoos — the mark of something undeniable.
“…A Valkyrie.”
「Valkyrie」— a title bestowed upon only the greatest warrior women of the barbarian tribes living in the northern mountains of the Iron Kingdom. Their most distinctive trait was their “blood-marked skin,” the violet tattoos they engraved through their ancient rituals.
“A northern warrior woman? Here?”
“If a Valkyrie speaks, it’s worth listening to. And better listen — if her tone’s any clue, refusing might be dangerous. Barbarians are nearly as mad as orcs.”
The crowd murmured in awe.
Liam’s voice echoed within me.
「A Valkyrie, eh? Been a long time since I saw one.」
“……”
「Times have grown soft indeed. In my day, ‘Valkyrie’ was a title reserved for at least a ‘Sword Expert’.」
He stroked his chin, smiling faintly.
「Regardless of her rank, she’ll be a fun warrior to watch, young descendant.」
“…Whenever you’ve said that, it’s never ended well for me, Master.”
「Haha, but hasn’t it always been interesting?」
“……”
「Barbarians are fascinating. Sometimes they do things even orcs would call wild.」
I sighed inwardly.
‘Then I should avoid her.’
If there truly existed humans who could outmatch orcs in recklessness, I wanted no part of them. But of course—
“O–oh! You there, with the old helmet—! Aren’t you the 「Sword Demon」 Liam!?”
—my life never went the easy way.
“Perfect! Come here! I’ve watched your duels! You’re the bravest warrior I’ve seen — fighting gloriously, never backing down, no matter the foe!”
“…What?”
“I can tell even through that helmet! Don’t be shy — come! Surely you wish to fight the Great Land’s Conquest Army head-on, yes? You don’t have to say it — warriors understand each other without words!”
“I’m not—”
“So humble! But everyone here knows! The 「Sword Demon」 Liam is a great warrior!”
Damn it. Even with my helmet on, she recognized me — and singled me out, shouting before I could even respond. Her speech pattern reminded me of a certain green-skinned race whose brains had been marinated in battle.
“Come, Sword Demon Liam! Let us stand together at the very front! No greater honor exists than to face the invaders head-on!”
“Wait, hold on—”
“If anyone here objects — speak now! If there’s a warrior greater than us, step forward! I, Maia, Sixth Valkyrie of the Lakota Mountains, shall test your worth myself!”
“……”
“Hmm! No one? Then it’s decided!”
The others, who had been grumbling seconds ago, fell silent — and began clapping.
“Liam! Liam!” they chanted.
‘Damn it. I was going to hang back and observe first.’
My greatest weapon — suspicion — was strongest when I had time to read the enemy, gather information, and find the smallest weakness to exploit. Charging in headfirst? The worst possible role for me.
“I’m glad to share this honor, Sword Demon Liam!”
The Valkyrie, who introduced herself as Maia, laughed heartily, clearly oblivious to my despair. I could almost see the bright, simple grin behind that voice — the kind orcs often had.
‘This isn’t good.’
I didn’t like how things were going.
I planned to ignore her and avoid the vanguard, even if others mocked me. I didn’t care about fame or glory — the fall of the “Sword Demon’s” reputation meant nothing to me.
But then—
「Do as the Valkyrie says, young descendant.」
Liam’s calm voice again.
「Go with her. It’ll be fun.」
“……”
「With your current level, you’re ready.」
I looked at him. And I realized — he wasn’t joking. Liam was genuinely urging me to step to the front.
And my master was never wrong. At least, not when it came to the sword.
‘…My current level, huh.’
***
“The might of the Great Land, the Empire of Khan, now pierces the heavens! Every nation of the eastern continent lies in ashes, their souls buried in rivers of blood. The conqueror’s blade spared no one — not woman, not child, not elder. Wherever they passed, only death remained.”
“……”
“And now, only we remain — the last corner of the continent not yet claimed by them.”
On the city wall, a general — conjured by the witches’ power — spoke in a thunderous voice. His aura was modest, merely at the early stage of 「Sword Runner」. Too low for a general, perhaps, but his eyes burned with fierce resolve.
“If we fall today, our parents, our wives, our sons and daughters will be defiled. And afterward? Buried beneath rivers of blood. Beasts will live better than they do.”
“……”
“So we cannot lose. We must not lose.”
He continued.
“History may never remember us. Our odds against the Great Land’s invincible legions are slim to none. But we must fight regardless. Even if we are forgotten, even if no glory awaits us — we must take up our swords and spears. Because we are human. Because we are fathers, sons, and husbands.”
History is written by the victors. But here, the forgotten story of the defeated was being relived.
As his speech went on, the ground began to tremble. Dust rose from the horizon. A distant thunder of hooves echoed — and then they appeared: ranks of steel-armored warhorses, carrying the Great Land’s terrifying cavalry.
“The Legion of the Eternal Sun arrives.”
The general stared at them calmly.
“Loose the fire arrows.”
That command signaled the start of war.
Flaming arrows streaked across the blue sky like rain. But despite the desperate volley, the arrows met no success. A blinding flash erupted, and a transparent barrier formed, shattering their momentum and dropping them harmlessly to the ground — the invaders’ magic defense.
Han’s army had neither the knowledge nor the power to understand such mysteries. Yet they did not flinch. They had known too much defeat already. Fear had burned away long ago, leaving only grim resolve.
And then—
「The Great Land — the Khan Empire — was founded by the fourth Swordmaster to appear on this continent. After uniting the Great Plains, he forged a vast empire. They learn battle before they can walk, and ride horses instead of studying. To them, war is play.」
At the very front of Han’s line stood me and the Valkyrie Maia.
「The nations of the east mocked them as savages, beasts no better than orcs. But since the day their first conqueror began his war, no one has dared mock them again.」
“……”
「For on that day, all the east beheld the god of war descending to earth, young descendant.」
The Great Land’s army closed the distance — fast, frighteningly fast.
「Their legions are unmatched. Even without a Swordmaster, they would still have conquered.」
“……”
「To face such a force — doesn’t that excite you?」
“Not particularly.”
The ironclad cavalry came into view.
I took a slow breath. Mana filled my lungs, my body, every fiber of my being. The second heart pulsed, carving the 「Path」 within me, sharpening the world into clarity.
「Young descendant.」
My hand gripped the sword.
「You have faced many strong foes.」
I closed and opened my eyes once.
「The trials that tormented you — they forged you harder than before.」
“……”
「You’ll see now that none of it was in vain.」
Through the onrushing army, I could see clear lines — threads of light weaving like a spider’s web. I knew what they were.
The sword was showing me the path I must take.
“...Haa.”
I drew in a deep breath. And with it, the wind entered me.
「Show the conquerors of the east—」
The wind gathered, and my body leapt forward — soaring toward the incoming cavalry.
「—what the true summit looks like.」
I saw their banners whipping in the wind. I saw the shock in their eyes as I closed the distance in an instant. The commander’s mouth opened — his voice booming to give an order.
“Sto—!”
Too late. Of course it was.
『To sweep them away, I had to become a stronger wind.』
In that instant, I was the wind itself.