Sword Devouring Swordmaster-Chapter 91 : Chapter 91

Chapter 91 — The Idler (5)
“I do not wish for you to leave this place and go out into the world.”
Toma Rhapsody recalled the words his father had once told him.
“I know this place must be unbearably dull for you. The instructors never take swordplay seriously, and those around you would rather die than dare to wound you, isn’t that so?”
“……”
“So you must always be dreadfully sleepy. Life must hold no joy for you. Perhaps you even feel the urge to venture outside. I understand all of it. But still… I, your father, wish that you would spend your whole life here.”
His father had spoken those words before a beach that glittered like a field of jewels.
“In this harsh world, the unexpected is always waiting to happen.”
“Are you saying I’d die the moment I stepped outside?”
Toma Rhapsody hadn’t understood his father’s words back then. Among his peers, he had no rival. He was a powerful swordsman, a proud 「Sword Runner」 with three pairs of wings.
Moreover, the Spiral Sword he’d inherited was a superior sword art—one capable of overcoming opponents even a step above his level.
Toma Rhapsody had long believed that he was past the age of needing anyone’s protection. And objectively speaking, he was right. What kind of 「Sword Runner」 in the world lived under such excessive protection? His life was more fitting for a noble lady of striking beauty, or a princess wasting away from an incurable disease...
“Perhaps not,” his father had said.
It wasn’t childish arrogance—he truly had reason to think so. Even among the Rhapsody retainers, several had said that Toma needed to go out and gain experience, to broaden his horizon. If things continued as they were, they feared he would grow into a greenhouse flower—sheltered under the family head’s shadow, unable to do anything alone, becoming nothing more than a burden.
Toma Rhapsody had agreed with them. He needed experience—time to sharpen himself by facing the wider world.
“Then why…”
And besides, at this rate, he felt that dreadful drowsiness might swallow him whole. Recently, Toma Rhapsody had been spending more than half of every day asleep. Even when awake, he felt as though he were still dreaming. The finest foods no longer had any taste. Life held no joy.
He wanted to escape the shadow of his family—to go out into the world and find the joy of life for himself.
“Because in this vast world, one never knows what may happen.”
But his father had refused to yield. It was absurd. He wasn’t asking to go to war—only to experience a bit of the world. Why such fear? His father should have worried not about Toma Rhapsody’s safety, but about those unfortunate enough to face the edge of his blade.
“My son, I cannot bear the thought of losing you.”
“……”
“You are indeed a fine swordsman, and you will grow even finer. But the world does not run on such simple logic. Sword Runner, Sword Walker, what sword art you’ve learned—none of it matters. There are those on this continent who can brush aside such things as if they were nothing.”
Toma had thought his father’s worries excessive—an obsession born from too much affection. At that time, his heart was half driven by the belief that he’d live trapped forever if he didn’t act, and half by the defiant spirit typical of a young man. Longing to see the wider world, Toma soon heard of the 「Infinite Duel」—a battle fought in complete anonymity, where only strength mattered.
To him, it was the perfect stage to prove to his father that he was already a true swordsman.
Besides, most participants of the 「Infinite Duel」 were said to be 「Sword Walkers」, and even the best of them rarely reached the level of a 「Sword Runner」. There couldn’t possibly be any exceptional opponents there—after all, the renowned or truly talented Sword Runners already held high positions in knight orders or lived lives of comfort. Why would they bother joining such a “lowly” spectacle?
So Toma Rhapsody went to the Infinite Duel.
From the second round—the War Duel—he had been sure his guess was right. The most praised fighters had at most one pair of wings. Even the so-called “Valkyrie,” who drew the crowd’s admiration, seemed to him nothing more than a third-rate swordswoman, relying on petty tricks. The only match worth watching was the last one—A fight between a mysterious female swordsman and the masked duelist known as the 「Sword Demon」. But even that, which sent the audience into a frenzy, seemed dull to Toma. He couldn’t understand why they cheered so passionately. So he had been certain he would easily win in the final Infinite Duel.
However…
***
“Haah…!”
Toma Rhapsody gasped for breath as he opened his eyes. When he came to, he was lying in the Recovery Room of the 「Arena」. On a worn bed, he struggled to calm his breathing and looked around. No other patients were in the room. Raising himself up, he looked down at his arms—still attached. His legs—also intact. But his heart was still pounding madly.
Were his limbs truly still there? He checked again and again, haunted by the last memory he had left. That strange fighter who had awakened him from his slumber—the one who’d swung a blade that felt less like steel and more like an entire mountain crashing down. The sensation of his bones and muscles being crushed, his very soul shattering—it all felt horribly real.
And the flames. The flames that had wrapped around him every time their blades met—burning so fiercely they seemed capable of devouring everything.
His proud wings, the Spiral Sword, the Lines and Mana Heart within his body—all of it, everything that made him a swordsman, had been rendered meaningless before that flame.
Before the vast world, he had become a pitifully small being.
“Are you awake, young master?”
As he steadied his breathing, a man slowly approached. Toma recognized him instantly.
“I was very worried, young master.”
“…How did you know I was here?”
“Thankfully, the Arena’s staff contacted us first.”
It was Joseph—the Rhapsody family’s butler. The elderly man who had always watched over Toma like a shadow. As always, Joseph handed him a cup of warm milk. Toma accepted it and drank quietly. The temperature was just right—comfortably warm.
“You truly startled me this time. To run away without a word, and of all things, to enter that vulgar Infinite Duel…”
“……”
Joseph watched the boy sip in silence. Seeing Toma’s downcast expression, he chose not to scold him further and instead asked,
“So, did you enjoy it?”
“A little.”
“If it brought you even a little joy, was your journey then meaningless?”
“No.”
“Then?”
Joseph sat beside him, quietly listening.
“I was scared. It was dangerous. If that old man hadn’t intervened, I might’ve died.”
“That must have been quite the ordeal.”
“Yeah. The one who almost killed me—he was a 「Sword Walker」. He used some strange technique at the end, but I’m sure of it. He didn’t even have wings.”
Toma spoke like a child recounting an adventure. Joseph listened with his eyes closed, nodding slowly.
“A meaningful escapade, then.”
“Yeah. Father was right. You never know what can happen in this world. What you have can vanish in an instant.”
“So, will you stay home from now on?”
“No.”
Toma smiled faintly.
“I’m afraid, but… at least I’m not sleepy anymore.”
“……”
“I’ll go again next time. By then, the one who made me kneel will have grown stronger too. I want to fight him again—and win. If I train my sword while thinking of that moment… Maybe I won’t feel so sleepy. At least not until we meet again.”
Joseph smiled as well.
“You’ve become an adult, young master.”
“I’ll still get scolded by Father though. When he hears of this, he’ll explode. Might lock me up for the next ten years.”
“No, it’ll be fine.”
“Fine? How so?”
Joseph took the empty cup from Toma’s hand and replied,
“I came alone, knowing you might worry. Once we return, the family head won’t know a thing. At worst, he’ll think you went on a secret picnic.”
“Joseph…”
“Now then, if you’ve recovered, let’s go home. Let’s keep this little escapade between us.”
Toma smiled faintly. Joseph had been with him since birth—more than a servant, almost like an uncle, even a second father.
“You really are the best, Joseph.”
Toma rose to his feet with a smile.
It was brief, but it was enjoyable.
He would see the end of that duel someday.
Next time, things would be different.
‘Yes… next time, it’ll be different.’
Thus, one boy left the Arena, carrying in his heart the image of another. Dreaming of a romantic future.
But—
“You’re leaving in quite a hurry.”
The world, however, was never as romantic as boys imagined.
“…Joseph, get back.”
“Master, what—”
“Hurry—!”
“Hmm.”
Never.
“You’re well past eighteen, aren’t you?”
***
After the Infinite Duel ended, the winner was announced. But I didn’t step onto the podium, nor did I receive the glorious applause. All thanks to the damn side effects of 「The Light」.
“Son of a—”
Right after the duel ended, my body collapsed. By the time I came to, the ceremonies were already over. Seol Yoon told me the closing ceremony had been spectacular. And that—
“The missing duelist, the Sword Demon, was apparently quite the man. To refuse glory and applause from the citizens of the Steel City, what a bold act! He gave up his chance to become a hero across the continent, and ironically, that only made him more famous… or so the commentators said.”
“No one mentioned that I was passed out the whole time?”
“As if the Arena planners would say that. They’re already trying to turn you into some legendary hero from a bygone age. Even the Valkyrie shouted, ‘That’s the Sword Demon for you!’ And the orcs started a riot, claiming you must be one of them.”
“…Good thing I wasn’t there.”
Just hearing about it gave me a headache. Had I actually been present, I might’ve lost my mind. If the orcs had kept chanting, ‘Sword Demon Liam is an orc!’, I probably would’ve gone berserk and cut down a few of them on the spot. And they’d still have clapped, saying, ‘A truly orc-like thing to do!’ Damn it.
“It all feels like it passed in a blur.”
「Still, you survived it all somehow.」
At last, the storm called the Infinite Duel had ended. My body was in shambles, but I had at least grasped a thread of growth.
Flame.
The key to the wings. Just that alone meant my initial purpose for entering the Duel had been achieved. From now on, I only had to follow that thread to gain true understanding.
Lying on the Recovery Room bed, I replayed the final battle in my head—the fleeting wings, the mysterious flames that had let me face the descendant of Rhapsody, the Karavan sword that had moved at my fingertips… there was too much to process.
“Once you’ve recovered, the Arena staff said you should stop by. You’re the final champion, after all—they’ve got a prize for you.”
“Understood. I hope it’s something valuable.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. It’ll probably be just fame and honor again.”
Seol Yoon rose slowly, as if to let me rest. Before leaving, she added,
“Oh, right. The curator of the Hall of Honor said he wanted to talk to you.”
“Tom?”
“Yeah. He said after the Duel, he’d accompany you back to your mansion. Wanted to teach you how to maintain the weapons you borrowed.”
Ah.
“He even used up decades of saved vacation time for you. Said he couldn’t bear the thought of some young noble mishandling historic relics.”
I’d completely forgotten.
“Shit.”
Past me had left the future me quite the mess to clean up.
‘…There’s no way I can cough them back up, right?’
All those weapons—were still inside my stomach.
“Anyway, just focus on resting. You’re not seriously injured, but your body’s completely drained. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. Try to relax.”
“…Yes.”
Seol Yoon left, unknowingly reviving the dreadful memory I wanted to forget. Relax, she said—after that.
My head already throbbed. The quiet made me wish I could just sleep forever. Damn it.
And then—“Resting well, are you?”
Another person appeared to disturb my peace.
“You’ve kept your promise splendidly. To defeat the Lazy Idler’s sword with such a paltry blade… It was a sight worth seeing. A truly delightful sight.”
The Iron Prince—Ian Cherville.
“I came to give you the reward I promised. You won’t be disappointed. Not in the slightest.”
An uninvited guest had arrived.