Chapter 128. Review (3)
“No point in asking how you’ve been, but I’ll say it anyway.”
In the space between an endless horizon and a starlit night sky, the Sword Saint, leaning on his one-handed sword in the clear water, asked lightly.
“You holding up, Enoch?”
“Well enough.”
His unexpectedly human greeting made me reply curtly.
The Last Sword Saint of the Empire spoke calmly from under his hood.
“I’ve watched your exploits from here. Quite a show.”
“…”
“Really entertaining, Enoch.”
His earlier words echoed in my mind.
His promise to observe my actions wasn’t a figure of speech—it was literal.
“…Living it up, huh?”
“Well, your deeds are my main entertainment here. Didn’t expect such thrilling scenes.”
He stroked his ash-gray beard, smirking sharply.
“Beating Faust’s puppet and taking down Ixion’s masked summoner—worthy of inheriting my sword.”
His satisfaction, contrasting his majestic aura, felt like a viewer enjoying a show.
His unexpected demeanor left me dumbfounded. I asked, expressionless.
“So you just hang out here?”
“Yep.”
“Must be boring. Nothing around.”
“Half-right. But alongside your growth, there’s something about this place we should address.”
I flinched.
Without me saying it, he knew why I’d entered the Inner World.
He tapped his sword into the water, creating white ripples.
“This world is just your mind’s landscape. Given the infinite nature of the psyche, this is but one facet.”
His tone grew serious.
“With the right method, you could recreate memories’ landscapes here.”
“Right method? What’s that?”
“As I said before, sword’s heir.”
He murmured softly.
“That’s for you to know. This world of the psyche is yours alone.”
“…”
I lowered my head silently.
My reflection shimmered in the water’s mirror.
A landscape of memories.
I didn’t fully grasp it, but testing it now seemed logical.
Rumble!!
Focusing, the water rippled, spreading outward, forming a new space.
I clenched my fist.
No specific place in mind for this first try—just intent on altering the Inner World.
The Inner World shifted, its scene transforming.
I widened my eyes at the new landscape.
“…Here?”
A vast room with glass walls and white lights appeared.
A familiar sight.
A casino building’s carpeted floor, littered with gambling chips.
Playing cards scattered on a broken poker table.
—The abandoned casino building.
A place I’d never forget.
Where I’d faced Persona during the exemption mission.
‘Why here?’
I hadn’t recalled a specific memory, just tried controlling the Inner World, but this unexpected place threw me.
Thinking it over, the reason became clear.
Persona’s magical gear.
This World of Impermanence was enhanced by the gear I’d taken from her.
My subconscious must’ve been drawn to the place I’d acquired it.
I exhaled, pausing my thoughts.
“It’s harder to control than I thought.”
“It would be. You’re far from mastering this Inner World.”
His response, anticipating my struggle, nearly made me grimace.
Instead, I stared at him and shifted to the point.
“Anyway, I’ve got questions.”
“Oh? The ones you had last time?”
“If you remember, this’ll be quick.”
“Not sure I can answer.”
He raised a hand, adding.
“But we’ve got more time than last time. Faster growth than I expected.”
“Faster?”
“Indeed. You’re adapting to this Inner World beyond my expectations.”
Was it because I’d inherited another Sword Saint’s sword? If so, it was satisfying.
“How much time?”
“Enough for one solid exchange, at least.”
I nodded slowly.
Just one exchange. A bit disappointing, but compared to being cut off mid-question before, it was significant progress.
“Then I’ll ask the most pressing one.”
“Go ahead.”
“Straight to it—you know about mages, right?”
“I’ve learned some things through experience.”
“I need that knowledge.”
That was why I’d come.
Perhaps sensing the obvious, I stated it to confirm.
“I need to review my growth and deeply understand how to face mages with a sword. That’s why I called you.”
“I get it. But it’s tricky to give a straight answer.”
Leaning on his sword, he shook his head slowly.
“I’ve faced mages and learned much, but not as much as you.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Magic is an inherited, evolving field. By now, it’s far advanced beyond my era.”
He recalled his time, speaking slowly.
“In short, my advice might be outdated.”
I nodded silently. The original story mentioned this.
Magic’s efficiency and power had grown over time.
“How different are modern mages from your era’s?”
“At least the typical mages you’ve met wield magic far stronger and more efficient than those of my time.”
“Typical—Rank 10 and below?”
“Right. Their magic’s level is incomparably higher.”
“An upgrade from the past?”
“Not quite.”
He shook his head.
“Their combat instincts seemed weaker on average. Likely true.”
“Combat instincts…”
“It was a chaotic era.”
In the empire’s early conquest days, mages were battle-hardened, unlike now.
I caught his point.
“So magic advanced, but combat mages’ skills dropped on average?”
“You could say that.”
He nodded lightly. I questioned the zero-sum logic.
“What about above Rank 10?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
He glanced at his sword’s reflection.
“Even in my era, Rank 10 and above varied widely. Their unique magic use and combat instincts were so diverse, nothing was standard.”
Thus, no clear answer.
Grasping this, I recalled the Last Sword Saint’s memories.
The immense mana flows and powerful spells of mages he’d faced.
Recalling those scenes, I shuddered, shaking my head.
The more I learned the sword and fought mages, the clearer it became.
Simulating battles with such foes, I instinctively knew my life wouldn’t last.
They were far beyond my reach.
That’s why I needed countermeasures.
I stared at him calmly.
“From your explanation, they’re unpredictable, tough opponents.”
“Likely so.”
“As you say, I’ll face even stronger foes ahead.”
Expressionless, I asked.
“I want to prepare. What can you, a former Sword Saint, tell me in this Inner World?”
“Eager to learn? Well, you always were.”
He chuckled, adding.
“But you already know the answer, Enoch.”
“What?”
“Didn’t you figure out how to beat Ixion?”
“…Linking different sword techniques.”
“Exactly. Combining my swordsmanship with another Sword Saint’s could be a path.”
I nodded slightly.
Indeed, I’d shattered Ixion’s chimera armor by linking inherited techniques.
It was an impromptu move to win, but it might’ve revealed a viable growth path.
More than that.
As I inherited more sword techniques, I’d develop stronger, varied combinations.
“…”
His assurance turned my vague guess into certainty.
“Oh, by the way, Enoch.”
He glanced at me, as if recalling something.
“While you were away, I found something interesting here.”
“Something to show? In the World of Impermanence?”
What could he find in this mental space? I tilted my head.
“Yep. You’ll find it intriguing.”
“Looks like nothing’s around.”
He nodded, replying.
“Hm, wait here. It might be the answer you seek.”
He walked off, disappearing down the casino’s corridor. As I tilted my head, a high-pitched voice—not his—shrieked from beyond.
“Argh, let go! I said let go!!”
He returned, carrying an adult woman like a log under his arm, her limbs flailing.
My eyes widened. Recognizing her face, I muttered blankly.
“Wait. Is that…?”
Long olive hair, white blouse, black skirt—a distinctive mage.
Though less imposing than before, carried like baggage, it was unmistakable.
“…Persona?”
I widened my eyes, murmuring.
I couldn’t forget her. Her familiar olive mana.
Vendetta’s lowest-ranking officer, Tantalus’s confidant, a black mage who’d “gifted” me her gear.
Thanks to her, I’d enhanced my control over the World of Impermanence.
A user of unique magic that directly manipulated the psyche—Persona.
“Ugh!”
Meeting my gaze, her face turned tomato-red, mortified.
Flailing, she yelled at the Sword Saint.
“I said let me go!”