25-295

EP.295. [The Holy Sword Has Bloomed.] 

“What do you mean by that??” 

Eugene Schneider arrived at the rendezvous point with the Red Fox Mercenaries. Given the situation, they only exchanged brief greetings before immediately preparing to head for Bahad. In the midst of this, Jeanne quietly pulled Eugene aside and delivered shocking news. 

“It’s just as I said. Mina became the Demon King. Suddenly, a purple beam of light came down from the sky and turned her into the Demon King.” 

The news was that Mina had been chosen as the Demon King. 

“That can’t be, that’s impossible. Are you joking? Maybe Mina just joined up late??” 

Eugene looked around, unable to accept it. 

After the hectic reunion, Eugene carefully checked the members of the Red Fox Mercenaries, the blacksmith group, and the children from the slums. He soon noticed Mina was missing, which prompted him to quietly ask Jeanne about her. 

Jeanne, understanding how shocking this was for Eugene, calmly and matter-of-factly explained the situation in detail. 

“No, Priscilla confirmed that Mina really became the Demon King. And not only that, but people who looked like demons came through a warp zone to find her. They said they came to serve the Demon King.” 

Eugene froze for five seconds, still looking around for Mina. 

“The children.” 

The first thing Eugene asked about was the children from the slums who loved and depended on Mina. As soon as he accepted the reality that Mina had become the Demon King and left, his thoughts immediately went to the children. 

“Right now, Mari and Thomas are doing their best to calm the kids. But after a little more time, they’ll start to feel Mina’s absence again, and it’ll be chaos.” 

Jeanne explained that the reason she hadn’t told Eugene about Mina right away was because of the children. For the mercenaries, a comrade had disappeared, but for the children, it was like losing family. Still, given the situation, they had no choice but to move to the rendezvous point and tried to minimize the impact during the journey. 

“But why was Mina chosen as the Demon King? She’s not a demon or even half-demon. Even Priscilla doesn’t really understand it.” 

Jeanne, who had been keeping this quiet, finally voiced her long-standing question to Eugene. She had heard from Elizabeth and Priscilla in Enklema that the Demon God’s Eye was closely related to the Demon King’s advent, so the idea of a Demon King appearing wasn’t impossible. But the fact that it was Mina was so unexpected that she didn’t know how to explain it to the children especially since even Priscilla, their expert, was confused. 

“Priscilla didn’t know about Mina’s origins either, did she?” 

Eugene, observing the subdued mood among the mercenaries, spoke again. 

“Mina’s origins? She’s a barbarian from the Sahara, isn’t she?” 

Jeanne didn’t understand what Eugene was getting at. 

“She is, but there are many tribes among the barbarians. Mina is from a very rare and special lineage. You might have heard Priscilla mention it before the Mohican tribe.” 

Eugene revealed to Jeanne the secret Mina had told him: that she was the last survivor of the Mohican tribe, a group officially said to be extinct in the continent’s history, wiped out by Drake. 

“Mina was from the Mohican tribe? The barbarians with demon blood??” 

Jeanne’s eyes widened. She remembered hearing from Priscilla that berserkers were created among the Mohicans, a minority barbarian tribe with demon roots. 

“Before the Enklema special quest, Mina told me her last village was destroyed by Drake. She was the last unknown survivor of the Mohicans.” 

Eugene nodded, confirming Jeanne’s reaction. 

“So that’s it... That’s why she could become the Demon King...” 

Finally, Jeanne understood why Mina had been chosen. 

‘So that’s what that feeling was. Two days ago, when I sensed something big changing far away, and after hearing Drake’s words, I felt a strange urgency. My subconscious was warning me that I was losing Mina.’ 

Eugene also realized that the subconscious alarm he’d felt for days was about Mina. 

“Don’t blame yourself, Eugene.” 

Squeeze. 

When Eugene fell silent, Jeanne took his hand and comforted him. 

“Even if you’d known in advance, there was nothing you could have done. Not even your greatsword could have stopped that beam from the sky.” 

Jeanne knew Eugene would be prone to self-blame he’d once tried to leave the Oblaing women to avoid being a burden. 

“Even as we traveled here, I thought about it. My head was spinning, but on the other hand, Drake came to warn you about this. I believe you’ll find a way to solve it. That’s what you do.” 

Mina was precious to Jeanne too, but she’d been taken by something overwhelming. It would be natural to fall into despair, but Jeanne managed to rally the others and make it to the rendezvous point because she believed in Eugene. If the Demon King’s advent was real, then Drake’s approach to Eugene must have meaning. 

“Thank you, Jeanne.” 

Eugene smiled faintly, grateful for her concern even as she struggled herself. 

‘So the boundaries really are blurring, just like Drake said.’ 

On the way to Bahad, Eugene and the Red Fox Mercenaries camped for the night. While on guard duty, Eugene stared into the campfire, recalling Drake’s words. 

‘Maybe it’s a good thing I have the seed of the Dark Greatsword Master, not the hero. If I were the hero, I’d be destined to kill the Demon King.’ 

Common sense said the only way to end this chaos was to deal with the Demon King blessed by the Demon God. It seemed black and white. But now that Mina was the Demon King, Drake’s prophecy was coming true. Eugene felt both surprise and relief. 

‘Now I need to learn about the seed of the Dark Greatsword Master I carry and the identity of the hero who will try to kill the Demon King.’ 

Drake had said the seed hadn’t fully awakened yet, and Eugene suspected it was tied to the birth of the hero. The seed’s reaction had intensified with the Demon King’s advent. 

“Uncle...” 

A sorrowful voice called out behind Eugene as he organized his thoughts. 

“Oh, Margaret, can’t sleep?” 

Sniff. 

It was Margaret. Normally so cheerful, she now spoke in a subdued voice, prompting Eugene to immediately turn and face her. 

“I miss Mina unnie...” 

Tears streamed down Margaret’s face. She’d tried to sleep, but couldn’t stop thinking about Mina leaving. 

“I know everyone’s worried, but I just miss her...” 

Margaret, usually so strong, had tried to reassure the other kids that Mina would come back, but as a child under ten, she knew how uncertain that was. 

“It’s okay, Margaret. Don’t hold back your feelings. Let it out.” 

Hug. 

“Uwaaa, Uncle Eugene... huhu...!” 

Eugene hugged Margaret tightly, proud of her for worrying about the others and grateful that she trusted him enough to show her sadness. 

“Remember that picnic we promised? With Mina unnie, you, me, and the others?” 

“Yeah... I remember, Uncle...” 

Margaret’s steadfast faith gave Eugene a renewed sense of responsibility. 

“It’s just a little late. But I came back to you, didn’t I? I’ll keep that promise, I swear. You can count on me.” 

“Really? You’ll really keep your promise?” 

“Of course!” 

“Heehee! Okay! Okay, Uncle!” 

It wasn’t just empty words to comfort Margaret. It was a firm vow and a way to spur himself on. 

‘I don’t care about Demon Kings or heroes. I’ll bring Mina back to us, no matter what.’ 

Eugene would resolve this not by the world’s rules, but by his own will. 

At that moment  

Step, step, step, step, 

Familiar footsteps arrived at an ancient site. 

“Well... as expected...” 

The one approaching was Kaiser Antoine, who had killed Louis XV, bearer of the goddess’s crest. He arrived at the sacred altar of Paramis, the first place the goddess descended. 

“The holy sword has bloomed.” 

At the Paramis Sky Altar, the holy sword radiating a golden aura was embedded in the ground.