Chapter 73: Chapter 73 - Battle of Legends ( Part 4)
Silence.
It was louder than any blast.
The battlefield, which until seconds before was full of clashing metals and roaring magic, suddenly became unnaturally quiet.
Thousand pairs of eyes were staring at the single silver-haired maid, suspended under the crimson sky.
None of the soldiers moved.
None dared to breathe.
The name pronounced by Azrakiel resonated through their hearts.
Sword King Leonis.
The legendary hero who was supposed to vanish a thousand years ago.
Princess Lilia’s lips quivered.
"...Jennie...?"
Lucas gaped at his sister.
Headmaster Orion Valerius felt his heart beating faster.
Even the elite hunters were confused by what they had just heard.
Only one person kept absolutely calm.
Jennie.
She lowered Excalibur a little.
Silver eyes quietly closed.
The voices around her disappeared.
The battlefield faded away.
Instead...
She found herself in the midst of an infinite field of white flowers.
Memory.
The last memory of her previous life.
A thousand years ago.
The Great Demon War was finally over.
Mountains turned into dust.
Kingdoms fell.
Seven Divine Swords scattered across the world.
She remembered kneeling on that ground, surrounded by silence.
Excalibur was lying next to her.
"I suppose..."
Leonis managed to laugh quietly.
"We actually won."
Her body was already on the verge of exhaustion.
Every breath was harder than the last one.
Excalibur’s soft voice was ringing beside her.
"You saved the world."
Leonis gently shook her head.
"No."
"I simply lived long enough to preserve it."
She looked at the rising sun and smiled for the first time in centuries.
"I’ve held the title of Sword King for too long."
"I’ve fought."
"I’ve killed."
"I’ve sacrificed everything."
"So..."
"If another life awaits me..."
"I don’t want to be a hero anymore."
The wind took away her last wish.
"I want to live..."
"...as an ordinary girl."
The world dissolved in a glow.
That promise stayed in her heart ever since.
Not as the Sword King.
Not as humanity’s hero.
But as Jennie.
The girl who laughs with her family.
The maid who brews tea.
The friend who treasures peaceful mornings.
The young woman who wants nothing more than an ordinary life.
Jennie slowly opened her eyes.
The battlefield came back.
Everyone was waiting for her.
Azrakiel was watching her.
There was no mockery in his face.
Just pure respect.
Jennie lifted her head.
Her voice was soft.
But everybody could hear it.
"Leonis..."
"...died a thousand years ago."
She put her hand onto her chest.
"I..."
"...am Jennie."
Silence followed.
Not denial.
Not fear.
Just the truth.
Azrakiel closed his eyes.
And then...
He started laughing.
Not that proud laugh of a Demon General.
Not that cold laugh of a conqueror.
It was warm.
Almost nostalgic.
"So that is your answer."
Jennie didn’t reply.
Azrakiel smiled.
"Names are mere relics people leave behind."
He pointed his greatsword at Excalibur.
"But a sword never forgets its master."
And then at Jennie’s heart.
"Nor does the resolve of its owner."
Golden eyes looked into hers.
"I’ve clashed blades with numerous warriors."
"I’ve fought kings."
"I’ve slain saints."
"I’ve destroyed legends."
"But only one person stood before me, defending everyone else."
He chuckled.
"Only one person broke my attacks, making sure not even a kid got hurt."
His smile broadened.
"It doesn’t matter if you are Leonis..."
"...or Jennie."
"The sword."
"The heart."
"The resolve."
"They are all unmistakably yours."
Down there, Lilia’s eyes blurred.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Not because Jennie was the Sword King.
Not because the greatest hero in history stood before her.
But because...
Jennie carried this burden alone.
For all those smiles she wore.
For all cups of tea she brewed.
For every moment she pretended being ordinary...
She protected everyone.
Without asking anything in return.
Without asking for thanks.
Lilia covered her mouth with her hands and another tear ran down her face.
"You idiot..."
"You’ve carried all this..."
"...alone."
Lucas bent his head.
His fists started shaking.
"I’ve never noticed..."
Headmaster Orion quietly smiled.
"So this is the reason."
"The perfect swordsmanship."
"The incomparable instincts."
"All becomes clear now."
Inside of Jennie’s head, familiar voice echoed again.
"Jennie."
Excalibur.
Her voice sounded softer than ever.
"You’ve fulfilled your promise."
"You’ve lived as Jennie."
"You’ve laughed."
"You’ve found a family."
"You’ve found friends."
"You’ve found happiness."
Jennie softly smiled.
"Yes, I did."
"But..."
Voice of Excalibur continued.
"Past has finally come to you."
"And it can’t be concealed anymore."
Jennie looked at the battlefield.
At Lilia.
At Lucas.
At all those people whom she wanted to protect.
And then gripped Excalibur even tighter.
"Yes, I know."
Gentle smile was gone.
Now there was an absolute determination in her face.
Across from her, Azrakiel slowly raised his greatsword.
The sky darkened.
Demonic aura flooded everything like a boundless sea.
But this time...
There was no hostility in it.
Just pure anticipation.
For the warrior who waited for a thousand years.
He pointed his blade at Jennie.
His voice carried throughout the heaven.
"Then prove it..."
A crimson storm surrounded him.
"...Jennie."
The clouds parted.
Earth shook.
Excitement lit Azrakiel’s eyes.
"Show me..."
"...the sword..."
"...which ended the Great Demon War."
Jennie lifted Excalibur.
For the first time since her reincarnation...
She refused both the title of a hero and the legacy.
She would fight not as the Sword King who sought for glory.
But as Jennie.
The ordinary girl who chose to protect everyone once again.
And the battle of the legends began anew.
Even before Azrakiel’s laughter filled the empty silence of the battlefield, everything seemed to pause mid-breath.
The ravaged landscape extended into miles. The proud mountains were now broken cliffs. Long, deep cuts lined the ground in reminders of the power that surpassed the mortal comprehension. Ice, fire, light, and darkness fragments still hung in the air, lingering in memories of past clashes.
Nobody breathed a sound.
Even the wind stopped.
Injured hunters, who just a moment ago screamed in pain, forgot about it and turned their gaze to the sky. The knights leaned on the broken spears to keep balance. Court mages, who were too tired from sustaining barriers, just watched with pale faces.
There is one man, who silenced an entire kingdom.
King of Swords Leonis.
Headmaster Orion carefully removed his glasses.
His hands were trembling.
".... So... the ancient records were true..."
He remembered the countless nights, when he was studying old records hidden somewhere beneath the academy library. Most of the historians considered them pure myths.
A warrior, who carried the whole humanity on her shoulders.
A king, who fought alone against the Demon Lords.
A swordsman, who had put an end to the Great Demon War.
Orion had believed only in some pieces of it.
But the impossible was right in front of him.
Not a king in the magnificent golden armor.
Just a silver-haired maid with the dusty and bloody apron.
He couldn’t help it.
"... History loves making jokes."
Close by, Lucas lowered his gaze.
Different images flashed in his mind, one after another.
Jennie easily moving heavy furniture when she was only six years old.
Jennie splitting the firewood using a dull kitchen knife, since it is "more efficient".
Jennie always won during their childish games pretending it was only luck.
Jennie smiling awkwardly when someone praised her.
"... You have been holding back all the way."
He chuckled, despite the hot tears in his eyes.
"My little sister..."
"No..."
He shook his head.
"You’re still my little sister."
It was impossible to change it.
Below, whispers flew among the hunters.
"... Did you hear that?"
"... Leonis?"
"... Impossible."
"But the Demon General acknowledged her."
"He has no reasons to lie."
"Could the greatest hero really come back?"
Some people instantly started to argue.
"No... she’s only a girl."
"She works as a maid of Princess Lilia."
"How could she be the Sword King?"
Confusion was spreading faster than panic.
All eyes were searching for the answer in Jennie’s face.
And Jennie just stood there.
Composed.
Calm.
As if the burden of a thousand years was resting upon her shoulders softly, rather than crush her.
Above her, Excalibur was shining with golden light.
The holy sword spoke again.
"Do you regret it?"
Jennie answered it with her inner voice.
"... Regret what?"
"Leave the name Leonis behind."
Jennie gazed at the horizon.
She saw Arthur, teaching her how to harvest vegetables.
Her mother Elena, smiling while baking the bread.
Lucas proudly showing her wooden practice swords.
Lilia, smiling with the cup of Crystal Bloom Tea.
The students of the academy.
The servants of the palace.
The ordinary people, whom she met.
A gentle smile appeared on her lips.
"Not even for a second."
"If I had stayed as Leonis..."
"I would never meet them."
"I would never know the meaning of living."
Excalibur was silent for several moments.
Finally, the ancient sword said with a clear affection.
"Then your wish came true."
Jennie nodded.
"Yes."
"For the first time..."
"I was happy."
These words carried much weight compared to any legendary title.
Because the Sword King had never fought for happiness.
Only for duty.
Only for responsibility.
Only for survival.
Jennie had found something, which Leonis never could find.
Her home.
From above, Azrakiel silently observed.
His sharp eyes became soft for a brief moment.
"... You have changed."
A thousand years ago, Leonis never would stop for a speech.
The Sword King would strike instantly, finding any opening.
Victory was always coming first.
But Jennie...
Jennie smiled.
She hesitated.
She protected.
She laughed.
"You have become a human."
For the first time in many centuries, Azrakiel felt something unexpected.
Relief.
The hero, who once carried the whole world alone, finally found the peace, which she longed for.
This realization inspired even the Demon General with respect.
Slowly, he put the point of his huge greatsword against the void.
Dark crimson mana was spinning around the sword, rising towards the heaven like the storm.
The clouds were boiling fiercely.
Lightning flashed between crimson and gold.
Every instinct shouted to run away.
Headmaster Orion’s eyes widened.
"He prepares a technique!"
Hunters, who were still alive, instinctively stepped backwards.
The pressure alone made the cracks appear in the ground under them.
Azrakiel raised his gaze to Jennie for the last time.
His smile wasn’t cruel...
But excited.
The excitement of the warrior, who has finally found the only worthy opponent.
His voice rang above the battlefield.
"Then show it to me..."
"... Jennie."
"Show me..."
"... the sword..."
"... that once ended the Great Demon War."
