Chapter 194: Sword for Life (3)

“…….”

Hearing Sheratiya Viyan’s words, Harang wore a dazed expression.

He couldn’t help it.

Her words were something he’d never considered despite all his pondering.

‘Why didn’t I think of that?’

Of course, his previous thoughts weren’t entirely wrong.

Negative emotions were indeed more stimulating and shocking than positive ones. That’s human nature—quick to forget what’s gained but never forgetting what’s lost.

But that only applied when emotions stayed within one’s own heart.

If they were shared, if they grew larger through exchange… the situation changed completely.

“I know I often complain about them… but I love my parents.”

“……I know.”

“Of course, there were plenty of times I was fed up. They caused so much trouble. They showed their flaws, and some moments still make my teeth grind when I think about them. But still…”

“But you still love them, Lady Sheratiya.”

“Right. The positive overcame the negative. Why is that? By your logic, negative emotions should linger more intensely in my heart.”

Sheratiya looked at Harang as she asked, and Harang looked back at her directly.

In the past, he wouldn’t have been able to answer.

He’d have agonized over the riddle, eventually giving up and asking for the answer.

But not now, after hearing Sheratiya’s advice.

“Because love isn’t an emotion you feel alone.”

“Right. As I said… positive emotions like love can be shared with countless others. When I send one part love to my parents, they return two or three parts, and receiving that, I pour out even more… It grows and strengthens through giving and receiving, like a river swelling as it flows. Harang.”

“Yes, Lady Sheratiya.”

“I still don’t know you well. What kind of life you’ve lived, how you gained such strength, why you’re always so anxious, training in swordsmanship like you’ll die if you don’t… Ugh, saying it out loud is so frustrating. Why do you hide so much from me?”

“Well, that’s…”

“I’m kidding. Well, it wouldn’t be entirely true to say there’s no sincerity in that, but… let’s talk about that later. Anyway, regardless of all that, one thing I’ve figured out about you is… you love Commercial City Marzen itself.”

“…….”

“Right or wrong?”

“Right.”

Harang nodded firmly.

She was right.

Why was he trying so hard?

Why was he anxious, restless, spending each day in worry and fear… striving to reach the Sword Master realm as quickly as possible?

To protect Marzen.

To ensure the precious bonds in Marzen weren’t caught in unfortunate events because of him. Though it had only been two years, they had become so significant to Harang that they were practically everything.

…And that wasn’t the end.

By repeating her words, Sheratiya opened Harang’s closed mind wide.

“You’re not just unilaterally loving Marzen. As much as you love it, no, even more… Marzen loves you back.”

“…….”

“Shall we walk around the streets and feel it?”

With a bright smile, Sheratiya grabbed Harang’s hand and started walking. Despite their significant size and strength difference, it didn’t matter. Harang was dragged along like a cow led by a farmer, clearly seeing the many bonds in Marzen smiling at him.

“Hello! Congratulations again on winning the Swordsmanship Festival!”

“With Sir Harang here, I always feel secure. Much more reliable than those good-for-nothing guards!”

Marzen’s merchants expressed their gratitude to Harang.

It was far more generous than the feelings he’d given them.

“Wow! It’s Uncle Harang!”

“When I grow up, I want to be as strong as Uncle Harang!”

“Me too! Me too!”

Marzen’s children sent him warm affection as well.

That, too, was far more generous than what he’d given them.

It wasn’t just them.

The growing members of the Eddy Mercenary Corps.

The Portville Family, with whom past grudges had been shed, now friendly.

The guards patrolling Marzen’s corners and everyone else who made up the city.

They all genuinely loved and trusted Harang.

Realizing this, Harang understood that a far greater positive energy surrounded him than he’d ever imagined.

“Now do you get it?”

“……I think I do, a little.”

“Good, it looks like you do.”

Sheratiya nodded with a satisfied expression.

When standing alone, positive energy might seem infinitely weaker than negative energy.

But there was no need to stand alone.

Recalling the positive energy that grows when shared, Sheratiya gave Harang one final word of encouragement.

“If it’s ever not enough, just say so.”

“What?”

“Positive energy.”

“…….”

“I’ll do whatever I can to help you stay strong, so… ugh, never mind! You get what I mean, right? I’m always cheering for you!”

“…….”

“I-I’m leaving! Stay strong! Uh, keep at it!”

Suddenly blushing, Sheratiya hurriedly said goodbye and disappeared into the crowd.

Harang couldn’t stop her.

But her words remained large in his heart, asserting their presence.

“…….”

He understood.

He couldn’t not understand. The feelings Marzen’s bonds gave him weren’t as intense or stimulating as negative emotions, but they were soft, warm, and comforting, no matter how much he took in.

‘The emotions Lady Sheratiya gave me feel even more special somehow…’

He didn’t yet know exactly how they differed from others’ feelings.

That wasn’t the important part.

Well, he did think it might be a very important part of his life, but unfortunately, it took a backseat for now. Nodding, Harang quickly moved to the clearing behind the Eddy Mercenary Corps’ Hideout and drew his sword.

And then.

Wooooong—!

“……Ha, haha.”

So naturally.

As if it had always been so, he effortlessly drew out a red Color Sword.

Whoosh—!

From his mind.

From his chest.

From his heart, a flame flared up.

It wasn’t born from rage toward an enemy or self-loathing. Thus, it wasn’t explosive like a volcano, but warm and bright like a bonfire soothing a traveler in the cold winter wind.

Whooosh.

Harang swung his sword.

He kept swinging, again and again.

Each time the Color Sword cut through the air, the frost layered in his life began to melt. It was as cold as the eternal snow of the northern mountains, but it couldn’t withstand Harang’s red sword strikes.

Thus, the melted water.

Drip, drip…

No, tears.

For the first time in two years and four months since escaping the village, Harang could swing a sword purely for his own life.

He continued, slowly shedding tears, scattering warm Aura all around.

The startled Eddy Mercenary Corps members came out to watch him.

They marveled.

And sent him feelings as warm as his Aura.

At that moment,

the energy stored in Harang’s heart, the half that had never budged, melted with the mercenaries’ emotions and began to course through his entire body.

Wooooong—!

Thus, Harang encountered another tremendous opportunity.

“……He’s finally become a Sword Master.”

Gael, quietly watching, muttered.

Normally, he’d have poured out frustration at his rival’s rapid growth, but for some reason, he didn’t.

“…….”

With a complex expression, he watched Harang’s sword dance a bit longer before returning to Hagio’s orphanage, his new home.

***

News spread across the continent that Harang, not content with his tremendous achievements at the Seton Swordsmanship Festival, had reached the Sword Master realm shortly after.

Of course, people didn’t believe it.

“A Sword Master? In his early 20s? Does that make sense?”

“Exactly! Maybe he was waving a torch at night, and it got exaggerated.”

“If they said the Mercenary King became a Master, I’d buy it, but this is too much.”

“Who keeps spreading these ridiculous rumors that even a passing dog wouldn’t believe?”

If Harang were in his 40s, or even mid-30s, some might have believed the rumors. After all, the White Knight Commander, the Holy Kingdom’s strongest, had reached Master in his mid-30s with insane talent.

But early 20s… it was far too young to capture people’s hearts.

“Hey, these guys call it a lie without even seeing it?”

“Exactly! Is there a law saying you can’t be a Master in your 20s?”

“In front of our Boss Harang, they wouldn’t dare say a word!”

“Shouldn’t Boss Harang compete in the Swordsmanship Festival again?”

Naturally, the frustration of Marzen’s people was sky-high. Especially Daereon’s, who even planned to hire a skilled magician to record Harang’s swordsmanship with magic to proclaim his greatness across the continent. Of course, this attempt was quickly stopped by other mercenaries.

“This is so frustrating…”

“Enough! Why do you care so much when it’s not your business?”

“Aren’t you upset, Boss Eddy, being called a liar? Ugh! I wish Boss Harang would tour the continent and show his skills!”

“Stop it. He’s someone who’d rather spend that time training in swordsmanship.”

“But still…”

Frustrating as it was!

Daereon kept passionately preaching Harang’s greatness to visitors in Marzen. Of course, unless they saw Harang’s Color Sword with their own eyes, no one believed him.

But far from Marzen, there were those who genuinely believed in Harang’s achievement…

“Harang has obtained his first color.”

“……We should use Red Magician. You should prepare to move too.”

“Understood.”

The Village’s General Manager nodded with a stern face.

On his bowed neck, a black Sun Tattoo stood out vividly.

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