Swordsman's Resolve

Rian asked with a bewildered expression, and Tess's gaze turned more serious than ever before.

"Rian, have you ever killed a person?"

The air grew still.

Shirone and Amy remained silent as they understood the gravity of Tess's words, while Rian blinked slowly.

"Killing someone..."

He had always known that such a moment would come, but he had never delved too deeply into it.

Or rather, was it something that even needed to be thought about?

A sword was a tool meant to cut down others. If one had entered this path prepared to wield it for a lifetime, then whether consciously or unconsciously, they would have already come to terms with the consequences.

"No, I haven't. What about you?"

"A few times. When I went with my father to exterminate bandits."

"I see. But why do you ask?"

Rian still didn't understand. Tess, whose memories of that time remained vivid, thought to himself.

"I know what you're thinking. If you've decided to become a swordsman, then it's an unavoidable fate. But Rian, reality is different. Until that moment actually arrives, you can never truly know. Only a swordsman can feel the weight of life through their blade."

Though a sword was a weapon made of cold steel, Tess had once felt the heat of life radiating from his blade, hotter than molten lava.

"That's why I need to know—your resolve. The enemies we face aren't some street thugs. They are the Parrot Mercenaries, war-hardened professionals who have fought countless battles across foreign lands. If you hesitate, even for a moment, Rian, you'll be the one who dies."

In truth, if Tess hadn't intervened during the recent battle, Rian would have been in grave danger.

"Hmm."

It was a statement that could have been offensive, depending on one's perspective, but Rian merely fell into contemplation.

'Wavering in battle...'

Of course, cutting down a person wouldn't be a pleasant experience.

But at the same time... he realized he didn't care.

"Tess, killing is a dangerous and complex matter. I understand what you're trying to say, but you don't have to worry. I will never waver."

"Idiot, I'm telling you it's not that simple! Taking a life is—!"

"I have always killed."

Tess fell silent.

Rian raised his greatsword vertically, gazing at his own reflection on the blade as he continued.

"And... I have died countless times."

Not once had he forgotten the sight of himself wielding a sword on the battlefield.

"Even when I was told I had no talent, even when I was told to give up the sword, even when I truly wanted to quit—I kept swinging my sword. I have slain countless enemies, and I have been slain by countless foes."

Rian's sword slowly leveled forward.

Had he been a mere statue, the weight of his weapon would have tipped him forward, but he remained rooted in place, as if his legs had sunk deep into the earth.

"Tess, I have never once held my sword with half-hearted resolve. Whether an enemy stands before me or not, I have always swung my blade with all my might. So whether I kill someone or not—that doesn't matter. I will simply cut down anything that stands in my way."

With a smile, as if the conversation had never happened, Rian sheathed his greatsword on his back.

"There's no need to worry. Before I am a swordsman, I am Shirone's sword. And a sword... doesn't think, does it?"

This was precisely why Tess had chosen Rian over the countless other skilled swordsmen in the academy.

'Yes, Rian. You are a true sword.'

Not a crude imitation, but a finely honed blade, sharpened to perfection.

Tess also grinned.

"Alright! No more worrying! Let's get started!"

Hearing Rian's resolve, the fire in Shirone and Amy's eyes burned brighter than ever before.

"Amy, we'll go first."

As Shirone took Rian and activated teleportation, Amy and Tess swiftly followed.

With a fifty-meter gap between them, two streaks of light flashed through the dense forest terrain, weaving and cutting through the obstacles like reflections in a mirror.

Amy's crimson eyes glowed as she scanned ahead.

'Found it.'

A magic circle was still composed of magical energy, making it vividly perceptible through Spirit Zone's synesthetic senses.

If it had been embedded with a stealth circuit as well, detecting it would have been extremely difficult, but such an expensive setup was rarely used outside of military strongholds.

Even the cost of setting up an intermediate-tier magic circle paled in comparison to the price of a stealth circuit, making it an impractical investment.

"This way."

As Amy pointed ahead, Rian slashed through the thick underbrush with his greatsword, revealing a circular clearing with an intricate magic circle inscribed upon it.

"Whoa..."

Seeing a magic circle for the first time, Shirone was awed by its sheer scale, far beyond what he had imagined.

Amy examined it carefully.

"It's definitely an intermediate-level magic circle. Must have been a nightmare to create."

A circular boundary over five meters in diameter radiated a faint glow in response to Spirit Zone.

The inner section was inscribed with countless intricate patterns, resembling the gears of a clock, and at the center lay an artistic design so beautifully crafted it could be considered a masterpiece.

"Give me a moment to analyze it."

Having learned a fair amount in her senior year, Amy scrutinized the magic circle.

"Hmm..."

Three key aspects were crucial when evaluating a magic circle: the intensity of its magical glow, the density of its functions, and the connectivity of its circuits.

From what Amy could tell, while the glow and density were somewhat lacking, its connectivity was outstanding.

This suggested that a certified professional had likely constructed it.

"Damn it. This is going to be annoying. Looks like it was done by an officially licensed contractor. I expected them to use an underground illegal group, given the dirty money involved."

"Is that a problem?"

"It is. Because official contractors follow standard procedures, their designs have excellent circuit stability. Unless we completely demolish it beyond repair, it will keep functioning. Are you still confident about taking it down in under ten minutes?"

Shirone considered for a moment before nodding.

"We have to try. The real issue isn't the time limit—it's whether we succeed."

"What? Now you're saying that?! You were the one who said you could do it!"

"I am confident. And if I succeed..."

"If you succeed?"

Shirone gave the figures he had just calculated.

"We might not need ten minutes. We might destroy it in one."