East Road Quest

Chapter 96: The Devil’s Weapon

Jade was lost in deep thought, walking along when she nearly stepped into a swamp once again. Fortunately, this time, Merald was not far away and quickly reached out to grab her.

‘At this point, even if Ruby teases me for doing it on purpose, I wouldn’t have a comeback.’

Just then, Sapph’s voice echoed across the swamp.

“Throw that sword away, now!”

Sapph stood firm as if staked to the ground, shouting like a child staging a protest, refusing to follow unless his demand was met.

“Why?”

Ruby was unfazed by Sapph’s demeanor.

“I almost died because of that sword. If you keep holding it, I’ll keep reliving that moment!”

At Sapph’s words, Ruby made the sword on his back transparent as if to show off.

“Happy now?”

“What’s the point? Just because it’s invisible doesn’t mean it’s gone.”

“This isn’t strictly the sword that almost killed you. I’ve already destroyed that one. This is a different sword. It may look similar in color, but the design is completely different…”

“You don’t even need a weapon in the first place. You’re strong enough with your bare hands.”

“Didn’t you just see? This sword can kill demons!”

Ruby said and then quickly looked around.

“Wait! This is after we killed those fish creatures, right?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Don’t change the subject!”

“It’s important for me to know the sequence of events right now.”

Ruby pointed back the way they had come and then at their current location, seeking confirmation.

“We just had a fight with the fish Komoras in the swamp, and since we can’t spend the night where the fish are rotting, we’re moving… right?”

Ruby looked at Jade, Sapph, and Merald in turn.

All three were dumbfounded by this odd question and stared back in silence.

“Is it right or not?”

Ruby pressed for an answer.

“Yes, it is. So what?”

Jade asked.

“Good. Then again.”

Ruby cleared his throat with satisfaction and said to Sapph.

“Being able to kill demons with this sword means ‘your beloved priest’ won’t have to jump into danger anymore!”

“That’s a completely different situation!”

Sapph exclaimed loudly.

Jade interjected.

“Sapph is right. It’s not right for an angel to use a devil’s weapon in any way.”

“It’s not about right or wrong.”

“Then what is it about?”

Ruby was about to answer immediately but stopped. Jade noticed right away.

‘He’s only just now thinking of a reply.’

Soon, Ruby pointed at Merald and said.

“You have to have a weapon to look cool.”

Merald’s back sported a bow as tall as Jade, and he was fully equipped with large and small swords, throwing knives, and hand axes strapped around his waist and shoulder belts.

The large orc looked professional with all sorts of weapons and indeed looked cool. If Merald threatened someone in that state, whether elf, human, or demon, they would all be intimidated.

In contrast, Ruby, to an outsider, looked like just a rebellious kid. Even if Ruby spoke threateningly, it wouldn’t be very intimidating.

In fact, recalling his limited experience, Jade remembered that Ruby was always ignored. But now, holding a sword bigger and heavier than himself, Ruby did indeed look threatening.

Ruby turned the finger he had pointed at Merald to point at himself.

“Get it?”

Jade was persuaded. But pretending not to be, he coughed and said.

“Being cool doesn’t make you strong.”

“Coolness makes you stronger.”

Ruby stated firmly.

“Huh? So having a weapon makes you cool, and being cool makes you stronger?” “You’ve got it exactly. Coolness makes you stronger.”

Jade shook his head.

“I don’t understand a word you’re saying. Anyway, if that’s the weapon Buffalord had, then it’s a devil’s weapon. It could corrupt you.”

Ruby scoffed.

“Do you think I, who shook Beyshepher with my bare hands, would be corrupted just by carrying a devil’s item? Don’t judge me by human standards, you weakling.”

Jade was at a loss for words, unsure how to argue logically anymore.

But Sapph didn’t give up trying to persuade.

“That’s not it, Ruby. I think you look cooler fighting with your bare hands. If looking cool makes you seem strong, then you’re already strong.”

“Stay out of this argument if you don’t know the first thing about fighting!”

With that, Sapph turned to Merald for support.

“It’s a law that comes to mind when you think about it.”

“Do not judge me by the standards of a human who has not even lived fifty years.”

Merald paused in his steps. Then, he called out to Ruby, who was already about ten paces ahead.

“Ruby, do you see it? It seems you’d handle this faster.”

“I was about to.”

The two exchanged words that Jade couldn’t understand.

Ruby threw a chain towards the puddle next to Jade. The chain, flying like an arrow, plunged into the swamp and came back out, entangled with a clump of swamp grass.

At first glance, it seemed like a failed fishing attempt, catching something entirely different. However, the grass resisted Ruby’s chain, refusing to be pulled from the puddle.

Had it been just grass, Jade could have easily plucked it, but this grass resisted Ruby’s strength, rooted in the soft mud.

At the end of the grass was something resembling an animal’s eyeball. It wasn’t just a round bead imitating an eyeball; it had veins on its surface and structures like a pupil and iris.

In that bizarre eye, Merald’s figure was reflected.

“Who are you?”

“You’re quick-witted. My name is Water Contrada.”

A sharp voice echoed from within the eyeball.

Jade, not wanting to show fear to the enemy, hid behind Merald’s back. Sapph also cautiously stood close by his side.

“Contrada? What’s with the name attached to it?

As far as I know, you’re just Water Con,” Merald asked.

“Great magicians have long names by law.”

The eyeball attached to the grass trembled with each word it spoke, quivering like a real eyeball.

Ruby slowly reeled in the chain, maintaining tension, and approached two steps in front of the grass.

“The Captain has been caught. What is this, a petty and childish trick in a flower garden? If you were nearby, you’d just appear and fight.”

“I’m not nearby. I’ve only sent an ‘eye’ here.”

“Cowardly bastard.”

“You’ve seen well. I am very cowardly. I never show my true form to my opponent. Thus, my opponents always meet their death without ever seeing me. You will too.”

Ruby, holding a knife hidden behind his back, revealed it in front of the eyeball.

“Didn’t your lackeys see this knife? You’re going to die too.”

“I didn’t see the Swamp Captain’s death with my own eyes, but I saw the corpse left behind. Impressive! How did you kill him? With a Buffalord’s knife? Using our weapons to kill us, what a good idea. I’m already terrified imagining that knife coming to slit my throat. I better run away.” The eyeball attached to the grass chuckled and then burst on its own. A milky fluid clung stickily to the end of the grass.

“Such an overconfident fellow.”

Ruby grabbed the dangling grass at the end of the chain with his bare hands. The grass, which hadn’t been pulled out by the chain, came out easily. The mud and water on the roots suggested it was ordinary grass.

Then, another splash came from behind.

Merald and Ruby quickly turned their gaze, but nothing was visible in the puddle where the sound came from.

Merald focused more on his hearing, but no particular sound was heard.

“Was there another one?”

Merald asked Ruby.

“It seems so. Didn’t see it, though.”

“Did Water Con use eyeball magic on both sides to confuse us?”

“Why bother doing that? If he wanted to observe us, one piece of grass would have been enough. Besides, we didn’t even glance at the backside. The second one must be someone else’s magic.”

Merald wore a slightly displeased expression but did not state the reason. Ruby felt the same.

The two stood still for a moment, hands on their hips.

Listening to their conversation, Jade felt as if someone was watching. However, there was no way to know who or from where.

‘I understand why they’re acting like that.’

Jade realized as he watched Ruby and Merald look at each other with disdain before moving on again.

‘It’s a matter of pride. Especially for Merald, who has always been in the position of watching from hiding, this must be the first time he’s been on the opposite end.’

Emerald hesitated for a moment, his expression one of contemplation. Jade had expected him to either persuade Ruby or, conversely, to convince Sapph. From a warrior’s perspective, a weapon capable of slaying demons was undoubtedly significant.

However, Emerald’s response was unexpected.

“Ruby is right,” he declared.

“What do you mean, ‘right’? In what way…?” Sapph couldn’t finish her sentence, and Emerald replied with definitive certainty.

“When one’s gear and attire are impressive, it certainly boosts one’s combat abilities. It’s an undeniable truth.”

Jade was dumbfounded, but with both masters of combat sharing the same opinion, she found herself unable to object.

Ruby laughed triumphantly. “You hear that? Only those who know a thing or two about fighting would agree with me. Weaklings like you should stay out of this conversation.”

Emerald, too, possessed a weapon of demonic origin. It was a dagger, strangely warped in shape due to coming into contact with the soul essence of Antebas, also known as Buffalord.

Jade had often wanted to suggest discarding or destroying that blade, but the mere thought of broaching the subject with Emerald’s stern demeanor was daunting.

It was in the Whispering Marsh that the true power of the weapon was revealed. It could incinerate completely, strike specific points visible only to Sapph, or slay demons that could only be killed by the light of annihilation.

“We should make more weapons like this! Didn’t you say this dagger was forged from Buffalord’s soul essence? Then let’s extract the soul essences of those fish-like Komoras en masse and affix them to your arrows, Emerald! How about it? Are you excited already? Jade, your concept of ‘shooting light magic’ could very well include this,” Ruby exclaimed, her excitement palpable.

“How can you come up with such ideas? It’s astonishing,” Jade remarked, her words slow and deliberate, attempting to calm Ruby’s fervor.

“Firstly, there are several issues with your idea. The capturing incantation is only written for demons with names; nameless lower demons cannot be turned into soul essences. In other words, we can’t mass-capture those fish-like Komoras we encountered earlier to create demonic weapons.”

“So, we can only make something like Buffalord. Great! Then the next one we encounter must be turned into a soul essence…”

“No, looking at you now, Ruby, I wouldn’t want to create it even if we had the chance.”

“What do you mean?”

“In your terms, I can see the spirit of pleasure rampaging in your mind.”

Ruby glared at Jade, crossing her arms.

Mud and murky water still clung to Ruby’s pale face. In the darkness illuminated only by moonlight, she looked as if she were covered in blood.

“You claim that as an angel, you’re immune to the corruption of demonic power. But in the stories I know, even the most sacred and mighty of angels fell from grace. And that angel became the most powerful demon.”

“Are you talking about Lucifer?” Sapph asked cautiously.

“Lucifer? I’ve never heard of such an angel. The one who claims to be the strongest and most holy among angels is Gabriel. Of course, I plan to become the strongest soon enough,” Ruby retorted, then started walking ahead, grumbling to herself.

“Damn, I thought I was doing you a favor by telling you, and now you’re all arguing and fussing.”

Ruby’s muttering strangely echoed through the marsh.

In truth, Jade couldn’t even fathom the idea of Ruby falling into corruption.

To Ruby, a demon’s blade was no more than a special tool, like a carpenter’s saw or a blacksmith’s hammer.

‘Ruby has wielded far superior weapons than Buffalord’s blade 500 years ago. Possessing such an item wouldn’t intoxicate her with power or expose her to demonic poison. Yet, somehow, I don’t want to let Ruby hold such a thing,’ Jade thought, finally voicing a concern she had long postponed.

“Emerald, I can’t condone your use of that blade either.”

Emerald resumed his journey.

Jade walked closely beside him.

“We still don’t understand how this blade is manifesting demonic power, or the principle behind it. The blade itself could be a reincarnation of Buffalord.”

“We can be certain of Buffalord’s death because all the Komoras in the Great Oak Forest died… You were the one who told me that,” Emerald pointed out.

“That was merely a guess. I still don’t know the exact nature of a demon’s death or dissolution! So we can’t be sure what threats or side effects that weapon might pose to you…”

“Jade, a weapon is just a weapon. And you don’t realize how much I’ve wanted such a weapon,” Emerald said firmly.

But Jade was not easily dissuaded.

“I acknowledge that it makes the fight easier. However, I cannot agree to use demonic power to fight demons, Emerald.”

“That’s not for you to agree or disagree with.”

“I’ve seen too many people kill each other over a few pieces of gold. Does the person killing for that gold consider themselves evil? No, they believe the gold rightfully belongs to them. It was unavoidable!”

“Don’t compare gold to the justice of the forest.”

“I’ve also seen those in the Red Desert who, in pursuit of great power, willingly embraced demons. They too believe they are doing the right thing. Think of the hymns the Komoras sing, worshipping Cauking as a god.”

Jade narrowed her eyes and warned.

“Emerald, if you use demonic power to drive out Cauking, Elforests might have to welcome a new demon named Emerald.”

“You sound like Sage. I have no intention of bending my will. You’re just a guest in Elforests, don’t act as if you know everything.”

“It’s the unknown that’s frightening. The greatest mistake is always thinking you know…”