Solo Swordmaster

#227. It is suicidal.

* * *

Hermann was a genius.

From an early age, he could make any sculpture with just a knife.

Fortunately, he met an outstanding teacher and his talent blossomed further, so he was already called one of the world’s leading sculptors at the age of 20.

From giant stone statues in temples to jewelry the size of fingernails, ice sculptures and metaphysical sculptures.

His talent was demonstrated in all fields related to sculpture, and when he reached his 30s, it was hard to find competitors anymore.

Still, he wasn’t complacent.

When he could move his hands, he sculpted, and when his hands were busy, he devised new sculptures.

Is it because of that hard work?

Even when the Iron Age opened and players with all kinds of artistic skills appeared, he was able to keep his position as a top-notch sculptor.

That is until something goes wrong with the body.

“The doctor said it was because I was overexerting myself.”

Hermann held up a tin cup.

Then, looking at the coffee that was still showing slight shaking in the cup, he continued talking quietly.

“Now I have to pay the price for not resting when I needed to rest since I was young and forcing my body to move even when it was difficult.”

diligence of effort.

it is obviously necessary

However, excessive effort is like a crowd, and great tenacity means enduring until the body is broken.

When I was young, it didn’t matter.

On the contrary, I believed that if I did not, my skills would not improve.

However, as he gradually grew older, the price of his efforts came not from improving his skills but also from various diseases and deterioration of his health.

very little, gently.

Nonetheless, consistently.

Problems such as sore bones, sluggish hand movements, and shortness of breath arose one by one.

And as his health deteriorated, so did his ability as a sculptor.

Thanks to his strong stamina and natural talent, he was able to work hard even while suffering from a disease for several years, but that was a story until three years ago.

After stubbornly working his body, which had already reached its limits, he found it difficult to even hold a coffee cup, so he had no choice but to let go of the piece.

“I am no longer a sculptor. It’s just something that’s already retired and enjoying the rest of its life.”

Herman sighed.

There is no regret for the efforts made when you were young.

Because of that effort, he was able to become the best sculptor.

However, if you realized that the human body is a consumable after all, and excessive effort is an act of cutting the expiration date of that consumable.

What if I had a little more time to spare instead of impatiently trying to be the best?

I couldn’t help but feel that way sometimes.

“…So you said you were looking for the wrong person?”

“exactly.”

It was for a while that I was locked in remorse.

After hearing Limon’s question, Hermann came to his senses and shook his head.

Then he said to Limon, who was sitting across from him with his arms crossed.

“I’m sorry for making you fool around.”

“You have no reason to apologize.”

“If I had made it clear why I was retiring, this wouldn’t have happened.”

He said that it was a mistake to stay silent without telling him about his illness because he didn’t want to let people know that he was retired.

Hermann, who had spoken quietly, added one more word.

“It’s not meant to be an apology, but I’ll introduce you to a skilled sculptor instead.”

“No need.”

A white-haired girl sipping warm cocoa in the seat next to Limon.

Embarrassed by Ainsha’s blunt answer, Herman soon realized something.

“…I apologize if I have offended you, Chairman Ainsha. Come to think of it, it was too rude to say it in front of you.”

Herman smiled bitterly.

Although she looks like a little girl, she is the owner of Tiamat.

From music to pictures, movies, books and plays. He was the chairman of a large company that had absolute influence on almost all businesses related to culture and art.

In the field of culture and art, where it is difficult to predict the outcome, the words of the White Dragon Clan, who read the future, were like an oracle.

I said I would introduce you to another artist in front of Ainsha.

It was like bragging about his sword skills in front of the sword master.

However, contrary to Hermann’s thoughts, Ainsha did not reject his offer because her pride was hurt.

“It doesn’t mean that. Literally no need.”

“…what do you mean by that?”

“Mingyan Zhang Senaf. I’ve already met them all. But all were not enough.”

Hermann was a little surprised.

Those mentioned by Ainsha are top-notch sculptors.

Even when he was active, they represented the arts of each country and were rather famous than him in certain fields.

“What pieces are you trying to entrust, so that even they are not enough?”

“Hmm… It’s complicated to explain in detail.”

Take a moment to scratch your cheeks.

Limon put his hand in his bosom.

Then, he took out a glass case containing a deep gold carving knife and put it on the table.

“Let’s try this once.”

“…As I already said, I’m not in a body that can sculpt.”

“doesn’t care. Once you hold it, you’ll know what to do.”

Giving a carving knife to a sculptor who can’t carve.

For a while, I put on a suspicious expression.

After seeing Ainsha nodded expressionlessly, Herman reluctantly reached out, convinced that this was not meant to make fun of him.

And the moment I opened the glass case with trembling hands and picked up the carving knife inside.

Wei Ying.

“…!”

Herman’s eyes widened.

This is because the dark gold carving knife was suddenly disassembled like a puzzle, reassembled, and transformed into a size that fit his hand.

It is also the most familiar form he used in his heyday.

“As expected, there are minimum qualifications.”

“Of course. He is the world’s best sculptor. If it wasn’t this much, I wouldn’t even come.”

Unlike Herman, who was flustered, Limon and Ainsha reacted calmly.

It seemed like a familiar sight.

He calmed down his embarrassment thanks to the two people having a casual conversation.

“What is this?”

“I’ll explain later, so do as I’m told.”

“What do you mean…?”

Hermann could not finish the question.

This is because the golden glow that flowed from the tip of the carving knife gathered in the air and created two masses of light.

On one side is a square cuboid.

A round ball on one side.

At the same time, what floated beneath it was a letter made of light with an arrow pointing from a rectangular parallelepiped to a ball.

= >

Τέλεια μπάλα

(perfect ball).

‘…the perfect ball? Shall I cut this cuboid the same as the ball next to it?’

Herman, who had been working as a sculptor for many years and could make out the Greek written in a slightly archaic style, blinked.

After hesitating for a moment, he stabbed the cuboid floating in the air with a carving knife.

hard.

Hermann was taken aback.

This is because the translucent cuboid mass made of light was cut by a knife with a vivid sensation as if it were a real object.

Even without putting any burden or repulsive feeling on your own hands.

It was an experience he hadn’t felt in a long time since he had to feel quite a bit of pain and trembling just by holding a cup.

So it was.

It was the fact that Hermann began to cut the light mass as if possessed.

The fact that he could redo a piece he hadn’t touched for the past few years made him move his hands unconsciously.

clunk hard.

The cuboid is cut away.

little by little.

But precisely and elaborately.

As the sweat dripped down, the cuboid gradually turned round.

However, the mass of light did not disappear even after it was completely rounded. As if it was still lacking, I only urged his hand, emitting a golden light.

In order to meet the ‘perfection’ required by the light, Hermann gritted his teeth and moved the carving knife again.

Quick!

“ah…!”

Hermann lamented.

The moment the hand shook and the carving knife that was cutting the light slipped very finely.

It was because the mass of light shattered and disappeared as if it had never existed in the first place.

Experience as a sculptor at the pinnacle of talent called genius, plus a mysterious carving knife that automatically transforms into an appropriate shape and reduces the burden.

Even after mobilizing all of them, he was not able to completely overcome the disease in the end.

It was the sound of applause that he heard right after that awakened his mind after staring in vain.

clap clap clap

“Excellent.”

“…Are you kidding me?”

“No, I mean it seriously.”

Limon shook his head.

Then he pointed to Herman’s hand, which was still slightly shaking, and continued.

“Honestly, I didn’t know if I could make it that far with my hands.”

“I agree. Awesome. If I had done a little more, I would have passed the first stage.”

Limon with a serious face and Ainsha talking expressionlessly.

Realizing that they were sincerely admiring them only after looking at them gently, Hermann straightened his frown.

And asked quietly.

“Chairman Ainsha, was this what you wanted to ask of me?”

“That’s right.”

“At this level, even Senaf and Ming could have done it.”

“In fact, we did the first step. But step 2 failed. And he said only you could do it.”

“…So how many levels are there?”

“Step 3.”

“…”

Herman swallowed a groan.

From the outside, it’s a simple piece that just cuts the light of a cube into a sphere.

But he knew.

What Light wanted just now was a ‘perfect ball’.

That it was a ‘perfect’ piece that did not allow errors of even a hundredth of a millimeter, let alone a millimeter.

Even this alone requires a level of terrifying precision that can engrave Buddhist scriptures on grains of rice.

What if there are 2nd and 3rd stages after that?

It was also understandable that other top-notch sculptors raised a white flag and declared impossible.

“Even for me, this is impossible.”

That was why Hermann had no choice but to shake his head.

It was difficult even to pass the first stage with his hands, which were already difficult to sculpt.

“You’d better go see Cassen. As a player, she will be able to easily pull off transcendent sculptures that challenge the human limits.”

“It’s not possible.”

“Have you met her already?”

“no. But no players.”

When Herman frowned again at Ainsha’s blunt answer.

Limon suddenly asked.

“Hey, sculptor man. When did you just say that it was impossible?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m asking if it’s impossible even if it was your home in the prime of your life before you got sick like now.”

Hermann was silent for a moment at the surprise question.

In fact, if he was in his prime, he wouldn’t have given up without trying like this no matter what the second stage was.

No, I would rather have said it.

If it is an impossible piece for you, no one else will be able to do it.

“…It’s already meaningless.”

“What if it doesn’t make any sense?”

“What do you mean?”

“Could you do it if we treat your illness?”

the moment I heard that.

Hermann involuntarily hardened his face.

And after looking at Limon with fearful eyes, he said firmly.

“Don’t fool me with useless nonsense.”

“Don’t be so presumptuous already. Aren’t you certain that there is no cure for your disease?”

“No, I’m sure.”

Herman cut it off.

And he revealed the reason why his illness could never be cured and why he had to give up everything and retire three years ago.

“Because even the Holy Lord could not cure my disease.”

As he was a world-class sculptor, the money Hermann had accumulated was not small.

And as a result of generously using the property to treat the disease, he was able to enjoy the privilege of receiving the treatment of the divine lord.

Not only was it difficult to even move at one time, but it was also why he, who was almost in the midst of life and death, became this healthy.

But in the end that’s all.

Even the divine lord, who is at the pinnacle of healing skills, could not completely cure Hermann’s disease.

However, Limon was not disappointed when he heard Hermann’s self-deprecating words about who could cure him.

I just quietly opened my mouth.

“Well, I can’t assume that someone else can’t cure a disease that the Holy Lord can’t cure.”

“Stop talking nonsense. Who the hell can cure a disease that even the holy lord couldn’t cure?”

Hermann was dumbfounded.

To him, who had personally experienced how great the divine lord’s skills were, Limon’s words sounded like nothing more than bluffing.

But next moment.

He couldn’t help but be embarrassed in a different way.

“…no way.”

“Chairman Ainsha?”

“It’s too dangerous. It’s suicidal. I’d rather have one shot of poison.”

“…?”

Looking at Ainsha, who actively opposed Limon’s words with an expressionless face, Herman was puzzled.

I would have understood if I had said ‘absurd’, but I couldn’t figure out why they called that opinion ‘dangerous’.

Isn’t it like knowing someone who can really cure your illness?

“There is no other way.”

Limon shrugged his shoulders while receiving the gazes of Herman, who was puzzled, and Ainsha, who shook his head.

The divine lord is definitely the best healer in the world.

It’s to the point where I can make a joke saying that anyone can be revived as long as they’re not dead.

But she is a healer after all.

He is not a doctor with specialized medical knowledge, even though he can make even severed limbs sprout and cause cripples.

So it was.

That’s why Limon had no choice but to suggest a solution with a very disapproving face.

“I don’t know if it’s trauma treatment, but you, the Seven Dragons, are the world’s best experts in medicine and medicine to treat illness.”