Terminally-Ill Genius Dark Knight

Chapter 152 : [Side Story] The Weakest Sword Emperor

There is an existence who is known as the Weakest Sword Emperor on the continent of Inner Lunatic.

Luna.

At the age of 20, she is exceptional existence who become one of seven stars that illuminate the continent, three Sword Emperors, and four Sages. That was exactly Luna’s identity, the leader of a criminal organization. However, there are always those who envy her. Due to that, despite her reaching unimaginable heights, people who don’t know her well dismissively call her like this

The Weakest Sword Emperor.

A title that makes her look weak.

An evaluation that doesn’t fit someone like Luna, who at the mere age of 20, has already reached a level that connects with the celestial beings.

However, this isn’t because she is weak or lacking in any way. While the title may mean nothing to an absolute powerhouse, Luna is still only 20. No other Sword Emperor reached her level at such a young age.

If the Sword Emperors and Sages of the past were brought to compete against her? The outcome would be clear.

No matter how much times have changed, the pursuit of strength and its fundamentals have not changed. Luna was an absolute powerhouse. No matter what anyone says, she is not prey, she is a predator.

…But.

The world is pulsating. The era is gradually changing, and new powerhouses are constantly emerging. For example, a boy who currently fills Luna’s thoughts Nox von Reinhaver.

“He’s a genius”

Luna’s evaluation of Nox.

Marin and Duff sat on their knees on the ground, flanking her on either side. Though they hadn’t been able to assist Nox with his request this time due to different missions, they had heard everything that happened.

Marin couldn’t help but smirk as she replied.

“As you know, Captain, that’s just how he is. He’s a bit unruly and always a bit loose in discipline. Of course, despite that, he even succeeds in audacious plan. He’s a quite talented individual.”

Of course Marin said that with genuine sincerity. The earlier part was more of a joke. Her relaxed expression was more or less proof of that.

Duff, with his massive build, added slowly.

“His talent was… clear from the….first time we met. I think…it’s necessary to give him…. a new rank to recognize his efforts…”

“What?! Uncle Duff! But isn’t that a bit early? It took me quite a while to become a second-rank member… If newcomer becomes a second-rank already, my dignity as a senior is..”

It seemed Marin wanted to enjoy her time as a senior a bit longer. Duff just scratched his head, cannot say anything, just thinking he might have made a mistake.

After troubled for a moment, Luna said,

“He broke a barrier that even I couldn’t guarantee I could easily destroy it.”

Grand Duke Jagan’s water prison. Nox von Reinhaver had broken out of it effortlessly.

“And… there’s one more thing I need to tell you both.”

“…Yes?”

Marin blinked in surprise. Duff remained calm, as that was his usual demeanor. Looking at them, Luna then made a shocking revelation in a calm voice.

“I’ve decided to take him.”

“…..?”

“…..”

Even though Luna stumbled over her words slightly. she believed she had conveyed her intention clearly. However, the silence that followed made her rethink her statement, and she realized she had misspoken.

Marin stammered as she spoke.

“That, that’s….huh? Its true that newcomer is quite handsome…? but…what exactly are you saying…?”

“Congra..tulations…”

Duff, to make things worse, bowed his head and offered his congratulations. Finally snapping back to her senses, Luna said.

“No, no! I misspoke! That’s not what I mean, just… I’ve decided to take him as my only disciple!”

Luna was rarely flustered. Marin, naturally, wasn’t convinced.

“There’s no need to deny it, I understand completely. Taking him away from the princess could also be a great revenge for Lunatic…”

“Enough!”

Only when Luna vehemently denied it did Marin finally realize she was telling the truth. At first, when Luna said ‘take him,’ Marin thought Luna had fallen for Nox, or captivated by him after an embrace or something. But it’s fortunate that’s not the case.

Marin scratched her head and laughed awkwardly.

“Hehe, I was worried that Captain Luna might have gotten swept up in her emotions after being hugged by that guy. It’s because captain is quite conservative when it comes to romance…”

For a very brief moment. A deep silence fell over the headquarters of Lunatic.

“Captain… already….”

Duff was the first to break the silence, and Marin spoke with a look of “there’s no way”.

“No way… right?”

After a moment of hesitation, Luna confidently nodded.

“Of course. After all, I was the one who hugged him!”

But what Luna said next was enough to leave the Lunatic members completely baffled.

What?

The captain, of all people, hugged the new recruit, Nox von Reinhaver? Did he really receive such a blessing?

Marin was inwardly shocked.

‘What in the world happened…?’

Luna quickly interrupted her thoughts.

“Well, there were some… circumstances.”

“People in love… always…say things like that…”

Duff added. you can feel right away that he’s not a tactful person. But Marin is in a situation where she can’t even distinguish such a simple logic. Her dopamine levels were through the roof. She’s very excited, and her eyes were practically sparking over an entertaining story

“Ahem… Anyway,”

Luna skillfully redirected the conversation. It was too long to explain everything, and she felt she would be cornered the more she talked.

“Just remember that I’ve accepted that brazen newcomer as my disciple.”

“Um, Captain… How did that even happen?”

“Well…”

Luna gave them a brief summary of what had happened in Avilat.

The fight with Jagan. How Nox had copied her swordsmanship to break the water prison, everything. Both Duff and Marin can’t help but be genuinely surprised as they listened.

‘The sword that Captain wields is the [Moonlight Sword], which requires mastery over the element of [Moonlight]. I knew the newcomer had talent, but to this extent?’

Marin couldn’t believe it. Wasn’t Nox’s at most only an intermediate, or upper-intermediate level of Black sword ? At least until when they fought Paimon in the past, he was at that level. So how had he been able to grasp even a fragment of Luna’s sword, which had reached the highest level? Is that even reasonable? It’s difficult to understand

“It’s all true. That’s why I decided to teach him the sword. It’s too early for me to be taking on a disciple, but in this place, you never know when you might die,”

Luna calmly said.

She was also remembering the back of a disciple who had once pushed her in the past, someone who’s weak, but had a broad back.

——————————————–

There was once a girl with unparalleled talent, hailed as a genius of the sword. She was a noble child, abandoned at a very young age, but her talent transcended social class and reached beyond the heavens. People called her like this

The Sword Demon.

The blonde girl, from the age of seven when she first picked up a sword, could wield a wooden sword with ease. She naturally infused mana into the blade and drew it out as well. It was a talent from the heavens.

It was only natural that someone with her talent would attract an exceptional teacher. However, such stories aren’t easily come out. Only found in old, outdated fairy tale books.

A hero who pulls out a holy sword like a miracle, grows stronger, and then defeats a demon. The stories of saving people magnificently. They aren’t more than fabricated stories to give people hope. No one believed such things.

It was like Santa’s story that children used to believe when Nox was still Yoochan. The idea that Santa would leave a gift while the child slept, with actually the parents carefully placing the gift without waking the child.

As one grows older, these fade like smoke, leaving behind only memories.

Heroes, in general were like that. Are often exaggerated and overly praised.

The young girl grew up with these thoughts as she wielded her sword, and the world was too harsh and chaotic to change her mind.

She joined the knight order from a small village. For her, taking the lives of enemies was nothing as long as she could receive even a dirt-stained piece of bread in return. After living like a wolf, and like a starving beast.

A woman came to her. By then, she was twelve years old and had no opponents left to face in the knight order. The woman revealed that the knight order was actually a group of bandits who had fled in the past and that she was there to bring them to justice. The order was wiped out in an instant, and the girl found herself utterly repulsed by the dirt-stained bread.

The girl spoke,

Please take me with you.

The woman looked at the small girl, who couldn’t fully hide her pale complexion, and smiled softly. Genius talent. She saw the girl’s strong desire for the sword, similar to her own, gushing through the faint smile.

Therefore, she accepted.

And said

The name of sword I will teach you girl is [Moonlight Sword]. This is my everything, and is it only passed down for a single disciple.

The young girl could not grasp the value of that sword, but she knew one thing for sure. She was captivated by her sword.

The woman said

I will erase your name and status. From now on, you’re Luna. It means ‘Moon’. There is no more suitable name to learn my sword

The girl nodded. And so, the girl learned all the sword the woman demonstrated. A splendid achievement for just twenty years old. However, what awaited in the end was disaster.

The small hope the girl had held in the past. The joy she felt while learning the sword became a little moth and crushed.

When she witnessed her master being brutally defeated by a demon right in front of her eyes. Luna couldn’t help but think

Is this truly the end of this filthy world?

‘It seems I’ve been lost in thought for too long’

Luna realized that she had dozed off for a moment, while talking about Nox, she had fallen asleep without noticing it. She gazed at the pure white moon that had risen and thought.

Glimmering Nox’s swordsmanship.

A figure of him who had worked hard to emulate her technique even though it was still not perfect. and a figure of him who tried to save her, who’s stronger than himself.

Everything was clear.

Luna thought to herself, My master’s name is now forgotten.

But my name remains on this continent, and people praise me as the Sword Emperor.

Soon, the boy will also become a man.

Just as herself

‘I only hope he does not fall into despair.’

Luna whispered a small prayer. Hoping her disciple would not follow the same path she did.