Free Web Novel“You’re the newly appointed Swordmaster of the Holy Sword, aren’t you?” The young man in a white priest’s tall hat asked with a mild smile.
“If you say so, then I am,” Vieya replied softly, her fair face like snow. “I came here mainly to visit your city’s All-Seeing Eye. Could you grant me permission to see it?”
The young man turned to the halberd-bearing knight behind him, whispered a few words, then faced her again. “Please wait a moment. I’ve sent someone to ask the spirit of the sacred artifact. If it agrees, you may enter.”
Vieya nodded. “All right.” fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
The halberd knight quickly vanished from sight, heading toward the sealed chamber where the All-Seeing Eye was kept, no doubt to inquire about the artifact spirit’s consent.
The young man turned his gaze back to Vieya—the fourth Swordmaster of the Holy Sword in history, and clearly not weaker than himself, an eighth-rank priest.
Most striking of all, he could vaguely sense her bone age—very young... seemingly underage. Yet her physical development was perfectly mature. Perhaps it was a trait of her monster-girl race?
Still, an eighth rank at that age—no matter the race, continent, or even the talent-packed Royal Capital Rodel—was something utterly astonishing.
Across the Four Great Realms, in Rodel—the City of Heaven—among the younger generation of all known races, this Swordmaster stood out as an undisputed prodigy. Wherever she went, her future would be limitless.
Unfortunately... she was a monster girl of uncertain race.
The young man asked with another courteous smile, “Might I ask, Swordmaster, besides meeting the artifact spirit, do you have any other purposes for visiting our mountain city, Talin?”
What, do I have to report it every time I secretly check on my daughter?
Vieya placed a hand on her hip and smiled in return. “And if I have no other purpose? What then? And if I do have one, what will you do?”
The young man answered frankly, “If you’re merely sightseeing, apart from some restricted zones, all of Talin welcomes your presence. I would even be honored to accompany you.
However—” his tone shifted, “if you intend to take advantage of the human world’s current turmoil to pursue other ambitions, then I’ll stand right here and personally test whether your Holy Sword truly is as the rumors say—able to split heaven and earth, and cut through time itself.”
Vieya lowered her hand, sighing helplessly. “Then rest easy. I came only to visit an old friend, and to look after a certain child participating in the Academy’s trials. Nothing more. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“...Then it seems I was overcautious.” The young man bowed slightly. “If you encounter any difficulties in our city, you may come to me.”
Even though he always kept the phrase ‘Those who are not of my kind must have a different heart’ in mind, this white-haired Swordmaster didn’t seem like a deceitful, treacherous monster. Perhaps the Holy Sword’s judgment was right—she might indeed be worth expecting something from.
“Ah, any kind of difficulty?” Vieya asked with mild curiosity.
The young man nodded. “In Talin, I have a little authority. And now, Swordmaster... the artifact spirit has given its green light. That means it consents to meet you.”
“Uh... but the spirit said it won’t allow us to accompany you. Only you may enter,” the man added awkwardly.
“That’s fine, I’ll go alone.” Vieya turned toward her nervous cat-eared maid. “But my maid’s a bit shy. Could you find a quiet room for her to calm down in?”
“My oversight,” the young man replied, smiling as the tension faded from his face. “This way, Miss Catfolk. We have a guest parlor prepared for visitors. If you need tea, refreshments, or water, just tell the attendant knights.”
Watching her white-haired mistress leave her behind, Helcat grew even more anxious. freewёbnoνel.com
This man was strong—terrifyingly so. He gave off no hostility, appeared gentle and mild, yet her instincts screamed danger.
“Uu-meow...”
Placed in a spacious, bright parlor, Helcat sat obediently on the sofa, restless, silently wishing her mistress would finish quickly and take her away.
Meanwhile—
Vieya had visited this Tribunal long ago. In fact, she had met that same young man a few times before.
Back in her Hero days, apart from her human lifespan limit, she had been the strongest combat force on this continent—invincible in single combat, unmatched and solitary.
But truthfully, some humans had been far more dangerous than any Demon King.
The Holy Sword held no special advantage against humans.
“I really am just a Demon-King slayer,” Vieya murmured to herself, following the glowing green arrows appearing along the corridor walls toward Xiao Lü’s location.
It had been over three years since they last met.
Not that she hadn’t had time—she had simply forgotten that a friend was still waiting for her to come play.
Even with the Tribunal’s heavy defenses, she moved as if walking through her own home. Each door opened before she reached it, and closed softly once she passed through.
After crossing a room stacked with countless thousand-faced cubes, Vieya finally arrived before ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) Xiao Lü’s core.
A radiant emerald floated suspended within a cylindrical glass chamber several meters wide—its top unseen, its bottom endless.
“Long time no see, Xiao Lü.” Vieya stood before the emerald. Pale light shimmered through the glass, illuminating her eyes, where a faint gleam stirred—a reflection of the gem’s quivering pulse.
After a long silence—
A familiar voice echoed through the empty chamber, resonating from all directions.
“Yeye-sis, welcome back.”
......
Inside the dungeon.
Jasmine was leading her two teammates, hunting monsters for points. For her first real combat against monsters, she had cautiously chosen the weakest of all—slimes.
Slimes: creatures so lowly that even goblins used them as food—mindless, driven only by instinct.
“Waaah! Jasmine, this slime won’t die even when I slice it!” Maisy stabbed wildly at the gelatinous mass while shouting for help toward her idol, the genius mage Jasmine.
“You idiot! Enchant your sword! Blue slimes can be taken down with fire or ice magic!”
“Waaah, Jasmine!”
Boom!
The blue slime suddenly exploded, splattering sticky goo all over Maisy.
Meanwhile, the third member of their trio—a pink-haired girl—calmly withdrew her wand and scoffed. “If you waste this much effort on a monster this low-level, you’d better give up being a mage and go home to farm.”
The pink-haired girl’s mouth was sharp as knives. She glared at Maisy. “A mere human deadweight like you, assigned to my party? What a joke!”
Maisy didn’t dare talk back. She just scratched her head with an awkward laugh and retreated to the corner to clean her sticky clothes.
“We’re all on the same team,” Jasmine said, trying to mediate while swiftly cutting down a few remaining slimes. Yet she had no idea how to smooth things over, so she could only add awkwardly, “Let’s... not fight, okay?”
The pink-haired girl rolled her eyes, waved a small hand, and smacked her lips impatiently.
“Our team’s point ranking hasn’t even cracked the top twenty... all because of her! I can’t believe that walking piece of baggage was even rated a beginner mage. She should just be thrown into a slime pit and left to rot!”
