Overpowered Sword Chapter 133

Level up with swords (133)

It wasn’t something that was improvised.

Originally, it was an organization to support Ryan, who became a hero, but when the plan went drastically wrong, the Vultures changed their direction to an all-out armed group.

Eagles eating corpses.

As its name suggests, it seeks out talented people regardless of their origins and recruits them like catching prey to increase its power.

Even though they fled to another country, they were royal family members.

They took control of slush funds or bases buried overseas, raised funds, and reached out to those who had been treated poorly for irrational reasons. A knight who was born with a gift but failed to demonstrate his talent, or a distant descendant of a noble family who was falsely accused and fell.

This was the result of desperately shaking the few remaining threads of the intelligence organization and generously proposing unconventional conditions.

Besides them, there were many other people who came to ‘Vultures’.

A warmonger who follows the scent of blood like an animal.

Adventurers and mercenaries who aim to rise in status.

The nobles and knights who barely survived after being purged by Emperor Guang, who were scattered, gathered together after seeing only Lian.

‘If you gather up the remnants of the army, you’ll be surprised.’

Leaning heavily against the back of his chair, Lian calculated the amount of power he had gathered.

In terms of number of people, it is still not even enough to reach 1,000 people, but since they were selected solely based on ability and talent, it was clear that they were at that level. About 20% of the capital defense force would be able to handle it.

Even so, if several units of knights or wizards show up, they won’t be able to hold out for a moment and will be destroyed.

‘It’s not enough.’

From the beginning, an all-out war was not even envisaged.

A mere guerrilla force fights against the might that the greatest empire in the North has built up over several centuries?

It was a ridiculous story.

Even if we had 10 or 20 times the power we have now, we would have no chance of winning.

It would have been foolish to compare its power with an empire that occupied nearly 30% of the continent, as it would have been equipped with a large number of asymmetrical forces such as sword masters and archmages.

‘I don’t even know why the emperor is acting the way he is.’

As Lian, who had studied kingship, the current emperor’s ruling method was incomprehensible from beginning to end.

The same goes for openly looking down on border nobles.

The same goes for leaving the rioters who are clearly going to be rebels alone.

If the emperor were just stupid, that would also be a good thing, but that was not possible at all. A person who was born as the illegitimate son of the previous emperor, abandoned in the middle of a remote palace, and succeeded in usurping the throne with nothing could be so foolish.

“Whoa.”

No matter how much he thought about it, nothing came to mind, so Rian let out a long sigh and closed his stinging eyelids.

It’s always been like that since I left the academy.

Neither body nor mind can enjoy a single moment of rest.

No, maybe it was even before that.

From the moment I realized that I could not be a hero.

‘… ‘He is a hero.’

If I closed my eyes, I could still remember it vividly.

Saint Ellahan.

The silver-haired, golden-eyed girl looked at him coldly and asked.

―If you had to choose between two positions, the emperor of the Clyde Empire and the warrior, which would you choose?

Ryan couldn’t answer that question.

―What if Clyde is the source of evil threatening this world?

―Can you not make any difference between imperial citizens and other people?

―What if there are more things to prioritize than regaining the throne?

I couldn’t think of anything to say to any questions, so I couldn’t even look at the saint, so I just closed my eyes.

But Ellahan was not disappointed with his attitude.

Since I had no expectations, there was no disappointment.

―It would certainly be a good thing to regain the imperial throne lost from a tyrant and to achieve peace in the empire afterwards.

However, the words of Ellahan, who turned away, were still clear.

-That’s not something a warrior should do.

These were words that fundamentally shook the life of Lian, who had been expected to be a warrior since childhood.

Was that why?

On the day of his coming-of-age ceremony, which he had been eagerly waiting for for several years, the holy sword did not come to his hand. No, it wasn’t enough that he didn’t come, he sought the hand of the man who had broken him and left him.

‘Brother Leon.’

It was a name I could not forget.

Life at the academy had little meaning other than seclusion, and Rian met two people there.

Leon and Chloe.

People of the same age that I couldn’t meet when I lived as a member of the royal family.

―Lean Do you also spell it ‘LEON’? It’s just like Leon!

There is also a girl who approaches me with a selfless smile.

―This time, I will definitely not lose… !

A boy who doesn’t give up even after being defeated hundreds of times.

One stayed by her side as a lover and vassal, but the other left her after inflicting her first bitter defeat.

It was my first time.

Ryan knew well. He was born with so much. This was true not only of his talent for radish, but also of the elixir that he had been taking with every meal since a time when he could not even remember. Those who taught him were all renowned celebrities, and none of the objects that came into contact with him were cheap.

The difference between him and Leon, who had been ignorantly overworking his body without any proper teachings, let alone elixirs, was like heaven and earth.

-I won, Ryan.

Nevertheless, it was he who lost.

Born with everything, defeated by those who had nothing.

―I can’t think of anything in particular right now, so if I think of something I need, I’ll tell you then. It doesn’t matter though, right?

Leaving himself frozen in place after losing a fight he could not possibly lose, Leon turned his back in relief.

Even though it was the first victory in a three-year battle, there was little emotion.

I left the academy without even leaving a chance to make up for it.

When Ryan found out, he regretted it.

‘If I had known that the match that night would be the last, if I had been able to accept defeat… .’

What do you want? You probably didn’t say the same thing.

Because I took my own victory for granted, my perspective narrowed and I missed the opportunity to talk openly. There was not a single word of praise or respect for the winner or a promise of revenge.

The two broke up like that.

Leon didn’t have a single regret, and Rian left a heavy stone in his heart.

It was right then.

smart.

Lian’s eyes blinked at the dull knocking sound.

“… Who is it? “The meeting time is still far away.”

Is it because I was interrupted from deep thoughts?

Lian’s voice suddenly became rough.

As if to answer that question, the door opened, and she entered the room with a tray with two cups of coffee on it.

Blonde wall.

Chloe, a beautiful girl whose color matched Rihanna’s, said while squinting one eye.

“Shall we leave, Your Majesty?”

Lian laughed at the playful tone and shook his head.

“No, come in.”

At least I feel more comfortable when I’m alone with Chloe.

Is it because it reminds me of my academy days?

That was the most peaceful time of his life. Even more so than when enjoying a luxurious life in the imperial palace.

Lian raised her coffee cup with a nonchalant expression.

“It’s a bit bitter today.”

Then, using the excuse that the coffee tasted the same as usual, he laughed bitterly.

* * *

The story between the two people became quite long.

This was because after Ryan formed the Vultures, there was no time to spend time alone.

Recruiting talented people or finding out about the situation on the continent.

I had to practice my own martial arts and constantly monitor the mood and status of my group members. Even though he had ten bodies, he had no time to spend leisurely with his lover because he took on all the work he lacked on his own.

In this way, we were able to have a private conversation only when we had some free time.

“Oh, by the way, did you hear that story?”

Chloe said, lightly clapping her hands together.

“What are you talking about?”

Putting down the empty glass, Lian tilted her head.

The effects of the coffee had already begun to be felt, as the two blurry eyes were shining clearly.

Chloe shrugged her shoulders as if she had expected that to happen.

“I mean Leon, Leon! The news I just received yesterday was that the name of the adventurer chosen by Jugend as the top contributor to the expedition was Leon. Both appearance and age. “I think this is the Leon we know.”

“Brother Leon is at Youth… ?”

“huh. Moreover, it looks like he has become A rank thanks to this performance. “Maybe they will come to the Empire and run into us?”

Lian unconsciously had expectations at those words.

Chloe didn’t know it yet, but Leon was no longer someone even the royal family could treat lightly.

Brave.

A military group that symbolizes the Holy Order, the Knights of the Holy Iron Chain, and a person who can move the saints at will. Lian did not want to overthrow Emperor Guang as a warrior for no reason. If he had only been able to become a warrior, he could have used all the strength he lacked.

‘… No, if I thought that way, I wouldn’t have been able to become a warrior.’

A bitter smile appears from the corner of his tightly closed mouth.

Even though the saint pointed it out to her once, Rian couldn’t let go of her regret. It was so funny that she secretly giggled.

Still, I couldn’t put it all down, and I was looking forward to it.

A chance to restore a relationship that was once broken.

‘Wouldn’t it be okay if it were the current Leon hyung?’

Wouldn’t such a relationship be established where one can approach each other as equals even after revealing one’s identity as a ‘prince’? do.

It made me think about something I never expected from anyone.

“Chloe.”

So Rian opened his mouth without realizing it.

“What would you think if I told you Leon was a hero?”

“what? “Leon?”

“okay.”

Chloe blinked for a moment at that unexpected sound, thought about it carefully, and answered.

It was an unexpected answer for Rian.

“It doesn’t suit me, but… “If you think about it again, does it feel like it suits you?”

“What is that.”

He tilts his head at the ambiguous answer,

“Leon doesn’t have the feeling of being flashy. But he is a person who does not give up no matter how many times he falls and rolls, and ultimately succeeds in doing what everyone says is impossible, right?”

“… … .”

“It’s something I’ve thought about often since long ago. “What was really special was not me, but Leon.”

Chloe’s eyes grew faint as she recalled old memories.

Although I was born and raised close by, I remembered the power of my childhood friend, whom I could not understand until the end.

Leon’s sincerity, which I had neglected knowingly or unknowingly.

“Even if it rains or snows. “Leon always climbed the mountain and swung his sword until both his hands exploded.”

“It was like that.”

“It’s not just that. Even if I vomited, there was nothing to come out, so I ran until I was nauseous, and my palms were torn and crushed every day, and not a single line remained. I am… “I don’t know anyone other than Leon who can live like that.”

Lian reflexively looked down at his palm.

The calluses were distorted into the shape of a sword hilt, but the palm prints were only crushed in a few places and were easily recognizable.

I swung it tens or hundreds of thousands of times, but it was like this.

So then, how many times did Leon swing?

Creepy.

Rian’s spine froze as he estimated the number.

At least 3 million times.

There is no meaning in repetitive training of the basics. However, Lian felt a slight shiver at the reality that there was someone who could make such unrewarded efforts.

At the same time, he admitted it.

If indomitable spirit is the quality of a warrior, then there is no better person on this continent than Leon.

“indeed.”

Rian was convinced by those words and fiddled with his coffee cup.

Then Chloe said with a mischievous expression.

“Were you that upset the last time you lost to Leon?”

“huh?”

“Suddenly, what if Leon were a hero? “At first I thought it was a joke, but he looked serious.”

“Well, because I was serious.”

Lian, who saw Chloe’s dumbfounded face, said with a smile.

“If Brother Leon is a hero, then he is someone I cannot treat lightly even if I become emperor. “I thought we could be more open with each other, even if it wasn’t as much as before.”

“Is that really it?”

“… “I want to repay you once.”

“Ahahaha!”

When Lian, who discovered her true feelings, looked away, Chloe laughed tearfully at that rare expression of emotion.

And he said while wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes.

“Aha, ha, surprisingly, you two look alike.”

“who?”

When Rian asked a question that was difficult to ignore,

“Are you and Leon the only ones left? It’s the same with the fact that I don’t like to lose, and the fact that I keep my true feelings hidden is also the same. “Are you nervous because I think they’ll fight again no matter who wins next time?”

“Do I look that young?”

“huh.”

“Whew, it’s okay to be campaigning because you’re a year older.”

Immediately after that, Chloe’s lake-like snow froze like a glacier.

“… “I told you not to get older.”

“sorry.”

“I won’t skip next time.”

The serious atmosphere was gone, and the two spent the remaining time talking about the stories they had been putting off.

smart.

Finally, the Vultures’ meeting time approaches, until Gilbert comes knocking on the door.

After knocking briefly twice, Gilbert spoke softly.

“Your Highness, preparations for the meeting are complete.”

As soon as he heard his voice, Lian erased his smile.

You should not show your weaknesses in front of subordinates whose loyalty you are not sure of. There was a need to clearly show charisma so that no one could climb up.

Expressionlessly, emotionlessly.

Lian opened the door with a face that could not be seen through.

“Going to the conference room, Captain 4.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Chloe followed, with a cold face just like Rihanna.

Currently, the Vultures are a military group comprised of five units, of which the 4th Division was equivalent to the Wizards.

Chloe, who was taught by a former court wizard, is now 6th rank. Even though he had only just entered the level, he was a genius who was on the verge of reaching the 7th rank, which the world knew as the boundary of a great wizard.

The two people who crossed the threshold of the room were no longer lovers.

“Arrive first and check for spying and wiretapping.”

“As instructed.”

Behind Chloe, who took a step forward, a faint shadow appeared on Lian’s expressionless face.

A deep, dark shade that has stopped falling for some time.