Seongjin was certain the Holy Emperor already knew Logan was not an ordinary person, and he had reasons for this belief.
As he conversed with Logan, Seongjin was simultaneously receiving various pieces of information from the Demon King. The Demon King’s insights, akin to a lie detector, had played a significant role in believing the seemingly absurd information about Logan being a reincarnated soul.
Of course, Logan’s claim about being over seventy in his previous life was false.
The guy disliked losing, it seemed.
The Demon King had also shared some peculiar observations about Logan’s soul.
[His soul looks a bit strange, you know?]
It was surrounded by such a bright light due to his innate divine power that it was difficult to discern its true form.
However, according to the Demon King, Logan’s soul seemed to change size when he mentioned his past life.
In other words, it appeared as a boy and then momentarily as a tall adult.
Additionally, there was one common feature in both forms: several long, stick-like objects were embedded in the soul’s torso.
The Holy Emperor once answered Seongjin’s question about what a soul looks like: “It looks identical to the person in life. The soul is influenced by the body until the moment of death.”
Thus, the soul’s appearance the Demon King described might be Logan’s form just before his death in his past life.
And the Emperor can see souls.
The conclusion was obvious.
Stunned by Seongjin’s words, Logan was speechless for a moment. He must have realized Seongjin was speaking with some conviction.
From their conversation, Seongjin sensed that, just as he used the Demon King, Logan also had some reliable means to gauge the truthfulness of Seongjin’s words.
If Seongjin gave vague answers or didn’t respond adequately, Logan would pinpoint and probe those areas, almost like a ghost.
After all, no matter how gullible, it’s improbable to easily believe someone who claims to be an evil spirit that has taken over a brother’s body and hails from another world.
“…He knows about me?”
Logan finally responded after a long silence.
He sat upright, but his clasped hands, trembling slightly, betrayed his inner turmoil.
“Probably. How did you die in the battlefield?”
Seongjin’s direct question seemed to cut through the tension, focusing on the heart of Logan’s past and potentially his connection with the Emperor.
Logan’s blue eyes seemed to sink into memories as he responded to Seongjin’s question.
“…I don’t clearly remember the moment of my death. It was during a prolonged battle… I was surrounded by numerous enemies, weary from the long fight. I remember receiving fatal sword wounds and being struck by several spears in vital areas.”
The sticks in his body were spears, then.
“Then it’s certain. At the very least, the Holy Emperor knows you died on the battlefield.”
“If that’s the case……”
Logan’s gaze became unfocused, lost in thought.
“Why has he never asked me anything until now?”
Logan no longer referred to the Emperor as ‘Imperial Father’ in front of Seongjin. It seemed he didn’t genuinely regard him as his father.
And the reason for this became clear to Seongjin when Logan murmured almost to himself.
“Could it be that he already knows who I am?”
“…….”
“Does he… remember me?”
Seongjin caught onto a possibility from Logan’s words.
“Did you, by any chance, meet the Holy Emperor in your past life?”
Logan didn’t respond to his question, but his silence was revealing.
Seongjin realized it: since Logan knew him in a past life, he couldn’t consider him his real father.
After a moment of silent contemplation, Logan suddenly spoke up, startled by his own realization.
“…Yes. That’s why he gave me [Arjuna] without any question.”
Arjuna?
As Seongjin blinked in confusion, Logan drew the long sword he had at his waist.
It was a unique silver blade.
The thin and narrow blade was crafted in a wavy pattern, and it looked somewhat like a long spear due to its thin, elongated hilt and relatively small guard.
It was definitely not a typical sword seen in the knight orders.
“When I first requested this sword, everyone in the imperial knight order advised against it, saying it didn’t suit the order’s swordsmanship. But he simply handed it to me without a word.”
After explaining this, Logan hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“And… Arjuna was the name of my sword in my past life.”
Could it be?
“Your sword from your past life?”
That was a confirmation beyond doubt.
Logan slowly brought his trembling hands to his face, letting out a small groan.
“How should I… treat him now?”
* * *
It was a story from over a decade ago.
At that time, Ortona, despite being torn into three major factions, still managed to maintain its identity as a nation.
During a period when the continent’s sole republican government was being repeatedly pushed back by the coalition of external forces and royalists, there was one exceptional swordsman who played a significant role in preventing its complete annihilation over the past year.
Gael Bertrand.
The only Sword Master in the eastern regions, including Ortona.
He was a longtime friend and the personal knight of Prince Benicio, a supporter of the republican government. He was also the last bastion and the final sword of the dwindling republican remnants.
However, even this busy man was now merely wasting his time as a casual drinking companion for his longtime friend.
“Ortona is finished. Those blockheaded royalists, unable to let go of the past, invited foreign powers into our lands. Now, our nation lies in ruins!”
Gael watched with a tired expression as Prince Benicio guzzled down his drink.
His once brilliant friend had now degenerated into a simple drunkard, lamenting his fate with a bottle in hand every day.
“My homeland, the first on the continent to blossom into a republic, has come to such a hollow end…”
The prince lamented in a sorrowful tone, refilling his glass.
Perhaps because he had dreamed brighter than anyone for Ortona’s future, his frustration seemed deeper than others.
But Gael, instead of consoling him, let out an involuntary sigh. He himself wanted to drink and forget his worries.
He had to find a new patron starting tomorrow, persuade the mercenary groups to cooperate harmoniously, and now he even worried about sourcing more bottles of liquor.
“How about you, Gael? Do you also see me as a failed second prince who betrayed the royal family? Don’t you believe in my firm conviction to support the republic for the future of our nation?”
Prince Benicio, with reddened eyes, glared at the silent Gael.
If Gael truly thought that, he wouldn’t be enduring this hardship at the frontlines.
However, Gael didn’t voice this response. He knew too well that even if he assured the prince otherwise, Benicio would repeat the same lamentations the next day after more drinking.
As long as the republican government couldn’t reclaim Ortona, his friend’s deep frustration would not end. And to Gael, the likelihood of the republicans turning the tide seemed as far-fetched as a dream.
“No one in this world believes in my sincere dedication to Ortona. Damn it all…”
As Gael gazed at his friend, now slumped over and asleep with the empty liquor bottle, he sighed and stood up. He gently touched the hilt of Arjuna, his sword, then left Prince Benicio’s tent to head towards the camp where the newly arrived mercenary group was stationed.
Despite the late hour, Gael had to finalize the contract details with the new mercenaries.
“I am Justin Astros, the leader of the Astros Mercenary Group.”
A tall, muscular man with an extraordinary presence approached Gael with a light, almost playful smile.
“It’s an honor to meet the legendary Gael Bertrand, the Eastern Sword Master. It’s my first time seeing a Sword Master, and the pressure is indeed immense!”
Justin, the man named, exclaimed with an exaggerated enthusiasm as he circled around Gael.
Gael recognized that Justin’s achievements were not common, even for a young leader of a mercenary group.
“Wow! Just being near you makes my body tremble. With such a formidable figure on the front lines, I wonder if there’s even a place for us.”
Empty flattery, yet he seems eager to prove himself.
Just as Gael began to feel slightly irked, a calm voice came from behind.
“Enough, Justin. That’s enough. You’re being rude.”
“Oh, if I have indeed been rude, I apologize.”
Justin quickly corrected his posture and apologized to Gael.
Looking to see who had spoken so bluntly to the leader, Gael saw a surprisingly tall yet obviously young member, looking at Justin with a somewhat disdainful expression.
Gael thought for a moment.
Did I make a mistake in hiring them? They came highly recommended for their skill, but if they rely on a child…
But when Gael’s eyes met the boy’s, he felt something odd. He sensed that dealing with this boy would be remarkably challenging.
Of course, the boy was nowhere near the level of a Sword Master.
His aura activation was much lower than Justin’s, and the slight darkness under his eyes suggested he wasn’t in the best of health.
Yet, strangely, Gael felt that the boy posed a far more challenging opponent than the group’s leader.
The boy glanced at Gael for a moment and then abruptly left the tent.
Gael watched the direction in which the boy disappeared and found himself asking the leader.
“That boy is……”
“Unfortunately, he’s not officially a mercenary. Consider him a guest member who joined us temporarily.”
Justin gave Gael a sly smile.
“Isn’t he a fascinating fellow, General?”
Even Gael, who had been acclaimed as a prodigy since his youth, recognized that the boy’s talent was extraordinary. Under different circumstances, he would have spared no effort to take him as a disciple.
“…Where did that friend learn swordsmanship?”
“That part is truly fascinating…”
Justin scratched his face thoughtfully before answering.
“He claims he’s never been formally trained in swordsmanship. It sounds unbelievable, but it seems true. You can see he doesn’t use proper sword forms, yet strangely, he wields a sword effectively.”
Gael quietly observed the mercenary leader.
The vibrations he felt indicated that Justin was probably telling the truth.
Gael furrowed his brows.
A sword style that defies form and technique.
The legendary realm that Gael’s master jokingly mentioned.
Could it be that this boy was independently reaching that level?
“General, shall we proceed with the contract adjustments?”
Justin rubbed his hands, his movements light despite his large frame. Gael nodded and pulled out the contract.
There was no need for excessive speculation. Soon enough, he’d confirm the boy’s skill with his own eyes, as they would be working alongside the Astros Mercenary Group.
They began discussing the details.
Soon, Gael received unexpected advice from Justin.
“General, I apologize for saying this upon our first meeting.”
Justin looked incredulous as he spoke.
“If you agree so readily, how can we negotiate? We expect some resistance and push accordingly.”
“……”
“Do you always end up at a disadvantage like this?”
Gael sensed the vibrations from Justin, confirming the sad truth of his words. Regrettably, it was all true.
He swallowed his pride and decided to delegate contract negotiations to Prince Benicio or another republican leader in the future.
Gael’s time with the Astros Mercenary Group lasted only four months. After the short-term contract ended, they left the front due to a change of heart by their sponsor.
However, the impact of this brief association on Gael’s future was immense, though he had no inkling of it at the time.
