Chapter 119
The Curse of the Red-Hilted Sword
On Monday morning, Eivass arrived at the classroom more than half an hour early. To his surprise, Professor Bard was even earlier than him.
“Ah, our assistant teacher has arrived.”
Hearing the sound of a wheelchair rolling on the wooden floor from afar, Professor Bard turned his head and greeted Eivass with a smile. “You’re here so early? Did you eat breakfast?”
Even with Eivass in his wheelchair, Professor Bard was not much taller than him. The old professor, with his sparse hair, short stature, and kind personality, only put on a serious face in class. When he wasn’t teaching, he was cheerful every day, filled with an optimism and vitality rarely seen in the elderly.
“I’ve eaten, Professor,” Eivass replied warmly. “It’s not that early… look, quite a few people are already here.”
As he spoke, he glanced at the students already seated. With still half an hour until class, nearly half of the students had gradually taken their seats.
Professor Bard simply shook his head. “That’s because you’re here, they’ve come so early. Usually, even ten minutes before class, not many people would show up. They either rush in at the last minute or are a bit late. Those who do arrive early generally aren’t here to study. They’re either reading novels in class or sleeping here. Some even come to me to do homework for other classes… While I don’t mind them, it doesn’t mean I’m too old to see.”
The old professor sighed slightly at this point. But before Eivass could comfort him, the old man adjusted himself and said with an optimistic smile, “But it’s my own fault for not teaching well. There’s nothing I can do about it. I can’t expect students to listen attentively when I know my lectures are not good.”
“There aren’t many instructors with your kind of awareness,” Eivass said with a smile. This wasn’t flattery, but the truth. For these professors, the role of “mentor” was usually more important than “lecturer.” What was taught in class was just the basic requirement. To truly cultivate one’s own abilities, one still needed to go to the library with references to study those more advanced knowledge on their own, or to get a letter of introduction from their mentor to receive one-on-one instruction from other professors. Knowing that these public lectures had little significance, few professors really cared. But those who reached the “professor” level were generally important figures, and even if they didn’t care much about their own lectures, they wouldn’t tolerate students offending them.
Bard simply waved his hand. “I used to be impatient too, just like them. But looking back now, it was because they were anxious about their own research. They were still young enough, with the possibility and desire for further progress. My good temper now is because I have reached the pinnacle in the field of archaeology and historical research. There are no goals above me to surpass, no resources to contend for, and I have no interest in the position of a technician or a seat in the Round Table Hall. All I think about now is to, while my old bones can still move, quickly investigate a few ancient ruins whose eras are difficult to determine. Then, with the remaining years of my life, I will distinguish and record this lost history.”
“‘Having no desires makes one strong’,” Eivass nodded. “As long as one doesn’t have the desire to compete with others or to surpass them, one will naturally be unyielding and have inner peace.”
Bard looked surprised. “You understand Ancient Primeval?”
“A little, but not much,” Eivass replied humbly.
“That’s already very commendable,” Professor Bard praised. He grew increasingly fond of Eivass, who was knowledgeable, studious, and humble. Although becoming Eivass’s mentor was initially just a transaction, Bard felt more and more that his decision was correct.
Later, Professor Bard and Eivass discussed the events of last Thursday.
“The Holy Sword you wielded that day…” The old man became serious and asked softly, “If I’m not mistaken, was it the ‘Red-Hilted Sword’?”
“You recognize that?” Eivass was somewhat surprised. The photo left in the newspaper at the time showed the flames on the sword’s blade in Eivass’s hand had not yet dissipated. With the sword’s body completely enveloped in flames and his hand grasping the hilt, how could Professor Bard discern the name of the Holy Sword?
“That is an ominous sword,” Professor Bard said with some concern. “You must be careful. According to historical records, this sword was a demonic sword once used by the Paladin Galahad.”
Wasn’t it a Holy Sword? Eivass’s heart stirred.
“…I remember Galahad was the child of Lancelot I, right?” Eivass asked indirectly.
“Where did you hear that? Is it some strange unofficial history?” The old professor scratched his head, his expression somewhat strange. “When Galahad met Lancelot I, Lancelot I had not yet married Queen Genevieve, and Galahad was already an adult. The original Knights of the Round Table numbered twenty-two, one of whose names was kept secret. The remaining twenty-one were Lancelot I and his twenty founders. The Galahad family still continues to this day, being the Camelot family. It is clearly not of the same lineage as the ‘Du Lac’ family…”
Professor Bard then looked at Eivass again. “It was only because Galahad became an Apostle that he was renamed. Just as the lineage of Mordred, the son of Morgan, has now been renamed ‘Moriarty’. The name of Mordred’s mother, Morgan, means ‘born of the sea’. Mordred was also a knight who came from overseas and was quite active and brave in the Round Table. Therefore, later generations, after Mordred was Sublimated into an Apostle, changed their surname to Moriarty… The meaning of this surname is ‘warrior of the sea’, which is meant to avoid mentioning Apostle Mordred by the Moriarty family.”
—What? Eivass was also somewhat surprised. He knew that the surnames of the twenty founding families were now completely different from what they were in the past. Even many descendants of the founding families could not be matched one-to-one. Not to mention that Eivass was an adopted son and had not received any education on “ancient family glory.” Old Moriarty had never told him which knight Moriarty corresponded to. Eivass had thought it was an unknown one. And it turned out to be Mordred? … Well, it was quite fitting, in a way.
Professor Bard went on to recount the history of the Red-Hilted Sword. “The Red-Hilted Sword looks like a giant cross, with the hilt wrapped in an entire piece of dark red Jewel. When it was discovered, it was stuck in a marble slab that floated in the water, with the words ‘Only the greatest knight can move me’ written on it. Galahad was not the first Holder of the Red-Hilted Sword, but the first Holder was not Lancelot I. The strongest knight in the Round Table at that time was called Balin… Only he could draw this sword and immediately gained immense Power. However, this sword contained the curse of Hengwo, and only the most steadfast and pure could wield it. As long as one had evil thoughts when using this sword, wanting to kill someone or do something wicked, that part of the desire would be permanently amplified, gradually becoming mad and paranoid. Balin’s Personality changed at a visible rate, becoming arrogant and violent, and he eventually died due to the dangerous situation brought about by this sword. After Balin died, no one else dared to take up the sword. Later, this sword, feared by other knights and called the ‘Evil Curse,’ fell into Galahad’s hands. After Galahad was Sublimated into an Apostle, the sword was left to Lancelot I, but Lancelot I did not use it frequently. Eventually, the sword fell into the hands of St. Genevieve. Because it was too dangerous and could cause the noble Paladin to fall, it was personally shattered and its Seal broken by the Mage Merlin. Now, its hilt is the Key to St. Genevieve’s Chapel… I believe what you are holding in your hand is it.”
“…You know so much about the founding history of Avalon?” Eivass was somewhat astonished. This was the first time he had seen this history professor showcase his professional knowledge. This was knowledge related to the Extraordinary and even the hidden. How could a mere Ordinary Person professor know more than Eivass… At least Eivass didn’t know the specific curse contained within this sword. Nor did he know that the curse belonged to Hengwo and not Father.
“It’s very simple,” Professor Bard chuckled, his words revealing a strong sense of confidence. “Because I once collected a Fragment of the ‘Red-Hilted Sword’ from a maritime ruin. There was also Merlin’s message, explaining personally why this sword was sealed here… And this is currently the only broken sword fragment obtained by Avalon, and it is now stored in the Edward Museum. All historical records concerning this sword were written by me. Based on my research, the birth of this sword was influenced by both Hengwo and Amber. The red hilt is very likely the concept of ‘Amber’. Therefore, I believe this sword must seal a powerful Phantom Demon—it is very likely a rebellious Heavenly Envoy or Apostle, belonging to the Twilight Path or Path of Love. The latter possibility might be greater.”
“Is it possible that it seals a Phantom Demon of the Path of Devotion?” Eivass raised a Possibility.”
Professor Bard stroked his chin, thinking for a moment. “It’s not impossible. Galahad has an affinity for the Path of Devotion, and his ability to hold it safely might be due to this reason… But there’s no reason for Hengwo and Amber to join forces to seal a Phantom Demon of the Path of Devotion, right? That should be handled by the Candlemaster themselves. —In short, you should try to use this sword as little as possible. Although its curses are stored in those shattered sword blades, its hilt will make one more susceptible to the curse. Even the most powerful Extraordinary, when using this sword, will be as fragile as a baby when facing the curse.”
The old professor warned, “It’s possible that a curse that originally wouldn’t have affected you will take effect because of this sword. That is entirely possible.”
“I understand,” Eivass nodded obediently. But his heart stirred slightly, and he found a crucial clue in the unintentional remarks of Professor Bard.
…So, a Fragment of the Red-Hilted Sword is currently in the Edward Museum.
The Edward Museum… that was the museum built by Old James in the name of Edward. In other words, it was Eivass’s own property. If he had the opportunity, he could try to retrieve it. Even if he couldn’t reassemble the Holy Sword, it could still serve as a medium for the curse.
—And if Eivass himself held one of the Fragments, it would mean that Bishop Mathers could not reassemble the Holy Sword. Because he would not be able to gather all the Fragments no matter what… just like how there’s always one card missing when collecting cards. As long as Mathers could not reforge the Red-Hilted Sword, he would not lose his mind to the curse within the sword and fall into a Cursed Paladin.
But… a powerful Phantom Demon… a Fallen Heavenly Envoy or Apostle? Wouldn’t that be a High-level Phantom Demon? Eivass narrowed his eyes, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. In other words, as long as he gathered the Fragments of the Red-Hilted Sword, he could awaken a High-level Phantom Demon of light attribute sealed within the Holy Sword? How coincidental. He was just worrying about who to capture for his light-attribute “Great Beast.” Wasn’t this delivered right to his doorstep?
