Chapter 305 - 70: Old Pal in Action

The Swordsman was farming when he received a letter from the Witch.

Crouching in his field, he saw the soil had started to harden. Even watering it did no good.

The wheat, which had grown so well last year, was barely growing at all now. A deep sense of unease settled over the Swordsman.

’Looks like the Demon King’s cycle is coming.’

But then, he looked at his prosthetic leg and hand and gave a wry laugh.

A few years ago, they had answered the Kingdom’s call to enter the Dungeon and pave the way for future Warriors, but they were forced to turn back in defeat at the tenth floor.

During the battle with the Demon on the tenth floor, he lost his right leg and left arm. The Witch in their party managed to partially heal him, but she couldn’t fully restore his body.

The thought that a part of him would forever remain inside that Demon made his lost limbs ache with phantom pain.

Now, he was just a cripple. All he could do was farm, teach the village children some Swordsmanship, and endure the new Guard Captain’s harassment. He’d live out the rest of his days like this.

’A man like me... I’m useless now.’

Limping, he was about to head back for a couple of drinks when a crow suddenly flew straight toward him and landed on his shoulder.

The moment it landed, the crow vanished, replaced by a black envelope.

"Dear Swordsman,

It has been three years since we last saw each other.

I know you’re living in seclusion in some remote village, so you may not be aware of what’s happening outside. A new group of creatures has appeared near the entrance to the Dungeon, much like the rabbits and sharks from before.

They are intelligent. They too are tackling the Dungeon, preparing to defeat the Demon King. These creatures are completely different from the ones before them. I have a feeling they might actually succeed.

In fact, I believe they may be the legendary Heroes. They possess incredible Power and a strength far beyond anything you or I could imagine.

In just ten days, they’ve already cleared the tenth floor. While the notes I provided certainly helped, it was mostly due to their own Power.

They are curious and innovative, possessing all the finest qualities an Adventurer should have. Most importantly, they cannot die.

So, I implore you: take up your sword and come to my side. Let us aid them together, one last time. The Demon King is a calamity for all humankind. I hope that this time, we can end this disaster once and for all."

Reading this, the Swordsman gave a helpless laugh.

He was grateful that the Witch still remembered him, that she’d even ask him to come out of retirement.

But his heart was dead, his will broken. He had no desire to ever go back.

He was about to write a reply to the Witch when he flipped the letter over and found another line written on the back.

"I knew you wouldn’t come back after reading the first part, so I saved this for last. These Slimes have discovered a method to regenerate lost limbs."

Upon reading that line, the Swordsman tossed the letter aside, rushed into his room, and began to pack.

After packing his sword, a few changes of clothes, and his savings, he walked out to find himself face-to-face with the village’s new Guard Captain, the village chief, and several others.

"Well now, cripple. Where do you think you’re going?" the new Guard Captain taunted. "Are you that scared of me? Trying to run away the moment I show up?"

The new Guard Captain was young and powerfully built, all four limbs intact. He carried himself with an air of spirited arrogance, as if he owned the world.

’Just like I was, back in the day.’

The village chief, standing to the side, wiped sweat from his brow and spoke to the Swordsman apologetically. "He’s been insisting on sparring with you. I couldn’t talk him out of it. Just do it once. If you get hurt, I have a Recovery Elixir. Plus, after it’s over, I’ll give you the back wages I owe you."

The Swordsman looked at the Guard Captain and the sycophantic village chief and let out a soft chuckle. "Fine. Let’s begin."

No one understood the meaning behind the Swordsman’s smile. All they saw was an opportunity for the young Guard Captain to make a name for himself.

After all, this man was an Adventurer who had once reached the tenth floor of the Dungeon. Using his reputation to build up the Guard Captain’s was a fine bargain.

"Old man, finally grew a spine, have you? Here I come!"

The Guard Captain had just adopted a fighting stance when the old man tossed his baggage aside. Without even drawing his blade, he struck his opponent’s throat with the pommel of his sheathed sword.

The blow was powerful, heavy, and completely unexpected. The Guard Captain dropped to his knees, clutching his throat and coughing violently.

The Swordsman walked over to the village chief, snatched the Recovery Elixir from the man’s pocket, and bit the cork open. He took a swig, then poured the other half over the Guard Captain’s face.

Nourished by the Recovery Elixir, the Guard Captain was finally freed from the excruciating pain.

Spitting out a mouthful of blood-streaked saliva, his eyes flew wide. He drew his Treasure Sword and charged furiously at the old man.

"You old bastard!"

Facing the furious Guard Captain, the Swordsman gripped his hilt in a reverse hold, concealing his intended move. As his opponent closed in, he sidestepped and smoothly tripped him.

Then, everything seemed to unfold in slow motion.

He could clearly see the surprise on his opponent’s face, the astonishment of the village chief, and the shock of the other guards.

’After all, anyone would be shocked to see an old dog suddenly bare its fangs.’

’But I’m afraid I’m no old dog.’

He whipped the scabbard out with a backhand motion. The off-balance Guard Captain had no chance to parry and was struck squarely across the mouth. His front teeth flew out in a spray of blood.

He kicked the man in the stomach, his prosthetic leg jamming hard against the Guard Captain’s kidney, causing him to cry out in pain.

He viciously beat the man with his pommel for a full fifteen minutes. The village chief tried to intervene, but the Swordsman split his lip with a single punch, and after that, no one else dared to approach.

When he grew tired of the beating, the Swordsman poured the rest of the Recovery Elixir on the Guard Captain’s swollen face. Then he grabbed the man by the hair, hauled him up, and asked with a smile, "Hasn’t anyone ever told you to show a little respect when you talk to your elders?"

"I’m thorry..." said the Guard Captain, his mouth swollen shut.

"Don’t worry about it. I share some of the blame; I’ve been too soft on you. After all, when I first saw you, I thought you were a bit like me. It’s good for young men to be full of spirit."

"Thorry, I’m weally thorry..."

"I said don’t worry about it. Besides, I see it now. Comparing you to my former self is an insult. To me. A piece of shit like you thinks you’re worthy of being compared to me?"

With a vicious slap from his sheet-metal prosthetic hand, the Swordsman knocked the Guard Captain unconscious and tossed him aside. He then spun around and decked another one of the guards who had been trying to sneak up on him.

Then, he picked up a rock and hurled it at the fleeing village chief, knocking him to the ground. He walked over, squatted down, and asked, "My wages. The ones for my part-time job as a Swordsmanship instructor."

"In... in my pocket."

After taking his money, the Swordsman was about to leave when he heard the village chief shout from behind him, "Do you know who that is? He’s the Lord’s son! The Lord will absolutely get his revenge on you! Come back and apologize right now, or else..."

The Swordsman turned and threw another rock. It struck the village chief on the ground, leaving him bloody and unconscious.

Looking toward the distant Lord’s Mansion, the Swordsman stroked his bearded chin, nodded, and said, "I’d almost forgotten, the Lord still owes me my pension. Thanks for the reminder. I’ll be right back."

Licking the corner of his mouth, he started walking toward the Lord’s Mansion.