Chapter 257 - Country of Sakura, Cherin and Seven Holy Swords [28]
257. Country of Sakura, Cherin and Seven Holy Swords [28]
After parting with Bacchus-san,
「I’m very sorry, Allen. My grandfather has caused you trouble.」
Rose bowed her head, saying so.
「I hope you don’t misunderstand him. He is quite unreasonable, but he is not a bad person at all.」
She said, with a serious expression.
(She cares a lot about her grandfather.)
Apparently, their relationship is very good.
「Don’t worry about it. I was a little surprised when he suddenly came at me, but… it served as a good experience for me too.」
The 16th legitimate successor of Sakura Blossom One-Sword Style, Bacchus Valencia.
I was able to get a bout with that great swordsman.
On the contrary, I think I was quite lucky.
「Thank you. I’m happy to hear you say that.」
Rose took a breath and smiled softly.
「Even so, Bacchus-san seemed really healthy. How old is he now?」
His hair, eyebrows and beard were all pure white. Chiseled face with deep wrinkles.
(Judging only by that, he seems to be quite old, but…)
That vibrant skin and steel-like muscles full of vitality. To be honest, I can’t get a grasp of his age from appearance alone.
「Grandfather is my great great great great great grandfather, after all… No, he is my great great great great great great grandfather, I think? Anyway, even if he looks young, he should be well over 200 years old now.」
「「「「「200 years old!?」」」」」
We all simultaneously raised our voices.
「Aa, my family has been blessed with longevity for generations.」
「L-Longevity, you say…」
I think that 200 years old is already stretching the limits of man.
And when we were in mute amazement,
「H-Hey, Rose. I’ve been curious about this for a while now, but is it true that he’s the “strongest in the world”?」
Ria asked a very good question.
That’s just what I was curious about too.
「It’s a fact. My grandfather was certainly called so in the past. And, in fact, he was unbelievably strong. He boasted absolute power beyond the realm of humans. I can’t ever imagine him losing to anyone.」
In Rose’s eyes, a bright light of aspiration was reflected.
She doesn’t seem to doubt that Bacchus-san is the strongest swordsman in the world.
「But now, it’s nothing more than an old story. I’m sure he’s not even half as strong as he was in his prime.」
「I-Is that really so?」
I just crossed swords with him, but it didn’t seem like that was the case at all.
「…My grandfather is suffering from an incurable disease. You can’t see it on the surface, but his internal organs are already failing. His body should not even be standing straight because of the disease. Ten years ago, our family doctor pronounced that he had only “six months to live”.」
「”Ten years ago”, and “six months to live” ?」
Those two are clearly contradictory.
「Sorry, that was a little bit misleading. If he was an ordinary man, he would only have half a year left. But my grandfather has tenacious willpower and, above all, an “invincible soul dress” that brought him the title of strongest swordsman. These two have managed to keep him living.」
(…Invincible soul dress, huh.)
Rose asserts it to this extent. Surely it must be a supreme-grade soul dress.
(The ability to support a body affected by incurable diseases huh… Maybe it’s a strengthening-type? No, a recovery-type? …But a little while ago, he built a bridge by creating a tree. Just what kind of ability is it really?)
When I was thinking about that,
「-Kyaa!?」
The president, who was walking next to me, tripped over the root of a tree.
I pulled her hand who was falling forward and quickly embraced her body.
「Are you all right, president?」
「T-Thanks…」
She muttered so on my chest, with her cheeks red.
At that moment,
(What is this!?)
An extraordinary bloodlust, full of hatred and resentment, pierced at my whole body.