OBT 13

Chapter 13

Blanzor (3)

When the carriage carrying the treasurer departed, Ian closed the window, turned back, and tore a strip from his pajamas to wrap around the finger that had been cut by the dagger.

‘I only meant to nick it, but it went too deep.’

He considered calling Linda, but he didn’t want to go that far.

He silently watched the fabric stain red as blood seeped through, then placed the dagger on the bedside table.

It would hurt, but the bleeding would stop by morning.

Collapsing onto the bed, Ian buried his face in the pillow.

After meeting the treasurer, the weight of having to repay his debts pressed down on him.

Still, he didn’t want to burden his people with heavy taxes. No matter how much he liked “playing lord,” he had no desire to become a bloodsucking bastard.

‘Forget it. Worst case, I’ll just keep paying it off little by little, like now.’

Shaking off the pressure of his debt, Ian straightened his body. After such a long day, his eyelids quickly grew heavy.

‘Tomorrow, I’ll have Linda teach me to read again…’

The thought of seeing her every day made his heart flutter a little, even as sleep pulled him under.

Just as he was about to drift off with a smile on his lips, a strange sensation jolted him awake, the hair on his neck standing on end.

‘What is this?’

It felt like someone was staring at him.

Half-rising, he quickly scanned the room.

The lamp’s faint glow illuminated the quiet chamber.

‘No one’s here. Must be my imagination.’

Maybe he was just overly sensitive because this was the very room where the previous lords had been assassinated.

Yawning, he lay back down and rolled to the side—then froze stiff.

‘What the hell is that?’

The dagger lay within arm’s reach, but embedded in its blade were a pair of glowing, crimson eyes.

Ian rubbed his eyes and looked again, but the dagger’s eyes remained.

‘I’m not imagining it. The dagger has eyes.’

To his shock, the dagger spoke.

—Can you see me?

“You… can talk?”

—So, you really can see me.

“What are you? Some kind of wizard?”

Startled but wary, Ian climbed off the bed, keeping his eyes fixed on the dagger.

Perhaps one of those mysterious sorcerers had slipped into his room.

“You’d better show yourself. I’m not easy prey.”

—Relax. I am not your enemy.

“Then who are you?”

—Well… even if I told you, you wouldn’t know me.

“Cut the nonsense and answer properly.”

—So prickly.

The dagger’s eyes glowed even redder.

—I am Blanzor, Captain of the Emperor’s Guard.

At those words, Ian flinched.

There was no emperor among the Twelve Kingdoms of East Kevania. Only Nad Hans, emperor of the Hans Empire that ruled over West Kevania.

“Don’t spout nonsense. Say something believable.”

—Hahaha! I don’t mean that emperor.

The dagger chuckled as if reading Ian’s thoughts.

—I speak of the emperor of the long-fallen Denaon Empire, the empire that existed before the Twelve Kingdoms.

“You’re telling me you’re the imperial guard captain of an empire that collapsed hundreds of years ago? And I’m supposed to believe that?”

—It’s the truth, unbelievable as it sounds. A sorcerer’s curse trapped me for centuries.

“A sorcerer’s curse?”

—A vile, dangerous sorcerer… I killed him, and in return I was bound into this dagger. For centuries, no one recognized me—until you.

“I’m the only one?”

—Yes. From the moment you entered the dying Ian’s body, I’ve been watching you… false Ian.

Ian stood silently for a long while before lifting the dagger close to his face.

At first, the bulging eyes were grotesque, but after staring a while, they felt oddly normal.

“Did you just call me ‘false Ian’?”

—Don’t deny it. I’ve been watching you the whole time. Everything you said, everything you did, even your teleportation into the village—I was with you, watching it all.

“…”

Ian’s expression eased into a shrug.

No point in lying; the dagger already knew everything.

It made sense—he’d been carrying it at his waist this whole time.

‘So, he really was trapped fighting a sorcerer? Fascinating.’

Ian set the dagger on the table and sat before it.

“Yeah, you’re right. I’m not the real Ian. But it’s not like I came here on purpose.”

—Not on purpose? Funny, you seemed to enjoy it. Fine food, commanding people—you looked satisfied.

“What, was I supposed to cry about it? People adapt to their circumstances.”

Scratching his chin, Ian asked casually:

“So… you really lived hundreds of years ago? A captain of the emperor’s guard?”

—Yes.

“Must be rough, stuck in a dagger.”

—At first, I was trapped in a hat.”

“A hat?”

—One from the sorcerer’s house. When it burned, I moved into a glass plate nearby. It took many years and twists of fate before I ended up in this dagger.”

“That curse is persistent. Even when the vessel is destroyed, it doesn’t break?”

—He was powerful enough to capture the emperor’s attention. His curse was formidable.

“So… you’ll be trapped forever?”

—Not forever. The binding has weakened over time. One day, it will break.”

“I hope it does. I’ll be rooting for you.”

Yawning, Ian rose and lay back in bed.

—What are you doing? Walking away in the middle of a conversation with me?

“Too tired. You know how weak this body is.”

—I am Blanzor, Captain of the Emperor’s Guard! A man of true power!”

“And yet, right now, you’re nothing.”

Sleep weighed heavily on him. He needed a few solid hours before tomorrow.

“Since you’re happy to finally talk to someone, we’ll continue later. No rush.”

But the dagger kept speaking.

—Where did you come from?

“Earth. You wouldn’t know it.”

He pulled the blanket up to his chin.

—How did you enter Ian’s body?

“I don’t know. I was fighting invaders on Earth, then suddenly I ended up here. Not magic, just… accident. Now let me sleep.”

—Strange. A mere human, not a great wizard, yet able to teleport… Even in my time, not even the imperial archmages had such a gift.

“Thanks.”

—But talent alone isn’t enough. You’re no true warrior yet. Grant me a favor, and I’ll teach you the Emperor’s Swordsmanship. With your gift and that skill, you’d be nearly unstoppable.

“Emperor’s… Swordsmanship?”

Ian’s drowsy eyes cracked open again.

“What is that?”

—Ignorant fool. Then again, you can’t even read.”

“Don’t call me ignorant. I’ll learn fast enough.”

Climbing out of bed, he sat at the table again.

“So, what’s this Emperor’s Swordsmanship?”

—It was the style created by the first emperor who founded the Denaon Empire. Perfect mastery made one unbeatable—it was called the invincible sword. Each emperor trained in it. And now, I offer you the chance to learn it.

“How do you even know it?”

—I stole it.

Ian chuckled at his bluntness.

—Why are you laughing?

“Because it’s funny. The emperor’s guard captain stealing the emperor’s sword style.”

—I only joined the palace to learn that style. With such purpose, what shame is there?”

“You’re a strange one. But I think we’ll get along. So, what’s this favor you want in return?”

Ian’s eyes gleamed.

He’d never learned formal swordsmanship, and the idea of mastering the ancient Denaon emperor’s style thrilled him.

—The emperor gave me two missions: to slay the dark sorcerer Hakro Bedjaman, and to recover the ‘Eye of the Dragon’ he stole from the imperial treasury.

“The Eye of the Dragon? You mean a real dragon’s eye?”

Ian’s gaze drifted to the ceiling.

It was too dark to see clearly now, but during the day he’d noticed the murals above—depicting a great dragon locked in battle against men.

The dagger’s eyes also lifted upward.

—Yes. The eye of an ancient dragon. Though dragons vanished long ago, part of their power remains in the Eye. It’s that power which bound me. The sorcerer merely used it.”

“A relic holding a dragon’s power… The Eye of the Dragon, huh.”

Ian whispered in awe, then lowered his gaze back to the dagger.

“So, what do you want from me?”

—Find the Eye of the Dragon and destroy it. Do that, and I’ll teach you the Emperor’s Swordsmanship.”

“Destroy the Eye? Ah, I get it. That’s what binds you, isn’t it?”

—No. My curse will eventually fade on its own. I want it gone to fulfill my emperor’s command.”

“But the empire’s gone. The emperor’s long dead. Who’s there to recognize it?”

Ian’s eyes narrowed with puzzlement, but the dagger’s reply was firm.

—I cannot rest otherwise! I always finish what I start! That’s how I became captain of the guard, how I stole the Emperor’s sword style! My loyalty may have been false, but once I swore an oath, I kept it! That is who Blanzor is! Even after centuries, even after empire and emperor alike are dust—this cursed Eye that damned me will be destroyed!”

“Whoa, calm down. Why so worked up all of a sudden?”

Seeing the dagger’s sudden fury, Ian raised a hand as if to soothe it.

“Alright, I get it. But do you even know where it is?”

—It must still be buried in the ruins of Hakro Bedjaman’s house. Centuries ago, adventurers found the place, but they didn’t know the Eye was there. They just took valuables, including me when I was trapped in a hat. If you go there and dig, you’ll find it.”

“That house… it’s not in my lands, is it?”

—No. It lies in the territory of the man you’re indebted to.”

“My creditor? You mean Lord Bonnen?”

—A simple enough condition. If you have the will. Will you do it?”

“So it’s not even in my domain, but in Bonnen’s lands, huh?”

After hearing it all, Ian smirked.

“Where I come from, we say even mountains change in ten years. It’s been centuries. Do you really think it’ll still be there? What if someone else already found it? Then all my effort would be wasted, right?”

Picking at his ear, Ian leaned in close to peer at the dagger.