“Don’t be so nervous; we don’t intend to cause any conflict. It’s just that we have something we must do. If destroying it isn’t an option, could you temporarily take it and leave this island?”
“I swear in the name of the god we worship, I can guarantee your safety. It will only take an hour.”
According to the “Putting a Skylight” theory by Lu Xun as mentioned in the classics, Misu believed they would readily agree to this request. After all, it wasn’t a difficult task. However, Maya kept shaking her head and looked toward her grandmother. [TN: Chapter 759]
“In the name of the god… are you also a priestess who serves a god?”
Izaya, who had also been a priestess of this island in her youth, took Misu’s solemn vow very seriously.
For clergy members, there was no vow more significant than this.
“I am merely a lamb saved by the Lord, striving for the Lord’s purpose. Your understanding isn’t wrong, so could you consider our condition?”
“First, swear that you have no connection with those Marine Dojo people. Otherwise, even if you kill all of us, you won’t get any information.”
“No problem. Not only do we have no connection with Marine Dojo, but we are also not affiliated with the Marines in any way. We have no intention of doing anything to harm you.”
“Alright, but we still cannot agree to your request…”
“Old lady, are you playing with us?”
Hearing this, Tiger’s face darkened. They were showing goodwill because they want to avoid tarnishing the reputation of their religion. Even assigning the hot-headed members to the Knights of Retribution was for this reason.
But that didn’t mean they were easy to push around. This felt like outright mockery.
“No, let this old woman explain. If you are also the believers of a god, then you should have heard of the legend of Asuka Island, correct?”
“We know a little. We’ve also heard about Shichiseiken, but that’s not our objective. It’s just a sword. We’re not interested.”
“But that’s exactly the problem. Shichiseiken is a Cursed Sword—one that has already come to life. It constantly seeks to revive itself. These three orbs are no ordinary items; they are the seals that bind the Cursed Sword.”
“If they are removed, the Cursed Sword will resurrect, and calamity will once again descend upon the seas.”
“Therefore, you cannot destroy them, and they cannot leave this island.”
“Our mission is to protect them, no matter the cost.”
Listening to Izaya’s explanation, Misu suddenly felt a sense of nostalgia. Back then, she had also been naïve, believing everything to be beautiful, so when faced with the promise from the soldiers, she trusted them.
Although her current vows were all genuine, the old woman before her was far too naïve, not even suspecting that she might be lying.
In truth, Izaya was merely observing the other party’s reaction. Based on her understanding of the people from Marine Dojo, if Tiger and Misu were truly associated with them, they would have already resorted to force. With their strength, there would be no need for negotiation.
Seeing that the other party was willing to engage in pointless chatter, she was convinced that they indeed had another purpose.
She then continued explaining to Misu and the others about what had happened previously.
“The master of Marine Dojo is named Saga. He was originally a good person who accidentally drifted to our island. A few months ago, a group of pirates attacked us. To protect Maya, Saga accidentally picked up Shichiseiken.”
“Afterward, he fell under Shichiseiken’s influence, becoming what he is now. Moreover, he used Shichiseiken’s power to control a large number of Marines.”
“For Shichiseiken to revive, it must destroy these three orbs. However, those under its influence cannot touch the orbs themselves; they must rely on outsiders.”
“The Marines you defeated earlier, weren’t they accompanied by some pirates? Those were people Saga coerced into helping him seize the orbs, but in the end, they too would be sacrificed to the sword…”
“So, if we deal with the issue of Shichiseiken, the existence of these orbs won’t matter anymore, right?”
“Uh… that’s not entirely wrong…”
“In that case, I understand. Let us go destroy the Shichiseiken. If we succeed, allow me to destroy the orbs. Is that acceptable?”
“No, that sword is extremely dangerous. Back then, the priestess sacrificed herself and relied on the power of the Gods of Asuka’s Seven Stars to seal it. Mortals are no match for it!”
“Although I’ve heard this legend, Granny, I think there’s a lot of fabrication. If the Gods of Asuka’s Seven Stars had really intervened, they should have simply destroyed it. I feel like this story is just covering up something else. Of course, it could also be true, but just because the Gods of Asuka’s Seven Stars couldn’t deal with it doesn’t mean we can’t. If we can handle it, would you mind gaining one more faith?”
“???”
Izaya’s face was filled with bewilderment. This was the first time she had heard such a request.
And this was one of Misu’s goals. After all, they weren’t like the crusaders of old, who eliminated anyone who didn’t believe in their god.
It was rare to encounter a few “professionals,” so Misu wanted to explore the possibility of developing something further.
“If you don’t accept, that’s fine. But our agreement still stands. Please wait a moment.”
After Misu and the others left, Maya hesitantly looked at Izaya. “Grandma, letting them go like this… is it really okay?”
“There’s still a year until the once-in-a-century red moon. The Cursed Sword cannot unleash its full power. With their skills, they should be able to retreat unscathed.”
“And if they can solve this problem, it would be a great thing.”
“That sword… it should have disappeared from the world a long time ago.”
With age comes wisdom; those who live to a ripe old age with clarity of mind often possess unique insights.
Some people can navigate the Grand Line without a Navigator, relying on the instructions of their grandmother back home. Others can dominate the battlefield in Ionia, chanting the words of their elders. These older generations always seem to wield an almost magical influence in the most unexpected ways.
…
At Marine Dojo, a one-armed man was slightly surprised when he heard about the failure of his subordinates’ mission, especially when they said that they were instantly defeated.
“Instantly defeated?”
“It was a red Fish-Man. He just threw a punch, and everyone…”
“A Fish-Man? Why is there a Fish-Man here?”
The one-armed man showed a puzzled expression. He was Saga, the man controlled by Shichiseiken. While Shichiseiken was influencing his mind, his original memories and intelligence remained intact.
Suddenly, his eyes glowed red, and with his left arm, he drew out a long sword emanating an eerie green light, slashing it to the side.
“Mystic Fire!”
The green flames fused with the sword energy. The strange demonic flames carried an icy chill as they slashed toward its enemy, but in the end, the demonic flames mysteriously disappeared.
Two blades of black and purple, wrapped in ghostly blue fire, completely absorbed the demonic flames released by Shichiseiken.
“Flames of hatred and unwillingness… this really is a Cursed Sword.”
Upon closer inspection, the black and purple were not blades but arms. Their owner was Misu, who had transformed into Ceruledge.
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