Four days had passed since Evilus attacked Orario.
The tide of war was now barely leaning in the adventurers' favor.
Evilus had only managed to seize the southeastern streets, while the adventurers had successfully held most of the city.
However, the conflict was far from over, as Evilus still possessed the overwhelming power of Alfia and Zard.
The mere presence of those two meant the outcome of the war could be reversed in an instant.
If the adventurers wanted to secure a definitive victory, they needed a powerful trump card.
"So, you came to me for that?"
"Yes."
That trump card was the magic sword of Crozzo.
It all started when I ranked up to LV.2.
Because I had absentmindedly registered with the Guild under the name Bellf Crozzo, the name "Crozzo" had spread throughout all of Orario.
The elves harbored a deep hatred for the Crozzo family, who had forged the magic swords that once burned their forests. Since I had left home and lived on my own, I became a target of that resentment, leading to all sorts of friction.
Furthermore, once word leaked that I could actually forge these magic swords, a fair number of idiots came knocking, demanding a blade for themselves.
That was why I always questioned their purpose and their reasons.
If their answer pleased me, I would forge the blade; if not, I refused flatly.
It was blindingly obvious that if a magic sword fell into the hands of some street-thug adventurer, a disaster would inevitably follow.
"So, why has the noble elf princess come looking for me? As an elf, I assume you'd hate my magic swords as much as the rest?"
Currently visiting my workshop were the key executives of the Loki Familia: Finn Deimna, the [Brave]; Riveria Ljos Alf, the [Wise Queen]; and Gareth Landrock, the [Heavy Tank].
"Your ancestors forged the swords, and the Kingdom of Lacia used them. I have no reason to direct that hatred toward you," Riveria replied.
"Fine. So, what do you plan to use them for? Fighting Evilus?"
"Yes. Your magic swords are essential to bringing this war to an end."
"Then bring me a contract."
I wanted the war to end as well, so I agreed to provide the magic swords at a bargain price.
"One thing I'm curious about—why didn't you release these sooner?"
"Because if I released them carelessly, they'd end up in the hands of some moron. You can imagine the chaos if a malicious adventurer got a hold of them, right? You lot are far too busy to be tracked down easily, so I figured I'd just wait until you came to me."
"Fair enough..."
The three executives, fresh from the front lines fighting monsters and Evilus, nodded in understanding.
Within a single day, the magic swords were distributed to the majority of the adventurers.
While many elf adventurers initially threw them aside in disgust, a few reluctantly took them up after seeing Riveria Ljos Alf—the idol of all elves—lead by example and use one herself.
"I can finally breathe for a second."
I let out a long sigh after completing the promised quota of magic swords, but—
"Bellf! The Dungeon team has been hit!"
A companion appeared, gasping for air, bringing terrible news.
"Damn it."
I hastily threw on my nagrang and rushed toward the Dungeon.
Since my workshop was nearby, I was able to navigate through the ruins of shattered buildings and quickly reach Babel Tower, the massive spire that served as the lid to the Dungeon built by the gods.
"■■■■■■!!!"
Upon arriving at the tower, I saw a black-scaled wyvern bursting through a passageway, smashing the walls of a corridor far too narrow for a monster of its size.
Fresh blood stained the corners of its maw.
"..."
"■■■■■■■!!!"
At this moment, all the high-ranking adventurers were either engaged with Alfia and Zard or had descended deep into the Dungeon.
Reinforcements were virtually non-existent.
"Trace on."
I projected a lightning-attribute magic sword and swung it toward the wyvern as it took to the sky.
A bolt of brilliant yellow lightning surged from the blade, striking the wyvern's wing with pinpoint accuracy, but—
"Kiaaaaaa!!!"
Not even a scorch mark remained on its scales.
Its magic resistance was incredibly high.
Irritated by the attack, the beast began hurling spheres of fire in my direction.
"...Maybe it's time."
I recalled the first strike of the [Sword Emperor of Nothingness], a technique I had never once used.
Even as my magic power grew, I had never felt the need to unleash it.
Most monsters I had faced were easily dispatched with projected magic swords, but it was clear that this wyvern would be a grueling fight.
Therefore,
I decided to try it.
"To reach that place lies countless training, a mountain of blades piled high upon blades."
As the chant began, a desolate wasteland materialized before my eyes.
A wilderness of steel, containing dozens, hundreds of embedded swords.
"Sever fate through the bonds of destiny."
"■■■■■■■■■!!!"
The wyvern let out an incomprehensible shriek and charged at me.
However, the movements of the rampaging beast were easy to evade.
"The Crozzo blade that raises eight layers of walls."
Hundreds of swords scattered like falling snowflakes, until only a single blade remained in my hand.
"This is my—"
"■■■■■■■■!!!"
"[Sword Emperor of Nothingness]—!!!"
With a single swing, the blade sliced through the wyvern, cleaving through scales that seemed impenetrable as if they were nothing more than paper.