The Curse of the Red Hilt Sword

On Monday morning, Iver arrived at the classroom more than half an hour early.

To his surprise, Professor Bard had arrived even earlier than him.

"Our teaching assistant has arrived."

Hearing the sound of the wheelchair rolling on the wooden floor from afar, Professor Bard turned around and greeted Iver with a smile, "You're here so early? Have you had breakfast yet?"

Even though Iver was in a wheelchair, Professor Bard wasn't much taller than him.

This elderly professor, with thinning hair and a short stature but a very kind personality, only puts on a stern face when he's teaching. When he's not teaching, he's always cheerful, radiating an optimism and vitality that's quite rare for someone his age.

"I've already eaten, Professor."

Iver said gently, "It's not that early... Look how many people have already arrived."

As he spoke, he looked at the students sitting in their seats.

With half an hour to go before class, nearly half of the students have already taken their seats.

Professor Bard simply shook his head. "That's because you were there, that's why they arrived so early."

"Even if there are still ten minutes before class starts, not many people show up. They either arrive at the last minute or are simply a little late. Those who arrive early are generally not there to study. They're either reading novels in class or sleeping here. Some even come here to catch up on homework for other classes..."

"Although I don't care about them, it doesn't mean I'm too old to see."

At this point, the old professor sighed with emotion.

Before Iver could comfort him, the old man adjusted himself and smiled optimistically, "But what can I do? I really didn't speak well. There's nothing I can do about it. I can't expect the students to listen attentively when I know I'm not good at it, can I?"

"There aren't many lecturers with your level of awareness," Iver said with a smile.

This is not flattery, but the truth.

For these professors, the role of "mentor" is usually more important than that of "lecturer".

What's taught in class is just the basics. To truly develop your own abilities, you need to take notes to the library to learn more advanced knowledge on your own, or take a letter of recommendation from your advisor to other professors for one-on-one instruction.

Knowing that such open lectures are not very meaningful, few professors will take them particularly seriously. However, lecturers who reach the "professor" level are generally important figures, and even if they are not dedicated to their lectures, they will not allow students to offend them.

Bud simply waved his hand. "I actually had my bad temper back then, just like them. But looking back now, it was actually because they were anxious about their research. They were still young enough, with the possibility and desire to go further."

"I am in a good mood now because I have reached the pinnacle in the field of archaeological and Historical Research. I have no goals to surpass, no resources to fight for, and I have no interest in the position of technical officer or a seat in the Round Table Hall."

"What I think about every day is to take advantage of the fact that my old bones can still move and quickly go to investigate a few ancient sites whose era is difficult to determine. Then I will use the rest of my life to identify and record these lost histories."

"'Being free from desires makes one invincible,' as the saying goes."

Iver nodded. "As long as you don't have the desire to compete with others or to surpass them, you will naturally be strong and unyielding, and have a peaceful mind."

Bard was somewhat surprised. "You also know the Primordial Language?"

"I know a little, but not much," Iver said modestly.

"That's already quite remarkable."

Professor Bard exclaimed in admiration.

He grew to like the knowledgeable, studious, and humble Iver more and more.

Although becoming Iver's mentor was initially just a transaction, Bard now feels more and more that he made the right decision.

Afterwards, Professor Bard and Iver talked about what happened last Thursday.

"The holy sword you were holding back then..."

The old man became serious and asked softly, "If I'm not mistaken, is it a ' Red Hilt Sword '?"

"You can recognize this?"

Iver somewhat surprised.

In the photographs published in the newspapers at the time, the flames on the blade of Iver's sword had not yet dissipated. With the sword completely engulfed in flames and the hilt still in his hand, how could Professor Bard possibly recognize the name of the holy sword? "That's an ominous sword," Professor Bard said with some concern. "You'd better be careful. According to historical records, this sword was once used by the Holy Knight Galahad."

Isn't it the Holy Sword? Iver's heart stirred.

"... I remember Galahad was Lancelot I's child, wasn't he?" Iver asked indirectly.

"Where did you hear that? Is it some strange, unofficial history?"

The old professor scratched his head upon hearing this, his expression somewhat strange. "When Galahad met Lancelot I Lancelot I had not yet married Queen Guinevere, while Knight Galahad was already an adult."

"The original Round Table Knights numbered twenty-two, one of whose name is kept secret. The remaining twenty-one were Lancelot I and his twenty founders. The Galahad family still exists today; it is the Camelot Family. Clearly, it is not related to the ' Du Lac ' family..."

Professor Bard glanced at Iver again as he said this, "It's only because Galahad became an Apostle that Galahad changed his name. Just like the family of Morgan's son Mordred, which is now called ' Moriarty '."

"Mordred's mother Morgan's name means 'born at sea,' and Mordred was also a knight from overseas, and a very active and brave one at the Round Table. Therefore, his descendants changed his surname to Moriarty after Mordred became an apostle... This surname means 'warrior of the sea,' which is precisely the Moriarty Family's way of avoiding the name of the apostle Mordred."

"What?" Iver also somewhat surprised.

He knew that the surnames of the twenty Founding Family were now completely different from what they were back then.

Even many heirs of the Founding Family couldn't match them all up. Not to mention that Iver was an adopted son who hadn't received any education on the "ancient glory of the family," and Old Moriarty had never told him which knight Moriarty corresponded to.

Iver thought it was someone he didn't recognize. It turned out to be Mordred?

... Well, surprisingly they actually match quite well.

Professor Bard then launched into a long and detailed account of the history of the Red Hilt Sword: "The Red Hilt Sword looks like a giant cross, with a single piece of dark red gemstone covering the hilt. When it was discovered, it was stuck in a marble slab that had been washed ashore, inscribed with the words 'Only the greatest knight can move me.'"

"Galahad was not the first wielder of the Red Hilt Sword, but the first wielder was not Lancelot I either. At that time, the strongest knight of the Round Table was Balin... Only he could draw the sword and immediately gain extremely powerful strength."

"But this sword contains the curse of Constant Self, and only the most steadfast and pure can wield it. If one uses this sword with evil intentions, wants to kill someone or do something wicked, that desire will be permanently amplified, gradually leading to madness and paranoia."

"Balin's personality changed at a visible pace, becoming arrogant and manic, and ultimately died because of the dangerous situation brought about by the sword."

"After Balin died, no one else dared to take up the sword, and later this sword, which was feared by other knights and called 'The Curse,' fell into Galahad's hands."

"After Galahad ascended to become an apostle, this sword was left to Lancelot I, but Lancelot I didn't use it often. Eventually, the sword fell into the hands of Guinevere. Because it was too dangerous and could corrupt a noble paladin, the mage Merlin personally shattered and sealed it apart. Now, its hilt is the Key to St. Genevieve Chapel... I think what you hold in your hand is it."

"... You actually know so much about the founding history of Avalon?"

Iver somewhat surprised.

This was the first time he had witnessed the history professor demonstrate his professional knowledge. This involved extraordinary, even esoteric, knowledge, and the professor, an ordinary person, actually knew more than Iver ...

At least Iver didn't know the specifics of the curse contained within the sword. He also didn't know that the curse belonged to Constant Self, not the Serpent Father.

"It's very simple."

Professor Bard chuckled, his words brimming with confidence and assurance. "Because I once collected a fragment of the ' Red Hilt Sword ' in a certain Sea Ruins. There was also Merlin's message there, personally explaining why the sword was sealed there... And this is currently the only broken sword fragment found in Avalon, now stored in the Edward Museum. I wrote all the historical records about this sword."

"According to my research, the creation of this sword Constant Self and Amber. The red hilt is very likely the concept of 'Amber.' Therefore, I believe that a powerful phantom demon should be sealed within this sword—it is very likely a rebellious Celestial or Apostle, belonging to either the Path of Twilight or the Path of Love. The latter is perhaps more likely."

"Is it possible that it contains a demonic illusion that represents the Dedication Path?"

Iver raised a possibility.

Professor Bard stroked his chin, pondering for a moment. "It's not impossible. Galahad has the affinity for the Dedication Path, so his ability to hold it safely might be for that reason... But Constant Self and Amber have no reason to join forces to seal the illusionary demon of the Dedication Path, right? That should be left to the Candle Master to handle."

"In short, you should try to use this sword as little as possible. Although its curse is stored in the broken blades, its hilt also makes people more vulnerable to the curse. Even the most powerful superhumans will be as fragile as infants when using this sword in the face of the curse."

The old professor warned, "It's entirely possible that a curse that wouldn't normally work on you has become effective because of this sword.

"I see."

Iver nodded obediently.

But a thought struck him: he had found a crucial clue in Professor Bard's casual remark.

... So one of the fragments of the Red Hilt Sword is now in the Edward Museum.

The Edward Museum ...that's the museum that old James built after Edward. In other words, it's part of the Iver family's property.

If given the chance, I might go and retrieve it.

Even without reassembling the Holy Sword, it can still serve as a medium for curses.

—And if Iver himself possesses one of the fragments, it means that Bishop Mathers cannot reassemble the Holy Sword. Because he simply cannot collect all the fragments... just like when collecting cards, there will always be one card that cannot be found.

As long as Mathers cannot reforge the Red Hilt Sword, he will not be swayed by the curse within the sword and fall into Cursed Holy Knight.

but...

A powerful phantom demon... a fallen celestial or apostle? Isn't that Greater Phantom Demon?

Iver narrowed his eyes, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

In other words, as long as he collects all the fragments of the Red Hilt Sword, he can awaken a high-level Light Attribute Greater Phantom Demon sealed within the Holy Sword? That's quite a coincidence.

He was just wondering which of his Light Attribute "beasts" to capture when this opportunity came knocking on his door.