Rogue Villain-Chapter 254: Lousy

After persuading the sword with his nice and pleasant attitude, Ackster wrapped it with his Will, and all of a sudden, he had something smooth and cool in his hand.

Ackster tightened his grip on the sword’s handle as he opened his eyes and looked at the still pitch-black sword.

"As I suspected."

"What?"

Ackster wondered what it was that the Sword God had confirmed, so he followed his gaze to the tattoo in the center of his chest instead of the sword in his hand.

’Ah, shit.’

It wouldn’t be enough to get rid of the sword by taking it outside his body.

"Well, you wouldn’t be a Nesting Doll Sword if you didn’t have a sword nesting inside your doll. Well, it looks like it will control you, no? It might be best for me to just free you from it, my understanding disciple."

Ackster sighed. The Sword God had started looking at the sword with a greedy expression that didn’t fit his collected and imposing demeanor as the Sword God.

"It’s fine. The sword isn’t disobedient. It just wants my life force. As long as I don’t give it control, it will do as I want."

"Shucks."

’Hey!’

"Okay then. Good luck, crazy disciple!"

The Sword God winked at Ackster before disappearing into thin air.

"Mmkay, bye."

’Crazy disciple? I guess compared to you, everyone’s crazy.’

Ackster couldn’t help but feel a wave of relief wash over him with the Sword God finally gone. He was going to leave this depressing ruin alive and with two new tools in his arsenal: Will and the sword.

Ackster looked at his hand to admire the sword some more before leaving. It was, despite everything, the reason why he got the Sword God personally to teach him something, after all.

"Ah!"

However, there was nothing there.

"Goddamn thief!"

The Sword God took the sword and ran off before either Ackster or the sword could react.

Ackster rubbed his wrist, feeling a little lucky that the Sword God hadn’t taken his hand, too. But still, what kind of master took their disciple’s weapon like that?

Besides, the tattoo was still on his chest, and Ackster could still feel the sword leeching on his vitality. So, the Sword God taking away the sword benefitted only the Sword God.

Ackster sighed and began leaving the throne room to pick up Mio, who should hopefully still be waiting outside it. The safest place for Mio had been with Ackster while they were inside the ruins. But that changed when the Sword God showed up. Then, it became the opposite. Being around Ackster would be the most dangerous place.

Ackster just hoped the Sword God didn’t forget Mio was his slime.

"Did you wait long?"

Mio nodded before asking Ackster for something with a curling motion of its tentacle.

Ackster nodded, but before he could use Stormcaller to cut a piece of his flesh and feed Mio, a black shadow flashed straight through the air and straight into Ackster’s chest. Ackster didn’t even need to touch his chest to see if there were any wounds since he could sense the sword.

*Take good care of my sword, lousy disciple.* 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Ackster heard the Sword God’s voice despite there not being any signs of the latter anywhere close.

’The only lousy one here is you, crazy Master.’

Ackster sighed before using the sword to cut off a bit of himself and give it to Mio. The Sword God hadn’t been able to take the sword, or it wouldn’t stop trying to flee, and the Sword God decided to let Ackster take care of it.

Regardless, Ackster now had a cool sword he needed to learn how to use. He could take it out and stuff it back inside his body at will, but he wasn’t as good at using swords when fighting as he was when using fists.

Fortunately, it was just a matter of practice. Ackster could just share his experience in fist-based martial arts with his sword-wielding. Since the sword was an extension of his arm, it would be like having longer reach. It wouldn’t be that different.

Still, Ackster would need to find someone or something to fight against.

"Time to hunt the Hydra, maybe. Let’s see what Wilma has to say."

Ackster took the path he hadn’t come from as he left the ruins. It was like he had expected. There were more rooms with cots and weaponry, though it seemed to be of a lesser quality than what he had found down his route. Still, Ackster packed up most of it. He noticed there weren’t any swords left.

’Is he really going to collect every single sword in the world or something? But he never made any moves on The Hero’s swords?’

Ackster wondered why the Sword God had only been interested in The Hero and not The Hero’s swords when he was the exact opposite with Ackster. He couldn’t even remember who Ackster was after asking several times.

Ackster decided it was just another of the Sword God’s whims before continuing to leave the ruin while training his Will.

Each time he used his Will to do something, he could feel himself grow weary and mentally tired. It was like he was training his mind. And as long as it was training, Ackster would do it until he collapsed.

Fortunately, his recovery abilities also worked on his Will, and it progressed at a rapid rate. However, if Ackster wanted his Will to grow sharper faster, he knew what he needed to do. But now wasn’t the time for that. He had to find his next objective.

Ackster left the ruin to be greeted by a swarm of researchers studying the symbols on the Gate.

"Uh. It’s all yours. It should be safe now."

Ackster didn’t bother waiting for a response. He did like the Sword God and dipped before anyone could get a proper look at his face.

He didn’t sense or see Wilma here, so she was either still busy or waiting for him by the other Gate. Ackster decided to check there.