My greatest regret is that I could never defeat my greatest rival.
A member of the Hero's Party… a swordswoman even better than the Hero himself.
A warrior woman from the Empire.
Her name: Sakura Dry."
Andras's eyes widened.
"You knew my Master?!
Did she already have bigger abs than her chest back then?"
Andrasa froze in shock.
"What? How do you know that?
Sakura Dry was your master?
But she died five hundred years ago!"
Andras grinned.
"Let's just say… her soul isn't the type that can rest quietly.
She taught me swordsmanship.
She trained me for two years — every single day was hell.
Then she entrusted the fate of the world to me."
Andrasa laughed — clear, honest, and free.
"Hahaha! I see!
So Sakura's soul could not rest either.
I suppose she missed our duels."
The spirit drifted closer to Andras.
"But if you learned from her… then I have nothing left to teach you."
She gestured toward the rune blade.
"Take my sword. It is yours.
A Rune Blade — forged by the greatest dwarf smith of my era.
Four runes… one short of a legendary weapon."
The sword glowed with a blue radiance, as if it too rejoiced to finally find a worthy hand.
The Founder's Farewell
The blue glow of the rune blade reflected across Andrasa's spirit form, as if the sword itself recognized its heir.
The She‑Wolf's smile was warm, yet carried such power that Fireburp instinctively hid behind the sarcophagus.
Andrasa smiled.
"If you channel your water element into it, it will cut through a Fire Demon's thick hide as if you were dipping a hot knife into butter.
And I see you prefer short swords as well. In that, you take after me."
Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Hm… and who is that little girl hiding behind the sarcophagus?"
Fireburp immediately jumped out, puffing out her chest.
"I'm not afraid of spirits! I'm a Dragon!"
Andrasa raised an eyebrow.
"A Dragon? As in, wearing human skin?
I see your horns, but I do not sense demon energy.
Is she truly a dragon, my dear descendant?"
Andras nodded.
"A Fire Dragon hatchling."
Andrasa laughed.
"A dragon in a maid outfit? Hahaha!
One sees many strange things when one lives for centuries."
Then her expression grew serious.
"But speaking of demons… I sensed one nearby.
But now its presence is gone.
Did your companions defeat it?"
Andras nodded.
"Yes. Andrea Wolf defeated him."
Andrasa's eyes softened.
"I also felt Miroslava's soul move on.
That stubborn girl followed me even after death.
Perhaps it is time for me to move on as well."
Andras stepped forward.
"Are you sure? I would gladly welcome you in my castle as a guardian spirit."
Andrasa's laughter rang clear.
"Hahaha! Thank you for the kind offer, but I have no regrets left.
Now I can meet my fallen comrades with my head held high."
The spirit drifted closer to Andras.
"Ah yes… you asked for my blessing. Here."
Andrasa's spirit leaned down and kissed the young lord on the forehead.
The gesture was at once maternal, grandmotherly, and that of a fellow warrior.
Then she embraced Andras — tightly, warmly, as if he were truly her own grandchild.
Her body began to shine.
The light grew stronger, then broke apart into countless tiny fragments.
The blue glow of the light‑orb flowers illuminated the way as the fragments rose like shimmering petals.
They drifted upward, passing through the ceiling as if it did not exist, disappearing along the path toward the heavens.
Fireburp stared with her mouth open.
"Beautiful!
Like tiny fireflies flying into the sky."
Andras nodded slowly.
"This is what it looks like when the soul of a true, pure‑hearted warrior reaches the end of its earthly journey."
The burial chamber fell silent.
But it was not an empty silence — rather peaceful, soothing.
The founder of the House of Wolfwood had finally gone home.
The Team Reunites
Noelle's water magic activated the runes with a soft, chiming sound.
The gate on the opposite side slowly opened, and the two girls stepped into the burial chamber.
The sight that greeted them was both surprising and awe‑inspiring:
Young Wolf was already standing before the Rune Blade, and Fireburp beside him, staring wide‑eyed at the chamber bathed in light.
Noelle stopped and looked around.
"There was another entrance?"
Andrea stepped forward, the Wolf Fang still faintly glowing with demon blood.
"Young Wolf, I defeated the demon!"
Andras nodded, as if this were the natural outcome.
"Well done. Did you get any information out of him?"
Andrea sighed.
"Only that he came for the water sword you're holding.
He wanted to use it to kill another, stronger demon."
Andras raised an eyebrow.
"Water sword?
This isn't a water sword — it's a Rune Blade.
It's compatible with every element — its element depends entirely on the wielder."
The sword pulsed with a soft blue glow, as if acknowledging his words.
"Andrasa Wolfwood was water‑elemental, so it appeared to be a water sword.
If a Fire Demon had wielded it, it would have become a fire‑element blade just the same."
Noelle smiled.
"So the Fire Demon's revenge plan was pointless.
A blessing for him that he died without knowing."
Andrea nodded.
"Yeah… I kind of pity him.
His soul would never have found peace if he'd known the truth and died like that."
Noelle continued:
"He also said we'll soon meet a very strong but insane Fire Demon, and that we should kill him in his place.
His name is Wildfire.
But we didn't learn whether he's one of the Demon Generals."
Andras's expression darkened.
"If a demon managed to get this far… then more of them are likely already within the Kingdom's borders."
Silence settled over the burial chamber.
The light‑orb flowers cast a gentle glow over the reunited team, standing together again in the depths.
The Rune Blade's blue light slowly faded in Andras's hand, as if accepting its new master.
The Cursed Blade Revealed
Anita and Ironclaw finally arrived in the burial chamber.
The new black‑bladed sword hung at the girl's shoulder, pulsing with an icy blue glow.
Anita grinned widely.
"So here you are. I saw the demon's corpse. Who was the lucky one?"
Andrea answered with a half‑smile.
"I killed him."
Anita straightened proudly.
"I fought a strong opponent too. A skeleton knight.
Look, I got this awesome sword as a reward!
Besides my wind element, for some reason I can use ice magic with it.
But only with this sword — my original one doesn't work."
Andras narrowed his eyes.
"That sword can generate ice element on its own?
Is it some kind of unique magical blade?
Show it to me, let me see!"
Anita pulled the sword back.
"You can look, but I'm not handing it over. This is my sword."
Andras exploded.
"You idiot! That's a Dark Blade!
If you can use its power, then you formed a soul contract with it!
How stupid can you be?!
Of course you can use ice magic — you literally received power in exchange for completing a quest!"
Anita blinked.
"Soul contract? Quest? I don't get it…"
Andras slapped his forehead.
"Of course you don't, that's why you're stupid!
Let's see…"
Andras activated the Magic Eye.
Faint red runes appeared above the sword.
Quest of the Blade: Slay 100 demons.
Demons slain: 0 / 100
Andras sighed.
"I see.
So it's a cursed demon‑hunter sword.
You accepted the sword's quest — you must hunt down and kill one hundred demons."
Anita turned pale.
"What?! I didn't accept any quest!
Or wait…
Does it count that I promised the sword I'd freeze a lot of demon blood with it?"
Andrea massaged her forehead.
"She really is an idiot."