F-ranker Sword Saint: My Soulbound Sword is Secretly SSS-tier!-Chapter 309: Testing the Theory

The two youngsters’ hearts grew heavy. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Someone like Caladbolg wouldn’t joke around with matters like this, which meant they really would have been wiped out.

Daru’s curiosity peaked.

"Why is that, Big Ed?"

"Well, partly because your little warband’s overall combat power would’ve fallen short, but mostly because you would’ve wasted your time fighting a mirage. That Gravewarden is merely the eyes and hands of the cemetery. If you want to kill it, you need to find the heart, and I don’t know whether you guys would have enough time or perception to."

Caleb shuddered.

If that were the case, they would indeed perish in frustration and anger, probably cursing to the misty winds about how the Gravewarden is so tough.

’So that thing’s merely a mirage...’

"Unfortunately for the bastard, I’m here." Caladbolg grinned.

***

Egress Haven.

Nando sat in a chair, arms crossed over his rather bony chest. He had a stern look on his face, but his heart was racing — both in nervousness and anticipation.

He had been staring at his quest window since earlier, waiting for the number "0" to change.

It soon did.

Nando’s eyes widened, and he sat up straight, breathing growing even more ragged.

[You’ve completed the Special Quest: Fallen Heralds]

[Claim your quest rewards? Y/N]

The old man gulped.

Three minutes later, the door of Nando’s humble shack opened, and three individuals entered.

They froze, eyes widening at the sight of a handsome young man the middle of Daru and Caleb’s age.

Caladbolg’s brows, meanwhile, only rose.

"Brat, where’s Lil Bro Adviser Nando?"

The young man’s grin widened.

"Why, of course you three wouldn’t recognize my dashing young self. Completely understandable." Nando nodded repeatedly in utter satisfaction.

This sinful face of his almost allowed him to bag an S-ranker fairy back in his prime, despite being an E-ranker, had he been strategic instead of "untameable" — as Nando fancied calling himself — and had not juggled four ladies at that time like they were prop balls.

It was the exalted elder who was able to respond, as he did not know the rewards of Nando’s quest.

"Twin, ok you ate, you look snatched fr — but if you don’t answer me rn I might open the face editor."

Nando was dumbfounded for a moment, but then chuckled. He was way too pleased to be engaging in senility, a life he had already left behind.

He shall be patient with the elder.

"Why, Big Ed, it is I, your Lil Bro Adviser Nando. This is one of the rewards of the quest you have completed for me. To show you my gratitude, I will be conquering the ladies of your wo– err...I will do my best as your faction’s adviser."

This time, it was Caladbolg who had fallen into bewilderment.

He had pondered whether the Myriad Sword Realm could grant one a longer life.

While he didn’t dare look for something so exhausting as immortality, one or two more decades of vigour would be huge for the stability of the Neo-Earth World Government, and so, Caladbolg tried tapping into this possibility.

Alas, no luck for a decade. He didn’t even find any leads.

Who would’ve expected he would witness someone be reverted to their darned prime!

"O-O-Old man?!" Caleb shrilled in horror.

There’s no way...He’s dreaming.

Tall, lean, and handsome.

Only the first one already made him curse the world in envy. How could the gods and goddesses be so unjust?!

Nando chuckled at their reactions. "Relax, brother Caleb, there’s no need to sh–"

"AAHHH!! NO! NO! DON’T YOU EVER CALL ME BROTHER. MY GRANDPA! BRING BACK MY GRANDPA!!"

The once-old man chuckled more, though this time, a hint of embarrassment and warmth crept into his heart.

Nando was naturally joking. He, too, would find it abhorrent calling someone whom he had long considered his grandson "brother."

In fact, doing it just once already made him suffer inwardly.

Still, Nando appreciated the sudden yet extremely noticeable changes in his patience.

He’s able to joke around like this now when, in the past, his temper would boil at the slightest retort from anyone.

Being young again truly felt nice.

"W-What should I call you now?" Daru suddenly asked, genuinely lost.

"Hahaha! I was just joking, don’t worry. You can keep calling me old man. It’s not like I lost the years I’ve lived, have I?"

He nodded, finding peace within the logical explanation.

It was Caladbolg who was struggling to make peace with the situation, more excited than shocked as he thought about the possibilities.

"L-Lil Bro Adviser Nando! How about we go back to the Surface now? Do you still have something to do here?"

His schedule was packed to the brim, and if he wanted to discuss this matter with Nando, then he could not keep dallying here.

This time, it was the once-old man who trembled.

The matter had taken a temporary backseat due to the wondrous physical changes.

However, Nando was still quite nervous, as he wasn’t sure what would happen.

Could he really be taken to another world?

In theory, there was a chance that it was possible, but how could divine laws be measured in theories?

What if the divine laws of Neo-Earth determined that he was not a part of that world and obliterated him before he could even materialize there?

"I-I don’t, and I can go already...but how do I?"

Caladbolg retrieved something from his inventory — a high-definition, laminated photo of a fairly remote area on the outskirts of Cameron, the Novice City Caleb started in.

"This brat explained to me how the return portal works. Lil Bro Adviser Nando, the two of us will emerge at that location. I will then attempt to take you back to Neo-Earth with my connection to the Myriad Sword Realm as a Sword Saint."

Nando nodded with a serious expression.

Caleb, meanwhile, turned to Daru and explained:

"Daru, we will emerge where we last exited the Myriad Sword Realm. In your case, your inn room in Crownspire. I’ll meet you outside the establishment so we can act as though we’re fulfilling the final contract. I’ll fill you in on the details later, but remember that you must behave as if we’ve had a falling-out, and that our friendship has crumbled because you chose Iron Lotus."

After confirming that everyone understood the plan, Caladbolg declared that they were returning to the Surface.

There wasn’t much to worry about on the two youngsters’ side.

As for the two old men, they could only pray that the theory wouldn’t remain just that.