Chapter 119 The Curse of the Red-Handled Sword
On Monday morning, Aiwass arrived at the classroom more than half an hour early.
What surprised him was that Professor Bud arrived earlier than him.
"Our teaching assistant is here."
Hearing the sound of a wheelchair rolling across the wooden floor, Professor Bud turned around and greeted Aiwass with a smile: "Are you here so early? Have you had breakfast?"
Even if Aiwass was in a wheelchair, Professor Budd was not much taller than him.
This old professor, with thinning hair, short stature but a good personality, only has a stern face in class. When he is not teaching, he is cheerful every day, full of optimism and vitality that is quite rare for an elderly person.
"I have, Professor."
Aiwass said gently, "It's not too early... Look, aren't there so many people here?"
He said, looking at the students sitting in their seats.
There is still half an hour left before class starts, and nearly half of the students have already taken their seats.
Professor Bud just shook his head: "It's because of you that they arrived so early.
"Usually, even if class is ten minutes away, not many people show up. They either arrive just in time or are simply late. Those who arrive early generally aren't there to study. They're either reading novels during class or sleeping. There are even some who come here to catch up on homework from other classes..."
"Even though I don't care about them, it doesn't mean I'm too old to see them."
Speaking of this, the old professor also sighed.
But before Aiwass could offer any comfort, the old man adjusted himself and said with an optimistic smile, "But who can blame me for not teaching well? It can't be helped. I can't expect students to listen carefully when I know I'm not teaching well, can I?"
"There are not many lecturers who have your level of awareness." Aiwass 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 was taught in class was just the basics. If you really wanted to develop your own abilities, you still needed to take a note to the library to learn more advanced knowledge on your own, or take a letter of introduction from your instructor to another professor for one-on-one instruction.
Knowing that such open classes are of little significance, few professors would pay much attention to them. However, lecturers who reach the level of "professor" are basically important figures. Even if they don't pay attention to the lecture, 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 own research. They were still young enough and had the potential and desire to go further."
"I'm in a good mood now because I've reached the pinnacle of archaeological and historical research. I have no goals to surpass, no resources to strive for, and I have no interest in the position of technical officer or a seat at the Round Table.
"All I think about every day is to take advantage of the fact that my old bones can still move and quickly visit some ancient ruins whose age is difficult to determine. Then, I will use the rest of my life to distinguish and record this lost history."
"'No desires, no strength.'"
Aiwass nodded. "As long as you don't have the desire to compete with others or to surpass others, you will naturally be strong and unyielding, and have a peaceful state of mind."
Bud was a little surprised: "You also understand Taichu language?"
"A little, but not a lot," Aiwass said modestly.
"That's already quite remarkable."
Professor Budd exclaimed in admiration.
He also became more and more fond of the knowledgeable, studious and humble Aiwass.
Although being Aiwass's mentor was just a transaction at first, Bud now feels more and more that his decision was the right one.
Afterwards, Professor Budd and Aiwass talked about what happened last Thursday.
"The holy sword you held at that time..."
The old man turned serious and asked softly, "If I'm not mistaken, is it the 'Red Handled Sword'?"
"You can recognize this?"
Aiwass was a little surprised.
In the newspaper photo from that time, the flames on the blade in Aiwass's hand had not yet dissipated. With the blade completely engulfed in flames and the hilt grasped in his hand, how could Professor Budd actually discern the name of the holy sword?
"That's an ominous sword," Professor Budd said worriedly. "You'd better be careful. According to historical records, this sword is the magic sword once wielded by the Paladin Galahad."
Isn't it a holy sword?
Aiwass's heart moved.
"...I remember that Galahad is the child of Lancelot I, right?" Aiwass asked indirectly.
"Where did you hear this? Is it some weird folk history?"
The old professor scratched his head when he heard this, with a strange expression on his face: "When Galahad and Lancelot I met, Lancelot I had not yet married Princess Guinevere, and Knight Galahad was already an adult at that time.
"There were originally twenty-two Knights of the Round Table, one of whom remains unnamed. The remaining twenty-one were Lancelot I and his twenty founders. The Galahad family still exists today, as the House of Camelot. Clearly, they are not of the same lineage as the House of 'du Lac'..."
Professor Budd glanced at Aiwass again as he said this: "It is only because Galahad became an apostle that Galahad changed his name. Just like the family of Mordred, the son of Morgan, has now changed its name to 'Moriarty'.
"Mordred's mother, Morgan, was named after a knight from overseas, and a very active and brave member of the Round Table. Therefore, after Mordred became an Apostle, his descendants changed their surname to Moriarty... This surname means 'Warrior of the Sea,' which is exactly how the Moriarty family avoided referring to the Apostle Mordred."
--What?
Aiwass was also a little surprised.
He knew that the surnames of the twenty founding fathers' families were completely different from those back then.
Even the descendants of many of the founding families couldn't match them one to one. Not to mention that Aiwass was an adopted son and hadn't received any education about the "ancient glory of the family." Old Moriarty had never told him which knight Moriarty corresponded to.
Aiwass thought it was someone he didn't know. But it turned out to be Mordred?
…How should I put it, surprisingly, they go well together.
Professor Budd recounted the history of the Red Handle Sword: "The Red Handle Sword looks like a giant cross, with a dark red gem wrapped around the hilt. When it was discovered, it was embedded in a piece of marble that had been carried by the water, with the words 'Only the greatest knight can make me move' written on it.
"Galahad wasn't the first wielder of the Red-Handled Sword, but Lancelot I wasn't the first either. At that time, the most powerful knight of the Round Table was named Balin... Only he could draw the sword and instantly gain immense power.
"But this sword holds the curse of the Eternal Self, and only the most resolute and pure can wield it. If one wields this sword with evil thoughts, wanting to kill someone or commit evil deeds, these desires will be permanently amplified, gradually becoming insane and paranoid.
"Ballin's personality changed at a noticeable rate, becoming arrogant and manic, and ultimately died due to the dangerous situation brought about by the sword.
"After Balin's death, no one else dared to take over the sword. Later, this sword, known as 'The Curse' and feared by other knights, fell into the hands of Galahad.
"After Galahad ascended to become an apostle, the sword was passed down to Lancelot I, but he rarely used it. Eventually, the sword fell into the hands of Saint Guinevere. Because it was too dangerous and could potentially corrupt a noble paladin, the wizard Merlin personally shattered and sealed it. Today, its hilt is the key to Saint Guinevere's Chapel... I believe it's what you hold in your hand."
"...You actually know so much about the history of Avalon's founding?"
Aiwass was a little surprised.
This was the first time he'd seen the history professor demonstrate his expertise. It involved extraordinary, even esoteric knowledge; a professor who was nothing more than an ordinary person actually knew more than Aiwass...
At least Aiwass didn't know the specific curse contained in the sword. He also didn't know that the curse belonged to Hengwo and not Snake Father.
“It’s very simple.”
Professor Bud chuckled upon hearing this, his words revealing a strong sense of confidence and self-assurance. "Because I once collected a fragment of the 'Red Handled Sword' from a certain maritime ruin. There was also a message from Merlin, personally explaining why the sword was sealed there... and this is the only fragment of the broken sword Avalon has obtained so far, and it is now stored in the Edward Museum. I wrote all the historical records about this sword.
"According to my research, the creation of this sword was influenced by both Heng and Amber. The red hilt is most likely a reference to the concept of 'Amber'. Therefore, I believe that a powerful phantom demon must be sealed within this sword—it is most likely a rebellious celestial being or apostle, belonging to the Path of Twilight or the Path of Love. The latter is perhaps more likely."
"Is it possible that the demon sealed within it is the phantom demon of the Path of Devotion?"
Aiwass suggested a possibility.
Professor Bard touched his chin and thought for a moment. "It's not impossible. Galahad has the affinity for the Path of Devotion, and he can hold it safely, which may be the reason... But why didn't Hengwo and Amber join forces to seal the phantom demon of the Path of Devotion? Then Sizhu should handle it himself.
"—In short, you should try to use this sword as little as possible. Although its curse is stored in the shattered blades, its hilt also makes people more vulnerable to the curse. Even the most powerful extraordinary person will be as fragile as a baby when facing the curse when wielding this sword."
The old professor warned, "It's possible that a curse that was originally ineffective against you could become effective because of the presence of this sword. This is entirely possible."
"I see."
Aiwass nodded obediently.
But his heart moved slightly, and he found a key clue from the words that Professor Bud inadvertently revealed.
...It turns out that one of the fragments of the red-handled sword is now in the Edward Museum.
The Edward Museum... that was the museum built by old James in Edward's name. In other words, it was the Edwards family's own property.
If I have a chance, I can go and get it back.
Even if the holy sword is not reconstructed, it can still be used as a medium for the curse.
——And if Aiwass himself holds one of the fragments, it means that Bishop Mathers will not be able to reassemble the holy sword. Because he can never collect all the fragments... just like when collecting cards, there will always be a card missing.
As long as Mathers cannot reforge the red-handled sword, he will not be deprived of his mind by the curse in the sword and degenerate into a cursed paladin.
but……
A powerful phantom demon... a fallen celestial being or apostle? Isn't that a high-level phantom demon?
Aiwass narrowed his eyes and raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
In other words, as long as he gathers all the fragments of the red-handled sword, he can awaken a light-attributed upper-level phantom demon sealed in the holy sword?
That's such a coincidence.
He was just worrying about who to catch with his light-attributed "big beast", and now it came right to him.
(End of this chapter)
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