222 – Four Swords (3)
In the early evening as the sun was setting, I finished my work and headed to the place written on the note.
The Forbidden Forest, a place connected to the labyrinth, was foggy and sunless, but it was a place where torches were not needed. This was because the soil and grass imbued with the magic of the earth emitted an emerald glow in response to my footsteps.
There is only one place that comes to mind when you say graveyard.
I had seen an elf-eared woman at the place where the tombstone had been placed before.
In front of the tombstone I visited again, the old man from yesterday was standing.
He looked down at the tombstone for a moment, then sensed my presence and opened his mouth.
“I gave you something better, but you don’t like it?”
He said this because I came with a wooden sword.
“I’m more comfortable with this.”
He didn’t specify which sword to bring. If he needed a magic sword, he would have written it down.
“Have you talked to Priscilla?”
“Who is that?”
“Your new magic sword. That woman’s name is Priscilla.”
“I haven’t talked yet. Is there a woman’s soul trapped in that sword?”
Callios paused for a moment, lost in thought.
“No, the ego of a magic sword is different in nature from the soul of a human being. It chose to open its eyes on its own.”
What is he talking about? If it opened its eyes on its own, how could it have a female personality? It’s a bit hard for me to understand.
Callios cut him off without further explanation.
“Just believe it. Have you tried talking to me?”
“…No.”
“A magic sword that doesn’t communicate can kill your allies like a bomb. As I said, you have to treat a magic sword like a lover. You have to talk to it constantly, cherish it, and always be with it when you eat or sleep.”
“…”
He reached out to me.
“Let me see your wooden sword.”
I threw him my wooden sword, and he caught it in an instant, swinging it around with a swooshing sound.
Then he said, examining the blade closely.
“It’s a sword that no one would want.”
“…”
It’s a cold and cruel assessment. I knew it vaguely, but it doesn’t feel good to hear it from someone else. Maybe it’s because it’s a sword I love and cherish.
“The power it exerts is too small compared to its cost. Is there any reason why you use this inefficient sword?”
“Because I can handle it. And I like this sword.”
This wooden sword completely overpowered the magic sword Priscilla this morning. It is by no means an ordinary sword.
“Yes, if you work hard, you can grow together.”
And he threw the wooden sword at me.
I took it and put it in its scabbard. Then the old man asked for something else.
“Show me another sword.”
“This is all I have.”
“There’s one more thing.”
“I cannot show it to just anyone.”
“Do you think I’ll steal your sword?”
“…”
He stared at me intently before speaking.
“Ah, I should introduce myself briefly. I am Kalios. I was the Imperial Court’s direct advisor.”
“Then, information about my sword will be known to the Empire.”
“No, on the contrary. I am the only one who can prevent information about you from reaching the Imperial Court. Also, I was the one who oversaw your Master Class examination.”
“…”
If that was the case, then there was no reason to be wary.
As I called for the Demonic Sword, a radiant light gathered in my hand. I summoned the Demonic Sword and swung it, embedding it in the ground.
Kalios’ eyes were filled with curiosity.
He reached out to the Demonic Sword’s hilt. However, his fingers passed right through it without touching the sword.
He shook his hands vigorously, his face contorted in frustration. He still couldn’t touch my Demonic Sword.
“How peculiar.”
“What do you think?”
“I’ve seen countless Demonic Swords in my life, but… I don’t understand. I can’t even fathom why something like this exists.”
“…”
“Where did you say you were from?”
“Wizel.”
“I’m not asking for your fake identity.”
“…Haman. I worked as a metalworker.”
“Did you learn the sword there to survive?”
“No. I had never learned the sword before meeting my teacher.”
“Hmm.”
“…”
“Well then, can you tell me how you obtained the sword?”
I shook my head. If I talked about that part, questions would pile up and eventually lead back to Rizar.
He must have understood my intentions, because he didn’t press the issue further.
“Alright, I understand. Haman, Haman.”
He sighed, looking up at the sky and muttering the name of my hometown.
“…”
“You can put your sword away now.”
As soon as he finished speaking, my Demonic Sword vanished.
“Why have you called me here?”
“To guide you.”
“Are you teaching the swordsmanship course?”
“I will teach you how to become a knight.”
“I am ready.”
“No, you should go back today.”
“…Yes?”
“Go back and take care of Priscilla. Stay by her side at all times, even when she’s eating, bathing, or sleeping, so that you become one entity. And come back here tomorrow to report.”
After giving his orders, Kalios disappeared into the mist without a word of farewell.
I guess becoming familiar with the magic sword takes precedence over learning other miscellaneous skills.
***
Just as Kalios had instructed, I took the new magic sword, Priscilla, with me when I bathed and even when I went to bed, never letting it out of my sight.
And the following day, I encountered an unexpected problem.
Early in the morning, Trisha came downstairs rubbing her eyes and, staring at me, said,
“What are you doing?”
I held the sapling and kept shaking it, but there was no response.
From Noble mtl dot com
“The wooden sword won’t listen to me.”
I had kept the wooden sword outside my room overnight to prevent any accidents, but when I went to put it back in its scabbard in the morning, it hadn’t changed at all from its sapling form.
It hadn’t even absorbed my magic power. This had never happened before.
“…I knew it.”
“What?”
“It’s sulking.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Because you only bathe and sleep with your new sword and dote on it!”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Damian is an expert at making his friends sad.”
Trisha said her piece and went back up to her room, grumbling.
“…”
The wooden sword still showed no sign of changing.
Could it really be sulking, as Trisha said? Really?
If only there had been some progress with the magic sword Priscilla, I wouldn’t feel so wronged. It’s a headache when a sword you used to be able to wield so well starts acting up.
Isn’t there a job for a magic sword interpreter? I really want to ask it why it’s doing this.
***
Putting the wooden sword problem aside for the time being, I set off for school early to get some work done.
And in front of the guardian tree, I met Luna again, just like yesterday.
She waved at me awkwardly, just like yesterday.
“Luna?”
“Damian…!”
And then she came up beside me naturally and fell into step.
“Are you taking me again today?”
“Yes.”
Luna fumbled around in her handbag. Then she held out a small paper-wrapped something to me.
“Want to…eat it?”
“What is it?”
“I made it yesterday. I had some left over….”
I untied the string and opened it up, and inside were butter-scented cookies.
The moment I put it in my mouth, the rich, sweet taste of butter spread through it. It was a very pleasant taste.
“It’s delicious. Have you always been good at making things like this?”
Luna’s lips curled up slightly.
“I learned it recently.”
“I didn’t know you would enjoy this kind of hobby.”
“I’ve come to appreciate tastes more than ever. Since then… I’ve been learning one by one.”
“Are you taking good herbal medicine?”
Luna shook her head.
“I can hear music, too. Since some time ago… The melodies and tunes have been easier on the ears. Also… I can smell the flowers better.”
“….”
“There are so many things I want to do now.”
Her voice was full of energy. It was a rare sight to see Luna so cheerful. Is this how it feels to see your daughter grow? I didn’t do anything, but seeing her gradually brighten up and open her heart made me feel a sense of fulfillment.
“When did you start changing?”
Luna reached out to me. She couldn’t bring herself to hold my hand and just grabbed my fingers.
“…Secret.”
And then, like yesterday, she took the lead. We were clearly headed for the same art club greenhouse, but the path was different from yesterday.
“Isn’t this a different way?”
“A… new path isn’t so bad.”
***
When the art club greenhouse came into view, Luna suddenly stopped in her tracks.
“…….”
And then she kept staring at one spot.
Where Luna’s gaze was directed. Cecil was standing in front of the greenhouse door with her arms crossed. She waved her hand with a grin when she spotted us.
Luna’s clenched hand tightened slightly.
“Luna, what’s wrong?”
“….”
As we approached the greenhouse, Cecil greeted us.
“Damian, hello! And… Luna, hello.”
“…Hello.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I was waiting to get some materials from the greenhouse because I had an errand to run. I’m glad I found you, Damian!”
“You were looking for me?”
Cecil glanced at Luna with a bright face and said.
“Yeah. You’ve been avoiding me so much, I thought you were deliberately trying to dodge me.”
Luna responded to Cecil with an innocent expression, as if she didn’t understand.
Cecil said.
“Luna, why did you come to a place like this? The theater club is not welcome in the art club.”
“Because Damian welcomed me. And I’ll be leaving soon.”
“Oh? Damian and I have something to discuss, so could you step aside?”
“…Go ahead and talk comfortably. I don’t mind.”
Luna quickly cut off Cecil.
“Oh, it’s something we need to talk about alone. We promised to hang out.”
Luna’s grip on my hand tightens again.
“…”
Luna kept her mouth shut for a moment, then turned her head towards me and said.
“Promise… Are you serious?”
“…Yeah.”
“I’ll go in now. You two talk.”
Luna said that, but she hesitated for a moment as if she couldn’t move her feet, and eventually left.
Cecil muttered as she watched her go.
“Something feels weird, but still…”
“What?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
“…”
“Oh, and Damian, how could you not contact me? If you’re okay, tell me you’re okay, and if you’re hurt, tell me you’re hurt. Just say something. I worried all day.”
“It wasn’t a serious injury.”
“Just… contact me because I worry. I even gave you the stitch. It’s okay to cry even if you just got bitten by a mosquito or got a little scratch.”
Then, she suddenly tilted her head and looked at where Luna had gone and said.
“She’s still not leaving and watching us? It’s annoying.”
hahaha, poor protagonist, even the swords, they don’t get along, neither do the heroines 😅
Lol, those are ‘woman’.