84 – Choose Me.
Askal looked at the sword embedded in the rock, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Lightbane.
In the story, the protagonist found and drew this sword when being chased by the imperial army, just like a master who had fallen off a cliff meeting a miracle.
It was clearly mentioned that only the selected heroes could draw this sword.
“Why did it come out?”
He quickly re-sheathed it, but the once awakened sword seemed to be throbbing, as if it were boiling hot, seemingly pleading to be drawn again.
Biting his lip cruelly, Askal responded:
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Sadly, there are already many pets I’m taking care of at home. Gem Frog, Pegasus, Cloud Dragon, White Dragon. I’m sorry, but I don’t have the means to take you back too.
I hope you meet a better owner.
“What’s going on?”
“Ria, try pulling this out once.”
For example, like an Empress of the Empire.
Askal wore a wicked smile.
“…It’s firmly stuck. It won’t come out.”
Lia kept applying force to pull out the sword, but it didn’t budge an inch as if the ease it was pulled out earlier had been a lie.
A stubborn streak rose within Lia, and she slowly untied her headband.
Then, gathering all her strength and magic, she began to pull the sword with all her might.
‘Hang in there, you’re going to become a hero, Lia!’
But,
as expected, the sword wouldn’t come out.
Askal, pretending to wipe the sweat from Yulia’s forehead with a handkerchief, retied her headband from behind.
“It feels as though it’s been sealed by some powerful force. It would be good to inquire at the magic department.”
Even Lia, who was the most competent person known to him, couldn’t pull out the sword. Could there have been some mistake when he pulled it out earlier?
Askal pulled the sword again, gently, without applying any force.
Whoosh–
“……”
Lia fell silent.
‘Finally, the commitment is here. My master, now, accept your fate and purify the wicked empire with me!’
The sword was speaking.
From her reaction, it seemed Lia couldn’t hear this voice.
“I am not your master.”
Lia’s face reddened.
“……It’s awkward for you to ask for such a play suddenly in the forest.”
Askal decided to ignore it.
‘What are you talking about! If you were not worthy, you could not have drawn me! As you drew out me, you are my master!’
“What do you mean by that worthiness?”
‘Let’s see, I’ll check the manual. Hmm… must not have any malicious desires, have benefited many people… must be ready to fight the foe, have no hereditary diseases and must be a healthy adult.’
“Isn’t my neighborhood council president worthy then if that’s the criteria?”
‘And must have strong luck.’
“……”
Ascal reinserted his sword into the rock and with the sword still lodged, he lifted the rock. It was quite heavy, but bearable. His military training had built his strength that served him well in situations like this.
Lia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m going to find the hero.”
He could not go on being a madman carrying around a sword in a stone.
With a firm resolution, Ascal carried the rock down the mountain.
“＜Whoever pulls out this sword will be instantly exempted from military training and receive a bounty. I guarantee this on the honor of Princess Yulia Barba.＞”
Ascal struggled to move the rock.
The rock located in the middle of training ground where many people gathered, and the sign beside it.
Naturally, it attracted many people.
“So, I just have to pull this thing out? Back in my prime, I was called the ogre of Hudson Village. This will be a piece of cake.”
The self-proclaimed ogre of Hudson Village stormed off in disappointment, his brow furrowed with stress.
Numerous others who considered themselves strong attempted the challenge, but not a single person was able to draw the sword.
Ascal added another line to the sign.
“＜If a knight pulls it out, he will immediately become the Captain of the Royal Knights. This I guarantee on the honor of Princess Yulia Barba.＞”
The knights started to take interest.
Naturally, this included Landon.
“Hmm. This should be easy.”
At first, Landon tried to pull out the sword with his bare hands, but of course, he failed.
“Hmm. Fair enough. This is quite a challenge.”
Then, as if he were sincere, he used magic to strengthen his body.
“Urghhhhh!”
The black sword did not budge.
“Stand back, Ladeon.”
Seeing Ladeon could not draw it out, the other knights gathered around. There was a spectacle now during the usually dull training.
“Arghhhhh!”
“Eghhhhh!”
“Phhhhh!”
“Spew! Spewww!”
They all failed miserably. The only thing they achieved was that everyone’s groaning sounds were different when exerting their full strength.
‘I guess it’s beyond the level of those doing military training.’
As Ascal was training, he was looking at the sword and pondering.
‘I should make the rumour spread as much as possible. I need to call Sirius, too.’
＜To the one who draws this sword, a grand reward and fame will be given.
Here are the additional perks you can enjoy.
Guaranteed lifetime free food at De Hansun.
Three jewel frogs every month.
Extra points at the Evaluation Interview.
Warm handshakes with the Minister of Developmental Innovation, Burnstein.
Taste the Crystal tea that only can be had in the palace.
Sincere compliments from Princess Yulia Barba.
Lifetime free admission to the Imperial Capital Nature Park.
Appearance on the front page of the Imperial Newspaper.
“All of this is secured by the honor of Princess Yulia Barba.”
“How far do you plan on betting my name… Ascal.”
“It’s all for the common good.”
“The more intimate we are, the more surely our dealings must be. I’ll take a fee for using my name.”
Lia extended the back of her hand.
It was soft and pure white.
“Now, kiss it.”
Rather, it was a win.
Ascal kissed the back of Lia’s hand.
There was a pleasant smell of skin.
“Now, here.”
Lia tapped the back of her neck with her finger.
It was a bit of an odd location, but Ascal obediently followed.
As their lips met, Lia slightly shuddered.
“And finally, here.”
And the last place was the lips.
“Do I seem to be losing here?”
“Hmm, is that why you hate it? Ascal?”
“No.”
Ascal moved closer to Lia.
Her lips had a minty scent――
“Is this the place! The place where one can pull out the sword!”
Disturbance broke in.
Nevertheless, a massive crowd began to gather, despite them choosing a place where there were relatively few people.
The rumor of the “Sword Drawing” was gaining immense popularity.
[Imperial newspaper]
“Who will become the rightful owner of the sword! The current trend in the Empire is all about Sword Drawing!”
“Even people from foreign countries are gathering to try to pull out the sword!? From the interest being shown, even the dwarves in the north!”
“The nobles of the empire begin to compete for sponsorship, and drawing the sword brings great honor!” Ascal, who was reading a newspaper smuggled in, showed a troubled expression. “The situation has gotten bigger than I thought.”
“With so many people gathered, won’t the sword be pulled out too easily?” It’s time to work. Ascal, starting to stretch by twisting his ankle, replied with a crick in his neck. “I wish that were the case…” His hunch of anxiety did not miss its mark.
“I, Count Terlio, the commander of the Rose Knights, will attempt to pull the sword!”
“Ah! Count Terlio is a youthful commander of the Rose Knights, who has numerous achievements. It is predicted that if a new sword master emerges in the empire, it will be him! Has this time, the owner of the ‘sword that can’t be plucked,’ appeared?”
While stretching (pushing against each other’s back and pulling each other’s arms) with Lia, Ascal watched the sword-pulling with a peripheral glance. From some point, implicit rules were created for sword-drawing.
First, introduce who you are to the audience before drawing.
Second, do not vent your anger on the rock.
Third, do not exceed one minute for the draw. It even came with commentary which was not asked for. The main character there was Count Debar, the valet.
‘I haven’t seen that guy for a long time.’ Anyhow, the sword drawing, unintentionally, had become a famous festival of the empire.
The cheers of the clamorous crowd, the shouts of the attendants training nearby, and the hawkers who came smelling the scent of money. The place was in chaos.
“Corn for sale! Sweet, juicy corn up for grabs!”
“Fried food! Delicious fried food for just two coins!”
“This is the popular honey fruit these days! Can’t sell it because it’s out of stock!”
Q. Didn’t the Empire prevent this situation?
A. The Crown Prince, who caught a whiff of Ascal’s scent somewhere, found it amusing and instead supported him.
Rhea bought honey fruit and put it in Ascal’s mouth while he was training.
And she smiled meaningfully.
“I can’t use it. I have to clean it thoroughly.”
Rhea held out her finger with honey on it. Ascal licked it. It was sweet. It was summer.
“By the way, if Telio Viscount is a famous inspector even in the Empire, can’t he draw a sword?”
“I’m not sure.”
After observing Ascal trying to draw a sword for a long time, he roughly realized. This is an impossible task with just strength.
If the conditions are not met, even an ogre cannot draw a sword, but if the conditions are met, even a goblin can draw a sword.
Ascal just hoped that someone who met the conditions would appear among the many people gathered here.
“If the Viscount Telio draws a sword, the living room people, gather here! The reward will be doubled!”
By the way, Ascal had been making a small profit by betting on the fact that he couldn’t draw a sword until now.
“No, if you just bet on the Dowon, money is copied. Why is this difficult?”
Viscount Telio approached Lightbane with an extremely serious expression. Magic circulated in his arm.
And.
“Chuuuaaap!”
Did it come out?
No.
Lightbane just twitched a little, there was no chance.
“It was the most regrettable.”
Ascal watched Viscount Telio leave as if he was disappointed. Still, he achieved a slight twitching of the sword, so he could proudly straighten his shoulders.
“It’s about time to come…”
Ascal, who had been looking in one direction, had his eyes brightened.
He had finally appeared.
A pretty boy with gray hair, still holding an youthful aura. The future hero, the adversary of Iulia, the anti-imperial general Sirius!
Sirius looked around.
“Here it is!”
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“You’ve dressed quite uniquely this time again, Uncle Cal.”
“Strangely enough, you always recognize me at once.”
“Isn’t it weirder for the ones who can’t recognize you?”
Sirius laughed.
“I heard you had something to ask.”
Ascal spoke.
“Become a hero, Sirius.”
For my sake.
“No way!!!!!! The sword has been drawn halfway!!!! This is the greatest achievement among all the challenges so far!!! Sirius from Haven Academy, you’re amazing!”
Ascal turned serious.
‘No, your master has arrived. Lightvein, what the hell are you thinking…’
Then, something unbelievable happened.
“What am I seeing right now! The rock, the rock with the sword stuck in it, is flying in the sky!”
A huge crash.
The rock flew towards him and fell in front of Ascal.
Then, the sword vibrated crazily.
‘Damn it. This isn’t right.’
It was a curse that came out for the first time in a long time.