The Weight of the Sword
“I can’t do it, Master. This… this is too heavy.”
“You can. Keep going, Garam.”
“But it’s so hard… How am I supposed to lift something bigger than me…?”
“You can do it. Keep going, my disciple.”
That warm gaze watching over me. That voice urging me onward. Even the gentle hand that stroked my hair. She was the one person in the world who believed in me more than anyone else. To live up to that expectation, I poured every last ounce of strength I had. The sword was heavy, terrifying even, but in the end I managed to grip it and stand tall.
“You did well, Garam. Truly splendid. You did so well.”
The moment she said those words and pressed a kiss to my forehead, something electric shot through my entire body. That must have been when it happened. The instant I decided I would swing my sword for her and her alone—not for anyone else, not even for myself. The one etched into my very being. My one and only.
Ah, Master. Master. My beloved Master.
“What a shame. If I’d come to my senses just a little sooner, I could’ve kept that ring.”
Garam had spent the last few minutes giggling while fiddling with her forehead. When she finally noticed the ring was gone from her hand, she muttered those words.
“Not a chance, you little rascal. I paid good money for it. Did you really think I’d just stand by and let you keep it?”
“I suppose not. Still, it’s a pity. I finally got to roll around with Master after so long.”
“R-roll around?! M-Master! What is she talking about?!”
“Don’t get any weird ideas, you idiot disciple! I literally just meant rolling around on the ground!”
“Then why are we rolling around in the first place?! D-don’t tell me—”
“Sparring! Sparring! Sparring!! What exactly are you imagining, you fool of a disciple?!”
Only then did Iris nod with an “Ahh.” Of course, Garam immediately followed up with a sly “Well, it is sparring. Though the location could be an empty lot… or a bed,” reigniting the chaos.
“Garam, that’s enough. Is teasing the youngest really that entertaining?”
“It is. Though not quite as much as that pointy-eared one.”
At Garam’s words I clicked my tongue. It was a warning not to call her that. Garam, quick to catch my meaning, spoke up.
“I’m sorry, Master. I misspoke.”
“What did I say I would never forgive?”
“Anything that drives a wedge between us.”
“Right. I know you and that girl don’t exactly get along. That’s partly my fault for not stepping in. But that doesn’t mean I ever said you could skip basic courtesy.”
“Yes, you did say that. I’m sorry. I was careless.”
Her tail, which had been swaying playfully, stopped completely. Her ears flattened and she bowed her head low—the posture Garam took when she admitted fault without any excuses and showed submission.
“I’m glad. I half-expected you to make up some strange excuse like you used to.”
“Because then you’d scold me even more. Besides… that girl is doing pretty well on her own.”
“Excuse me, you two?”
Iris slipped between us, clearly annoyed at being left out of the conversation.
“Sorry to interrupt, but… who exactly is ‘that girl’?”
“Hmm? Master, does our youngest not even know her seniors?”
“She only knows they’re Heroes. I never told her their names.”
“Why not? It wouldn’t hurt for her to know her seniors’ names.”
If I’d had the time, I would’ve sat her down and explained who each of her seniors were. But now there was barely any time left. Wasting it on introductions felt wasteful. On top of that, Iris had so many shortcomings that I’d been too busy filling those gaps to talk much about the others.
“There’s one like that. She joined around the same time as Garam and fought like a demon. Your senior.”
“You taught two disciples at once? Whoa! Master, you already struggle with just me!”
“Iris. Does saying that not prick your conscience at all?”
“Nope. Not even a little.”
I was speechless. Sighing while rubbing my forehead, Garam, who was walking beside me, started snickering.
“The Spear Hero. Do you know her, youngest?”
“The Spear Hero… Yes, I know of her.”
“That girl is the Spear Hero. Her name is Jenia.”
“Jenia…”
“She was the disciple right after me. Only about a month apart, I think?”
“A month? A month isn’t that big a difference…”
“What was that, youngest? Could you say that again? I didn’t quite catch it.”
“I said a one-month difference feels like a huge gap, Senior Sister!”
“That’s right. Our youngest is so clever!”
I’d worried they might feel awkward since they’d never met, but surprisingly Iris was the one acting friendly first. Thanks to that, even the usually shy Garam spoke without hesitation.
“Master, was the one who cleaned up the monsters that appeared in the city the youngest?”
“Yes, that was me. Master left everything to me!”
“Really? That’s a shame. If the youngest had been a little later, I would’ve wiped them all out first.”
“Is that so? Hmm, now that you mention it, I’m a little disappointed too. I missed the chance to see the Sword Hero fight…”
“If I’d cleaned up the monsters, I could’ve gotten praised by Master.”
“On second thought, missing the fight doesn’t feel disappointing at all.”
Their childish back-and-forth made me laugh without meaning to. Honestly, laughing like that wounded my pride a little.
“By the way, Garam?”
“Yes, Master.”
“What brings you here?”
“I had some business in the area and missed you so much I came looking.”
“And how did you know I was in the city?”
“Did you think I’d forget Master’s scent? No matter where you hide, I’ll find you.”
“…”
I wasn’t even hiding, but hearing that made me seriously want to. I hadn’t meant for things to turn out this way, but maybe I’d raised their affection too high? All my disciples were clinging to me far too much.
“I can smell you really well too, Master!”
“Iris. Please, I’m begging you—don’t brag about things like that.”
“Why not! It’s true!”
“Agh, who’s going to stop this kid?”
“Hngh. You’re so mean.”
“How is that being mean?!”
Heroes were supposed to show some gravitas, but when exactly would our so-called Last Hero Iris actually start acting like one? I couldn’t keep her tucked under my wing forever. I sometimes wondered if I’d spent too much time on the other disciples, but thinking back, they’d all found their own paths and left at the right time. Only Iris, despite receiving the same time and care, still wasn’t quite there.
“Master, why exactly did you buy that ring anyway?”
“Oh, I was wondering too! I thought you were going to buy food or clothes, but a ring? Master, are you hiding a woman somewhere?!”
“Garam.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Smack her on the head for me.”
Of course, there was no “But she’s our youngest, how could I hit her?” Garam immediately turned and approached Iris.
“Sorry, youngest. Don’t blame me.”
“Huh? W-wait a second!”
A moment later—
“Hwaaaah!!”
Having successfully completed her mission, Garam returned to my side.
“You’re not going to answer?”
“No reason to.”
“Now I’m even more curious. I’m so, so, so curious.”
The light in Garam’s eyes as she said that was intense. That look was dangerous. Staring into those sparkling eyes, I figured it was better to just explain before any weird misunderstandings formed.
“It’s a gift for my master.”
“Your master… You mean the Grandmaster?”
“Yeah. I had to visit her recently because of the youngest here. Since I asked her for a favor, I decided to buy her a ring as thanks.”
“Hmm. If it’s for the Grandmaster, that’s half a relief… but why a ring? Not a sword or some other weapon, but a ring?”
“My master may have a rough side, but don’t jump to conclusions, Garam.”
The Heavenly Demon—my master—was just as important to me as my disciples. She was the one who showed me how to survive and brought me this far. My life’s principle was to keep debts and grudges clear, so I treated my master with proper respect. My disciples knew that too, and never crossed the line they shouldn’t.
“Master?”
“Oh dear, looks like our Iris has finished crying.”
“I didn’t cry! More importantly, the favor you asked… was it about that time I clashed with her?”
“Why would your master bother dueling a brat like you?”
“Hmph. I really thought I was going to die back then.”
…That part puzzled me too. My master despised the weak and utterly scorned those who acted arrogant without the strength to back it up. But scorning someone and unleashing killing intent like she wanted to actually end them were two different things. Yet with my disciple—who hadn’t even been arrogant—she’d revealed her full power in genuine anger. She’d never once lost control to the point of showing that much force.
“Oh my? Youngest, did you actually spar with the Grandmaster?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. Master suddenly told me to spar with her…”
“Spar? She just wanted the Grandmaster to evaluate you.”
“It felt more like she wanted to see how I’d die.”
“…Ahem. She was definitely quite worked up back then.”
“Worked up? The Grandmaster?”
When I nodded, Garam tilted her head, clearly confused.
“That’s unexpected. Even when the Grandmaster sparred with us, it always felt like light after-dinner exercise. She never gave off the feeling that she actually wanted to hurt someone the way she did with the youngest.”
“I don’t know the reason either. Anyway, I asked my master for a favor, and this ring is my thanks for granting it. So stop speculating about it. That’s final.”
Once I cut the conversation short, both Garam and Iris fell silent for a while. I thought we might finally walk quietly toward my master’s residence, but—
“Master, do you have any requests for me?”
Garam sidled up beside me. Iris immediately plastered herself to my other side.
“Ask me! Don’t you have anything you want done?! I’ll do anything!”
Oh, please. Did they think I couldn’t see right through them? They were clearly hoping to get something out of my master in exchange. Did they take me for an idiot?
“A request, huh. There is one thing I want from both of you.”
“What is it?!”
“Tell us right away. We’ll do anything!”
“I want both of you to back off a little.”