Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Spirit Mage's Forest (4)
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After continuously channeling mana into Purifull, I finally reached the spot right in front of the Gluttony Sword.
The area around the Gluttony Sword was enveloped by the barrier that the spirit of purification had just erected.
"Aren Eldiad, do you still not feel any hunger?"
"Not at all."
"Good. If you feel even the slightest bit, tell me right away. The mana you've given me now... I'll focus it all on sealing the cursed sword's power!"
As it said that, Purifull demanded even more mana from me.
Even as I kept supplying mana, my recovery rate was faster, so I poured it into Purifull generously.
"Ooooh! This purity! This amount! This is it! With this mana...!"
Purifull seemed thrilled by the high quality of my mana and extended its hand toward the Gluttony Sword.
"I'll be free from managing this wretched cursed sword at last!"
The power forming Purifull's barrier grew stronger, and it began to shrink in size.
It was as if the barrier was wrapping around the Gluttony Sword and seeping into it. Eventually, it took on the same shape as the sword and was sucked inside.
And five minutes after that process completed...
"Success! It's a success! I've sealed this cursed sword!"
"R-Really, Lady Purifull?"
"Tolz! Come closer too! I'll release the blessing on you now!"
Thanks to my contract with Purifull, I could clearly see the blessings and powers it bestowed.
The blessing around Tolz vanished, and in that state, he slowly walked toward us.
"The hunger... I feel no hunger at all. Even coming this close without any blessing... no hunger whatsoever!"
Tolz came right up beside me and dropped to his knees.
"Ahh, it's truly... truly succeeded. Our clan's mission that's lasted a hundred years!"
"Yes. The sealing has truly succeeded, Tolz. But don't touch it directly. The moment you do, hunger will overwhelm you, and the urge to devour will take over your body."
"Understood. Then this sword... we'll have to ensure no one enters this place."
"Yes, that's the wise course of action."
"I have one question, Purifull."
"What is it, Aren Eldiad? Ask away!"
"Anyone else might be different, but would it be okay for me to hold it?"
"Your Highness?"
"...I'm not sure. I don't know why this cursed sword's hunger doesn't affect you. But there's no need to take unnecessary risks."
"Lady Purifull is right, Your Highness."
"But wouldn't it be fine to at least test it? If it seems dangerous, Tolz and Purifull can help me."
"Why are you so determined to hold this cursed sword, Your Highness?"
"If I can hold it without issue, I plan to just take it with me."
"Y-You what!?"
"That way, you won't have to worry about this forest anymore, Tolz, and you can travel freely outside whenever you want, right?"
"Your Highness... To think you'd consider me like this...!"
"...Testing it wouldn't be a bad idea."
"Lady Purifull?"
"Even before the seal, you were fine this close—not even hearing its voice or feeling hunger. It's certainly unusual. This Aren Eldiad might be special. But if you feel even a hint of hunger, let go immediately!"
"Got it. Here goes."
I gripped the Gluttony Sword right away.
[Harmful energy detected within the body.]
[Supreme Physique trait activates.]
[Harmful energy entering the body has been nullified.]
[Mental corruption detected.]
[Unyielding Mind trait activates.]
[Mental corruption blocked.]
The same alerts appeared as before.
The Gluttony Sword was still trying to make me feel hunger and whispering to devour everything around me, but my traits nullified it all.
"H-How is it, Your Highness?"
"Nothing at all."
"No way... You're really fine."
I pulled the Gluttony Sword from the ground while Tolz blinked in shock.
"Th-The Gluttony Sword... it's been drawn!?"
"Was I not supposed to? Since it doesn't bother me, leaving a cursed sword like this stuck in the ground seemed like a bad idea."
"To think I'd live to see a sight like this."
They'd only ever seen it embedded there, so the act of drawing it was shocking in itself.
"See? I can hold it with no problem at all."
"Could it be... that the seal is strong enough now for others to touch it safely too?"
"No, I doubt it's that effective..."
I was holding it so casually that even Purifull couldn't say it with full confidence.
"Then, Tolz, want to touch it for a second?"
"Me, Your Highness?"
"I'll hold it steady, so just brush it with your fingertip. That way, if you feel hunger, I can drop it right away."
"Very well. Please hold the sword steady for a moment longer."
I lifted the sword slightly, and Tolz cautiously prodded the hilt with his index finger.
"...Urgh!"
The instant it touched—even briefly—Tolz yanked his finger back and clutched his stomach.
"Tolz! Are you all right!?"
"Yes, I pulled away immediately, so I'm fine. But even that brief contact nearly filled my mind with intense hunger and that voice. Your Highness, how... how can you hold it like that without a care?"
"Hmm... I'm just fine, so I can't really explain it, Tolz."
"I-I see."
"Shall we head out for now?"
"With you holding that sword?"
"If you're worried..."
I stored the Gluttony Sword in the inventory at my waist.
"This should be fine."
Then I left the building with Tolz.
"Tolz, how did the sealing go?"
"Well..."
Chieftain Ulsla asked, and Tolz awkwardly explained what had happened inside.
"What?! His Highness drew the Gluttony Sword?!"
"Yes, His Highness was completely unaffected. But just touching it with my fingertip made me feel intense hunger."
"Your Highness! Are you truly all right?"
"Yeah. Totally fine."
"Lord Aren accomplishes one marvel after another every day."
"Now the Septian clan won't have to suffer because of this cursed sword anymore. That's a relief."
"Your Highness, what do you plan to do with the cursed sword?"
"First, I'll take it back and summon Purifull every day to purify it. We could only seal it this time, but daily purification might weaken it enough that others won't feel hunger just from touching it."
The debuff on the Gluttony Sword right now was far stronger than in the game.
If it had been like the game, equipping it would've filled half the hunger gauge instantly.
"Your Highness, if it's no trouble, could you take out the Gluttony Sword?"
A priest from the nearby village asked me.
"You want to see it?"
"Yes. I've cooperated with the Septian clan on the sealing efforts. So... I want to confirm if this weapon containing the evil power of the heretics' dark god has been properly sealed."
"Sure."
I pulled the Gluttony Sword from my inventory.
"This is the cursed sword."
"So this... this is what it looks like. The sword the Septian clan struggled so hard to seal."
"You've never seen it before?"
"It was too dangerous to enter personally. All I did was cast holy spells to erect barriers around the building."
The priest teared up as he looked at the chieftain and Tolz.
"What a relief. Your ancestors' efforts to protect the forest—and your own—have finally borne fruit."
"You've worked so hard all this time too, Priest."
"We won't forget the efforts you've put into helping us."
"No. I've never considered following the Lord's teachings and thwarting the heretics' wicked schemes as 'work.'"
It was a heartwarming scene.
Meanwhile, the priest who'd come with me was clasping his hands in prayer toward me.
"What are you doing?"
"It's just so moving. Your Highness, you've not only defeated two heretics but gone beyond to dismantle their evil plot. Ahh, it's as if His Highness is a lion sent by the Lord Himself."
"Please don't say that anywhere else. I don't want to provoke my siblings unnecessarily."
"Understood. If that's Your Highness's wish. But you must be more careful from now on."
"What do you mean?"
"You've already achieved great feats. But to the heretics, that's not good news. If they learn you resolved the incident... you'll become their target."
The monster parade had clearly been a major project for the Greed heretics.
And this Gluttony Sword had been planted here by heretics a hundred years ago.
So it was only natural they'd come after me for removing it.
Especially since...
'No salvation alert has popped up yet.'
No salvation messages for the Septian clan or the nearby villagers.
Based on past experience, it meant I had to neutralize or eliminate the apparent culprits—the heretics—for their fates to be saved.
So if the heretics targeted me, that was actually good.
I could counterattack and perfectly save these people in one go.
"Got it. I'll be careful."
And a few days later...
On the way back to the mansion, I was ambushed by the heretics.