The Holy Sword and the Saintly Orc
Gremory had mentioned it in passing, but there were exactly twelve Holy Swords in existence. While the identities of their wielders were scattered and varied, we knew exactly who was using one.
"The Holy Sword Father wields... it is the blade that a hero, baptized by the Goddess long ago, used to sever the neck of a Black Dragon. Our House Aries, as the legitimate successors to that hero’s bloodline, has specialized the Aries Sword Technique specifically to wield Ascalon."
"It is a weapon that boasts peerless power against demons and monsters, particularly dragons, dragon-kin, and lizardmen. The Count... he drew Ascalon specifically to face that orc, Tral."
"So, he won because of the Holy Sword's cheat-like power."
If Tral was defeated by a blade that had slain a dragon, then it couldn't be helped. While Tral’s foolish concern for his own weapon’s durability was his biggest tactical blunder, the true culprit—the real bitch in this scenario—was Forneus, who hadn't bothered to provide proper equipment for either me or Tral. Tral was guilty of nothing but being too kind.
"...I will not deny that he won through the power of his weapon. I believe the Count himself felt ashamed of that fact, which is why he spared Tral's life."
"Right. That just gives me one more reason to raid the Aries territory."
We would seize the Holy Sword Ascalon and hand it to Galahad. Then, we would use that very sword to wipe out our enemies. If he could truly wield it, that is.
"And another reason to raid the Virgo Barony has just appeared. You said the Holy Sword was somewhere in the barony, didn't you?"
"...Yes. To be honest with you."
Lily, whom I’d summoned to gather information on the barony, remained calm despite her shock at the sudden appearance of a 5-star grandson. "Some of the slash-and-burn farmers in the vicinity came here because of rumors. There’s talk that the current Baron lost the Holy Sword when he inherited his title."
"Does that even make sense?"
"The Baron did prove the sword's existence at his inauguration ceremony, but there are rumors that it was a cleverly crafted fake."
"Just rumors, then."
I couldn't send an expedition force based on uncertain information. If that force accidentally wandered into, say, an Elf Forest, it would only cause more problems.
"Where did the other Holy Swords go?"
"Excluding the ones held by the heroes active on the front lines between the Demon King's Army and the Human Alliance, I believe they have all been lost or leaked outside the kingdom. Within the current kingdom, the only one who fully utilizes a Holy Sword is the Marquis of Aries—your father."
"...Isn't a Holy Sword supposed to be a national treasure? Why is the management so sloppy?"
"Because Holy Swords choose their own masters. I understand they possess egos and can decide who wields them. Sometimes they end up in the hands of random travelers, or they abandon a previous master they’ve grown disappointed in. According to Father... Ascalon swore an oath of loyalty to the blood of Aries. Only those of that bloodline can wield it."
Eila held her head high, looking smug. She seemed to be bragging that she was someone capable of wielding a Holy Sword.
"If they have egos, can't they just break their oaths of loyalty? Then it’s meaningless. Forget it. Theoretically, Galahad can wield a Holy Sword, right?"
"That is correct."
"Then let's do this."
I decided on the battlefield where Galahad would make his debut. "Galahad, for the time being, you will build your strength within this dungeon. Eat magic stones to grow, and run the sub-dungeons to gain experience. As for your divine power... use it to your heart's content."
My demon subordinates began to protest. I raised a hand to silence them.
"If you're worried about being called a traitor for using divine power, don't be. As long as you don't fall out of favor with the Demon King, it doesn't matter. And even if Solomon complains about Galahad using divine power, it’s fine. By using the Goddess's power, you are helping me defile the Goddess herself. Solomon will accept that. The problem is the Goddess. Guinevere."
"Yes..."
"What do you think the Goddess would think about divine power being used by the Demon King's forces?"
"......As a mere priest, how could I know the will of God? However, the Goddess does not reclaim power once she has bestowed it upon a being."
Clap, clap, clap. I applauded the Goddess's generosity.
"If humans can become the limbs of the Demon King's army, why shouldn't a demon become a follower of the Goddess? Neither the Demon King nor the Goddess will say a word. If they do, we'll rethink things then, but there's no need to worry about the chatter of underlings who can't even fathom the will of the supreme."
"Master, what if they do say something?"
"Then we ram into them so hard they can't talk shit anymore."
The policy was set. My will would become the will of the entire legion, and Galahad using divine power was a confirmed fact. Of course, since using divine power could harm nearby allies, that would require careful management.
"Galahad, use your divine power to your heart's content, provided you don't hurt your allies. Meari, lead Galahad well for the time being."
"Demons take damage from divine power, but humans are unaffected. I understand what you mean."
It had been the same with Arthur, but raising the elite-level warriors of the Las Unit was always Meari's job.
"I'll say this clearly: even if Galahad can use divine power, he is my flesh and blood. The same goes for all of you. Who knows what kind of being will be born if you ever bear my children? But remember this."
I lowered my voice and declared my will. "If they are beings connected by our blood, if they are born of Las, we do not discriminate based on any prejudice. Age, race, appearance, rank, the power they use—none of that matters."
At the very least, I decided that since I brought them into this world, I would take care of my own flesh and blood as much as possible.
"As long as there is Las, we are one."
Except for Forneus.
After Pahuu left for the sub-dungeons with Meari and Galahad, the subordinates remaining in the common area finally began to speak their minds.
"...What should I say? It’s certainly different. Demons are naturally repulsed by divine power, aren't they? What do you think? Daughter of the Demon King?"
"......Master seeks efficiency. A 5-star Paladin Orc with divine power has many strategic and tactical advantages. Even if there is the disadvantage of using divine power..."
"That’s a demon's way of thinking."
"Ryun, Master is a demon too. He's an orc."
The women were in confusion. Pahuu possessed absolutely none of the hostility toward divine power that a demon should naturally have. Every being born from his seed was the same.
"Lancelot, don't you feel like you want to kill humans?"
"Not at all. We fought in the Battle of Las Vegas because it was a war, but there's no need to kill them otherwise, right? Why kill humans? How thrilling and fun is it to do Las with a human?"
Lancelot hugged Guinevere tightly, showing a defensive stance. Every time they saw a demon cherishing a human—or even seeing a demon having sex with a human—Gremory and Shaitan suffered significant mental shock.
"...I don't know what to say. I've done it with all kinds of monsters, you know? But I've never done it with a human once. ...It's really strange. When you look at it, there's no resistance to humans or divine power at all."
"......It seems he views the world differently. The fact that he sent me here must mean he wants me to realize something by observing his discernment."
Gremory and Shaitan had had their eyes opened. Only Ryun tilted her head.
"Master just loses his mind whenever he sees a woman, regardless of race, that's all."
At Ryun's biting remark, everyone's gaze fixed on her. Ryun blinked, her voice pure and devoid of malice.
"The long-standing conflict between the Demon King's Army and the Human Alliance, the hatred demons have for humans, divine power, the Goddess's strength... all of that means nothing to Master. There is only one thing Master cares about."
Ryun pointed to her lower abdomen with both hands. The blatant finger placement made Shaitan, a succubus, feel embarrassed.
"Is it tasty, or is it not?"
"What is that?"
"I see..."
Following Ryun's critique—if you could call it that—the subordinates fell into their own thoughts. Eila, who had been listening quietly, just scratched her cheek.
'He really is different.'
Eila thought about how humans and demons could hear the same words and interpret them so differently. She understood a little more about the demons, and about her Master.
—A being obsessed with sex, yet infinitely protective of those he considers family. That was the assessment of Eila, a human, unlike the elves, witches, orcs, slimes, and succubi.
"Whoa, that divine power is fucking strong. We shouldn't put him in a party with monsters."
"Didn't you know that already?"
"I only saw what Luna used, so I didn't know it was at this level."
Currently, we had already smashed the Skeleton and Slime sub-dungeons and were now clearing the Andras sub-dungeon. Meari and I naturally took care of the bosses, but Galahad was busy beating up the 'monsters' that rushed us, radiating divine power to his heart's content.
"Gahhh!"
A steel sword imbued with a faint silver light severed Andras's neck. Galahad suppressed Andras with elegant movements, not a single drop of blood splashing onto his body. Skeletons, slimes, big slimes—every monster was a one-shot, one-kill the moment his divine-imbued sword touched them.
"The skeletons got osteoporosis the moment they were bathed in the divine light. That’s basically anti-monster radiation."
"Divine power is naturally that strong. You're the weird one for taking it head-on with your body, Dad."
"...By any chance."
I pointed to my stomach, gesturing to Galahad, who had plucked Andras's feathers as instructed. "Galahad. Want to try stabbing me once?"
"Legion Commander?"
"Dad, what?!"
Both of them were clearly flustered by my order to commit insubordination. But for me, it was a problem that had to be verified.
"I just want to check if I get wounded or not. It's an order. Just give me a light scratch."
"......As you command."
Galahad aimed his sword at my stomach with a stiff face. His trembling hands and distorted eyes screamed with his whole body that he was only doing it because it was an order. Meari raised her staff to stop him, but I grabbed the staff and shook my head.
"It is something that must be verified."
Thwack.
Galahad's sword pierced my stomach. I let out a deep sigh.
"As expected, it's impossible. That's enough. Stop now, ugh!"
The hand I used to try and move the sword away stung as if I'd been cut by paper. Meari reflexively cast a recovery spell on my hand, but her eyes were fixed on my stomach, which only had a scratch mark.
"Ah, damn it. I was hoping for some liposuction..."
"What on earth is this stomach that can't even be cut by divine power?"
"How should I know? Ah, damn..."
I couldn't lose weight through exercise, and I couldn't get surgery. What a cursed body this was. Galahad was deeply embarrassed that his divine power hadn't worked on my stomach.
"I, I apologize. Legion Commander. I failed to live up to your expectations..."
"Hm? No, it'd be funnier if you actually met them. Don't worry about it. Thanks to this, I don't have to worry at all when fighting guys with divine power."
The Holy Knight Order Guinevere had mentioned. As the main force standing at the forefront of the war against the Demon King's army, they were the group most likely to come and wipe out our legion for kidnapping a priest.
"Heh heh, we'll just corrupt them and make them your subordinates, Galahad."
"Corrupt them? By what method?"
"Las. Meari, if there are five humans, one of them is bound to be trash. No matter how loyal they are to the Goddess, there are plenty of guys who lose their minds over this."
I pointed to my crotch. Meari chuckled and shook her head. Although she was my daughter biologically, Meari was no longer bothered by this level of sexual innuendo.
"Why? Are you planning to make Galahad fuck them all?"
"Hm? What are you talking about?"
"The ratio of women in the Holy Knight Order is 90 percent."
"Then it's obviously Galahad's share. Of course, I'll touch them a bit too. I really hope they invade."
If they only came in, I would catch them all and organize them into Galahad's unit. Galahad, seemingly uninterested in the dirty talk between me and Meari, was already swinging his divine-imbued sword toward the next Andras.
"...It's stronger than I thought. I see why the others were terrified."
"Dad, don't go making us fetch some non-existent item just because you're scared of Galahad now. Like asking us to find a Holy Sword or something."
"I hadn't even thought of that, but you're providing me with ideas."
Meari jumped in surprise and shook her head frantically. It was truly touching that she was looking out for him, even if he was just her nephew. Galahad had already used his divine power to cut off the Andras's beak. Even though he was only level 8.
"...If divine power has that much strength, I suppose that place can be cleared too."
"If you mean that place... Dad?"
"Yes."
With that silver power, a breakthrough would surely be possible.
"Tomorrow evening, we break through the first basement floor."
With that power, we would be able to pierce through that darkness.