Little Giant's Sword and the Beast's Escape
A true master doesn't blame his gear. From the moment I drew the sword, the swordsmith's gaze had completely changed. The dismissive look was gone, replaced only by admiration and respect for his opponent.
"My apologies. What's your name? I have to know the name of my Little Giant."
"L-Little Giant!?"
Aris whispered in shock right next to me.
"I-It's a hero's title...! It's the highest honor among swordsmen...!"
"You're serious!?"
The knight school student who'd been flirting earlier spoke up in confusion.
"Of course. It's been ages since I've seen a cut that clean."
"Drek, that's enough. You gonna bully a freshman? That's way better than your swings."
"What?"
"Did I say something wrong?"
Drek flushed red but couldn't find a comeback. He slunk off into the crowd of students. Even more knight school kids had gathered to watch.
...This is getting kinda big-scale, huh?
Aris fidgeted anxiously beside me, but her face wasn't unhappy. She seemed secretly pleased that I'd handled the situation.
"That straw dummy's tough as hell, right? And a freshman sliced it like that?"
"Nah, probably used aura. That's standard for a clean cut like that."
"Idiot. Aura's second-year stuff. And how could we not know a pretty girl like her? She's gotta be a freshman."
By now, it was a done deal that I was a Lunaris Knight School freshman.
"Still, she doesn't have much mana flowing. No aura manifestation either..."
"So she cut it without mana or aura!?"
"Monster freshman. Who knew there was a dark horse like that."
It was a clean cut, sure. Not quite up to my standards, but...
"The sword just feels great."
The blade itself was incredible. Better than most artifacts. It outshone Isera's saber, even if it fell a bit short of Muramasa—which made no sense for a market sword compared to an SR-grade artifact. Those went for whatever price the seller named back on Earth.
I praised the sword, and he grinned happily.
"Hahaha! Then buy it. I'll let it go cheap."
"How much?"
I nearly popped my eyes out at the price.
"10 gold."
1,000 silver. Pricier than a decent elixir. Rip-off city! This a real market!?
"No rip-offs, you said! Liar!"
"What's the issue? You from the magic school or something? I figured you didn't have that kinda coin."
"Fair. Discount it a bit."
I pushed shamelessly. You lose if you back down in a haggle.
Can't buy it anyway—let's see how low I can go.
But his response left me dumbfounded.
"Haha, that was my plan. Just 1 silver."
"...Huh?"
From 10 gold to 1 silver? 1,000 silver to 1 silver???
Insane discount.
"To celebrate meeting a Little Giant. My treat."
The onlookers gasped too. Basically free. If he'd jacked up the price first, fine—but this?
I eyed the old man.
"...You sure you can swing that?"
"That's my business. Most swords here are my work anyway."
"Fair enough."
"Your name?"
"What for?"
"Gotta know it."
I told him.
"Cool. Anything else while we're at it?"
Might as well grab more. He was in a good mood from the praise.
"What ya want? Sword discount's one-time only."
"Shield under 20 silver."
"Shield? Size and weight?"
"Up to my waist. Weight doesn't matter—as long as I can carry it."
"Hmm... Only clearance stuff here."
"That works."
Perfect. Never planned normal use anyway.
"Apprentices botched the balance, but... fine, experimental piece it is."
"Whatever."
I couldn't cast defensive magic yet. Saw Karnaroph do it once, but hadn't learned. So what? No reason that stops me from clearing floor 2.
I got the sword in a fancy case and a sturdy wooden shield. Kinda weird, but carryable. Good enough.
Checked the sword case. Tier 2 scrawled in cursive.
Tier 2
The red-haired woman with a saber at her waist—Roel—was an imperial knight and professor at Lunaris Knight School. She'd reached Master rank young.
But the man across from her was an equal.
High-class inn at the School Market. They'd rented a whole conference room for negotiations.
"Contract good? Ongoing supply, unit price up 10%."
"Yeah. Mithril prices rose—fair enough."
Brian Grace, senior blacksmith of the Sword Millia Merchant Association, flashed a toothy grin. Spiky beard suited him.
Sword Millia was prestige brand. Top lines like Dragon Slayer had insane performance and mana conductivity.
But their real value's in the mass-market stuff.
Sword Millia's Tier 3—standard issue for Lunaris students. Matched noble house blades, narrowing gear gaps.
Brian piped up casually.
"Oh, right."
"Hm?"
"Spotted talent among the freshmen earlier."
Any good ones left?
"Talent? We sponsored all our prospects already."
"Yeah. But another gem. Low mana, small build, overwhelming skill—you'll get it."
"Who're you even talking about?"
Endless praise. Thought she'd know—but Roel drew a blank. Freshmen seemed average this year.
"Tch. Can't spot a gem like that? Yumia. Yu-mi-a."
"Never heard."
"Look it up."
She checked her notebook roster. As first-year advisor.
No Yumia.
"Not even on the list?"
"Huh?"
I slipped somewhere hidden and stashed the shield and sword in my Inventory.
"Why so far?"
"Don't want mages spotting and confiscating."
Hid 'em in a corner.
"No way. I know that brand."
"Famous?"
"Knights go there once."
"Oh."
"One of my brothers is a knight—uses their swords."
Aris's family was big-name nobility. Good buy. Pocket lighter, though.
"Anyway, Yumia—you can use a sword!?"
"Kinda?"
"Amazing... Looked high-level too. Why not knight school?"
Lots of reasons, but simple answer.
"...Reinhardt suited me more."
Headmaster tossed me into dorm trials. I got enrolled on. If choosing, Reinhardt anyway. No sweaty guys. Boot camp was fun and hell, but avoided that for sure.
"Huh. Fair. I like Reinhardt too."
Grabbed skewers from a stall. Like Earth chicken skewers—bigger portions. 50 copper.
"Mm."
"Tasty!"
Just salted, but good meat made it work. Earth reversed—here, quality meat no spice needed. No sauce masking.
Still, grabbing pepper next time. Missed it with fatty meat.
"Just robe and necktie left!"
"Mm."
Clothing store.
"Wow! Yumia, so pretty!"
"Hold up, Aris. You're blind."
Tried on frilly dresses mid-shop. Humiliating. But got robe and necktie. Extra pay stamped Reinhardt mark.
Aris beamed.
"Robe suits you perfect!"
"...Get me outta here..."
Still, good buys. Liked how pretty.
Wandered more—weapons, clothes, cosmetics. Shopped plenty.
"Ugh..."
"What's up?"
"Itching."
"Can't go one day without trouble?"
"Not that."
Sword bought, mana up—no fights. Last swing: dummy. Bored to death. Time to sneak to Tower.
"Magic and Western Forest fun, but no scraps lately."
"Love fighting that much? You're like a little boy sometimes."
"It's a blast."
Guys love it. But I'm a girl now.
"Sigh. Challenge seniors to spars?"
"Can I?"
Crack senior skulls myself?
"Friendly spars second semester. Need sponsor."
"Damn..."
"Bored."
Dorm movie time? Then—
—BOOM!!
Low rumble nearby shook my ears.
"Aaaah!! Magic beast escaped!!"
"Any combatants!?"
I narrowed my eyes, Dragon Eye scanning far.
Bipedal wolf-thing berserking. Solo, chained to cage—but weakening.
"Hold on! Knights or mages coming!"
"We're non-combat! Can't hold long!! Hurry!!"
"Yumia! Evacuate..."
"Aris. Sorry."
"Huh?"
Stared into her eyes, dead serious. She held breath, focused.
"I'm a hunter. Can't ditch civilians to a monster—professional ethics."
"B-But dangerous..."
"Sometimes you charge danger. Let me go. No one else stops it. You know."
"...Ugh."
Aris choked out,
"O-Okay..."
I bolted toward the noise before she finished, whooping.
"Ki-yat-hoo! Finally—a fight!!!"
Grin split my face—no mirror needed.
"No ethics after all!!!"