Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Sword and the End of the World
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Nameless stared at the sword in his hand as if entranced, no matter how much I gazed at him with sparkling eyes.
Hmm, Nameless ignoring me like this? That's unusual.
I wasn't particularly upset or anything, but I couldn't help worrying about his condition, and my brow furrowed deeply.
'Is that sword really that pretty?'
I tilted my head down slightly and examined the sword in Nameless's hand more closely.
The black blade, made of some unknown material, was etched with beautiful wave patterns. The tip and the bronze-like guard were the same deep black as the blade, which made the white cloth wrapped around the hilt stand out even more.
Hmm, it was definitely pretty enough to captivate Nameless like that...
But it didn't fit in around here at all. I mean, it was... way too Eastern-styled for a sword, wasn't it?
I hadn't seen everyone in this world, but all the people I'd encountered so far—aside from me—had distinctly Western features.
Their weapons matched: adventurers wielded classic medieval swords, and the most exotic thing was a staff for casting magic... A katana out of nowhere?
Seeing that sword made me even more convinced this was a world from a novel.
As I gazed at it with those slightly mixed feelings, a sudden thought crossed my mind.
'Maybe I can figure out why Nameless is so entranced by it?'
You know how people talk about being bewitched by a demonic sword or something?
And it came from a succubus, one of the Demon King's minions, no less...
I turned my head and narrowed my eyes at Lily.
Lily herself clearly hadn't expected this situation. She crossed her arms and shook her head vigorously.
"It wasn't me!"
"...What are you talking about?"
I hadn't even asked anything, and she was denying it outright.
That's suspicious.
But if I pressured her for an answer, Nameless would definitely misunderstand and think I was threatening her.
Can't have that.
To make our relationship look as wholesome as possible, I draped my arm over Lily's shoulder.
"No! You're suspicious with that look in your eyes— Eek! I'm sorry!"
Ahem, overreacting again. I keep telling her it's a misunderstanding.
I patted her shoulder gently to calm her down and whispered in her ear.
"Just tell me everything you know for now. What's the deal with that sword?"
"Ugh... So you were suspicious of me..."
"What was that?"
"...Nothing."
Normally, Lily would have spilled everything the moment I put my arm around her shoulder.
Hmm, so maybe she didn't intentionally give him that sword?
"Then can you at least give me some info on that sword?"
"...It was originally meant for you, Lady Harang, but you refused it last time."
Lily's gaze shifted to the sword in Nameless's hand.
"That's the one from back then..."
"I've never refused a sword from you."
Her words didn't match my memory at all, so I tilted my head in confusion.
"Huh? Wait, didn't one of our demon folk come looking for you a few years ago?"
There had been someone with an aura similar to Lily's who came by...
Did that person offer me a sword?
"Anyway! I was going to give it to you then, but I don't know the details!"
I waved my hand dismissively at her excuse-like response and tilted my head this way and that.
'Something must have gone wrong somewhere.'
My head throbbed from the sudden influx of information.
Back then, that guy had only tried to drag me away by force...
And Lily was a bit mistaken— that person had come looking for Nameless from the start.
So, was this a sword that was supposed to go to Nameless, finally reaching him now?
Tsk, but why did the demons want to take Nameless with them?
The questions kept piling up, but no answers came to mind.
'For now... I need to deal with Nameless first.'
I grabbed the shoulders of Nameless, who was still fiddling with and staring at the sword, and shook him.
"Nameless?"
"...Yes, Master."
Nameless blinked, furrowed his brow, and finally turned his head toward me.
Hmm, he's finally looking at me.
"Is there something wrong with the sword?"
"No, there's not..."
"Hmm, if you say so, then I suppose it's fine."
Nameless's answer wasn't entirely satisfying...
But if he were truly in danger or acting strangely, he would have told me.
I ruffled his hair roughly.
"Still, if anything feels off, tell me right away."
"Yes, Master."
I settled behind Nameless and started playing with his hair this way and that.
Lily, who had been watching us silently, suddenly remembered something. She lightly bonked her head with her fist and stuck out her tongue.
"Oh! Lady Harang!"
"What is it? You still haven't left?"
"That's mean!"
Lily puffed out her cheeks and scowled.
Even with that expression, she looked more comical than scary, but her anger was coming through loud and clear.
"So, why did you call me?"
"I gave you the sword, but I didn't give you a sheath, right?"
Hmm, true, I hadn't received a sheath.
I'd just assumed it was a sword without one, but given its katana-like shape, it probably should have a scabbard.
I furrowed my brow and nodded slowly.
"You're right."
"I didn't forget it or anything! The thing is, there wasn't a sheath in our castle!"
"Hmm, so does that mean the sheath doesn't exist anymore?"
It came from the Demon King's castle, after all. If it didn't have a sheath there, it was probably destroyed or never had one to begin with, right?
That line of thinking prompted my question, and Lily made a weird 'pbbbt!' sound with her mouth, crossing her arms and shaking her head.
"No! There definitely is a sheath... I think it's somewhere in the human kingdoms?! But I don't know exactly where..."
"So you're telling us to go find it ourselves?"
"Yes! Exactly! Eek! Don't stand up! Hear me out!"
As usual, I started to rise for our intimate little 'chat' with Lily.
Lily clutched the horns on her head with both hands and crouched down on the floor.
'Have I been a bit too harsh with her lately?'
Feeling a pang of unnecessary guilt at the sight, I sat back down behind Nameless. Lily peeked at me cautiously, then sprang up and cleared her throat.
"Ahem! I'm supposed to raise the humans Lady Harang collected, at your request?"
"...Raise them?"
"Oopsie, slip of the tongue."
Well, from a demon's perspective, my request might come across that way.
I could understand that much.
I nodded to signal her to continue.
"Anyway! That's why! I'm going to be super, super busy!"
"And?"
"Huh? And? You should find the sheath yourself!"
This time, I made a face of disgust and stuck out my tongue.
Ugh— what a hassle.
As my expression soured naturally, Lily looked displeased and pressed on.
"Think about it! It's a gift for your precious disciple! Surely you're not saying even that much effort is too much?!"
Hmm, is that so? Kinda sounds right.
I raised an eyebrow and tilted my head. Sensing she was getting through, Lily's eyes lit up as she spread her arms wide.
"Your disciple will definitely prefer a sheath found personally by his beloved Lady Harang over something from a succubus like me!"
Nameless loving me? In the master-disciple sense, sure, but...
Hmm.
I didn't think that's what Lily meant by saying it.
"Hmm, do you really think Nameless sees me that way... loves me like that?"
"No! He totally does! I'm a succubus, so I can sense those feelings faster than anyone, and honey is practically dripping from your disciple's eyes!"
I glanced back at Nameless awkwardly. He, who had been inspecting the sword, jerked his head up, broke into a cold sweat, and shook his head.
"...It's not like that, Master."
Of course not. Would Nameless really look at me with... shameful—no, impure eyes?
I turned back to Lily with a smug look.
"See? He says it's not."
"Wha—! No! Isn't a succubus's word usually the most trustworthy in these matters?! Believe me— Oof!"
Lily got hit in the head by the pillow Nameless threw and clutched her forehead as she crouched down.
"That's enough, Lily."
"Ugh, it's Lily, not Lilil... You always get my name wrong..."
Lily sniffled for a moment, then quickly perked up, jumped to her feet, and pointed at me.
"More importantly! You're ignoring my point about finding the sheath and only reacting to the love stuff! What's your deal?!"
Hmm, did I?
I turned my head and gazed out the window intently.
"Don't play dumb! You're just trying to pawn it off because it's a hassle!"
"Tch."
"Did you just click your tongue?! So you really were gonna dump it on me?!"
What's so hard about it? Just do it.
With that sentiment, I scowled deeply and turned back to Lily.
Meeting my gaze, she flinched as if guilty of something.
"...What?"
"Fine, whatever."
How could I refuse a plea like that?
I let out a deep sigh.
"But you at least know the general location, right?"
"Ah, yes! It's probably in the Demonic Realm that the human Hero purified recently?"
Hmm, I have no idea what she's talking about.
All I could think was, 'Oh, so the Hero cleansed some Demonic Realm place. Neat.'
I pursed my lips at Lily, who seemed to be messing with me on purpose, and spoke up.
"Where the hell is that?"
"Eek— You're human like the Hero, and you don't know this?!"
"I'm just not that interested in the world."
"Ugh, if it doesn't involve your disciple, you couldn't care less. That's a problem too!"
It's not entirely like that... is it? Maybe it is?
As I tilted my head back and forth, I caught Nameless's lips twitching upward slightly.
Heat rose to my face for some reason, and I pressed Lily for an answer.
"Anyway, where is it?"
"Um... 'The End of the World,' way up north from here?"
?
What the hell kind of chuunibyou place name is that...?