Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: When a Sword Gets Serious? Jet Black! Hahaha (2)
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“......”
The room fell silent for a moment, and Helio stepped in front of the 4th Prince.
“Daisy, Your Highness! It’s rude to say that to a lady. Lady Dalia doesn’t know magic.”
Indeed, to the outside world, Dalia was still just a child who didn’t know how to use magic.
So, the fact that Dalia could use magic had been seen through by 4th Prince Daisy. In a rather rude way.
“......”
Somehow feeling uneasy, I looked down, and Dalia’s face was flushed bright red.
Come to think of it, I recalled the fairy tale Dalia had been obsessed with lately. It was a story featuring a princess and a witch, with the witch as the villain.
“I’m not a witch.”
Dalia clenched her small fists tightly.
“Witches are bad! Dalia is a princess! A princess!”
She wasn’t actually a princess. She was a duke’s daughter.
Dalia huffed to herself, then dashed forward before anyone could stop her and shoved Daisy’s shoulder. Then, she bit him. It was a remarkably swift and shocking strike.
“Daisy, Your Highness!”
“Dalia! What are you doing biting people!”
In an instant, the surroundings turned into chaos. Both Daisy and Dalia were too young, making it hard to separate them as they tore at each other’s hair. They seemed so fragile that grabbing anywhere felt like it might break them.
That Daisy kid, they said he was indifferent, but he sure knew how to counterattack Dalia. Was the status window lying to me?
From behind, Cosmo was cackling away. We were similar in size, so why didn’t he step in to help? What a sneaky guy.
We finally managed to pry them apart, but neither looked presentable. Both had torn clothes and hair, and for some reason, they each bore bite marks. Traces of an animalistic battle.
In this battle with no victor, Daisy wiped away tears and issued a cryptic warning.
“The last lizard... you’re gonna catch it......”
“Hmph. I’m not catching lizards with you.”
“The last lizard is gray and crouches like a puppy. Sniff.”
“...Then I’ll catch it. Hey. Let’s go catch it.”
The two engaged in lizard talk that adults couldn’t comprehend, then suddenly grabbed each other’s wrists and ran off into the garden. It was an utterly unpredictable development.
“Dalia! What’s wrong with you today! Why the fuss! Why!”
As I tried to chase after them, Pippin blocked my way.
“You have to attend to the remaining guests, Master. The nanny and Lady Muriel went after them, so it’ll be fine.”
“Whew......”
Unable to stay still, Helio hooked arms with me, and we walked to the dining hall as I whispered.
“Do you think Dalia or I will get punished? She... bit him.”
“His sister bit back too, so it should be okay......”
We consoled each other despondently and went to eat.
***
That day, Helio and his group decided to stay overnight at my castle before leaving. Late at night, when everyone was asleep, I entered the study and hesitated in front of the problematic box.
If it was the legendary sword Lagia, it surely knew the weakness of the mermaid king Enbi. My goal was to lie about sending it home, then extract information about Enbi.
“The sword...... Does it sleep?”
If it didn’t speak when I opened it, or worse, talked too much, that would be a problem. I was tired.
Still, babbling was better than staying stubbornly silent. I mustered my courage and undid the seal on the box and the bandages wrapped around it. Soon, Lagia’s form was revealed.
It looked like a magnificent sword. Thinking of Pippin wielding it and shining in battle filled me with pride as its owner.
Daisy’s words nagged at me, but since I knew nothing about swords—not even the first letter—I’d never wield it myself.
“Lagia.”
I called its name calmly, and the sword hummed.
[What’s this? The human from before? No, how did this sword know it was me? That’s what you’re thinking, right? I nailed it, nailed it, ahahaha! Actually, I can distinguish people by their mana. Curious, huh? Hahaha!]
I forcibly stopped my hand from rewrapping the bandages.
“Are you really Lagia, the sword of the mermaid king?”
The sword, which had been vibrating wildly until moments ago, suddenly stopped trembling.
[...Mermaid king, huh. I’ve passed through the hands of many mermaid kings. But my last master, Enbi, isn’t a king yet. Bad personality. To inherit the throne, you need an excellent spouse, plenty of war, and above all, this sword! Me, Lady Lagia, by your side.]
Lagia’s voice was actually deep and resonant, but its chattiness and lightheartedness robbed it of any gravity. My tensed mind relaxed. No need for a battle of wills.
“Witch Lead told me to pass on her regards. Do you know her?”
[Lead? Hahaha! Old friend! It’s been ages since we met. That old hag’s still alive? Impressive.]
“Old hag? She looked young.”
[She’s no ordinary giant, that one. Usually holed up in the library reading books like a bookworm. Her role is guarding the tower. Guarding, my foot—just making some noise.]
Someone I didn’t need to worry about...... I’d tensed up thinking of a connection to Tenerife, but from Lagia’s words, she seemed harmless.
[By the way, Lead’s super pretty, right? Humans all praise her. But not to my eyes. Why? I have no eyes! Hahaha! How’s that joke? Funny, right? Ahahaha!]
“......”
[Hey, Enbi’s more important to me than Lead. Anyway, how’s Enbi doing? Know who Enbi is? No? Of course not, we’re strangers!]
I slumped onto the sofa, took a sip of cold water, and eyed Lagia. Could I make it shut up when Pippin used it? If it started on beast talk, Pippin might stop fighting to listen seriously.
[Poor Enbi! Preparing for war without me. Must be exhausted by now. With me, waves crash! Currents surge! Beasts die and tumble!]
“War? You mean war in mermaid territory, so Mele?”
[War’s war! War with beasts. Humans think beasts only fight them—wrong! The closest to the hermit’s land is the sea. Sea means Mele. Mele means mermaids, right? Oh, you know Mele’s not the sea’s name but the mermaid alliance? Ignorance otherwise~ You lacking common sense? Hahaha, it’s fine! With me beside you, common......]
I closed the box lid for a moment. Took another sip of water, then opened it again. Lagia grumbled, deflated.
[Sheesh. Don’t wanna hear it, don’t talk. FYI, I’m like a plant—love light. Light warms the heart. Metal heats up easy.]
“You said Enbi needs conditions to become mermaid king. Anything else? Without you, he can’t become king?”
[Not exactly. Hmm, secret. Human, can you keep a secret?]
No way something that blabs like Lagia had secrets, but I agreed.
“I’ll keep the secret. Whatever it is.”
[Good. I’ll tell you, so grant my wish. Fair trade.]
“Hear the secret first, then decide.”
[Such a stingy human.]
Lagia cleared its nonexistent throat and shifted to a solemn tone, dropping the levity.
[To become mermaid king, you need a halo. True king’s symbol. Only one way: kill the sea dragon halo and take its bone. Oh, just in case—halo’s a beast type. The round bone in its body floats just right in water, follows its owner. Mermaids wear it like a crown—that’s the king’s privilege.]
“...So, in short, Enbi must kill this sea dragon halo to become king? What’s the bone do? Float around?”
[Boosts mana for its owner. Human, know what death spirits are? If not, common sense lacking? They exist. When life dies, grudge and soul fuse into death spirit. Halo’s the sea dragon’s flesh remnant—and the death spirit itself.]
Intriguing.
[The one with halo, me—legendary sword, saying it myself, hahaha! Embarrassing. Look like one to you? I think I do. Pretty cool. Hahaha! Fighting in the sea, gaining ego—amazing......]
“Back to the point before I close the lid. Yeah, you’re cool. Done.”
[Tch. Anyway. Mermaid king with halo wielding me unleashes several times—nay, tens of thousands times—my power. Power means mana, strength, luck, resonance—all of it.]
Then, this halo Enbi must have. I need to snag it.
Goal for this beast subjugation set.
Defeat sea dragon halo, claim the king’s proof. If Enbi goes for this sword or halo, destroy both.
Solid plan—satisfying. With a warm smile, I asked Lagia kindly.
“By chance, know how to destroy that halo?”
[Destroy? Usually, new sea dragon appears, old one corrodes at a touch. But to break earlier? Tough. Needs this body, Lady Lagia.]
“Amazing, Lagia. Thought you were just cool, but capable too. Nothing in the world beats you? Doubt it. So curious.”
[Hahahahaha! Flattered! Of course, no sword beats Lady Lagia. But I have weaknesses. I adapt to user as good partner, but then......]
Lagia chattered excitedly, then abruptly shut up.
“Then?”
[Nah. Can’t say. Not that I distrust you, human. But secrets leak everywhere. What if someone harms me?]
I plan to.
“No way. Who’d dare mess with a great sword like Lagia.”
[Hmm. True. Ah, fun chatting after so long. Swords need sleep too, know? Didn’t, right! Just decided! Need rest. Missing Enbi...... And this place, your home? Mana’s rich. Recharging to return to Enbi. Be nice.]
“...Fine. Do that.”
Lagia seemed more human the more I saw. Different only in sword body instead of flesh, sure.
Then, could I see this guy’s status window too?