The Holy Sword Is an Outright Cheat Item
The Holy Sword was a blatant cheat item, the real deal. It was standard advice for struggling newbies: "If it's too hard, just grab the Holy Sword and see the ending."
Unfortunately, as a demon, I couldn't wield it myself, but simply keeping it out of the hero's hands was value enough.
The problem was how to get it...
"Holy Sword..."
Maybe because my mind was full of nothing else, the words slipped out while I was reading.
"...What?"
"Ah."
Our daily morning reading session with Lucrezia.
She reacted reflexively to the random word.
"You were listening?"
"Wasn't."
"Quick reaction, though."
"It was random."
Her voice was dry and cutting.
But somehow, it felt nice. Our conversations hadn't stretched this long in ages.
"Hey, Lucrezia."
"Use honorifics properly... or never mind. Drop it."
Too bad.
I was just about to call her Mom.
She'd learned from my repeated tricks. Lucrezia furrowed her brow like it was a headache.
"Know anything about the Holy Sword?"
"......"
Instead of answering, she quietly closed her eyes.
"Talk to me a bit, and I'll skip the reading today and head out early."
"How long?"
"Like ten minutes?"
"Fine."
Only then did she half-open her eyes and look at me.
"Holy Sword. I know of it."
"I wanna go get it."
"...And?"
Her face said, Why tell me?
"Just chit-chat. Venting my worries."
"Do it with Carsella."
"Nah."
"...Brat."
Lucrezia clicked her tongue briefly and stared blankly into space.
Probably timing how much of the ten minutes was left.
Anyway, she'd answer if I asked, so I decided to grill her on my curiosities.
"No maternal love at all?"
"I do."
"...Huh? You have a conscience?"
"I do."
"Doubt it. Feels like neither."
"I have them. I just don't let them control me."
"You say it so proudly."
"Just stating facts."
Lucrezia really seemed annoyed by everything.
Her face plainly showed she was only humoring me to get rid of me early—no enjoyment at all.
"Lucrezia."
"...I said at least add -nim."
"What makes everything such a hassle for you?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Some bad stuff happen back in the day?"
I'd been reading too many parenting books lately. She was starting to look like a precious child starved of love.
"Nothing like that."
"You're not normal now."
"Born this way."
"For real?"
"My parents got sick of it too."
Her parents—sudden curiosity hit.
"What were they like?"
"Annoying people."
"C'mon, not so vague. Details."
"...Just like you."
"Sounds like great folks."
"Painfully annoying."
Lucrezia let out a hollow chuckle, exasperated.
"...They'd get along with Carsella, then."
"Whoa, thinking of Carsella in this moment? Real progress!"
"Nonsense."
She cut me off firmly.
"Ten minutes up. Out."
"Sure, promise is a promise."
I closed the book without regret and stood obediently.
"...Unexpected."
Trust was key in these deals.
Lucrezia barely spoke as it was. Break the promise once, and she'd clam up forever.
"See you tomorrow."
I bowed and left the bedroom.
Way earlier than usual, so I suddenly had tons of free time.
Another morning.
Me reading parenting books to Lucrezia was basically nagging her to "be a proper parent."
I didn't really expect her to absorb the knowledge or be moved.
But for some reason.
Maybe because I was the one reading aloud.
My own way of treating people started changing.
Make praise stickers for your child! Every time they show desirable behavior, give praise and stick one on. This greatly helps fulfill their sense of achievement and build good habits!
"Lucrezia, take this."
"What's this monstrosity?"
She scowled at the board I thrust out.
"Praise sticker chart."
"Burn it before I do."
"Collect thirty stickers, and you get a reward: kick me out of the room immediately."
Appropriate rewards are an essential element of motivation!
That sweet offer made her pause. She seemed to seriously weigh it, then tossed the chart onto a nearby table.
At least she didn't burn it.
"Anyway."
"Stickers go on like this: one for every time you listen through a full convo."
I propped the chart upright on the table and pressed on the first sticker firmly.
"Twenty-nine left. Fighting."
"Boring."
"Peel it off?"
"...Leave it."
"Got it."
And another morning after that.
"Lucrezia."
"What."
We'd mostly stopped reading books lately.
Instead, short chats: ten minutes stretching to twenty.
"How do I steal the Holy Sword?"
"Dunno."
"It's in Orlan's territory right now."
"You know the spot that precisely? Just go grab it."
Her face said, What's the issue?
Sure, it'd be great if I could sneak in quietly.
"Pulling the Holy Sword releases a massive energy burst."
"So."
"Think about it. Flora Alberich—the infamous mad one—unleashes huge energy in another territory? Orlan gonna let that slide?"
"Orlan... Wipe out a territory that size. No loose ends."
"...You just gave me advice?"
"Huh?"
Intent aside, her actually hearing my worry and suggesting a solution was huge progress.
My nose tingled for real.
"I'm seriously happy, Lucrezia. Deep down, you do wanna connect, chat, be warm with people..."
"Wanna die?"
"Yeah, I'm so moved I'd die content."
"Crazy bitch."
She grimaced and pinched her forehead.
"Anyway, that's my dilemma."
"Yeah, dilemma."
"Empathizing?"
"Means you're my dilemma."
She shut me down firmly, went quiet, then continued.
"Condition."
"What?"
"Cut visits. I'll give a real method."
Hmm... After last time, trust was low.
"Fine, let's hear it. How much?"
"Once a year."
"Thanks for your time. See you tomorrow."
I turned to leave without hesitation; a hurried voice flew after.
"...Six months."
"Six days a week."
"Refused."
"Shame."
Whatever. I could brainstorm with Carsella.
Time was plentiful. No rush.
"Oh, right."
Another thought popped up.
"Know the Elder Council?"
"Yeah."
"They're pressuring Carsella."
Insane over stopping Flora's unsealing.
Letters nonstop; paperwork piles in the office hit new heights daily.
"Why?"
"To halt Flora's release."
"Good deed for once."
"......"
I silently reached for the sticker chart.
"Don't peel. Isn't that cowardly?"
"You hurt me deep."
"Not my problem. Hands off that sneaky shit."
"Sad."
"Go cry alone outside."
I withdrew my hand.
"Lucrezia."
"...Sigh, fine."
She wasn't nitpicking the missing -nim anymore.
"How much sway do you have over the Elder Council?"
"...Planning to drag it out?"
She'd already clocked my intent.
Reduce visits in exchange for reining in the harassing elders.
Pretty solid deal?
"Tell 'em to stop, they will."
"That easy?"
"...Hassle."
"What now."
"Explaining."
She spat shortly. Face said her patience was thinning.
"So. Block them for me, and how much do you cut visits?"
"Six days a week. No more concessions."
"...Tch."
"It adds up huge."
Skip once a week? That's nearly fifty days a year.
Lucrezia clicked her tongue and adjusted her eyemask.
But different from usual.
Not ignoring me—posture for deep thought.
"So, you'll help?"
I tossed the question and waited for her reaction.