A Legendary Blade for a Legendary Deed
I acquired a new divine weapon.
“Contract release.”
Will you terminate the contract with the Fragment of Corruption?
“Release.”
The contract has been terminated!
Releasing a contract was even easier than forming one. After canceling the bond, I handed the Fragment of Corruption over to the marquis.
“Wrap this disgusting thing up tightly and send it to the dwarves.”
Marquis Catel took the fragment from me, sealed it himself multiple times with great care, then spoke with clear revulsion. The Fragment of Corruption could only be destroyed by melting it completely in the primordial flame. And that primordial flame could only be handled by the dwarves across the entire continent.
The knights took the securely sealed fragment and immediately used the teleport station inside the mansion to head straight for the dwarves. Only then did the marquis let out a long sigh, his shoulders finally relaxing in relief.
“I’m truly glad it’s been handled like this.”
“How did the Fragment of Corruption end up inside her body?”
At my question, flames seemed to blaze in the marquis’s eyes. The same man who had been so gentle with Rachel and his wife now looked ready to tear someone apart.
“Amelia went out half a year ago to subjugate a Middle Dragon that had invaded our territory. She went with the family knights. Her skill was more than sufficient, and at the time I had business outside the territory, so I had no choice but to entrust the task to her. My wife returned after cutting off the dragon’s head, but she had suffered an unexpected injury to her right arm during the fight.”
The marquis’s face grew somber.
“The wound only grew worse with each passing day. It refused to heal. The priests told us it was a wound inflicted by an Evil Dragon’s dark mana and could not be cured by ordinary means. We were all in despair.”
The aftermath of the final boss event starting far too early was already showing ominous signs everywhere. A Middle Dragon that wielded an Evil Dragon’s dark mana… this was seriously bad news.
“That was right around the time a traveling doctor appeared. He claimed his medicine could cure dark mana. And indeed, my wife’s symptoms improved. But the man kept everything about himself a secret, so I was suspicious. Still, with her wound worsening by the day, we had no choice but to accept his treatment.”
Definitely one of the Evil Dragon Cult bastards. It was obvious from the description. But from the marquis’s position, there had been no way to avoid it. The Evil Dragon Cult was a sect that had supposedly been wiped out long ago. In reality, they hid their resurrection perfectly, operating in extreme secrecy as a hidden cell-based organization.
“Then one day, while my wife’s condition was steadily improving, the doctor suddenly vanished. That was exactly two months ago. After that day, my wife changed. She became a madwoman.”
“I see.”
“She began acting far more violently than usual, spewing vulgar curses I had never heard in my life. She grew stranger by the day. I thought it was because of the wound from the dark mana, but that wasn’t it.”
The marquis shook his head, still looking horrified.
“One late night, I heard the sound of metal and got up. I found her in the family armory, having broken in and chewing on our ancestors’ divine weapons with her mouth. Only then did I realize how serious the situation had become. I immediately restrained her and scoured the old texts for her symptoms.”
The marquis closed his eyes. These were clearly memories he didn’t want to recall.
“When I realized she was turning into a Demon, I was terrified. At first, I tried to hide it. It was cowardly, I know. But if I called in all the people needed for treatment, terrible rumors about the Catel Marquisate would spread like wildfire. Even if we accepted that risk, the chances of a cure were slim.”
“I understand. From your perspective, that was perfectly reasonable, Marquis.”
“However, a few days ago, I finally gathered my resolve and changed my mind. I decided we should attempt treatment. I couldn’t leave my wife like that when she sometimes regained her senses around Rachel. And then… you appeared.”
The marquis looked at me with a gentle smile.
“Asbel of Lichtenauer, was it? I never imagined such a talent was hidden within the ducal house.”
“It hasn’t been long since I realized my own abilities.”
I glanced at the Iron Lion’s Greatsword floating behind me as I spoke. The marquis looked at me with interest.
“The ability to wield divine weapons without using your hands. I suppose that power is what allowed you to save my wife?”
“Yes, it is.”
“What a marvelous ability.”
“You flatter me.”
The marquis stared at me with an extremely pleased expression. It was clear his trust in me had reached the highest level.
“Since you’ve done us such a great service, I must offer a reward. Tell me what you desire.”
Finally! Reward time!
I answered in as calm a tone as I could manage.
“As you can see, one of my divine weapons was destroyed while I was subduing the marchioness.”
Elm 183 had certainly been an excellent divine weapon, but it was completely useless against an aura blade tainted by dark mana. What excuse could I give? It had been my mistake for not anticipating the dark mana, and my specs still weren’t high enough.
“I would be grateful if you could grant me a suitable divine weapon from the family armory.”
At my words, the marquis burst into hearty laughter.
“How curious. Amelia was just saying she wanted to give you her sword. And that’s exactly what you ask for.”
He laughed boldly, then opened a drawer, took something out, and handed it to me.
“It would be rather stingy to give my benefactor only that. Go receive the divine weapon from Amelia. I shall give you this instead.”
My eyes widened when I saw what the marquis handed me. It was a finely crafted mithril ornament engraved with the symbol of the Catel Marquisate. Also known as the Badge of Proof. It was proof that the marquisate offered absolute trust and guarantee toward that person. It essentially functioned as a letter of credit.
Throughout the empire, one could use it in place of money, stamp it on payment slips like a seal, and use it like a credit card. It could also serve as identification when proof of identity or guarantees were needed. In short, it was an incredibly valuable item.
“Take it. After what you did today, this is the least I can do.”
If he was offering, I wasn’t about to refuse. What a windfall. This was a reward I would never have received if I had followed only the standard strategy route.
“Thank you. I will make sure never to disgrace this badge.”
“I believe you won’t. Thank you, Asbel. Please continue to get along well with Rachel as well.”
“Yes, of course.”
After bowing to the marquis, I left his study and headed toward Marchioness Amelia’s room. She had said she had a sword to give me, right?
If it’s the sword used by the lady of the Catel Marquisate, I only remember one. Normally, no matter what you did, she would never hand it over. Does this mean I might actually get it?
Please let it be the one I’m thinking of.
“Fluffball, go play now. Mommy’s okay.”
“No. I want to stay by Mommy.”
“My daughter…”
The marchioness was lying in bed. Her right arm was meticulously wrapped in high-grade holy water-soaked bandages made of special materials. The family doctor and maids were attending her respectfully. Only Rachel sat beside her like a cat.
When she saw me enter, the marchioness smiled brightly and asked the doctor and servants to leave the room.
“Asbel!”
Rachel ran to me with a radiant face and hugged me tightly. Her strength was truly ferocious. If she squeezed just a little harder, every bone in my body would shatter and I’d die.
“Rachel. See? My promise was right, wasn’t it? Mom got better.”
“Yeah!! You’re seriously the best friend ever!!”
Rachel hugged me again, her voice trembling with joy.
“Thank you.”
I stroked her head, then approached Marchioness Catel.
“I just spoke with the marquis. I heard you had something to give me.”
At my polite words, the marchioness lifted her right arm with a somber expression.
“Now that the Fragment of Corruption has been removed, all the dark mana left in my body is gone. The pain is no longer as severe as before. However, my right arm is in very bad condition.”
Her arm, wrapped tightly in bandages. She couldn’t even move her fingers properly. It certainly looked serious.
“Rehabilitation is possible, but they don’t know how long it will take. It will require a great deal of money and time. Fortunately, our family is wealthy, so I will receive the treatment. But it means I cannot act as a knight for the time being.”
“You will recover. I’m certain of it.”
At my words, the marchioness looked at me quietly, then bowed her head with deep respect.
“Thank you, Asbel. You are my savior. I owe you my life. The only way I can repay a debt of that magnitude is by giving you something a swordsman values as much as life itself.”
The marchioness looked at Rachel.
“Rachel. Go fetch my sword.”
“Mommy’s clingy sword?”
“Yes. Bring Mommy’s clingy sword.”
“Okay! Got it!”
Rachel ran off somewhere. The marchioness smiled as she watched her go.
“It’s been so long since I’ve seen her smile like that. She never got close to anyone except me. I never imagined she would make a friend.”
“I was surprised too that Rachel likes me so much. Honestly, at first I thought she was someone who hated having people near her.”
That doll-like expressionless face. The way she acted was closer to a cat than a person, so it was natural to assume she disliked people and keep your distance.
At my words, the marchioness looked toward where Rachel had disappeared with a pitying gaze.
“A blessing or a curse, I’m not sure. Rachel was born with an extremely unique constitution. By the age of three, she already possessed transcendent strength capable of easily tearing apart steel plates with her bare hands. But perhaps as a price, she became somewhat mentally immature.”
It was obvious at a glance. She looked like a cool, expressionless beautiful girl, but in reality she was a muscle-brained idiot. That was the true essence of Rachel I had come to understand.
“I thought she would never be able to live a normal social life. I sent her to the academy, but I worried constantly that she wouldn’t make friends and would only cause accidents. I should have watched over her, but as you can see, my condition was horrific, so I couldn’t. She must have struggled a lot. I’m truly grateful that you became her friend and helped her.”
Well… my motives hadn’t exactly been pure. I had done it expecting the reward from a new boss fight, but I wasn’t tactless enough to ruin this warm atmosphere by saying so.
“When I was young, I read about Demons in one of the family’s old texts. Rachel asked me for my Iron Lion’s Greatsword. She said her mother was obsessed with divine weapons. I only helped because I had a suspicion. It wasn’t anything special.”
At my humble words, the marchioness looked at me with an expression of deep emotion, as if touched to her very core.
“From now on, the Catel Marquisate will be your guardian house. Your enemies are our enemies. I will never forget the grace you have shown us.”
While the marchioness spoke with such sincerity, Rachel returned, opening the door.
“Mommy’s clingy sword!!”
With those words, Rachel brought a sword that was nothing but a hilt—like a lightsaber from Star Wars—and handed it to the marchioness. The marchioness gently stroked the weapon, then passed it to me.
“I give this to you. I can no longer fulfill my duty as a knight, but you can. I hope my sword will be of help to you.”
At those words, I felt tears welling up. Oh my god. Oh my god. The exact item I had been thinking of had truly been given as a reward.
A new boss fight. This reward is absolutely insane!!!
To think I had sacrificed the epic-grade divine weapon Elm 183 only to obtain a legendary-grade one!!!! And not just any legendary weapon—one that was absolutely impossible to obtain on hardcore difficulty or below no matter what you did!!
With trembling hands, I accepted the hilt-only sword.
“Thank you.”
“That sword is yours now.”
I looked down at the weapon with a shaking gaze. This is crazy. It’s seriously crazy!!
Ownership has been transferred from the previous owner.
Immediate contract is now possible.
Would you like to form a contract?
Would I? Of course I would!!!!!!
“I contract it.”
The moment I quietly uttered those words, the hilt-only sword began to tremble violently.
◈ A legendary-grade whip-sword that inflicts poison and deals 5x critical damage on vital hits.
◈ Perfect for one-versus-many combat and assassination.
The moment I obtained a new legendary-grade divine weapon—one considered the most overpowered of all for fighting multiple opponents and assassination—entered my hands.