Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Changes
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“Oh, thank you so much today!”
After wrapping up the spectacular cave exploration, Her Highness the Princess bowed her head deeply, her face pale as a ghost, to express her gratitude.
Just like an innocent child who knew nothing, she seemed to have learned the massive ghoul ambush fiasco as “this is what mock battles are like.” She hadn’t noticed the abnormality at all…
“Ah, from now on, I’ll be attending Cradle as a regular student!”
“Yes. Good luck.”
“…”
At those words, the Princess began to fidget.
She glanced back and forth between Carlyle and Gray, cautiously…
“…Your Highness, is there something you’d like to say?”
Unable to stand it any longer, Carlyle nudged her first, and Princess Ilia jumped in surprise before opening her mouth.
It was like a baby bird chirping in shock.
“C-can I… visit you sometimes?!”
“…”
“I-I’m sorry, but I don’t know anyone at the academy, and I don’t know anything about it!”
Aha.
“In other words, you’re saying you need a friend?”
“Y-yes…”
…To hesitate this much over such a simple request.
It gave a clear picture of what kind of life she’d led in the Imperial Family.
Honestly, it was pitiful.
“Of course. Anytime. I’m Your Highness’s friend.”
Carlyle smiled and replied, and Princess Ilia bowed deeply once more, vigorously.
“Th-thank y—”
…She bit her tongue again.
Covering her mouth with teary eyes, Princess Ilia bowed her flushed face and then scurried down the hallway, do-do-do…
Her small, timid figure looked just like a dormouse.
“You’ve got some luck, huh?”
Watching the scene, a chilly remark dropped from Gray.
“Acting all sleazy toward a seven-year-old kid.”
“…What on earth are you talking about, Lady?”
“Dinner, bath, bedding. Get it done quick. I’m just going out for some air.”
Leaving those words, Gray strode off down the hallway.
“…”
But watching her, Carlyle tilted his head.
Something felt subtly different from usual.
Carlyle couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but it seemed like there was a bit more emotion mixed in than normal.
‘Is it because of this?’
He summoned the window in front of his eyes.
The rewards the system window gave him sometimes included things that even he found baffling.
“…”
Gray had gained the ‘Interest’ trait.
What the hell was this?
[…Well, it means exactly what it says: interest.]
“Isn’t there already plenty of interest? Like trust and all that.”
[Hmm. Basic trust is something you can give to a pet. Like, this loyal dog will never bite me.]
“…”
[Interest means genuine human-to-human intrigue toward you. It’s just accumulated because every time you’re around, she has positive experiences.]
A natural progression.
Seeing the Holy Sword wrap up like that, Carlyle scratched his head.
“So I just got promoted from pet to human?”
[…I didn’t say that much.]
She wasn’t denying the similarity, though.
Carlyle let out a hollow laugh and slung the Holy Sword over his back.
Well, whatever. Good is good.
Vague or pet treatment, progress was progress.
In that regard, the other reward on the window was straightforward and nice.
‘A new function for the Holy Sword…’
He had no idea what ‘form transformation’ meant, but adding a function was good.
Though he wondered why the window bundled the Dean and an event together.
“Carlyle Bellfast?”
Carlyle looked up at the voice calling from down the hallway.
Speak of the devil. It was Shea Whiteburn out in the corridor.
“You handled it splendidly. Impressive. We need to talk about it, so come to the dean’s office.”
“Uh, yes, sir.”
“And bring that Holy Sword you’re carrying. I’ll need it.”
“Ah, yes.”
Shea turned and walked off down the hallway after hearing Carlyle’s reply.
“…”
[…]
“…Hero.”
It had been so natural that he’d replied naturally.
“…Did that guy just say Holy Sword?”
[…Definitely.]
What the fuck.
◆
“This really is the Holy Sword, huh.”
Leaving Carlyle frozen on the sofa, the Dean fiddled with the sword containing Gray and spoke.
“Up close, no doubt about it. How did you not know until now?”
“…”
He was on pins and needles.
Naturally, if they started asking why he, of all people, had the Hero’s symbol—the Holy Sword—he had no clue where to even begin explaining.
Seeing that, the Dean chuckled and placed the Holy Sword on the table.
“Don’t worry. I won’t ask where you got it.”
“…Pardon?”
Truly unexpected.
No questions even after seeing someone casually carrying a Holy Sword?
“Have you ever seen what happens when an unqualified person wields a Holy Sword?”
At the sudden question, Carlyle blinked dumbly.
The Dean smirked and shook his head.
“It’s not something you see easily, since Heroes never let it leave their side for a second. They’re not the type to let it be taken easily. But the fact you’re holding it and still alive proves your ‘qualification.’”
“…Uh.”
“I won’t ask where you found it. Honestly, I don’t care.”
More Holy Sword wielders were a good thing.
Why question a good thing?
The Dean drawled, gazing indifferently at the Holy Sword on the table.
“You’ve got your reasons, and I’m not into digging into others’ business.”
“…”
Carlyle just blinked at the nonchalant tone dripping with detachment.
As expected of Gray’s acknowledged current strongest.
No agitation whatsoever over another of the continent’s singular Holy Sword.
“And there’s something inside it, right? I don’t know what, but.”
Carlyle flinched.
Had he sensed Gray inside?
“Seems to get along well with you. Been helping you a lot, knowingly or not.”
“…Pardon?”
“How do you think you kept it hidden as a Holy Sword this whole time?”
…Intensive camouflage efforts.
At least, that’s what Carlyle figured.
“Hmm, even so, anyone else might miss it, but not junior Gray. She handles Holy Swords directly. The bond between Hero and sword is beyond what you think.”
“…Pardon?”
“It’s not something mere camouflage can hide.”
“…”
“Probably thanks to whatever’s inside constantly masking its identity on its own. Suppressing its presence with its own power. For your sake.”
“…”
“You’ve got a good friend. Must be quite the burden, but you didn’t know?”
-I had no idea.
‘…Why didn’t you say anything?’
[…]
The Holy Sword stubbornly kept silent.
But he could guess the reason.
‘Was it because telling me you were struggling would burden me?’
[…]
Still stubbornly silent.
But that itself was answer enough.
[…Leave it be. It’s necessary.]
He agreed it was necessary.
Still, she could’ve at least mentioned the hardship.
Carlyle gazed quietly at the Holy Sword.
“If I hadn’t looked closely, I might not have noticed either.”
Like sensing something off during the ghoul hunt.
Holy Swords inherently maximized attack power against existences defying providence.
Undead like ghouls were said to revive no matter how many times killed by normal iron swords.
“Seeing it one-shot them piqued my interest.”
“…”
“So, here’s a proposal.”
Shea grinned.
“Want me to teach you how to wield it?”
“…Pardon?”
“Looks fun. As head of an educational institution, I can’t just leave that combo alone.”
Another Holy Sword dropping out of nowhere.
A mysterious human wielding it.
“Curious how far you’ll grow if I train you.”
“…”
Carlyle calculated mentally.
From numerous regressions, one thing he knew for sure: never trust anyone lightly.
Without knowing this man’s intentions, he shouldn’t accept rashly.
No malice seemed present, but better to approach cautiously—
“Oh, first off, I’ll teach you how to camouflage the Holy Sword without burdening whatever’s inside.”
“I’ll learn.”
…Instant reply.
[…]
‘…’
Holy Sword and Carlyle shared an awkward mental silence.
Both felt embarrassed, so neither spoke first.
Meanwhile, the Dean grinned at Carlyle’s answer.
“Good choice. I figured you’d need it.”
Something.
“You seem like you’ll get dragged into big things left and right.”
…An ominous ring to those words.
A few days later.
Carlyle was ruefully pondering an old adage.
‘Never ignore what life veterans say.’
Shea’s words had undoubtedly reflected reality.
Proven by Cardinal Felix, who visited him with a smile.
“Care for a little date with me, Carlyle?”
“…”
Put on your blinker before pulling in, please.
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-System Message
▶ The ‘Cardinal’s Secret Meeting’ event is underway.
▶ Successfully complete this event, and the ‘Gray Cardinal’ will be added to the ‘Taming’ list!
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