In the Hero's Palm
My hazy, whitened mind gradually sharpens. Even with my 360-degree field of vision, old human habits make me swivel my head this way and that. Hmm, the situation around me right now...
"Caught you."
[Oh, crap.]
The Hero smiles brightly, just like the day she first pulled me from the Vatican Secret Vault. But that smile terrifies me more than the Grim Reaper's grin right now. Damn it, I thought I'd never see her again and blabbered all sorts of nonsense! Now I'm trapped in the Hero's hand. In the soul realm where I'm supposed to be strongest, I got utterly dominated and dragged here like a loser. Even I can't find a way out in this mess.
No hosts in sight outside the city, and if I try Soul Erosion, she won't just stand by. My best option here is!
[Spare me!]
I bow my head straight to the Hero.
[You shameless...!]
"Shh."
She quiets the outraged Holy Sword and hoists me high. If the blade were my face, our eyes would be level right now. Her chillingly beautiful face stares down at me. The smile fades quickly, reverting to her usual drowsy, emotionless expression.
"I, overlooked, a lot."
Her voice is subtly faster than usual. Yeah, she's pissed.
"Hurting me, at first. Pushing me away. Fighting people. Getting tricked, like an idiot. And being, so useless."
She methodically recounts my disastrous antics, slicing me to ribbons. Ugh, this vibe is seriously heavy. Can't brush it off with my usual lame jokes or sophistry. Not that I'm really sorry, but my life's on the line.
"I, overlooked, everything."
[Wait...!]
As she finishes, holy power crackles from her hand. Facing death, my mind blanks. Excuses? Or should I flail desperately now? But before I can pick the wrong choice, she clasps both hands over my hilt. A blinding flash erupts from our intertwined grip.
"No more, overlooking."
No time to scream as the tidal wave of holy power crashes in—I instinctively unleash my own power. But damn it, aftermath from her domination? It won't come out right. A storm of holy power rages over my defenseless form.
[Grraaaaaah... huh?]
Expecting agony, I scream first—then let out a dumb groan. Weird. Doesn't hurt at all. The holy power surging to shred me shifts just before contact, turning to dandelion-fluff powder that drifts softly onto my hilt. The grains form bizarre patterns, wrapping my hilt without pause. Wait. This is...
[A seal?]
Just as the Holy Sword says. A seal. But not on my whole body—just awkwardly limited to the hilt. Impressive she pulled off alone what usually takes bishops or archbishops in droves. But the intent? My head spins in confusion.
She slowly strokes the now-sealed hilt and speaks.
"This is, a chastity belt."
[What?]
"Now, if anyone, but me, grabs the sword."
She's got the vocab for chastity belt? And the content's no joke. She cutely pinches her hands, then blooms them open like a flower.
"Boom."
No, not that, right?
[I see. A purification seal mimicking divine punishment. Weak restraint for a seal, but when broken, it explodes—wiping out the sealed object and the breaker together.]
But the Holy Sword crushes my last hope with obnoxiously detailed explanation. That smug tone? Not my imagination.
"Right."
[But Hero hasn't even had Hero training at the temple yet? How...?]
I tune out the chatter. For the first time since dying and waking in the Solium golem's fist, true despair hits. Seals aren't instant like this. The more care, the longer they last. Hero's blessings fade eventually, but this sticks post-death—centuries baseline...! Even my ironclad endurance can't outlast that.
"Nothing, to say?"
She beams down at me. No melting or punishing vibe in that world-bright smile, but something ominous stirs. Baseless, inexplicable—pathological obsession. The thing that once drowned my mind in white nights now tightens around me.
[Sorry...]
I feel true fear for the first time.
"And."
Even if some malice unlocks it, the holy blast would consume me. Weak as I am, no surviving. Only one can wield me till I recover—and unseal without backlash.
[I won't act out again.]
The Hero obsessed with me—now I'm the obsessed one. Power dynamic flipped.
"And?"
[Please use this wretched sword...]
I hesitate, then squeeze my eyes shut and spit it out.
[Hero. No, Master.]
She smiles and grips my hilt. *
"...So all this was 'unavoidable sacrifice' to reclaim the demonic sword?"
[Yes. As you've reported, Viscount, the demonic sword's danger is proven. Hero made the best choice, tears in her eyes, to prevent more damage.]
Me and the Hero's saga wraps up roughly, but loose ends pile like mountains. Our chase started midnight, ended at dawn. As darkness retreats and sunlight spills, the city's damage lays bare.
"Sure, that body-stealing ability's threatening, but this damage is still..."
[A decision to avert greater tragedy.]
Hire Viscount grimaces, but can't refute the Holy Sword's fervent plea—just grunts heavily. We're in his office at Hire Viscount's castle. Normally, city-wreckers get hauled off or executed pronto. But Hero's no normal.
City's top three couldn't touch her—how to arrest? She's not just Demon King foe; gods above and kings below protect her. No mere noble touches that clout. Viscount swallows hard, accepting her persuasion.
"...Fine. I get it was unavoidable. No charges then..."
[Pardon? Charges?]
Hero lounges cat-like in her chair, chill amid Holy Sword's tirade. That's why you wanna poke her whiskers. But fresh off her scolding, I stay mum.
[Hero crushed the demonic sword's rampage before it started. Imagine if it'd dominated you, Viscount? She deserves awards!]
Holy Sword's gall stuns me—furious at me before, now brazen. City destruction flips to heroic feat; I click my tongue.
"But wasn't it the Hero who took the demonic sword from the Vatican Secret Vault? Isn't she the root problem?"
[Well, that's...]
The Moon bishop—guarding Viscount's chair—steps up, fed up. Holy Sword falters at the heavy fact-bomb.
[Hero foresaw leaving it would seed greater disaster, so acted!]
"Hero had foresight?"
[Yes.]
No, that's stretching. Only one group, one house officially recognized with prophecy here. Even Hero can't claim that.
"Makes sense—explains her un-Hero-like moves."
"Yeah, Heroes have vast powers; foresight's no shock."
It lands. Hero legends are mountain-slicing, sea-parting absurdities—so any nonsense gets "Hero stuff" buy-in. Last Hero was over a century ago too. Still!
"If Aries says so, she foresaw me dominated? Then I owe thanks."
Viscount softens, extends hand with faint goodwill.
"Thanks for saving the city, Hero."
No one here—not even her three foes—suspects noble Holy Sword, legend sidekick, of lying. Hero slyly smiles, shakes.
Watching, I feel a twinge of pathos.