30. Legendary Hometown [So, Where Are We Going?]
After a quick stop in the city to pick up the holy sword, we were trekking through the forest again. This damn isekai world is nothing but forests everywhere you go, unless it's some extreme environment! Sick of the trees, sick of the vines, sick of the bugs! Well, at least I'm a sword now, so that's a plus. But seeing the human hero totally fine just fills me with self-loathing.
Was the forest always this pleasant?
[That's right, Hero. I'm curious too.]
The holy sword, who'd been sulking a bit after Cream almost forgot her, perked up when neither of us paid her much mind and tossed out a question.
[Whoa, shameless.]
[Eek, shut up! You're the one who's too much!]
[No, the hero forgot you, so why take it out on me? I even told her to go find you.]
[Anyway, it's your fault!]
I clicked my tongue at the holy sword, who couldn't badmouth her own master and was turning her ire on me instead. Cream, who'd been quietly chuckling at the sight, finally spoke up.
"Us, home."
[Huh? Oh, right. Guess you do have a home.]
Cream wasn't born a hero or anything. She'd come to the grand temple to receive the holy sword and just settled in the nearest city. Come to think of it, she must have family, siblings, parents. What kind of people could raise a kid this extraordinary? Now I'm curious.
"None."
Ah, got it. Parents passed away—I must've poked a sore spot. Not really sorry, but etiquette demands an apology.
"Not that. Originally."
Originally none? Ah, not literally born without parents, so she's an orphan. Hmm. For an orphan, though, she carries herself with real grace, and that pure innocence about the world is kinda off-putting. Actually, now that I think about it, I've been shockingly uninterested in the hero's past. Heroes aren't chosen at birth—they're picked after growing up a bit.
[Hey, what are you two talking about without me?]
[Not tellin'.]
Even without telepathy, the sharp holy sword must've sensed some conversation going on between us. After placating her frantic protests, I filled her in on what Cream and I had discussed—about her parents, my budding curiosity about her past.
[Fair enough... I first met the hero at the grand temple, so I don't know much about her life before that.]
[All that talk about being the hero's companion. Disqualified.]
[It might be a past she doesn't want revealed, so I didn't pry.]
Hmm, very lawful-good consideration. Of course, by binary alignment, I'm extreme evil, so I had no such qualms and asked Cream outright.
[I'm curious! So, what was your past like?]
"Hmm. Just, big house, lived there. Lots of people, dogs too, raised them."
Orphan, but raised by some kind-hearted folks in a big place. In this world that mass-produces orphans, a hero like her is insanely lucky. Even a cursed sword like me feels all warm and fuzzy.
"Then, house owner, killed, took house."
[What?]
[Pardon?]
Give me back my warm fuzzies! Why does a heartwarming foster tale turn into a suspense thriller outta nowhere?! And isekai law isn't that lax. Judging by her classy vibe, she grew up in a pretty wealthy house—not some slum shack. If a murder happens there, the city guards or knights wouldn't just sit on it. If there were blood relatives, it'd go to them; no relatives, the city reclaims it. Why would a random hero get it? Especially the perpetrator.
"Just, gave it."
But Cream's answer made zero sense. Grr. With her disastrous vocabulary, she can't explain details, so I changed the subject.
[Anyway, why go back to that house?]
Shocking home-heist aside, she'd been fine in inns elsewhere. Why the sudden urge to return home?
"Lately, times, unstable."
[Aha! Worried about the others left at home! As expected of the hero—such a kind heart...]
"No, discipline, slipping."
The holy sword's desperate white-knighting got sunk by Cream's follow-up. Speaking for the silent sword, I threw a desperate tackle.
[Why worry about discipline at home?!]
And caring for those around you isn't "kind"—it's normal! But Cream just tilted her head, like my reaction was weird.
"Isn't that, normal?"
Even in isekai, people aren't that different. So this isn't isekai average—it's hero average. Her common sense is seriously skewed.
[...Hero average, not isekai average.]
[What nonsense! Don't insult heroes!]
[And you don't think that insults the hero?]
Look at her, clamming up when cornered. I glared at the holy sword to my heart's content, then turned back to Cream.
[So, fix the discipline and we're out?]
"Know, already."
[Yay!]
She answered with a slightly fed-up look—I'd been nagging about secret organizations the whole time. The clueless holy sword tilted her head.
[Out for what?]
[Oh yeah, you weren't there for the hero's adventures.]
To the puzzled sword, I bragged about our exploits with Cream, not forgetting to sprinkle in just a little embellishment.
[...And so the hero pierced through an army of countless undead single-handedly, drawing her blade against a sorcerer who'd reached the realm of life-and-death reversal! With a single gesture from the hero, the heavens trembled, the earth roared, cataclysmic earthquakes and tsunamis annihilated the foes...]
[Wow! A mythic battle worthy of the hero's legend!]
"Pfft."
Great, all that hot air, but the actual hero's right here listening. Kinda embarrassing. The purely impressed holy sword soon tilted her head—well, projected that intent, since she has no body.
Do I have to explain everything?
[Wait. Wasn't that just a silver promotion quest?]
[It was.]
[What kind of quest was it? No, even if the distance was far, I couldn't have missed power like that...]
The holy sword trailed off, then realized she'd been had. As she blasted glaring intent at me, I finally raised the white flag.
[Puhaha! Okay, sorry. Sorry.]
[You had me worried with that talk of mighty foes!]
[Me?]
[Crazy? Obviously the hero!]
I cackled and gave a quick correction to the absurd tale. Our quest was orc village subjugation; the sorcerer was an orc shaman.
[Life-and-death reversal my ass. Just corpse puppetry—what's the big deal...]
[Tsk tsk, don't you know metaphors? Should've gotten the point even if the words sucked.]
[Whatever. Makes me wanna beat you into dough.]
But as swords without hands or feet, her wish sadly went ungranted.
While we bantered, Cream kept running nonstop. Her plain speed rivaled a horse, but her stamina and breakthrough power were overwhelming. Days of running without tiring, smashing every obstacle in a straight line.
[Hey, are we even going the right way?]
"Yeah?"
[You haven't checked the map once.]
No navigation in isekai, so finding your way without map or compass is basically impossible. But Cream just nodded with an annoyingly cool expression.
"Trust, me."
[No, trust or not...]
"Can't, trust?"
[Haha. I trust you. Totally.]
To the hero who'd just punched through a boulder and the goblins ambushing behind it, I nodded meekly like a lamb.
Hmph. Pathfinding ain't easy. Back in my novice days, I got lost plenty. Your turn, hero.
After running all night, we reached a glamorous city.
[What the?]
[Hmph, so typical of a cursed sword. Doubting the hero blessed by the three gods!]
No, seriously, what? As a bound item, I can peek at Cream's status window, but double-checking shows no pathfinding blessing or anything.
While I panicked, Cream strode confidently to the gates. At dawn, she cut past the waiting line; guards leveled spears.
"Halt! No permit, no... "
Cream quietly drew the holy sword. Gonna slaughter them all and force entry?
"Ah, it's the hero!"
"An honor to meet you, Hero of Peace!"
...Huh. Brain too blood-soaked? After the announcement ceremony, she earned the right to ignore mortal affairs. And the holy sword is the hero's irrefutable symbol.
Under reverent gazes, Cream entered the city proudly. Ravins, the dazzling free trade city that made places like Hire or Tefer look like backwaters.
"First, home."
[Sounds good. The hero's birthplace? I'm looking forward to it too.]
I pictured Cream's home. Not nobility with titles, maybe a wealthy commoner or fallen noble who took her in? Well-off, if not upper crust.
As guessed, she blew past slums and commoner districts into the affluent area. Deeper in, deeper still. Soon, into the true upper-class zone.
Passing grand mansions, she stopped before one exceptionally massive estate.
"I'm, home."
Like any manor, guards—probably private soldiers—stood watch. Cream greeted them in a fairly friendly tone.
[Huh? Wh-what?]
"Welcome home, Mistress!"
Her face uncovered. They stared blankly at first, then locked eyes with those star-filled pupils and bowed like they'd been shocked.
Behind their bent backs, the main gate stood revealed. Grand enough for nobility, emblazoned with an ice flower crest, engraved nameplate.
Ice Merchant Association.