Too Cocky for a Saint
Arrogant for a saint. My old man used to say back in the day, "Son, there are plenty of shitty things in the world, but not as many things that are purely shitty as you might think." They say adults are never wrong, and sure enough, there were upsides to tagging along with the Hero on her journey. What were they? Uh... let me think for a sec. Right! First off, the Hero was a stunning beauty. Among the hundreds of owners I'd had over centuries, no one came close. A genuine goddess-carved masterpiece.
And with her, I could finally escape this vault. Considering the airtight security here, this chance wouldn't come twice. 'So what does it matter.' Back when I was just a lump of metal before becoming a demonic sword, I learned one thing: no matter how boring and monotonous life gets, it's still better than dying. People might disagree, but survival has always been my top priority. Better to rot in this vault for decades than melt away on some adventure. And so what if the owner’s pretty? I'm a sword! Sure, it's nicer having a cute girl polish me than some grubby dude, but still.
[Send me back!]
"Shut up."
[Yes, ma'am.]
But I had no say in it. The Hero had drawn me from the scabbard and was inspecting me. Even held in her hand, it didn't hurt or repel like before. Instead, I felt a spiritual bond. As is usual with sentient weapons, from the moment I—willing or not—acknowledged her as owner, our souls were linked. Fancy talk for a simple mechanic: equip-and-bind system. And it's not one-sided. I serve the owner, but she’s bound to me too.
I quietly murmured the magic words.
Status Window
Name: Hero
Species: Human(?)
Abilities: Physique S+ | Senses S- | Mind SS
Traits:Demon King Declaration(EX) | Blessing of All Gods(EX) | Trinity(SSS)
Status: Gluttony, Sloth
Whoa. I let out an involuntary whistle. My human-era stats averaged around B, and I thought I was hot shit back then. The Hero's were way beyond human limits. And her name being just "Hero"? Most Heroes had proper names. Craving a demonic sword over a perfectly good holy one? This generation's Hero was special, alright. Not special enough to be my ideal owner, though.
[Gah! Why the sudden grip?!]
"Impudent thoughts."
The sudden vise-like strength made me scream. Damn, sharp as a tack. Best owner ever. Best owner ever, I chanted inwardly. She released the hilt with a satisfied smile, then deftly hung me at her waist. Now inescapably her weapon, I shed invisible tears inside. 'This is how I go out...' Was this how Simcheong felt, sold for three hundred sacks of rice?
Ignoring my plight, she flung open the vault door with light steps.
"Hold up."
Before she could leave, someone blocked her path. Who was this brave idiot? Snapping out of my despair, I looked ahead.
[Gasp!]
"Heard the alarm and came running... and sure enough..."
Dazzling golden hair, passionate red eyes. And that stern expression ruining it all. Even in old age, that handsome bastard was familiar. How could I forget? He was the one who stuck me in here!
[Long time no see, Solar Saint!]
"Hero, have you lost your mind? Taking that vile demonic sword outside?!"
Decades since last seeing him, but his prickly personality hadn't changed. He ignored my greeting and immediately chewed her out. His shrill voice echoed, drawing stares from everyone in the grand cathedral. They gawked first at the Hero's otherworldly beauty, then at the sword at her waist.
"That's the Hero of our era?"
"But that's... not the Holy Sword?"
Murmurs spread through the cathedral. Amid the tense air, the Hero just tilted her head calmly.
"Problem?"
"Urgh... How much blood did my brothers shed over that sword? Hero! Your weapon is the Holy Sword!"
"Aha."
Did his words spark a realization? She nodded slowly, turned back to the vault, and returned with a radiant holy sword in hand. I was still dangling at her waist, of course.
"Now okay?"
[Thank me, Aries. I convinced our owner to spring you too.]
[You left the door open and everyone heard! You lying piece of junk!]
She proudly thrust the sword toward the Saint like a kid seeking praise. The angle accidentally pointed it at him, flushing his face beet red.
"Hah!"
His roar shook the cathedral. Bystanders flinched, but the Hero didn't bat an eye.
"No more words. Return that sword at once! If you weren't the Hero, I'd punish you severely!"
His voice started polite but ended in a furious tremble. He had reason to rage. The Solar Saint was a monster active for decades; the heretics I slew during my cathedral rampage were his mentor, peers, disciples.
"Don't wanna."
She replied simply. The mood soured; onlookers had fled. In the empty cathedral center, the Saint and Hero faced off. Well, she looked utterly nonchalant, so maybe only he felt the standoff.
She still held out the sword.
"Untrained whelp! Your arrogance knows no bounds!"
Solar power flared around him like flames, hot enough for sword-me to feel. Things might actually erupt. As a "good" demonic sword, I couldn't watch two divine favorites clash. Time for me to intervene.
In the powder-keg tension, I rang out sharply, drawing their eyes.
[Hey, chill out. Sure, I killed your temple buddies, but that's ancient history, right? Obsess over old grudges and you'll never be a big shot.]
Best advice for a small-minded grudge-holder fixated on decades-old beef. It must've touched him; he growled demonically, ramping up the flames. The swelling blaze shook unstably, singeing priceless tapestries. I sighed in regret.
[Heard high blood pressure's killer in old age. Cool it. Live long enough for your fallen comrades, at least?]
"Gaaaaah!"
Aw, he snapped. Forgetting this was a cathedral, he unleashed flames at us. Dragon-breath solar might poured down.
But facing it, I stayed cool. Holy power's my bane, sure—but who's my owner now?
"...Hah."
With a short sigh, she raised the Holy Sword high. Holy power flowed along the blade, blooming into ice flowers at the tip. Flame torrents crashed in. As frost petals fell one by one, the raging inferno weakened.
Whoa.
The ice wilted, the flames halted. Collision aftermath wrecked the surroundings, but their clash point was unscathed.
"Cough...!"
The Saint clutched his chest, vomiting blood. He looked young, but over a century old. Solar blessings kept his power intact, but his vessel was crumbling. Clashing with near-ultimate Hero? Surviving with just blood was a miracle. Or rather, she pulled her punches.
"Lord Rose Saint!"
"Such outrage in the cathedral!"
Holy Knights rushed in late, golden roses on their chests gleaming in dying flames. Half guarded the Saint, half drew on us. Knowing she was Hero, their eyes held no hesitation.
"Causing trouble."
[Agh! Aaaah! Sorry!]
She punished me with a hilt squeeze. Feeling it corrode, I screamed; satisfied, she released. Too perceptive to complain. Meanwhile, knights closed in steadily.
"Drop your weapon and surrender! Even a Hero can't defy the sacred laws of the Sun God!"
A vice-captain-like figure shouted. His blade steady, voice tinged with fear. Noble knight; he'd never retreat from impossible odds. One of my favorite human archetypes.
[Heh, fear not... glrk.]
"Quiet."
No tolerance for my chatter; she crushed the hilt again as I spoke. Silenced, she sheathed the Holy Sword opposite me and showed empty hands.
"No fight. Just defense."
"Even so, we can't overlook cathedral violence. If now..."
"No."
The recovering Saint cut in, voice frailer.
"Let them go."
"But Lord Saint, our dignity..."
"You mocking me too?!"
Pale but fierce, he snapped; the knight cowered. Turning to us:
"No more questions. Leave this temple now."
No respect or reverence in his tone.
"Got it."
[...Sigh, really.]
Amid shattered cathedral like a Demon King's invasion, under hostile glares from Sun faithful—Demon King's vanguard in tow—she took her mythic journey's first step.
[Why'd you butt in anyway?]
[Shut up! I'm the Holy Sword, first to join the Hero's journey by right!]
[Is that so?]
Chattering demonic sword and newly talkative Holy Sword at her side. Whatever. Not important.