Still a Demonic Sword
Even so, Carbalt here is still a demonic sword. Leaving the grand temple all full of ourselves was fine and dandy, but the moment we stepped out of its domain, we slammed face-first into a massive problem.
"Where, to go."
[Yeah, right.]
Exactly. Storming out of the temple in high spirits was great, but we'd lost sight of our next move. This world isn't some game, and even though I've got something like a Status Window, there's no quest function here.
[Hehe, no need to worry! From time immemorial, the holy sword has been the lost hero's guiding light. Countless generations of heroes' experiences dwell within me, so finding the path of light is no trouble at all.]
Aries, who'd more or less crash-landed into our group, seized the moment to puff herself up now that she was shaking off her benchwarmer status. Sure, the holy sword's just shiny trash under spotlights, but her track record with all those heroes has gotta count for something.
The Hero perked up at her words too.
"What, first."
[Yes! Since you lack fame for now, Hero, let's start by taking requests from the temple! Solving big ones will gradually open doors to the heart of national power!]
Overlooking the fact that this god-sent holy sword burns with zeal for worldly politics and power instead of slaying monsters or saving the masses...
[We just trashed the temple and bailed. Go back for requests?]
[Ah.]
"......Trash. Toss it."
[W-wait just a sec!]
Only after I half-buried her sheath in the dirt did Aries cough up plan B.
[If the light side's tough, start from the shadows! With your skills, Hero, wiping out a small crime ring is easy. Absorb rivals by force, build up power, then reveal yourself!]
From the perspective of a dark organization boss, she's already a million miles from hero material. I couldn't help but butt in as she spewed plans that shocked even this demonic sword.
[And you're calling yourself a holy sword?!]
[Hmph, a holy sword's role is solely executing the Demon King and aiding the hero above all! Know how many heroes got discarded like trash?]
[Th-they did?]
[Humans, I tell ya! Once the Demon King's dead, they can't stand not tormenting the hero! The blessings and holy sword get revoked—no way to help then.]
Something about that felt profoundly important. Ah!
After a moment's thought, I subtly nudged the Hero.
[Even if your hero blessings vanish, Carbalt won't leave you. No worries.]
[But then she'd try stealing your body! Don't fall for the demonic sword's sweet talk, Hero!]
But no matter what we yapped about, the Hero ignored us, staring piercingly into the distance. Our gazes slowly converged on the same spot amid the eerie vibe.
We'd veered off the grand road from the grand temple, racing deep into some forest. A carriage kicked up dust clouds, barreling toward this path too narrow for a single person.
The horses and carriage screamed high-end—nothing you'd see in a forest like this. Too absurd for coincidence.
A chilling hypothesis hit me. Classic pattern: princess on the run from assassins for some reason! Hero stumbles into her path! Hears her plight, resolves to fight...
See? The Hero's gripping Aries, fully battle-ready.
[Huh?]
But as the carriage closed in, I spotted something off. It raced desperately like it was fleeing something, but no assassins chasing a princess in sight.
Then the Hero swung down with a mighty stroke. No magic, no divinity—just pure martial mastery, a supernatural force in itself. A vacuum blade followed her sword's arc.
And the sword wind cleaved the noble carriage clean in two.
[You killed them?!]
With the carriage bisected, no way the horses or passengers survived intact. Momentum flipped it, flinging bodies—live and dead—like skipping stones.
Some split in half along the sword wind's path, others luckier with just an arm severed, somewhat whole.
Watching that, realization dawned on me a beat late. These weren't princess rescuers—they were the assassins chasing her.
[Temple pursuers!]
No hiding it—their chest brooches gleamed with golden roses. But armor splattered with comrades' fresh blood and flesh looked far from the grand temple's sanctity.
"Evan! Hans! To go so pointlessly..."
"Watch out! That thing's more monstrous than we thought!"
Temple knight squad. Not even the Solar Saint or a captain—just grunts. What gave these small fries the guts to charge a Hero?
[You're a demonic sword—why freak over a few deaths?]
[I didn't kill 'em! Ugh, decades of abstinence have me parched enough! And you, holy sword—why so calm?]
[......I'm the Hero's sword, through and through. Even lambs of the gods become targets if they oppose her.]
What a holy sword. As I shook my head, the Hero strode boldly into the surviving knights.
Weapons flew at her, but they were child's play. She didn't even draw Aries—bare-handed, she parried them all and grabbed one knight's collar.
"Why, chase."
Her tone was flat, but an inexplicable pressure radiated.
The dangling knight averted her gaze a moment, then stammered a confession.
"......That sword. That sword's why. Can't let Carbalt loose on the world."
[Huh? Why me again?]
"You damned cursed sword! My grandfather died because of you...... Not just me—everyone here's gathered with grudges against you!"
[Oh, sorry. Carbalt doesn't remember mob trash.]
I scanned the survivors anew. Yeah, every last one glared at me with murder in their eyes.
I'd thought it was the Hero at first.
"The Saint said let you go, but how can we ignore the enemy who ruined our house?! Hero. If you're truly a Hero, with even a speck of zeal to vanquish evil and uphold good, you mustn't wield that sword. It's......a calamity no human can bear."
A speech to stir the soul. I'd applaud if I had hands.
But the Hero's reaction was weird. She stared at him with an expression even I, with centuries under my belt, couldn't parse.
Then, from those delicate lips came a question utterly un-Hero-like.
"That, good thing?"
"Pardon?"
"Don't, know."
With that, the Hero fell silent. Her word decided everything, so the whole forest hushed. Amid the quiet, blood reeked thickly.
Hating the mood, I prodded her back.
[Hey, Hero. What's to agonize? Save the philosophy for later.]
[Carbaaalt!]
[Whoa, gonna deafen me. Aries, noble holy sword. If you're truly the Hero's blade, you know what to do now, right?]
Becoming a sword reshaped my mind to match. Once human, now I see myself as a tool, closer to blade than man. A sword's logic is simple: if it can be cut, cut it. That's enough.
[Overlooking the rudeness to the Saint, how many temple knights already died? Even a Hero's name can't cover up that mess.]
[......]
She'd swung in response to hostility, but the knights were weaker than expected. Temple elites turned to bloody mist from one strike.
And now that they'd come this far, no turning back. Not even for a Hero beloved by all gods.
[If you truly care for the Hero, eliminate the survivors now. Right? Wipe evidence to slow the pursuit.]
Unthinkable normally. Heroes are chosen by the three gods; the grand temple, serving them, should be their staunchest ally.
But this Hero pulled a demonic sword from the secret vault, wrecked the temple, slaughtered knights. More like a Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings than a Hero.
[If only she hadn't picked up that wretched sword......]
Aries's lament echoed faintly through the trees.
Well, yeah—if she hadn't drawn me, per her words, the Hero wouldn't be in this mess.
[Haha! Too late for regrets!]
If Carbalt's screwed, might as well drag you all down. Hiding my spite, I laughed heartily.
Playing tough, but even now, her blessings gnaw at me bit by bit. I'm burning hoarded souls to hold out, but from the moment I accepted her as master and our souls bound, doom was sealed.
Still, dying alone's unfair.
[Hey, Hero! No time to dawdle.]
The dazed Hero raised her hand. Heat rippled from her fingertips; Sun God flames bloomed, fairly devouring forest, carriage, and zealots alike.
Even transcendents like the Elder Lich hide from national might. How long can she last against the mainstream forces led by the grand temple?
Her journey won't be long.
Delighted, I laughed.