Carbalt is a Free Magic Sword!
It was just before nightfall when we returned to the adventurer guild.
“What? You’ve already completed the request?”
“Yeah.”
“It takes days just to get there... Never mind. Let’s settle up first.”
We’d breezed past the counter for reporting mission completions and headed straight up to the branch manager’s office on the second floor. Kale, who’d have to deal with us again, let out a sigh.
But with the rumors already spreading everywhere, he had no choice. People were chattering noisily as they stared at us. If it were up to me, I’d smash the place to bits.
[......]
I shot a glance at the Hero, then quietly shut my mouth.
“An investigator will be dispatched later to verify completion. If it turns out false, you could lose your adventurer qualifications at worst, so please be careful.”
“Yeah.”
“Haha, of course someone of your stature as the Hero wouldn’t do that. Will you take the reward now? Or if you deposit it in our adventurer bank, the interest rate is...”
“Now.”
“Got it.”
This Kale guy wasn’t half bad. One minute he’s terrified, the next he’s pitching sales the moment he hears “Hero.” But the Hero shot down his ploy and took the money pouch.
It was a bronze-rank group request, but she’d handled it solo, so the pouch was pretty heavy.
[That’s it for today?]
“Yeah. Tired.”
The Hero looked fine on the outside, but if she said so, what could I do? She left the guild and headed straight to the guild-owned inn next door.
“Room, one.”
“Ah, yes. What grade would you like?”
“Uh......”
[What grades do you have?]
But she was still spacing out in front of people. In the end, the holy sword cut in and started talking to the innkeeper.
“Ah! So you’re the Hero from all those rumors. Yes, as a guild direct operation, we follow the ranking system, and for someone of your renown, gold would be fitting...”
[Right? You know your stuff.]
No, hold up.
“As you can see, even Viscount Tefer from the neighboring territory was very satisfied, and with a few added services, it’s truly fit for nobility...”
[Bronze.]
“Pardon?”
[Give us bronze.]
I’d planned to stay quiet, but I couldn’t just watch her get ripped off. An adventurer’s iron rules: safety first, frugality second.
“Haha, sir. Really?”
[Don’t make me say it twice. And Hero, snap out of it. That reward won’t even cover silver, let alone gold.]
“I, have, lots of money......”
The Hero grumbled in dissatisfaction but tucked the pouch back into her bosom. The innkeeper, who’d had prime prey right in front of him, clicked his tongue openly.
I caught a mutter of ‘Not a Hero, just a beggar kid.’ Then he tossed the key at us with a suddenly rude attitude. Must be from dealing with rough adventurers. Tough nut.
The Hero must have heard it too, but she showed no reaction and just paid up. We headed to room 401, unpacked, and she set us down somewhere convenient before snuffing the lamp and diving straight into bed.
[......Huh, already sleeping?]
She hadn’t even washed up. Not that I’m disappointed or anything—just the hygiene standards in this world are lamentable. But after running through dust and wind all day, her body was spotless. No idea what power that is. Life really is a cheat for her.
Whatever I was thinking, she closed her eyes and soon breathed softly in sleep. Silence filled the room for a while. Moonlight seeped through the curtains, and faint holy light emanated from the holy sword in its sheath.
At some point, the holy sword spoke in a quiet voice.
[Carbalt, let’s talk.]
[What’s up, Aries?]
The way the holy sword addressed me wasn’t her usual broadcast telepathy—it was focused solely on me. The implication was clear: the Hero, asleep and senses dulled, couldn’t eavesdrop.
[What, gonna lecture me on morals and taboos again?]
[No. Even if I talked myself hoarse, you wouldn’t listen anyway. What I want to say is about the Hero.]
I gaze at the girl sleeping innocently like a doll. She couldn’t weigh more than a tropical mushroom. Her actual age is probably around there too. Hard to believe this is the one who pulverized an ogre and wiped out a goblin village earlier. The sheer disparity is unreal.
An unreasonable, overwhelming power for a single lifeform—let alone a girl not even fully grown. And since it wasn’t built through time or effort, it’s even more so.
[You know, right? I’ve served countless Heroes. They weren’t always good. I hate slandering my masters, but some were downright unworthy of the title.]
One day, the prophecy of the three gods descends, selecting the most talented human child as Hero. Even if that child was living ordinarily at the time.
Demon King Declaration (EX) and Blessing of All Gods (EX). These two transcendent traits forcibly elevate and infinitely expand one’s vessel.
[But this Hero is different. She’s alien.]
That’s why she can face transcendent beings who’ve lived hundreds or thousands of years in less than a century, growing stronger effortlessly every moment. Just for being chosen, she becomes unrivaled. That’s how unreasonable a Hero is.
[Alien how?]
[The gods’ touch reaches Heroes.]
And the holy sword, serving the most unreasonable Hero, had to be the most rational.
[She bears the blessings of three gods, closer to divinity than anyone, so she’s deeply influenced by them. Maybe as much as a Saint—or more.]
The holy sword was righteous, but could compromise for her Hero. She served the Hero, but for the gods who made her...
[Good and evil are human concepts, so wicked Heroes or those fallen to demons can exist. But.]
Perhaps.
[A Hero who breaks divine taboos cannot.]
Only the holy sword knew that. But why bring it up to me now? I recall today’s events. High on a rare harvest, I’d tampered with a soul right in front of her. And she definitely felt it.
Faith’s power remains strong, but gods are severed from the world, unable to reach directly anymore. Their rules lack former compulsion.
[Carbalt, what are you?]
But that “taboo” remains an irresistible law for one person. Even knowing I devoured a soul, the Hero showed no reaction—no anger, no disappointment. She just belted me to her waist with her usual blank face.
It ended anticlimactically, making my tension and her anger seem pointless.
[......Why doesn’t the Hero punish you?]
* So what? Whether the holy sword postures or not, it’s none of my business. I was dragged here on her leash from the start, and I don’t care what secrets she hides.
I don’t know much about taboos, but one thing I know for sure: the Status Window doesn’t lie.
Blessing of All Gods (EX). This trait, granting the optimal, best, supreme blessing for any situation, is the Hero’s exclusive privilege—and proof.
Having clashed with her countless times, I know it all too well. As long as it’s on her status, she’s the Hero.
Yahoo! Problem solved!
‘Then shall we solve my problem now?’
My situation is way more urgent— no time to worry about her. From the moment my soul bound to this powerhouse of blessings and holy power, my life’s been on a timer.
But there’s a way to extend it. Can’t break the contract, but physical distance from the master reduces the influence. The holy power gnawing my body would weaken too.
Hold out until she dies, and I’m free. Then I’ll find a new master—weak, easily swayed, just my type.
So.
[Figure it out yourselves!]
[What the— are you insane?]
I broadcast telepathy everywhere to wake the Hero, yelling. It was just loud noise, no hostility, so she only stirred mentally—senses still asleep.
In that brief gap, I invoked my power as a magic sword. The goblin soul I’d absorbed today formed at the hilt, a pale hand grasping me.
Phantoms are weak. Most memories and abilities lost, left with innate spectral traits and childlike strength. But enough to swing me.
[Uwahahaha! See ya!]
The phantom, duty done, scattered like smoke. Demonic energy flowed along the untouched blade; inertia carried the swing, and I plunged into the floor.
Not ogre hide—an ordinary wooden inn floor. How tough could it be? Everything went to plan.
The floor cracked, and I free-fell to the floor below.