Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The New Owner of the Holy Sword
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Bellota had reached a new enlightenment through the gracious guidance of a great noble and a grand mage.
"Wh-what the hell is it?!"
People can really lose their tempers when they're too flustered.
And right in front of a great noble and a grand mage, no less.
Bellota had spent the past few days conducting the investigation alongside Palag and Drey.
It was a short time, but those two were the kind of people who could leave a lasting impression in even such a brief period.
From what she'd experienced firsthand, they were more than worthy of the respect their reputations commanded.
Drey's character and dignity united the investigators from diverse backgrounds and affiliations.
And beneath Palag's occasional curt remarks lay an unfathomable depth of magical knowledge.
Bellota's standards for judging people had risen after spending time with the chosen Hero, but these two exceeded even those lofty benchmarks.
She respected them both.
Enough to readily heed any advice they offered regarding the Hero.
But right now, she couldn't bring herself to do that.
She couldn't understand why these two were spouting such nonsense—
nor how she was supposed to react to it.
"So, what you're saying is... you glimpsed multiple demons in this Rishir guy's inner world!? H-how is that even possible!? And how did you even peek into someone else's inner world in the first place!?"
It wasn't like Bellota was dismissing their story as nonsense without reason.
There were holes all over it.
For starters, they claimed to have seen demons—plural—in Rishir's inner world.
It was absurd, but let's assume it was true and that Rishir really harbored multiple demons within his inner realm.
Would he just casually show that to others?
You can't just peek into someone's inner world willy-nilly.
It's even trickier if the subject is on guard.
Would a demon-possessed cultist ever carelessly reveal their inner world to outsiders?
No way.
They'd sooner take their own life.
Thus, spying on a demon cultist's inner world was practically impossible.
Bellota pointed out the flaw right away.
"We recovered an artifact called the Mirror of the Other Side from a high-ranking cult priest. We used that to peek into Rishir's inner world."
Drey countered her objection without missing a beat.
Bellota was floored.
Are you kidding me!?
Beyond mere magical power, items infused with forces that defy common sense are classified as relics.
The Mirror of the Other Side that Drey mentioned was clearly in that category.
And they just happened to obtain such a relic.
From a demon apostle, no less—a being even the chosen Hero struggled against.
There were limits to how convenient a story could be.
If some random person had said that, Bellota would've scoffed outright.
Wait.
But these weren't random people—they were a great noble and a grand mage.
Coming from them, it actually sounded plausible.
So, that implausible tale became reality.
Bellota felt a twinge of injustice at the sheer unreasonableness for a moment.
But she quickly pulled herself together and pressed on with the conversation.
There were plenty more points to challenge in their story anyway.
"Demons are greedy beings!!! They would never tolerate one of their followers serving multiple demons! It's impossible for several demons to coexist in a single human's inner world! For starters, no human could endure it! Their mind would shatter!"
"Oh, it's not like they're serving them or anything. They're just... storing them in his inner world."
"???"
Storing?
Bellota scowled as she repeated the word to herself.
Is 'storing' really the word for this?
Does he think an inner world is some kind of convenient pocket!? And storing what, exactly? Demons!?
Bellota was utterly lost.
She couldn't even follow the conversation, let alone raise objections.
She just blinked in bewilderment, staring at the two with a look of total confusion.
"..."
"..."
Drey and Palag gazed at her with warm, pleased smiles.
What's with those looks?
To Bellota, who still couldn't wrap her head around it, the two decided to extend a kindness.
"Rishir."
Drey called out to Rishir across the way, explained the situation, and said,
"So, mind showing that to Bellota?"
Ha.
Rishir let out a hollow chuckle and scratched the back of his head.
"Sure, why not. It's not that big a deal."
With casual indifference, Rishir put on a spirit summoning show(?).
And in the process,
Bellota learned the names of the other two spirits(?), too.
Klana.
Bellota knew nothing about the short-haired girl spirit with indigo locks.
But the fireball named Dangleon.
"The blazing black flame, Dangleon..."
"You wench!!! Are your eyes clogged with knots!?!? Behold this dazzling form!!! How dare you call this black flame!!!"
By now, Bellota's suspicions had hardened into certainty.
No doubt about it.
Those spirits(?) were demons.
And—
"..."
So?
—Demons. So what?
The situation seemed to mock her aggressively.
"Sir Drey... Lord Palag... I've said it over and over... th-those spirits are demons."
"Thanks, that clears it up."
Look at that.
Thanks to her, Bellota was left to agonize in solitude.
Why would demons follow a human...
Why would demons be in a human's inner world...
For that matter, how can demons even enter an inner world...
Eh?
Eh?
Eh?
Dazed sounds escaped Bellota's lips one after another as she pondered.
It was then.
"Rishir!"
From the direction where Rishir had left Verbandes, the pure-white woman from his group shouted.
"Something's wrong with this child!"
"...!"
Has it finally come!?
Rishir's group rushed toward Verbandes.
Bellota hurriedly followed behind.
"Ver!?"
The sand girl spirit.
Her body began to glow.
What started as a faint light gradually intensified until it blazed so brightly no one could look directly at it.
As everyone shielded their eyes,
only Bellota stared straight at the girl spirit.
At the spirit—no,
the demon Verbandes, to catch every change.
So she could respond to the worst-case scenario.
Thus, Bellota watched it all clearly with her own eyes.
The terrifying transformation overtaking demon Verbandes.
"!!!"
The girl spirit's fluffy, downy eyebrows darkened.
The spirited expression they framed grew even fiercer.
"..."
And... that's it?
After absorbing the Faceless One's essence?
The glow faded.
Rishir, who had covered his eyes, checked on the babyish spirit and narrowed his gaze.
"Verbandes... Ciu!? What!? Why do you suddenly seem even more spirited?"
"No!!!"
The babyish spirit replied spiritedly to her confused master.
"I am Verbandes..."
Her tiny body trembled as she squeezed out a single word.
"Ciuuuu!!!"
The babyish spirit raised both arms triumphantly and declared.
"Gasp...!"
Rishir was overwhelmed by the majestic sight.
"Rishir, what happened!?"
"Why are you so shocked!?"
Finally,
Drey and Palag showed their bewilderment.
Bellota was bewildered right along with them.
You're more surprised by this guy getting rattled than by the fact his spirits are demons? Why?
And Rishir's next words left Bellota even more flustered.
"Our Ver has... advanced to a higher stage...!"
"You mean... the demon has drawn closer to its original stature...!?"
"That's great news!!!"
"What!? Lord Palag? Great news? What do you—"
"Ah! She's one step closer to adulthood!"
"No, Sir Drey! Adulthood!? That's a dem—"
Bellota was on the verge of madness, but Drey and Palag couldn't have cared less.
They just gazed at the babyish spirit with pleased smiles.
Rishir smiled warmly too, patting the babyish spirit's head.
"!!!"
The babyish spirit savored their congratulations with hands on hips.
A truly gallant pose.
"...Ugh."
A chuckle like a dying breath.
With that, Bellota stopped questioning them.
"Tsk tsk."
Only one person.
The girl in white looked at her with pity.
"The Faceless One's essence has been safely destroyed."
"My god, that thing!? How? What happened!?"
"Anyway, it's destroyed."
"?"
"Come on, this is all for you guys, so don't pry! Lord Palag and Sir Drey remember your efforts, so just leave it at that!"
"No, Bellota!!! Explain in detail—"
Right after the incident.
The investigators showed immense curiosity about how the intractable problem had been solved so suddenly, but Bellota, as their leader, decided to curb their curiosity for protective reasons.
And so, the investigation team—having(?) gloriously completed their mission through astonishing feats—disbanded successfully.
"So, is it finally over? This damn face-stealer case?"
Rishir, who had tagged along with Fienne watching the proceedings, spoke up.
In response, Fienne gave a meaningful smile.
"Not yet."
"My god, what's left?"
"The most important part."
"Sharing the joy of victory with Fienne?"
"Tell me what you did this time."
"Uh... caught the face-stealer?"
"More precisely."
"Hmm... caught the face-stealer who murdered the Hero?"
"Exactly."
Tap.
Tap.
Fienne's slender, long finger poked Rishir's waist.
At the sword hanging there.
"Tell me. What is a Hero?"
"Uh... someone chosen by a holy sword?"
"Then, the face-stealer effectively killed the holy sword's master, right?"
"Yeah."
"So, what happened to that holy sword?"
"Huh?"
"The holy sword 'Sword of Steadfast Advance,' the fifth one owned by Hero Belen, whom the face-stealer killed. Do you think the face-stealer just left such an incredible trophy behind after murdering the Hero?"
"No. Why kill the Hero and leave behind an amazing spoil like that? Maybe that's why he killed him in the first place."
"Exactly. As you said, the face-stealer didn't leave the holy sword there. He snatched it right up."
"Ah, don't tell me the remaining task is—finding that holy sword?"
"No need to worry. The Special Task Force already found and secured it."
For its new master, Fienne added meaningfully.
"New master...?"
"The Sword of Steadfast Advance lost its master and is seeking a new one. At this point, who would be the most fitting candidate for that role?"
"Fienne? Since you're the prettiest in the world?"
"Sigh."
"Or wait, you're not about to say it's me, are you?"
"Exactly. You're hardly worthy of becoming a holy sword's master and inheriting the grand will of the founding Hero. But the Special Task Force seems to think differently."
"What the hell did they say..."
"You're the one who earned the greatest merit in subduing the Hero killer. And the same goes for recovering the holy sword. So, the Task Force insists that if anyone should take the holy sword's test first, it has to be you."
"..."
It was then that Rishir's expression grew complicated.
"Rishir."
Mangnus, the Special Task Force vice-captain, arrived after hearing Rishir had awakened.
He approached and spoke.
"Feeling better?"
"Ah, yes. As you can see, I'm fine."
"Good to hear. I have a lot to discuss with you—plenty, really—but this takes priority right now."
"Ah, no need. I already passed it on."
Mangnus exchanged a glance with Fienne before continuing.
"Is that so? Appreciate it. Then, Rishir, if you're up for it, let's head out right away."
Hero Jain.
Master of the sixth holy sword.
That was the name from Mangnus's lips.
"He's waiting for his turn after you."
Soon after, Bellota approached.
She glanced back and forth between Mangnus and Rishir, then widened her fatigued eyes.
"N-no way... you're saying he's taking the test before Jain...!?"
Bellota staggered, losing her balance for a moment.
When Rishir arrived at the guest room in the Gus mansion following Mangnus, he was greeted by those waiting.
"Rishir. You're here."
Tua, the Special Task Force captain, first and foremost.
And—
"Oh, so that's him—"
The young man seated opposite Tua.
He immediately stood and approached Rishir.
He had a cheerful demeanor.
He readily extended a hand to Rishir.
"I've heard so much about you since coming here, and now we finally meet. Nice to meet you. I'm Jain."
"Ah, Rishir."
Rishir shook his hand just as readily.
"Hm!"
Jain gripped firmly.
As if sizing Rishir up through the handshake.
Soon, he flashed a bright smile and said,
"Think you're greedy?"
"Pardon?"
"Already having one holy sword, and now going after another."
"Well, I don't really know much about this stuff."
"..."
Jain eyed Rishir steadily.
Then, hearty laughter burst from his lips.
"Hahaha!!! What's with that attitude? You sure you're here for a holy sword trial?"
"Honestly, it hasn't sunk in yet. I'm still dazed. I don't even think I'll be chosen."
As Jain was about to laugh again at Rishir's reply,
—Nice attitude.
A woman's voice cut in between them.
Arrogant, as if looking down from above—but the voice actually came from below.
Rishir glanced downward.
The source was none other than the sword at Jain's waist.
Its ornate red decorations evoked roses.
—Rishir, was it? Like you said, that guy will choose Jain. He's the man I chose, after all. So, I'll tell you now: don't get too hung up on the results.
"Elysia...!"
Jain looked embarrassed at his sword's condescending tone toward the other party.
"Sorry. As you can see, she's got a very... distinctive personality. She occasionally oversteps like this. Don't take it to heart—she doesn't mean any harm."
He gave Rishir a wry smile and bowed his head.
"Jain!"
Then, a sharp voice from behind.
A sharp-featured female elf approached Jain and whispered a scolding.
Camilla, from Hero Jain's party.
"How many times have I told you! Don't bow your head to others in official settings! You're the Hero! Master of a holy sword! Even great nobles wouldn't dare treat you lightly—"
"Still, we were in the wrong here, right?"
"Argh...!"
Camilla groaned in frustration.
She turned to Tua as if shaking it off.
"Everyone's here, so why not get started?"
"..."
Tua looked to Rishir.
As he nodded, she placed the cloth-wrapped "Sword of Steadfast Advance" on the desk.
—You! Don't just stand there—hurry up! Jain's a busy man! Do you know how long we've been stuck waiting for you!?
The holy sword named Elysia prodded Rishir.
Jain apologized with an expression and bowed his head.
Camilla disapproved of Jain.
Rishir gave the party a wry smile before approaching the Sword of Steadfast Advance.
He'd expected something grand for a holy sword trial, but it was surprisingly simple.
The moment Rishir touched the Sword of Steadfast Advance.
—What is this!!!
A horrified voice.
Rishir flinched and pulled his hand away.
He glanced around, then tried again.
—What the hell is this!!!
Another horrified outburst.
"..."
Rishir withdrew his hand from the Sword of Steadfast Advance and pondered.
This is definitely a rejection, right?
Then,
Camilla quickly led Jain's hand to the Sword of Steadfast Advance.
As Jain was all but pushed to touch it.
—Oh, yes. That's more like it!
The sword spoke in satisfaction.
The starkly contrasting reactions blatantly hinted at the outcome.
The Sword of Steadfast Advance.
It had deemed Jain the superior Hero material.
As Camilla and Elysia were about to show their satisfaction at the expected result,
—People need some rough edges to be worth raising! That other guy lacked any human touch—
"?"
—No, wait. This is tricky. Have my standards risen in the meantime? This one's too rough... Or does he just seem that way compared to the last guy?
"...?"
Camilla's face crumpled at the meaningful words.
—What!!! What do you mean by that!!! Rough edges!?
Holy sword Elysia grilled the Sword of Steadfast Advance.
"Ah..."
Bellota, watching the whole scene from a step back, dry-washed her face as if to say, I knew it.