Chapter 227: Breaking the Record (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 227: Breaking the Record (3)
Ego Weapon.
A term for a weapon that possesses an ego, just as the name implies.
You might wonder why a weapon created to fight enemies more efficiently would have an ego.
But surprisingly, a small number of them—fewer than you can count on both hands—actually have egos dwelling within.
That’s right.
Just like the beloved sword of the Russian S-rank Hunter, Boris, which I had just imitated: Snow Bringer.
『When I first sensed it, I thought it was a decent vessel… but a closer look reveals it to be utterly crude.』
The voice wasn’t external; it rang from within me.
A scathing critique poured out from the sword.
“Um… excuse me.”
『What is it?』
“I’m just asking to be sure, but what are you…?”
『You already have an inkling, so why ask? What you're thinking is correct.』
The curt reply proved my hypothesis was right.
The being dwelling in the sword was none other than ‘Snow Bringer.’
The ego that should have been in a faraway, frozen land had left its main body and graced me with its presence here.
“…Is this even possible?”
The words sounded ridiculous even as I said them.
The idea that an ego, which should be bound to its original body, had instead inhabited a sword temporarily manifested by magic.
If that was possible, did it mean that the egos of all the Ego Weapons in the world could inhabit their counterfeits?
『Do you think I can dwell in a piece of trash that merely imitates the outer form?』
“……”
Can Ego Weapons read minds, too?
『We are connected spiritually, so I can easily read your surface thoughts.』
“Uh, um.”
What an incredibly unsettling ability.
No, let’s put that aside for now.
I mulled over what Snow Bringer had just said.
“You can’t dwell in trash that only imitates the outer form… does that mean…”
Did that mean the Snow Bringer I had created had replicated more than just its appearance?
『Correct, kid. Surprisingly, your mana didn't just copy the appearance, but also mimicked the structure of the mana flowing within it.』
…How did I do that?
『Hilarious. You're the one who did it, so why ask me?』
He had a point.
But I couldn’t understand it myself.
I had simply envisioned Snow Bringer’s appearance and the blades of frost it unleashed when swung. I swear I had never once considered its internal structure.
『You seem to be mistaken about something.』
“…About what?”
『My power isn't something that can be copied just by trying. If it were, every Tom, Dick, and Harry with a fake version of me would be spewing the same frost.』
“Ah.”
Perhaps I had been going about this with a completely ridiculous assumption all along.
『Are you starting to get it now? Just how absurd a feat you've accomplished.』
The weapons I had created so far were Aegis and Snow Bringer.
Both were Ego Weapons, treasures fundamentally different from ordinary arms.
And why are treasures called treasures?
Because their abilities are unique and cannot be approached by any other means.
Yet, I had managed to replicate the ability of such a treasure with magic.
“…How was that possible?”
I had thought it was something anyone could do.
As I’d mentioned before, I simply believed that as the detail of the form increased, the time required to cast the magic grew exponentially, so one had to find a suitable compromise.
But it seemed that wasn’t the case.
In battle, a mage is a being protected by their allies.
Even if a spell took five… no, ten minutes to cast, if its power was exceptional, it should be used.
The party members would buy the necessary time.
But the fact that no one used such magic meant…
“It was impossible from the start.”
It was impossible to manifest the power of an Ego Weapon or any other special armament through magic.
One question was answered, but another still remained.
How did I manage to do it?
I cast a subtle glance toward Snow Bringer, seeking an answer, but the response I received was utterly disappointing.
『Don't look to me for answers. I only came because I, too, was curious as to how this was possible.』
Well, if that’s what he said, what could I do?
I decided to stop thinking about it for now.
It didn’t seem like a mystery I could solve by racking my brain for a moment inside a dungeon.
Instead, I decided to resolve a different question.
“So, will you inhabit the sword every time I use this magic now?”
I was curious.
Would he abandon his main body and come to me every time I used this… magic? Or should I call it a skill?
『No. This was a first, so I came out of curiosity. I'm not diligent enough to make an appearance for every little thing like this.』
“…So this is the last time?”
That was a bit disappointing.
『As I said, that's how it is for now. But if you manage to get closer to my true form… then I'll come to commend you, kid.』
So, I could assume that the more complete my version of Snow Bringer became, the more likely he was to appear.
Just as I was wondering how I could possibly improve its completeness any further…
Crack!
An ominous sound came from my hand.
Cracks were beginning to form on the sword’s hilt, which was supporting Snow Bringer.
It seemed my time was up.
『It seems it's time to part. You used a decent hilt, but it's still far too lacking to fully withstand my presence.』
As if hearing his words, Kkamseul-i, who had transformed into the hilt, trembled.
It was as if it was protesting, promising to be stronger next time.
『Kid, if you want to see me again, get stronger.』
The idea wasn’t particularly thrilling.
The voice resonating within me was a man’s.
Striving to become stronger just to hear some gruff guy’s voice again didn’t really align with the goals of my current life.
『Kukuku! So I'm not enough for you, is that it? Then I'll add another condition.』
“A condition?”
『If you can surprise me with a level of completion far greater than this, I'll introduce you to the most beautiful woman in the world.』
The most beautiful woman, huh.
“…How beautiful are we talking?”
『I guarantee she'll be at least three times more beautiful than you can possibly imagine.』
“Deal.”
I accepted instantly before he could change his mind.
Three times more beautiful than I could imagine?
That was an offer no man could refuse.
The frozen blade began to melt at a rapid pace.
Simultaneously, the presence of Snow Bringer’s ego, which had dwelled within it, quickly dissipated.
『Farewell, kid.』
“Yeah, you too.”
After the blade vanished without a trace, Kkamseul-i returned to its original form.
I stroked the creature, which was now limp and exhausted.
“Just rest for a bit, Kkamseul-i. I’ll give you lots of food when we get home.”
Hop…
It barely managed to jump.
After tucking the weakly responding creature into my arms, I stood up. Just then, my party members returned from carving up the salamandra’s corpse, and we left the dungeon together.
Our dungeon clear time, which was previously 2 hours and 58 minutes, was now 2 hours and 22 minutes—a full 36 minutes faster.
This record, which offered nothing but honor, would become a stepping stone.
A sturdy stepping stone to support me on my way to A-rank.
Of course, one wouldn’t be nearly enough.
So I had devised a grand plan for this very purpose.
I would finish first in the clear-time rankings for every dungeon I entered from now on.
Even if they’re just small trophies, if you stack up dozens of them, they ought to have some weight, right?
“Alright, shall we head to the next dun…?”
“Alright, shall we head to the next dun…?”
Wait, why did I suddenly say the same thing twice?
Wait, why did I suddenly say the same thing twice?
* * *
In a tranquil city blanketed entirely in snow.
A look of bewilderment crossed the face of Boris, who had been gazing blankly out the window.
“Ian…?”
Ian.
The name she had given to the ego of her weapon and long-time companion, Snow Bringer.
His presence, which should have felt as natural as breathing, had vanished in an instant.
Boris was taken aback.
It was something that had never happened before.
“……”
But she didn’t panic.
Although his presence was gone, she knew he hadn’t left for good.
How did she know?
Because he had told her so.
The weapon and the ego.
He had said that if either one lost its function, the other would become useless.
But Snow Bringer, resting in its specially made scabbard, was still radiating the same intense cold.
‘Then it’s fine.’
It meant that even if he wasn’t by her side right now, he still existed.
She could just ask him what happened when he returned.
With her mind at ease once more, she was staring blankly at the snow-covered city when it happened.
A powerful presence began to emanate from the sword at her hip.
“Ian…?”
『Ah, it’s me. Something interesting came up, so I stepped out for a moment.』
“Something interesting?”
『Kuku, to be honest, I’m not sure yet. Whether this will be an interesting affair or an absurd one.』
Boris tilted her head at the cryptic answer.
Snow Bringer, Ian, continued.
『You'll find out in due time. I'll introduce you when the time is right, not too far from now, so you don't need to worry about it for now.』
“…Is that so?”
Hearing his words, she lifted her gaze and looked out the window again.
A peaceful city where large snowflakes were falling gently.
Today, as always, Boris stood as a guardian to protect this place.
All alone in the cold.