The Desert Princess's Sword
The Land Forsaken by God (3): The Pleasure City of Lampades. If the first stage of this level is to uncover the reality of the city hidden beneath the mask of a festival, then everything that follows becomes easier than expected—provided one understands and accepts the mental state of those remaining here.
"Who in the world actually wants to die? Everyone wants to live. We’re doing this shitty hero work precisely because we want to survive, aren't we?"
No one truly wants to die. While there are certainly those who take their own lives, most struggle tooth and nail to survive. If so, are the people here in the Pleasure City just a group of people hoping for collective suicide? Should I tell them that suicide is foolish, and that living is the only noble and meaningful act of vitality? Yes, that is generally correct. But considering the unique circumstances surrounding Lampades, and the fact that this is a tutorial stage built upon a city that has already perished once, the case is a bit different.
'It’s a place meant to be shown to prospective heroes.'
How will humans act in the face of unavoidable death? The Goddess must have been worried. What if a human summoned from another world succumbs to the demons? If the Demon King commands, "Become a vanguard that corrupts into a demon and fights against the Goddess and the angels," what choice would an ordinary human make? Those who value their lives would choose to become demons. Regardless of what happens to them afterward, if they are placed in a situation where they are either eaten by Orcs or raped by them, would they just accept it like a madman?
'Without the tutorial, without installing the mindset of a hero in the factory, that’s exactly what would happen.'
If they had been thrown into the battlefield immediately upon being summoned, everyone would have made that choice. But as they pass through various stages during the tutorial, prospective heroes witness it. The true mindset of a hero. The noble spirit of sacrifice that burns one's own body to fight for others, and the willingness to run toward death even when it is foreseen.
"That’s all just indoctrination. It’s brainwashing, isn't it?"
Some people disparaged the tutorial in that way. Since there were parts that weren't much different when you really looked at it, I had no intention of arguing. The important thing is how we think here in the Pleasure City of Lampades. As a 10-year veteran hero, I’ve seen it countless times, so I just let it be, but Shin Yuhee is different. I shouldn't just tell her, "You must do this," and force her to realize it. Shin Yuhee needs to learn and master the thoughts and spirit of the people of Lampades herself. Not to unconditionally imitate them, but to learn the way they live.
So, we decided to turn a blind eye to the self-funeral called the Pleasure City. As tourists and transients, we will remember the facets of the Pleasure City of Lampades and leave. We won't just sightsee; we will understand, learn, and master the way you live to use as a cornerstone for our survival elsewhere. For some, it may end as disaster and apocalypse, but the final embers shown at that end will remain in our memories and hearts.
As a result:
"You said you wanted to become stronger. In what way do you primarily want to grow?"
"Pardon? Ah, that is..."
"Spear? Sword? Bow? Or is there another weapon you specialize in? Since you said you came from the Holy Kingdom, it’s standard to use a sword and shield. A morning star isn't bad, either. Especially if you just swing a flail with an iron ball attached to a chain; it’s good for a woman to protect her own body."
Right now, a situation was unfolding where Ernette had caught Shin Yuhee and was dumping information on her like a mountain of rice.
"Do you have a weapon you usually use?"
"Well, my senior said a sword suits me."
"A sword?"
"Yes. I’ve tried it, and it fits my hand well, but I don't know how to put it into words. I don't know the details, though."
Shin Yuhee trailed off. She was at the stage where her body recognized, 'Oh, a sword suits me,' but she struggled to articulate it.
"Shin Yuhee still lacks muscle strength. Rather than stabbing, it’s better to inflict multiple lacerations to cause massive blood loss."
"Against monsters with regenerative abilities like trolls, this side will just get exhausted first, won't it?"
As soon as I spoke, Ernette immediately countered. This was a challenge.
"You just need to cut the Achilles tendon or something to eliminate their mobility. And Shin Yuhee’s movement is light. It’s better to dodge every attack and land shallow cuts than to get hit by the enemy."
"Hmm. So you’re saying your wife’s body is precious?"
"Of course. Though, that’s not the only reason I’m building up her agility. She once learned swordsmanship from a Dark Elf, too."
How should I raise the existence known as Shin Yuhee? If I were to compare this to an MMORPG, I’m drawing a route for an extreme evasion-type swordsman or a glass-cannon dealer. The reason Shemily walked around that arena naked was because she had the confidence that she wouldn't be caught or attacked by others.
"An extreme evasion-type attacker. A sword specialist? Or, since you said she learned something from a Dark Elf, she must be learning archery to some extent, right? Attacking from a distance, and if an enemy approaches, using the sword to protect herself."
"I, I did learn it that way for now. It was a very short moment, though."
"Is that so? Hmm... then..."
Snap. Ernette clicked her fingers and pointed between herself and Shin Yuhee.
"Perfect. I will assist you myself."
"Pardon?"
"What? Even if it’s a city-state, even if it’s a small city in the desert, I am the captain of the guard of a nation. It’s called a guard captain, but if you compare it to the Empire or the Kingdom over there, it’s safe to consider me a 'Knight Commander,' isn't it? There are no knights here, though."
Shing. Ernette drew the long sword she wore at her waist.
"At least in close-quarters combat, there is no one in this city who can beat me. Hohoho."
It was a sword nearly 2 meters long, distinctly different from the blade Shin Yuhee used before.
"And you..."
"I have a primary weapon, but I’m of the belief that I’ll use whatever I can get my hands on as a weapon to survive."
"What is your main armament?"
"An axe."
"An axe. Good. Whether killing an enemy, breaking down a door, skinning a hide, or gathering firewood. If you think about uses outside of combat, it really is versatile."
Hmm. Ernette. When I found out she was disguised as a maid apprentice, I thought, 'Why go to such lengths?' but I realized she was a woman I could converse with better than I thought.
"I have a warrior who is quite good with an axe; do you need an introduction?"
"No. I’m fine. What I lack is this side."
Regarding her offer to find me a skilled master, I politely declined, pointing my thumb at my own heart.
"Come to think of it, you. I can feel mana in your body; have you received a 'Baptism'?"
"That is correct."
"Baptism?"
"It means imbuing color into mana."
I had already received the characteristics of mana from Chekhov.
"That baptism, who did you receive it from?"
"A vampire. She is dead now."
"...You received mana from a vampire and you’re still alive without becoming a vampire yourself? That’s impossible."
"There’s nothing impossible about it."
I pulled my shirt slightly to reveal my collarbone toward the confused Ernette.
"The bite marks on my body are... ah."
"C-cough, ahem."
Instead of the marks left by a vampire sucking blood, what remained was a deep, dark hickey that still hadn't faded.
"...It might sound strange when you hear it, but she was a kind vampire."
"A vampire... is kind?"
"She was a vampire under the protection of the Empire."
I felt like she was about to go wild, insisting it wasn't protection but an alliance, but I shrugged my shoulders with my hand on my chest.
"I had a good opportunity and received the color of mana from a vampire. I have plenty of combat experience, so... I’m fine. If you want to 'pass on' various things, I’d like you to do it for Shin Yuhee."
"Hmm..."
"If possible, I’d like you to imbue her with a color of magic power, too."
"The color of magic power, you say."
"Is it impossible?"
"That much isn't enough to be a problem. However... are you sure?"
Ernette raised her index finger and spun it around.
"The color of sand that has seeped in once does not come out easily. Especially if the person who imbued the magic power does not take it back."
"That is—"
"It’s okay, Ms. Ernette."
Before I could even speak, Shin Yuhee stepped forward first.
"The magic power dwelling in my heart... I will cherish and remember it forever."
"......."
"Is it... not allowed?"
"...It’s not that it’s not allowed. Rather, I’m in a position where I’d like to beg you to do it. But... are you really sure?"
Ernette covered her face with both hands for a moment. Then, as if wiping away the mask she had been wearing, she lowered her hands and looked at Shin Yuhee with a complex expression.
"It might become a legacy left by the dead of a perished city. The master will be dead, the origin will be severed, and you might not be able to join any faction."
The color of magic power is like a kind of shackle.
"I was thinking it might be better to join a magic tower or something later and learn mana. Not to inherit the will of the vanished, but to be able to borrow the power of those who will have great influence in the future."
"Then... I should—"
Shin Yuhee looked at me, and I immediately signaled her.
"I will tell you that there is no need to worry."
"...Why?"
"I feel sorry for the Dark Elf sister who taught me the basics of combat, but I have to survive, too. Later... even if it’s to protect and teach my child."
Shin Yuhee scratched her cheek and said to Ernette.
"The swordsmanship you are learning is Lampades swordsmanship. ...Can I say it like that?"
"......No."
Ernette shook her head briefly in a stiff voice, a voice that sounded like she was trying to endure something.
"That won't do."
"Ah...."
"Instead."
Biting her lip hard.
"Ernette-style. ...If you pass it on like that, I would be nothing but grateful."
Day 2 of entering Lampades. Shin Yuhee gained an excellent master in this desert city.
"Of course, you’d have to have the skills for that."
"Pardon?"
"Follow me. We start training immediately."
"......."
"You aren't planning on going back to the room next door and starting by making a baby, are you?"
"......."
"Before making a baby, you must first build the strength to protect the body that will give birth to the child!"
A somewhat... strict master.