Master of the Magic Sword -4-

'Whoa...'

I let out a small gasp at the explosive power of the magic sword surging through me. I hadn't expected it to be this strong.

'What kind of blessings are these... so brutal...'

While the Holy Sword focused on protecting its wielder through countless blessings, Caliburn's abilities centered on personal power and destructive force. Especially the skill called 'Caliburn's Blessing' was on an entirely different level compared to Tyrving.

The appearance of a magic sword that could fully fill the void left by Tyrving made the corner of my mouth curl upward. Though I'd seen something unpleasant, what I'd gained far outweighed the process.

-Hup.

I swung the sword lightly and nodded to myself. With this level of strength, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠felt like I could beat Rowen without using Limit Break.

'It's a famous sword.'

Well, a magic sword, but still. From the finely honed blade to the grip that fit perfectly in my hand, it was an overwhelming weapon worthy of the title.

'And it's even stylish...'

-...Perhaps I'd gotten a little too excited about obtaining this famous sword. I hadn't noticed the strange voice whispering near my ear until a faint ringing made me furrow my brow.

-...Scary.

A voice reached me.

-...I'm scared.

'Hmm...?'

-Eep... I'm scared.

Frowning at the frail girl's voice, I glanced around. I wondered where it was coming from.

'That's strange...'

Only I was in this space, so why could I hear a girl's voice? Mikhail and Shuen were up above. Yet the girl's voice in my ears showed no sign of fading, murmuring timidly to herself.

-I'm so scared... I can't even speak.

She spoke in a tearful voice.

I closed my eyes and focused on the sound. Worried that some lost child might have unluckily wandered in here, I sharpened my senses.

-That woman is scary too...

When I found the source of the voice, I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.

-The other women are scary too...

The owner of the murmurs reaching my ears wasn't a lost child, nor a remnant of the cult.

-This man is scary too...

It was the voice coming from the magic sword.

Wearing an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠awkward smile, I looked at the magic sword in my hand and carefully thought to myself. It seemed like a troublesome situation had arisen.

'It has an ego.'

Personally, I didn't much like swords with egos. Swords with self-awareness were all noisy. It made me hesitant to swing them freely, and I felt like my privacy would be restricted. They weren't my preferred type. Most weapons bearing the title of legend were imbued with an 'ego,' but preferences differed.

-I'm scared...

Moreover, an 'ego' that wore a gloomy dress and seemed like it would be all wrinkled up would be even more unsettling to wield. The magic sword, emitting a timid voice, spoke softly into my ear in a sullen tone.

-Those women are scary.

It spoke in a thoroughly deflated voice.

'Uh...'

-They're not monsters either... They just barged into someone else's trial on their own... and cornered me and beat me up...

-The new master is even scarier. What was that past of his... I met him for the first time in hundreds of years, and my head almost exploded...

-I thought I was the most unfortunate in the world... It's too pitiful.

'Umm?'

-I want to hide.

How should I put it? This magic sword... Faced with the magic sword's complex and problematic self-talk, I wore a reluctant expression and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tried to ignore the words. I considered speaking to it, but given the magic sword's current state, it didn't seem in the mood for conversation.

'I'll ask later.'

Ask if it was interested in having a physical body. Even so, wielding a sword with self-awareness weighed on my mind. Recalling an alternative method I'd seen in novels, I nodded and looked up at the sky.

-Commoner...!

-What are you doing just standing there! Come up quickly!

-Ricardo...!

Having sorted my thoughts, I slowly put strength into my ankles and lightly leaped toward the surface. It wouldn't be polite to keep them waiting. They must have already been frightened by the apostle's presence, so I needed to calm them down for the sake of their mental stability as well.

'How much time has passed?'

It felt like over three hours. Since I'd witnessed countless scenes within the trial, I thought even more time might have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠passed. If I added the parts I hadn't seen to the end—the young lady's matters, Yuria's matters, and Mikhail's story—even more time could have elapsed. I hoped it hadn't taken too long...

With a worried heart, I arrived at the surface, where Mikhail and Shuen waited, their eyes filled with concern. I gave them an awkward smile and offered a small greeting.

"I'm back."

"..."

"..."

"Haha..."

"Do you know how worried we were!"

"That's right...! No matter how much we called, there was no answer, so we were startled...!"

"Ahaha... I'm sorry. I didn't expect it to turn out like this either."

I looked at Mikhail and asked. I figured Shuen, who was sulking, wouldn't answer.

"Um, Mikhail... Was I holding the sword for a long time?"

"Yes?"

"I was worried too much time had passed."

I needed to check on Elysia's and the Apostle of Temperance's situation, and find Rowen to evacuate. Mikhail wiped away her glistening tears and answered in a shy voice.

"About five minutes have passed."

"...What?"

"Five minutes."

I'd thought at least an hour had gone by, but having experienced all sorts of emotions in less than five minutes, I let out a hollow laugh and slowly nodded.

"So little time has passed."

After confirming there was nothing wrong with my body in that short span, Shuen, who had calmed her mind, slowly approached me and began speaking about what had happened.

"Commoner!"

Her cheeks puffed out like balloons.

"Do you even know what happened?"

"...Ahaha."

"When you grabbed the magic sword, strange magic power covered you! My heart dropped ten times!"

"...I'm sorry."

"Reflect on it! Do you know how worried we were?"

"I have no excuse."

After scolding me with a face full of displeasure, Shuen let out a long sigh, shook her head, and spoke.

"Still, it's a relief you gave up on the magic sword. If you'd been devoured... Huh?"

"..."

"That sword."

"Yes."

"Is it a magic sword?"

Shuen looked at the magic sword in my hand, then spoke with a giant question mark floating above her head.

"You brought it with you?"

"Yes."

"What?"

"Ah."

I glanced at the now-quiet magic sword and said,

"I got lucky."

"..."

"There's nothing wrong with my body. My mind is clear, and I don't feel any dark magic energy either."

"...Hmm."

"..."

"Hmmmm."

Thinking I was about to get scolded again, I awkwardly changed the subject toward Shuen, who was staring at me with suspicious eyes.

"Oh, right. This magic sword is called Caliburn. Do you know it?"

"..."

"I thought someone as smart as you, Shuen, might know..."

Shuen's eyes trembled greatly as she spoke to me.

"Caliburn?"

Did she have some information? Hearing the name of a magic sword that hadn't even appeared in the novel, Shuen's eyes shook violently as she rushed over and stared intently at the sword.

"I don't know."

"...What's with that reaction?"

"It's just fascinating."

"...?"

Shuen smiled brightly and said,

"I've heard the name Caliburn before."

"..."

"A long time ago... Back when heroes existed, there was a tremendously powerful vampire named Caliburn written in a book. I think it said it was the progenitor vampire. Other than that, I don't know anything."

A vampire, huh. I wore an awkward smile as I looked at the quiet magic sword. I wondered what kind of story this sword held. Maybe it really was a sword sealing a vampire, just as Shuen said, or perhaps it was just a sword with the same name. Though Caliburn, who knew the real answer, remained silent, it was clear this was a sword with a complicated past.

"I don't know."

Anyway, I'd found the Holy Sword and obtained a magic sword by chance. Good things were good, right? Now, if I could just return safely...

That was when it happened.

"Uh, uh...?"

The Holy Sword began to tremble. Along with the Holy Sword's massive vibration, confusion began to frost over Mikhail's brow. Her expression held the question of why the Holy Sword was suddenly acting this way.

"Mikhail...?"

"Uh... Just a moment. Just a moment, please."

Mikhail tried to answer with an awkward smile that it was nothing, but soon let out a long sigh and spoke softly.

"Well."

"Yes."

"The Holy Sword..."

"Yes."

"Is cursing too much."

"Ah, cursing too much... What?"

Mikhail lowered her head and said,

"It says to kill it."

"Uh..."

"It's screaming that that wicked thing must disappear..."

"Ah..."

-Brrrrr.

-Brrrrrrrr.

As soon as Mikhail finished speaking, the magic sword also began to tremble. Well.

'...'

Neither sword seemed normal. And then.