The blissful mont of Est and Hestia vying for Altair's affection didn't last long. Their commotion was loud enough to rouse Kayo and Tina in the next room.
The two lolis shuffled in, bleary-eyed, only to freeze at the shocking sight before them. They quickly covered their eyes with their hands, though the gaps between their fingers were wide enough to reveal their curious gazes.
Under the watchful eyes of the two young girls, Altair reluctantly paused his enjoynt of being sandwiched between his two partners. He gently cald them down, helping both Hestia and Est into their clothes.
Then, with Kayo and Tina still staring, he took each of his partners by the hand and led them downstairs.
"Est, pronounced as Est in human language, full na Terminus Est, is Altair's contracted spirit," Est announced emotionlessly from her spot at Altair's right side at the dining table, subtly asserting her claim.
"You're Onii-san's contracted spirit?" Kayo asked. Altair had already told everyone about Est, so her identity was no secret.
"She can really turn into a human? That's amazing!" Tina added.
Est gave the lolis a faint nod, showing none of the rivalry she displayed toward Hestia. "I am Altair's sword, his most important and only sword."
"Wow!" the lolis exclaid in unison.
Hestia, seated on Altair's other side, pursed her lips in irritation. This spirit's constant emphasis on being "most important" and "only" was grating on her nerves. But Est was a spirit, a different kind from Danmachi's elves, with entirely alien values. No amount of arguing would change that she was, indeed, Altair's sole contracted spirit, his "only sword," as she put it.
"So, Altair, when Est awoke, it ant she fully rged her powers, right? Has she completely integrated the Fire Spirit King's power now?" Saeko asked from across the table, eyeing Est curiously.
"Yes, Est has fully rged with the Fire Spirit King's power. She's now the Sacred Sword of Fire," Altair said proudly.
But Est's expression dimd at his words. She lowered her head, silent.
"What's wrong, Est?" Altair asked, noticing her sudden shift in mood.
The others sensed it too, their eyes turning to her. Even Hestia, despite her earlier annoyance, looked concerned. Est was Altair's contracted spirit, after all, and Hestia cared about anything connected to him.
"I'm not a sacred sword," Est murmured, her voice barely audible. "Est is actually a cursed demon sword."
"A demon sword?" everyone echoed, startled. They knew of Danmachi's magic swords, but Est ca from another world, so her "demon sword" likely ant sothing different.
"So that's what's been bothering you," Altair said softly, resting his hand on Est's head.
"Est, I've known for a long ti."
"You knew?" Est looked up, her wide eyes filled with surprise.
When Altair first contracted with Est, she was only a fragnt of her true self, possessing just a tenth of her full power. Now, having rged with her original form and the Fire Spirit King, she'd regained her mories, mories of battling the Demon King alongside the Saintess, and the truth that she was a demon sword that cursed its wielder.
Since waking, she'd wanted to tell Altair but hesitated, torn by her attachnt to him and fear of his reaction.
Understanding her worry, Altair moved to reassure her. "Do you rember how we first t?"
"Mm, I rember," Est nodded. "When Est was asleep, Altair entered my body without permission. When I woke, he left a lot of, "
"Okay, that's enough!" Altair cut her off, flustered. Her wording made it sound like he'd done sothing scandalous while she was asleep, when all he'd done was channel his curse power into her.
Now everyone was staring at him. Saeko smirked, amused but unconcerned, while the two lolis were another story.
"You did that while she was asleep? That's too much, Onii-san!" Kayo gasped.
"And targeting a girl with our kind of fra? I knew you liked lolis, but I didn't think you'd actually act on it!" Tina added.
"Tina, what if he's already done sothing to us while we slept?" Kayo whispered.
"Definitely, Kayo! Rember those tis we woke up with our blankets on the floor? Onii-san must've snuck into our room!" Tina replied.
"I don't sneak into your room! You just kick your blankets off!" Altair protested, exasperated by their theatrics.
"Alright, you two, that's enough," he said, and the lolis stuck out their tongues, dropping the act.
Hestia tugged at Altair's left arm. "Is this because of ?"
"Huh?" Altair blinked, confused. What does this have to do with you?
"I know you're a man, Altair. Even gods have those urges, and with a charming goddess like by your side, you must've been holding back. I didn't notice, so when you t Est…" Hestia trailed off, guiltily.
"No, no, that's not it!" Altair said, realizing Hestia had been swayed by the lolis' antics. "It was just a contract. I channeled my power into Est while she was in sword form to establish our bond."
"Oh… so that's how it was," Hestia said, nodding slowly.
With that cleared up, Altair resud stroking Est's head. "When I contracted with you, I discovered your unique ability. You can tear through curses and magic, not by destroying them, but by absorbing them. Those curses then transfer to your wielder, ."
Est lowered her head again. "I'm sorry, Altair. Est is a demon sword that will kill its master."
The others froze. Just days ago, Altair had called Est a sacred sword, and now she was a demon sword, one that could harm him? The shift was jarring.
"Altair…" Hestia said, gripping his hand worriedly.
"It's okay, Hestia. Let explain," Altair said, calming her before turning to Est. "Est, I knew you were a demon sword when we contracted. Do you know why I still chose you?"
Est looked up, her eyes full of confusion. Why?
"Because I'm not afraid of curses," Altair said, continuing to pat her head. "Rember the state of the Spirit Kings? They were consud by otherworldly darkness. I used your power to absorb that darkness, but instead of being overwheld, I consud it and grew stronger."
"The curses you pass to don't harm , they make stronger."
"Really?" Hestia asked, her voice urgent.
"Absolutely. I gained an incredibly powerful skill thanks to Est. I can show you later, Hestia. So, please, don't worry or misunderstand her," Altair said reassuringly.
Hestia nodded, trusting him completely. "I believe you, Altair."
"Really?" Est asked, still uncertain. After rging with the Fire Spirit King and her original form, she'd been asleep, unaware of what followed, including Altair's newfound abilities.
"Of course it's true. Thanks to you, I'm even stronger now," Altair said, leaning closer. "Est, you're the perfect sword for , and I'm the perfect master for you. From the start, you were ant to be mine. Sacred sword or demon sword, you're my most important, my only Est."
With earnest conviction, Altair's words brought a smile to Est's face. "Yes, Est is Altair's sword, his most important, his only sword!"
Seeing her brighten, Altair smiled too. Saeko and the others relaxed, relieved to see their Familia's pillar in good spirits. Hestia bead, proud that her Altair was unaffected by curses, even turning them into strength. Her lingering resentnt toward Est for the earlier rivalry faded, though not entirely, as Est's competition for Altair's affection remained unresolved.
"Speaking of which, Altair, this ans you can change your title," Hestia said, clinging to his arm again. "Didn't you always want to be called a Sacred Sword Wielder? Now that you have a sacred sword, the Guild's eting this month is the perfect chance."
Altair's current title, "Knight," was a compromise, as he lacked a sacred sword to claim a grander title like "Knight King."
"No, I won't go with Sacred Sword Wielder," Altair said. "Hestia, rember what Hephaestus said? Gods don't allow humans to wield sacred swords, as they can kill gods. I can't reveal Est's true nature, so that title's off the table."
Hestia nodded, understanding. While gods descended to aid mortals, they wouldn't tolerate humans wielding god-slaying power. Knowing Altair's sword could kill gods, her first instinct was to protect him and keep Est's identity secret.
"You're right, no Sacred Sword Wielder. Let's pick another title," she said. Her love for Altair was fiercely protective, she couldn't care less about other gods' fates.
"Thanks, Hestia," Altair said, affectionately ruffling her hair before turning to Est. "Since you're a demon sword and I'm a knight, how about we beco a Demon Sword Knight?"
"Demon Sword Knight?" Est tilted her head.
"Exactly. Demon Sword Knight Altair!" he declared with a mischievous grin, the title carrying a certain enigmatic weight, much like a dragon knight in its layered implications.
***
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