The Great Sword is n Chapter 22

“Mr. Lucci... Did you see it just now?”

I showed it to Heinzel and Rubia, so now it was ti to brag to Lucci.

“Every ti I saw it... How did you do it?”

Lucci slowly got up and looked at .

“Hehe... Isn’t it cool?”

“Huh... It wouldn’t be strange if I was the weakest here...”

“I’m that weak? Should we fight once...?”

I folded my arms at right angles and got into an arm wrestling stance.

“Okay... I don’t want to be pushed around like that punk.”

Lucci shook his head and lay back down.

It’s bland...

“Well... I understand. Then... Get so rest.”

I bowed to Lucci and turned my back again.

“Kid! What did you just do?”

“Huh-! What, what?”

As soon as I turned my back, I was startled by the large body I saw, but I spoke as calmly as I could.

I have to show the dignity of a winner...!

“The arm wrestling we did just now! With that toothpick-like arm... how did you do it?”

“T-it’s not a toothpick...? And what did you do? I just used all my strength to get over it...”

“No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem like simple strength. Wait a minute, Noah.”

Rubia, who was right next to , carefully took my arm and started to rub it.

“Not simple strength? What, then?”

Didn’t I just max out my strength and be strong?

“Yes. This is my first ti with soone like Noah... I find it fascinating.”

After rubbing my arm for a while, Rubia opened her mouth again.

“I can’t detect magic, but based on the circumstances, I think you’re covered in magic.”

“Huh...? Magic?”

What are you talking about? My magic stat is 0?

“What, what...? Then, didn’t the brat cheat?”

“Oh, no! I didn’t use magic...”

“Huh, that tight-fisted guy cares about that... He’s a hitter.”

Heinzel pointed his finger at

and squealed, saying it was cheating.

Lucci quietly cursed Heinzel.

“If it’s not magic, it could be so kind of protection, but the odds of that happening are extrely slim... I think it’s magic. There’s no way I could do it like I did before without it.”

Rubia muttered while continuously kneading my arm.

But, she was kneading my wrist earlier.

Now, it’s right under my armpit.

Is it because she has sothing to check...?

“Um... I, I don’t know. I just thought I was strong...”

“Yes. I think Noah uses it unconsciously. Only for a short ti when he needs it. Anyway, that’s amazing. I heard that strengthening your body with magic is incredibly hard. Doing that unconsciously...”

“That’s definitely amazing. It’s making my stomach hurt.”

“Hmm! Then it’s a draw!”

While Rubia and Lucci are talking, Heinzel boldly tries to cheat!

Where are you going to let that go!

“Why, why!”

“You little brat, you’re just using magic!”

“T-that’s not true...! You’ve lost!”

“In a world of ruthless competition, if you use tricks like that, you’re bound to lose!”

“It’s not a trick...! I, I didn’t know! And in a world of ruthless competition... you have to admit defeat cleanly...!”

Are you going to keep being childish like that?!

Heinzel snorted.

“Then let’s ask the judge. Miss, what do you think?”

“Lu, Luvia…!”

Luvia sighed deeply and covered her head.

“I’m… a school teacher or sothing… I’m starting to feel a little guilty...”

“Oh my… the priestess has a hard ti...”

Luchi raised her upper body and said.

“Well, from what I see as an audience mber, I think Noah won.”

“Oh, oh…! As expected!”

“What, what…?! Why do you think that!”

“Heinzel. How old are you this year?”

“Hmm, I think you’re forty-eight.”

“The sa as . We’ve both eaten a lot. But unlike , you’ve eaten your age out of your anus.”

“Pheh-!”

I tilted my head, wondering what he ant. Rubia burst out laughing as if she understood right away.

And Heinzel.

Thud-thud-

Grinding his teeth, he clenched his fist.

“What was the bet?”

“Jelly. I agreed to get jelly... and Mr. Heinzel asked

to buy him a slab steak.”

“I see... Hmm, Heinzel. Don’t you have any money in your butt? Oh, it might be too full for your age.”

“Pheuheu...”

Rubia burst out laughing again.

I don’t know what’s funny...

“T-stop it.”

A cracking sound started to co from Heinzel’s fist.

What the heck!

“Lu, Rubia.”

I grabbed Rubia’s hand and pulled her towards .

“Huh... Yes?”

“What does that an...?”

“Ah... uh, um... I’ll tell you later. If I tell you now... Mr. Heinzel’s pride... Hehe...!”

Even after that, Lucci continued to talk.

Heinzel, who was just listening to Lucci, continued to grind his teeth.

Only after the two of them had finished arguing did the winner and loser get decided.

“... It’s my loss.”

Noah wins!

Hehe.

If it was going to be like this, you should’ve admitted it from the beginning. What the hell is this!

This is ugly! Heinzel!

I proudly straightened my back and approached Heinzel.

“Please... buy it for

tomorrow.”

“Ugh... I understand...”

“Hehe...”

While I was laughing, Lucci got up completely from his seat and tapped my greatsword.

“Anyway, don’t you even repair your equipnt? “They say the greatsword is the best, but you’re carrying a club.”

“Ah, um… I have to do it...”

If it’s not Alba’s blacksmith shop… I feel uneasy.

The boss there doesn’t say anything while I’m waiting, so I can wait without worry.

I don’t think that’ll happen here.

What if I touch it and get in trouble…

“Why, can you introduce

to a good place?”

“Uh… um…”

While I was thinking about it,

Rubia, who was next to , wrapped her hand around my hand and said.

“Oh, I know a place to get equipnt repaired. We’re going tomorrow. Right, Noah?”

Nice helper!

Nice Rubia!

There’s no one else but you, really!

As if to repay her, I wiggled my fingers and put them between Rubia’s fingers.

“Oh, that’s right! I’m going to go with Rubia tomorrow.”

Rubia's hand slowly gained strength.

I held on tightly to her.

"Is that so? Then that's fine... Then, you. Were you trying to spar with

with that equipnt?"

"Yeah... Right?"

It wasn't a fight to the death...!

And... It was a fight that would be over in about fifteen swings.

It didn't really matter.

"Huh... Do I look weak?"

Lucci slapped his forehead and said.

That's not it.

Of course, before I saw you spar with Heinzel, I thought I would definitely win.

After seeing you... I honestly beca ambiguous.

I didn't know you could fight that well...

But... I can't say that.

I have the pride of a great sword.

"No. Just, um... See, normal?"

"Keuheu-! Keuhahehehehe! Certainly, I like one of the gangsters. Okay. Let's fight as soon as the repairs are finished."

"Okay..."

He clenched his fists.

"Haa..."

Rubia's deep sigh could be heard from the side...

"Ms. Lucci, do you still have to spar? You should rest a little more."

"What. In this state, it's easy to beat this rat-sized guy."

"Huh, rat... rat...? You'll regret it later. Really. Didn't you see the arm wrestling just now...? I'm really strong."

"Keuhehehehe! Okay. Go ahead and try it. I'll take it seriously too."

Lucci laughed heartily and tapped his scabbard.

Heinzel, whose anger had subsided sowhat, walked next to Lucci and opened his mouth.

"Kid. If you don't like sparring, how about training? I'll train you-"

"No, I don't. I don't care about losers."

The tough old man stays quiet.

"What, what...? Loser?! Ugh..."

"Kuuuuuu... Heinzel, you should just behave. If you lost to

and Noah... Aren't you in last place? Where are you going when the hyungs are talking..."

At Lucci's words, I thought it was ti to say sothing.

"That's right. The hyungs are talking... That... Last place, stay still."

Holding both hands tightly to his waist.

Saying with a dignified tone.

"Puuuuuu- Noah. Right now... Heuuuuuu... What kind of pose is that?"

"Looking dignified... Sleep. Is, is it weird?"

"No. It's not weird. Keep... Khuuuuuu... You can keep doing that."

Rubia shook her head, shaking her shoulders a lot.

I don't like the reaction.

I lowered my arm without anyone noticing.

I should have looked dignified...

Is it because I'm short?

"Kid... Do you, do you hate

that much...?"

"Huh? Oh, no. It's not that I hate Mr. Heinzel... To be honest, um... Don't get hurt?"

"Okay. Tell ."

"I, I have nothing to learn."

"Huh, sob... I, I have nothing to learn? I... I have 30 years of experience as an adventurer and a platinum-"

"Oh, no. That's not it. Our styles are too similar, that's why. Compared to him, Mr. Lucci is... the complete opposite. So... um, I guess when it cos to gaining experience... Mr. Lucci is better."

I felt it while watching the sparring earlier.

Heinzel's style is similar to mine.

The details were different, but the big picture was almost the sa.

So if Heinzel and I were to spar, one of us would get seriously hurt.

That's for sure.

That's why I don't want to do it.

The loss is too much compared to the gain.

Just like Lucci's injury earlier...

Ugh... I absolutely hate it.

"I, is that so? If that's the case..."

"But, if you listen to Noah.

.. It sounds like your skills are on par with Heinzel or better... Is that right?”

The unnecessarily quick-witted Lucci figured out what I was trying to say.

This is why I hate quick-witted people. Tsk.

“Wh, what?! Kid! Is that right!”

Hmm.

“Lu, Luvia. I’m tired. Let’s go to the dorms quickly.”

“... Hehe... That’s right. There’s nothing we can do. We’ll go now.”

Luvia is quick-witted too, but... she helps .

She’s completely different from Lucci.

“Kid! Answer and go!”

“Ugh... Uh, let’s go quickly!”

I grabbed Luvia’s hand and pulled her.

Heinzel kept calling , “Kid! Kid!” until we disappeared from sight.

He must have lost his hair and lost his senses.

With such a lack of awareness.

How am I going to live in this harsh world.

Oh my.

“Whew... I’m tired...”

After washing up, I threw my refreshed body on the bed.

“Today... there really was a lot going on.”

“That’s right. But it was still fun...”

“I’m glad it was fun. By the way, what are you going to do about the blacksmith shop tomorrow?”

He carefully turned his body so that the great sword wouldn’t tear the bed.

“I-I don’t know. I’m worried. What should I do... Should I just buy another great sword...?”

“Hmm... That’s not a bad idea. But, isn’t that sword familiar to you?”

“That’s right...”

He repeatedly gripped and released the handle.

Certainly... this great sword gives

peace of mind.

Of course, there will co a day when I have to change the great sword.

But since I ca to this world until now... It's been with

for a short ti, but it's been a greatsword...

It feels like a part of my body, so I don't really like buying and using just anything.

No, I really hate it.

I wonder if it'd be like this if I had an attachnt doll...

But I can't carry around two greatswords either.

"How long does it usually take to get a greatsword repaired?"

"At Alba, they usually... uh... finish it within 10 hours. But here... I don't know how long it'll take."

"That's right. The work might be piling up."

I'm worried.

Asking Lucina Heinzel... They're not experts, so they'd get hurt quickly.

"Then, Noah. If you leave your weapon to , I'll stay by your side the whole ti."

"Rubia...?"

"Yes. I can carry you if you want."

Rubia walked over to the bed and sat down on the headboard.

Then, she lifted her head and placed it on her thigh.

“How is it?”

Rubia’s sweet scent tickled my nose.

Her hair, still damp and wet, tickled my face.

Her quietly whispering voice touched my heart.

“Lu, Rubia…?”

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“Ah, no… uh… uh…”

I froze, unable to move.

“Then, can I put the greatsword away for a mont?”

“Why, why…?”

“There’s sothing I want to do for Noah.”

Rubia’s hand reached for the greatsword regardless of my will.

Should I, should I avoid it?

If I avoid it… If I avoid it?

Rubia will be upset…?

Uhh… Uhh…!!

While I was thinking like that, Rubia’s hand touched the greatsword.

“Noah. Are you okay?”

“… Yes.”

The greatsword falls from my hand.

Information around

disappears.

My hearing, touch, and sll beco sharp.

“Huh...”

A creepy feeling of falling into an endless abyss covers my entire body.

The unpleasant feeling beca even stronger because I was lying down.

That’s why… I always hug my greatsword when I sleep.

As I slowly caught my breath, Rubia’s hand brushed my head.

“Are you really scared?”

“Oh, I’m not scared. I’m fine….”

“My hands are sweaty?”

“It’s not sweat… It’s… uh… just moisture.”

“Really? I understand.”

Rubia’s gentle touch continued without a break.

The control of strength was strange… She seed to be quite an expert.

And now that I can’t see anything… I’m focused on my other senses.

I can feel those delicate touches even better.

Thanks to that... I felt a little relieved.

“How is it? Are you a little more comfortable?”

“Yes...”

“Can you sleep like this without the great sword?”

“Um... If there’s soone else... maybe...”

“Who? If it’s not , can it be soone else?”

“Ah, no... uh... Ru, Rubia... If you stay like this... t-but aren’t you uncomfortable? Don’t your legs feel numb?”

“Hehe... yes. It’s okay. I’ll stay like this until you fall asleep. And when Noah falls asleep, I’ll sleep right next to you.”

A voice whispering quietly.

My heart was pounding again.

“Hehe... ah, I understand. Then... ...? I’ll sleep...?”

“Yes. Sleep soundly. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I understand. Ru, Rubia too. Sleep well... I’ll see you tomorrow...”

It’s amazing. There are many tis when I can't sleep after tossing and turning.

Today.

Why is it so comfortable?

"Yes. Have a nice dream, Noah."

With those words, my consciousness subsided.

It's not a good dream, what's a nice dream?

Ticklish...