The Great Sword is n Chapter 23

‘But our Noah is so kind that I don’t think he’ll abandon Mom. Right?’

I’m sorry.

‘So Noah, you too. I hope you’ll beco a hero who saves people like Dad and your na.’

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

I was so.

I was so scared.

I slept deeply for the first ti in a long ti.

It’s been a really long ti.

I didn’t want to fall asleep like this, but still... it wasn’t so bad.

“Whew...”

To chase away the sleepiness.

To pull out the mories of the dream stuck in my mind.

I opened my eyes.

I took a deep breath and steeled myself.

After a long ti, I was finally able to chase away all the lingering sleepiness.

I closed my eyes and reached out.

There was no great sword.

I felt around.

As expected, there wasn’t one.

“Ah...”

Rubia put

to sleep next to you yesterday...

Since Rubia wasn’t around, did she wake up first?

“Are you awake?”

“Uh...!”

Rubia’s voice ca from the right.

I sat up in joy... Huh...?

“Lu, Rubia...?”

“Huh?”

“Uh... Where are my clothes and bandages?”

I covered my pale body with the blanket and felt around.

No matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find them...

“Noah said he was suffocating and grabbed his clothes, so I untied them. Did you... have a bad dream?”

“Ah... um... no. That’s not it. Uh... um, thank you for your concern.”

“I hung the clothes so they wouldn’t get wrinkled, and I washed the bandages. But... are they really okay? Your expression is so bad...”

Rubia ca towards

and stroked my head.

But... that... stroking is good.

“It’s okay... right now. Can you bring

so bandages...? I, I don’t have a greatsword right now and I don’t have anything...”

Clothes... Give

so clothes!

I’m only wearing panties!

I’m embarrassed!!!

“Oh, co to your senses. Okay. I’ll bring it right away.”

Rubia finished speaking and ran over to her suitcase.

By the way...

My bandages... didn’t they sll...?

Why are you embarrassing

by washing them for ...!

“Here. Can you tie them by yourself?”

“T-of course. I can do it by myself.”

I carefully took my hand out of the blanket, took the bandages, and started tying knots.

I couldn’t see anything, but I was pretty good at it because I did it every day.

Tie the knot like that...

“Rubia... Could you turn around...? I’m a little embarrassed...”

Now I have to pull down the blanket and put the bandage on my chest.

Then you can see everything...

Of course I showed it once in the valley, but it’s still embarrassing...

“Yes, I understand.”

I heard Rubia moving around.

“Did I, did I turn around properly?”

“Of course.”

“Just because I can’t see you... You can’t just turn around and do that...!”

“Would I?”

“Hmm... That’s right.”

Well...

What’s there to see in such a worthless body?

And it’s the sa woman’s body...

Thinking that Rubia wouldn’t secretly look at my body, I pulled down the blanket and put the knotted bandage on my chest.

Since the curve wasn’t that bad... I held onto the bandage that kept going down and pulled the knot all the way.

The bandage was tightened appropriately and fixed.

I checked to see if there was any loose parts... Hmm.

That's enough.

"You can turn around now..."

"Oh, you're wearing it well?"

"Hehe. It's neat, right?"

"The thod looks quite... complicated. Did soone teach you?"

"Hermilla taught you from beginning to end...!"

My body is weak anyway.

I thought I wouldn't need underwear, so I put on so thick clothes and walked around, but Hermilla caught .

After that, I listened to a sermon for 2 hours... and learned how to tie knots...

Ugh... It was really hard.

"Hermilla... taught you?"

"Yes. How is it? Does it look sturdy?"

I showed off the bandage here and there.

"Did Hermilla... tie it for you at first?"

Hermilla?

Where did the '??' go...?

“Uh, um... right?”

“...I see.”

“T-that's right...”

A cold silence lingers in the room.

What is it? Why is the atmosphere like this all of a sudden...?

“Lu, Luvia...?”

“Oh, yes.”

“T-Can you bring

the greatsword?”

“Yes, I will bring it.”

Clang-clank- the sound of the belt and the sound of the greatsword can be heard.

Huh. How far away must I have been to be happy to hear that sound?

“Here, the greatsword.”

I stretched out both hands forward.

A heavy sensation settled into my hands.

I gripped the handle tightly.

A tingling, welco pain accompanied by information from my surroundings.

“Huh... refreshing.”

Holding the greatsword tightly, I finished stretching by twisting my body here and there.

“Noah.”

“Huh?”

“Did you stretch like that in front of Hermilla too?”

“Oh, no? This is only done when you wake up.”

“Only when you wake up?”

Nod-

“Huh- I see. I understand.”

Suddenly, the tension in my voice rose.

What is it...?

“Okay, let’s get ready to go quickly. If you leave it quickly, I’ll co back quickly.”

“Huh? Oh, yes... That’s right.”

Rubia, who was clinging to

tightly, linked arms and lifted

up.

A familiar scent lingered in my nostrils.

Not the pungent sll of smoke.

Rubia’s refreshing scent.

“Ugh... I’m nervous.”

“It’s okay. I’ll carry it if necessary.”

“D, carry...?”

“No, carry. I slipped up...”

Rubia scratched her cheek and corrected her words.

“But they say this place has the best craftsmanship. I don’t think you have to worry.

“Really...? Hmm... Yes, let’s go in...!”

Just like a real man! Leave it to !

Let’s go out bravely!

We opened the blacksmith’s door and went in.

“Oh, hello...?”

“Welco!”

A blacksmith with an incredibly cheerful voice greeted us.

A rare female smith in this industry!

“Oh, it seems like you’re here for the first ti. Is that right?”

“Huh...? Yes... It’s my, first ti...”

“Welco to Hephaestus Forge! I’m the special smith of Loholan! I’m Hephaestus!”

“Ah, yes... I, I am Noah... Ip...ni-”

“Equipnt... um, ah, is it this person? Is it a greatsword and a light armor? The greatsword is badly damaged... How did it end up like this...? Oh... I guess you fight really close to each other. The light armor on your shoulders is also like that. You look so cute, so you roll your body roughly... You’re aweso...”

“Eh...? Oh, uh...?”

“But, how do you swing such a heavy greatsword? Oh... Are you a supporter? Then that makes sense. But... For a supporter, your light armor is badly damaged... Huh! Is it possible that the adventurer in charge is forcing you to do it? You should run away from soone like that right now! Huh...! W-Wouldn’t it be the person standing behind you... Oh, no, that’s not what I ant... No. That’s right! How can you roll such a cute kid like this?! No matter how much I do, this is just too much! Co here. I sohow-”

A woman with a huge tension, whether it was Hephaestus or a jellyfish, stretched out her hand towards .

“Ugh, ugh...!”

I dodged her hand and quickly hid behind Rubia’s back.

“T-Please help ...!”

I grabbed Rubia’s hem tightly and shook her, and Rubia stepped forward.

“Hello. I think there’s a slight misunderstanding. That’s not it-”

“Ugh-! You bad adventurer! You’re still a human after all! What are you doing to a little girl like that! T-T-T-you, you bad girl!”

“Wh-what are you talking about...! I’m an adult...?!”

I got angry at the word “little girl” and stepped forward.

And then I hid behind Rubia again.

“, a bad girl...? Haa... My head hurts... Hey, Hephaestus? This great sword belongs to the person behind . And rather, the supporter is on my side.”

I nodded vigorously and agreed with Rubia.

“Ah, uh… Really?”

“…Yes. Well… How do you look to other people… I think it’s good that I’ve co to know you well. I’ll have to take note.”

“Huh-! Sorry!!! I misunderstood you so badly!!”

Hephaestus scread and banged his head on the floor.

I… I’m so tired.

I can’t keep up with that tension.

I’m exhausted. Seriously…

Would it have been easier if I had brought Heinzel or Lucci…?

No, it might have just made the misunderstanding worse…

“Please just raise your head. Misunderstandings aren’t wrong.

Rubia squatted down and patted Hephaestus on the shoulder.

“Ah… I made this mistake again… I have such a short temper and I have such bad delusions… I’m sorry. Really!”

He banged his head again.

“Haa... I understand. Please stand up so I can accept your apology.”

“Net! Thank you!!!”

The voice that had been choking up until just now was nowhere to be found, and it imdiately returned to its previous tension.

“Then, let

explain the contents.”

“Net!”

“I’m going to ask you to repair the greatsword and light armor, but I was wondering how long it would take. As fast as possible... um. Within 24 hours-”

“5 hours!”

“Yes?”

“Yes...?”

“It’ll be done in 5 hours!”

Hephaestus continued speaking with great confidence.

The boss of the Alba blacksmith shop took about 10 hours... but this guy takes 5 hours?

“If you’re really in a hurry, I can shorten it to 3 hours!!!”

“Huh...?”

“How could you-”

“Haha! It’s embarrassing to say this, but I have the ‘Protection of Borian’! That’s why it’s possible! Hahaha... This isn't a great blessing, but still! I'll be the fastest when it cos to ti!

I'm proud to say that no one is faster than

even if I search the entire continent!"

"Ah, you have a protection. I didn't know."

"Hehe... No! By the way, your hair color is really pretty! With dazzling silver hair and blue eyes. Just like a priestess. Huh, huh...? A, a priestess?! Oh, right?! Gyaaaaah! Priestess Rubia?! Why, why... Why why why why in such a shabby place...! Huh, but the robe that impedes recognition... Huh!!"

Boom-

He hit his head on the ground again.

"I, I'm sorry! I'm sorry I didn't recognize you, and I'm sorry I recognized you!! I, I have good eyesight so I broke through the impedint!! I'm sorry aaaaah!!"

"Ah, well... if you have a protection... that's possible. But."

Rubia touched her lips and looked at Hephaestus quietly.

And muttered.

“3 hours is too short.”

Huh? What did you say...?