The Great Sword is n Chapter 40

Four days had passed since Carpen was hunted down.

Since Lux died.

The world was still running smoothly.

Of course, so things had changed slightly.

First of all...

Hephaestus’ blacksmith shop was bustling with custors.

After I killed Carpen with the greatsword Hephaestus gave , it beca quite the hit.

So... I haven’t even been able to set foot in there.

I wanted to buy a few things, but...

There were too many people...

I almost suffocated and died just by trying to go in!!

Of course, I did try once.

I went in hand-in-hand with Rubia, all cheerful, but...

Everyone’s faces turned pale, and they all rushed out.

So even scread...

Is Rubia really that scary...?

I didn’t think so at first, but when you get to know her, she’s not scary at all...

It’s probably the power that’s scary, right?

She's higher than most nobles, after all.

Anyway, because of that, I haven’t gone anywhere near Hephaestus' shop.

We would probably scare the custors away if we did...

Next, about Rubia...

On the first day, she cried the whole ti.

She literally woke up from sleep and just cried.

The second day, she was at least able to eat, but...

She ate and cried.

Talking while crying.

Crying while crying.

Crying while getting washed.

Laughing and crying.

I told her if you laugh and cry at the sa ti, you’ll grow hair on your butt, and she giggled again.

Though, not hair, but horns...

Then on the third day.

Rubia was back to her usual self.

She didn’t cry anymore, and she spoke properly.

We ate steak together and took a walk.

She sighed as she looked at the destroyed south gate.

She cheered on the villagers cleaning the east gate.

An adventurer from the Gold Rank who had been helping the villagers approached to say hello, and I glared at him with all my might.

Other adventurers were also loitering around Rubia, but I chased them all away.

I stared at them with wide eyes and mimicked Carpen’s growl, and they all ran away.

Those guys.

So cowardly.

And I...

Was told to take absolute rest, so I spent two days in Rubia’s arms without even my greatsword.

I felt like a plush doll.

The good thing was, she took great care of my plushie laundry.

It was incredibly refreshing...

Ah, and speaking of plushie dolls, I rembered...

Hephaestus said my greatsword couldn’t be fixed anymore...

All the smiths, including Hephaestus... gave up...

Of course, the greatsword Hephaestus gave

wasn’t bad...

But it didn’t feel the sa as my beloved greatsword.

When I slept at night, I would hug it, and it gave

such peace...

So, I spent so lancholic ti with Rubia.

...But still, it was a little comforting when Rubia hugged

tightly.

Then sotis...

When I wanted to feel the wind, I would go outside with Rubia and shoot fireworks.

Once in the center of the village.

Once at the steak house.

Once in the corner of the village, where a duel had left the area in a ss.

And once at the southern gate, where I fought Carpen.

Every ti...

Rubia sniffled.

I too, beca lancholic thinking about my beloved greatsword.

It’s only been three days.

But...

I missed it so much.

Now that I think about it, I was supposed to have a duel too.

But I guess I won’t be able to anymore.

Nothing.

“小子! If we ever et again, how about a rematch in arm wrestling?”

“I... already lost once... and it’d be the sa... if we did it again, right?”

And on the fourth day, today.

Hephaestus stood before , grinning, and said he was going back to the village where he had stayed.

He said he would take Lux with him.

I wondered how he’d go with no arms, but several adventurers ca from that village to pick him up.

But how is it that no one is holding a greatsword?

Tsk, these days, they don’t know what romance is. Ugh.

“You’re poking at my weak spots... Anyway, listen up, kid. Eat well, sleep early, fight moderately. And... don’t stray off the path, go straight.”

Hephaestus, who had been lecturing for ten minutes, pointed at the sword of Lux, which was hanging on my waist.

“It’s precious, so take good care of it. Hahaha! I’m glad I don’t have to buy you food next ti! Let’s et again, kid!”

Hephaestus, who laughed with a slightly different, weaker laughter than usual, turned his back and walked out of the village.

The loose sleeves fluttered in the wind.

I heard a sound of grinding teeth.

“Since Hephaestus is gone, should we start preparing, Noah?”

I pretended not to see or hear anything.

Then I smiled slightly and looked back at Rubia.

Rubia’s hand ca to hold mine.

“Yeah.”

I nodded and took her hand.

The warm sensation...

It slightly pushed away the mories of the sword’s hilt.

“Noah, you look like sothing’s bothering you... Um, want to go eat jelly?”

Gasp...

Such beautiful words...

“Yes...!!”

“Hehe... I’ll buy a lot, so don’t eat it all at once, eat a little at a ti, okay?”

I nodded enthusiastically, shaking off all my worries.

Hehe, jelly sounds delicious.

Maybe this ti, I’ll ask for just peach flavor.

If I get a bunch of peach-flavored ones...

A bunch...?

Huh... huh? Huh?!

Jelly??

Hephaestus... didn’t buy

jelly!

You... jerk!!

Narrow-minded, petty jerk!

Bald-headed, shiny jerk!!

If we et again in the distant future...

No. I’ll definitely et you again and take twice as much from you.

For sure!

Well, that’s sothing for later!

For now, I’ll smile wide and head straight for the jelly in front of .

Smiling brightly.

Rembering the smile I saw earlier.

Laughing brightly, I walked with Rubia.

Forward.

Forward.

“Purr-rrrng- Hiiing-!”

“Hmm... This should be enough. We can stop by Urspierre for maintenance on the way.”

With that, Rubia said, slinging the bag onto her side.

Ah, right.

The horse we rode on, the one that spat at ... I thought it died when the stable broke, but it ca trotting from far away.

Gnawing on a goblin’s arm...

But at least it survived. It’s impressive.

“Ah, and the... fragnt, do you still have it? If you feel any headache, or strange thoughts, or if anything feels off, you have to tell , okay?”

“Fragnt...? Ah, this one. Yeah. I don’t think it’s affecting

yet...”

I squeezed the small fragnt in my hand.

It’s a fragnt from Carpen.

The “fragnts of the end,” carried by the monsters created by the End.

Mmm... That’s the explanation of the world.

In ga terms, it’s an epic gemstone you get from a raid-level boss!

Common. Rare. Unique.

Epic!

A full four-tier upgrade!

Hard to obtain!

The one and only in the world!

It grants enormous effects when embedded in weapons!

Truly a fantastically powerful gemstone!

Looking at it, my face relaxed into a grin.

But what was the effect of Carpen’s?

I’m sure it was sothing good, but the penalty was annoying, so I didn’t use it much before.

‘Thirst’?

Eh, I don’t know!

I’ll find out when I use it later!

Its na sounds deadly, but anyway, it’s a helpful item!

I believe it’ll help!

“I’m glad there’s no issue... But, I didn’t expect you, Noah, to get it. They acted like the Adventurer Guild would take it back... what’s that about?”

“Yeah, right...”

That’s still puzzling.

The adventurer from the central guild who ca on the third day...

What was her title again?

Anyway, she was so high-ranking lady.

She asked for my na and origin.

Then, she handed

the gem she had extracted.

According to adventurer laws, it’s the property of the adventurer who killed the monster, so she gave it to .

So I said it was from the dead Lux.

But she said it was from the adventurer who fought alongside and survived, and forced it into my hand.

Of course... I didn’t mind.

As soon as I got it, my heart raced.

Thinking about how strong I’d beco, my head was spinning.

But at the sa ti, I felt uneasy...

“Well, I guess we could think of it positively, now that it’s officially yours, Noah. If you sold it, it’d probably be worth a fortune. Of course, I know you wouldn’t do that. Hehe.”

Rubia smiled lightly.

I just nodded lightly and grinned back.

I wanted to try embedding it into a weapon right away, but apparently, no one here can do that.

I don’t know if they have people who can in Urspierre...

I hope they do.

It’s a pretty big city, so surely they must have soone, right?

If not, I’d have to go to the Empire’s capital... which would take forever!

I don’t want to go!

And surely, Rubia wouldn’t want to either.

Please... Please be in Urspierre!

Purr-

The horse beside

snorted and, curious about the gem in my hand, leaned in closer to .

“Wanna see?”

Purr- Hiiing-

The horse nodded its head up and down.

“Hmmm... If... if I eat it, would that be wrong?”

Purr-!

“Okay... okay. Here, be careful. It’s precious…”

I carefully extended my hand and showed it from a distance.

Then the horse started inspecting the gem curiously, its eyes sparkling.

But... what would it know by looking?

Purr-

It snorted as if it had seen enough.

Even if you see it, you don’t understand.

I tucked my hand back into my pocket.

Rubia, watching the whole thing, smiled softly.

“Hmm? Looks like you two are getting along?”

Hiiing- Purr- Purr-

The horse quickly turned its head away.

What?

“Oh, not really... I don’t like it. It’s ugly and slls…”

I turned my head away too.

You don’t like it?

I don’t like you either!

“Hehe... Is that so?”

Rubia’s hand ruffled my hair.

“Yeah. That’s how it is... I don’t like it...”

Purr- Hiiing-

Tap- Tap-

Now, the horse even expresses itself with its feet.

Well, I’ll.

“Ugh, ugh...!”

Tap- Tap-

Hmm... It doesn’t have as much impact as the horse, but...

At least I expressed it, so it’s fine.

“Ah, anyway... let’s head out now.”

“... Yeah. We should head out...”

Rubia nodded and quietly looked around the village.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

I followed Rubia’s lead and turned my head to look at the village.

I pictured the village in my mind.

But...

At this important.

Emotional mont.

What... is that person...?

“Ugh... Heh, kgh...! No, it’s... it’s Noah! Priestess!!”

From afar, Hephaestus was running toward us, shaking his hands vigorously.

And what’s with that big bag?

“Hephaestus?”

Rubia looked at Hephaestus with a surprised expression.

“Heh... Oh... it’s... so heavy... Phew...”

Hephaestus, who reached us, sat down, out of breath.

“So... what’s going on?”

Rubia asked, handing him so water.

“Ugh... Thank you. Are you passing through the Karahan Mountains? Glug- Glug-”

“Yeah, we are.”

Upon hearing Rubia’s answer, Hephaestus put down the water bottle and jumped up, shouting loudly.

“I want to go with you-!!!”

“No, it’s dangerous. You might die.”

Rubia rejected him firmly.

“I’ll fix everything for free on the way!”

Hephaestus didn’t give up and presented a card he had prepared.

“There are no monsters in the Halvion Plains right now.”

But of course, Rubia.

She wouldn’t budge!

“Ugh... Well, then...”

Hephaestus’ expression twisted for a mont.

Then he pulled out his trump card, one I couldn’t refuse.

“I know how to handle fragnts... So please, take

with you.”

My mouth dropped open.

Hephaestus’ blacksmith shop was so busy.

And people ran away when they saw Rubia...

I didn’t even ask, but Hephaestus knew how to handle them!

But... even if he knows how to handle them, it’s dangerous to take him along...

It’ll be more troubleso to fight while protecting him.

I should refuse...

“Even the cost of embedding the fragnt, I’ll do it for free.”

“...Deal...!”

“Noah...?”

I boldly ignored Rubia’s sharp gaze.

It’s free!

I reached out to Hephaestus.

Hephaestus grinned and took my hand.

Good business, Hephaestus!