Near the imperial capital.
No-Na and Chloe were there, taking care of a request from the Adventurer's Guild.
"Ei!"
Their opponents were Bloodhounds.
There were five of them, equivalent to A-class monsters.
Chloe was deftly slaying them using her two swords.
No-Na was watching her from a little distance away.
"Alright! It's done, Ms. No-Na!"
"Thank you. I'm sorry for leaving it all to you."
"Not at all. It's not a request that a SS-rank adventurer should be taking on, after all."
With that, Chloe and No-Na started to walk.
This request was to exterminate monsters that had begun to appear in various villages.
Because the rank of the monsters varied, the request had beco a problem for the capital's branch of the guild since no adventurers were willing to take it on.
So, it had co to Chloe and No-Na.
In situations where there is urgency and no adventurers are taking on the request, it's passed on to those of Silver rank.
"I didn't expect to be taking on requests of this level so frequently."
"For my master, it's as if the entire empire is his backyard. I think he takes on these requests as if he's just stepping out for a bit."
"He sure is a strange one. This attitude is why she gets these types of requests."
"What do you an?"
"If you toss a request that's too difficult for a regular adventurer to the Capital Branch, Silver will co out. If you understand this system, you don't need to make personal requests to Silver. Personal requests require three rainbow coins, but you can save a lot with regular requests."
"I see. But I think my master knows and still does it. He's not really concerned with money."
Saying this, Chloe laughed.
Watching Chloe, No-Na sighed.
She thought they were very similar in this aspect.
This request was one that the guild had hesitated to pass onto Chloe and No-Na.
Chloe had volunteered to take it.
Without even properly confirming the reward or details.
"You don't seem concerned about money either, why beco an adventurer?"
"? I didn't have anything else I could do but... I continued because I admired my master."
At first, Silver had led her to the path of an adventurer.
However, she herself chose to walk on that path.
What gave her the drive was seeing the back of her master, Silver.
"I wanted to beco like her. Soone who would confidently appear and resolve any pinch situation. I wanted to be soone who could help others, like she did for ."
"Admiration for your master..."
"Do you not have a master, Ms. No-Na?"
Stumped by the candid question, No-Na struggled to respond.
However, Chloe didn't rush her.
She just smiled and waited for No-Na's answer.
Realizing she was just curious, No-Na started speaking quietly.
"My master... No, my master was also an SS-ranked adventurer. I was trained by the Fist Saint of Both Poles, Linares."
"Whaaat!?? So you're a senior!"
"Senior...?"
"As a disciple of an SS-rank adventurer, you stand shoulder to shoulder with my master. So, you're a senior!"
"I've stood shoulder to shoulder with Linares...? No such thing. My power cos from my demonic sword. I'm nothing special."
No-Na laughed in self-mockery behind her mask.
Herself, who was born into a family that forged demonic swords, and had been given a demonic sword and the position of an SS-rank adventurer, was not on par with Linares, who had trained her body and reached the highest rank on the continent.
She felt it was ridiculous to say they were equals.
It was disrespectful to all the warriors on the continent.
Sensing No-Na's self-mocking smile, Chloe showed her two swords.
"These were created by Master Toui, the best swordsmith and hermit doctor in Mizuho. He reforged an old demonic sword for . He told when he gave these, no matter how first-rate a weapon is, if the user is second-rate, it becos second-rate. So, I thought I'd work hard not to let it be said I'm second-rate."
"..."
"A demonic sword is a demonic sword, no matter where it goes. If it depends on the user, then isn't a person who leaves a proper track record using it amazing?"
"Is that so...? I don't see it that way."
The god of darkness is undoubtedly the strongest demonic sword on the continent, excluding the holy sword.
Whoever uses it is strong. It's such a demonic sword.
The record made with that demonic sword isn't that great.
That was No-Na's evaluation.
However...
"Then, Ms. No-Na, are you weak without your demonic sword?"
"I wonder... I don't think I'm weak..."
"Incidentally, my master is absolutely useless without magic, you know? If she doesn't use magic, even I think I could easily win. That's just my impression from a brief skirmish."
"Magic is a reward for effort. Magic is her strength."
"Then, being able to handle a demonic sword is also your strength, Ms. No-Na. I don't think it's correct to say the demonic sword is everything. A sword is just a sword. It changes depending on the person who wields it."
"You're... intriguing."
When with Chloe, who speaks with a smile, it's strangely convincing.
There's no basis.
It's simply how Chloe feels.
Conversely, No-Na found this comforting.
"Is that so? I'm glad you seem more cheerful."
"Cheerful... indeed, I do feel more cheerful. While we're on the topic, may I ask a question?"
"Yes! What is it?"
Chloe energetically responded.
The next village was just around the corner.
If she was going to ask, it had to be now.
Because it was sothing she couldn't ask anyone else.
"...I struggle to make decisions on my own. I haven't lived that kind of life."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it is. So, I'd like to hear your opinion. Do you think... I could beat the current Brave?"
"The Hero? You an Elna Von Armsberg, the so-called Reincarnation of the Brave? Hmm, I'm not sure. Both of you are stronger than , so it's hard to say."
Apologetically, Chloe responded.
It was about an opponent with more skill than herself.
It's even difficult to speculate.
After all, she hadn't seen either of them go all out.
Judging by their movents, she could only tell that both were very strong.
Even though she knew she couldn't beat either of them, she couldn't tell who would co out on top.
"I see..."
No-Na muttered, seemingly disappointed.
But then, Chloe gave her a wide smile.
"But! In my opinion, a battle begins with the thought that you can 'win'! If the power difference is too vast, it may not be as simple as that... but if it's a small difference, I believe that can be bridged. After all, if you don't believe you can win, you won't face the challenge. I think that's much cooler! My master, whom I admire, was like that."
Those words were simple, naive.
They were equivalent to just an opinion.
But, they were sufficient to resolve No-Na's worries.
The opportunity she had been waiting for for five hundred years had arrived.
Yet, why hadn't she answered imdiately?
Because she was afraid of losing.
Five hundred years of ti had turned No-Na's perspective negative. She carries the weight of her entire clan.
If she loses, everything her clan has done could be returned to nothing.
Thinking like this, she couldn't act carelessly.
But, the opponent wasn't so sweet that soone with such thoughts could win.
She would never win as long as she thought she might lose.
If she kept waiting for the opportunity until she gained absolute confidence in winning, she would never be able to fight. Her opponent would also grow. There was no guarantee the gap would close.
If she missed this mont, the next chance might never co.
Then...
"Ah! That's the bird monster!"
Chloe spotted a massive bird flying near the village.
In that mont.
A roaring sound echoed in the vicinity.
No-Na had swung her hand like a knife on the spot.
It created a powerful gust of wind, which not only bifurcated the giant bird but also continued to fly far away.
After obtaining the God of Darkness, she no longer attacked without using it.
But, it seems she hasn't dulled.
"Wow... Amazing..."
"That should be the last of it. Let's leave the cleanup to the Guild. I have a small errand. May I return to the Imperial City?"
"Y-yes!"
Hearing Chloe's response, No-Na began to walk.
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