An academy dormitory where no light entered.
-Wake up.
Awakened by the voice rousing him in the early dawn, Mikhail rubbed his eyes and let out a shallow breath.
What he saw with his blurry eyes were the hands of a clock pointing to 4 a.m. He wondered who would wake him at such an early hour, but upon belatedly realizing it wasn't a person, Mikhail grimaced.
"I was drinking... yesterday..."
-Wake up...!
Because the voice ringing in his ear wouldn't stop, Mikhail sighed again and again.
-Wake up!
"Haaah...."
-I said, wake up!!
"Just five more minutes..."
-Flash!
"Ugh!!!"
A brilliant light flashed painfully from where the voice ca. If he had known it could emit its own light, he would have covered it with a cloth. Covering his eyes with both hands, Mikhail let out a deep sigh and finally pushed his heavy body up from the bed.
"Yaaawn."
In front of the trudging Mikhail, the Holy Sword, which was leaning against the wall, vibrated its blade as if satisfied.
Mikhail looked down at the Holy Sword and pouted. He glared at the Holy Sword, trying to convey the feeling that it shouldn't wake a sleeping person like that, but.
The Holy Sword, unfazed by Mikhail's resentful gaze, steadfastly stated its will.
-With so much evil in the world, how can you sleep!
"Why..."
-To wield , you must train! You must train hard and beco the strongest swordsman!
"I feel like I'm dying from the after-party yesterday."
-A swordsman overcos hangovers...! Snap out of it and run to the training grounds. Go!
"Haaah..."
It was true that a person who possessed the Holy Sword gained imnse power, but at the sa ti, they also had to endure its annoyance. That's why Ricardo had said what he did while looking at the Holy Sword.
-Instead of , how about Ricardo takes the Holy Sword...? It's a sword too great for .
-Ah... um... No, thank you.
-What?
-Well... please think of it as a gift from and use it well. I'll borrow it from ti to ti if I ever need it.
-But...
-I dislike the Holy Sword.
Only after so ti had passed did Mikhail realize why Ricardo had avoided the Holy Sword. He began to gather his clothes and prepare to go outside.
Binding his ample chest with bandages.
"Did my chest get bigger..."
-At that size, it's an eyesore.
"Yes..."
He changed into clothes that were fine to sweat in. Even while he was changing, the Holy Sword continued to nag Mikhail noisily, telling him what it was like as the previous hero.
-In my day, there was no such thing as sleep. Who had ti to sleep? You had to spend that ti swinging the sword to get a feel for it.
"Ugh..."
-If a swordsman loses that feel, they're dead. From that point on, there's no more progress. That 'feel' is...
"Haaah..."
Mikhail was hoping next week would co quickly. Because next week was the day he would train in swordsmanship with Ricardo. Just as a smile started to form on Mikhail's lips as he thought about what he would learn this ti, the Holy Sword spat out cold words at Mikhail.
-Oh, right. Don't get close to that guy.
"What?"
-I'm talking about the one who beca the master of the Demon Sword. Stay as far away from him as possible.
Mikhail, who had been stretching, glared at the Holy Sword once and then spoke lightly, in a nonchalant voice.
"Shut up."
-What?
"Be quiet before I break you."
-...You brat!
Mikhail smirked and grabbed the Holy Sword.
Even if he beca a celebrity at the academy.
Even if success was waiting for him after graduation.
Mikhail's interest was solely in one thing.
Being helpful to Ricardo.
What he could do now was to continue atoning for what happened in the past.
When he arrived at the training grounds, he saw familiar faces.
-Can't you go easy on ?
-For an older brother, you sound so weak.
-...I'm an injured person.
-You're all healed.
-Kuh...
Histania Hanna and the academy's senior director. And.
-Like that woman I saw in my dream....
Yuria, punching a wall with her fists full of holy power. Lastly.
-Hah... hah...!
there was Luin, sweating as he was on a diet. Luin, who was running while pulling a rope with weights attached, was panting heavily and spitting out curses.
-Ha, fuck... this is hard.
Mikhail watched them and swallowed. He was so impressed by how hard they were working.
The Holy Sword looked at the motionless Mikhail and spoke in a low voice.
-Wield .
"..."
-Because I will help you.
Mikhail drew the Holy Sword and closed his eyes. With the will to not fall behind them,
And.
"There you are!!!"
Shuen, who wanted to try holding the Holy Sword, was also running over, rubbing his eyes.
At the sa ti.
"How was it?"
Sitting at my desk, I was talking to Caliburn, which was in front of . It was a butler's duty to care for a tenant who was adjusting to a new environnt.
Caliburn, looking exhausted, vibrated its blade, producing a tired voice.
-It was tiring. It's my first ti experiencing sothing like this, so I feel drained. Ah, of course, I don't have a body.
"Puhaha... Then that ans it wasn't bad?"
-...
After so thought, Caliburn soon replied in a shy voice.
-It was good. It felt like I was with friends for the first ti in a long while. It's a feeling I rarely had even when I was alive...
"That's a relief to hear."
-Thank you.
It was a polite sword.
I thought it would have a similar personality to the Holy Sword, but it didn't seem so.
If it were too noisy, I was planning to lock it up in the warehouse. I was rather satisfied with Caliburn, who was quieter than I thought and knew how to maintain boundaries.
"Caliburn."
-Yes.
"Actually."
-Yes.
There was sothing I wanted to say to Caliburn. Because I saw sothing strange while researching Caliburn.
Of course, finding information about Caliburn was difficult.
A lot of ti had passed, and there was so little information it was as if an ancient civilization had erased her.
Fortunately, there was a smart expert in that field, so I was able to receive so information.
-Are you speaking of Caliburn, the Progenitor of Blood?
-Yes, do you happen to have any information? I couldn't find anything even at the library.
-I have it.
-You do?
-I also study history as a hobby, haha! Fortunately, it seems I can fulfill the Saint's request. If you'll just wait a mont, I'll summarize it into a 30-page report...!
-No, that's not necessary. Just the general information will do. Just information on what she did and what kind of person she was.
After checking the data Hans gave , I found sothing interesting. It was that Caliburn, she...
"I heard you used a sword."
The phrase described an expert who could teach the sword. And not just an ordinary expert, but one with the title 'Sword Emperor'.
There is a famous phrase known to swordsn. 'When one reaches the pinnacle of the sword, blood will not stain the blade even when cutting a person.'
In my past life, I saw this phrase in a drama, but in this life, it was said to be a phrase uttered by Caliburn.
Which ans.
"If it's not too much to ask."
-...
"Could you teach the sword?"
It also ant that she was an outstanding swordswoman.
Caliburn remained silent at my request. Perhaps it was a question that couldn't be answered easily; with Caliburn not giving a response, only an awkward atmosphere flowed.
"I'm not forcing you. I just wanted to learn your swordsmanship."
-...
"I learned the sword on my own without a master, so I only know the basics. So..."
-My sword is.
Caliburn cut off and began its own story.
-My sword is one that kills people.
"..."
-It is a wicked, despised sword that I have not taught to others.
"..."
-Just like you, Master, I also learned the sword alone and created my swordsmanship by myself.
That would an she's telling to create it on my own, just like she did. Is she telling not to look for a shortcut?
I felt bad, as if I'd been caught trying to use a trick. I was a little ashad of myself.
However.
Caliburn gave an answer I had not expected at all.
-I can teach you, but I'm afraid my sword might ruin yours, Master.
"..."
-Of course, if you can keep up, Master, the result will be different.
Caliburn's voice was laced with confidence. It spoke with a tone full of conviction that its sword would absolutely not have a bad influence on .
-It's a bit much for to say it myself, but I was a monster in the past. Of course, you are also incredibly strong now, Master, but I was even more of a monster in those days.
"Haha... is that so?"
-It is.
Now I had to pay the price for this deal. Getting sothing for free didn't suit my nature.
"Then, let's get to the main point."
-What? Isn't this the main point?
I lightly shook my head and asked Caliburn a question.
"Caliburn."
-Yes.
"By any chance..."
-...
A reward she couldn't refuse.
"Are you interested in resurrection?"
I can feel a vibration from Caliburn, which is leaning against the chair.
-Wooooong...
As if signaling a change in Caliburn's emotions, the air around grew heavy, and my expression hardened.
-What do you an by that?
It was chilling.
It felt quite different from the voice it had used with until now. Caliburn, as if holding back a roar, spoke to in a cold voice, asking if it had heard correctly.
-I heard it as my master saying you would resurrect . Did I hear that correctly?
"You heard correctly. I asked if you were interested in resurrection."
-And what do you know about what kind of person I was?
I placed my clasped hands on my lap and replied in a languid voice.
"That's sothing we can find out slowly over ti."
-Ha?
"Relationships are ant to be built slowly, taking the ti to get to know one another. It's ridiculous to say you know everything about soone after just a few short conversations."
-You say that, Master, but do you even know anything about ? What kind of person I was. What things I've done.
Caliburn expressed its feelings to in a blunt, incredulous voice. It seed to have positive feelings about resurrection, but it also wasn't about to fall for so hastily concocted sche.
-Just a mont ago, I told you, Master, that I was a frightening person.
"..."
-Since you said you looked into , you must know what epithet I held.
"The Iron-Blooded Monarch..."
-That's right. No matter how strong you are now, Master, you would find it difficult to handle as I was in the past.
"Hmm..."
I shrugged at Caliburn's aggressive attitude and replied.
"That's right. I would find it difficult to handle."
-...
"The Iron-Blooded Monarch."
-...
"A king who fell to the sches of his retainers."
-...Watch your mouth.
"How could a princess from a greenhouse, who couldn't even kill a single ant, co to be called the Iron-Blooded Monarch..."
I smiled slightly and looked at Caliburn.
"That's what I'm curious about."
I placed the docunts Hans had organized on the table and looked at Caliburn, implying that these papers contained information about it.
"I can't say I know you just from a few scraps of paper."
-...
"But from the information I've researched, it doesn't seem like you were such a bad person."
-Grind.
A heavy atmosphere began to emanate from Caliburn's blade. It didn't seem pleased. I had stirred up its past, after all.
-Do you even know how many people I've killed?
"Tens of thousands… perhaps even millions."
-And you still want to resurrect ? In the era you live in?
"Would that be a problem?"
-Ha...?
"I'm serious."
-...I see that you've done your research on , Master.
"..."
-But. You should have known this.
"What is that?"
-That if you try to put a leash on a monarch, you must be prepared to die.
"A leash?"
-Aren't you also trying to put a leash on , aiming for my power? Aren't you trying to raise a fierce dog you can command as you please?
"Ah..."
I let out a dry laugh at Caliburn's misunderstanding and replied. After all, the way I was acting did make look like a villain obsessed with power.
A magic sword. And not just any magic sword, but one called a monarch in ancient tis. If soone said they were going to resurrect it in the present day, I'd probably growl at them too.
Resurrection, so soon after we've t.
If I were in her shoes, I'd be uncomfortable too.
I shook my head and spoke in a low voice to clear up Caliburn's suspicions, saying that it seed to have gotten the wrong idea.
"That's not it."
-What?
"My conscience bothers about wielding a sword with an ego..."
-I don't quite understand what you an.
"Hmm... shall I put it simply?"
-...
"I'm not a madman. Nor do I have the nerve to use a power I can't control."
-Then... are you saying you'll resurrect and then kill ? To eliminate any future trouble for sure?
"No."
-Then….
"It's not a complete resurrection. Your power would remain in the sword, and you would be reborn in a new body. To make it easier to understand, you can think of it as preparing a physical vessel for you."
I raised my hand and spread my fingers.
The fingers on my left hand for Caliburn.
The fingers on the other hand for the new body.
"To give a simple example, Lady Caliburn's power stays in this hand. And her ego moves to this hand."
-...Then.
"In exchange for gaining a body, you would lose your power."
-Is such a thing possible?
"Nothing is impossible in my book."
-...It would be easier to use power with , though.
"It's fine."
-If that happens, there would be no benefit for you, would there? You'd be better off using with my ego intact...
I gave an awkward smile and turned my gaze to Caliburn. I was trying to separate her from myself for a reason Caliburn wouldn't understand.
"Didn't I tell you..."
-Don't hide it, just say it straight...!
"That it bothers my conscience to wield a lady."
-Wha...!?
"I'll probably be doing so rough things from now on, and it's not polite to swing a lady around as I please. That weighs on my mind and bothers ."
-N-No... what did you just...
"It's just as you heard. I'm saying I'll separate you because it bothers my conscience."
-No... that's not it... I'm a sword, you know? A sword with an ego, yes, but still just an ordinary sword.
"That's the problem."
-But there are so many swords with egos in the world. Holy swords, swords imbued with a swordsman's will...
"Even so, I don't like it."
-Ah...
Caliburn malfunctioned.
It emanated a strange aura from its blade.
It made think that Caliburn was feeling shy, to the point where I had the illusion it was twisting its body.
I wondered if my words were that embarrassing, but at the sa ti, I was relieved that it seed to like them. Honestly, I thought it would hate the idea.
"Honestly, I thought you would hate it. That you'd think I was trying to monopolize your power with so petty trick."
-That's certainly true, but... if you put it like that…. Even I start to feel strange.
"What?"
-It's nothing.
I just can't figure it out.
I looked at Caliburn and asked seriously for an answer to my proposal.
Caliburn replied shyly.
-I don't know...
"What?"
-I'm embarrassed.
...?
Another peaceful day at the young lady's mansion.
"Ricardo..."
The young lady, rolling around on her bed, was pestering to play with her.
In one hand, she held beef jerky.
Chew... chew...
Holding chocolate in her other hand, the young lady looked at sweeping and shouted.
"Stop cleaning and play with ."
"I'll play with you in a little bit."
Eeeeeek...
"I'm busy today..."
Eeeeeeeeeek...
"I'll give you another piece of chocolate instead. A palm-sized one."
"Palm-sized...?!"
"Yes."
"Hmph. Then you have to play with after you finish cleaning."
"Understood."
There was only one reason I was cleaning so early in the morning. Today, important guests were coming to the mansion.
-I'll help with the cleaning too. Secret technique... 'Black Blade Explo...'
"If you clean like that, it'll be a disaster."
-...What a sha.
Caliburn, having postponed its resurrection, was staying as a sword. It had said the ti wasn't right yet and that it would give a positive answer once it was ntally prepared.
And the guests visiting the mansion today were.
[Going today.]
-Desmunt Darvav
[ too.]
-Desmunt Kyle
[Is there anything you want?]
-Desmunt Rosanna
The Desmunt family.
That's why I was deep-cleaning the mansion from early in the morning. Since it seed too much for to do alone, Hans and Gomtang were helping as well.
"Saint!!! Finished cleaning the third floor!"
"Then please organize the first-floor dining table as well."
"Glory to the Lord...!"
"That's a bit..."
Gomtang was running around diligently with a wet mop attached to its feet. The path Gomtang passed over was left with a brilliant shine.
-Gom!
"Yeah, do the first floor too."
-Gooom? Gom.
Thanks to Hans helping with magic, the mansion cleaning seed to be going much more smoothly and cleanly.
Now, all that was left was preparing the food.
Since there was still a lot of ti left, I figured if I prepared slowly, there would be no major difficulties in welcoming the guests.
However.
"Ricardo."
"Yes."
"Dad's here."
As always, the guests' visit lightly surpassed the hoowner's expectations, and I let go of the broom I was holding.
I stiffly turned my head and looked at the young lady, who was gazing out the window. I wasn't sure if I had heard correctly.
"They're already here?"
"Yup."
"Didn't they say they would arrive around 7 o'clock? Why so early..."
"I don't know either."
"You must have seen wrong."
"No."
The young lady pointed a finger outside the window with a sullen expression.
"Dad ca carrying the carriage."
"What?"
Surprised, I ran to the window and checked the main gate. And seeing the empty gate, I let out a sigh of relief.
"You saw wrong."
"No, I didn't."
"What?"
"Look over there."
The young lady's finger was going up.
Towards the sky, not the ground.
'Co on... even so. How could he carry a carriage...'
My pupils trembling, I followed where the young lady was pointing and raised my head. And at the unbelievable sight before my eyes, I let out an empty laugh.
"Uh... uhh...?"
The carriage is flying.
And quickly, at that.
"He's not Superman..."
Darvav was running toward the mansion, holding up the carriage with one hand.
"Sobs... Olivia!!!!"
With tears in his eyes.
Reviews
All reviews (0)