𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐃𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐟 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞
“Kept you waiting, huh, boy.”
“Thank you.”
ㅤ
A few days after that banquet.
I heard from Imina-san, who had been informed by Dwerk-san that Onryomaru’s repairs were complete and Stella’s memory had safely returned. So, I immediately went to the blacksmith’s shop to pick it up.
When I took Onryomaru and drew it from its scabbard to check, the new blade, while retaining the essence of its former self, had a familiar metallic gleam. . . . . .
ㅤ
“. . . . . .Are you serious?”
ㅤ
This was unmistakably the mysterious metal that had given us the most trouble in the recent battle.
It was the gleam of “Gard Steel,” named after 『Earth』’s Four Heavenly Kings Asgard, and known as the strongest metal they left behind.
Apparently, the world’s best craftsman repaired Onryomaru using this mysterious metal, or rather, Gard Steel.
Thinking about it again, this guy is unbelievable.
While other craftsmen are struggling to figure out how to work with it, he’s already steps ahead.
“So, it looks like you’re ready to go. Are you leaving already?”
“Yes. we were in a hurry to begin with.”
ㅤ
I came fully equipped, and we even brought a carriage, you know.
Well, I’m sure Mr. Dwerk noticed that.
And precisely because he noticed, his expression seemed a little dissatisfied.
ㅤ
“I still haven’t fulfilled my promise to make armor for your woman, have I?”
“. . . . . .Like I said, she’s not my woman.”
ㅤ
Arguing about it is getting tiring these days.
At this rate, it feels like I won’t be able to dodge the bullet much longer. . . . . .
Putting aside these dreadfully yet slightly delightful future prospects, he did make that promise, didn’t he?
This guy is a stubborn old man, but he keeps his word.
That’s probably why he’s upset he can’t fulfill it.
ㅤ
“Can’t be helped. We are targeted by the Demon King’s Army.
We never know when the last of the Four Heavenly Kings will attack, and there are other concerns as well.”
ㅤ
Auntie Elle unexpectedly joined our conversation.
I’d like to retort that if she’s so concerned, she shouldn’t have gotten everyone drunk at the banquet, but it’s hard to complain when she managed her own drinking to be able to cure everyone of any status ailments at any time.
It seems the women in the village were also ready to activate the Iron Dwarves at a moment’s notice.
I have a lot to say but can’t, partly because she’s got something on me due to a certain gag order. Oh, the frustration.
ㅤ
As for my comrades who could retort on my behalf, Stella and Rin spent the remaining time chatting with Imina-san, and Blade got dragged away to play with the little girls on the way here.
Apparently, Blade had won their hearts by practicing with the Iron Dwarves day after day.
When I quietly muttered “Is this cheating?” his reaction was quite entertaining.
I can almost understand why the guys who tease me feel the way they do.
ㅤ
“Hmm. I don’t like it, but fine.
I’ll make the armor later and have it sent to Imina.
For today, take this instead.”
“This?”
ㅤ
What Dwerk-san tossed to me was a greatsword, over two meters in length.
It’s so heavy that just lifting it makes my arms tremble.
This is definitely not something you should throw.
If I’m not careful, I could get crushed and die.
ㅤ
“Huh. So, it’s a great sword made entirely for Blade-boy. It’s clearly not intended for some amateur, is it?
How come you’re giving it to him after talking him down so much?”
“. . . . . .There’s no deep meaning behind it. I made it as a prototype to get used to working with Gard Steel before repairing the boy’s sword.
Had no plans to use it, so I figured I might as well gift it to the guy who wrecked his weapon fighting the Four Heavenly Kings.”
ㅤ
Nah, sounds like an excuse to me.
Sure, Blade did use his great sword like a shield against Asgard, banged it against the Gard Steel, and even used it as a launchpad for Auntie Elle’s most powerful magic, but that doesn’t mean you’d just give him a weapon. You’re not that kind-hearted.
You made the prototype specifically a great sword; you were always intending to give it to Blade.
ㅤ
Most likely, you changed your mind after seeing Blade’s refreshed demeanor post-battle.
Yet, all you offer are those previous lines.
A tsundere, huh?
ㅤ
“Ho ho ho. Let’s just say that’s the case.
Still, prototype or not, I’m glad you’re acknowledging Blade enough to gift him a weapon.”
“. . . . . .Hmph. Tell that Sword Saint boy not to get cocky just because it’s a prototype.”
“Understood. I’ll make sure to pass it along.”
ㅤ
With that, Dwerk-san sent us off with the greatest of gifts.
I have to make sure my two newly-forged blades prove worthy in battle.
With renewed determination, I left Dwerk-san’s forge, accompanied by Stella and Rin, who were talking to Imina-san. We were off to retrieve Blade.
Imina-san also joined us.
Probably to see us off.
ㅤ
On the way, chatting and reluctant to say goodbye, the girls and I finally arrived where Blade was.
ㅤ
“Blade-samaー! We’re setting off!”
“Alright! I’m coming! So, see ya, kiddos!”
“Bye! Take care!”
“Don’t cause any trouble!”
“Be careful not to become a burden!”
“What?!”
“Blade-sama?!”
ㅤ
The innocent words from the innocent young girls had struck Blade deeply, and he returned somewhat crestfallen.
Rin rushed to comfort him, but in this case, it was like adding insult to injury.
Recently ingrained habits had backfired on him.
As a result, Blade, who initially didn’t seem too bothered, now looked a little teary-eyed.
Apparently, the applied kindness hurt a lot.
Kindness can be cruel at times.
ㅤ
“Rin-chan is so admirable.”
“But, wasn’t that a bit much. . . . . .?”
“Well, it’s better than being at odds with each other.”
ㅤ
The girls voiced their opinions as they watched the two.
For my part, I agree with Auntie Elle.
It’s pitiful to still be seen as someone who needs care by the person you like.
As a sort of follow-up to that pitiful Blade, I presented him with the Gard Steel great sword I was carrying.
ㅤ
“Huh? What’s this?”
“It’s a gift from Dwerk-san. You’re lucky, Blade.”
“Oh, really?! Awesome!”
ㅤ
At that moment, Blade wore a full-faced grin, as if he had forgotten the pain of wounds salted and torn open by the little girls and Rin.
Even when Auntie Elle relayed Dwerk-san’s cautioning words, his response was always an empty “I get it, I get it!” while his face remained gleeful.
Well, of course, he’d be happy.
I felt joy when I was acknowledged by Dwerk-san too. And considering Blade was once utterly rejected and verbally beaten down, his joy must be even greater.
Getting cocky could put him back to square one, but, eh, he’s probably fine now.
ㅤ
Still, just to be safe, I’ll take him for some training and beat him up later.
Blade has grown significantly from this fight, and his fighting style meshes well with mine.
I should be able to win easily against him as it stands.
Or maybe, just to be extra cautious, should Stella and I team up to hammer in the lesson that there’s always someone better?
As I ponder this and glance at Stella, our eyes meet. It seems she had similar thoughts.
We nod at each other in silence.
Rejoice, Blade.
You have a special menu waiting for you when we get back.
ㅤ
“Huh?! W, What? I suddenly feel a chill. . . . . .”
“Are you alright, Blade-sama? Wait, ah! You’re slightly injured!”
“Hm? Oh, yeah. I was playing with Iron Dwarf earlier. Must have gotten scratched.”
“I’ll heal it right away! 『Heal』!”
ㅤ
Overprotective.
Seeing Rin hastily heal a mere scratch on Blade’s arm, that’s the word that comes to mind.
This is a habit ingrained from seeing his recklessness up until now.
The day he goes from being someone to take care of, to someone to be romantically interested in, seems far off.
Hang in there, Blade.
ㅤ
Thinking this, my gaze drifts to the shameful bloodstain left from when a lesser Iron Dwarf got a hit in. . . . . .
ㅤ
“What?!”
“Huh?!”
ㅤ
Something unbelievable catches my eye.
At that moment, Stella, who seems to have noticed at almost the same time, grabs Blade’s arm with a panicked expression.
ㅤ
“W, What? What’s going on?”
“Ernesta-san! Look at this!”
ㅤ
Ignoring the perplexed Blade, Stella shows the blood flowing from his arm, or rather, the blood that flowed from there, to the most knowledgeable Auntie Elle on the spot.
Auntie Elle also looks at it with a serious gaze.
The blood that flowed from Blade’s arm, slightly tinged with a bluish-black hue.
ㅤ
“Hmmm. . . . . .No doubt about it. It’s vampire blood.”
“I knew it!”
“W, What the hell?!”
ㅤ
Blade shouts in utter bewilderment.
rin is speechless, and I’m stunned as well.
Ignoring our reactions, Auntie Elle begins to calmly analyze the situation.
ㅤ
“It must have been dormant deep within his body all this time.
Perhaps being defeated brought it to the surface as a remnant. But when did it enter Blade?
Could this be the cause of what we’ve been worried about. . . . . .”
“High, 『High-level Status Recovery』—!!!”
ㅤ
Before Auntie Elle’s analysis can conclude, Rin releases Healing Magic for status recovery.
Then, a bluish-black mist begins to seep from Blade’s body, quickly detaching and dispersing.
Rin continues to touch Blade’s body thoroughly to check for any problems, but other than his face turning red, nothing seems amiss.
ㅤ
“It vanished rather easily. So it was just a remnant after all.”
ㅤ
Auntie Elle muttered softly upon seeing that.
It’s not like Rin hasn’t used status-recovering magic on Blade throughout their journey.
Nevertheless, the fact that that blood was still lurking in his body suggests that it was incredibly persistent and had been hiding effectively.
If even a non-chanted spell was enough to get rid of it, then as Auntie Elle said, that blood must have truly lost its original power and become mere remnants.
It might have functionally stopped because Vampneel, the progenitor vampire, died.
ㅤ
“Blade, have you ever felt anything strange in your body during our travels?”
“Well, now that you mention it, I’ve been hearing weird voices in my head. . . . . .”
“”Tell us sooner!!””
“Wha━━?!”
ㅤ
Both Stella and I smack the back of Blade’s head in a double retort.
You kept quiet about something that important?!
ㅤ
“I, I thought it was just the voice of some inner darkness or something. . . . . .”
“Idiot!!!”
“Eeek?!”
ㅤ
This time, Rin’s full-force slap struck Blade.
Moreover, Rin keeps yelling “Idiot, idiot! You idiot, Blade-sama!” while delivering more slaps back and forth.
He deserved it.
Take your punishment quietly.
ㅤ
“But this might have solved the mystery.
Like with Rest and now, it seems like the Demon King’s Army knew where we were and attacked as if they had a clue. . . . . .Maybe this blood served as a sort of signal.”
ㅤ
I’d already heard Auntie Elle’s theory, but when she puts it that way, it makes sense.
So Blade, are you the war criminal here?
Well, we’re winning for now, so calling him a war criminal might be an exaggeration, but it was undeniably a precarious situation.
It sends chills down my spine to think what could have happened if Vampneel had relayed this information and attacked us with the Four Heavenly Kings and the Demon King.
ㅤ
I wondered for a moment why he hadn’t done that, but considering his selfish nature, he probably wouldn’t think of collaborating with anyone.
As for Asgard, it felt more like he was used rather than cooperating.
I’m thankful for his incompetence in that regard.
ㅤ
“Even so, to think that the blood of a vampire could hide undetected in the body of a Holy Warrior. . . . . .
Normally, even one with divine protection should be able to repel such a small amount of blood.
Even the strongest vampire, the former Demon King, couldn’t exert a major influence on anyone stronger than a Holy Warrior, let alone control them.”
“Wait, I remember that Vampneel guy saying he would use him as a pawn by making him lose hope.”
“Tell us that sooner!!”
“Ouch?!”
ㅤ
This time, Imina-san carelessly spilled important information and got a retort from Auntie Elle.
If what was just said is true, does that mean Blade could have been controlled like Rest?
What a nightmare.
Could that have been his trump card?
If so, good riddance that it failed. But if it had succeeded. . . . . .
Rin, who turned Blade’s heart around at the last minute, did more than just a fine play.
ㅤ
“Most likely, he exploited mental weaknesses to make his otherwise ineffective attacks work.
This is really a headache. Even I didn’t know vampires could pull off such tricks.
Progenitor vampires didn’t need such gimmicks because they were inherently strong.”
ㅤ
So, this is the result of Vampneel’s efforts, who used to be weak.
Must’ve been an unpleasant effort.
ㅤ
“But you know. . . . . .since that guy is already dead and the reason we’ve been located is gone, why not relax a bit?”
“Don’t be foolish. We should share this information with other countries as soon as possible.
Besides, there’s no guarantee that this was their only means of tracking us.”
“That’s true. I’ve also promised Ruberto-san that we’ll join the front lines as soon as possible.”
“Hmph. Too bad.”
ㅤ
So, even though shocking facts have come to light at the last minute, there’s no change in the plan.
We will immediately leave the village and descend the Celestial Mountains to head to the front-line fort.
Though the situation has changed quite a bit from when we first made this plan, it still makes sense to send the heroes, who they’ll likely target first, to a place where there are concentrated forces.
ㅤ
And so, we were seen off by Imina-san, who waved her hand saying, “Come back to play anytime!”
The next destination is one of the front-line forts.
To get there, we first have to descend the Celestial Mountains.
ㅤ
As on the way there, Blade will be pulling the carriage.
ㅤ
“Why does it have to be me?!”
“Shut up. Just work.”
“The crime this time is a big one.”
“This is a just punishment!”
“Hohoho. Hang in there, Blade.”
“Grrrrrr. . . . . .!”
ㅤ
Under the clear sky, Blade’s complaints are ignored.
However, unlike before, a cheerful atmosphere, almost laughable when seen from outside, was in the air among us.
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