Ch 133
“…”
The young knight’s eyes, surveying his surroundings, held a gleam of excitement.
It was dazzling, as if he were among shining stars.
The young knight knew all the names of those stars.
How could he not? They were all consummate swordsmen and great heroes, idols to many.
Their great achievements were not mere rumors of a moment, but deeds for history to record.
Those who vanquished great evils, lifting the shadows from the world, or who protected the dignity of countless people.
Such individuals had gathered here.
To prove that they were truly great and noble heroes.
By being selected for the Holy Sword, the hero’s legacy.
When they first arrived, their faces were filled with absolute confidence.
They firmly believed they would become the Sword’s Owner.
However, as time passed, their confidence was replaced by other emotions.
Willing humility and respect.
Their feats. Their experience.
They thought it was not strange if anyone among the experienced heroes gathered here became the Sword’s Owner.
But.
Now that the Holy Sword had chosen its owner, an uncomfortable silence hung in the air.
Certainly, they thought it was not strange if anyone became the Sword’s Owner.
They thought they could readily accept if someone else, not themselves, received the Holy Sword’s selection.
However, one thing was unexpected.
“Who is that man?”
A veteran knight muttered.
The man chosen by the Holy Sword.
He was too young among the veteran heroes.
He had no notable achievements, fame, or experience.
Unable to understand the Holy Sword’s choice, they inwardly resented the succession process.
“It is ready.”
Thus, it was the moment the man became the Holy Sword’s owner.
The Holy Sword emitted light.
It was a bright light, enough to illuminate the faces of those filled with distrust and dissatisfaction.
It was also a noble light.
The expressions of those touched by the light slowly changed, and they began to kneel before it.
The light soon faded, but it was enough.
Everyone had already knelt and paid their respects.
It was the birth of a new hero.
✦✦✦
-Wait, Zallak! How long–…!
Elysia shouted, unable to bear it any longer.
The flash that engulfed the place showed no sign of abating, no matter how long they waited.
At this point, it was beyond surprising; it was absurd.
Naturally, doubts followed.
This Zallak.
Isn’t he trying to impress Lisir?
-Damn it, Lisir! What the hell did you do!!! My body…!!!
But at that moment, Zallak’s confused voice denied all suspicions.
Judging only by his voice, Zallak was the most bewildered person in this place.
“What!? Could it be that I am the cause!? Oh, I’m sorry! How do I turn this off!?”
Lisir’s subsequent reaction further bewildered them.
Turn it off?
Does he think the Holy Sword is some kind of magic lantern?
“Should we try releasing the sword!?”
-No. You wouldn’t be able to release it in that state anyway.
“What?”
-Right now, Zallak’s energy is resonating with yours. Until you completely adapt to Zallak’s energy, you cannot separate from him.
Elysia answered immediately.
“What? Ah! Is that it? Even if physically separated, we are still connected– even if I let go of it here, nothing will change.”
-No, literally, in that state, you cannot separate from Zallak, mentally or physically.
“Physically too?”
-Have you heard the saying that the Holy Sword chooses its owner? That’s not just a saying. Ordinary humans cannot withstand the Holy Sword’s energy. Therefore, they tend to become mentally and physically dependent on the Holy Sword. Now, your resistance to Zallak’s energy is low, and that tendency is at its peak.
“Oh… Ah! Like a dark sword that dominates humans?”
What a metaphor.
Elysia was momentarily dazed by the most terrifying metaphor she had ever heard from a Holy Sword.
-…To use a metaphor, imagine you’re shaking hands with someone stronger than you. It’s not you, but Zallak, who is holding the other person’s hand.
“Ah, that’s a good metaphor.”
-It’s natural that you can’t even move your fingers, so don’t panic. And it’s better to get used to that sensation. Until your energy completely adapts to Zallak’s energy, you’ll be dragged along by Zallak’s energy.
Jane, listening to the conversation, chuckled softly beside them.
“From a senior’s perspective, even if you completely adapt to the energy, not much will change. I’ve been with Elysia for over two years, and I still get dragged around by her sometimes? Especially during combat, I wonder if I’m wielding Elysia or if Elysia is wielding me.”
-It can’t be helped. Jane is still very inexperienced.
“Look at that. Treating me like a child. Do you know what your standard for ‘inexperienced’ is? If you did, you’d be furious!”
-I’ve said it many times, it’s not that I’m strange. The problem is that you’re too weak.
A genuinely indignant tone.
Jane burst into laughter again at Elysia’s attitude, like a skilled swordsman handling a dull sword.
“Anyway, don’t panic too much, just comfortably entrust your body to that sensation. It’s not a dark sword, it’s a Holy Sword, right? From my experience, when I was dragged around by the Holy Sword, good things usually happened, not bad things.”
“Oh… I see.”
Lisir listened intently to the interesting story, trying to check Zallak’s condition.
However, he couldn’t see anything because of the flash that engulfed the place.
So, Lisir used his hands instead of his eyes.
Fidgeting.
His hands moved, checking on Zallak.
-Aaack!!! No! Lisir!!! Don’t let go of your hand now!!!
Zallak screamed in horror.
-What!? You let go of your hand!? How–… No, that’s not it! Lisir! Stop it!
“What? I didn’t let go of my hand. I was just–…”
-Th-that!!! Fidgeting with your hand!!! Please stop it!!! I don’t know how to do it, but it feels strange!!!
-Fidgeting… with your hand…? Right now…? While adapting to Zallak’s energy…?
“Ah, I wonder if this is also something I shouldn’t do?”
-No, it’s not so much that you shouldn’t, but… no, it’s true that you shouldn’t, but that’s not what I mean…
It’s natural that you can’t even move your fingers, so stay calm and entrust yourself to it.
Elysia’s calm explanation to reassure Lisir was rendered meaningless.
Moreover, it was a situation she couldn’t understand within her common sense.
-Lisir…? Do you feel like you’ve lost control of your body…?
Shaking hands with someone stronger than yourself.
Elysia hesitantly mentioned the metaphor again.
“Well, for now, it doesn’t seem much different from usual.”
-Aaack!!! Stop fidgeting!!! Elysia!!! Stop stimulating Lisir!!!
-Oops! Li, Lisir!? Calm down!
“I think I’m calm. If you only look at both of your reactions, you’d think I had a knife to my throat. A sword, that is.”
Heh heh.
Lisir chuckled, pleased with his own joke.
As he said, he couldn’t have looked calmer.
Zallak and Elysia were the ones who seemed to need calming down.
-Zallak, what are you doing! You have to properly control Lisir’s energy!!! What if Lisir gets hurt!
-No!!!
-What!?
-I can’t control my energy right now!!!
-What’s that…?
Actually.
The two Holy Swords vaguely understood the cause of the situation.
The reason they couldn’t grasp the clue.
It was because the cause completely denied their common sense and experience.
‘The Holy Sword’s energy was overwhelmed by a mere human!?’
✦✦✦
Some say.
The strongest swordsmen, the Sword Masters.
Aren’t they the beings most suitable to be the owners of the Holy Sword?
But why is it that there are no Sword Masters among the owners of the Holy Sword?
The reason is simple.
For Sword Masters who perfectly control their swords, the Holy Sword’s immense energy was an obstacle.
For example, even Sword Masters couldn’t perfectly control the Holy Sword’s immense energy.
There were countless attempts throughout history, and countless failures.
Some of them were made through Elysia and Zallak.
That was the reason why the two Holy Swords were extremely bewildered.
The phenomenon occurring in Lisir now was a realm that Sword Masters had strived to reach with all their might but ultimately failed to attain.
No. Perhaps even more than that.
They sought to control the Holy Sword’s energy, not to dare to deprive the Holy Sword of its self.
Lisir.
The Holy Sword, which usually wields its owner, had become a mere sword wielded by him.
What would it feel like to be grasped by a human and manipulated at will?
For a Holy Sword, it was unimaginable, and they didn’t want to imagine it.
-Zallak! Lisir! Wait!!! I’ll find a way to sever your resonance soon!!!
Zallak must be experiencing a terrible feeling right now.
Elysia, understanding his state of mind, shouted.
-No, no!!! I’m fine!!!
-This isn’t the time to refuse!
-It’s not that I’m refusing…!
Elysia realized belatedly.
A subtle sense of satisfaction was mixed in Zallak’s panicked voice.
-This feeling of being unable to do anything… it’s certainly confusing, but it’s also stable! It’s not so bad!!!
-What…?
The feeling of being held by a human and unable to do anything is satisfying?
Elysia was astonished by Zallak’s response, which completely disregarded the Holy Sword’s dignity.
‘He’s always been unusual, but not to this extent…!’
Zallak. Had he ever acted like this even in front of the First Hero?
Elysia’s confusion deepened.
“Haha, this is getting interesting? Lisir. The more I see you, the more unbelievable you are?”
Jane burst into laughter, amused by the situation.
“What’s going on… The Holy Sword… is it unable to control itself…?”
And the elf who couldn’t keep up with the situation–
“Ah, I want to go rest.”
And the scholar who was simply tired.
All of this was happening within a flash （?） that they couldn’t see beyond.
“Lisir! Are you alright!?”
At that moment.
A frantic knock on the door, followed by Toua’s voice.
The flash that leaked through the window created a spectacular sight, and the entire Goose Manor was thrown into chaos.
Toua and Magnus rushed over, worried that something might have happened to Lisir.
“I’m coming in!”
They burst through the door.
“Ugh!”
“Ugh!”
Toua and Magnus, who were defenselessly exposed to the flash, groaned.
In Magnus’s case, the words ‘Kaaack!!! My eyes!!!’ came out from the bottom of his throat.
“That voice, Sir Toua!? Sir Magnus!? Are you both alright!?”
“How about you!?”
“Yes! I’m fine!”
“Then, can you explain what’s going on!?”
“Zallak, the Holy Sword seems to have lost control over itself!!!”
“What!? The Holy Sword!? How could such an unbelievable thing happen!?”
“I don’t know! The moment the Holy Sword attempted resonance with me, it suddenly became like this!”
“So that was the reason! I understand!”
“?”
No.
I said I don’t know the reason?
What did you understand?
Lisir felt resentful of Toua’s reaction.
“What a mess… Kyaak!”
Pien arrived next.
“Lisir! What’s going on!?”
She immediately scolded Lisir.
“In this kind of situation, shouldn’t you be worried before you scold someone?!”
“Worried? About you!? Never mind that, explain what happened! Right now, everyone in the mansion is gathered in front of this building!”
“I don’t know! The Holy Sword tried to resonate with me–”
“I knew it!”
“???”
No.
This person doesn’t even listen to the end of the story.
Lisir felt wronged.
“Jane! What should we do in this situation!?”
Toua sought advice from the senior hero party.
“That’s right!”
“What!?”
Jane replied in a cheerful voice.
“I don’t know! This is my first time in this kind of situation, Elysia, my Holy Sword says it’s also the first time it’s seen this!”
“Even the Holy Sword has never experienced this…”
Toua, Magnus, Pien.
The three were shocked.
“…Well, that could happen.”
It didn’t last long.
They soon nodded, saying they understood.
-Wh-what are these people…?
Just as Elysia and Jane’s party’s confusion was intensifying, it happened.
“Oh!”
Finally.
The intensity of the flash began to weaken.
Their tightly closed eyes slowly began to open.
“Ugh, it’s dazzling.”
Lisir muttered in a disgusted tone.
The intensity of the flash had weakened, but that was only in comparison to before.
Zallak’s flash was still too intense to look at directly.
“What is it, Zallak? Wasn’t it over? Do you still have light to release?”
-Don’t talk about the Holy Sword’s sacred light like it’s waste product.
“Sacred light? We’re causing a lot of trouble to the people around us, can’t you see?”
-Kugh… I’m sorry…!
Lisir looked away from Zallak and looked around.
‘They’re all dazed and out of their minds.’
Covering their eyes with their hands, or turning their gaze away.
Zallak’s flash still exuded a powerful presence.
‘Carrying this around would be more than a nuisance to those around you; it would be a threat.’
Lisir felt embarrassed and said to Zallak.
“Zallak. This light. Can’t you still control it?”
-Yes… until my energy completely adapts to your energy… I don’t think I can do anything!
“Until then, I can’t let go of you either?”
-That’s right.
“Good heavens.”
Lisir, who had suddenly become a human lighthouse.
He expressed his displeasure and said to Pien.
“Pien, just in case, can I attend tomorrow’s award ceremony in this state?”
-Li, Lisir…!? In this state, I think it’s best for both of us to rest…!?
“…You’re worried about the award ceremony in this situation?”
Pien looked at Lisir with disgusted eyes.
“Of course. Pien worked so hard for it.”
“Ah.”
That’s the reason?
Pien, her expression brightening, nodded in satisfaction.
“Besides, I was really looking forward to it. Lisir becoming a ‘Sir’.”
“If that’s the reason, you don’t have to worry. Your position has already been awarded.”
“What do you mean?”
“The award ceremony is, in name only, more like a boasting ceremony. It’s a place for those receiving the position to show off, ‘I’m such an amazing person~’ to others. It’s about the composition of the personnel attending the celebration. The unique face-saving culture of the nobles. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“So, if the award ceremony isn’t properly held, will I be ignored?”
“Well, in normal cases, that would be the case. But, you don’t have to worry about that now.”
Pien pointed to the shining Holy Sword.
“The award ceremony couldn’t be held because of the ritual of becoming the owner of the Holy Sword. Is there a better way to show off, ‘I’m such an amazing person~’? It would be more effective than stacking a bunch of nobles in the audience seats?”
Everyone nodded at Pien’s words.
“Then…”
“Yes. As the Holy Sword said, it’s better to rest until the ceremony is completely over.”
“Well, if Pien says so.”
Everyone was surprised by her absolute trust and looked at Pien.
“…”
Ah, annoying.
I shouldn’t be proud of this.
Pien’s lips, maintaining a haughty angle, twitched slightly.
Afterwards.
Pien discussed a few more things with Lisir before leaving.
“Oh, right, I almost forgot to tell you this.”
Special Inspector.
It was the title mentioned by Pien.
“That’s the position the City Council awarded you.”
✦✦✦
-Just in case, let’s stay with us until the ceremony is over. In case of an unexpected situation, we might be able to help.
Lisir accepted Jane’s party and headed to their lodgings.
It was a mansion lent entirely by one of the countless people who wanted to impress the hero.
The first thing Lisir did after arriving at the building was to bandage the hand holding the Holy Sword.
This was to prevent them from separating and hindering Zallak’s adaptation to Lisir’s energy.
“Dinner? Since I can’t let go of the Holy Sword… wouldn’t something easy to eat, like a sandwich, be good?”
-Kugh… I’m sorry…!
“Bath? Since my hand is like this, I’ll skip it today.”
-Kugh… Because of me…!
“Sleep? Yes, it’s comfortable… but it’s so bright, I wonder if I can sleep properly…”
-Kugh… I’m sorry…!
That day.
Lisir, who spent time with the Holy Sword, thought.
‘It’s like a dark sword?’
Lisir obtained the Holy Sword, and his quality of life temporarily decreased.
✦✦✦
The next day.
After waking up, Lisir first checked Zallak’s condition.
“Oh.”
The intensity of the flash had noticeably weakened.
“Zallak. Now, how is it, has my energy adapted?”
-Yes… I think it’s almost time…!!!
At this rate, I might be able to put this Holy Sword back in its scabbard by tomorrow?
Lisir left the bedroom contentedly.
And he went to find the hero party to share the progress–
‘Where did everyone go?’
That was when.
Lisir sensed a strange commotion outside and went out to the mansion’s garden.
Jane’s party was all there.
Facing a man.
“Oh? Ah, is that him? The new owner of the Holy Sword?”
The man approached Lisir.
Lisir’s gaze went to the man’s waist.
Extraordinary appearance and energy.
‘That’s… is that a Holy Sword?’
The man’s gaze also went to Lisir’s hand.
To Zallak, who was emitting light in his hand.
“…Ha!”
The man looked back and forth between Zallak and Lisir, then smiled subtly.
“What? Jane praised you so much, I thought you were an amazing guy… The trial was yesterday, right? But you still haven’t adapted to the energy?”
“Ah, yes. But soon, it seems like I’ll adapt.”
“?”
The man’s head tilted at Lisir’s indifferent attitude, as if he were talking about someone else’s business.
✦✦✦
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