Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 133 "..." The eyes of the young knight looking around held remarkable brilliance. It was dazzlingly bright, as if he were among shining stars. The young knight knew all the names of those stars. How could he not? They were all noble swordsmen and great heroes who had become idols to countless people. Those whose great achievements would not end as mere rumors but be recorded by history. Those who had defeated great evils to lift the shadows from the world, or protected the dignity of countless people. Such individuals had gathered in this place. To prove that they were truly great and noble heroes. The Sacred Sword. By being chosen by that hero's legacy. When they first arrived here, their faces were filled with absolute confidence. They firmly believed they would become the Master of the Sacred Sword. However, as time passed, their confidence was replaced by other emotions. Willing humility and respect. Those achievements. That experience. They felt it wouldn't be strange for anyone among the experienced heroes gathered in this place to become the Master of the Sacred Sword. But now. Now that the Sacred Sword had chosen its master, an uncomfortable silence enveloped the place. Surely, they had thought it wouldn't be strange for anyone to become the Master of the Sacred Sword. They had thought they could gladly accept it even if someone other than themselves was chosen by the Sacred Sword. However, there was one thing. There was something that exceeded their expectations. "Who is that person?" A retainer of some experienced knight muttered. The man chosen by the Sacred Sword. He was far too young among the experienced heroes. He had no notable achievements, no fame, no experience. Unable to understand the Sacred Sword's choice, they watched the Succession Ceremony with inner dissatisfaction. "We are ready." Thus, it was the moment when the man was reborn as the Master of the Sacred Sword. The Sacred Sword emitted light. It was a brilliant light bright enough to illuminate the expressions of those who had been colored by distrust and dissatisfaction. It was also a noble light. The expressions of those moved by the light gradually changed, and they began to kneel on one knee toward that light. The light quickly faded, but it was already enough. Everyone had already knelt on one knee and paid their respects. It was the birth of a new Hero. *** -Wait, Jallak! How long—...! Elisia, unable to bear it any longer, cried out. The flash that had engulfed the place showed no signs of subsiding no matter how long they waited. At this point, it was beyond surprising and becoming absurd. Naturally, questions followed. That guy Jallak. Isn't he making a fuss trying to score points with Risir? -Damn it, Risir! What the hell did you do!!! My body...!!! But Jallak's panicked voice that was heard then denied all suspicion. Judging by his voice alone, Jallak was the most flustered one in this place right now. "What!? Don't tell me I'm the cause of this!? Oh no, I'm sorry! How do I turn this off!?" Risir's following reaction made them even more flustered. Turn it off? Does he think the Sacred Sword is some kind of magical lantern? "Should I try putting down the sword for now!?" -No. In that state, you won't be able to let go of the sword even if you try. "What?" -Right now, Jallak's aura is resonating with your aura. Until you fully adapt to Jallak's aura, you won't be able to separate from Jallak. Elisia answered immediately. "What? Oh! Is that it? Even if we're physically separated, we're still connected— so even if I take my hands off here, nothing would change." -No, literally, in that state right now, you can't separate from Jallak even if you wanted to. Mentally or physically. "Physically too?" -You've heard the saying that the Sacred Sword chooses its master, right? That's not said for no reason. Most humans can't handle the Sacred Sword's aura. So, they tend to become subordinated to the Sacred Sword both mentally and physically. Right now, your resistance to Jallak's aura is low, so that tendency has reached its peak. "Uh... Ah! So it's like a Magic Sword that dominates humans?" What a comparison. At the most dizzying comparison a Sacred Sword could hear, Elisia's mind became confused for a while. -...To put it in perspective, think of it as if you're shaking hands with someone stronger than you right now. The one gripping the other isn't you, but Jallak. "Ah, that's a good analogy." -It's natural that you can't even move your fingers, so there's no need to panic. And it would be good to get used to that sensation. Until your aura completely adapts to Jallak's aura, you'll be dragged around by Jallak's aura. Jane, who had been listening to the conversation, let out a small laugh from the side. "From a senior's perspective, even if you fully adapt to the aura, it won't change much. I've been with Elisia for over two years, but there are still times when I get dragged around by Elisia. Especially during combat, I get confused whether I'm wielding Elisia or Elisia 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 her standard is for calling me inexperienced? If you knew, you'd be so frustrated." -I keep saying this, but I'm not the strange one. The problem is that you're all too weak. A tone that was genuinely aggrieved. At the attitude like an excellent swordsman dealing with a dull blade, Jane burst into laughter again. "Anyway. So don't panic too much, just relax and let your body adapt to that sensation. It's not a Magic Sword but a Sacred Sword, right? From my experience, when you're dragged around by a Sacred Sword, usually good things happen, not bad ones." "Oh... I see." Risir listened to that interesting story while trying to check Jallak's condition. However, nothing could be seen due to the flash that had engulfed the place. So, Risir used his hands instead of his eyes. His hands moved, wiggling as he checked on Jallak. -Aaaah!!! No! Risir!!! You can't take your hands off now!!! Then Jallak cried out in shock. -What!? You took your hands off!? How—... No, that's not it! Risir! Stop for now!!! "What? I didn't take my hands off. I just—... -That, that thing!!! The wiggling of your hands!!! Please stop!!! I don't know how you're doing it, but it feels strange!!! -Your hands... are wiggling...? Right now? While you're adapting to Jallak's aura...? "Oh, don't tell me this was also something I shouldn't do?" -No, it's not that you shouldn't... No, you shouldn't, but it's not that kind of shouldn't... It's natural that you can't even move your fingers, so stay calm and let your body adapt. The situation made Elisia's calm explanation to reassure Risir just moments before seem meaningless. Not only that, it was a situation she couldn't understand within her common sense. -Risir...? By any chance, don't you feel like control of your body has been taken away right now...? A handshake with someone stronger than yourself. Elisia hesitantly mentioned that analogy again. "Well. For now, it doesn't seem much different from usual." -Aaaah!!! Stop wiggling!!! Elisia!!! Stop provoking Risir!!! -Ah! Ri, Risir!? Calm down for now!!! "I think I'm being... calm. Anyone looking at you two's reactions would think I'm holding a blade to someone's throat. To a sword, that is." Risir chuckled softly, seeming pleased with his own joke. As he said, he couldn't look calmer. The ones who seemed to need calming down were actually Jallak and Elisia. -Jallak, what are you doing! You need to properly control Risir's aura!!! What if Risir gets hurt! -I can't!!! -What!? -Right now, my aura is out of control!!! -What do you mean... In fact. The two Sacred Swords had already vaguely realized the cause of the situation. The reason they still couldn't get a grasp on it was because that cause thoroughly denied their common sense and experience. 'The Sacred Sword's aura was overwhelmed by a mere human!?' *** Some people say this. Sword Masters, the strongest swordsmen. Aren't they the ones most suitable to be Masters of Sacred Swords? But why is there not a single Master of Sacred Swords among the Sword Masters? The reason is simple. For Sword Masters who perfectly control their swords, the Sacred Sword's powerful aura was actually an obstacle. For instance, the Sacred Sword's powerful aura was impossible for even Sword Masters to perfectly control. There had been countless attempts throughout history, and countless failures. Some of those attempts were made through Elisia and Jallak. This was why the two Sacred Swords were extremely flustered. The phenomenon occurring with Risir right now was the realm that Sword Masters had reached for with all their might but ultimately could never touch. No. Perhaps even beyond that. They had tried to control the Sacred Sword's aura, but never dared to try to deprive the Sacred Sword of its ego. Risir. Instead, the Sacred Sword that wielded its master had fallen to being merely a sword to be wielded in his hands. How would it feel to be caught in human hands and handled at will? As a Sacred Sword, it was unimaginable, and they didn't want to imagine it. -Jallak! Risir! Wait!!! I'll find a way to break the resonance between you two soon!!! Right now, Jallak must be experiencing terrible feelings. Understanding his feelings, Elisia cried out. -No, no!!! It's fine!!! -This isn't the time to be modest! -I'm not being modest...! Elisia realized belatedly. That there was a subtle satisfaction mixed in Jallak's panicked voice. -This feeling of not being able to do anything... It's certainly confusing, but at the same time it's also stable! It's not bad at all!!! -What... Being gripped in human hands and unable to do anything feels satisfying? Elisia was dumbfounded by Jallak's reaction, which so refreshingly cast aside the dignity of a Sacred Sword. 'He's always been eccentric, but it wasn't to this extent...!?' Jallak. Had he ever shown such behavior even in front of the First Hero? Elisia's confusion only deepened. "Haha, things are taking an interesting turn, aren't they? Risir. The more I look at you, the more absurd you become." Jane burst into laughter, finding it amusing in the midst of it all. "What's happening... The Sacred Sword... can't control itself...?" There was an elf who couldn't keep up with the situation and- "Ah. I want to go rest." And a simply tired scholar. All of this was happening within a flash of light where nothing could be seen ahead. "Risir! Are you alright!?" Just then. From outside the door came urgent knocking along with Tua's voice. The flash that had leaked through the windows created quite a spectacle, throwing all of Gus's Mansion into chaos. Tua and Mangnus had immediately rushed over, worried that something might have happened to Risir. "I'm coming in!" They kicked the door open and entered. "Ugh!" "Urgh!" Thus, Tua and Mangnus, defensively exposed to the flash, groaned in pain. In Mangnus's case, the words 'Gaaaah!!! My eyes!!!' almost burst from his throat. "This voice is, Sir Tua!? Sir Mangnus!? Are you both alright!?" "Are you the one who's alright!?" "Yes! I'm fine!" "Then, can you explain what's happening here!?" "Jallak, the Sacred Sword seems to have lost control over itself!!!" "What!? The Sacred Sword!? How did such an absurd thing happen!?" "I don't know! The moment the Sacred Sword tried to resonate 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? Risir felt wronged by Tua's reaction. "What's all this commotion... Kyaah!" Fienne arrived next. "Risir! What's all this commotion about!?" She immediately scolded Risir. "Usually in situations like this, don't you worry first rather than scold?!" "Worry? About you!? Never mind that, just explain what happened! Right now, all the mansion staff are gathered in front of this building!" "I don't know! The Sacred Sword tried to resonate with me and—" "I knew it would be like that!" "???" No. She's not even listening to the whole story. Risir felt wronged. "Jane! What should you all do in this kind of situation!?" Tua asked the senior Hero party for advice. "That's what I'm saying!" "What!?" Jane answered with the most cheerful voice in the world. "I don't know! This is my first time in such a situation too, and Elisia, my Sacred Sword, says she's never seen anything like this either." "Even the Sacred Sword is experiencing this for the first time..." Tua. Mangnus. Fienne. The three fell into shock. "...Well, that could happen." It didn't last long. They soon nodded their heads, saying it made sense. -What, what are these humans...? Thus, the confusion felt by Elisia and Jane's party was intensifying when— "Oh!" Finally. The intensity of the flash began to weaken. Their tightly shut eyes began to slowly open. "Ugh, it's bright." Risir muttered in a weary tone. The flash's intensity had indeed weakened, but that was only compared to before. The flash emanating from Jallak was still too intense to look at directly. "What's this, Jallak. Wasn't it all supposed to be over now? Do you still have more light to emit?" -Don't talk about the Sacred Sword's divine light as if it were waste. "What divine light? Don't you see we're causing a huge inconvenience to everyone around us right now?" -Ugh... I'm ashamed...! Risir looked away from Jallak and surveyed the surroundings. 'Everyone's out of their minds from the light exposure.' Covering with hands, or turning their gazes away entirely. Jallak's flash was still displaying an intense presence. 'Carrying this around would go beyond inconveniencing people around me to the level of threatening them.' Risir felt troubled and spoke to Jallak. "Jallak. This light. Can't you still control it?" -Yes... Until my aura completely adapts to your aura... I don't think I can do anything! "And until then, I can't let go of you either?" -Please don't! "Good heavens." Risir, who had suddenly become a human lighthouse. He expressed his difficulty and spoke to Fienne. "Fienne, just in case, can I participate in tomorrow's award ceremony in this state?" -Ri, Risir...!? In this current state, it seems best for both you and me to rest...!? "...You're worried about the award ceremony in the midst of all this?" Fienne looked at Risir with weary eyes. "Of course. Fienne worked so hard for that." "Ah." That's the reason? Fienne's expression softened and she nodded with satisfaction. "Besides, I was really looking forward to it. Becoming Sir Risir." "If that's the reason, there's nothing to worry about. The position has already been granted to you." "What do you mean?" "The award ceremony is what it says, but it's actually closer to a bragging ceremony. It's a place for the person receiving the position to show off to others saying 'I'm such an amazing person~' through the composition of attendees who came to celebrate. It's the nobles' unique culture of saving face. Nothing more, nothing less." "So if you don't hold the award ceremony properly, you get looked down upon?" "Well, in general cases, yes. But right now, you don't seem to need to worry about that." Fienne pointed to the glowing Sacred Sword. "Couldn't hold the award ceremony because you were performing the ritual to become the Master of a Sacred Sword. Is there any better way to show off 'I'm such an amazing person~'? It would be more effective than piling up a bunch of nobles in the attendee seats." Everyone nodded at Fienne's words. "Then..." "Yes. As that Sacred Sword said, it would be good to rest until the ritual is completely finished." "Well, if Fienne says so." Everyone looked at Fienne in surprise at that complete trust. "..." Ah. How annoying. I shouldn't be proud of something like this. The corner of Fienne's mouth, maintaining a proud angle, twitched slightly. Afterwards. Fienne discussed a few more things with Risir before leaving the place. "Oh right, I almost forgot to tell you this." Special Inspector. It was the title mentioned from Fienne's mouth. "That's the position the City Council has granted you." Congratulations? Sir Risir. Fienne said with a playful smile. *** -Just in case, stay with us until the ritual ends. If an unexpected situation arises, we might be able to help. Risir accepted Jane's group and headed to their lodging. It was a mansion that one of the countless people wanting to curry favor with the Hero had rented out entirely. The first thing Risir did after arriving at the building was to wrap bandages around the hand holding Jallak. This was to help Jallak adapt to Risir's aura more quickly. -Ugh, to cause such inconvenience to my master... I'm ashamed...!!! Thus began the cohabitation of Risir and the Sacred Sword. "Dinner? Since I can't let go of the Sacred Sword... wouldn't something simple like sandwiches be good?" -Ugh... I'm sorry...! "A bath? Since my hands are like this, I'll skip it today." -Ugh... Because of me...! "Sleeping? Yes, it's comfortable... but with it this bright, I wonder if I can sleep properly..." -Ugh... I'm ashamed...! That day. Risir, who spent time with the Sacred Sword, thought. 'What, is this an Evil Sword?' Risir obtained a Sacred Sword. His quality of life temporarily declined. *** The next day. Risir, who woke up from sleep, first checked Jallak's condition. "Oh." The intensity of the flash had clearly weakened. "This would be perfect for setting the mood during dinner time." -Risir! Sacred Swords aren't for that purpose—... Ugh— No. Never mind. If it can help you in any way...! "Jallak. How is it now, have you adapted to my aura somewhat?" -Yes... It seems it won't be long before I stop causing you trouble...!!! At this rate, wouldn't I be able to sheath this Sacred Sword by tomorrow? Risir left the bedroom with satisfaction. And he went out to find the Hero party to share the progress- 'Where did everyone go?' That's when it happened. Risir sensed that it was strangely noisy outside and left through the door toward the mansion's garden. Jane's group was all there. Facing some man. "Hm? Ah, is that guy the one? The new Master of the Sacred Sword?" The man approached Risir. Risir's gaze went to the man's waist. An extraordinary appearance and aura. 'That... could it be a Sacred Sword?' The man's gaze also went to Risir's hands. To Jallak, who was gripped in his hands and emitting light. "..." The man looked back and forth between Jallak and Risir, then wore a subtle sneer. "What's this. The test ended yesterday, didn't it? But you still haven't adapted to the aura?" Then his sword also added a comment. -A full day has passed and you still haven't adapted to the aura, looking like this... Jallak, are you really alright? No matter how difficult the Sacred Sword's aura was to control, wasn't he a Hero candidate chosen by the Sacred Sword? They showed mockery and concern at the inadequate display by the new Master of the Sacred Sword. "Hey, don't be too harsh. This guy is trying his best too." "?" -? At Risir's attitude of seeming to talk about someone else rather than himself, the man's head tilted sideways.