Chapter 202
Chapter 202
TL/Editor: raei
Status: 5/week mon-fri
Illustrations: none
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[Ego... what?]
Anor-lsil was bewildered.
What was this insolent human babbling about?!
Did he just give this elegant and beautiful sword a tasteless name like 'ego sword'? Now?!
[We're not 'ego swords'! You idiot!]
"[Oh? You're not?]"[That's right! Our name is Anor-lsil!]
"[?]"
In truth, 'ego sword' was just a term that popped out reflexively when Ian saw the talking sword.
It was a common magical artifact in fantasy settings.
Isn't a sword with its own consciousness an ego sword?
While Ian was clearly a resident of this fantasy world, he hadn't seen a proper magical artifact until now.
So he was fascinated by Anor-lsil, which had suddenly (?) gained consciousness.
But Anor-lsil seemed to misunderstand that 'ego sword' was a name Ian had given it.
'It really has changed in an interesting way.'
Ian recalled the words of Hrundal, the northern god.
Her advice was not to be too surprised if Anor-lsil changed strangely.
[Don't get too angry, sister... This is the first master we've ever met.]
[I don't like an idiot who doesn't even know our name as a master! Really!]
At that moment, two apparitions appeared above the blade.
They looked similar to fairies, but were beings belonging to mystery.
[Hello? Master?]
The blue fairy greeted elegantly.
[My name is Isil. I'm the moon's representative. Sister, hurry up and say hello.]
[... I'm Arno. The sun's representative.]
The red fairy spoke as if grumbling.
Sun and moon.
The two powers combined to form Anor-lsil.
'Did the mysteries appear because Anor-lsil's power got stronger?'
In this world, there were mysteries close to humans, and those that weren't.
Natural elements like earth, rivers, wind, water, and fire constantly clashed and communicated with humans, being aware of each other's existence.
But lofty and noble beings.
Mysteries like mountain peaks, underground magma, lightning above the clouds, and the sun and moon never got close to humans.
Not only was contact extremely difficult, but they weren't friendly to humans, so it was easy to lose one's life.
'... I guess they're weakened versions of the sun and moon.'
Ian thought as he looked at Anor-lsil's mysteries.
There was no way the real sun and moon mysteries would speak to Ian. He wasn't that level of wizard yet.
These were weakened versions of the mysteries through Anor-lsil.
That's probably why they called themselves 'representatives'.
"Ian. How is it?"
The Fairy Queen asked carefully.
"The sword's gotten noisy."
"?"
Was that good?
The Fairy Queen wasn't sure, but decided to take it positively for now.
"From now on, even if your sword gets stronger, we won't need to borrow its power."
Ian nodded.
He had already noticed this while readjusting the rune stone.
"I hope Anor-lsil will be of help when fighting against dragons."
Ian smiled and held out his hand.
"Even if I don't use it on dragons, I'm sure it'll be useful someday."
For instance, when meeting the Sky God.
The Fairy Queen also smiled and shook Ian's hand.
"I see. May the fairy's blessing be with you, wizard Ian."
"Thank you for your support."
Ian left the village with the Fairy Queen seeing him off.
---
---
Ian draped the additional fairy silk the Fairy Queen had given him over his arm like a towel.
As he had felt before, it was certainly high-quality fabric. It wouldn't lose to modern factory-made fabrics.
"Oh. You're all here?"
The wizards seemed to be preparing dinner, with a flat pot placed over a small campfire.
"Hm? You're back already?"
Mani started to get up but stopped.
"I-Ian!"
"Yes?"
"What's that behind your back?!"
"?"
Behind his back?
Ian turned around slightly.
And he was startled.
"Shit, you scared me!"
Mani made an incredulous expression.
You didn't know either?!
"Anor-lsil! Why are you floating around?!"
Ian suddenly shouted at the sword.
'Has... has the wizard gone mad?'
Sam the blacksmith, who was in charge of odd jobs (...), was frightened by Ian's bizarre behavior.
Not only was a flying sword strange, but he was talking to it!
But Sam was the only one scared.
No one except Sam thought Ian was strange.
Well... Ian was always weird anyway!
No one knew why Anor-lsil was flying around.
But they just assumed Ian was up to his usual strange antics again and let it slide.
Anor-lsil circled around Ian, shouting:
[Hmph! It's common sense for celestial bodies to float around, isn't it? Foolish master?]
"..."
No, that doesn't mean you guys are celestial bodies.
Anor-lsil was a sword containing the mysteries of the sun and moon.
But just because it awakened its own identity(?), did it need to float around like a real celestial body?
Of course, Ian couldn't understand Anor-lsil's feelings.
After all, Ian wasn't the sun or the moon...
They're probably floating because they want to, that's all.
Ian held out his hand and said:
"Come here."
[Hey! Don't ignore us and just... Ack! What are you doing!]
[Sister, you lack social skills. We just met, so we should be nice to our master.]
Anor-lsil trembled, then flew towards Ian's hand as if being sucked in.
"Oh! Did you control it?"
Mani watched Ian with fascination.
She didn't know what mystery he used to cast the magic, but...
A magic that makes a sword float in the air!
As expected of Ian. He really does handle quite unusual magic.
"That's cool?"
Ian examined the magic sword that fit snugly in his hand.
Ah. Is this controlling a sword with qi?
He's already achieved it...! The realm that martial artists dream of! (Not really)
In fact, rather than achieving some kind of realm, Ian had just gained a flying sword similar to a drone.
He thought of it as getting an interesting toy, and that's exactly what it was.
Ian threw Anor-lsil with all his might.
"Come back!"
Then he raised his right hand above his head, spreading his fingers wide.
[Ack! What is this crazy human making us do!]
[Be careful, sister! Our master might get hurt!]
[You think I'm an idiot? I'll never hurt him, so don't worry!]
Surprisingly, Anor-lsil changed direction in mid-air like a boomerang, then returned straight to Ian's hand.
Its flying ability was so good, Ian almost wanted to rename it Mjolnir.
"Wow. That's amazing?"
"It really is incredible."
Kira and Maria stood side by side, clapping. They weren't particularly interested, just giving a mechanical reaction.
As women and wizards, even seeing a flying sword just looked like an interesting toy to them.
"That's enough. From now on, if you want to fly around, tell me first."
[What! We'll do as we...]
[We'll do that, master.]
One thing was clear.
The sword's mysteries had completely different personalities.
Arno of the sun had a bright and assertive personality, while Isil of the moon was quiet and obedient.
Ian ate dinner and rested.
During that time, he had a brief conversation with the sword's mysteries.
"You must have been influenced by the Sky God, right?"
[Of course!]
[Of course.]
The sword's mysteries answered with perfect timing.
As expected, those guys were connected to the Sky God.
Just the fact that they were female forms gave that impression.
'The Sky God told me to strengthen Anor-lsil.'
It seemed it was difficult for the Sky God to speak directly to Ian, but possible to approach indirectly through Anor-lsil.
Arno and Isil would probably take on the role of communicating with the sun god on Ian's behalf.
[At first, we were created by the fairy race.]
[But it was you who awakened us, master.]
[Hey! If you say that now...!]
Arno glared at Isil, but Isil ignored her and said what she wanted to say.
She was unexpectedly strong-willed.
[Sister might not know, but I'm grateful to you, master.]
Isil bowed her head to Ian.
[Thank you for awakening me.]
[Urgh...!]
Arno also spoke haltingly.
[I, I also... think the master is quite decent, you could say? A considerably useful master, you might say...?]
[Sister. There's also a word called 'thank you' in this world.]
[W-What do you want me to do!]
Ian quietly listened to the sword's mysteries chattering.
He hadn't intended to create something like an ego sword.
But as he strengthened Anor-lsil, the sword gained consciousness.
[You have encountered the unfinished true Anor-lsil!]
[A new destiny has been pioneered!]
'Huh?'
Messages suddenly appeared before his eyes.
Ian habitually pulled out his Arcana deck.
Drawing one card, he found the 10th card, [Wheel of Fortune], in his hand.
An illustration of a pale moon overlapping a giant sun.
'A new card appeared this time?'
Nothing had happened for a while. As soon as he awakened Anor-lsil, a new card was created.
'A new destiny...'
Ian put the Arcana card in his pocket.
"Well. I don't know what will happen from now on... but I'm counting on you guys."
[Yes. I'll do my best to help you! Master!]
[I-I'll work hard too.]
---
---
After returning to Talian domain, Ian quickly finished his travel preparations.
Talian's food situation should be fine for a while.
He needed to have a talk with Duke Araz before he rushed off to the dragon.
"Then I'm counting on you, Sam."
"You can rely on me!"
After commissioning Sam to create an anti-dragon weapon, Ian went to find Salvador.
He wanted to check how much of the Knights of Santiago's journey preparations were complete.
But surprisingly, only about half of the knights' preparations were finished.
"Sir Salvador."
"Ah. Ian, my boy. Welcome."
When Ian asked for details, he was told that about half of the Knights of Santiago would remain in Talian domain.
"They're staying here?"
Ian was slightly surprised.
What's this? Could it be people who want to swear loyalty to Talian?
But that wasn't it.
"There are too many monsters roaming outside, you see."
"Monsters..."
Ian recalled the orc horde that had been chasing Mani.
"We're leaving people behind just in case."
It was a force to prepare for monster invasions.
If that was the Knights of Santiago's decision.
"Ian, my boy. Are you ready to depart?"
"Yes. We can leave right away."
Ian, Lucy, and the Knights of Santiago finished preparing to head to Duke Araz's territory.
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