Chapter 6 - Favorite Character and Master

This world is full of crazy people...

I sighed, recalling the fight with the bandits earlier. The words their leader uttered while begging for his life still lingered in my mind. 

Why are there so many people, like Kailyn, who try to avoid responsibility?

Ah, forget it. Just forget.

Thinking about it again made me angry, but I believe it was a loss to even pay attention to such things. I decided not to think about it, as it only made my blood boil, and hurried my steps. 

Let's quickly return to the church.

***

As I arrived at the church, familiar white walls and warm candlelight greeted me. I entered the church, and Levia, holding the baby, welcomed me.

"Brother, you've returned."

She greeted me with a bright smile. I caught my breath and nodded.

"Yes, I'm back. Is the child alright?"

"Yes, the child is fine. It's been very well-behaved."

Levia showed me the child she was holding. The baby was sleeping soundly in a small cradle. Fortunately, there seemed to be no problems. I felt relieved as I checked the child's face. My tense feelings seemed to ease a little.

"Thank you for taking care of the child like this."

"It's nothing."

Levia nodded with a smile. I took the child back and handed her another gold coin. It was part of the wealth I had obtained from defeating the bandits.

"This is a donation."

"Thank you. I'll use it for the church and to help those in need."

"Yes, please do."

Levia didn't refuse the money. She seemed pleased inwardly but didn't show it as she accepted the gold coin from me. In fact, she had quite a fondness for money.

Of course, it wasn’t for personal desires but for the smooth operation of the church. Anyway, as I was about to leave with the child...

"Brother, I heard a little about your situation. I have a friend at the magic tower."

"Ah... Is that so?"

"Yes. It seems you're in quite a difficult situation, but please stay strong. For the child's sake, if nothing else."

"...Yes."

She seemed to know what happened. If she mentioned an acquaintance at the magic tower, it was probably that child who became the mage of the hero's party? Although I received her encouragement, honestly, I didn't feel that good about it.

Perhaps because I showed a pathetic side to my favorite character. I felt somewhat depressed, but then I heard unexpected words from Levia.

"And if it's difficult for you to look after the child, I could take care of it for a while."

"Huh...? Is that really okay?"

"Yes. Despite appearances, I've taken care of many babies since I was young, working as a nun."

Levia offered to take care of the baby. I couldn't just ignore this offer. In my current position of needing someone to look after the child, there was no one more trustworthy than her.

Moreover, Levia was quite strong. She was the one who would become the saint of the hero's party later. Although she was a typical healer and didn’t boast tremendous combat power on her own, she at least had the strength to protect herself and the child if necessary.

"In that case... I'll make plenty of donations."

I gladly accepted her offer. I asked her to please do so.

"I'd be grateful if you did," Levia answered with a gentle smile.

***

Is everything going well, fortunately?

It could really be said that the start was good. When Kailyn left the child with me and departed, I was truly at a loss for what to do. But now I've found someone to look after the child and gained the power to protect myself.

It could really be said that the start was good.

Of course, it's not an ideal situation.

But when one thought about it, there were quite a few problems.

"Haah!!!"

After leaving the child with Levia again, I climbed a mountain. I found a huge boulder and swung my sword at it.

Clang!

The huge boulder wasn't cut. It only got a small scratch. Seeing this, I couldn't help but sigh.

"As expected, am I not able to properly draw out the Spirit Sword's power?"

Although I shouldn't say this after successfully defeating the bandits, I wasn't really satisfied. That was because the original power of the Spirit Sword wasn't just this much. If the protagonist had obtained the Spirit Sword and used magic release, it would have had a much wider range and more powerful effect.

Even without using magic release, he should be able to cut through a huge boulder like this. The reason it wasn’t happening was probably because I was lacking.

"It's a shame."

Of course, even this much was something to be thankful for. But what was lacking was still lacking. It was far from enough to help with the protagonist's story.

Since I took the Spirit Sword, I had to help the protagonist. That was why it was a headache-inducing moment.

[You know, don't you? It's really strange... You seem ordinary, yet you're so peculiar.]

At that moment, I heard the voice again. It was the spirit inside the sword that had spoken to me before.

The Spirit Sword's tone was still dry, but for some reason, it was full of dissatisfaction.

[To be honest, it's troublesome.]

"What's troublesome?"

[If you use me like this, my prestige will fall.]

I looked blank at the Spirit Sword's words. Prestige? 

What on earth was this sword talking about? 

At first, I didn't understand, but after hearing what it said next, I understood a little.

[Humans might not understand, but this is a very important issue from my perspective. If you use me in such a poor state, other people will think of me as just that kind of sword. I absolutely cannot accept that.]

"...Is that such an important issue?"

[It's extremely important. More than my life. It's the only value of a sword's existence.]

Is honor that important? 

It didn't really resonate with me, but even among humans, there were many who valued honor more than life. It must be one of those types.

That was why it was saying this now. But wasn't this a bit rude? Although it said it indirectly, in the end, it was a sword saying, “I don't like you using me.”

I think I understand why it spoke up.

I finally felt like I understood why things had diverged from the original story. The Spirit Sword was surprised that I passed through the dungeon, but in fact, it was worried.

At that time, it was in an uncertain position, so it didn't say anything like this. But I guess it couldn't help but know for sure after the battle with the bandits. It couldn't stand by and watch as someone with unremarkable skills like me wielded the sword. At this rate, as it said, the Spirit Sword's prestige was about to fall.

But even so, I couldn't accommodate her circumstances.

"Even so, I can't hand you over to someone else. You're an essential item for me."

I needed this Spirit Sword. I was desperate, too. I couldn't just say, “I see,” after hearing her words and hand it over to the protagonist. Again, this sword was currently my lifeline.

[No, you don't need to hand me over. You don't have to do that.]

"Pardon?"

Huh? What does this mean? 

But the Spirit Sword didn't want me to hand it over.

[You rightfully passed the trial and obtained me. Whether it was luck or whatever, you're my master since you passed the trial.]

The sword was saying it would follow me for now. Whatever the case, it seemed I had been recognized as the master. Then what was the problem that made her speak up like this?

"What are you trying to say?"

I urged her to get to the point.

[So become my disciple.]

"What?"

The Spirit Sword uttered quite a sudden statement.

[If you become my disciple, I'll teach you the basics.]

"Hmm..."

Suddenly telling me to become a disciple? It was a somewhat out-of-the-blue statement. So I had to take a moment to organize my thoughts, but...

[Didn't you obtain me because you wanted to become stronger anyway? You have a newborn child too, is there any need to hesitate?]

It was certainly as the sword said. There was no need to hesitate. This was a very attractive proposal for me.

I needed to become stronger. In this situation, there was absolutely no reason to refuse when it was offering to become my master like this.

Moreover, my opponent was a spirit, wasn't it? I thought I could receive much better tutoring than learning from ordinary knights.

"I'll do it."

[Good choice.]

In the end, I agreed, and a master-disciple relationship was formed between me and the Spirit Sword.

[Let's start the first training right away.]

Anyway, now it was really time to train. The Spirit Sword gave orders as if it had been waiting for this.

[Let's try mountain climbing with a duck walk.]

"What?"

It was a somewhat ridiculous training method.

[Didn't you hear me? I said try walking like a duck.]

"...Are you serious?"

I couldn't help but feel a bit rebellious, but...

[Yes. Just follow my words for now. If it doesn't work after trying, you can complain to me all you want.]

"Alright then."

I decided to follow the sword's words for now. If it didn’t work, I could always complain later, right? So I started climbing the mountain with a duck walk.

"Huff huff... I feel like I'm going to die. Is this really effective?"

[Of course. The foundation of swordsmanship is the lower body. No matter how strong you are, it's meaningless if your lower body can't support it. From what I see, your lower body is currently very lacking.]

About three hours might have passed. My trembling legs could no longer support me, and I collapsed. Sitting down heavily on the ground, I gasped for breath.

"Huff huff... I really feel like I'm going to die."

[Hmm... Is this enough? I'll help you recover for now.]

So it had this ability, too. Seeing my state, the Spirit Sword supplied me with mana. I felt warmth seeping in, recovering my stamina.

[Now your lower body seems somewhat usable. Want to try cutting that boulder again?]

"You want me to cut the boulder?"

[Yes.]

My trembling legs started to obey. As I stood up again, the Spirit Sword pointed at the boulder. As if to show the results of the training, it told me to try cutting the boulder like before, and I slowly walked towards it.

"Haah!!!"

And I struck down at the boulder with all my might, just like before. The crack in the boulder was much deeper than before. The results seemed quite significant.