We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
We’re like cats.
Astel-san lunged at me, claws extended, and I scrambled to defend myself. I grabbed his outstretched arm and stopped his movements.
“I see, you’re certainly weak.”
Astel-san is a high-ranking noble among demons, so I expected him to exhibit terrifying physical strength by channeling magic into his physical abilities, but that wasn’t the case. The arm I grabbed, and the strength behind it, were that of an ordinary woman. Besides, his movements when he attacked were also within the range of an ordinary woman’s physical capabilities.
“Easy there, Astel-sama,” I said.
“Am I a horse?!”
Toris-kun held Astel-san back from behind. Then, Astel-san’s anger turned towards Toris-kun.
“Astel-sama, please calm down. Let’s listen to Elnea-kun and the others first.”
“Ruilala just said it. This person… ruined my efforts…!”
“No, no, before I did anything, I think the outcome was already clear when you pulled such a prank on the Giant Demon Lord?”
I was forced to do something I didn’t want to do. So, I built an ostentatious detached palace and made it deviate from the Demon Lord’s tastes. He probably intended it as a prank, but… that Demon Lord is on a whole other level, you see? If we hadn’t visited, I’m sure I would have been kidnapped by Lily and ordered to do tasks that went beyond just renovating the detached palace.
Astel-san was puffing with anger. Despite her beautiful appearance, her words and actions seem to be driven by her mood. Perhaps this is also similar to a capricious cat.
“May I have a moment? The main purpose of Ruilala and Elnea’s visit was to see you. One of the Demon Lord’s close aides said something concerning.”
Listea gave a bitter smile at the noisy situation. Still, the fact that she tried to move the conversation forward herself is very heroic.
It’s not good to stand and talk, so let’s sit for now. For some reason, Toris-kun, who has the lowest status here, prompted us to sit on behalf of his masters. I gratefully took a seat. Then, I placed the sleeping Nimia on my lap. It’s quite difficult to pay attention so that the sleeping Nimia doesn’t fall from my head, you know?
“Munch.”
However, Listea faced Astel-san and the others with a serious expression. And, after a belated self-introduction, she confirmed what Charlotte had said to Astel-san himself.
“…And so, the Holy Sword broke.”
Listea explained the circumstances and showed Astel-san the Holy Sword she wore at her waist. Then, Astel-san, who had been making a fuss but listening to Listea, peered at the Holy Sword with interest.
“A legendary Holy Sword wielded by a human hero, huh? Amazing!”
Toris-kun also stared at the Holy Sword excitedly. But when Listea drew the broken Holy Sword from its scabbard, his expression turned to despair.
“Ah, what a disaster. The legendary Holy Sword…”
The Holy Sword was broken mercilessly halfway down the blade. We know, having been pointed out by the Demon Lord, that the cause wasn’t Alex-san’s fault. But still, seeing a broken Holy Sword makes one sad.
Toris-kun was busy, going from excitement to sadness. In contrast, Astel-san, who had been noisy until just moments ago, quietly gazed at the Holy Sword and nodded as if recalling something.
Immediately after arriving at the mansion. The legendary construction crew who rebuilt the mansion, which had been blown away in an instant. Astel-san, you are their leader, right? Among the legendary craftsmen with unimaginable skills, there might be someone who can reforge the Holy Sword. Surely, Listea is hoping for that.
…By the way, where are the other craftsmen besides Astel-san? Even when I searched for their presence, there was no sign of anyone other than those gathered in this room within the incredibly vast mansion.
However, Astel-san’s next action would completely shock us.
“That’s the Holy Sword? Don’t be ridiculous. That’s just a Curse Power Sword. I saw it a long time ago. It belonged to one of some brothers.”
Saying that, Astel-san raised his hand. It was the next moment. A Holy Sword appeared in Astel-san’s hand, which should have been holding nothing.
“N-No way!!”
“Another Holy Sword!?”
Listea compared the broken Holy Sword he possessed with the Holy Sword Astel-san held. Slattun also compared the two Holy Swords alternately, as if looking for a difference.
“A Holy Sword is a Curse Power Sword!?”
Only Toris-kun was astonished for a different reason. But we have no time to concern ourselves with Toris-kun. What in the world is going on? Why is there another Holy Sword? And where did it come from!?
We were bewildered. Meanwhile, Ruilala was laughing gleefully.
“Hey, Ruilala. Tell me. You know, don’t you?”
To enjoy people’s confusion, demons are indeed wicked. But without someone’s explanation, we can’t keep up. Ruilala, while laughing, answered my question.
“Elnea-kun, I told you on the way. The Cat Duke’s abilities are particularly famous among demons. And, Elnea-kun, you seemed to have misunderstood from beginning to end. The Cat Duke isn’t a legendary craftsman, you know?”
“Whaaat!? What do you mean!?”
From the flow of the conversation so far, I had thought the Cat Duke was the leader of the legendary construction crew. But it seems that was a mistake. Then, who were the craftsmen who built our mansion and the Demon Lord’s detached palace?
“Hahaha, to tell you the truth. The Cat Duke’s special ability as a Primogenitor Race is Material Creation.”
“W-Whaaat?!”
Th-That means…
It wasn’t the legendary construction crew led by Astel-san who built the mansion and the detached palace. Astel-san himself built them. No, that’s not right. They weren’t built. They were created. From nothing.
“Then, the Holy Sword too…?”
“It seems they can create most things if they’ve seen them and have knowledge of them. Convenient, isn’t it?”
We were speechless.
I never imagined that someone possessing an incredible special ability like Material Creation would exist! And with the ability to create materials, it’s easy to replicate something like the “Holy Sword,” whose true identity is a Curse Power Sword.
“Toris, if you want one, here you go.”
Astel-san then duplicated the Holy Sword multiple times. And seeing us, who were astonished each time the Holy Sword increased in number, he laughed with enjoyment.
“If they’re mass-produced like this, there’s no sacredness left…”
Slattun had already become exasperated midway. But it was Slattun who found the difference between the real and the fake.
“But hey, look closely. There’s a difference in the crucial jewel, isn’t there?”
At Slattun’s suggestion, we compared Listea’s Holy Sword with the Holy Swords Astel-san had produced. We immediately understood what Slattun meant.
“Certainly, they do look different, don’t they? The color, or rather, the presence.”
“Elnea, the reason for that seems to be the difference in the magic power contained within. The jewel of the Holy Sword created by Astel-ko seems to have weaker power.”
“Hou hou?”
Listea, who was not only a hero but also an excellent sorcerer, accurately discerned the difference in magic power contained within the Holy Sword’s jewel. Then, Astel-san himself answered our question.
“What I created was what it looked like centuries ago. It seems I can’t create the current version. Perhaps there’s a will embedded in the jewel?”
“Wh-What do you mean?”
“Astel-sama’s ability is often misunderstood, but there are limitations, Elnea-kun.”
We listened to Toris-kun’s explanation, nodding. Or rather, is it okay to reveal the secrets of a great demon so easily? Ah, it seems to be well-known among demons, so perhaps there’s no need to hide it.
“There are things Astel-sama cannot create. Things that possess life force, or things imbued with strong emotions.”
“The jewel you hold now seems to be imbued with various emotions. I can create a sword that looks the same with an equivalent amount of magic power, but that would be something else entirely, wouldn’t it?”
The Holy Sword’s jewel has had magic power poured into it by successive heroes. At the same time, the emotions of those who inherited the Holy Sword have also been imbued into it. Astel-san can imitate the magic power imbued, but not the emotions.
“So, that means… the mysterious wooden sword Elnea-kun has, and the white sword you no longer possess, cannot be created by the Cat Duke either.”
I understand the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword. After all, its true identity is the Spirit Tree itself, and it’s alive. But the white sword cannot be replicated either? Why? Well, knowing it can’t be replicated brought me a sense of relief, though.
“It’s good, isn’t it? A Holy Sword is a Holy Sword.”
“Ah, yes.”
Astel-san continued to create Holy Swords, one after another, as if to harass us. Listea and we, who were disheartened by this, nonetheless sustained minor damage to our hearts. And that’s all thanks to me having told them the true nature of the Holy Sword in advance, right? If Listea and the others had learned the true nature of the Holy Sword here, they might not have been able to recover.
“And so, about the meaning of what that aide said. In other words, if a replica made by this demon is fine, then your journey ends here, right?”
Finally, we understood the meaning of Charlotte’s words. Indeed, if Listea is satisfied, then the journey to restore the Holy Sword is over. The appearance is completely identical, and the magic power contained in the jewel has the power of about three hundred years ago, when Armēdo possessed it.
Listea compared the broken Holy Sword with the mass-produced Holy Swords. We watched, wondering what he would do. Then, Listea arrived at an answer much sooner than expected.
“No. My journey does not end here. I apologize to those who are eagerly awaiting my swift return, but I believe it is my mission to recover the Holy Sword that matches the current jewel.”
“I knew you’d say that!”
Listea’s eyes held a strong will. Slattun grinned, thinking that was just like Listea.
“If you want a sword that matches the jewel, I’ll create one for you. So, hurry up and leave.”
However, Listea politely refused Astel-san’s offer.
“No, I must decline. I believe we should go meet the Eastern Magician.”
“Well, maybe that’s fate, you know?”
This might be a conviction that only Listea, the hero who inherited the Holy Sword, and his partner Slattun can understand. The Holy Sword, granted by the Eastern Magician about three hundred years ago, might need to return to its creator after a long journey. Listea and Slattun did not shy away from the destiny that the Holy Sword guided them towards, choosing not to take the easy option.
“Then, hurry up and go.”
Facing Listea and Slattun’s determination, Astel-san waved them away as if to shoo them off. And of course, Ruilala, with a mischievous smile, spoke up.
“Hahaha, their offer was just a side thing. The main request is the reconstruction of the detached palace, which His Majesty desires.”
“I don’t want to! I don’t want to go there anymore. Besides, it makes no sense. Fish swim in the sky, and the sky and ground are not normal.”
“That’s because of you, Elnea-kun.”
“You again?”
“Uhihi.”
I’m sorry. But that was unavoidable, you know?
“I refuse! I absolutely won’t go!”
“Hahaha, this is troublesome.”
No, Ruilala’s smile doesn’t look troubled at all. Besides, even if you throw a tantrum here, I don’t think you can escape being kidnapped by Lily, who is waiting in the forest. Astel-san is a bit pitiful, but it can’t be helped. After all, we are being toyed with by that Giant Demon Lord and Charlotte.
However, Astel-san still resists, saying he doesn’t want to. Then, Ruilala looked at me and grinned again.
“Very well. Elnea-kun, show that to the Cat Duke. Or rather, if the Cat Duke won’t listen, you can leave that here.”
“What is it?”
“You know, ‘that’ which you received as a reward from those people the other day.”
“Ah, that.”
As Ruilala urged me, I summoned Ares-chan and had her retrieve a Jet Black Magic Sword from a mysterious space.
“Um, is it okay to leave this here?”
“Gah.”
“Nyan!?”
“Uwah!”
Then, Toris-kun, Astel-san, and Sheria, upon seeing the Jet Black Magic Sword “Soul Spirit Seat,” turned their disgusted gazes towards me with obvious unpleasantness.
“Why do you, a human, possess that sword!”
And Sheria glared at me sharply.
