Maximin watched, mouth agape, as Theo extracted 'that.'
A mix of emotions swirled in Maximin's widened eyes.
'To pull out that thing, which I had sealed with the magic chains bestowed by the Pope...'
First was shock.
'A thing that could restrain even mid-level demons... Was my sealing ability this pathetic? Retiring... Did it actually extend my life? I wouldn't have survived with such skill.'
Second was despair.
'Still, it's fortunate that Theo was the one who pulled it out.'
Third was relief.
'But is it alright for him to hold that thing for so long? It must be causing him immense mental pain.'
Last was worry.
Maximin had once used 'that' himself.
When in contact with 'that,' he constantly heard a bizarre, disjointed, eerie voice.
─Cut... Bleed... Stab... Grab... Behind...
It felt like an electric shock ─ zapping through every blood vessel in his body.
Instinctively, he felt that holding onto it any longer would spell disaster, so he avoided contact as much as possible.
The longest he had ever been in contact with it was three minutes.
However, Theo seemed to have been in contact with 'that' for at least three minutes, likely even more.
He hadn't moved an inch, staying still right where he was...
Maximin's eyes trembled.
'Could it be that he's lost consciousness while standing...!'
Maximin hurried over to Theo.
"Theo, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
Theo replied calmly, just as he was before.
Maximin asked again.
"Are you being attacked mentally? Hearing weird noises?"
Theo glanced at 'that,' which he was holding.
"It talks quite a bit. Rather than being attacked, it's more like my mind is all over the place. But I can handle it."
"Is that so..."
Maximin closed his mouth.
'Has Theo been chosen by 'that'?'
Within the Chalon family, the record for the longest time someone had made direct contact with 'that' was three minutes, a record set by Maximin himself.
He had tried to endure longer, but the feeling of his mind deteriorating forced him to give up.
Yet, Theo still held 'that' without a change in his expression.
No matter how strong his mental fortitude was, such a performance was impossible.
Then, the words Theo had said came back to him.
─It wants me right now. It said the chains binding it are irrelevant.
"..."
Could it really be?
Someone who wasn't even a member of the Chalon family, chosen by the family's divine artifact.
Anyway, Theo's acquisition of 'that' today would change the continent's landscape.
That thing is more than capable of doing so.
Maximin, looking at the boy still nonchalantly holding 'that,' spoke up.
"Many geniuses of the Chalon family, including myself, have tried to be chosen by it, but you're the only one truly chosen. I entrust the future of the continent to you, Theo."
If the previous heads of the Chalon family had heard this, they would've flipped their coffin lids.
The words about entrusting the future of the continent implicitly included 'please take care of the Chalon family.'
Whether he understood the meaning or not, the boy nodded calmly.
"I'll try my best."
I returned to my room.
─Theo, are you there? We came...
─Hey, what did you talk about with my father? What's there to see in that treasure vault that took so long?
My Aides and Piel came to my room, but I sent them away.
There was something more important to deal with.
Then, the [Demon Sword] strapped to my waist began to murmur.
─Hahaha... It feels so refreshing. Being stuck in that place for years and now being somewhere else, it feels great~
'Please be quiet for a bit, Demon Sword, your thoughts are too much.'
When in contact, my thoughts were immediately transmitted to the [Demon Sword].
Instantly, a response came from the [Demon Sword].
─My boy, why are you so stingy? Can't you feel the suffocation and loneliness of being trapped in a cramped room without a single mouse for years? Tsk tsk... Try to understand others' hearts at least half as well as you appear to. And stop calling me by that unpleasant name, [Demon Sword]. My name is Nay.
After giving me a long lecture, Nay... not the [Demon Sword], began to praise the world again, saying how great it was to be out.
I unbuckled the [Demon Sword] from my waist for a moment and gathered my thoughts.
'Apparently, those who had used it before heard the voices as weirdly disjointed and eerie.'
But it didn't sound like that to me at all.
I couldn't understand why Maximin was worried about mental contamination.
I just wished it would shut up because it was too talkative.
Even in the game, Nay's voice sounded disjointed and eerie.
However, I am now able to communicate normally with Nay.
'Then...'
It's highly likely due to something about my body.
'What could it be?'
To check the current situation, I opened the status window.
The first thing that caught my eye was the traits.
Traits
Descendant of a Hero (Passive / Bloodline ability) [View Details]
Twisted Noble's Dignity (Passive) [View Details]
Magic Nullification (Active) [View Details]
Observer's Eye (Passive) [View Details]
Weapon Expert (Passive) [View Details]
Sword Expert (Passive) [View Details]
There didn't seem to be any trait that could be the cause of the current situation.
The two traits, [Descendant of a Hero] and [Twisted Noble's Dignity], were somewhat suspicious.
First off, it's not [Descendant of a Hero].
This trait has been passed down through the bloodline from those who have been in the hero profession for over 200 years, even before Ryuk appeared.
-Descendant of a Hero (Passive / Bloodline ability) [View Details]
-Twisted Noble's Dignity (Passive) [View Details]
-Magic Nullification (Active) [View Details]
-Observer's Eye (Passive) [View Details]
-Weapon Expert (Passive) [View Details]
-Sword Expert (Passive) [View Details]
But the main character of the game, Neike, also had this trait and still couldn't communicate with Nay, so this trait wasn't the cause.
'Then, is it because of [Twisted Noble's Dignity]?'
Nay's voice is young, but her way of speaking is old-fashioned.
It's a way of speaking that even grandmothers on their last legs today wouldn't use.
When asked about her identity, she said she couldn't remember... but Nay was likely of noble blood before she got trapped in the [Demon Sword].
And the twisted nobility within me, Theo, might consider not listening to her voice as unbecoming of nobility...
'That's too far-fetched.'
I clicked my tongue and erased that hypothesis from my mind.
'Let's just focus on the present.'
Even if it meant suffering from mental contamination, it was an item I needed to get.
Since I had received permission from its original owner, Maximin, my only task was to make the most of the [Demon Sword].
I spoke up.
"Lady Nay. As you might have heard, I need to become stronger quickly. I'd like your advice."
Nay, still incessantly praising the world, answered.
─If you don't mind any means, there are plenty of ways to become stronger. So many that they're uncountable. But I've seen too many of those who became strong in such ways meet miserable ends. I don't remember exactly when, but it reminds me of a comrade who turned his back on the entire continent. He was a knight of the empire's imperial family and was about my age...
Nay was about to (though it's doubtful she has one) flip the switch on her motor mouth again.
I immediately cut her off.
"······As long as I'm alive in about 3 and a half years, that's all that matters. I don't care about the cost. As long as I can become stronger in a short period."
─Hmm. Then, I must properly assess your current skills. Since it seems you cannot use magic, show me your martial arts and swordsmanship first.
How did she know I lacked mana?
"How did you know I lack mana?"
─It's obvious at a glance. I felt it the moment you held me. Plus, I knew what bloodline you're from. My boy, you're a Descendant of a Hero.
"······That's correct. I'm of the Waldeurk bloodline."
─Oh ho. Waldeurk... That sounds like a name I've heard before. Ah... now my memory is slowly starting to return. First, show me the swordsmanship you can perform while holding me. Ah, it's better if the form is similar to the sword you usually use.
Simultaneously with her words, the [Demon Sword]'s form changed.
The transformed shape was identical to the [Elemental Sword] in terms of blade thickness, length, and weight.
'that's indeed a mythic-grade artifact.'
I immediately gripped the [Demon Sword] and began to swing it.
Every sword technique I had seen with my eyes and learned with my body was displayed from the tip of the sword.
"······Sigh."
After about 10 minutes of intensely concentrating and swinging the sword, my body was drenched in sweat.
'That should be good enough.'
A sense of fulfillment rose within me.
"That's it, Lady Nay."
However,
─To be honest, it was very poor. With that level, you wouldn't defeat even a low-level demon.
Nay's assessment was harsh.
