Chapter 30: Holy Sword Farnese

The Dark Dragon’s tail was swinging down toward Father. At this rate, Father will definitely be crushed. Thinking that, I instantly shouted ‘that’.

“[Store Summoning]!”

Fuji no yu appeared before Father with a flash of light. The building with the high chimney didn’t budge even after taking a hit from the Dark Dragon.

“Father, hurry inside!”

At my voice, Father practically rolled into Fuji no yu, which had its back to the Dark Dragon. The Dark Dragon slammed its tail against Fuji no yu once more, but far from crushing the building, it couldn’t even crack a single tile.

『Gogaaaaaaaah!』

Perhaps getting frustrated, the Dark Dragon attacked Fuji no yu again and again with the claws of its front legs. But still, it couldn’t put a single scratch on the building. I knew it. I suspected as much with the kitchen car that ran over the goblin, but the ‘Store’ I summon is ridiculously sturdy. No, perhaps it’s indestructible. Strictly speaking, maybe only the outer walls. The calendar inside got torn, though.

“Sakuraile, what is the meaning of this!?” “Umm, my ‘Store’ is extremely sturdy!”

His Majesty the Emperor asked, but I had no other way to answer. Though it’s just sturdy and can’t defeat the enemy. While the Dark Dragon was distracted by Fujinoyu, Estelle headed to the knight who was blown away earlier and cast recovery magic. Estelle‘s true value as a [Gift] holder might be exposed, but this isn’t the time to worry about that. What should I do? Even if there’s no way to defeat the Dark Dragon, if we could at least seal it…! Seal… that’s it! The ‘Jewel of Sealing’! In the Elliott route, if Elliott‘s affection is low and he can’t summon the Holy Sword of Light, the Dark Dragon gets sealed in the ‘Jewel of Sealing’, leading to the Good End. Even if the True End where Elliott and Estelle get together is impossible, we might be able to reach the Good End!

“Your Majesty! Let’s use the ‘Jewel of Sealing’!” “‘Jewel of Sealing’? What is that?”

His Majesty the Emperor looked blank at my words. Wait, why don’t you know!? It’s our country’s treasure! Oh, ah, right! That jewel is discovered in a hidden room while exploring the castle with Estelle during Elliott’s event! Since it hasn’t been found yet, it’s natural the King doesn’t know! What do I do!? There’s no time to go look for it now…!

『Gurugaaaaaaah!』

The Dark Dragon started spewing breath of fire toward the back of Fujinoyu. Bad! The building might not burn, but it might not prevent the heat! I have to let Father escape!

“[Store Summoning]!”

I summoned the kitchen car in front of Fujinoyu. Father immediately understood, boarded the kitchen car, and drove away at full speed from Fujinoyu, which was being bathed in flames. Ah, thank goodness.

“Lady Sakuraile, it is dangerous here! Let us fall back!” “E-Eh, right…”

Estelle, having healed the knights, pulled my arm, but I was thinking hard about whether there was any way to stop that Dark Dragon. There were several methods in my game knowledge, but all of them take time. Is the only choice to retreat for now and obtain the ‘Jewel of Sealing’ from the hidden room…? Just as I was thinking that, the fireballs the Dark Dragon fired wildly flew toward us. Wait!? Ah, bad. At this rate, even Estelle will…! I instinctively pushed Estelle into the pond next to us.

“Lady Sakuraile!?”

Just as I heard Estelle‘s voice and the splash of water, a deafening roar pierced my ears, and my body was thrown into the air. I slammed violently onto the ground and rolled like a ragdoll. I vaguely understood that my whole body was creaking and my limbs were bent in strange directions. It hurts… But I know this sensation from somewhere… Ah, it’s the same feeling as when I was hit by a car and died in my previous life. The sensation of my body getting cold and my consciousness fading. To think I’d experience this one more time. Am I going to die again like this? I don’t want to… Father and Mother will surely cry their eyes out… I haven’t even repaid them yet. I’m really glad I was born as the daughter of those two. Estelle, Luca, Tifa… I finally made friends here too. In the end, does it mean I can’t go against the game’s destiny scenario…? I don’t, want, to die… I don’t want to die… Ah, it’s getting warm somehow… …Hm? Warm?

“…Lady Sakuraile! Lady Sakuraile!” “Ngh?”

When I opened my eyes, I saw Estelle, completely soaked, shedding tears from both eyes.

“Oh?”

I sat up. Nothing hurts. I should have been blown away and mangled. Indeed, my clothes were tattered, but there wasn’t a single scratch on my body. Though blood was splattered all around.

“Thank goodness…! I thought if Lady Sakuraile died, I…!”

Estelle hugged me while crying. Ah, Estelle’s [Gift], [Holy Miracle]. Amazing… To revive from such a near-death state. The name ‘Miracle’ isn’t just for show.

“Thank you, Estelle. You saved me.” “Yes…! I’m really, really glad…!”

I held the hand of the still-sobbing Estelle and conveyed my gratitude. Suddenly, I noticed Estelle‘s right hand was glowing. Looking closely, the crest of the Holy Goddess Holi was shining. Could this be…! Level up! Estelle’s [Gift] rose to Level 3! But why? The event with Elliott hasn’t happened yet…! In the game, it awakens when Elliott is in a pinch and about to die… Huh? …Could it be that because I almost died, we consumed the event?

“Estelle… Can you perhaps use a new power?” “New power? Umm… Ah, yes. It seems I can. I somehow understand. Umm, like this maybe…”

Estelle held up her hand. Small particles of light were created around us, gathering to form a single shape. The blade and pommel were silver. The hilt was blue, and a pentagonal carving with a split end like a cherry blossom was engraved at the base of the blade. Clad in holy light, that single sword floated in the air. The Holy Sword of Light. The only weapon capable of destroying the Dark Dragon. Holy Sword Farnese. The strongest weapon of the otome game ‘Starlight Symphony’ is before us.

『I am Farnese. The holy blade born from the Saintess’s prayer. I shall become the power to banish evil and destroy demons. Contractor, take me in your hand.』

Woah, same lines as the game! Since the Spirit of the Holy Sword is speaking, only the contractor candidate, Elliott, can hear the call, right?

…………Eh?

Wait, hold on. Could it be that I have become the contractor candidate!?

“E-E-E-Estelle!? Were there any conditions when you summoned this…?” 『Contractor, take me in your hand.』 “Conditions, you ask? I was told to ‘pray for the sake of the one you want to help,’ so I thought of Lady Sakuraile…”

Waaaaaaaaaaaaah! It wasn’t a mistake! I’ve become the Holy Sword’s contractor candidate!?

『Contractor, take me in your hand.』

W-What should I do? Should I ask her to withdraw it once and pray for Elliott again? No, but there’s no time for that…!

『Contractor, take me in your hand.』

This means once a contract is made, it can’t be cancelled, right? No cooling-off period? Estelle only summons the Spirit of the Holy Sword, but the contract itself is made between the Spirit and the contractor, so…

『Contractor, take m-』 “You’re so noisy! Shut up for a second!”

While a person is thinking hard, this idiot sword kept blabbering from the side, so I grabbed it as if grabbing a collar and shouted at it.

“Ah.” 『The contract is made. I shall become the blade to drive away thy enemies.』

I’ve done it nowwwww! Wait, wait, scratch thaaaaaaat! The Holy Sword grasped in my hand burst with a dazzling light—Pow!—and manifested on earth. You’re kidding…! Elliott, I’m sorry. I hijacked your route…

“Lady Sakuraile, that appearance is…?” “Eh?”

Pointed out by Estelle, I realized I was clad in platinum-colored light and my hair had turned pure white. Woah!? Isn’t this Elliott’s Holy Sword Mode!? Transforming when holding the Holy Sword makes sense in a game way, but it’s so flashy again…!

『Gogaaaaaaaah!』

Triggered by the light emitted by the Holy Sword, the Dark Dragon fired a continuous stream of fireballs over Fujinoyu. I lightly swung the Holy Sword, slicing all the approaching blazing projectiles in half. In that instant, the fireballs vanished like mist. Farnese is a Holy Sword that defeats demons and destroys evil. Attacks from the Dark Dragon, which belongs to the demonic realm, have no meaning before this sword.

“Amazing…! That is amazing, Lady Sakuraile!” “No, the amazing one is this sword, though…”

Which means Estelle, who summoned it, is the most amazing one. The person herself is just looking at me with sparkling eyes. As I smiled wryly, the kitchen car with Father inside drifted and slid in front of us.

“S-Sakuraile! Are you safe!? A-Are you unhurt!?” “Ah, I am fine, Father. More importantly, that thing is a hassle now, so let’s defeat it. Please help me.” “Eh? Defeat? Defeat it… Woah!?”

I leaped lightly and landed—Bam!—on the roof of the kitchen car. As expected of Holy Sword Mode. My physical abilities have skyrocketed like crazy. I can do this. Father was also surprised by the increase in my physical abilities.

“Please drive in a straight line toward that dragon.” “Wha-!? It is dangerous! If we get attacked…!” “It is fine. You saw it earlier, right? I can nullify all its attacks. If I have this sword granted by God. Please believe in me, Father.”

Father, who had been leaning out the window looking up at me worriedly, pulled back into the driver’s seat as if he had made up his mind.

“Alright! I’m stepping on it! Hold on tight!”

I grabbed the roof rail on the kitchen car and lowered my posture. The kitchen car sped off with great force. Since Fujinoyu in front was in the way, I made it disappear with my [Gift]’s ability.

『Gugaaaaaaah!』

The Dark Dragon continued to spew fireballs continuously at the kitchen car again. However, they all turned to dust and vanished before the Holy Sword I swung. Really, it’s a cheat weapon… Well, it is the ultimate weapon, so I guess it’s natural. If this weren’t an otome game but an RPG or Simulation RPG, this level of strength wouldn’t be needed. Unfortunately, otome games don’t have a combat system. The kitchen car raced toward the Dark Dragon. With that momentum, I, physically enhanced, leaped forward from the roof of the kitchen car and swung the shining Holy Sword down at the Dark Dragon. The extended blade of light bisected the Dark Dragon like the twinkling of a star.

“Bye-bye.” 『G-G-Gyuwaaaaaaaah!?』

The Dark Dragon, split perfectly in two, turned to dust as if exploding and vanished into the light along with a death cry. A shower of light rained down around us like fireworks going off. One hit. What a ridiculous sword. As I was dumbfounded by the power of the Holy Sword, eventually, a roar of cheers erupted from the surroundings.

“She did it! She did it! She defeated the dragon!” “The Princess of the Holy Sword defeated the evil dragon!” “It’s a miracle! A miracle of the Princess of the Holy Sword!”

Wait, what is that nickname!? It’s embarrassing, so stop it! Under the sky that had cleared up before I knew it, amidst the rising cheers, I could only smile stiffly from the sheer embarrassment.