Chapter 42: Trial of the Magic Sword

“…And so, I want a Magic Sword to defeat the Magic Sword ‘Discord’.”

A guy who won’t lose only to a Magic Sword. I keep the silly pun I thought of in my heart sealed away. Balay-san, who had been listening in a good mood while drinking the whiskey poured into his glass, frowned unpleasantly the moment the name ‘Discord’ came up.

“…’Discord’, huh. Tch, if it involves that sword, I have no choice but to forge one.”

At Balay-san’s voice, Bianca, who had been watching with bated breath next to me, showed an expression of joy for the first time since coming to this town. Grandfather, not understanding the meaning of the words just now, asked Balay-san.

“Excuse me, but do you have some history with the Magic Sword called ‘Discord’, Lord Balay?” “It’s not exactly history. That sword, you see, is a sword forged by my foolish disciple.”

Yes. The Magic Sword ‘Discord’ is a sword forged by Balay-san’s former disciple. That disciple was an excellent smith from a young age, but his desire to create a strong Magic Sword got ahead of him. Behind his master Balay-san’s back, he created a Magic Sword using methods that included a ‘curse’ ritual. As a result, that ‘curse’ took the life of the disciple himself who made it. After the disciple’s death, the Magic Sword ‘Discord’, which grows stronger by taking the user’s life, was deemed dangerous and stored away in the workshop’s warehouse… or it was supposed to be.

“It was already ten years ago when I realized it had been stolen. ‘Discord’ grows stronger by whittling away the user’s life little by little. Eventually, the mind is also whittled away, and the owner will likely think of nothing but cutting. Once that happens, you have a nasty murderer on your hands. Can’t leave it be.”

That state is the slasher knight ten years later. By then, his mind had developed a duality like Jekyll and Hyde, split between the personality of a noble knight and the personality of a brutally cruel manslayer like a demon. If left alone, Gloria might end up like that too. I have to prevent that at all costs.

“Judging from the young lady’s story, it seems the erosion of the mind hasn’t started yet.” “I wonder… When she was attacking Bianca, she had a terribly happy look on her face.” “No, she’s always like that. Apparently, she likes cornering weak opponents more than three meals a day.”

Bianca nodded in agreement with Jean, who interjected. That in itself is scary!

“Well, fine. So you want me to make a Magic Sword for that silver-haired young lady there?” “Y-Yes! Please!”

Bianca stood at attention with a snap and bowed deeply.

“It’s too early to rejoice. I’ll test you myself to see if you can master a Magic Sword. If you can’t pass that, no Magic Sword for you, young lady.” “Wait a minute! Just now you said you’d forge a Magic Sword!”

Jean snapped at Balay-san’s words. Things are taking a suspicious turn… This development didn’t happen in the game…

“A promise is a promise. I will forge a Magic Sword. But I only said I’d forge a Magic Sword, I didn’t say I’d forge a dedicated Magic Sword for someone. I could forge one for that ‘Lion of the Empire’ over there, right? Since he would probably be able to master my Magic Sword.”

Grandfather smiled for a moment, but feeling Bianca‘s gaze, he cleared his throat once and returned to a serious face. I understand the feeling of joy at potentially obtaining a work of the legendary Magic Sword smith, though. Or rather, Balay-san knew my grandfather.

“There ain’t a smith in this town who doesn’t know the ‘Lion of the Empire’. I heard, you know? That you won the axe I forged at an auction? If you had told me, I would have made it for a tenth of that price.” “H-Haha…”

Ah, Grandfather’s face is twitching. He apparently paid nearly three hundred million for it, after all… Well, nothing can be done about it now.

“So, if that’s the grandfather, then that young lady there is the ‘Princess of the Holy Sword’.”

Balay-san pointed at me with the glass containing whiskey. Well yes, reluctantly… However, to think it has spread not only in the Imperial Capital but even to a place like this. Who is spreading it?

“Sorry, but could you let me see that [Holy Sword] or whatever for a moment? I want to see a sword made by the hands of a god.” “I don’t mind, but… other people can’t touch it, you know?” “I don’t mind. Looking is enough.”

The [Holy Sword] cannot be touched by anyone other than the contractor master. Even Estelle, who originally summoned it, cannot touch it. Well, if it’s just looking, I guess it’s fine. I summon the [Holy Sword] into my hand.

“Tch…!? W-What magic power…! No, is this divine power…!”

Seeing the shining [Holy Sword] I summoned, Balay-san groaned. Certainly, even I can tell that what Balay-san calls divine power is leaking from the summoned [Holy Sword]. It’s like that feeling of cold air leaking from dry ice.

“Umm, sorry to interrupt while you’re surprised, but this is the normal state… There is a ‘Holy Sword Mode’ above this…” “Whaaat!?”

When it becomes ‘Holy Sword Mode’, the divine power becomes less like dry ice and more like a flashbang. Incidentally, this house would probably be blown away.

“Y-You’ve gotta be kidding. Enough, I get it. Put it away.”

As the flustered Balay-san said, I dismissed the [Holy Sword]. If I don’t go into ‘Holy Sword Mode’ and just summon it, I don’t get that tired. I don’t want to be bedridden with muscle pain for days again. Balay-san sighed heavily and downed the remaining whiskey in his glass in one go.

“As expected, there’s no comparison. Even a Magic Sword I made can’t possibly match a [Holy Sword].”

Like I said, comparing them is strange. There’s no point in comparing a sword created by human hands and a sword created by a god.

“But it served as a guide. Thanks to it, I’ve vaguely grasped the shape of the Magic Sword I’ll make next.”

Balay-san grinned. Hmm. If you proceed to the Jean route, naturally you won’t go to the Elliott route. So Balay-san, who only appears in the Jean route, wouldn’t have the opportunity to see the [Holy Sword]. I don’t know how this will influence the Magic Sword he makes for us… Well, I don’t think it will be bad.

“It won’t reach the young lady’s [Holy Sword], but by making a Magic Sword tailored to the user, we can draw out more than its original ability. But naturally, I don’t make them for just anyone. I’ll determine if you have the qualification with a trial. How about it, will you do it?” “…I will do it. Also for the sake of Lady Sakuraile who has helped me this far, I will definitely have you forge a Magic Sword!”

Bianca looked straight into Balay-san’s eyes and answered powerfully. I’m happy about the sentiment, but will it be okay? In the game, if I recall correctly, Balay-san, who learned about the Magic Sword ‘Discord’ from Jean who wore him down, forged the Magic Sword ‘Fortissimo’ relatively quickly. Does that mean Jean ten years later already had the ability to master a Magic Sword? Is Bianca being tested because she hasn’t reached that level? I think even Bianca doesn’t have the ability level of Jean ten years later, though…

“Alright. Then come here.”

Balay-san took us to a vacant lot behind the house. I wonder what we’re going to do here. Saying ‘Wait a moment’, Balay-san brought a single bare sword from something like a shed or warehouse. It’s a short sword about fifty centimeters long. It has no tip and is shaped as if it broke off in the middle. Something like inscriptions are carved densely on the blade. Balay-san casually handed that sword to Bianca.

“If you can swing that a hundred times, I’ll make you a Magic Sword. If you can’t, sorry, but no Magic Sword for you.” “Eh? Is that enough? What the heck, that’s an easy win.”

Jean sighed in relief, seemingly let down. The one doing it isn’t you but Bianca, though.

“…Is this a Magic Sword? Does it have some special effect?”

Estelle, who was peering at the sword handed to Bianca, said such a thing. Eh? Seriously? Is this also a Magic Sword made by Balay-san? Or rather, don’t keep Magic Swords in a shed.

“Young lady, you’re sharp. Indeed, this is a Magic Sword. It’s called the ‘Magic Sword of Trials’, and it allows you to fight a phantom enemy in your mind. A guy who can’t win against that has no business holding a Magic Sword. It means give up quickly.”

Enemy in the mind? Does it mean fight Gloria in her mind? Like image training? Bianca showed a moment of hesitation, but walked to the middle of the backyard and held the Magic Sword in a seigan (middle) stance.

“One hundred times, right?” “Yeah, one hundred times. I’ll count the number, so you just swing the sword single-mindedly.”

Bianca swung the sword back and swung it down sharply forward. A swing sharp enough that you could almost hear a byu wind-cutting sound.

“Oooone.”

Balay-san starts counting. Just like that, without incident, the count continued two, three, four, five, but around passing twenty, Bianca‘s swings gradually became slower. At first I thought, Is she tired? but something seems wrong. Her movements are slow, as if put in slow motion. Both when swinging back and swinging down. Light was lost from Bianca‘s eyes, and she began to show an expression of anguish at times.

“It’s started.” “Wait, is this really safe? If danger befalls Bianca, I’ll make her stop immediately, you know?” “Relax, she won’t get injured. Mentally, I don’t know though.”

Mentally you don’t know!? That’s not reassuring at all! What do you mean! I demand an explanation!

“This young lady is now fighting her own shadow in her mind. If she loses to that shadow, this swinging will stop. The fact that she’s still moving, even slowly, means she’s continuing to fight. In her mind.” “Her own shadow…”

Bianca slowly swings the sword down with a pained expression. To me, it looked as if she was trying to break out of her own shell.