CH 23

“Come in.”

It was after midnight, when everyone had gone to bed. Knocking on the door with a lantern in my hand, I heard Alexis’ voice coming from the other side. I asked permission and went inside to find Alexis in the dimly-lit room, who was, for some reason, well armed.

“Excuse me. ..?”

For a brief moment, I thought to myself, “Oh, what have I done!?” But it soon disappeared. Even if I was going to give a rude person a beating, I would not go out of my way to invite him to my room in the middle of the night.

But then, why was he fully armed?

“Hmm. I understand your confusion, but first calm down. It’s not like I’m going to do anything to you.”

“So, uh, what do you want from me?”

“Hm. The thing. … is this.”

With these words, Alexis held out the holy sword, the weapon of a hero who always carried it close to him.

“Uh …?”

“Would you mind picking it up and taking a good look at it?”

“Eh!? Are you sure!?”

I received the holy sword from Alexis and pulled it out of its sheath. I had seen him fighting with it countless times, but this was the first time I touched it, as Alexis was extremely averse to anyone but himself touching the holy sword. Hoho, is this the holy sword that was said to have been made by God ……………………?

“Y, yeah I think it’s a very good sword, like a quintessential holy sword, …”

“A good sword, huh? That’s exactly right. Then, let’s change the way I ask. Ed, is that a ‘great sword’ in your opinion?”

“That’s …………………….”

The holy sword I actually held was indeed a great sword. It was made of steel, mithril, adamant, and other metals used for different purposes, and I would guess that it would take much more work just to hammer one of these swords than to hammer 100 ordinary swords.

It was the pinnacle of craftsmanship. It was the fruit of skill and passion, no less than the [Sword of Thin Life] that I had created in the past. However…

“Hmm, I knew you could tell. Yes, it is undoubtedly a great sword, but it is not … a holy sword. It is the ultimate sword made by human hands, but it is not a miraculous sword created by God.” (T/N: YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO)

“……………………”

Alexis smiled faintly as he said this, and I too was at a loss for words. I didn’t think that the sword Alexis was holding was not a holy sword. …? Does that mean that Alexis didn’t have the holy sword during the first time too?

“Um, so where is the real Holy Sword?”

“At least, for me, I don’t know. But it is a problem that I am a Hero and I don’t have the Holy Sword. I had no choice but to use that sword, pretending that it was the Holy Sword for a long time. … Hey Ed, the weapons you built for all of us were truly amazing. So, I thought to myself if you could make a better sword than this one.”

“It… could be done with time and materials, though.”

While the fake holy sword was extremely well made, this was only a general-purpose straight sword. If I fully used my banishment skills to create a weapon that suited Alexis, I could create a sword stronger than this.

“I see. Then …”

Hearing my words, Alexis kneeled down on one knee on the spot. I was astonished that the noble Alexis would do such a thing, and he lowered his head even further.

“Please, Ed. For my sake, … for me to be a hero, will you hammer a sword like yours for me?”

“No, no, no, no! Oh no, please stop! You’re not like that, are you!?”

“My defeat is the defeat of mankind. Therefore, I must always be the strongest and the best. I must always be above everyone and cut down every obstacle that pours down on me with my own hands! I would do anything to live up to that great role.”

“But――”

“Ed, you know what I’m talking about. You are younger than I am, yet you have acquired such skill with swords and blacksmithing, and you know the duties of those who are loved and empowered by God. I am special. I can have anything I want. If I want, I can make anything come true. That is why I must achieve the peace that everyone wants from me, and the future full of hope that everyone desires. In order to continue to be the ideal hero for everyone, I must …”

When Alexis said no more, he even bent his knees and pressed his head against the floor.

“Please. Make me a true ‘Hero’.”

“……………………”

I was left speechless when he got down on his knees. This time, however, it was not because I was surprised, but because I was stunned by my own immaturity.

In the first round, Alexis was nothing but a prince and a hero, no matter how far he went. He looked down on everyone but himself and acted like a “Hero chosen by God”. … That was my impression of Alexis.

That would certainly be true. But he was never just that. He was a man who was aware that he was special and made every effort to be worthy of being special.

When you think about it, it was only natural. Someone who was just getting stronger and better with his power would never throw away his own life at the last minute to save his friends. The first man I met on my journey to the otherworldly exile was not a hero because he was chosen by God, but because he was so truly a hero that God had no choice but to choose him.

“I’m sorry. I can’t accept that request. My sword is not fit for a hero.”

“Gosh.. isn’t that just a bit too much arrogance?”

At my words, Alexis looked up and stared at me with a bitter expression on his face. But I respond to his angry gaze with a smirk.

“Oops, don’t get me wrong. I mean that there is a much more appropriate sword for a hero to use than the one I used. Show yourself, [Akashic Compass].”

In response to my call, a cross-shaped metal frame, about twice the size of a clenched fist, appeared over my hand.

Yes, the sword I made was not enough for Alexis the Hero. Because it was, wasn’t it? Of course a sword created by God himself was greater than a sword forged by a human being who had been given the power of God!

“What I am looking for is … the real Holy Sword. Where is it?!”

At this question, a white haze sprang up in the metal frame. A sword I had never seen before appeared on the screen, and as soon as it disappeared, a red compass pointed in the right direction.

“Ed! Wasn’t that just to locate … the magical beasts! No way, no one knows the location of the real holy sword ..!?”

“Don’t tell anyone, okay?”

The ability to know the whereabouts of any object was too valuable to be used along with [Auto-Mapping]. So I wanted to keep it to just “locating the location of a magic beast I know” …… but this one time, it was special. ……

Because I was stronger, Alexis revealed his true feelings that he couldn’t speak to a mere porter. Then, it would not be manly not to respond. Also, if I get the real holy sword, Alexis would definitely be stronger than he was right now,.. and that future would be a lot further away.

“So, my Hero? Do you need the best swordsman, the best porter, the best blacksmith, and a fortune teller with a 100 percent accuracy rate? I’ll take any job now for a very reasonable price, okay?”

“Hmph, all right. The “reward” for me is to defeat the Demon King and save the world. I will give you the honor of fighting with me.”

“Fufu~,That’s quite an exorbitant reward. Then again …”

I grabbed Alexis’ arm, who had been sitting on the floor for a long time, and made him stand up. This time, I bowed to him reverently.

“I will lead you to victory! I look forward to working with you, my hero friend――”

“Alexis.”

“What!?”

“You said you would do me the honor of fighting with me. I won’t allow a mere porter to call me by name, but if we were to be friends-in-arms. Take care, Ed.”

“…Ah. I’m on it, Alexis.”

I clasped back his hand firmly. On this day, Alexis finally recognized me as a true friend.