CH 9

[So I’m Stronger Than the ‘Saintess’]

Naturally, Leia-san objected it.

There are people more skilled than her – she had said.

So, I argued back – In that case, I’m gonna show you how I break the best weapons made by those people more skilled than you.

I said it in all seriousness, but it seemed that it only sounded as a fool’s errand to Leia-san, because it looked to me that she become a little dispirited after I had said so.

Then suddenly, she laughed and said, “…Got it. I’ll try betting on you.”

In that case, I must not let her down.

That being said, if I couldn’t create a fighting style, she wouldn’t be able to start making the weapon, either.

There were 10 days left until the day of the Martial God Festival.

Assuming that it took at least a week for her to make a weapon, I only had three days left.

During those three days, I had to master a fighting style to confront the present strong people.

However, I had 《Phoenix》 skill, my stamina was inexhaustible, and I could use fire attribute techniques, if I was left with no other choice, I thought I’d be able to manage somehow with any weapon.

But, how should I put it— was that okay?

For this matter, I thought just that was not enough.

Leia-san had decided to face me seriously.

In that case, I want to face my own potential seriously, too— so I thought.

“Humph, humph, humph.” For that reason, I was practice-swinging alone in the grasslands on the outskirts of the city with cheap weapons I borrowed from Leia-san. “Oryaa!”

――Boom!

But strangely, I felt like all the weapons suited me…

Even now, I still tried swinging an ax with all my strength, but I felt that it was quite okay.

“It sure is difficult to choose a weapon, surprisingly…” Sigh, I took a breather, sat down on the grass, and looked at the sunset sky.

“——Ah, so you were here.” Fio-chan suddenly called out to me with a smile while holding a basket in her hands.

“Hi, Fio-chan. Have you done helping Leia-san?”

“Yes. So, Fio figured she could bring some snacks for Exa-san,” Fio-chan said and took out a bread from the basket.

“Thanks. I’m just feeling a bit hungry.”

“Ehehe, Fio’s glad she’s on time.”

Ham, I stuffed the bread into my mouth.

What the, what was with this softness.

The bread was light and very delicious.

While I was eating, I asked Fion-chan to pass the time. “Hey, Fio-chan. What kind of weapon do you think suits me?”

“A weapon that suits Exa-san, is it?”

“Un.”

“Err, Fio doesn’t really understand, but what is your favorite weapon, Exa-san?”

“My favorite weapon?”

“Yes.”

I wasn’t sure if asked that.

The sword went without saying, the spear seemed would be easy to use if I got used to it, and the bow was so cool.

Whereas the axe gave off ‘manly’ feelings… hmm.

“Ehehe, sorry. It looked like that made you at a loss. Then, umm… how about, what do you think is the strongest weapon, or something…”

“The strongest weapon…” That would be… the ‘sword’, I guessed.

I mean, I’d been watching it all this time.

The figure of my childhood friend who had the rare skill that allowed her master all sword techniques——《Sword Saint》.

And I’d been inflicted.

By all the damage she received.

In other words——

“…I see. So that’s the case.”

“?”

At Fio-chan who showed a confused face, I gulped down the bread I had in my hand in one go. “Thanks, Fio-chan! I think I’ve somehow figured it out!”

◇ ◇

And then, on the day of the Martial God Festival.

I was in the center of the arena surrounded by excited cheering.

Of course, Fio-chan and Leia-san were in the spectators’ seats; both of them were watching the match with worried looks.

Opposite to me was a muscular, giant man dressed in full plate armor, wielding a huge long-handled battle axe.

If I received it head-on, I probably wouldn’t be able to escape fatal injuries.

Well, I was immortal though. That said, I had no intention getting hit by it.

“That’s your weapon? I heard it’s a weapon from the blacksmith Rafla’s shop, but what an unbalanced dagger. It looks like the handle is a little too long.”

“Well, of course. This isn’t a dagger, after all.”

“What? Then, what do you call it?”

Gon! The bell for the start of the match rang.

――Blaze!

“Wha!?”

At that moment, a blade of condensed flames came out of the weapon in my hand, and the man opened his eyes wide in astonishment.

Yes, this wasn’t a dagger.

This was a weapon to convert the power of Lord Fire God sleeping within me——in other words, the power of flames, into a blade.

“——‘Magic Blade-Sword Hinokaguzuchi’. That is the name of this weapon.” [TL: Hinokaguzuchi, ヒノカグヅチ = god of fire or incarnate of fire. It’s usually spelled hinokagutsuchi, too.]

“Magic Blade-Sword Hinokaguzuchi…” The man murmured as if ruminating, but then, he leaked a smile and said, “I see. It has an exaggerated name, but in the end, isn’t it just an attribute weapon? Besides, that form——it seems to be emphasizing on speed.

“In other words,” the man held up his battle axe.

Then.

“You won’t be able to get through me who is specialized in defense!”

――Boom!

He attacked me with all his strength in order to take me down.

But.

――Clang!

“Guh!?”

I repelled him back with a blow of tremendous speed.

◇ ◇

I had a childhood friend.

She was overflowing with talent and I was talentless.

So I took all the damage received by her, who had a promising future, in her stead.

No matter how slight the damage or the burden was, I took it all.

For years on end, I continued to take the damage as well as the movements of her who had 《Sword Saint》 skill.

The exact same burden was continuously passed on to my body.

Which meant——it was the same as I had the 《Sword Saint》 skill.

So there was no way I couldn’t.

There was no way I couldn’t use long swords, dual swords, rapiers, two-handed swords, great swords——all kinds of swords.

――Shakin!

“Wha!? Now it changed to dual swords!? ——Gah!?”

After dividing the handle into two and launching slashes with a speed that couldn’t even be followed with the eye, I returned the handle to one again and manifested a blade of flames.

The next thing that appeared was a giant blade that seemed to be able to cut down even a Flying Dragon in one slash.

“Hold it—, wai——”

Elma could use nothing but the Holy Sword.

Even if she practiced various sword techniques, her choice of weapon was limited.

That meant, I, who could switch weapons in an instant, was stronger than the ‘saintess’!

――Zugan!

Like that, I swung down mercilessly onto the man’s head.