Volume 1 - CH 9

"Why, why, is that Majin's weapon here..."

I'm not mistaken, am I? I'm not hallucinating, right?

There was no way I could be mistaken, the Majin's great sword was here, in the corner of my room!

Each time I look at it, I can't help but recall the intense and frightening battle I had with the Majin. However, why is that thing here?

"The guard said he didn't know which weapon was yours, so he brought both of them with him.  He also added that one of the weapons is black, and it looked like it belonged to the Majin. On the other hand, the other weapon looked all beaten up, and didn't appear like it was capable of defeating a Majin.  So he asked the girl about them, but because she was bawling her eyes out, he couldn't find anything about the weapons from her."

"...I see." I could understand why the guard would doubt that the rusted sword was mine. 

After all, as he said, I defeated a Majin, but that weapon didn't really seem like the kind that would do the job. Or any job for that matter. Therefore, bringing both of them back seemed like the most rational course of action. Furthermore, everyone knows that a sacred weapon which is broken can still be fixed, but a lost sacred weapon is something that can never return. It was often said to us that for adventurers, losing a sacred weapon is the worst thing that could happen.

Still, this doesn't seem like something I should worry about. 

As of the moment, I was more concerned on figuring out why my sacred weapon had returned back to normal?

While I was fighting that Majin, my sword transformed and turned into a sinister looking black sword. If I'm not mistaken, I think its name was 'Cursed Demon Sword'. It must have reverted back to my 'Rusted Sword' after some time had passed, right?

"Nevertheless Rust, you were able to defeat the Majin with your sacred weapon! I confess I don't know much about fighting demons and monsters, but isn't fighting against a Majin with a sacred weapon like yours difficult?"

I nodded my head at my mother's remarks. She was right, "Yeah.  To be honest, I didn't think I could defeat it either, but..." I slowly stepped closer towards the 'Rusted Sword' as I spoke, stretched out my hand and firmly held it. I stared at it intently while thinking back to the time it became a powerful demon sword. I suppose, it changed as a result of leveling up.

Come to think of it...

"I wonder if it evolved..." I said to myself as the image of a black light radiating from my weapon as well as rust falling from it like autumn leaves, flashed through my mind. Back then, it didn't take a long time before all of its aged skin shedded off and revealed a pitch black sword. I still remember its properties; Name: Cursed Demon Sword; Rank: S; Level: Unknown; Attack Power: 500; Benefits: Strength +500 Endurance +500 Agility +500 Magic +500 Vitality +500; Skill: [Sacred Weapon Synthesis]; Endurance value: 500/500.

Just then, my sword changed once again, and the 'Cursed Demon Sword' had successfully emerged.

Up until now, 'Cursed Swords' had been relatively unknown, and people hadn't seen any magic or skills inside of them before, therefore, how to correctly wield them was also unknown.

Still, if one had really wanted to, eventually, one would have been able to figure out how to use them, wouldn't they?

Be that as it may, my mother who had witnessed the sacred weapon change, was obviously transfixed by it too.

"This is my weapon's true power.  Thanks to it, I was able to win against the Majin.  Perhaps, if my sacred weapon had not awoken to its true potential, I wouldn't have defeated the Majin and I wouldn't have been able to protect the girl, I think." I told my mother as I brandished the sword in front of her.

"Is that so..." Even after hearing my explanation, my mother's surprised expression never went away.

Oh well, it's not unreasonable for her to be surprised. 

However, she is probably wondering why the sacred weapon looked like the Majin's sacred weapon. If others had looked at it, they would also be equally as surprised. Still, my mother shook her head dismissively and spoke to me again, "Anyways, I'm glad that it's become stronger, Rust."

"Yeah." Even though it looked like that Majin's sacred weapon, there's no mistaking the fact that it did become stronger.

With this weapon, I would become an adventurer.

I'd help more people and become the hero I've always wanted to be.

"Well then, I think I'm going to start preparing now that you're free to go whenever you want to go, Rust."

"Thanks Mother.  Please make me a bento and just the usual things you usually prepare for me..."

"There you go saying that again! Your thanks aren't necessary Rust, I'm your mother." After saying that, my mother left the room.

After being left alone in my room, I glanced down at the weapon in my right hand once again; the properties were still the same as last time; Name: Cursed Demon Sword; Rank: S; Level: unknown; Attack Power: 500; Benefits: Strength +500 Endurance +500 Agility +500 Magic +500 Vitality +500; Skill: Sacred Weapon Synthesis; Endurance value: 500/500.

"Cursed Demon Sword..." Is it really?

As I stared calmly at the weapon, I had no doubt that it had strong properties. After all, both its benefits and attack power are at five hundred levels. I doubt there was ever a weapon like this before? All the legendary sacred weapons I knew of just paled in comparison. I mean, how do you even determine this weapon's rank?

Aren't sacred weapons supposed to be ranked from A to F?

On top of that, the weapon's level isn't even written anywhere. 

This is certainly a strange sacred weapon.

"No matter how you look at it, it's a Majin's sacred weapon, huh?"

In my opinion, it's good that it's an ominous and powerful weapon. There was one thing I noticed though, compared to the weapon of the Majin whom I defeated yesterday, this weapon looked more sinister than the former.

While thinking about that, I walked over to where the Majin's weapon was. It was leaning against a wall. As I stared at the black greatsword, I started to touch the sacred weapon to see its properties; Name: Black Hellfire Greatsword; Rank: B; Level: 15; Attack Power: 230; Benefits: Strength +280 Endurance +230 Agility +70 Magic +150 Vitality +200; Magic: "Black Hellfire"; Skill: "Two Handed Sword"; Endurance: 185/250.

By touching the sacred weapon, I am able to get a detailed report on it.

I have to say it is an exceptional Majin's sacred weapon, and as I predicted, it is a quite powerful weapon too. I know that if it were used to fight against the guardsmen, it would probably be dangerous for them.

Of course, in a battle the sacred weapon's abilities aren't everything.  

The fighting skills of the weapon's holder is an important factor that can affect the chances of victory or defeat. Based on my encounter with the Majin, I could have surmised that it was accustomed to fighting and that it would be hard to defend oneself against its attacks. Thinking about this made me more glad that I was able to stop it before it made its way to the village. However, I knew this wasn't the time to dwell on my thoughts of relief.

There was a more puzzling issue that I needed to resolve first.

Right now, I could read the sacred weapons properties. But technically, one is not able to use another person's sacred weapon. Fundamentally speaking, if the wielder dies, the sacred weapon will also naturally disappear, but the Majin's weapon was still here, still it was useless for me as I cannot wield it, "So what should be done with this now?"

I knew that after a certain amount of time passes, the weapon is bound to disappear.

Still, it's scary to consider leaving a repulsive weapon like that in my room. Just thinking about it inside my room also left a bad taste in my mouth. I guess, throwing it out is the best course of action. Or would it be better if I burn it?

While I was thinking of how I would dispose of the sacred weapon, a sudden bright purple light spilled out from my side, "Huh?"

When I looked down, the Cursed Demon Sword was radiating brightly, "What is...is it awakening?"

Before long, the Majin's sword that I was holding in my left hand started to move by itself.

It began floating lightly nearer to the cursed demon sword.

Then with a loud thump, it collided with and seemed to  melt into the cursed demon sword before it completely disappeared.

Did it just merge with my sacred weapon?

That's what it looked like to me.

Why did something like that suddenly happen?

Now that that has happened, maybe my sacred weapon has turned into something else?

I apprehensively checked the properties of my cursed demon sword; Name: Cursed Demon Sword; Rank: S; Level: unknown; Attack Power: 500; Benefits: Strength +500 Endurance +500 Agility +500 Magic +500 Vitality +500; Magic: Black Hellfire; Skill: Sacred Weapon Synthesis; Endurance value: 500/500.

My eyes widened in surprise, "Huh!?"

A new magical ability has manifested!

That is to say, this new magic is the same thing that was in that Majin's sacred weapon.

What is going on?  Did the power of the Majin's weapon transfer to mine? That's certainly a possibility...

Much like how one can see the properties of a sacred weapon, one can also see the details of the skill with a single touch of it and so I proceed to do just that. At once I see this; "Sacred Weapon Synthesis" -- it can be used against a sacred weapon blessed by the evil god to strengthen its properties, it obtains the skills that the other weapons had during synthesis, and only for unequipped sacred objects, by bringing a weapon closed to it that this strength will manifest and ultimately cause the effect to occur.

"I see.  This is a result of the skill..." 

'Sacred weapon synthesis' made it possible for my rusted sword to absorb the Majin's sacred weapon. I was quite surprised, but once I understood it was the effect of the skill, I started to realize some things...

'A weapon blessed by the demon god', must mean it's that Majin's sacred weapon.

Therefore 'unequipped sacred weapon' perhaps pertains to 'a sacred weapon without an owner', right?

In other words, the 'Cursed Demon Sword' has the power to absorb a defeated Majin's sacred weapon.

As it is, having a total benefit of five hundred, (which seems like something that defies the rules), and then adding to that, the ability to absorb the power of a Majin's weapon means that, "This has an inconceivable amount of power."

Perhaps that's why there is no level recorded for the weapon?

When a normal sacred weapon levels up, it will obtain magic and skills, but with the 'Cursed Sword', it synthesizes with Majins' sacred weapons and develops.

It's a very special way of developing.  This is definitely a strange sacred weapon.

"Anyhow, as a result, I've been able to dispose of the Majin's sacred weapon without any real consequence, and now I'm able to go on my journey without any reservation."

As I started to take the first step forward, my vision started to blur and I felt like my world was toppling down sideways, and the scenery around me shifted...

Somehow, I was overwhelmed by a familiar feeling of déjà vu.