Chapter 45 : Chapter 45

Chapter 45 - Nameless Magic Sword

I flew to the Citadel with the all-purpose porter.

The porter's screams were still girlish.

It seemed he wouldn't get used to flying no matter how many times we flew.

Still, it was fine because my ears, which heard the screams, had grown accustomed to the noise.

After the Land General Manager left, I chose the night to fly.

The sun had become even more unpleasant to look at now that I had no sunglasses.

For these red eyes, moonlight alone is sufficient.

The obscured sun of Eclipse?

It might be a curse to others, but to a noble of blood, it is heaven.

As it was night, the Griffin flew close to G-District before dropping down.

I could now land or take off by returning the Griffin to the spatial artifact.

Since I was moving around so often, only useless minor skills were improving.

“By the way, there are a lot of people moving around even though it's late at night.”

He must have seen the people even while steadying his stomach by leaning on the outer wall.

The streets were bright even at night, with people moving about here and there.

The area, including G-District, was currently in a festival period.

“It's to celebrate the new councilor.”

“A ne-new councilor?”

“You must not have known since you were at the mansion. To be precise, he’s an Associate Councilor.”

“Associate Councilor…? What's that?”

“With the death of Councilor Hinek, the five stationmasters lost their superior. You know that, right?”

“Yes, yes.”

There was no way he wouldn't know.

Because the one who killed that Councilor Hinek was the Youngest Son standing before him.

He pulled up his hood and continued speaking.

“The five stationmasters, five districts, were divided among the four councilors.”

“Five districts, four councilors… Then one is left over, isn't it? Ahh…! So that’s why there’s an Associate Councilor!”

“Giving it to any of the four councilors would upset the balance of power. So creating a new position is the right thing to do. This is a fact that the Chairman also agreed to.”

26 districts. 5 councilors.

There was always bound to be a councilor who had one more district.

And a strange notion had arisen that that councilor was the next chairman.

Chairman Chapman had scoffed and accepted the Youngest Son's opinion.

It was the birth of the Associate Councilor position.

“The Associate Councilor has only the one remaining district. In effect, he's the same as a stationmaster, but he's an independent position with no superior above him.”

“Hmmm… Then he would be like a king within his own district. There's no one to be wary of, and it's his own management area.”

“You could see it that way. It might be easier to understand if you compare it to a margrave.”

“I understand perfectly. So, who is this Associate Councilor? Is it someone I know, by any chance?”

The Youngest Son smiled faintly.

“Born a nobody in D-District, he worked hard and strove. A man who was a little more outstanding than others became a Branch Manager, and in time, he met me.”

After meeting the Youngest Son, his life changed drastically.

“He was a fellow who risked his life for a gold coin. Since he won a bet with his life on the line, he should receive a reward worthy of it.”

I was giving him that reward now.

And I would continue to do so in the future.

Of course, while giving and receiving rewards, he himself could have choked to death.

But that was up to him.

Just as he did with the Hinek incident this time, he will succeed.

Edwin D. Hacid.

The man born at the bottom of the food chain who came to reign at the top.

He might think he was spinning lies, but to others, he was already a legend.

‘And I have that legend as my subordinate.’

It was a good deal and relationship for both of us.

“My Lord. Are you going to that firearms shop now? I will go.”

Lubosch tried to go himself this time as well, but for some reason, the Youngest Son's steps did not stop.

“I will go this time.”

“Are you going to reveal your identity?”

“I'm creating an opportunity to reveal my identity. I decided to do so while receiving the item I had commissioned.”

“So you plan to invite her once you've moved. That seems like a good idea.”

Lubosch affirmed and scanned the Youngest Son from head to toe.

It was because he was wearing the same torn clothes from his fight with Hinek, which had been sewn up.

His current appearance was that of a clean beggar, to put it nicely.

The two of them walked through G-District, blending in with the crowd.

Perhaps because it was festival season, the street stalls were still open, wafting delicious smells.

This naturally attracted new customers.

It was noisy and bright despite being nighttime.

“Hmm.”

“What is it?”

The Youngest Son was also catching a scent.

The smell of food was nice, but among them, there was one that was particularly strong.

“The fragrance is nice.”

“It certainly is. Shall I buy a few? The Head Maid's favorite candy is over there.”

“Get one for yourself and one for the Head Maid. After you buy them, wait in front of the firearms shop. I'll go ahead.”

“Understood!”

The porter's face suddenly brightened.

He must have really wanted to eat.

He quickly disappeared, and my red eyes saw the sign for the first time in a while.

[Levering Firearms]

The shop's lights were off.

Yet, there was something still on.

It was the western lady's workshop behind the shop.

The nice fragrance was also coming from there.

A room with no lights, only the flickering light of a furnace.

I knocked on the iron door, which looked like a warehouse door.

Knock, knock—

The sounds of life from inside disappeared as if a mouse had died.

“It's 500 gold coins.”

“……”

There was still no voice.

Just the faint sound of footsteps slowly approaching the door.

But it ended there.

The door did not open.

“You won't even let me in if I don't have money?”

“Th-that's not it…”

Voices were exchanged with an iron door between them.

“The finished item… I don’t think I can give it to you.”

“If it's because you made it too well, don't worry. I'll pay whatever you ask.”

“N-no. That's not it. It's the opposite, actually.”

“I find that hard to believe. I can smell a masterpiece even from here. Something with this kind of scent can't be the opposite.”

She seemed to hesitate for a moment, choosing her words before opening her mouth.

“The heat you radiated from behind me back then. It resembled a demon. Am I right?”

“Yes.”

In the East, as well as anywhere on the continent, being told you resembled a demon was no different from having your parents insulted.

That was why she had spoken cautiously, but the reply came surprisingly fast.

“Then it might be okay, but…”

“How about you show me the item first? How about giving me a chance to judge for myself?”

“Th-then, just a moment.”

Unlike a moment ago when it was quiet.

The sound of things being overturned and falling echoed continuously.

If one didn't know the situation, one would have believed that a fierce fistfight was taking place inside.

Kwoong—

The iron door opened.

“Come in.”

“Pardon the intrusion.”

“It's a little shabby and dirty, but still, it's my workshop.”

“Isn't it stranger to expect a workshop to be clean?”

…But this was.

“I-I said it was dirty.”

It wasn't that the workshop was dirty in a workshop-like way.

As if she had just bought a haul from the festival, clean, empty plates were piled up.

The floor was littered with machine parts, scraps, debris that had fallen off from hammering, and sharp objects.

This place looked dangerous to just live in.

But as if she had memorized the positions of everything, she navigated it well without looking at the floor.

It was a difficult task for a newcomer.

After taking just a few steps, I asked.

“Can I see the item now?”

“…That’s it.”

A longsword, covered with a cloth, resting on an anvil.

Its body, which drew an elegant curve due to the great scythe being used as its blade, was graceful.

That beauty was well-felt even though it was covered by a cloth.

The artisan rubbed her forehead and opened her mouth.

“The cloth is there just in case the bewitching curse spreads to the surroundings.”

“Bewitching curse?”

“It's a characteristic that magic swords usually have. It digs into the heart of anyone with desire nearby and whispers to them. To grab it.”

“A magic sword, you say.”

Fwoosh—!

I lifted the cloth.

A black longsword was revealed.

The blade. The hilt. The guard.

Everything was black.

An appearance as if it had been doused in ground ink.

If thrown into the night sky, the eye wouldn't be able to follow it.

Moreover, the magic sword, which absorbed light, did not shine even when illuminated.

It just remained itself, aloof.

Unbiased, it clearly asserted its own presence.

“One thing is for sure. Even without the curse of a magic sword, one would covet a sword like this.”

Shhhring—

I lifted the black sword.

…Something was burning.

It was the hand holding the hilt.

It was the wrist connecting the hand and arm.

It was the forearm above it.

Flames the color of blood ignited, engulfing one arm.

“The demon has called upon the demon.”

Josephine's blue-green eyes could not tear themselves away from that fire.

If the fire in that furnace signified creation.

Then the fire ignited from the arm connected to the sword was destruction.

An endless destruction, determined by the master of the fire.

“Josephine.”

“Yes, yes.”

For a moment, I was captivated by the alluring fire given by the magic sword and the demon.

I opened my eyes wide and shook my head.

The one holding the magic sword smiled from within his hood.

“I am in control now. The sword doesn't want you, so you don't have to worry.”

“I-I see. That's a relief. So, you've succeeded in handling the sword?”

“You could say that. The demonic is drawn to the demonic, and the stronger demon dominates. For now, that is.”

“F-for now?”

The reason he added that was in the system window.

──「Nameless Magic Sword」──

[Description]

: The hardened demon's blood has completely melted into the blade, reborn as a magic sword. At the same time, the magic sword, having passed through the hands of a magitech engineer, is armed with various new technologies, befitting the youngest magic sword in existence.

[Effects]

: Depending on the owner's will, it can change its form into runes and be engraved on the body.

: The hilt has properties similar to the owner's magic circuit. You can comfortably infuse it with magical power as if it were your own body.

: Demonic power is strengthened by 20%.

: Darkness resistance is strengthened by 20%.

[Unique Skill]

: Execution

: Curse Bearing

───────────

It was a good sword.

Anyone could see that.

Shouldn't a sword wielded in a demonic state naturally be a magic sword?

But the problem was below that.

[The demon ‘Nameless’ born from the magic sword requests a battle for dominance.]

[The battle can be accepted at any time the owner desires.]

The magic sword in my hand.

The demon Nameless, born within it, wanted to see the world.

It wanted to crawl out through the body of the one who held it and called himself its owner.

‘Right. I'll do as you wish. I'll come to meet you soon.’

But not now.

Shwaaaaaa—

The magic sword momentarily flared up before disappearing, engraved as runes on my forearm.

“It's amazing, right? This way, you don't even need a spatial artifact. It's the only way to wear a sword even in front of the emperor, I guess?”

“It's not a waste of 500 gold coins.”

“Hehehet. I'm glad.”

The blue-haired girl rubbed the toe of her shoe on the floor and fidgeted.

Her eyes were still on the floor.

She didn't look at the face inside the hood.

That was a fortunate thing.

“I'm building a house. When it's complete, I'll formally invite you then.”

“O-okay. Then it will take quite some time.”

“It won't take as long as you think. Thanks to what you made, the completion time will be much shorter.”

“…?”

Is a magic sword necessary to build a house?

To be precise, it was necessary for clearing the house site.

For that, I had Jubel purchase land that had been thrown away as if no one would use it.

Just as Jubel and the Land General Manager said.

If left as it is, it was a demonic realm, a treacherous land, trash, and unusable land.

It would be the same for anyone living in the East.

Except for the Youngest Son here.

Having obtained the magic sword, I turned my back.

“I'll give you the invitation soon. Until then, I recommend you move to D-District.”

“D-District? Why there all of a sudden…”

“The Associate Councilor there is an acquaintance of mine. If you go and say the one from the back sent you, he'll provide you with convenience.”

“Th-that Edwin D. Hacid? The one who defeated the next chairman?”

“Well, he was at that place. Now that place is his land, so you don't have to worry about information related to Wisdom leaking out.”

Josephine nodded.

“Yes. I'll talk to Uncle Reggie and Kio and prepare to move.”

“See you next time. And Associate Councilor Edwin is probably working hard right now to meticulously cultivate D-District.”

“In that case… you must need my skills.”

“Perhaps.”

I shrugged and left the workshop.

The forearm where the magic sword was engraved felt strangely solid.

Now it was time to go see the house site.

‘Should I take the gatekeeper with me?’

The main gate he has to guard is about to change.

He might be the person most curious about the changing house.

No. He definitely would be.

It didn't matter if he wasn't.

Isn't it boring to go to a demonic realm alone?

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