Ch.59Chapter 59 – Demon Sword Destroyer

Not long after news of my awakening spread, His Imperial Majesty and the Chancellor came to visit my hospital room.

They inquired about my well-being, and when I assured them I was fine, they both sighed with relief.

By the way, I was told that the corrupted holy sword Zebario had vanished.

My first thought was whether my ability might be something more than just fixing objects.

But thinking about it again, it wasn’t completely illogical.

I learned this at the academy—holy weapons like sacred swords naturally disappear once the hero of that era completes their mission.

However, the corrupted holy sword Zebario had absorbed demonic energy and fallen into corruption, preventing it from disappearing even after the hero’s mission was complete.

But when my ability restored the sword to its “original state,” Zebario, having fulfilled its mission, was finally able to vanish.

“Ah, that reminds me. I have both good news and bad news for you. Which would you like to hear first?”

While I was still thinking, the Chancellor brought up something intriguing.

Good news and bad news, huh.

“I’ll hear the bad news first, please.”

In these situations, it’s always better to hear the bad news first. That way, the good news can somewhat offset the shock of the bad.

It was the same when I was working at my company. I always delivered the bad news first, followed by the good news.

‘I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that the company car is unavailable because our managing director got into an accident. The good news is that the managing director will need to recuperate in the hospital for at least six months.’

I’m reminded of my department head who openly dissed the managing director in front of employees.

I wonder if that guy is still working at the company, doing just fine.

Putting aside old memories, I focused on what the Chancellor was saying.

“You want to hear the bad news first? Well, it’s your choice. First, a divine oracle has been issued from the Great Goddess Order.”

An oracle from the Great Goddess Order? What could Epitrina have said through Archbishop Bertrand?

“According to Archbishop Bertrand’s official announcement, the existence of the corrupted holy sword sealed beneath the Imperial Palace of the Gelebrio Empire has been made public, and its disappearance has been officially acknowledged. And in the process, your existence has become known to the entire world.”

Eh? So I’ve become famous?

“The Great Goddess Order referred to you by name in their oracle, calling you ‘The Destroyer of Demon Swords.’ You’ll soon be officially granted this title in a formal ceremony. While this has made your name widely known, the downside is that we’re receiving reports of increased interest in you from various parties. Some with good intentions, others with bad.”

‘Ah, damn. I was worried when you said bad news… but this is worse than I thought.’

The Chancellor’s words truly were bad news.

Destroyer of Demon Swords? To get a title like “Destroyer” with an ability that fixes things!

It’s like naming an iced americano the hottest coffee of the year.

In other words, it’s completely mismatched.

Moreover, once I receive this title, I’ll inevitably attract attention whenever I reveal my name.

This meant my life plan of living quietly and inconspicuously was completely shattered.

“People will likely come to test your abilities, and various organizations will try to recruit you through different channels. Others might attempt to exploit your power for evil purposes. That’s the bad news. You’ll need to be more careful from now on.”

The Chancellor explained various reasons and mentioned the side effects that would come with my newfound fame.

“Then what’s the good news?”

“Would it be alright if I share the good news?” the Emperor asked.

“As you wish, Your Majesty.”

“Very well. First, I want to express my gratitude to you. The corrupted holy sword that has been a concern for the Empire for so long has finally vanished. This means the people living in the palace and the capital are now safer. As Emperor of the Gelebrio Empire, I sincerely thank you.”

His Imperial Majesty bowed to express his gratitude to me.

Though I received direct thanks from such a high-ranking person, my body wouldn’t move properly, so all I could do was nod my head with difficulty.

“I and my Empire owe you a great debt. However, this incident has unintentionally brought you worldwide attention, which has both positive and negative aspects. Therefore, I have decided to protect you, a benefactor of the Imperial family and the Empire.”

Among the Emperor’s words was something very welcome.

The Imperial family and the Empire would officially protect me.

If the Gelebrio Empire, the strongest nation in this world, is protecting me, who would dare to harm me?

“Additionally, since you’ve accomplished a feat worthy of receiving a title from the Great Goddess Order, the Council of State has decided to bestow upon you a noble rank.”

“A noble rank… you say?”

“Yes. Originally, you were to receive the title of Viscount upon graduating from the academy, as recommended by the Chancellor. However, due to your great achievement, you will be granted the title of Count and a new castle at the upcoming Empire Foundation Festival.”

Wow. So I’m becoming a hereditary noble?

And I’ll even get a new castle directly bestowed by the Emperor.

But wouldn’t this cause issues with noble factions that aren’t aligned with the Emperor or maintain neutrality?

“Won’t other nobles object to this?”

“Hahaha. Everyone agreed to grant you a title. And those noble factions? They’re just a kind of theater created to identify spies from other countries or internal dissidents.”

“So… there aren’t really any factions?”

“They do exist. But they’re merely social clubs formed by territorial nobles who own land and bureaucratic nobles who don’t. Besides, both types of nobles understand each other’s importance, so they rarely fight.”

Hmm, so the Emperor’s faction, noble faction, and neutral faction that appear in fiction were all fake.

Well, it makes sense. Who wouldn’t follow an Emperor with proper administrative systems and overwhelming power that extends throughout the empire?

That would be like begging the Emperor to label them as traitors and execute them.

Besides, becoming a noble means pledging loyalty to the Emperor. Unless the Emperor is a figurehead, there wouldn’t be such issues.

Come to think of it, noble factions fighting each other only appeared in fiction where the Emperor was portrayed as weak enough to be a figurehead, right?

Here, the Emperor is incredibly strong, so that wouldn’t happen.

What noble would dare to plot against an Emperor who can split a marble table with just his fist?

If they don’t want their heads split open, they’d better behave.

Moreover, with the Chancellor dominating the nobles with his powerful charisma, I doubt I’ll see nobles from different factions fighting in this country.

“The Empire Foundation Festival will be held in two weeks. I’ll soon grant you another elixir, so take it and get out of bed. All the other nobles are clamoring to meet you.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Ah, life really… I clearly wanted to live quietly and inconspicuously, so why am I becoming famous?

And why did Epitrina issue an oracle to make me famous?

‘I’ll have to visit the temple later and ask her directly.’

But for now, I need to focus on healing this body of mine.

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

In a place no one dared to reach, a space permitted only to a single being.

There, Epitrina was looking down at Pathos through a massive mirror.

“Pathos. You really are…”

Through the mirror, Epitrina could clearly see what Pathos was thinking.

“Sigh. I gave you the tools and ingredients to prepare and enjoy a delicious meal, but instead of cooking with those ingredients, you’re just using the tools to plow fields…”

Epitrina was displeased with Pathos’s frustrating behavior.

It wasn’t that she disliked him; rather, she wished he would take more initiative in his actions.

The ability she had given Pathos could fix anything—objects, people, magic, animals, plants—without discrimination.

“No! You need to become famous to meet more people! That way, you’ll come into contact with stronger individuals! Then you can safely overcome any crisis that befalls the world!”

Epitrina shouted at Pathos, who sought a quiet, long life through the mirror.

But her cries couldn’t reach him.

“I have no choice. If you’re going to be passive, I’ll create an environment where you have no choice but to take action.”

In Epitrina’s eyes as she gazed through the mirror was firm resolve.

“This time, I won’t allow you to leave in such a meaningless way.”

And in those eyes was also a wistful longing for someone dear to her.