Chapter 100 – Cartia (6)

“So, you’re saying you’re… Lady Cartia Frey?” I asked incredulously.

[Yes, how many times do I have to tell you?] the ghostly figure replied, exasperated.

“That’s… impossible.”

[Well, what’s really impossible is someone like me ending up as a maiden ghost with no memory of what happened before or after my death.]

“I guess… that does make sense,” Rubia conceded.

Rubia, still hugging me tightly like a cherished doll, sighed softly.

“But the Cartia Frey I read about in books was a man… yet no matter how I look at you, you’re…”

[Back then, if a woman wielded a sword, she’d be ignored. So, I had no choice but to disguise myself as a man. Luckily, my small chest made it easy.]

Cartia chuckled as she squeezed her chest, wisps of soft, cloudy smoke puffing out with each motion.

“Hmm… I see.”

After a moment of hesitation, Rubia cautiously asked her another question.

“Then… why did you make that terrifying sound earlier? It was so horrible, like an actual vengeful spirit…”

[Oh, that?]

Cartia grinned mischievously and spun toward Rubia.

[You said you weren’t scared of ghosts at all, so I thought I’d play a little prank. Pfft… but wow, you really lost it—crying and screaming everywhere. The real surprise was that kid, though. Swinging a sword at me… tch, my backside still hurts.]

“Ah, I-I’m sorry… I’m so sorry,” Rubia stammered.

“Hmm… your personality seems a lot different from what’s described in the stories about you,” I observed.

[Oh, great. You’re one of those people too? I don’t know how my story is written, but I’m not some saintly, elegant figure like everyone thinks. I was more of a ruffian and a troublemaker. I was a mercenary, after all.]

“What? A mercenary? Not a knight?” I asked, surprised.

[Yeah. I had younger siblings to feed, so I looked into ways to make money and found out mercenaries could rake it in. So, I became one. After that, I killed monsters for pay, slaughtered demons for bigger payouts, and even killed a dragon when they promised me a kingdom… Well, it’s all in the past now, so who cares? Anyway, that’s the kind of person I was. Whoever wrote those books, I’d love to see their face and give them a piece of my mind.]

“Oh… uh… I see.”

[Yeah. I wasn’t some righteous, holy figure. I was just a human like you, so don’t have any weird illusions about me. If I’d had enough money, I would’ve snagged myself a handsome guy and lived a fun life. But enough about that…]

Cartia’s gaze shifted to me.

[What exactly are you?]

“Huh? M-Me?” I stuttered.

[Aren’t you blind?]

“Uh… yes, I am.”

Cartia tilted her head, scrutinizing me for a while before her expression twisted into a frown.

[Sensory perception?]

“Y-Yes.”

[Damn… You don’t even look fifteen. How can you already use sensory perception? Is that how things are these days? I couldn’t do it until I was eighteen.]

Floating closer, Cartia casually compared her height to mine.

“Fifteen?! I-I’m twenty! I’m an adult!” I protested.

[Twenty? Hah, you’re at least 40 centimeters shorter than me. Didn’t you eat as a child?]

“…I-I ate just fine.”

[Then are you a dwarf?]

“Pffft—!” Rubia stifled a laugh.

“R-Rubia, even you?! Ugh… I’m not a dwarf!” I exclaimed, mortified.

[Yeah, I guess not.]

Nodding quietly, Cartia floated back to her spot.

[Female dwarves are usually covered in hair, but you don’t have any below your eyebrows.]

“W-What… what, wh-what did you just say…?!” I sputtered, face burning with embarrassment.

As my face twisted in mortification, Rubia scowled alongside me.

“How does Lady Cartia know that about her?” Rubia asked, frowning.

“…W-What are you talking about, Rubia…? That’s not the point right now…”

[Wow, I was just guessing, but I guess it’s true. Lucky you—no need for hair removal.]

“Wh-What hair removal?! S-Stop! Stop it already. Rubia, you too… why did you say that out loud… ugh…”

“Ahem… sorry. I was just wondering if she could see through clothes…” Rubia mumbled.

Cartia burst into laughter, her body reclining mid-air as if resting on an invisible bed.

[But really, Noah, was it? The more I think about it, the stranger you seem.]

“Y-Yes…”

[Using sensory perception constantly at a level that would melt a normal brain, wielding a greatsword that doesn’t suit your size, and even being able to harm me directly… huh? Hmm?]

Cartia trailed off, alternating her gaze between me and Rubia, her fingers stroking her chin thoughtfully.

[Aha… so that’s how it is.]

What?

What’s “how it is”?

Why does she get it, and I don’t?!

[This is… quite something. So, back then, that guy… tch… this is going to be tricky.]

What’s with that cryptic tone?

And why is Rubia nodding like she expected this?

What… what is going on?

Am I being left out?

“R-Rubia… do you understand what she’s saying? Could you explain it to me…?” I pleaded.

“Oh, it’s nothing. She’ll probably just say something like, ‘You’re not ready to know yet,’ or, ‘You’ll learn in due time,’ and refuse to tell us anything.”

“H-Huh…?”

[Hahaha! She’s right. You’ll learn eventually. It’s too early now. But at least the priestess made an effort to figure it out, huh?]

“I tried so hard it’s exhausting. I don’t even feel angry anymore,” Rubia sighed.

Sighing in exasperation, Rubia bowed her head politely.

“Then, allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Rubia, the current priestess. It is an honor to meet you, a savior of the past generation.”

[Hmm, yeah, yeah. Hard to believe it’s the same person who was bawling her eyes out earlier, but that was a pretty dignified introduction.]

“Ah… th-that’s…” Rubia stammered.

[Hahaha! Sure, I made it scarier on purpose, but… fine, I’m sorry about that. Now then…]

Looking satisfied, Cartia nodded and turned her gaze to me.

“Huh… um…” I hesitated.

Hesitating briefly, I quickly bowed deeply.

“H-Hello, I’m Noah Shin, an adventurer. Uh, it’s… an honor to meet you.”

[Pfft… haha… ahem. Well. That’s cringy, but I should return the greeting.]

Cartia, who had been lounging in midair with a cocky posture, floated down to the ground. She brought her hands together in front of her chest, erasing all traces of her playful demeanor.

[I am the hero and warrior who represented the Age of Chaos, known to you as…]

It wasn’t a prayer gesture.

Nor was it a posture of devotion.

It was as if she were gripping a sword with both hands—

[The First Savior.]

In that instant.

An indescribable power began to gather in her hands.

The peculiar energy that had been spread across all of Cartia began to pulse.

The landscape depicted by my sensory perception grew chaotic.

Carpeng’s fragment within me recoiled, suppressing itself.

The latent magic deep in my body awakened, rising to the surface.

A sharp, sky-splitting force struck downward.

A heavy, earth-shattering strength surged upward.

The energies, as if slicing through space and crushing time—

Unknown forces—

All converged in her hands, taking the shape of a greatsword.

[My name is Cartia Frey. Pleased to meet you, descendants.]

The sword that formed in her hands was rugged.

It bore no decorations, a blade designed solely for combat.

But the aura it emanated was anything but ordinary.

Apologies to Hephaestus, but…

The greatsword I crafted from Carpeng’s materials might as well be considered scrap in comparison.

“The sword you’re holding now, Lady Cartia… is it the legendary sword?” Rubia asked.

[Ah, yeah. That’s probably what you all call it.]

“I’d heard it was hidden, but… this is… unexpected.”

While Rubia carefully chose her words, Cartia chuckled before speaking.

[It’s not hidden; it’s spread throughout Cartia. Some lunatic spread stupid rumors about it. Isn’t that right?]

“Hmm… it seems so.”

Cartia, swinging the sword as if testing its weight, turned her gaze to me with a faint smile.

[What? You want it?]

“Huh? W-Well… um…”

I do want it, but more than that…

It feels familiar.

I’ve never seen this sword before.

Not in the game, not in real life, not even in my dreams.

Yet it feels familiar.

Why…?

[Want to try swinging it?]

“C-Can I…?”

[Sure, if you can pick it up.]

Cartia chuckled mischievously and began to approach us.

[You’ve probably sensed it to some extent, right? What this sword is made of.]

“So, all the energy I felt… was your power, Lady Cartia…?” Rubia asked.

[Power? Hmm… I guess you could interpret it that way. But it’s not mere power.]

Reaching us, Cartia planted the greatsword firmly into the ground.

The energy enveloping Cartia began to tremble violently.

[It’s not magic, nor is it divine power like what you use. It’s my presence. My essence, which transcends humanity and breaks the rules.]

“Presence…?” I echoed, confused.

[I could explain, but since you’re going to the Temple of Memories anyway, you’ll face trials there and gradually come to understand.]

Temple of Memories?

Trials?

…What is she talking about?

“R-Rubia… what’s the Temple of Memories, and what trials?” I asked.

The only trials I know of are the ones in Erden that grant unique abilities…

“Ah… um, it’ll take some time to explain, so I’ll tell you later. Sorry for not mentioning it earlier, Noah,” Rubia replied apologetically.

“Hmm… okay…”

[Well, that’s how it is. So unless you’re on par with my presence, you won’t be able to wield this sword.]

Cartia stepped back slightly, looking at me with interest.

[Still, give it a try. You can’t really understand something like this until you experience it yourself.]

“U-Um… okay.”

I took a deep breath and walked toward the sword.

As I got closer.

The magic within me began to churn.

It twisted, seeped out, and surged uncontrollably.

Reaching the sword, I extended my hand.

The leaking magic enveloped it.

The slumbering magic in my core erupted, spreading across all of Cartia.

The unknown energy.

The very foundation of my being.

It wrapped around me entirely.

Melded with the earth.

Echoed through the sky.

Following the flow of magic.

Obeying my instincts.

And the voice resounding in my head.

I reached for the sword.

[What the hell?!]

And grasped it.