episode_0033

“Ugh! Stop it! Stop it!”

“Haha! It tickles!”

The girl who was stuck to my face, refusing to come down no matter what.

I wanted to tell her to let go, but she was too close, unintentionally causing my stomach to vibrate.

The girl giggled happily, and the back of my head started to itch.

In the end, I grabbed the girl’s back and pulled her down.

“Indeed, it’s still you when I see you again!”

The girl, hanging onto me, looked at my face and smiled widely.

She seemed to know me, but there was no way I could remember her.

Since I had never interacted with any children since I went into hiding.

The kids I knew were all either entering adolescence or already mature.

Seeing a girl who looked like she was barely over 12 remembering me was quite surprising.

“It’s strange, I’ve never seen a kid like you before.”

“Well, this is the first time I’ve appeared in front of you with my own feet, after all!”

“Did you also become human like Eclipse?”

“Yes!”

I had suspected since I first heard about the twin girls.

It was unbelievable that a young girl could overpower and dominate bandits with strength alone.

Still, I wasn’t completely convinced as the possibility of deceiving appearance was high.

But the stories I heard later made me feel more confused as their actions seemed unnatural.

Physically and mentally young, yet stronger than adult men.

Such a being did not exist in my memory, so they must have been born during my time in hiding or…

“Eclipse, if you two can also become human, then all the swords I sold could also become human.”

“Huh? Other swords could also become human?”

“From your reaction, it seems like you haven’t encountered any other swords.”

“Well, my sister might not know, but I knew. There were rumors that the Holy Sword of the Holy Kingdom and the Katana of the Eastern Kingdom were ruling the countries.”

“Rips…”

“It’s been a while, brother.”

Tap! Tap!

A girl with silver hair walked towards me, tapping the ground with a wooden stick.

If Eclipse was playful and full of vitality, Rips looked overall frail and delicate.

Eclipse was lively, while Rips was calm.

The twin girls each had a demeanor that suited their personalities.

The only odd thing was why Eclipse had one leg missing and Rips had her eyes covered with bandages.

It was not just for show, but there was a reason behind their appearances.

“Brother, are you curious why we look like this?”

“You always seem to read my mind.”

“Even if it’s not you, people who have seen us have asked the same question.”

“It’s inevitable.”

If it were soldiers on the battlefield, they might not care, but if they saw young girls with physical impairments, they would sympathize and worry.

Regardless of pity or meddling, it was a perfect way to arouse curiosity.

I, too, was curious about how Eclipse and Rips ended up like this.

“Eclipse became like this because of our new brother…”

“New brother?”

“He’s our new owner after you, brother.”

“Since you were auctioned off, it’s natural to have a new owner. But where is your owner, and why are you two separate?”

Alaina belonged to the country and had high authority, so she could avoid being dependent on any individual.

However, Eclipse and Rips were not in the same situation.

Without any special affiliation, they simply flowed into my hands and then into the hands of an unknown person with a dagger.

They had to have a new owner near them.

However, for some reason, Eccl and Lipse were trembling uncontrollably.

“Do you have a master among the bandits?”

The two remained silent, but Lipse slowly nodded.

Could it be that their new master had died suddenly and they had come looking for them after being abandoned?

Before she could ask, Eccl, who had been trembling, spoke first.

“I, I stabbed him.”

“What? Who?”

“I stabbed the new brother…!”

“Now you’ve become a sword that even stabs your master!”

“Ugh…!”

“Wait, there was a reason for what Eccl did!”

As Eccl sat down in despair, Lipse hurriedly embraced her from the side.

To give credibility to the twins’ shocking actions, Lipse calmly explained the situation.

The story of Eccl and Lipse’s new master having a violent temperament, neglecting their care and management, and ultimately trying to destroy them.

After hearing everything, it was easy to figure out whose fault it was.

“If what you said is true, then it was self-defense. Even I would have stabbed. No, I might have twisted his neck so he couldn’t even breathe.”

“You understand Eccl?”

“Others might have thought the same, right? It’s hard to understand why a sword fears death, but resisting someone who was trying to take your life is a very natural thing.”

“Phew…! It’s a relief to hear that we weren’t in the wrong.”

It was clear that Eccl and Lipse were young.

They had suffered needlessly over something that didn’t need to be worried about.

“Brother! Brother! Can’t you become Eccl’s master again?”

“No. That’s a separate issue.”

“We realize the mistakes we made to our father and we are reflecting on them. We will accept any punishment! So please consider forgiving us.”

“Everyone is saying the same thing in a surprising way…”

They were aware of what mistakes they had made.

They were sincerely repenting, so I hoped they would forgive them with a generous heart.

They seemed to long for the past, unable to endure the present.

Of course, it didn’t mean they lacked sincerity.

Alaina and even Ecclips were pleading tearfully.

If they could ask for forgiveness, they might even sacrifice their lives for me.

But no matter how they atoned, it didn’t resonate with me.

I actually wished they would forget me and live a different life. So I decided to be harsh.

“Since I sold the swords, you and I have become completely separate. And after hiding, I have never felt lonely or missed you even once.”

It may sound cruel, but it’s the truth.

Even without weapons, I had a strong body, and the enemy forces couldn’t even find out where I was.

Even if they had found me in the first place, there were hardly any beings that could surpass my skills.

So, even without the swords, why would I accept the swords I sold before?

“I’m sorry, but you are not, and will never be, my swords.”

“Ugh…! Ugh…!”

With my firm words, Eccl sat down in despair.

The lively girl was now facing despair, unable to accept reality.

It may seem harsh, but it was inevitable.

It was better to cut ties decisively than to give false hope and let them cling to it.

That way, they could live a different life… no, a life as swords.

“I have expressed my intentions. I wish for you to forget me and find new happiness.”

I completely turned my back on Eikel and Lips and left.

I should be able to explain to the village children before the suspicion gets worse.

I cut ties with Eikel and Lips this time.

Naturally, since the connection with the bandits has been severed, I am innocent.

I am not the bandit leader.

“Hey kids, are you surprised? I’m not like a bandit leader…!”

Suddenly, there was a hand grabbing my leg.

When I looked down, I saw Eikel crying and sniffling.

“I’m sorry! I won’t do it again! I’ll listen to what you say, brother! If you tell me to be quiet, I’ll shut my mouth even if I have to sew it shut!”

“E-Eikel?”

“I won’t cry even if I get hit until my cheeks swell up red! I’ll smile even if Eikel steps on me! I’ll do anything for you, even if my body breaks!”

“N-No, wait…”

“I’ll do anything for you, brother! So…! So…”

This is dangerous.

Before, the villagers looked at me with suspicion because of the misunderstanding about being the bandit leader.

But now, it was dangerous for a different reason.

A girl with only one leg clinging to me, crying and pitifully begging.

Don’t I look like a monster to human eyes?

To the point where not only the villagers but even the bandits are starting to glare at me.

“Please don’t abandon Eikel!”

“Sir, if you don’t need us as swordsmen, please at least make us your slaves! But please, don’t cut off the ties…!”

Eikel, crying while holding onto my leg tightly, and Lips, crying and banging her head on the ground.

Cold sweat began to trickle down my spine.

“Are you a bad person, Mister?”

“Dad said not to mix with people who make children cry…!”

[Boo! Trash!]

I got burned by the sword I trusted.