episode_0037

000

“Haaat!”

Thud! A sound echoed.

A body rolling several times on the ground.

A wooden sword that bounces and falls.

“Kuhahaha! How many times have I said it! If you’re going to charge head-on, come with the resolve to kill!”

“Damn… this gorilla!”

The black-haired boy gripped the fallen wooden sword and got back into stance.

The boy’s entire body was soaked with sweat.

But the giant who was guiding him in swordsmanship wasn’t sweating anywhere.

He was just standing still and swinging a wooden sword, which looked like a toothpick to him.

“If you get slashed in the place you were just hit, you can go without pain.”

“…Useless information!”

This time, the boy goes *whoosh*!

And a sword strike coming down from above his head.

If he put his weight into it, even this man wouldn’t be able to block it with one hand.

Thinking that was a misjudgment.

The man stretched out his arm, grabbed Cleon’s sword.

And *whirr!* Threw the sword towards the wall.

The man put his hand on his chin and spoke as if it were amusing.

“What is that? Imitating that guy?”

The boy turned his head, as if the words had hit a sore spot.

“Stop it. Stop it. That guy’s swordsmanship is something others can’t imitate.”

“You, of all people… You only teach me swords that I can’t imitate. To cut a rock with a single stroke….”

The man laughed loudly and approached the boy.

Sitting on the back of the boy who was trying to get up, the boy couldn’t get up due to the weight.

“Fool! People can cut rocks with swords if they practice.”

“G, get away…”

The man said that and threw the wooden sword he was holding at the solid stone wall next to him.

The wooden sword, maintaining its horizontal position, stuck into the wall.

“However. That guy’s swordsmanship isn’t like that. What that guy cuts is not ‘humans’ or ‘monsters’ but the ‘evil’ itself, which shouldn’t exist there.”

“…What do you mean?”

“The swordsmanship of a hero can’t be the same as an ordinary person’s. Even more so if that guy has that much power.”

The man looked down at his own hand.

A single swordsmanship built up with the unwavering determination not to interfere with the comrades who had fought together for many years.

Training to carve stones with a sword.

Training to cut rocks with a sword.

Training to break down the castle walls with a sword.

Training to pierce mountains with a sword.

Somehow, the grand name of ‘Sword Saint’ was attached to him.

Even if that guy fought without using magic, with pure swords alone.

The man couldn’t imagine himself defeating that guy.

“Don’t try to be like that guy.”

The man said to the boy.

It was advice from the heart, not the usual treatment of a fool.

The boy was silent for a moment.

“Ugh…aaaat!”

He lifted his upper body by pushing the ground with his slender arms.

Then, the man was surprised by the feeling of being lifted, just a little, and wore his usual wicked smile.

“Kuhahaha! You seem to have gained some strength! Since I feel good, let’s do the next one!”

Saying that, he was about to get up—

“It’s a big deal! They know about Luti…! Ms. ‘Lesia’…!”

The end came suddenly.

001

The past comes to mind in Cleon’s head, who swings his sword purely without using magic.

It’s not desirable as an adventurer to be unable to shake off distracting thoughts during battle.

“Haaat!”

Seeing the appearance of Iona, fighting alongside him.

Through the gaps of that precise and sharp swordsmanship, the swordsmanship of his master from his childhood was visible.

And the helpless self.

The orcs, wary of the skilled Cleon and Iona, targeted the relatively weak Eustace and Theo.

Since they had teleported here from the third floor, they had a certain level of intelligence and tactics.

Certainly, if Eustace were an ordinary adventurer of the same level, he wouldn’t have survived.

Theo was the same.

“Whether it’s good luck… or bad.”

Cleon murmured and pulled Galatea out of the orc’s heart.

He had instructed Eustace to protect his head with the greatsword and not move from the spot.

The armor he was wearing had the same strength as a greatsword, a top-of-the-line item.

It’s something that can’t even be scratched by the orcs’ chipped axes or swords.

In addition, it was shining brilliantly, so it was perfect for attracting the orcs’ attention.

[Krrrrr]

The face of the orc, approaching, drooling, with a sound like a wild boar’s cry, was pure savagery.

Eustace, terrified of the monster he was seeing for the first time, was blocking his body with a greatsword as Cleon had told him.

However, no matter how tough the armor and how good the sword were, the human holding it was a mere level 1 grunt.

“L, Leona! Hurry and do something!”

“Wait! There’s a lot of them….”

The dimensional door was still open.

As Iona said, does the dungeon have a bad feeling?

If you reduce one, there’s another.

If you reduce two, there are two more.

The number of orcs pouring out of the dimensional door in this way was, no matter how you looked at it, not normal.

If the enemies kept being replenished, Cleon might eventually have to unleash the power of the magic swordsman.

‘What is it being drawn to?’

Cleon, coldly analyzing the situation.

When the dungeon’s condition is unusual, it’s usually when something that stimulates the dungeon’s core has been brought in.

For example, an ancient relic.

A holy sword or a magic sword also falls into that category.

But in the dungeon, are they not so stimulating?

He hadn’t shown any significant reaction in the dungeon explorations until now.

Then—

“Hey! You guys, you didn’t bring any strange items, did you!?”

Cleon raises his voice and asks his companions.

“S, strange items!?”

“Yeah! Ancient relics or something!”

Hearing that, Theo raises her hand and shakes her head.

“I, I don’t have any!”

“I also don’t have any such items!”

Next, Iona denies it.

Then Eustace takes something out of his pocket with a stiff face.

“”The Ring of One-Sidedness…!””

Iona and Cleon speak at the same time.

Especially Iona had a ‘oops’ look on her face.

It must be a pair with the original that Rubera had.

“Throw it away!”

“What!? Do you know how much this is worth!?”

Eustace, as if what Cleon said didn’t make sense, objects.

But when he received Cleon’s glaring gaze, he immediately shrank.

“That’s what the dungeon wants! The dungeon’s core recognizes ancient items as its own kind and tries to collect them!”

Then Eustace looks back and forth between the ring and the orcs.

‘If I lose this, following Rubera, I’ll definitely get beaten to a pulp by my father…!’

Fear dominating his mind.

Eustace’s body trembles.

A situation where he couldn’t do either.

Such a lapse in attention was no different than asking the enemy to kill him.

In the end, the orc knocked away Eustace’s greatsword, which had lost its strength, and pushed it aside.

“Huh?”

A blank sound.

Then a rusty axe swung from above.

Eustace felt the fear of death once more, following yesterday.

The next moment—

Chwaack!

There was someone who, pushing Eustace away, was injured instead.

Theo, the party’s cleric.

Fortunately, she avoided being struck in the head, but her back was slashed open.

Red blood spurted from her and stuck to Eustace’s armor and face.

[Krrrraaaa!!]

The orcs, excited by the sight of blood.

Cleon, who took a moment to figure out what had happened, opens his eyes wide, seeing Theo lying on the ground, bleeding.

“Eustace!!!”

The next moment, when Cleon’s roar echoed in the dungeon.

Eustace, startled, dropped the Ring of One-Sidedness in his hand onto the ground.

Then, the ring disappeared, as if absorbed into the ground.

The dimensional door closes.

“…Kuh…. Iona! Check on Theo’s condition!”

“Alright. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Iona rushes to Theo and uses healing magic at Cleon’s words.

But since her wound was deep, it was impossible to completely heal it with Iona’s healing magic.

“I, I…”

Eustace watches the scene, despondent.

His face was mixed with fear, surprise, and confusion.

Iona looks at him for a moment, but soon turns her head and concentrates on Theo’s treatment again.

Meanwhile, Cleon rushes through the enemy.

Originally, he had intended to conceal the use of magic, as well as the use of mana, but now there was no time to worry about such things.

Legs, arms. And mana focused on his vision.

The dimensional door was gone, and the orcs, no longer replenished, numbered five.

Most of them had their eyes fixed on the human female…Theo, who was lying down and bleeding.

‘One sword.’

He stabs the rapier – Galatea in his hand into the nearest orc’s neck.

The orc, bleeding from the lightly pierced hole, collapses.

‘One slash.’

Then, turning around as if flowing, he slashed the next orc’s upper body diagonally.

The thin and slender magic sword sliced through the torso, armor and all.

‘One body.’

Seeing Cleon like that, two orcs rush in from both sides.

Quickly jumping into the air, he stomps on their heads and swings his sword twice to cut off their necks.

‘One ‘realm’.’

Finally, Cleon, passing the side of the orc that was terrified by the sudden defeat of its companions,

In the next moment, the orc was cut off from its arms and legs and collapsed on the spot, completely losing its life.

Eustace stares blankly at the scene.

This is the true realm of the strong.

Equal to, or even surpassing, Rubera, who was the strongest swordsman he had known until now.

The appearance of Leona, returning the sword to her waist without a single drop of blood on her body.

Was strongly imprinted on Eustace’s retina.

Eventually, the orc’s corpses turning into ashes and disappearing.

The spoils remain on the ground, but Cleon doesn’t even glance at them and approaches Eustace.

“A, amazing.”

Eustace exclaims in admiration.

And….

Puh-ock!!

A sound echoed.

Cleon, without controlling his strength, hits Eustace in the face.

Eustace rolls on the ground with the intense impact.

Tears welled up in his eyes with the pain enough to make his mind blank.

“You can understand that you didn’t know you shouldn’t bring such an item into the dungeon. You’re a beginner, and you’re not sincere either.”

“I, I was sincere…”

“But. Because of your slow judgment, your companion was injured, and almost died.”

“… …Kuh…”

Eustace clenches his fists, looking at Theo.

“Today’s request is over. We have to go back to the city and treat Ms. Theo.”

Iona nods at Cleon’s words.

“The request is… incomplete. The purpose was to clear the entire first floor and return.”

And Eustace, as if resentful, drops his head.

“Stop adventuring with such childish thoughts. Without the resolve to bear it, after someone dies because of you.”

“I…”

Eustace opens his mouth as if to make an excuse.

Cleon approaches Eustace and grabs him by the scruff of his neck.

“You’re lacking. In both resolve and skill.”

After that, he carries the fallen Theo on his back.

The bleeding had stopped, but the internal wound remained.

They needed to rush to the temple.

Cleon turns his head without a glance, and heads back the way he came.

Iona also stands up from her seat, looks down at Eustace for a moment.

And then she follows Cleon.

“…Damn….”

Only the resentful voice remained, echoing in the place.

002

“Her condition will improve little by little. Let her stay at the temple overnight like this.”

The temple’s cleric, with a kind smile, reassured Cleon and Iona.

The two of them sigh in relief.

Thanks to hurrying back to the city, they were able to treat her without being late.

“… …”

During the wait to hear the result of the treatment here, Eustace’s appearance did not show up.

Cleon ruminates the words he had spoken to him a moment ago.

“…The party is dissolved.”

And he made that conclusion.

“… …Is that so?”

It was Iona who questioned his words.

“After all, Eustace’s interest in me was just like a child’s interest in a new toy. He might have completely lost interest with this one.”

Cleon, feeling ashamed of raising his voice uncharacteristically.

He just hoped that Iona wouldn’t spread this story to others.

“But. What you said wasn’t wrong. Adventure is dangerous, and people’s lives are also important. To bear all of that… Eustace is too lacking.”

Iona comforts Cleon, who seemed to be blaming himself for failing the mission.

Cleon looks at Iona for a moment and then nods.

“Oh…. Cleon?”

A voice calling him at that moment.

Cleon, startled, lifts his head.

Because, he was still taking the form of the female swordsman Leona.

There was a cleric of the temple who had been associated with it for many years.

Before Kuon was able to do her part, she had healed Albain and Cleon’s wounds several times.

She was a teacher to Kuon, as she had also taught her the secrets of the healing arts she knew.

She tilted her head quietly.

She was an elderly woman, with a gentle smile.

But she was a blind woman, unable to see.

“Oh, oh no…. I am Leona.”

Cleon stutters, flustered.

Iona also noticed something, and quietly watched the two of them without saying anything.

“Oh my. I see. I’m sorry….”

The blind cleric smiles as if she is embarrassed and continues her story.

“…Come to think of it, Cleon is already not in this world. The wanted posters… That child isn’t the kind of child to do such things.”

“… …”

“Albain was also taken by the kingdom. Is that why Kuon hasn’t been around lately?”

The cleric, concerned, mentions the names she knows.

Cleon turns his head, as if he has a lot of things to be wary of.

“Oh dear. I’m getting old, I’m so foolish. To talk to unrelated people like this.”

“Oh, no…. I heard the rumors.”

Then the blind cleric nods.

And then, she gropes. She moves her hand and grabs Cleon’s hand.

“If, by any chance, Kuon…. I’m sorry. I can’t tell you what she looks like because I can’t see….”

“…She’s a cute girl with impressive green hair.”

“Oh! Do you know Kuon? Then, please tell Kuon.”

The cleric smiles brightly, as if it was good luck.

“If she has been hurt, please come here anytime. It’s only listening to her story that this old woman can do.”

She said that and held Cleon’s hand and shook it several times, begging him.

Cleon, after telling her that he understood, lets her go and looks down at his hand.

“…You’re a good person.”

“… …”

Cleon affirmed without words.

At the same time, his head was filled with various emotions.

“…We’ll disband today. You seem to need a rest, too.”

Saying that, Iona gets up from her seat and puts her hand on Cleon’s shoulder.

Cleon, nodding, also leaves the temple, following her.

Again and again. Holding his hand.

The touch of the kind, calloused, wrinkled hand wouldn’t leave his hand.

003

“… …”

Eustace, with water poured over his head, rubbed his swollen face.

When he reported that he had lost the Ring of One-Sidedness, a water cup came first.

Then, his father’s slap followed.

But why?

The anger or resentment towards his father, like yesterday, didn’t arise.

More than that.

The anger towards himself.

‘You’re lacking. In both resolve and skill.’

Leona’s words echoed in his head again and again.

Until he came back here from the dungeon.

If he had thrown the ring away without hesitation back then.

Theo, the commoner, wouldn’t have been hurt.

He wouldn’t have had his face slapped by Leona.

And now, they would have been toasting at the guild, celebrating their victory.

Where could the reason he couldn’t do that be?

It was all up to him.

“Damn….”

Self-loathing, felt for the first time.

Eustace was experiencing regret at too late an age.

How should he release this anger?

No one around him taught him.

“Eh? What is it? Isn’t it the stupid son?”

At that moment, the voice of a man who grated his ear.

In the garden of the mansion, where the sky had broken through.

A giant, holding a bottle of expensive wine in one hand. With the other hand, a chunk of meat for a snack, drinking.

“…Sword Saint, Talcheck…!?”

Eustace could only be shocked to see that man’s appearance.

He had also heard stories about Talcheck while living in the kingdom’s capital, and he had also seen his face.

But it was the first time they had met directly, and he didn’t know why he was at his mansion.

“Why the long face? Did you get dumped by a woman?”

“S, shut up! You smell of alcohol, don’t stick your face in!”

Eustace tried to get away from there, burying his troubles from just before.

“Ehh…. Running away. A man with a lot of fear.”

Until Talcheck said those words.

…Escape.

Thinking about it. He had always run away when Rubera was with him.

Rubera had simply cut down the dangers that were pursuing him.

And the karmic debts that had been built up that way, had come back to him today.

Leona, who had been looking at him with contempt.

Iona’s sympathetic gaze.

And…. Theo, who had extended her hand as if to reassure him.

Eustace clenched his hand tightly.

And he turns back to Talcheck, who had ignored him.

“Sword Saint Talcheck. I have a request.”

“A request? Haha, what is it? Who should I cut? Your love rival?”

Talcheck, making a remark as if teasing him at Eustace’s words.

But soon, when he saw that his expression was serious, he changed his eyes.

“Teach me swordsmanship! If it’s the swordsmanship of Sword Saint Talcheck, I’ll be able to get a little stronger!”

Silence fell.

Eustace, staring at Talcheck, froze in place, shouting.

Talcheck, seeing Eustace like that, dropped the jerky he was holding.

“… … Ha, haha. Hahaha. Hahahaha!!!”

And Talcheck, laughing so hard that the house shook.

The eyes showed something like madness.

Eustace, frowning at Talcheck who was laughing for a long time.

“What is it! That attitude!”

“No, no…. I’m sorry. Kuku…. Okay. You want to learn swordsmanship from me?”

“Yes!”

Talcheck, puts his chin on his hand and thinks.

This guy’s father is a piece of shit.

He judges and belittles the values of others with only skill and numbers.

He never acknowledges others and believes he can dominate everything.

But this fool in front of his eyes.

A fool, a coward, incompetent.

But he is not a ‘piece of shit’.

He had the heart to honestly ask others for teachings.

For Talcheck, what he needed in order to teach someone wasn’t whether he was a good person or a bad person.

He just wanted to know the heart of wanting to learn swordsmanship, and the reason for it.

That was the only absolute standard.

“Alright! I’ll teach you. But first. Sell off that stupid armor and useless greatsword.”

“What!? But….”

Talcheck glares at Eustace, who was about to say how much it was worth.

“Don’t you want to learn swordsmanship?”

“Kuh… No. I understand.”

Then Eustace nods as if there is no choice.

“And there is an old blacksmith shop in the shopping district south of the city. The guy named ‘Bolt’ is the second generation to manage it. Get a steel longsword and light armor from there.”

“Longsword and light armor!? Even those in our warehouse….”

“If you make one more complaint, there will be no lessons.”

Once again, when Talcheck’s glare shines, Eustace had no choice but to obey quietly.

“D, damn….”

‘…The situation has become quite interesting, hasn’t it? Thank you, Cleon. It’s all thanks to you.’

Talcheck, smiling as if he was truly enjoying himself.

004

Cleon, having returned home, shared everything that had happened in the city with everyone.

“So you were in a woman’s form all day today?”

Luti first questions it.

When Cleon glances at Luti, he turns his head with an awkward look, saying, “Aha, ha.”

“Ms. Theo…. You said, right?”

When Kuon asks carefully, Cleon nods.

“I talked to her once before leaving the city. She is a very kind person….”

It’s a pity that such a thing happened.

That’s what she feels, but she doesn’t say it out loud.

If she said that, Cleon would worry about it.

But Cleon also knew that Kuon was thinking that way.

When a strange atmosphere flows between the two. Laila sighs.

“Cleon. Go buy some groceries tomorrow.”

“Have we already run out of food? Okay. I understand.”

“Huh? But there’s still some left….”

When Kuon tries to say something, Laila gives Kuon a sidelong glance.

And Kuon, for some reason, shuts her mouth at that glance.

“And. Kuon, you go with him.”

“…Me too?”

Kuon’s eyes widen and she looks back at Laila.

Laila nods, pointing at Kuon.

“Yes! I like it here because I can study quietly. But Kuon hasn’t been back to the city for several days now.”

“That’s…. I don’t have anything to do when I go alone. If someone asks about everyone’s whereabouts….”

When Kuon looks down, looking worried, Laila laughs, “Hoo.”

“Change-ling!”

And the magic suddenly activates.

When Kuon and Cleon are targeted and activated at the same time.

In that place, there was Kuon, with a somewhat plain face and body shape, and Cleon, with gold-colored hair and blue eyes.

“… … What is this?”

“It’s the research results obtained while researching Luti’s…no, magic. For now, it’s an illusion magic, so the actual bodies haven’t changed. It’s just that it only looks like that to others, and to themselves.”

Laila is proud and spins her finger. And Kuon and Cleon look at each other.

“… Laila, you….”

And when Luti opens her mouth.

“That’s it! I just wanted to experiment with the magic!”

Hoo- and she blows the tip of her index finger with her hand and makes a proud expression.

Seeing Laila like that, Kuon bows her head.

“Thank you…. Laila.”

“It’s nothing.”

Cleon, looking at Laila and Kuon, quietly closes his eyes.

A small expectation for tomorrow bloomed in a corner of his chest.