episode_0041

Black Sea.

That was the name of the technique that suddenly came to mind.

Though it used a different character from “Dark Moon.”

“I ended up convinced this was the right one.”

A sword that cleaves through darkness.

I don’t know why it’s called “Black Sea,” but—

“……This is strange.”

This swordsmanship was incredibly odd.

Dark Moon and Black Sea.

The moment I learned these two techniques, I realized—they felt like something arranged for someone’s sake.

“Why, though?”

I don’t know why this swordsmanship came to me.

But accepting it blindly left me with an uneasy feeling.

In any case.

The sword technique, as if slicing through darkness, missed Vulcan.

Partly because I altered its trajectory, but also because Vulcan reacted to my swordsmanship.

“That was close.”

As I mentioned earlier, this is a friendly spar. Using lethal techniques could cause problems.

More importantly—

“That guy seems to be of high status.”

He might be on par with or even above Lysiel.

I’ve tried out the swordsmanship of other elves before, but—

Lysiel’s swordsmanship suited me best.

And after practicing it, Dark Moon manifested.

Whoosh!

Though it missed,

the technique called Black Sea still wounded Vulcan.

Lysiel’s taught swordsmanship, Dark Moon, poured forth darkness.

And after observing the swordsmanship of the orc before me, Vulcan, Black Sea emerged.

If Dark Moon was about unleashing darkness,

Black Sea was a sword style that cleaved through it.

“What is this?”

Why did the orc’s swordsmanship and the elf’s swordsmanship feel so similar yet so diametrically opposed?

It was as if they were polar opposites. To be more precise—

“No, that might be going too far.”

It was too fantastical an idea. Was it even possible to begin with?

No, rather than focusing on that—

“Keh-ha!”

Vulcan, who was looking at me with an expression like he was dying of amusement, seemed far more dangerous.

“Kehahaha! You—what the hell was that just now!?”

“What was what?”

“Don’t play dumb! Your swordsmanship shifted from human techniques to those damn elves’—then to our orc style! How the hell did you do that!? No, never mind that.”

Vulcan pointed his sword at me and spoke.

“I am destined to become one of the orc champions. In your terms, a candidate for Sword Hero.”

“……”

A hero candidate?

I stared at Vulcan.

If he was a Sword Hero candidate, this would be the second one I’ve met.

“Doesn’t feel particularly special.”

I’d seen Erme.

And when I met Selly, I felt it—that strange resonance between their gifts and mine.

“……But Rosen’s here.”

Rosen, who had the potential to be a Saintess candidate.

My gift didn’t resonate with hers. The system message only told me she was a Saintess candidate.

Maybe it was a growth-type or hidden trait.

I narrowed my eyes and studied Vulcan.

He didn’t give off that special feeling.

“So you’re the Sword Hero candidate the Empire’s been desperately hiding?”

“……?”

The Empire was hiding a Sword Hero candidate?

What was that about?

Vulcan made a baffled expression at my confused look.

“What? Has the Empire finally gone blind……?”

He casually insulted the Empire, then wiped the expression off his face.

“No, that’s not important right now. I met you, and you challenged me to a duel.”

Vulcan took his stance.

The pressure intensified. The moment he shifted his posture, I felt an illusion of my body growing heavier.

……This is—

-Battle Aura.

Lysiel, who had appeared beside me at some point, crossed her arms and watched.

-A user of Battle Aura, huh. Well, orcs revere Battle Aura, so it’s no surprise their kind has the highest manifestation rate.

Even so.

Lysiel glared at Vulcan and spoke.

-Manifesting Battle Aura means he’s a warrior of exceptional talent. Like me.

“……”

Like Lysiel, huh.

Then this should be easy.

I’m vastly different from back then. Lysiel wasn’t going all out then either, but now—

“……Well, he knows a lot.”

Setting aside my thoughts about Lysiel, I stared at Vulcan.

I could use a bit of Battle Aura myself.

Enough to pressure someone who could manifest it.

Then—

“Oh?”

The moment I released my Battle Aura, something crackled in the air around us.

A power distinct from mana.

Something meant to overwhelm the opponent.

Vulcan’s fierce momentum faltered slightly.

“……Impressive Battle Aura. And your control is remarkable.”

“I’m decent at the basics.”

“……”

-…….

Both of them gave me looks of disbelief.

Did I say something wrong?

“I really am just decent at the basics, though.”

-Unbelievable.

Lysiel rubbed her temples as if she had a headache.

Vulcan studied me with an odd look before speaking.

“You might actually become a true hero.”

“Unfortunately, I’m not a hero candidate.”

“……Are all you humans blind? Or—would you like to join our orc kin?”

-Don’t you dare!

Lysiel shrieked as if having a fit at Vulcan’s offer.

-Those filthy orcs are nothing compared to us elves. We would treat you far better.

“Elves are a bit……”

-D-don’t worry. Whatever concerns you have, I can resolve them once I regain my body.

“……”

I had no desire to join the elves. If anything, the orcs seemed more appealing.

“You could become a Great Chieftain, leading not just orcs but beastmen and those pointy-eared bastards.”

“……That doesn’t interest me.”

“No lust for glory? Even better!”

Vulcan bared his teeth in a grin.

“In that case……I’ll take my leave now. Escort me to my inn room.”

Thud!

“……Huh?”

He collapsed backward.

When I approached, his eyes were rolled back, and foam bubbled at his mouth.

……Is this dangerous?

Just in case, I took out a potion I’d stored in subspace, split it in half—pouring one part on his wounds and the other down his throat.

I’d heard this method could amplify the potion’s effects, though I wasn’t sure.

-Don’t tell me he only just now passed out after taking that technique head-on?

“Seems like it.”

-Incredibly tough.

Lysiel stared with a mix of exasperation and something resembling envy in her voice.

-That toughness is a racial trait, but even so, reaching that level is enviable. He must have inherited a strong lineage.

“……”

While Lysiel watched Vulcan with envy, I was looking at him for a different reason.

“……This guy seems high-ranking. Do I really have to drag him to his room?”

I was pondering that when—

“You seem to be in some trouble. Need help?”

It was Lucia.

Lucia.

The so-called “Executioner Princess,” a woman drenched in blood.

The system labeled her a villainess, always carrying that eerie umbrella.

……Her appearance was so bewitching that I briefly wondered if I’d end up becoming her obsession.

“I could use some help.”

“Ah, you need to get this gentleman to the inn? Don’t worry. I’ll have a servant handle it.”

“……Thanks.”

“If you’re grateful, could you spare some time for me now?”

She shyly extended a hand—a blatant invitation for a date.

“……There are things I’d like to ask about.”

I nodded.

“I’m glad. If you’d refused, I’d have had to eat alone at the restaurant, which would’ve been lonely.”

“Couldn’t you just cancel?”

“Same-day cancellations incur a fee. Wasting money is a shame, so I’d have gone alone.”

Lucia smiled, her lips curling up.

“Maxwell. Handle this.”

“Yes.”

A presence flickered, and a man appeared.

He looked to be in his eighties, dressed in a butler’s uniform, wearing a monocle.

“……A thief.”

Instinctively, I knew—he was like me.

What kind of ability was that? It was as if he’d emerged from the shadows.

“Curious, are you?”

“He appeared from the shadows in an instant. Must be a unique gift, but……”

“Oh, you noticed that much? But the rest is a secret. Maxwell is a precious butler to our family.”

I studied Maxwell.

His movements were refined as he observed me.

This was the first time I’d seen a thief of this caliber in this world.

“……Interesting.”

He was strong.

But for some reason, I felt like I could take him. Thieves were those who used every trick in the book. And I, with the pinnacle of thievery (S-rank), stood at its peak.

That’s why it felt doable.

“……I’m a bit jealous.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. Our reservation time is approaching, so shall we go?”

Lucia grabbed my arm and pulled me along.

The place Lucia took me to was incredibly high-class. Every building in the area exuded luxury, and the people all looked polished.

They seemed to be at least wealthy, if not outright nobles.

“Everyone here looks so at ease.”

The neighborhood I lived in had a vaguely decaying vibe, but here, even a child falling over would be helped up immediately.

Guess money really does buy peace of mind.

As I mused, we entered the restaurant.

Inside, the decor was elegant and classical.

The entrance made it clear this was a place exclusively for the upper class.

“How do you like it?”

“It’s nice.”

“……You carry yourself like nobility.”

“I’m a commoner.”

“The cradle doesn’t discriminate. Slave, commoner, noble—whether you like it or not, you can climb as high as your ability takes you.”

Lucia said this, then briefly wore an expression of regret.

-You’re a commoner?

“……I do look a bit refined, I guess.”

Maybe because I grew up without parents.

I put a lot of effort into my character customization.

Anyway, we ate together. Some steak worth a few gold coins and an expensive bottle of wine costing over ten gold.

“……It’s good, but……”

Thinking about the cost made it hard to fully enjoy.

Was this the pinnacle of luxury?

It was delicious, but not that delicious.

Still, since someone else was paying, I pretended to savor it.

But something must’ve been off.

Lucia looked slightly displeased.

-……You really are……

Lysiel wore an expression of resignation.

What did I even do?

Later, we returned to the inn’s courtyard.

“Today was enjoyable.”

“I’m glad you had fun.”

Lucia paused, hesitating over something.

Just as I wondered what—

“Would you like to spar with me sometime?”

“No, not really.”

Did she think I was some battle junkie?

At my reaction, Lucia shivered.

Oops, my bad.

“She did treat me to a meal……”

Next time, I’ll be more considerate.

With that, I bid her farewell and headed inside.

There, I saw Erme.

She was grinning more brightly than usual.

“You’re even more high-level than I thought.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hehe, you don’t have to hide anything from me. More importantly—you’ve already eaten, so how about a drink?”

“Sure.”

Erme and I drank together.

At some point, Lucia joined our table.

And the next morning—

“……What is this?”

Lucia and Erme were clinging to me in bed.

……Fortunately, it didn’t seem like anything happened.