Light and Darkness (2)

Life is truly ironic.

I always pursued a peaceful life.

Even after coming to a fantasy world, I only wanted to defeat the Demon King and quietly return to the modern world.

,Haa…”

A sigh became a white breath and drifted away. In the raging blizzard, I raised my head and looked up at the sky. The pouring heavy snow obscured my vision.

I thought the only thing chasing me on this snow mountain would be the cold. I thought I had escaped the madness-filled pursuit of my party members.

The black inverted cross on the back of my left hand throbbed. Following that, the white cross on the back of my right hand also tingled.

“Now I’m in a situation where I have to appease even sulking swords.”

Sighing, I raised my right hand. A conversation was needed.

“Yeomyeong.”

Woong-

With a faint vibration, I was rejected. No matter how much I called, the Holy Sword did not appear.

‘This is… is it really sulking.’

I rummaged through my bag and took out Holy Water. It’s the highest-grade Holy Water obtained from the clergy. It was originally for blessing rituals, but…

“Yeomyeong-ah?”

[Hmph.]

Calling it as kindly as possible, it finally revealed itself. But the light of the sword spirit was still cold.

“Here, look at this. It’s special Holy Water received from the Saintess-nim.”

[Are you trying to appease me with that measly Holy Water?]

“This is the last one left…”

The Holy Sword, which had been emitting a faint light, trembled for a moment.

[…Really?]

“Yeah. I’m going to use the last one on you.”

Of course, I have plenty in my inventory. But there’s no need to tell it that.

Carefully, I wiped the sword’s blade with a cloth soaked in Holy Water. As the sacred energy spread, Yeomyeong’s light gradually warmed.

“Do you remember the day we first met? I wiped you down like this back then too.”

[Hmph… I didn’t think you’d remember.]

“Of course, I remember. You’re my first sword.”

Sseueuk-

Each time the cloth soaked in Holy Water brushed against it, the Holy Sword emitted a pleasant vibration.

[Ah… a little more there…]

“Here?”

[Yes… Ah, that feels good…]

The Holy Sword twisted its body and emitted a sweet vibration.

Having been together for a long time, I know exactly where and how to make it happy.

No, saying it like this sounds weird. Of course, I’m talking about sword care.

“And remember? The first time we defeated a minion of the Demon King.”

[Yes… when your swordsmanship was clumsy.]

“Hey, but we overcame it. Together.”

[Back then… you were really cool…]

“How many enemies have we defeated since then. We caught the corps commander too… and the Four Heavenly Kings…”

[Right… we could beat anything with just the two of us…]

A slightly gloomy voice. It must have remembered the Dark Sword.

I took out a golden decorative cord from my pocket. It’s a high-end accessory obtained from the dungeon.

[Oh my, that’s…]

“I saved it for you. I thought it would look good on you.”

Carefully, I wrapped the decorative cord around the sword’s hilt. A sacred aura swirled, and Yeomyeong’s light became even brighter.

[Are you sure you can give something like this to me…?]

“Of course. You’re my first sword.”

[Again… you’re saying that again…]

The Holy Sword’s light turned warm.

“We’ll be together in the future too.”

[Really… really? What about that Dark Sword…]

“You with your own style, and it with its own style.”

[Well… I understand your feelings. But… you should distance yourself from that Dark Sword?]

“Yeah, yeah.”

I unsummoned the Holy Sword and this time raised my left hand. Time to appease another troublemaker.

According to ancient Eastern legends, tools that have been loved for a long time are said to have souls.

A brush that has been with someone for a hundred years, a sword that has been passed down for a thousand years. The story is that the owner’s affection and time accumulate, and a soul dwells within.

“Sigh… where did my life go wrong?”

I looked at the black mark on the back of my left hand. Why is the Dark Sword, which I’ve only had for a week, acting like this?

“Hwanghon.”

[Oh my, you’re looking for me now?]

A sweet yet provocative voice. The Dark Sword emitted a purplish-black light.

“Here, look at this.”

I took out a high-end potion. It’s a special product with a vivid red light.

[Treating me the same as the Holy Sword… I’d prefer something more special?]

“Something special? You like blood? Don’t worry, this potion is mixed with dragon’s blood.”

[Really…?]

“Yeah, it’s a special potion made by the Golden Dragon.”

Alice kept trying to feed it to me persistently. So, I pretended to drink it and stored it in my inventory.

[Aah… this power… I really like it…]

“How about this then?”

I took out an S-class Demon Beast’s magic stone.

[Oh my… such a high-class thing…]

“It’s a snack. Our Dark Sword-nim should eat at least this much.”

As it absorbed the magic power of the magic stone, the Dark Sword’s energy increased explosively. A purplish-black mist swirled and rose.

[Hehe… as expected, you know my tastes~]

“Okay, is that enough now?”

[Hmph… well, for now.]

“So, about that…”

[Hm?]

“The Holy Sword and…”

[Hmph. Don’t even mention that old-fashioned sword.]

“No, that’s…”

[I only need you… I don’t need any other swords…]

“Then let’s stop here for today.”

[Already? You haven’t even properly appeased me yet…]

“Next time.”

I hurriedly unsummoned the Dark Sword. If I left it like this, it felt like it would say something strange again.

“Haa…”

Sighing, I looked up at the sky. The sky was clear without a single cloud.

‘What is all this.’

*

I quickened my pace. The snowstorm on the snow mountain was getting stronger.

The road to the Northern Grand Duke’s territory was still not smooth.

Especially because of the voices of the two swords ringing in both hands.

[Haru-nim, shouldn’t you discard that vulgar sword right away?]

[Oh my, I’m the one who’s embarrassed to be with such an old-fashioned Holy Sword.]

A sigh escaped on its own. The bickering that started in the morning continued past noon and into the evening.

[I’m the owner’s main wife! For 5 years…]

[Main wife? Hehehe… you couldn’t even say a word during that long time?]

The Holy Sword’s light blazed fiercely. The Dark Sword’s darkness also deepened.

[I… I was being cautious! A deep relationship is…]

[Deep? We’re the ones who shared a deep connection, right, Master?]

“Talk without me.”

[Haru-nim’s main wife, the main weapon is me!]

[Main wife, huh… Hehe, but what are you going to do with just that attack power?]

The Holy Sword’s blade trembled with anger. The surrounding air froze coldly.

[Just? How many enemies do you think I’ve defeated…]

[Yeah, yeah, but the era of the Holy Sword is over now. Don’t you remember? The Automata being torn like paper with just one of my slashes? Unlike someone else. Pfft.]

The Dark Sword whispered provocatively. The purplish-black energy deepened further.

[Hmph, that measly destructive power isn’t everything. My sacred protection is…]

[These days, attack is the best defense, right?]

The two swords vibrated simultaneously, emitting their energy. The surrounding snowstorm swirled.

[Haru-nim! One sword is enough. Like it has been for 5 years…]

[The owner’s SSS-class durability is for me, right? Our thrilling combination…]

“Ah, seriously!”

The suppressed annoyance exploded. I slammed both swords down at the same time.

“Aren’t you guys being too much for swords?”

[Huh?]

[Eh?]

“At least transform into human forms or something!”

The snow mountain became silent for a moment. It felt like the blizzard had stopped too.

[…Human form? Is that even possible?]

[Master… what are you even expecting from a sword?]

“No, I mean… you’re both jealous and everything…”

[Don’t tell me… you want us to transform into pretty girls…]

[Oh my, your taste is quite unique?]

“Agh…”

[But I’m a Holy Sword! Such a request is difficult… well, it’s not like I hate it or anything….]

[Hehehe… this is going to be fun?]

“Wait, don’t misunderstand.”

[As expected, Master… when you stroke the sword usually…]

[So, that’s why you’ve been taking such good care of me usually?]

“So… isn’t it weird for swords to confess and be jealous of me until now?”

[Th… that’s different from this!]

[Yeah! Even if we’re swords, our hearts are sincere!]

Even the Dark Sword jumped in, getting angry.

“No, you’re both swords? What heart does a sword have.”

The air on the snow mountain froze for a moment. Both swords began to tremble simultaneously.

Usually, they would have been growling at each other.

“Wait… until just now, you were trying to kill each other…”

[Even if we’re just swords, our hearts are sincere!]

[Yeah! You’re being too much, Master!]

No, wait a minute. Something’s wrong here?

[Looking down on us just because we’re swords… men are all the same!]

[That’s right! What does form matter?]

The two swords vibrated and cried at the same time. This situation where they suddenly became one.

“Hey, wait a minute…”

The situation was getting even weirder. The two swords that were fighting each other suddenly formed a united front.

[Now that I see it, you’re the real problem, Haru-nim?]

[Yeah~ we should punish such a bad Master…]

“No, what is this now…”

This is really bad. Now they’ve both started cornering me.

The Holy Sword’s light and the Dark Sword’s darkness mixed and swirled around. The opposing energies collided and sparked.

“Was it better when you were fighting each other…”

At least then, one of you was on my side.

[You still don’t show any signs of remorse?]

[To mock my pure heart…]

“Mock what…”

[Be quiet!]

[I don’t want to hear it!]

The marks on both hands felt like they were burning. The bickering of the two swords had reached its limit.

“I really can’t stand it anymore.”

Instantly, I raised both hands.

“Yeomyeong.”

“Hwanghon.”

The next moment, my eyes flashed. The Holy Sword appeared in my right hand, and the Dark Sword in my left.

[Oh my?]

[Huh?]

Light and darkness wavered from the sword’s blades. A vibration as if they hadn’t grasped the situation.

“You hate each other so much, right? Then I’ll make you get along.”

[Wh, what are you going to do…]

[Wa… wait a minute!]

I slowly crossed the two swords. The moment the sword blades touched each other.

Jjing-!

Sparks flew and a strange sound rang out.

The Holy Sword’s light and the Dark Sword’s darkness collided. Magic sparks flew each time the two sword blades clashed. Two different types of magic mixed and sparked.

[Kyaa! Y, you can’t do this!]

The Holy Sword trembled as if embarrassed. The pure white light turned red.

[Ma, Master… this is a bit…]

The Dark Sword’s purplish-black energy fluctuated. Where did its usual provocative attitude go?

I rubbed the two swords together even harder. The Holy Sword’s light and the Dark Sword’s darkness mixed.

[Ah… no… this is my first time with something like this…]

[Stop! This feels weird!]

“We haven’t even started yet?”

Each time the sword blades rubbed against each other, magic sparks flew. White and black magic danced in the air.

[Are we… are we going to break down like this?]

The two swords spoke in worried voices at the same time. But it was already too late.

[No… not something like this…]

[Aah, a little… a little more…]

The surrounding blizzard was caught up in the energy of the two swords. A vortex of light and darkness covered the sky.

“Okay, are you a little more used to each other now?”

[Haa… Haru-nim… you’re being too much…]

[How could you do this? To a Dark Sword like me…!]

The voices of the two swords rang out breathlessly.

“Are you going to get along from now on?”

[Because of this lewd sword… I have to suffer such a shameful thing…]

[Lewd, who was the one crying so sweetly until just now!]

“Still noisy?”

I took out a golden rope from my bag.

The two swords trembled simultaneously. The Holy Sword’s light wavered, and the Dark Sword’s darkness fluctuated.

“This is the last warning.”

I tied the two swords tightly with the rope. The Holy Sword and the Dark Sword were forcibly pressed together.

[Aht… it’s too tight…]

[I… I don’t like this…]

“If you’re still noisy, I’ll put you in one scabbard.”

[Neee?!]

The two swords screamed at the same time. A fierce vibration was transmitted through the rope.

[That can’t happen! Absolutely!]

[Ra… rather melt me!!]

“Melt what? Should I keep rubbing you together? Should I melt all the snow around here?”

[No!]

[I hate it!]

The two swords cried out in desperate voices. The rope vibrated so much that it swayed.

As time passed, the magic power gradually weakened. As if they were exhausted.

[Haru-nim… I was wrong…]

The Holy Sword’s light trembled faintly. Like a scolded child.

[I won’t do it again… please forgive me….]

The Dark Sword, too, had lost its usual provocative attitude and become a gentle lamb.

“If you fight again in the future, you know this will happen.”

I smiled with satisfaction. Has peace finally arrived?

As soon as I untied the rope, the two swords were unsummoned in an instant.

“Um… did you sincerely repent?”

[Yes! Really!]

[I’m serious! I swear!]

“Are you going to get along from now on?”

[Of course…]

[Of course…]

But that was then.

[I’ll be sure to remember this incident…]

[I won’t forget this grudge…]

“What did you say?”

[Nothing!]

[Absolutely nothing!]

After that, peace came on the surface. At least in front of me.

But sometimes I could feel the energy the two swords were emitting towards each other.

Still, it wasn’t as noisy as before. This was satisfactory enough.

“Well… is this enough.”

Sighing, I quickened my pace.

Adjusting the relationship between swords… a situation I couldn’t have imagined in the game.

At the end of the long journey, the clouds parted. Beyond the blizzard, a huge fortress wall revealed itself.

Frostguard, the heart of the North and the fortress of eternal winter.

“Finally…”

A small smile appeared on my lips. Spires carved from ice pierced the sky. Silver flags fluttered above the fortress walls.

At least, that’s how it looked on the outside. This place, called the snow mountain fortress, is a place that no one can easily invade.

“I can finally rest a bit.”

Right now, I just missed a warm bed.