Chapter 28 - I Will Engrave This Kindness on My Soul

“That's excellent news.”

I nodded, putting on a pleased expression.

“Laward has always dreamed of becoming a paladin. It seems his dream may finally come true.”

Of course, dropping out of the academy or getting expelled would send Laward straight into a death ending, so I couldn't ship him off to the paladin order just yet. Still, he could secure a future with the Church.

“I'm looking forward to the commander's personal visit, but it doesn't really matter who comes. If the paladin order has an eye for talent, they won't leave empty-handed.”

“Of course! And not just the paladin order... I already have a feeling people will be coming from all over. I knew I was right! Laward is a talent who will bring glory to our academy—”

“When are they expected to arrive?”

“Well... I'm not sure. They only said they were setting out, without specifying an exact date. It's been quite some time since the official notice arrived, though, so I expect they'll be here within a few days.”

“Hmm, I see. Understood, then. Thank you for the tea.”

I nudged my teacup aside and slowly rose from my seat.

“I'd better make some preparations myself.”

That afternoon, I visited the finest arms shop in the marquisate. Like the magic-item shop I'd visited recently, it was a shop that appeared in the game.

Time to upgrade Laward's equipment a little. I'd inevitably be introducing him when the paladin order visited, and he looked awfully shabby for someone with a personal sponsor. His entire wardrobe consisted of a single school uniform, and his weapon was a third-rate longsword issued by the academy.

That simply wouldn't do. Never mind their first impression of Laward—my pride was at stake.

In that respect, this shop was perfect. According to the game's backstory, a master craftsman who had once supplied the royal household had moved here from the capital and opened this little establishment.

The shop also played a fairly important part in the hidden ending, in the [Swordsman] route's scenario. During an [Outing] event, Laward would pass this shop. He would fall in love with a sword on display, but, short of money, he had no choice but to keep walking.

Years later, however, there was a story in which Laward, having graduated from the academy and saved up money, bought a sword here just before the final chapter and went off to battle. Well, it wasn't a requirement for the hidden ending. It felt more like a side story... but it meant the quality was good enough even for a boss fight.

DING!

As I stepped inside, the scent of expensive spices mingled with that of well-polished metal.

“Welcome.”

The employee greeting customers at the entrance examined my clothes and bearing, then promptly bowed. He scrutinized me so thoroughly that I suspected his attitude would have been different if I'd dressed a little less well.

“Is there anything in particular you're looking for? Here's our catalog...”

“There's no need to look.”

Without so much as glancing at the catalog he offered, I pointed straight at a sword displayed on the wall.

“It happens to be in the most prominent spot.”

It was the sword I'd seen in the game. Its distinctive shape made it instantly recognizable. The boundary between hilt and blade was indistinct, as though the guard any ordinary sword should have had been cut away entirely.

Its form had been refined to the utmost for one purpose alone: thrusting and slashing. It extended in one smooth line, harboring nothing but killing intent, as if defense were beneath its notice.

The scabbard displayed beside it was a quiet ink-black, plain and entirely unadorned. But that blade... In contrast to its crude shell, the blade shone brilliantly, giving off a faint blue glow, as though a sliver of moonlight had been cut free and captured within it.

“You have a fine eye. However, the master only ever made one of those...”

“Is it not for sale?”

“No, that's not it, but it's quite expensive. Rather excessively so...”

Hmm. How expensive could it be to warrant all this fuss? As far as I knew, it was a good sword, but it didn't rank among the truly great blades.

THUD!

I set a heavy pouch down on the table. Metal jingled inside. At the glimpse of gold coins through its opening, the employee became even more attentive.

“Check whether that's enough.”

“... I believe it will be.”

He craned his neck to peek into the pouch.

“Would you like to hold it? You should check the length and balance carefully...”

“No need. Looking wouldn't tell me anything.”

In my previous life, I'd carried around a greatsword I'd received as a gift—or rather, Chris had usually carried it—but swordplay had never been my main specialty. To me, a sword was merely a vessel for divine power and spirits. Something like a launcher.

“Even so...”

“Have you finished counting the money? Oh, and I'll take your cheapest sword as well.”

While I was at it, I stocked up on a disposable one for myself. It felt rather like picking up a few regulation trash bags on a trip to the supermarket.

“Our most expensive sword and our cheapest... What an unusual choice...”

“Since it's so unusual, how about throwing the cheap one in for free?”

“Pardon? I... I've never had that request before. I'd have to ask the owner...”

Oh, come on. Where was his generosity?

“... Just pretend you didn't hear that.”

“Ah, yes... Will you be taking them with you, or would you prefer delivery?”

Instead of answering, I caught the sword off its display stand in one firm motion and guided it into its scabbard, tip first.

CLICK!

The dazzling blade slid smoothly into its sheath.

028

“Esteemed mentor! What brings you here at this hour?”

It was around ten at night, at the academy's individual training grounds. Laward, beaded with sweat, asked with his clear eyes shining.

Instead of answering, I held out the sword.

“What's this...?”

He stared fixedly at the sword in my hand for a moment before his eyes widened in shock. It was probably a sword he'd seen before.

“The sword you'll be using from now on.”

“You mean you're giving this to me...?”

“That's what I just said.”

“N-no, I mean... Why would you give me something like this...?”

“I hear the paladin order will be here soon. You're a student under my sponsorship, after all. I can't have you showing up with academy-issued equipment. Think of my reputation.”

As I spoke offhandedly, I noticed his shoulders trembling faintly. He couldn't even bring himself to touch the hilt, gazing at the sword as if it were some fragile treasure.

“... Why?”

“Why are you asking again? How many times must I tell you?”

Laward bowed his head deeply and murmured,

“I'm only... a nameless nobody who scraped by in the slums. Why would you give someone like me such a...”

He slowly raised his head. The boyishness still lingering in his eyes stood out with a poignant vulnerability. It was unsettling.

“To me, the world was... simply something to endure. Someone who would give me something so precious and pave the way for my future... Esteemed mentor, you...”

Even with his voice thick with tears, he looked me straight in the eye. His gaze seemed to burn with fanatical loyalty. Unlike our first meeting, I hadn't been aiming for that today.

“Esteemed mentor. I will engrave this kindness... on my soul. My sword shall point only where your will directs it.”

Why the hell was this bastard so eloquent? The Laward I'd raised in the game had been a half-wit who couldn't even speak politely. Was he seriously practicing in secret?

While I stood there dumbfounded, Laward bowed deeply once more. He remained motionless like that for a long time.

Dazzling white armor and cloaks. Paladins with the Church's symbol, an equal-armed cross, engraved on their breastplates entered the marquisate.

“I still don't understand.”

The smaller of the two paladins looked up as he spoke.

“Surely this isn't something you needed to attend to personally. All this just to find someone?”

“Hahaha! No mission is without value, Chris! Broadening your horizons is training too!”

The commander laughed heartily in his deep voice.

Blash's jet-black hair was cropped short and square, giving him a stern appearance. His massive frame added to that imposing air.

“Commander, this is no laughing matter...”

“It's a good thing, a very good thing. We can come all the way out here ourselves because we have time on our hands! Yes, splendid! Nothing beats peace!”

“Have you no pride, Commander?”

“None! Only the Goddess!”

“Well, I won't stand for it. You've come all this way. If this fellow turns out to be nothing special, I won't let him off.”

“Don't scowl so much, Chris. You'll age before your time. Your face already doesn't look fifteen.”

“Hah...”

Chris let out a deep sigh. He had yet to become Daywin's inventory and designated door-opener.

“Hmm, shall we split up here for now?”

“Pardon?”

“I'm going to take a look around on my own. Find some way to pass the time, Chris!”

“Commander? Aren't we going to the academy tomorrow?”

“Exactly. Tomorrow. Which means today is free time.”

“Free time... That's what I find hardest... Commander, ever since I was born, I've lived under the Church's...”

“Spend it however you like, Chris!”

The commander strode away with a cheerful wave.

“...rules... grew up that way... Oh, damn it...”

Chris struggled to finish his sentence, but the commander was already far away.

Left alone, Chris trudged down the street.

'What the hell am I supposed to do?'

At that moment, an immense, crushing pressure surged toward him from behind, almost too heavy to bear. It had a distinctive weight that only paladins who wielded divine power could sense. Unlike ordinary mana, this noble yet chilling presence seemed to press down on the soul itself.

Chris reflexively sighed and turned around.

“Oh, honestly... Commander. Please stop bothering me. We just agreed to split...”

His voice cut off before he could finish. The commander wasn't there. No. Blash wasn't there.

“...”

A commander was there. Daywin, looking down at him. Amid the bustling crowd, Chris's gaze locked onto a man whose presence was strikingly out of place.

Conspicuous blond hair. Eyes that seemed to chill even the air around them.

'What is this?'

The commander had definitely gone the other way.

'Why does he feel like the commander...?'

Chris's hand instinctively moved toward his sword hilt. That overwhelming divine power he'd just felt... Worse still, looking into this man's eyes sent a strange ache through a corner of his heart, even though he'd never seen that face before.

Meanwhile, Daywin silently met Chris's wary gaze with a brief smile. Though he smiled as if he were perfectly at ease, he was just as flustered.

'This is driving me insane.'

In the brief instant they passed each other, he'd felt Chris's gaze boring into his back and turned around. Chris. If he had to pick the most memorable people from his entire previous life, this fellow would easily make the top five. Daywin's inventory and designated door-opener.

'Of all people, it had to be you who came.'

As Daywin looked at him with a troubled expression—

CLACK!

Chris deliberately made a show of placing his hand on his sword hilt. He had made the noise on purpose.

“What are you?”