Chapter: 75
I forged the hero’s sword with enthusiasm and, as a light performance test, handed the hero’s sword, Chloive Solais, to an avatar created with average human specs to see how it fared against monsters.
“Incredible.”
Dozens of monsters were utterly obliterated.
Honestly, I thought limiting the avatar’s physical abilities to that of a regular human might be risky… but lo and behold, a huge bear-like monster, along with dozens of others, was reduced to mere chunks of meat.
The power and durability of the greatsword, the defensive capability in its armored form, and the cutting force of the one-handed sword were all astonishing. And let’s not forget the insane enhancement from its incredible magical power.
In the hands of my avatar, who had never wielded a sword before, that massive bear monster was minced into dozens of pieces in the blink of an eye. This sword was displaying some seriously terrifying power.
And the armor’s defense… if you pay a tiny bit of attention to the unprotected areas, it could weather a bear’s blow, strong enough to crush rocks, without even flinching.
It felt like I had created something extraordinary.
Hmm. This is dangerous. If this weapon falls into the hands of just one human, who knows what chaos could ensue…
If someone with even a little fighting skill wields this sword, they could easily slice through a wyvern or maybe even a lesser dragon.
Of course, as time goes on, and humans evolve further… who knows? Maybe someone could be born that could tussle with a dragon using only their own body.
Well, it seems I’ve cooked up a sword that’s a little too powerful.
This sword absolutely needs special attention.
Originally, it’s a weapon that only those who meet certain conditions can wield. But who knows, someone might figure out a way to magically circumvent those restrictions. I can’t be sure someone won’t sneak around and pull a fast one on me.
When it’s not in the hands of a hero, it’s got to be thoroughly sealed and hidden away in the Temple of Life. It needs to be kept a strict secret… like, “nobody can know” level of secret!
Ideally, I would be the one taking care of it directly, but…
Alright, I’ll think about it for now. Just think.
Okay then. What’s next?
Should I look for a human worthy of being the hero? One who can pass all the crazy conditions?
Ah, no—let’s spread some rumors instead. Gathering humans through gossip is way easier than checking each one out myself.
Coincidentally, there are plenty of pilgrims from the Temple of Life wandering around the world. Plus, there are quite a few folks who want to join the Temple even without any dragons around anymore.
I’ll pass a message through a divine oracle to humans who believe in the Goddess of Life.
So, I quietly brought the hero’s sword to the Dragon’s Tomb, the main sanctuary of the Temple of Life, and stuck it into a huge rock.
Then I made a chain out of pure adamantium, wound it tightly around the greatsword, and secured it into the rock so it could be pulled out with little ease.
Of course, I sliced one of the chain links in half and sealed it with magic! So that when a human meeting the conditions grabs the sword, the chain will wiggle loose!
Alright, I’ve made my preparations. Time to send out the divine oracle.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
One day, a divine oracle was dispensed to the believers of the Goddess of Life.
“Recently, the number of monsters causing harm to other lives is on the rise, but humans seem to lack the power to protect themselves.
Thus, I’ve personally created a sword and placed it within the Temple of Life.
However, the power of this sword is too great, requiring careful selection of its user.
One with a good heart.
One with exceptional talent.
One who cannot overlook injustice.
One who does not hesitate to save others.
Seek out such a person and let them grasp the sword.
Thus, that person shall become the hero who protects humanity with this sword.”
With many villages falling victim to the increasing number of monsters, the sword given by the Goddess of Life to protect humans spread its fame not only among all humans but also to other races.
Those yearning to wield the sword shaped by divine hands flocked to the Temple of Life.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
A rumor with no legs can still travel a thousand miles.
Moreover, with the pilgrims of the Temple of Life spread across the globe, news spread in the blink of an eye.
The gossip about the sword circulating among aficionados included lines like:
“A sword with a sharpness that can cut through anything.”
“Grasping that sword grants you invincibility and immortality, letting you seize everything.”
“It’s said that if you draw the sword, the Goddess of Life will grant your wish.”
“That sword is so magnificent that neither humans nor dwarves can forge one even close to it.”
“And if you marry the Goddess of Life, you can become a god.”
What’s with that last one? Where on Earth did that rumor come from?
Anyway, the buzz inflated quickly, leading many people to swarm the vicinity of the Dragon’s Tomb where the Temple of Life is located.
People who are confident in their own strength.
Those seeking great power to wield the sword.
Greedy wish-seekers.
Individuals burning with revenge for families lost to monsters.
Blacksmiths eager to lay their eyes on an extraordinary sword.
And then there are those wanting to make the breathtaking Goddess of Life their wife… what even is that purpose?!
Regardless, many people approached the sword, each carrying their own desires, but none could pull it out.
They were overwhelmed by the sight of the sword firmly lodged in the massive rock and were pressed down by the weight of the black chains wrapping around it, rendering them incapable of even budging it.
Even the burly giants, renowned soldiers, dwarves who outclass humans in strength, and even a king from a city-state—none were able to extract the sword.
And so, a whole year went by.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Did I set the bar too high? Why can’t anyone pull out the sword?
As long as you’re kind, talented, can’t ignore injustice, and can help others, that should be enough for any decent person, right? Why’s no one able to pull it out?
I thought that at one point…
But boy, was I mistaken. I completely failed to notice that my moral standards and those of this era were worlds apart.
Most of my thinking stems from the modern-day, yet this era is essentially ancient times.
To put it simply: “Our ways of thinking are different.”
What a colossal oversight… I never considered how “good” in my eyes might differ drastically from what is deemed “good” in this age.
The standard of being “good” in this time was sitting way below what I thought was decent.
If the simplest condition of being “good” is so low, what does that say about the other criteria?
Talent? What kind of talent would even qualify as “talented” in my eyes? If the divine were judging, shouldn’t you have the potential to conquer worlds with a single sword?
The other conditions? They seemed easy enough to me, but when added together, it turned out to be a nightmare.
I could only sigh as I watched countless people attempting to pull the sword, only to end up looking defeated.
Hmm… does the one who can pull out that sword truly not exist?
While I was idly watching one person after another try to pull out the sword, a young boy, probably around 10 years old, stepped forward.
He was just a kid. His clothes were more rags than anything and he was caked in dirt. His complexion was so pale that it looked like he hadn’t had a proper meal in ages.
Others started pointing and laughing at the sight, saying things like, “How’s this ragged kid supposed to pull out a sword that even a muscle man can’t?”
But the boy didn’t care at all. He hesitated not one bit.
Ignoring everyone’s stares, he gripped the sword—way bigger than him— and slowly started to pull it out.
Creak.
As the boy wrapped his small hands around the hilt, the adamantium chains around the sword began to rattle.
Everyone was certain he would fail.
Yet, in that moment, the boy summoned every ounce of strength he could muster to pull the sword out.
As if pulling this sword was the key to everything he had left.
As if he was willing to set the world ablaze to free it.
But the sword would not budge.
I let out a small sigh as I observed this scene.
The boy’s heart was pure. Not only was he a good person by this era’s ridiculously low standards, but even by modern standards, he would still be considered kind.
He couldn’t stand injustice and bore the will to help others, but the boy simply lacked the innate talent.
That talent was frankly below what one would expect from even a normal human being, so much so that it veered into the territory of “dullard.”
His only saving grace was the sheer perseverance of his unwavering spirit.
That’s why I closed my eyes for a moment.
Talent… Talent…
Maybe that talent could be somehow compensated for with overwhelming effort, an unyielding spirit, and the guidance of a mentor?
Sure, the process would be incredibly tough for him. It might involve grueling effort that could very well feel like it would crush him, and he might even utter the words “I want to die” in the heat of it all.
But couldn’t it work somehow?
That’s why I nodded, and the adamantium chains around the sword slowly began to loosen, allowing the hero’s sword to start coming out of the rock.
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