“I’m sorry, I don’t know.”
“YOU SON OF A—AAAH!!!”
Kazin’s waist twisted back, and he screamed.
‘Whoever that man is… this is bad.’
Siegfried knew that overcoming the crisis was more important than finding out his identity.
“Si, Siegfried!!”
Elise’s voice echoed from afar.
Despite her encouragement, Siegfried couldn’t move.
The only thing he could move was the hand gripping the sword.
Even that hand could only tremble slightly.
‘Is this how it ends…?’
If he had an actual unique skill…
Or even if he could use some meager magic…
Then he could have used the activation phrase for magic through his moving mouth.
He could have tried something.
But Siegfried couldn’t do that.
All he could do as someone without talent was to push his body to its limits.
And when that movement was blocked…
He couldn’t do anything.
‘Of course… for someone without talent like me…’
With rage-filled eyes, the red-haired man approached slowly.
“…I’ll give you your pain… slowly… hee hee.”
He approached while licking the knife that had wounded Siegfried.
‘…Is this it?’
Just as he felt his limits and was about to give up the match…
“SIEGFRIED-SENPAI!!”
He heard a man’s voice calling his name.
“…The important thing is an unyielding heart!!”
It was Ken Feinstein shouting.
Seeing Siegfried’s back, which seemed ready to accept defeat, Ken shouted urgently.
Upon hearing that voice, Siegfried remembered.
The black sword in his hand.
The words Ken had said when he handed him that black sword.
“If anything happens, pour your magic into this sword. It will surely help you!”
It was a promise that if he won using the sword’s help, he would become his mentor.
And a vow to achieve victory with his own strength.
Thus, Siegfried had never used the power of the black sword.
‘…I will… pour my magic…’
Reinvigorated, Siegfried clumsily supplied magic to the sword.
Then the black jewel embedded in the hilt started to shine.
And the hidden runes began to glow as well.
“What, what the—! How are you using magic…?!”
Kazin, who was approaching, began to feel wary of Siegfried’s unexpected change.
The magic flowing through Siegfried’s hand was transformed by the runes inscribed on the black sword.
And it was injected directly into the black spirit stone.
‘…My body…’
From the center of that gemstone…
A translucent black aura began to flow out.
‘It’s moving…!’
Siegfried, who had been frozen, readjusted his stance.
“H-How are you doing this?!”
With Kazin’s scream, cheers erupted from the audience.
Amidst the screaming question, Siegfried raised his sword and silently answered.
“I don’t know.”
And in the blink of an eye, he charged forward, leaving a black trail with an explosive boom.
“KEEAAAGH!!”
Siegfried’s sword clashed with Kazin’s.
“Just because you lifted a curse doesn’t mean you can win!!”
Kazin, creating distance, shouted while extending his hand.
“ACUS OCULUS!!”
He shouted the activation phrase for ice magic.
Sharp icicles formed around Kazin’s hand.
And they began to rain down like bullets.
‘…I’ll dodge all of them.’
Determined, Siegfried adjusted his stance.
Whoooosh.
‘…What?’
He sensed a resonating pulse from the sword, halting his movements.
As if it urged him not to dodge.
The black sword seemed to impart its will to Siegfried.
And following the sword’s lead, Siegfried slashed through the shower of icicles, leaving a black trail.
“H-How can you…!!”
Kazin’s face hardened at the unbelievable sight.
The black sword swung by Siegfried absorbed the icicles as they transformed into magical energy.
“Indeed, …this is a convenient sword.”
Satisfied with the black sword’s performance, Siegfried smiled and took his stance.
“Well done, Ken Feinstein.”
In an instant, the technique sliced through Kazin’s dummy, shattering it to pieces.
“The winner! Siegfried Gardner!”
Thus, he claimed victory.
—
“Wh-What an incredible sword. Is that a black spirit stone…? Is it a magic gem?”
Mary, witnessing Siegfried’s victory, instantly recognized its nature.
Indeed, the black sword given to Siegfried had a magic gem embedded in it, known as a magic absorption stone.
It absorbs magic and transfers it to its user.
Additionally, the black wood with excellent magic absorption properties and the amplification effects of ebony.
All these materials were combined to create the sword and inscribe runes.
The design of the runes was for decomposition and absorption of magic, and strengthening the body with the absorbed magic.
‘It’s a perfect sword for someone like Siegfried, whose weakness is magic.’
Although it’s my work, I’m quite satisfied with this sword.
Proud.
‘In the game, this material is usually for armor…’
The magic absorption stone and black wood are most suited for defensive gear, mainly used when crafting magical armors.
However, looking at the properties of these materials, I always thought…
‘If I could make a sword with this, it would be perfect for Siegfried.’
And I was able to realize that thought in reality.
The result is satisfying.
“Oh, they’re about to start the winner’s speech. That’s great! Ken’s cheering for him paid off!”
Mary also shared the joy of his victory.
She had worried it might be boring, but apparently found it interesting and enjoyable.
[ Ah, let’s hear the winner, Siegfried Gardner’s speech. ]
The voice reverberated through the arena via an amplification magic tool.
And Siegfried received that magic tool.
Thank goodness it flowed as planned.
Now, to conclude his victory, Siegfried spoke to Elise, expressing his triumph and wrapping up in an emotional ending.
The scene of a proud Siegfried and an emotional Elise shedding tears is one of my favorite moments.
‘Hoo, since I got the result I wanted, can I enjoy the emotional events I saw in the game?’
Standing still as if lost in thought, Siegfried held the magic tool.
Experiencing the scene I witnessed in the game in reality.
With a fluttering heart, I focused on his words.
Soon, as if he had chosen what to say, Siegfried opened his mouth.
[ …This victory is not entirely mine. ]
His voice echoed through the arena via the magic tool.
Then Siegfried raised his head, facing the audience.
Did he look at Elise? I tried to follow that gaze…
‘…Huh?’
It felt like he was looking at me.
…Is it just my imagination?
He continued speaking.
[ This victory is thanks to my junior at the Epiris Academy, Ken Feinstein. ]
He uttered words that diverged from my memory.
And applause erupted from the audience.
“Wait, that sword was made by Ken?!”
Surprised, Mary gasped at Siegfried’s remark.
‘…What about Elise?’
As someone supporting the Siegfried-Elise couple, I wasn’t pleased.
“Who is Ken Feinstein?”
“I don’t know, just some junior?”
More than that, hearing my name spread made me feel a bit awkward.
—
“Thanks to you, I was able to win. I’m grateful.”
After the tournament concluded.
At the Epiris Academy, where the sun set.
There, Siegfried, who met me again, expressed his appreciation.
“I only crafted the weapon. You won through your abilities.”
Ken’s words were sincere.
Honestly, if it weren’t for that Kazin guy’s ambush, he would have easily won instantly.
“No.”
But Siegfried shook his head at Ken’s words.
“I painfully felt during this tournament the gap between my lacking talent and those who possess it.”
The difference he believed could be bridged through effort.
But the impossibly high wall was something Siegfried realized during this tournament.
And he pulled out the black sword at his waist.
“But the gap was filled by this sword you gave me.”
His fierce and sharp gaze met Ken’s.
“If I had unleashed some immense magic, I wouldn’t be saying this. But this sword… it feels as if it acknowledges my efforts.”
If an extraordinary magic had occurred to defeat the opponent, that victory wouldn’t belong to Siegfried.
It was achieved entirely through the power of the sword.
But Siegfried didn’t desire a victory like that.
However, the black sword Ken provided merely compensated for the unfair reality of talent.
It helped him gain victory through his own efforts.
“Therefore, I felt your acknowledgment in this sword.”
Sincerely, Siegfried felt gratitude toward Ken.
“Here today, I vow to this sword and to you.”
All the efforts he had made till now.
Ken recognized and respected those efforts.
Thus, Siegfried delivered to Ken the utmost promise he could offer.
“I will help you no matter what. And I will protect you and my precious ones with this sword you gave me.”
With that, Siegfried made a promise to Ken.
Upon receiving that response, Ken said…
“…That’s a bit embarrassing.”
He awkwardly scratched his head.
‘Well, at least I can now get some help!’
He smiled at the satisfactory outcome.
