Chapter: 287
The holy sword chooses its master on its own.
And here, there was a holy sword that had chosen a boy as its master.
Its name, “Gwanghui,” shone brightly in front of its master, ensuring he did not lose his way.
Although the boy Gwanghui had chosen was currently in a comatose state, Gwanghui remained by his side like a loyal knight, watching over his unconscious master.
“Yoon Si-woo, I’m coming in.”
‘Here she comes again today.’
Gwanghui thought as it looked at the girl who had come to visit its master.
With her fiery red hair and eyes, the girl was not an ordinary human but a being known as a “witch”.
Moreover, she was the one responsible for putting Gwanghui’s master in this unconscious state.
Still, Gwanghui harbored no ill feelings toward the girl.
This was partly because Gwanghui had a colleague who served the same master and was also a “witch”.
And it was also because Gwanghui understood that its master had willingly faced this fate to protect the girl.
Above all, from what Gwanghui had observed, the girl possessed a noble and upright soul.
Therefore, Gwanghui actually held some affection for her.
In fact, if it hadn’t met its current master first, Gwanghui thought it might have chosen her instead.
Of course, if it were its current master, no matter the order of their meetings, Gwanghui would have eventually selected him as its master.
The one Gwanghui had chosen as its master was truly a being beloved by the sword.
From the moment it first laid eyes on him, the thought, “Ah, this person is the one I must serve!” instantly crossed its mind. That was how captivating he was.
After all, there were few people in existence who owned several swords, each with distinct tastes and standards.
Well, enough with the digressions.
To put it simply, Gwanghui had quite the fondness for the girl.
If it had to quantify it, it might equate to roughly one-fifth of the affection Gwanghui’s master, the boy, felt for her.
Though that might sound vague, it indicated a substantial fondness.
“… I really wish you’d wake up, even just a bit.”
How could any servant dislike someone who gazes with such yearning eyes at their master?
As Gwanghui basked in satisfaction, thinking, ‘She certainly seems like a fitting partner for my lord,’ it was then that…
“Anyway, Yoon Si-woo, can I borrow your sword? I need the abilities of your sword, as I’m going to hunt down the Witch of Lust soon. I’ll be careful with it and return it in its original state, so don’t worry too much.”
This was what Gwanghui heard from the girl.
Borrow your sword? She needed it to hunt the witch?
Aah, that means…
‘Hehe, so it’s just like that. You need my help, do you, girl?’
Gwanghui was indeed the kind of holy sword that believed it should be helpful to its master above all else.
Thus, Gwanghui decided to lend its power to the girl.
Although Gwanghui upheld the principle that it shouldn’t intervene with anyone other than the master it had chosen, this case was an exception.
The girl was someone who cared for its master more than anyone else, and she was also someone whom the master cherished deeply, so helping her was almost equivalent to helping its master.
Of course, the fact that the girl conformed to Gwanghui’s established criteria also played a role.
Anyhow, for these reasons, Gwanghui decided to lend its strength to the girl. It burst into dazzling light before her, declaring,
– “I understand, girl! You are a being cherished by my lord, so I shall lend you my power! This ‘Gwanghui’ shall illuminate your path!”
Truly magnificent.
Gwanghui was extraordinarily proud of itself.
The previous line expressed the perfect image of an ideal knight.
Gwanghui was a holy sword granted to a loyal knight who had served a royal family for generations.
Though ages had passed and the ancient kingdom had fallen, Gwanghui had remained influenced by that era, viewing itself as a knight.
Calling its master a ‘lord’ was also a result of this.
In any case, while Gwanghui delighted in the situation of being able to help someone cherished by its master, suddenly…
“… Gwanghui’s holy sword?”
Unfortunately, it seemed something was amiss.
For some reason, the girl wore an expression of confusion.
“What…?”
Why was she reacting this way?
Gwanghui had anticipated she would exclaim something like, ‘Ah, Gwanghui! How reassuring!’
“…?”
-…?
Perhaps this was the reason.
As the girl tilted her head, Gwanghui imitated her, tilting its own head in confusion.
Neither of them seemed to understand what the situation was.
Amid this peculiar dissonance, just as Gwanghui was flustered, the girl began to speak up, asking,
“… Hey, why did you suddenly appear?”
Suddenly appear, she asks?
In response to her question, Gwanghui tilted its head again, muttering.
– “Why, didn’t you just ask for me to lend you my power?”
Surprisingly, she had made the request herself, yet now she appeared oblivious to the reason.
But the girl only gave a blank stare, as if she hadn’t heard Gwanghui’s answer.
That was only natural.
While swords do have their own consciousness, ordinary beings cannot hear a sword’s voice.
Of course, there were exceptions where a sword that was also a witch could communicate with both parties.
Regardless, Gwanghui had to convey its intentions to the girl through gestures.
Extending its hilt toward her, Gwanghui expressed its willingness to lend her its power.
“Um… are you trying to say you’ll lend me your power?”
Fortunately, the girl seemed to grasp the meaning almost immediately, and Gwanghui nodded in response.
Then the girl murmured, as if she had come to a realization.
“I just asked to borrow a sword a moment ago, so you came out to lend me your power…”
– “That’s right! Here, I’m offering my power, so feel free to use me!”
At last, Gwanghui felt a sense of connection, nodding enthusiastically, while offering its hilt to the girl.
This action made the girl seem somewhat touched.
Gwanghui smiled, thinking,
– “Hehe, don’t get too emotional, girl. It’s only natural for a knight to be kind to a lady.”
But just as Gwanghui got lost in that thought, the girl, wearing an apologetic expression, murmured,
“Uh, um… I’m really grateful, but the sword I wanted to borrow was this one, the Holy Sword of Truth… I need its tracking ability, so if it’s okay, I’ll just take your offer in spirit.”
– “W-What?!”
In that very moment, Gwanghui’s smile faded.
She didn’t need Gwanghui’s holy sword…?
Well, if what it had just thought was all a misunderstanding based on an error, then Gwanghui felt keenly embarrassed.
It had behaved with all those grand speeches based on a mistaken belief that she wanted its power.
However, that alone could be acceptable.
Gwanghui could bear the embarrassment.
But, but…
That was something it simply could not accept!
Spotting the sword in the girl’s hand sent Gwanghui reeling as if struck by a hammer.
Could it have seen wrong? No, it was certain!
The glistening white dagger held by the girl!
Upon seeing that, Gwanghui couldn’t help but cry out in disbelief.
– “No way…! Let’s set aside everything else; this is ridiculous! Are you saying I’m less useful than that thing?!”
– “Hehe, have you finally realized that now, you fool? Hehehe.”
As a scream of despair escaped Gwanghui’s mouth, a mocking voice entered its ears.
The taunting voice of the Holy Sword of Truth, wielded by the girl!
– “Fool? Oh dear! It’s called the Holy Sword of Truth, you know? Unlike some certain someone, I’m overflowing with usefulness and have plenty of people in need of me.”
– “Wh-What…?!”
Amid the deriding tones that dripped with disdain, Gwanghui felt its magical power surging up from the grip to the pommel.
In human terms, this felt like boiling rage skyrocketing to its head.
Gwanghui was already feeling a headache rise at the familiar jibes from its nemesis, the Holy Sword of Truth. However, once the Truth began speaking, it showed no signs of stopping.
– “Ahaha! ‘I, Gwanghui, shall illuminate your path!’ What an absolute clown you are! If I were you, I wouldn’t know how to show my face! How do you feel now? Huh? Feeling all proud thinking she needed you, eh?”
– “I-I won’t accept it! What exactly makes you think I’m any less than you?!”
Gwanghui couldn’t accept it.
It was one thing to be less than another sword, but to be lesser than that one, simply unimaginable!
Fueled with those thoughts, Gwanghui yelled, yet Truth awaited eagerly to rebut.
– “What makes you think you’re less? Hehe, you can’t do tracking or truth-seeking like I can! Hahah! What a joke! You can only sparkle and smash stuff around!”
– “Wh-What?! You, you’re just a ceremonial sword that’s useless in battle!”
– “I don’t care~ Anyway, our lady fights without weapons~ Plus, watching her just use bare fists is way stronger than whatever you’re wielding~ So that makes me more useful than you, right? Agreed? Huh? Huh?”
– “Ugh…!”
They say the most painful kind of violence is the violence of truth.
While Truth’s embellishments were exaggerated, the facts hidden within them delivered significant blows to Gwanghui, leaving it momentarily writhing in agony before it finally cried out in desperation.
– “B-But what about you being held by someone who isn’t the lord? What’s so great about that?!”
– “Huh? Oh, it’s great! This young lady is a virgin!”
Totally insane!
Gwanghui trembled at Truth’s brazen declaration, proclaiming the virtues of virginity with reckless abandon.
That was no ordinary holy sword; it was a rumbling, chaotic swordsman weaving through the lines of propriety!
Gwanghui felt a mix of fear at the completely incomprehensible mindset, but at the same time, a torrent of heated emotions began surging within.
Gwanghui then shouted, pouring out all those feelings.
– “Truth, you vile thing! Just because she’s a virgin, you’re happy to be used by her? If that’s the case, I’ll never forgive you! I’ll bring judgment upon you before your filthy desires tarnish her!”
The emotional surge within Gwanghui was a sense of mission.
The mission to protect the girl from the sordid desires of others as a knight!
– “Huh? I said lending my power to this young lady isn’t purely because she’s a virgin, you know?”
But Truth countered, seemingly confused by Gwanghui’s outcry.
What? There’s another reason?
Gwanghui, startled, shouted back.
– “Then what other reason could there be?!”
Truth immediately responded.
– “Well, this young lady might one day be our mistress! So, as a holy sword serving a master, of course, I should lend my strength! Helping this lady means aiding our master. Plus, she’s genuinely kind. As a holy sword, it’s only natural to want to lend my strength to someone like her.”
‘What…?’
In shock, Gwanghui’s expression turned into one of horror.
Truth’s response was so rational, it was almost too much to bear.
In fact, it was entirely aligned with the thoughts Gwanghui had been harboring.
“Isn’t it impossible?” begged Gwanghui internally.
If this were the case, it would mean it was no different from that crazy sword!
Something… something had to point that out, but Gwanghui found itself at a loss for words.
Feeling a wave of despair wash over it, Gwanghui lamented its plight.
How could it be that it was no different from that crazy sword…?
– “Ah, well, it’s not just the virgin thing that makes her great! Just listen, listen! I’ve never seen anyone with such pure innocence in my life! How can someone live without even a hint of desire?! Ahh, it’s amazing! Just being near her is exhilarating! Virgins are simply the best!!”
…No way, it couldn’t possibly be the case that it shared similar sentiments as that…
Lost in despair, Gwanghui collected its thoughts again after that sickening proclamation.
With renewed fervor, it declared to Truth,
– “Just stop with the virgin chatter! I can’t accept your perverse desires!”
– “Hmm, and if I don’t accept it, what will you do? The outcome is already decided; she’s going to borrow me, not you!”
– “Ugh…!”
– “By the way, you keep nitpicking; just say it outright—”
Intuitively sensing danger, Gwanghui knew the next words should not be heard.
But it was too late.
– “Honestly, why not just admit you’re envious?”
– “C-Cough…!”
Truth had perfectly hit the nail on the head with that remark, stinging Gwanghui utterly.
In truth, it was merely Gwanghui’s envy at having been reduced to this circumstance, leaving it unable to speak, trembling in silence.
With that realization, Gwanghui’s mind felt utterly shattered.
But Truth seemed determined not to let this go, relentlessly berating Gwanghui.
– “Aha, that’s your true desire, isn’t it? What will you do? The young lady has already chosen her sword.”
– “Ugh…!”
– “I would’ve loved to yield, but that’s impossible since you can’t even track the truth!”
– “Ugh…!”
– “Tch~ Useless~ Garbage~ No help here… Ah…”
Alienated from the stream of Truth’s mockery which seemed unrelenting, there came a moment of silence.
– “Hey… are you… crying…?”
Gwanghui, who had been grumbling silently, suddenly fell silent and began to whimper.
As Gwanghui’s reaction stunned Truth, a brief silence ensued.
Finally, looking down, Gwanghui opened its mouth, trembling.
– “Uhhhh…”
– “… Huh?”
– “Fun… I’m not crying…! Knights don’t cry! More importantly, why do you keep saying such harsh things? Yeah, I’m envious! I admit it! But saying I’m useless or lacking is just too much…!”
Gwanghui’s holy sword erupted with light as it shouted outloud.
– “I have other abilities beyond fighting, you know! Watch…! Like this, I can bestow blessings! So I’m not a useless sword! Do you understand…?! Darn it… darn it…!!!”
Gwanghui, determined to prove it could be of help, released light that cascaded onto the girl, pouring its power into her as it cried out with indignation and fled the scene.
As Truth remained alone, it sighed and muttered, looking at the spot where Gwanghui had disappeared.
– “Knights don’t cry… my, I’ve made him cry again. Was that too much? I just got so into it, seeing his reaction was too entertaining…”
Unlike Gwanghui, who despised Truth, the truth was that Truth actually found Gwanghui quite appealing.
Unlike other holy swords that bore no fruits of ridicule, Gwanghui’s reactions were always delightful.
To put it frankly, it loved Gwanghui’s naive responses.
Indeed, an extreme virgin enthusiast.
That was the nature of the Holy Sword of Truth.
– “Anyway, I’ll have to tone it down next time…”
Thus, the Holy Sword of Truth murmured a resolution to be more restrained in the future as it left the room, held in the hands of the girl.
– “Uhhh… I’m not useless! Hic…”
Meanwhile, all that remained in the vacated space was the soft sound of someone sobbing quietly.
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