“So, you’re… Cartia Frey, right?”
[That’s what I said, how many times do I have to repeat it?]
“That can’t be true…”
[It’s already crazy that someone like me became a virgin ghost with no memories. What else do you want?]
“That… makes sense, I guess.”
Rubia, who was hugging me tightly like a stuffed toy, let out a quiet gasp.
“But the Cartia Frey I read about in the book was a man… now, no matter how you look at it…”
[Back then, if a woman wielded a sword, she was ignored. So I had no choice but to dress as a man. Besides, I was small enough that it wasn’t uncomfortable.]
Cartia snickered and started to grope his own chest. Each time, fluffy smoke puffed out with a fwoosh-fwoosh.
“Hmm… I see.”
After wondering for a moment, Rubia cautiously asked Cartia, “But… why did you make such a terrible sound…? Like a real evil spirit…”
[Ah, that?]
Cartia chuckled and came closer to Rubia with a swish.
[I heard you don’t fear ghosts at all, so I thought I’d mess with you a bit. Hehehe But you were really making a scene? That kiddo over there surprised me, swinging a sword at me… tsk. My butt still hurts.]
“U-uh, I’m s-sorry…”
“Well… you seem very different from the reputation of your kind.”
[Really? Are you on that train too? I don’t know how they wrote about me, but I’m not the saintly, noble person you think I am. I was more of a reckless troublemaker. I was a mercenary, you know.]
“Huh? A mercenary? Not a knight?”
[Yeah. I looked into things to support my siblings, and figured being a mercenary could pay well. So I went for it. After that, as long as the pay was good, I hunted beasts, killed demons for more cash, and even caught dragons for a kingdom promise… Well, that’s all in the past anyway. No point in talking about it now. Anyway, that’s my personality. I’d love to see the face of the guy who wrote that book, damn it.]
“Uhh… I see.”
[Yeah. I’m not some righteous, saintly human; I was just like you guys. If I had a lot of money, I would’ve seduced a good-looking guy and lived in bliss every day. Anyway… ]
Cartia’s gaze turned towards me.
[So, what exactly are you?]
“Y-yes…?”
[You can’t be blind, can you?]
“Uhh… r-right.”
Cartia tilted their head, squinting at me with a frown.
[Energy sensitivity?]
“Y-yeah.”
[Holy crap… You don’t look older than 15, how do you already have energy sensitivity? Is that the norm these days? I only felt it when I was 18.]
Cartia floated over and began to subtly compare our heights.
“15…?! I-I’m 20, you know? I’m an adult…!”
[20? Ha, you look at least 40cm shorter than me. Didn’t you eat well as a kid?]
“…N-no, I didn’t!”
[Then, dwarf?]
Bwahahaha!
“R-Rubia too… Agh… I’m not a dwarf!”
[Well, I mean, you don’t seem like one.]
Cartia nodded quietly and returned to her spot.
[Dwarves are really hairy, but you’ve got no hair below your brows.]
“W-what…?”
My face scrunched up, and Rubia frowned hard.
“How did Cartia know that?”
“…W-what are you talking about, Rubia…? That’s not the point right now…?”
[Wow, I just threw that out there as a joke. Guess it really is true. Lucky you, no need for hair removal.]
“Hair removal? What! S-stop it. Rubia, why are you saying those things…? Ugh…”
“Hmm… I’m sorry.. I thought maybe you could see everything…”
Cartia giggled and lay down across the air as if it were a bed.
[But the more I think about it, it’s fascinating. Was it Noah?]
“Y-yeah…”
[Usually, a normal person would melt their brain using that level of energy sensitivity, and you’ve got strength and a great sword that doesn’t match your size. And you could deal direct damage to me… Huh? Ahem?]
Cartia stopped her speech and glanced between me and Rubia, stroking her chin.
[Ah… So that’s how it is.]
How is what?
What does that mean?!
Why are you understanding something on your own?!
[This is quite… hmm. So that guy back then… sigh This is awkward.]
No… what is with that tone?
Why are you being so frustrating?!
And why is Rubia nodding like she knew it all?
What… what’s going on?
Are you excluding me from this?
“Rubia… Do you know what she’s talking about…? Can you tell me…?”
“Oh, it’s nothing much. You’ll probably get a ‘You’re not meant to know yet’ or ‘You’ll find out eventually’ line, and then she’ll dodge explaining it.”
“Y-yeah…?”
[Ahahaha! Spot on. You’ll find out in due time. It’s too early now. But I see the Shaman is at least trying to figure it out, huh?]
“I’ve been trying hard enough to be sick of it by now.”
Rubia sighed with a sense of disillusionment and bent her waist.
“Well then, let me properly introduce myself. I’m Rubia, the Shaman known in this generation. I’m honored to meet the Hero of the previous generation.”
[Well, that was a dignified introduction, especially from someone who was just crying a moment ago.]
“Uh… Th-that’s…”
[Hahaha! I did scare you as a joke, but still… Sorry about that. So, moving on…]
Cartia nodded in satisfaction and looked at me.
“Um… uh…”
I hesitated before I quickly bowed.
“Ah, hello. I’m, uh… the Adventurer Noah… um, it’s an honor.”
[Hehe… Ahem Okay. It’s kind of cringy, but I should introduce myself too.]
Cartia, who had been floating in a slouched posture, landed on the ground and clasped her hands in front of her chest.
The playful expression she’d displayed till now vanished, replaced by a solemn one.
[I am the first savior, representing the Age of Chaos.]
It wasn’t a prayer, nor an offering.
It was almost like holding a sword with both hands—
[The First Savior.]
In that moment…
An indescribable power began to gather in her hands.
The peculiar vibes that had spread across the land of Cartia pulsated.
The scenery painted by energy sensitivity began to mix chaotically.
As Carpen’s fragment curled up, it held its breath.
The magical power that had lain dormant in the depths of my being awakened and rose.
A sharp power that seemed ready to pierce the sky descended.
A heavy force that felt like it could crush the earth surged upward.
An impossible energy that sliced through space and crushed time.
All energy converged in her hands, taking the shape of a great sword.
[My name is Cartia Frey. Nice to meet you, descendants.]
The sword manifested in her hands was rugged.
It had no decorations, created solely for the purpose of battle.
Yet the energy it contained was… extraordinary.
I’m sorry to Hephaestus, but…
My great sword made of Carpen’s material could be treated as trash when compared to it.
“Right now, the sword Cartia is holding… is the legendary sword passed down through history.”
[Oh, yeah. That’s how you guys know it, huh.]
“I heard it was hidden, but this is… how should I put it?”
As Rubia chose her words carefully, the giggle-giggle laughter of Cartia interrupted.
[It’s not hidden, it’s spread across the region of Cartia. No idea who the insane guy was, but he spread some ridiculous rumors. Isn’t that right?]
“Hmm… that seems like a fair point.”
Cartia swung the sword around like it hadn’t been held in a long time and looked at me with a small smile.
[So, do you want it?]
“Y-yes…? N-no… um…”
I kind of wanted it, but more than that…
It felt familiar.
It was clearly a sword I’d never seen before.
Not in games, not in reality, not even in dreams.
Yet it felt familiar.
Why…?
[Want to swing it just once?]
“Is it okay…?”
[Yeah, no problem. As long as you can hold it.]
Cartia chuckled, slowly approaching us.
[You guys have roughly felt what this sword is made of, right?]
“What I felt… was all Cartia’s magical power…”
[Magical power? Hm… I guess you could see it that way. But this isn’t merely magical power.]
As Cartia reached our front, she plunged the great sword into the ground.
At that moment, the energies that had enveloped Cartia began to tremble.
[But it’s not the divine power you wield either. It’s my essence. The essence of one who surpasses humanity, breaking the regulations of my existence.]
“Essence…?”
[Well… I could explain it to you, but you’re going to the Temple of Memory, right? You’ll undergo trials there and gradually come to understand it.]
The Temple of Memory?
Trials?
…What the heck does that mean…?
“Rubia… what’s the Temple of Memory and the trials…?”
The only trial I knew of was the trial of Erden, where you gain unique abilities…
“Ah… this might take a while, so I’ll explain it afterwards. Sorry for not telling you in advance, Noah.”
“Ugh… I understand…”
[Anyway, that’s the deal. So you guys, who don’t match my essence won’t be able to hold this.]
Cartia stepped back a little, gazing at me.
[But try it once anyway. You can’t know about this until you experience it firsthand.]
“Ugh… okay.”
I took a deep breath and approached the sword.
With each step I took, the magical power inside me pulsated.
It twisted, seeped in, and burst out uncontrollably.
Finally arriving in front of the sword, I reached out.
The magical power that flowed out enveloped my hand.
The magical power that had been wriggling deep inside burst out and spread across Cartia.
An unknown energy began to wrap around my existence.
Soil embraced me.
Sky echoed my presence.
Following the guidance of the magical power.
Instinctively, following the voice ringing in my head.
I grasped the sword.
[What the heck, damn.]
I held on tight.
