Etude of the Sacred Treasured Sword | Chapter 8

[healingbonds]

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Arthur: Sir Sage! Everyone!

Riquet: Prince Arthur! Will you be able to eat with us?

Arthur: Yes! Sir Oz came for me.

Oz: ............

Cain: Great job, Oz! Arthur, he asked if you were tired, right?

Arthur: He did spend a really long time giving a speech with that sort of meaning. I heard tonight’s dinner is stew?

Nero: Yeah, I’m glad you could make it. Mister Prince.

Oz: He was more swayed by the dinner menu than my threats.

Nero: H-hey. You mean...... Is that a good thing? Or a bad thing? I wish you wouldn’t glare at me.......

Arthur: Please, don’t call them threats.
......Woah, this is amazing! It looks delicious! Nero, thank you!
Finally, I get to have a meal with everyone! Let’s eat!

Cain: Yeah! Thanks for the food!

Riquet: Fufu...... Being able to eat Nero’s meal while surrounded by my comrades — this wonderful feeling almost seems like a dream.

Oz: ................

I relax into a smile as I look at the Central wizards sitting together and sharing a meal. As do the Eastern wizards nearby.

(Footsteps)

Shino takes a seat next to Arthur and leans in towards him.

Shino: Arthur. I heard about the situation with the treasured sword Caletvwlch and the commemorative medals. I’ll help out.

Arthur: Shino......

Shino: I need to get my hands on my own medal. I want Heath’s too. And I might as well get Faust’s and Nero’s while we’re at it.

Nero: Might as well, huh.

Arthur: Commemorative medals are cool, right.

Shino: They are.

Riquet: They looked really cool!
Oh, but please keep it a secret from Mitile. I want to surprise him with them when they come out.

Nero: Putting the commemorative medals aside for now...... We heard about the situation from Mister Sage. I have an idea — do you want to hear me out?
The Central wizards might not like it since they have a strong sense of justice, but......

Riquet: What kind of suggestion is it?

Nero: We sneak into the church and steal the treasured sword Caletvwlch.

Faust & Riquet & Cain: Steal!?



Nero: Why are you acting so surprised, Mister Curseworker? It’s not like stealing and cursing are that different.

Faust: I... Is that so? No, but burglary is against the law.

Nero: Just hear me out. Normally it would be illegal. But, we have the ultimate authorizing party here. You could say that the prince embodies the code of law itself.
Let’s put it a different way: it’s not stealing. It’s a special mission.

Cain: Special mission...... So you mean like an emissary or a spy.

Nero: Right? Doesn’t that sound legit?

Arthur: But that won’t help us to build a bridge of trust with the High Priest of the Holy Church of Faust.

Faust: ......Before you manage to build your bridge of trust, the treasured sword Caletvwlch will have been taken as a medium to destroy another city.
Trust cannot exist between wizards and humans. Why don’t you give up and just exercise your authority?

Arthur: ............

Cain: Even if we don’t steal the treasured sword, how about we go to investigate for now? There’s already suspicious figures lurking there.

Shino: If those shadows are the underlings of that mysterious wizard Nova, things are going to get bad.

Arthur: ............ That’s true......

After considering for a moment, Arthur makes a declaration to the Central wizards.

Arthur: If it’s just an investigation, then...... I also think we should check on the sword and the church.

Nero: Then it’s settled. Let’s finish our meal first. We’ll join in on your strategy meeting later.

Arthur: Ah....... Wait. There’s just one more thing. Faust.

Faust: ......What is it?

Arthur: You have the same name as the holy wizard Faust. You say that you’re a different person, but if you are truly Sir Faust.......
I feel like your friendship with Sir Alec might not be what the legends say it is.

Faust: ............

Arthur: Can I really ask you to help us trespass into the Holy Church of Faust where Caletvwlch is kept?

Faust: That’s fine. Because you have the wrong person.

Faust has no intention of telling the truth.
If his dreams hadn’t overflowed because of his bizarre injury, he might not have told anyone.
Even so, there is a nostalgic look in his eyes as he gazes at Arthur.

Faust: Even before that guy called Alec got his hands on Caletvwlch, it was a mystical sword known as the Hero’s Sword.
I heard this from someone in the past. If you use that sword as a medium, you would be able to access even the forbidden magical arts.
It’s better for you to wield it. Arthur.

Arthur: ......I see. Thank you for your cooperation.

✦✧☾✧✦

We arrive at the Holy Church of Faust, clad in outfits for sneaking around.
Compared to the castle and the mansions in town, the large building that stands on the border of Central Country exudes a sense of history and character.
I can tell that the people of Central Country must have cherished it over the ages.
Faust looks up at the church wordlessly. Seeing this, Shino asks him.

Shino: This church has your name. Have you been here before?

Faust: No.

And Faust doesn’t say anything more.

Nero: I’ll slip in first to scope out the situation, and then come and get you guys. Stand by in your positions, according to plan.



Cain: This is the first time I’m infiltrating instead of charging in from the front!
It’s kind of exciting.

Riquet: It feels like we’ve become robbers.

The young Central wizards seem bewildered at this new experience, but they also look excited.
How befitting their strong sense of adventure. I love their perseverance too, but I love them best when they challenge themselves to take on adventures.
—Because it’s when they seem most alive and animated.

Cain: Are we going to slip in from the roof?

Arthur: How about we slip in from beneath the floorboards?

Riquet: Should we decide on a signal to use?

Oz: ............



Nero: Shh...... Your voices are too loud.
Geez, don’t get all excited. I said I’d lead the way.
Well then, I’ll be back.

Riquet: Yes! Nero, take care.

Nero nimbly jumps over the wall and disappears into the darkness as Riquet sees him off with a smile.
Faust — who had been looking after his back — sighs and turns to Oz.

Faust: You seem like you intend to remain silent, but are you really just going to let Nero take the lead? Oz.

Oz: Why are you asking me?

Faust: Because you are the strongest wizard.

Oz: The curse from the < Great Catastrophe > means I can’t use strong magic right now. At night, I am of no use.

Oz’s voice wavers in the darkness of the night; he bends his head, his expression hidden behind his long hair.
The person known as the demon king — how did he feel, declaring that he couldn’t be of any use?
Cain raises his hand, casually clapping Oz on his back.
Oz and Faust simultaneously stare at the young former knight general, as if questioning his sanity.
Cain laughs refreshingly, winking charmingly.

Cain: Cheer up. That’s just life; as long as you’re alive, you’ll run into all sorts of troubles.

Oz: ............

Faust: You...... Do you realize you’re giving advice to a man who’s lived many times longer than you......

Cain: Even if he’s lived thousands of years, not being able to use magic at night is something recent, right?
Tonight, you’re not a weapon; you’re like a rookie soldier. Don’t worry, I’m really good at teaching rookies.
Let’s get through this together. Here.

Cain lifts one hand in front of Oz. Oz knits his eyebrows in suspicion.

Oz: What are you trying to do? You should already be able to see me.

Cain: "What are you trying to do?" Don’t be so cold. You know what I mean.
—Come on!

Oz looks into the distance and sighs. Giving in, he clasps Cain’s hand.

(Clap)

Cain: All right! Let’s go!

A smile spreads across Cain’s face. Arthur and Riquet’s eyes, too, shine brightly as they watch the two of them.

Arthur: I’ll protect you, Sir Oz. It’s reassuring just to have you by our side!

Riquet: Let’s work hard, Oz! We’ll definitely resolve this incident!

Oz smiles faintly too. Even though we’re on a risky mission, I get the feeling that something is about to unfold.
A sense that a new tale of heroes is about to be put into motion.
Arthur, Cain, and Riquet laugh innocently as they plan their strategies seriously.
Gazing at them from a distance, Oz whispers in Faust’s ear.

Oz: ......Faust. In the event that anything happens, please take care of Arthur.

Faust: ............
I’ll consider it.

✦✧☾✧✦

After a while, Nero returns. We’re supposed to sneak in from the path that he found for us, and head towards an established rendezvous spot.

(Footsteps)

The Eastern wizards head to the northern side of the church, and the Central wizards head to the southern side — that’s our plan for proceeding.
I stay with the Central wizards. We hold our breaths, quietly setting foot inside. It’s silent in the church, heightening the tension in the air.

(Footsteps)

The footsteps of someone patrolling come close. My heart starts beating wildly.
Lowering his voice, Arthur holds my hand.

Arthur: ......Sir Sage, this way.

At that moment, I hear voices.

???: .......Sir......A—.........

At first, I thought it was Cain calling for Arthur.
It’s not like the voices sounded alike, but something about the tone of affection and admiration in the echo felt similar.
The voices are laced with love and fervour — filled with expectation and trust, as if the speaker is running towards the person who called for them.

(Mumble)

???: .......Sir......A—.........

Arthur seems to have heard it as well. He presses his lips together, straining his ears attentively.
At that moment—

(Black shadows appear) (Rustle)

Enrobed shadows suddenly materialize in front of our eyes.
Caught up in exhilaration, the shadows pass right through our bodies as they cheer and cry out someone’s name.

???: ......Sir Alec......!

Chapter 7 << | index | >> Chapter 9