7th Demon Prince Jilbagias’ Chronicle of Demon Kingdom Toppling

６１． Indomitable Holy Sword

「YOUR HIGHNESS STOP!」

Ficelle suddenly jumped in front of me to stop me.

I unknowingly was drawn in closer to the holy sword and just inches away from touching the hilt of the sword.

「This sword is the sword of the hero of the human race.」

He reminds me with a gentle tone.

「The sword is loaded with powerful holy attributes. it’ll be bad for you.」

「… Right.」

Properly speaking, me from my previous life was the one who loaded that magical power.

「Moreover, the one who forged this sword―― is a really skilled dwarf blacksmith. Though there’s no problem if we, the dwarf touch this sword, something might happen if you touch it…」

The reason why Ficelle was chosen as the head of the workshop might be because of his skill.

So that guy was a really skilled blacksmith huh?

… I couldn’t remember his name but, thank you.

Still, it didn’t mean that I forgot his figure when he forged my sword. I loaded the sword with holy attributes from the material stage and literally wrung myself dry when that guy forged the sword. Both of us kept enclosing the sword with magical power till we were about to faint as the finishing touch.

Though the sword wasn’t on the level of 『True Strike』 which could only be produced by dwarf blacksmiths once in their lifetime, it was the best masterpiece below that level.

The holy attribute enchanted to its’ blade was really effective in raising the sword’s killing power―― Against the darkling.

And to me who scorched me when using holy attribute…

There was no need to think about what would happen if I touched this sword.

But――

But still.

「Ficelle, I heard your warning.」

I told him so calmly.

「That’s why you have no responsibility for anything that will happen after this.」

I brush aside Ficelle who stood in my way.

「…」

――Long time no see. It’s been like, seven years, right?

Your owner died at the hands of the Demon King, and you’re cast aside in this dusty warehouse. You’ve been waiting in this place without being melted down.

… I was truly moved.

The blade that reflected the light from the lamp and furnace cast a dangerously sharp glint. As if to say “Who in the world are you?”.

… Well, I don’t know how to answer that question though. This figure, the current me, was a darkling. That was an undeniable truth――

My hand reached to the hilt of the sword.

And grabbed it.

The sizzling sound akin to hot iron being dumped into the water resounded along with white smoke rising from my burnt hand.

「I’ve told you so!」

Ficelle shouted but then, he shut his mouth immediately. The reason being I didn’t let go of the hilt of the sword.

「GUHHHHHHHHHHHHH――!!」

It so fu*cking hurts. My palm, my finger. It wasn’t as simple as being roasted, the holy attribute literally invaded my body, and now it felt like I was inside the hot oil.

But―― Strangely enough, I felt a sense of nostalgia in this pain, and that was undoubtedly… The last trace of hero Alexander. This sword was my partner, and alter ego at the same time.

I ended up smiling wryly. This was my own hostility and stubbornness. Nevertheless, my sword, you’re injuring your former owner.

When the sword repelled my left hand, I cast a soundproof barrier around us. That moment, the noise in the workshop vanished, there was only the sound of the holy sword burning my body.

「… I’m really happy to be able to meet you again.」

I muttered, trying my best to minimize the movement of my lips. Sofia who looked at me from the edge of my field of vision might use lip reading.

I endure the pain and keep telling myself to endure it.

「… Hey, forgive me already, you’re cooking me here.」

My fingers couldn’t even feel pain anymore. It seems to be carbonized already… And it was already carbonized not too long ago.

Then I noticed that the power of the holy attribute that burnt my body weakened slightly. It seems my sword was bewildered. As if to say 「Till when was this guy going to grip me?」.

Till then eh? Until you understand of course.

Reason being,

「【My name is Jilbagias】――」

At the same time.

「――【And Alexander】」

Because this is my current state.

――I noticed that my sword was trembling lightly.

「That guy is telling the truth. You’re not breaking even from the demon king’s attack.」

You didn’t break no matter how many times you clashed against the spear forged by the first demon king and the power of a demon god.

That guy would definitely puff his chest with pride once he heard this.

『――This one is an extremely stubborn sword.』

That was what he said after he forged you, clearly exhausted.

『Sharpness, body enhancement, ward! Such a thing is secondary! Instead, it’s really stubborn! It won’t break! Neither will it betray your trust! This is that kind of sword..』

He gave the sword to me.

『The rest is up to you!』

And then pointed his finger at my head.

『Here! Write something!』

He struck the sword’s blade.

――I asked. What’s the name of this sword?

『I used ancient letters. Stubborn, maybe we should call it indomitable.』

Thus, the name of this sword was――

「――【Adamas】」

I remember.

Holy sword Adamas. My sword.

The holy sword glowing even brighter as it released an electric discharge.

The shock hit my hand. My arm almost popped off. DId I get――Rejected!?

No, it wasn’t rejection.

My sword regained its true power when I called their name. They’re trembling in delight. Their deceased master had returned from hell――!!

It was supposed to be an impossible phenomenon. That was the reason why the holy sword was confused. That’s why their power was rampaging like a wild horse――

『How unsightly』

It felt like I heard such an auditory voice. The bones of the human soldiers hung on my belt were also wriggling on their own. They started moving like snakes, moving along my arm―― Onto the hilt of the sword.

As if trying to protect my hand.

Maybe they tried to pacify the crying child.

It then twined around the hilt, covering the holy light―― Suddenly, the pain receded from my arm.

「――Sleep for nor.【The Current You is Just Your Average Sword】」

I’ll wake you up when the time comes.

That’s why please be my power when I wake you up again.

The glowing silver blade then dimmed a lot. Now it looked like your average antique sword.

The magical power of holy attribute vanished at once. Now it looks like a completely normal and sturdy sword. Even when I touched the sword’s blade, it only caused a light numbness instead of burning my skin.

I tried to swing it casually.

Though its length was exactly the same as before, it became a bit unwieldy in my current physical appearance. Meaning that I needed to train with it again in my current peak state.

I tried to swing it and found out it was still the last time I remembered. I made the bone handle elongate to form a spear shaft and then swung it like a spear sweep this time.

Thrust, mowing down. And lastly―― Slash.

「… This is good.」

This length would be perfect once my height grew a bit more.

Feeling satisfied with my sword, I canceled my soundproof barrier and then turned around, only to see the others looking dumbfoundedly at me.

「Wu~! Woof woof!」

—“Look at your hand! Why did it end up in a tattered state again right after I fixed it!” That was what I felt from Liliana who approached me and then licked me with a slightly angry face. After Liliana’s treatment, the sense of touch had finally returned to my hands. Thanks a lot, Liliana…

「――I like this sword. I’ll take this one.」

「But… Your Highness…」

Ficelle frowned as he spoke, and I could sense bewilderment and a bit of disappointment in his expression.

「Even though I can forge as many swords as you like… Why does it have to be that one…」

He looked frustratingly at the holy sword that lost its glow. Since I suppressed it forcefully, he might be lamenting how the sword’s true value was lost forever.

Dwarven’s armament was hard to please, just like their creator. Someone who didn’t get acknowledged by the armament-Including the dwarves themselves- Wouldn’t be able to inherit the armament. And once it failed, it would greatly affect the enchanted armament’s power due to the law――

And the re-inheritance case of mine -someone who was reborn- might be the first and last case. Not that I’m gonna tell everyone about that particular matter.

「Ficelle, what about this sword?」

I hand over the sleeping holy sword that had already lost its glow to Ficelle for him to judge.

「… It’s a good sword. Even in this state…」

Ficelle looked at the sword with the face of someone looking at a gem with large cracks on it.

「It’s far more solid than any weapon in this place due to the residual magic in it. Not even a dragon’s bite can snap this sword… It’s a rare, tempered gem that was loaded with really strong prayer…」

The second part of his sentence was said in a low voice as if it was vanishing with the wind.

「I see, that’s good enough. Now I feel even more confident in choosing this after hearing your evaluation. Do I have to give compensation for this?」

「I’m not its creator or owner. Feel free to take the sword with you.」

Said Ficelle as he returned the sword to me with a scowl.

「But if you want a better sword, everyone in this workshop can make much better than this sword. For you to choose the belonging of a hero is――」

「Really creeps me out…」 That might be what he wanted to say but couldn’t.

Yeah. From Ficelle and co’s perspective, I was a demon prince―― They might think about the life that is going to be lost whenever I swing my sword on the battlefield.

Their reaction was natural.

「… Uhm. Then, how about you try to forge a new sword that is comparable to this one in its’ peak state?」

「That’s…」

Ficelle was about to speak but―― He shut his mouth again.

The other dwarven’s blacksmiths were also looking with a complicated look on their faces. It felt as if the heat in the workshop had cooled down a little bit.

「Your Highness, the essence of our magic smithy is…」

Said Ficelle as if squeezing his voice.

「The essence is―― Prayer. The charm of good luck, and fortune of war for the user. Prayer, a strong desire to make that happen… Is the root of it.」

Despite being a prisoner, the dwarves swung their hammers solely due to their pride as a craftsman.

They didn’t cut a corner even if they had to forge the armament for the darkling.

But―― We were still mutual enemies.

I wonder just how long these craftsmen had been praying for their detestable enemy, the enemy that would hurt their allies.

Even if they created a first-rate item, there was no heart in that said item――

「I know. Magic is―― A miracle that created such a possibility after all.」

I let out a wry smile while brushing Liliana’s head.

「That’s why, this sword is good enough for me.」

I raised the holy sword in its dormant state right before Ficelle’s eyes.

「This sword is, enough.」

This time around, I’ll make full use of that guy’s passion and stubbornness.

「I say instead, Ficelle.」

「… Yes.」

「About my scalemail.」

When I said so, FIcelle made a face as if he just made a huge blunder. He did say that he would make a scalemail for me in exchange for healing his arm but he never said that he would give his all.

「I will make it properly for you, Your Highness. There will be no problem in terms of quality.」

「I know. But, there must be a problem with your heart right?」

「…」

「For that, I shall make a vow for you.」

I looked into the eyes of a proud craftsman called Ficelle.

「――【I won’t hurt your fellow dwarves when I wore that scale mail.】」

Ficelle and the other dwarves in the workshop were at a loss for words upon hearing my vow.

「… This is the utmost sincerity that I can give you.」

… Ficelle bowed in silence.

「I’m a craftsman too.」

Strong will dwell in his eyes.

「And then, since you’re willing to go that far―― I’ll be shamed as a craftsman if I don’t put my heart into my forge.」