Episode 011
I picked up the black-hued sword from the farthest corner and turned around.
“I’ll take this one.”
As expected, there had been a reason they’d built the mansion this large.
After all, inside the room were hundreds—no, thousands—of weapons on display, from swords and spears to knuckles.
“Do you truly intend to choose that? …I mention this just in case, but that is not a magical weapon. It is not the sort of standard weapon modern swordsmen tend to seek…”
The head of House Varden pointed at the sword with a peculiar look in his eyes and gazed at me.
A sword of suitable length, with strength that went without saying and sharpness enough to sever bone.
I was certain.
This was it.
“I like this one. A famed sword forged from black iron tempered tens of thousands of times can hardly be compared to those soft magical swords, can it?”
In a sense, the words were almost insulting, but the Varden family head instead smiled broadly and nodded, looking pleased.
“So you are a man who knows swords. You are quite right.”
I responded to the family head’s words appropriately and continued praising it.
“Moreover, seeing that the final finishing was done with mithril, the craftsman’s meticulous nature really stands out.”
“Hahahaha! You noticed? I’m embarrassed to say it with my own mouth, but since it was refined using holy water, its holy power conductivity is also…”
Had it been difficult for him to humor customers all this time?
While the excited family head continued explaining the sword, I chimed in and nodded along.
“…If a swordsman of such profound knowledge were to use Barsha’s Sword, my father would surely be delighted as well. As for the price… yes, I’ll take just 1 gold.”
“1 gold?”
That wasn’t half price. It was practically free.
Then he let out a sigh, looked at the other guests, and muttered quietly.
“I’m telling only you this, sir, but I never wanted to make things like magic swords. It’s simply what the times demand…”
“I can’t simply accept such a famed sword for nothing.”
I ostentatiously took out a heavy pouch and set it on the table.
“A-ah, no, there’s no need for this… You’re giving me all of it?”
“Did you not say it was the masterpiece of the previous head? It is only natural to pay a fitting price for a famed sword.”
There was a reason I’d divided my money between my inventory and a pouch.
It was for show. Most of my gold coins were in my inventory, after all.
The family head stared at me intently for a while, then slowly nodded.
“If that is your will, sir swordsman, I shall gratefully accept. Head butler, take the payment.”
At that moment,
++
[You have obtained the Varden family head’s favor in the shortest time in history.]
*You will begin to gain influence over the surrounding region.
*Each time the family head speaks of you, your fame will increase.
Current value: 1
++
‘I tried it just in case, and as expected…’
This made it certain.
I had realized it when I coaxed the deputy tower master and entered the treasure hall, but unlike the game, where choices were fixed, the degree of freedom here was considerably high.
The fact that I’d gained the Varden family head’s trust in one go, and that I’d visited the treasure hall—which only opened in the middle stages—during the prologue, were proof of that.
At this rate, if I play my cards right, I might be able to take the Demon King’s head in no time.
“Sir Tanas, though it may be a modest offering, would you also use our House Varden’s armor?”
“Unfortunately, I have no money left now.”
I put on a troubled expression and shook my head from side to side.
“Hahaha! That is not what I mean. It is a token of my sincerity, so please accept it…”
“Hmm.”
“As the head of House Varden, if I were to send away someone who has shown us such favor… I would have no face to show my forebears later.”
I looked at him for a while, then nodded as though reluctantly giving in.
“I’ll be in your debt, then.”
“I hope to maintain a good relationship with you in the future as well, Sir Tanas. I will select the guards first and bring them to you.”
When I left the room and moved to the central hall,
“To think that the fussy head of House Varden would personally attend to a guest. Live long enough and you see everything!”
“Just who is that man?”
“I’ve never seen him around here before…”
In an instant, all eyes focused on me.
“……”
I knew I was handsome, but being stared at like this was a little burdensome.
At the strange sound, I turned around.
“Ugh…!”
My eyes met those of the arrogant noble lady I had run into at the entrance.
With eyes full of wariness, she looked at me while raising both hands, wearing an expression like a cat caught stealing fish.
But…
‘What do I care?’
I had no interest.
“W-wait…?”
I had obtained Barsha’s Sword, gained the family head’s trust, and even acquired armor.
There was nothing more for me to do here.
“Excuse me, are you perhaps ignoring me?”
Now I just had to leave for the borderlands.
“Sir Tanas, here are wrist guards, shoulder guards, and…”
“Thank you. Until next time.”
I gathered the armor the family head had given me and strode out of the mansion without hesitation.
“T-to treat me like a fool like this!! Stop right there!”
The weather was decent, so if I hurried, I could reach the borderlands by tomorrow morning.
I was hungry, so I should eat something before that…
“You there, commoner.”
“Did you think you could insult Lady Rein and simply leave?”
Step—!
With a damned sound effect, a group of men blocked my path.
What the hell are these bastards now?
I glanced back.
“Haah… those idiots…”
The blond beauty sighed in embarrassment and shook her head.
“……”
They didn’t look like they’d even make a pre-meal warm-up.
**********
A study filled with soft lighting.
A woman wearing a black veil set her wine glass down on the table.
“You still haven’t found his whereabouts?”
“Yes.”
That couldn’t be.
To think they couldn’t deal with a single incompetent hero, not even one of the other heroes…
Anxiously, she gnawed at her fingernails.
‘I never should have entrusted the job to a mere porter.’
Had she underestimated the incompetent hero too much?
“……”
No, that was not it.
The one she had sent after him had been among the most skilled of the porters.
She had barely managed to persuade him with an enormous sum of money, despite his repeated refusals…
‘And he ran straight to the Sword Master’s side.’
On top of that, judging from the fact that he returned missing an arm, though she did not know who had done it, he would never accept a commission from them again.
Of course, even if they had lost him, it was merely unpleasant. It was not a major problem.
After all, he was the weakest among the five heroes…
The weakest hero.
Bang!
At that moment,
An uninvited guest flung the door open and strode inside.
“Who dares be so rude…!”
She had more or less expected it, given that there had been no report from the servants, but outwardly she wore an extremely startled expression and covered her mouth with her hand.
“Look at this!”
A beautiful girl with glossy pink hair, wearing an elegant pure-white dress, glared at me with her eyes full of force.
‘Impudent bitch…’
Clicking her tongue inwardly, she gave no sign of it and signaled to her attendant with a jerk of her chin.
“Lady Seria, please calm yourself.”
“Do I look like I can calm down right now? How did you handle things for it to turn out like this?”
“Please quell your anger. Are you not soon to become a saintess?”
At those words, the pink-haired girl seemed to come back to her senses and swallowed.
“Ah… I am still only a saintess candidate… That’s not what matters right now!”
As expected of someone from a lowly orphan background, she had no dignity whatsoever.
“What could it be that has made you so angry, Lady Seria?”
“Read it.”
“This is…”
She took the parchment the girl tossed at her and slowly scanned it from top to bottom.
‘That incompetent hero bastard. He should have just died quietly. How troublesome…’
As she had more or less expected, it concerned his innocence.
‘This is actually for the best.’
At this level, she could make excuses.
She looked at the girl fuming before her and smiled.
“How can you smile right now? The Sword Master is making filthy advances toward him! How are you going to clean this up?”
“Lady Seria, do not worry.”
“Don’t worry? To think you would say something so irresponsible…! I did as you told me, and this is how things turned out! If I’d known this would happen…”
With an elegant motion, she lifted her wine glass.
“Would you like a glass? The fragrance is lovely.”
“Don’t change the subject! Does this look like a joke to you?”
If not for the mission, she would have torn this ill-mannered woman apart in an instant…
“This is a good sign.”
“A good sign…?”
“Men are exceedingly simple creatures.”
There, she took a sip of wine and steadied her breath.
“Lady Seria, how would you feel if he were taken from you?”
“Taken from me? That’s…”
She had merely spoken hypothetically, yet the girl bit her lip hard and trembled all over.
“It seems I need not explain. I am certain Sir Hero feels the same way. Have you not built memories with him over a long period, Lady Seria?”
“Memories just between the two of us…”
“It is not even certain that the Sword Master is interested in Sir Tanas… I think you are becoming far too anxious.”
“That’s…”
“Wait for a while in the royal capital, and once he is released as innocent, be the first to go to him, comfort him, and apologize. Say that you were deceived too, that you were also a victim.”
“There’s no way he’d believe that…”
“No. If it is him, he will surely believe it. After all, despite being able to enjoy wealth and glory in another hero party, you went back to Sir Tanas.”
“……Mm.”
“And while I cannot say for the other party members, you are different, Lady Seria.”
“I am?”
“You are special, Lady Seria.”
“Th-that’s right, isn’t it?”
Whatever fantasies she was spinning, the pink-haired girl’s face flushed faintly, and she smiled obscenely.
…To be honest, it was unpleasant, but she did not show it.
“Has there ever been a time when my words were wrong? The idea of coaxing him into obtaining the divine artifact first, and telling the other party members to torment him…”
“……”
“Those were all my thoughts, were they not?”
“…They were.”
The saintess candidate bitch began watching her mood again, her voice shrinking.
“Whenever he became isolated and lonely, what did he do?”
“He…”
Unable to answer, she merely swallowed hard.
“Did he not crave your affection even more, Lady Seria?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“It will be the same this time. He simply needs a little time.”
“Will that really happen?”
“Of course. There is no need for you to be hasty.”
Even after she had explained this much, she still could not believe it.
What a truly suspicious bitch.
“And it seems you have forgotten one thing… Lady Seria, you are indebted to me.”
“…Ah.”
“If not for me, you would still be fighting other women over him. …No!”
“……”
“You might have been forgotten altogether.”
“Forgotten… There’s no way…”
Before she could finish speaking, she quickly cut in.
“I hope such rudeness will not happen again. Do you understand?”
“I-I’m sorry. I got angry without realizing it…”
“No, it is perfectly understandable. More importantly…”
The reason she humored such a foolish woman,
“When you become a saintess, Lady Seria… you have not forgotten what you promised me, have you?”
“Ah… Of course not! How could I forget? I’m not someone who doesn’t know gratitude!”
“I am glad to hear that.”
Just endure a little longer.
Only until the day the Demon King descends upon this land.
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