[Title: What Level Do I Need To Be To Use This Holy Sword?]
Content: That time, after defeating the Face Thief, I found the ‘Rapidly Advancing Sword.’
Even at level 60, I couldn’t activate it, so I came back after hitting level 70, but it still won’t draw.
No, you prick.
Didn’t I kill the Face Thief, your master?
Didn’t I become the ‘Hero Murderer’ by doing so?
Once your master evolves twice, that would be me.
So why won’t you draw for me?
-: Does a hero becoming a hero murderer mean this?
Something feels off here…
-: Oh, so this was why Jalk refused to evolve when Pikachu bit down on it.
-: Maybe we could try one more evolution?
Hero Murderer Murderer Murderer…
-: But isn’t it true that to evolve this sword, you have to kill yourself?
-: So the ultimate form requires self-murder?
That’s oddly cool.
-: Ah, so that’s why Hitler…
-: Huh huh huh…
-: Well, shall we find one more hero murderer to defeat?
-: Damn it, leave the hero alone!
-: What kind of Evolution Stone is this?
-: When they’re alive, they save the world, and when they die, they become evolution materials…
Truly, there’s no part of a hero worth wasting.
-: What do you guys think heroes are?
-[Writer]: A sword stand, damn it!
-[Writer]: Come on, kid, I’m stronger than your master—let me unsheathe you!
-: But isn’t Rapidly Advancing Sword the one that picks its master based on strength?
-[Writer]: If it doesn’t consider strength, then how does it decide on a hero? Damn it, those low-level nobodies—just go farm!
-: Just by listening to Mr. Writer, Rapidly Advancing Sword has already scored one victory.
-: In a way, maybe this game deserves a hero like that.
-: Every holy sword has a different criterion for choosing its master.
Rapidly Advancing Sword is the kind that roughly evaluates potential—it’s all about potential!
-[Writer]: Potential?
-: Stats relative to level.
Roughly, if your level-to-stats ratio is +5 levels above the norm, you can converse with Rapidly Advancing Sword.
At +10 levels, it supposedly says, “Did you come alone?”
And at +20 levels, you pass the holy sword’s test and it immediately says, “Creak creak, Master.”
Once you pass +30 levels, it supposedly goes into cognitive dissonance and malfunctions.
-[Writer]: Are you kidding me, +30 levels? How the hell did that happen?
Did you gather all the continent’s spirits and cook them into a hot pot?
-: Someone claims a glitch revealed it.
-[Writer]: Is there a stat-boosting glitch?
-: No, it’s a level-down glitch.
-[Writer]: These glitches are all worthless nonsense.
***
– “Jalk! There was definitely some sort of mistake! Jane has far more flaws compared to this man, doesn’t she?”
The holy sword Elysia outright negated Jalk’s statement.
She understood Jalk’s preferences (whatever they might be) and knew exactly how well Jane fit those criteria.
“You know what you look for when choosing a master, don’t you? Potential! Natural greatness! Jane fulfills all of it! Even those terrible high spirits showed their approval toward her! Humans favored by high spirits are extremely rare—have you ever seen one like ‘that’ since then?”
Elfin Camilla nodded slightly, reinforcing Elysia’s words.
Then she looked toward the party’s scholar, Belotta.
“Isn’t that right?”
It was a request for confirmation.
“…”
Belotta averted her gaze.
“?!”
Because of what she’d witnessed at the investigation site, she differed from the others.
“Ugh!!! I know, I know, Elysia! I fully understand that this Jane character is a very talented individual!!!”
“Then why are you hesitating?”
“AAAHHHHHH!!! I’m confused, so very confused!!! My senses are overwhelmed, perhaps I’ve become someone who won’t be satisfied with anything less than extremes!!!”
“Stop your incomprehensible nonsense, and decide clearly!”
“Ugh… Hey, friend! Is your name Jane, right!? Would you mind gripping me more firmly? To the point where I can only think of you!!!”
Jalk instructed the hero Jane, who currently had a firm grip on him.
Hm.
Hm!
Hm!!!
The holy sword relished the sensation in a deliberate and pleasurable tone.
Everyone looked on with interest at the scene.
Except for Rishe.
‘What is that? Is it feeling something? Could the “holy” in Holy Sword refer to THAT kind of “holy”?’
How long did this state persist?
“Ah, yes! That’s it!!! Now I finally get it! I guess I was just acting strangely before! Outstanding! You are an outstanding candidate! Truly talented!”
The Rapidly Advancing Sword in Jane’s hand quivered as if in ecstacy.
“Against all odds and at this age, you’ve managed to refine such a vessel!!! You remind me of my friend Belen!!! No, wait, maybe not!? No, not at all! At this level, you’d surpass even my friend Belen in terms of growth potential!!!”
The previous harsh critiques were forgotten amidst these glowing praises, causing Elysia to cheer.
“Yes! That’s it, Jalk! Despite having been able to do this from the start, clearly there was some sort of error. Who was the man I chose?”
And just as Elysia struggled to fix the situation (?), someone spoke up.
“Jalk, was it?”
“That’s right! Master of Elysia! I am Jalk, the Rapidly Advancing Sword!”
“Yes, Jalk. I am Jane. A friend of Elysia and the master of the strange sword. If possible, I’d like to ask you one thing.”
“Speak!”
“You just said something earlier. About me, that compared to Rishe, I have more flaws, didn’t you?”
“Wait, Jane!?”
At this, both Camilla and Elysia were about to interject with dissatisfaction before they froze upon seeing Jane.
That expression—simultaneously conveying frustration and delight.
Jane was feeling frustration over the lack of recognition but was delighted at the opportunity to prove herself.
The Strange Sword.
Jane was a man chosen by Elysia, the Sword of Oddities.
“You mean that you think Rishe would make a better master for you than me?”
“I’m deliberating!”
“What’s making you hesitate?”
“As I said, compared to that friend, you have more rough edges! In other words, you’re a master with growth potential! Conversely, that one doesn’t have many rough edges, making them less interesting to cultivate! Is it my personal enjoyment or my duty as a holy sword that should prevail? That’s what I’m conflicted about!”
“In that case, I’ll recommend myself.”
“Are you telling me to prioritize my personal enjoyment over my duties as a holy sword?”
“No.”
“Hmm?”
“If you truly find joy in the process of helping your master grow—believe me.”
Jane confidently pointed at himself.
“I will be the least interesting man you’ve ever met.”
“Hah hah! What a bold friend! Elysia would be proud of you!”
“I’ll say it clearly. Jalk, choose me. I am the man most suited to be your master!”
There was a certain kind of magical certainty in Jane’s confident expression.
How could it not be so? After all, he was speaking to a holy sword—the legacy of the greatest hero in history.
A relic that elevated not just the status but even the destiny of its master to something extraordinary.
Everyone longed to be chosen by a holy sword and would endure anything to be chosen.
Most people would simply try to please the sword once they faced it.
But who, before a holy sword, could remain as calm and collected as Jane?
Who could stand tall like Jane did in front of a holy sword?
Now even Jane’s party members, along with Magnus and Towah, viewed him with eyes filled with interest.
“Interesting! Then let’s do this—Jane! Rishe! Both of you will take my test simultaneously!”
At this, Camilla inwardly cheered.
As a member of the hero’s party, she knew how selective a holy sword could be.
Jane had mentioned that even Elysia, who was now completely smitten with him, took more than two weeks just to finalize the test and fully recognize him as her master.
To grant the qualification for a test on their very first encounter was impossible unless the holy sword was fully enchanted by him.
Camilla saw this as proof that Jane had completely captivated the holy sword.
“That sounds fun.”
Jane thought similarly inside.
He grinned as he glanced at Rishe.
“Rishe, what do you say?”
<Formal questioning.>
Who in their right mind would turn down a holy sword’s test?
“Test? Hm… Is there anything special?”
“…?”
Faced with Rishe’s blasé response, Jane blinked in astonishment.
The attitude seemed to carelessly regard the test itself as tedious rather than worrying about its content.
How could someone reacting this way possibly qualify to be the master of a holy sword?
“…Why? Is there a problem?”
“Simply that I have something important tomorrow.”
“Something more important than taking a holy sword’s test…?”
“Sort of. Actually, though it’s embarrassing to say, I’m supposed to attend an investiture ceremony in Bondales.”
“…And?”
“I’m supposed to receive my title there.”
Do you understand what I’m implying?
Rishe looked at Jane with such an expression.
Huh?
I don’t get it at all.
What exactly are you trying to say?
Jane returned the same look.
Could you possibly be implying that receiving a city title is more important than taking a holy sword’s test?
“…”
Not only Jane, but even Camilla and Elysia were left speechless.
-Jalk, did you just say our Jane has more flaws than this guy?
Elysia bluntly told Jalk.
Since she already considered everything as settled.
Every holy sword possesses immense pride in its own existence.
To personally offer the qualification for the test and be treated as a tedious chore?
Jalk couldn’t possibly tolerate that.
“What? What did you say!? An investiture ceremony?! You couldn’t possibly mean that you’re declining my test because of that!?”
Just as expected.
With a start, Jalk exclaimed.
A holy sword’s test.
It’s a crucial ritual to verify whether one is truly qualified to be its master.
If the legacy of a great hero were to fall into unworthy hands, there would be no greater disaster.
Therefore, such tests cannot be concluded overnight.
It must be an extended process, pushing the candidate to their limits and testing their boundaries.
And now here was someone mentioning a trivial investiture ceremony.
The next move was clear.
Jalk announced.
“Then there’s no other way!”
“Hm. I hoped Jane wouldn’t be chosen in this manner…”
“I will conduct the test in a simplified manner!”
“-?”
“To avoid interrupting the important investiture ceremony! So, please participate!”
“??”
