“Wow, this sword is so incredible it’s downright scary… The pitch-black blade feels like it could swallow me whole….”
“Hmm… I didn’t cast any enchantment to affect the mind like that. Must be something else…”
“Just think of it as a really well-crafted sword. Yup.”
“Still… hearing that it takes away the owner’s most precious thing is kinda terrifying. Even though I’m prepared, it’s unsettling…”
Arthur sheathed the sword and spoke. Even though he’d mentally prepared himself, the idea of having his most precious possession taken away was understandably frightening.
“Whether it’d take my life, an object, or a person… not knowing makes it even scarier.”
“But that’s a lie.”
“Huh?!”
“I was just testing what kind of resolve Arthur has. This sword’s nothing special beyond having some unique power. No need to worry, it’s not some cursed blade or anything.”
At my words, Arthur looked somewhat deflated as he replied…
“Teacher, for some reason, your words don’t feel reassuring. Thinking about all the incredible things you’ve done before… it actually makes me believe you could create such a soul-stealing sword.”
“Oh my, is that so?”
“I mean, starting from building this wooden house out of nowhere, diverting a river for swimming practice, creating rock hills to break with pickaxes, making life-sized wooden dummies move for sparring…”
“Ahem, I just did what seemed helpful for your training. Honestly.”
“Anyway, this sword – Dainslayf – will now become Arthur’s sword. Take good care of it.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
Standing before me with a bright smile, Arthur had grown from a young boy who entered this forest five years ago into a sturdy young man. Though beneath that cheerful smile, his heart harbored a dark desire for vengeance…
Still, it was probably time for them to move on.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – –
“Teacher, if you can give Brother a sword, can’t you give me something too?”
“Bibi, you don’t need weapons like that.”
“But that’s unfair! It’s discrimination!”
“It’s not intentional discrimination…”
“Besides, isn’t the Church of Life itself a gift for Bibi?”
“I’m a bit wary of those people. They keep asking when I’ll join the church. I want to stay with Teacher longer.”
Pouting Bibi had transformed from the clever but innocent child she was five years ago into quite a spoiled young lady. Though only around me – she handles herself maturely with others, especially priests from the Church of Life…
“Truly, you’re impossible.”
“Teacher’s being mean! Discrimination is bad! If you keep this up, I might just tell Brother about Teacher’s true identity…”
“That wouldn’t be good.”
I chuckled at her playful threat, knowing she wouldn’t actually do it.
“Why keep it secret from Brother anyway? That Teacher is acting according to the Goddess of Life’s will?”
“Well, if more people knew the Goddess of Life occasionally interferes in this world, it would cause problems. Officially, the Goddess needs to maintain an image of laziness.”
“Lazy?”
“It’s to protect earthly lives from other gods. The Goddess placed restrictions on gods interfering directly with the mortal realm.”
Though honestly, I’m just lazy myself!
Teaching these two using a sage’s body has been fun while it lasted…
“So, if the Goddess’ interference was exposed through Teacher’s actions, it must remain a secret!”
“Yes. Please keep it confidential, Bibi. Though you figured it out from our similar voices, we don’t want more people realizing…”
“Ugh… Fine then! But Teacher, my hands feel empty…”
Glancing enviously at Arthur’s sword, Bibi opened and closed her fists cutely. Unable to resist, I let out a small laugh.
“Fine, fine…”
A staff should be simple enough to make. With a light tap of my toe, a small sapling began growing from the ground…
The sapling grew into a tree, stopping at the perfect height for a staff. Pulling it out, I cleaned the roots and shaped the branches nicely…
Let’s add some useful features. Checking my pocket, I pulled out a mana stone about fist-sized. It came from an ogre supposedly slain by the Knight King…
Too much trouble searching through old monster loot…
Wrapping the mana stone in diamond, then covering it with the staff’s branches… A staff with a diamond-encased mana stone slightly larger than a fist. Nice.
Let’s add:
– Absorbs mana from the ground when planted
– 1/10 mana cost for spells
– Recharges user’s mana using the mana stone
– Emergency protective barrier
Perfect. And an unbreakable enchantment for good measure.
“Alright, it’s complete.”
“Woah… Teacher’s skills are incomprehensible no matter how many times I see them. How does that even work?”
“You just need to think of trees as children.”
Because Yggdrasil is my child! Most trees have no choice but to obey me!
“Wow, wow!”
“How does it feel in your hand?”
“It fits perfectly! Amazing! Casting magic feels effortless!”
Bibi swung the staff joyfully, firing off rapid magical arrows that lit up the end of the staff.
The simple magic arrows fired so quickly they resembled a machine gun.
BOOM!!
All the arrows hit the large rock split earlier by Dainslayf, reducing it instantly to gravel.
“A gift this wonderful! Thank you so much, Teacher!”
“You’re very welcome. As we’ll soon need to part ways, I hope this helps you both.”
“Huh?”
My words froze Bibi’s expression.
“Teacher… What did you just say?”
“The part about hoping these items help you…”
“No, before that…”
“Saying it’s time for you both to leave the forest? You can’t stay here forever. It’s time to venture out.”
Arthur to achieve his revenge and reclaim his rightful place.
Bibi to assist him and serve as the Church of Life’s saint.
“You two need to leave the forest…”
“Teacher… Aren’t you coming with us?”
“Me?”
Ah, so that’s why she looks so worried. Really.
“I can’t leave this forest.”
“But we thought Teacher would come with us!”
“Accompanying you would be problematic…”
This sage’s body wasn’t designed for travel – made from heavy stone, unable to ride horses, slow walking speed. Not ideal for moving around.
Plus, this body was only meant to last until Rychlen’s time. Already exceeded its expected lifespan…
“Isn’t there some way?”
“Hmm… Difficult…”
Bibi looked up at me with tear-filled golden eyes. So cute…
Sighing lightly, I responded…
“Let me think about it for a while.”
Such a troublesome young lady indeed.
