Chapter 14
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I’m quite accustomed to it, so the dungeon exploration proceeds smoothly.
I’ve already cleared six dungeons.
I’ve finally reached a point where I no longer fall for low-level traps. And even if I do, I can avoid them by brute-forcing it with my physical abilities.
Although I struggle a bit with the 《Armored Arms》 and 《Checkmates》, I basically progress through the dungeon by having Eris flush out the enemies and me finishing them off.
As I’m hunting the small fry, Eris sharply exhales and cleaves a 《Berserker Rook》 that tries to crush her with its heavy shield, splitting both the shield and the monster in two with a diagonal slash.
Even after defeating a formidable foe, as if it’s only natural, Eris comes to my side without being out of breath.
While surveying our surroundings, she asks me,
「Are they the Hero’s party?」
「Yeah.」
「I can hardly believe he’s the Hero.」
She lowers her graceful head slightly.
「I agree. I feel the same way,」
I reply with a wry smile. I have thoughts about this.
No, I have nothing but thoughts about this.
「But being called the 《Hero》 is just a job title forced on someone by others.」
「That’s… certainly true.」
She glances back at the Hero’s party far behind us and reluctantly agrees.
「For example, my job title is Holy Knight, but if you ask me if I have a sacred heart… I can answer ‘No’ without hesitation.」
That’s right.
What’s truly important – haven’t I experienced it firsthand from the moment I was summoned until now?
「What matters is the unwavering core deep within our hearts, burning fiercely, that can never be changed.」
Eris smiles.
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Come to think of it, Eris changes the subject, as if to say,
「I believe there were famous swordsmen in history who didn’t have skills, right?」
「Yeah, that kind of thing can happen. Just because you don’t have a skill doesn’t mean you can’t swing a sword.」
The dungeon we’re exploring is called the 《Blade Dungeon》.
As the name suggests, there are many swordsman-type monsters wielding swords and blades.
「Hmm,」 Eris murmurs.
I see a 《Six-Handed Ogre》 approaching from ahead, its gigantic body probably over two and a half meters tall.
The six-armed monster, true to its name, has six hands, each holding a top-grade sword. But Eris lightly handles them as easily as breathing and crosses paths with it.
With a thud, its huge body collapses.
The fallen mass of flesh is divided into thirty-two equal parts.
I think she’s amazing.
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「Eris!」
When I call out her name, she comes running over, looking happy.
「I’ll give you a reward.」
「Ohohoho, a reward?!」
She blushes.
「Is this reward what I think it is?! The thing that frequently appears in ‘My Dear Court Magician,’ which I love to read?!」
「What kind of book is that?!」
「『Well done. Here, I’ll give you a reward.』
『Oh, how embarrassing.』
『Then should I not?』
『No, don’t stop…』
『Then you know what to do. Beg for it.』」
「You’re talking a lot! What are you reading?! And what’s with 『Beg for it!』?」
「Huh, beg for it? Do I really have to…?」
「That’s not ittttt!!」
That’s not what I meant…
「Please… give me the reward.」
Blushing, Eris begs.
That’s not it.
That’s really not it.
I’m glad she’s opening up to me.
I can’t deny that somewhere in my heart, I wish for that kind of opportunity someday…
But this isn’t that kind of situation.
Hiding my true feelings, I hand it over to her.
「Here it is.」
「This is… the Holy Sword…」
What I hand to her is the Holy Sword, a partner that has supported me on my journey so far.
「That’s right. This sword is truly worthy of you.」
「I can’t! The Holy Sword belongs to you, Master! The Holy Sword is most suitable for you!」
「No, this Holy Sword is most fitting for you, Eris Gladius, who loves the sword so much that you’d dedicate everything to it!」
I place my hand on Eris’s shoulder as she tries to say something more.
「With or without this sword, we are master and disciple. And not just that, but an ultra, ultra, ultra, super deep relationship. Right?」
At my words, she tearfully holds the Holy Sword to her chest.
「Maaaster…」 She embraces me.
Eris, with her combination of clumsiness and tranquility, is really charming.
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In the deepest part of the 《Blade Dungeon》, standing as if guarding the dungeon boss, is 《Orichalcum Queen》, the last of the 《Checkmates》 series.
I thought it might be too much for Eris to handle, but that was completely unnecessary concern. Eris lightly handles 《Orichalcum Queen》’s orichalcum whips, and they fall to the ground as if shredded.
And the moment the enemy falters and takes a step back, Eris cleaves 《Orichalcum Queen》 in two from the torso as if cutting a vegetable.
「A sword technique isn’t finished until the enemy is gone!」 That’s what Eris said before. As if to prove it, she swings her sword a few times, and 《Orichalcum Queen》changes into such fine pieces that it no longer retains its original form.
Waiting for the monster to vanish, Eris and I (+ α + β + γ) proceed to the room where the dungeon boss awaits.
I stare wide-eyed at the scene before me.
For some reason, the starry sky and moonlight illuminate us clearly.
A vast, desolate land stretches out as far as the eye can see.
Countless swords are thrust into the ground.
While staying alert to our surroundings, Eris and I reach the innermost depths.
There, we find a monster with an insane desire to battle the strong.
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