Then Row smiled.
"There is no such sword, Your Highness. Give up."
"If, just hypothetically, there were such a sword... would you pick up a sword again?"
"If there was..."
"Uh-huh."
"...No, I wouldn't."
So stubborn!
"Just imagine it, though! What if there was a sword like that!"
Imagine... He murmured quietly, lowering his eyes, and the atmosphere became strangely subdued.
"May I ask why you're asking me this, Your Highness?"
"I want to contract with the Black Night Guild."
"I refuse."
So decisively?!
"Could you at least think about it?"
"It's not worth considering."
"Even if becoming my retainer meant getting a better sword than Tuyen?"
"There is no such sword in the world."
Completely stubborn!
"There is. I can show it to you right now."
"There's no need for that."
Why!
If I take out the sword and show it to him right now, things will change...!
It was the moment Kynemia was about to get up to get the sword.
"My apologies, Your Highness, but I think we should end this conversation."
Row said firmly and smiled lightly.
Huh...? Why? I said I'd show you!
Holding back the tears that were about to burst out, she clasped her hands together.
Was it too much? Was I thinking too easily?
'With that kind of stubbornness, he must have given up the sword...'
Do I have to wait until the latter half of the original story when the guild members start a labor union...?
While Kynemia was floundering in the pain of failure, Row put a lace on her head, saying he would tie it for her.
Kynemia sat still like a doll and entrusted her head to him.
Fidget, fidget. While feeling the hands moving around her head, one realization flashed through her mind.
'I kind of get it now...'
To Row, I am basically just a cute grand duchess, not an equal trading partner or a trustworthy person.
Row wasn't so docile as to say, 'Yes, I will, hehe,' at Kynemia's words.
'Behemoth wouldn't have listened to me seriously either if I wasn't a grand duchess with a lot of money...'
Suddenly I feel sad again...
'I thought too easily like a fool.'
But she didn't want to ask Shen Tien or any of the other adults for help.
I have to recruit Nyang-papa!
What good is a Pokémon you just get in a trade? It's all about how you raise them.
She was also feeling a slight competitive spirit.
According to her father, she was the type to work hard at anything once she started. Even though she was usually listless and lazy, once she was given a task, she would stay up all night to finish it.
Like a squirrel diligently gathering acorns and burying them in the ground to prepare for winter.
However, squirrels can't find most of the acorns they bury...
He even said that even the fact that she doesn't get results as much as she puts in effort is also like a squirrel.
How could he express it so harshly in front of me...
'Wait!'
Kynemia shook her head.
'It's okay. I'll get results this time!'
Just in time, one way to overcome this situation flashed through her mind.
Her late mother said that a swordsman should speak with a sword. Then, wouldn't it be okay to talk with a sword?
Soon, having made up her mind, she stood up from her seat.
"Row. I'm going to request a duel by the law of swords."
"...Yes?"
Row's eyes widened at the unexpected words.
"It's the rule of the desert. Sand for sand, sword for sword."
"But... Your Highness, I can't possibly cross swords with you."
"Let's decide the match in three exchanges. Without aura."
"Your Highness, we have a difference in strength from the start. It's a ridiculous match."
"It's okay. I believe in my sword. That this is a sword that surpasses Tuyen."
Kynemia said provocatively.
Row looked quite troubled, but the law of swords was something that could not be refused. Unless the applicant withdrew, it had to be accepted.
He made a troubled expression, then nodded his head.
"I will accept."
Of course, he probably thought of it as a sparring match against a child.
Since there was a significant difference in their skills, making her put down her sword without getting hurt would be easy for him, and therefore, even though it was a slightly troublesome situation, it wasn't something he had to avoid at all costs.
Kynemia, sitting on a chair on one side of the private training ground, put a hair tie in her mouth. As she swept her long hair up and tied it, Ayan, who had belatedly grasped the situation and followed, said.
"Mia, don't worry."
"...Huh?"
When you tell me not to worry, I get more worried...?
"I'll take care of it."
He smiled brightly.
"What are you talking about again."
"Didn't you want to kill that guy?"
"No, I didn't."
"Then why are you doing this reckless thing? That guy isn't someone you can just grab because you like swords."
"Fool. The thing I hate most is reckless things. I applied for the law of swords because I thought I could do it."
Kynemia, who had tied her hair up in a single ponytail, jumped up.
"You just sit and watch without doing anything. Got it?"
"I'm your escort, though?"
Looking at the troublemaker who looked like he would do something immediately if something happened, she pointed alternately at the wall and the chair.
"Stand facing the wall, or sit quietly."
"Yesss..."
Ayan sat down quietly with a sulky face.
"Then I'll be back."
"Okay."
As she turned her body with a smirk, he waved his hand gently.
"You really mustn't do anything."
Kynemia, who was about to leave with her sword, turned her body sharply and glared at him.
"I got it."
Ayan waved his hand gently again as if telling her not to worry. Kynemia waved back and moved her steps again.
Watching Kynemia's back as she walked away, Ayan sat cross-legged and crossed his arms while pulling up his magic power.
There's no way he'll do nothing.
He was thinking of killing that less evolved primate right away if he even twisted her sword.
He had been displeased all along.
Dungeons and such, he could conquer them anytime if she asked him.
Had she forgotten that he was Ricasha? Or did she not trust his power that much?
Either way, it was definitely unpleasant.
Thinking that it would be good to kill the dangerous element while he was at it, Ayan suddenly shifted his gaze to his palm.
Cold sweat was pooling in his hand.
'Is it 2nd awakening after all...'
The nightmares and headaches that had started a few days ago were making him more sensitive. Drawing out magic power and his body becoming dull were also annoying...
"100, 99, 98..."
The voice he had been hearing in his dreams kept lingering in his head.
'Shit.'
A curse word soared to the tip of his tongue.
'Why now of all times...'
Physical pain would be better. Rather than being swept away by this dirty feeling.
Ayan focused his mind elsewhere to avoid hearing the numbers.
Kynemia, who had stepped out to the center of the training ground, stood at a suitable distance from Row. Row was holding a Bone Sword, which Behemoth was currently focusing on making, a sword made of monster bones as the name suggested.
His eyes seemed to have a slight vitality as he held a sword after a long time.
To be stubborn even though he clearly wants to hold a sword like that...
Row swung his sword a couple of times and then said.
"This is also quite a good sword."
"It's unique, right?"
"Yes. But not as good as Tuyen."
I'm starting to get curious about this Tuyen.
"This might be better than that Tuyen, though?"
Kynemia said primly and drew her sword with a smile.
Swish-
A sound that was almost refreshing rang out as the sword was drawn.
The bluish tip of the sword shone as it caught the light.
Seeing the unfamiliar color and the sharply edged sword, he made a slightly surprised expression.
It's still too early to be surprised. The real performance of this sword doesn't come from its sound or shape.
"Hoo-"
She took a breath and took a stance with her sword.
It had been a long time since she had held a real sword. With the heavy sensation, all the sounds around her were cut off, and all her nerves were focused on her two hands and the sword.
Kinemia, standing straight, stared straight ahead.
