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『Smithy Jii-san’s house』
「Eeeeeh!!? You were the one who made 《Criminal Darkness》!?」(Kazuha)
As expected, even I was surprised.
Ah~. Aah aah. I get it.
So that’s why Jii-san knew that this was the 『Maou no ken』 during the time I went here carrying the Curse sword for the first time.
So that’s the reason. It’s because he’s the one who made it.
Wait, so Jii-san is one heck of a Jiji


Not only did he instructed me with the 『Two sword』 skill, but also made the 『curse sword』


Yeah~, I sure am surprised. Really surprised.
「

 What, Zegius? You didn’t even tell Kazuha about that?」(Selen)
「Hohoho. Well, I’ve thought of telling her when I saw the curse sword though. Hohoho」(Santa)[Zegius]
That way you laugh pisses me off!
Say it to me the first time Jijii!
Damn


「However, this is a problem, yes? Not about the curse sword but about taking home the 『maou』

 In the first place Granzyme will never let go of the curse sword」(Zegius)
「Right~. I think so too」(Kazuha)
「

 You’re mistaken, Kazuha. It’s not “wouldn’t give” but “can’t give”」(Selen)
「

 What?」(Kazuha)
「


. Hey, Zegius. Not explaining things has a limit, isn’t it?」(Selen)


 What?
「Even if you say so, Granzyme. I didn’t imagine that Kazuha will bring you personally

」(Zegius)
「Well

 Normally they don’t」(Selen)
Eh? It’s my fault?
You’re saying that my head is weird? Is that what you’re saying?
Eh? I’m gonna cry, you know? I’m gonna weep here, you know?
「Haa

. You’re right

. To put it simply, the “curse sword” is a 『cursed sword』, Kazuha」(Zegius)[Maken 魔扣 , the other ć‘Șいぼ扣]
Cursed sword?
In other words, it’s like the 『drain badge』 that I used in 『holding back』?
「This 『curse sword』 has a 『consciousness』. Be it human  or Demon, a fearful sword that possesses the one who equips it, constantly absorbing the 『Magic power』 and altering one’s life force」(Zegius)
What fearful sword?
Ain’t you the one who made this!
What’s with that 『it’s not my fault』 way of speech!
「So, Kazuha. I was really surprised when I saw you wield that sword however

  What really astonished me was that you can easily unequip that curse sword and even equip the great sword

」(Selen)
? Ah, during that time eh. During the fight in the 『demon lord’s room』.
Ah. Ah~ah~.
So that’s why during that time, I unnaturally felt an astonishment huh.
Hee~.
Hm?
Then why is my 『curse sword』 not cursed?
And there wasn’t a time that my magic power was sucked out from me, you know?
「Ye~ah?」(Kazuha)
「(

 It’s just a thought though

 During the 『first time』 that you defeated the demon lord the cursed 『contract』 was terminated,
and you’re able to use the enormous 《power》 stored within it when you obtained it)」(Zegius)
Jii-san whispered to my ear.
The long breath is a little bit ticklish.
「(Then, what is it? So you’re saying that I luckily obtained the curse sword when I defeated the demon lord -Selen- and other ways doesn’t work? 

 Are you serious)」(Kazuha)
So Tao’s effort was useless huh.
Just how will you steal an 『an irremovable cursed equipment』.
Tao. Thanks for helping!
「Do you understand, Kazuha?」(Selen)
「Loud and clear」(Kazuha)
「

 Then, what do you plan on doing? Your 『deal』 with Alzein

?」(Zegius)
「Ah, yeah. Think of a way to get the 『curse sword』 from Selen, and probably if its a sword that constantly absorbs 『magic power』, then probably even though I give it to Alzein then she can’t probably equip it, I think」(Kazuha)
The 『curse sword』 is made by this Jijii.
And probably, for some unknown reason, this sword is made for Selen’s sake.
So it’s 『cursed』 and 『constantly absorbing magic power』 state so that those with enormous 『magic power』 holder can equip it.
Thinking about it that way then probably only 『Maou』 -Selen- is the only one who can equip it, right.
Thinking that way then the meaning of the 『cursed』 is somehow understandable.
Probably, the 『magic power』 sucked so that the 『attack power』 will leverage kind of changing equipment? Somehow it feels that the 『curse』 is an implication taken with holding back.
Burdened by the risk of constantly absorbing the magic power, with that strength.
In the end the only opposition of the 『hero’s sword』 is the 『other greatest sword』, which is the 『curse sword』.
If it isn’t burdened with that much then it wont be the opposition of the hero’s.
Is what it means, right.
「Then what about the 『deal』?」(Zegius)
Jii-san asked while refilling the tea.
「I’ll give mine」(Kazuha)
「

 Are you serious?」(Zegius)
「Yep」(Kazuha)
If I’m correct then the gate guard said that, Alzein was the runner up, in other words her Rank is 2 in the currently closed tournament, right.
If she has mastered that much of swordsmanship, then if I hand-over my 《Criminal Darkness》 then it wouldn’t be that disappointing.
And probably she can use this, no?
Furthermore she’s a 『mage knight』.
Attacks the weakness of her enemy with 『magic』, furthermore she uses the 《light》 attribute magic.
So if she were to brandish this 『curse sword』, then wont she become the continent’s number 1 warrior, I thought.
(

 Wait, then who won

 Was there someone stronger than Alzein

)
As I think of such things.
I sip the tea that was served by Jii-san–.