Chapter 48: Full Moon Bazaar ⑧

Yeah. I understood.

“Wof.”

My name was called.

A mysterious, transcendent beauty appeared, her presence sparkling like a blade.

The ever-familiar Knife Goddess herself. I bowed.

“It’s been a while.”
“The trading city Heizen… how are things? Are you doing well?”
“Huh? Um… yes, I’m managing fairly well.”

I was thrown off by her casual tone—like small talk. Was she some relative?

“What did you just say?”

The Knife Goddess smiled, but it was terrifying. Perhaps an older cousin of mine?

“Good. It seems you’ve handled the biggest problem, despite some smaller issues… Laada, the demonic one.”
“Y-Yes. She was extremely strong.”

“I didn’t know she was hiding in Haizen, of all places, within the Jinryuu family. She is the daughter of the Sword Goddess, the most cunning, secretly active for thousands of years across the world.”
“Yet she seemed… rather sloppy this time.”

I felt she was strangely emotional.

“Unexpected events may have caused her to panic.”
“But if she’s been active for millennia, shouldn’t she handle that?”
“The more one gets used to things, the more oddly one stumbles over the smallest stone.”
“I-I see…”

Ah, like in past life sayings: “Even monkeys fall from trees” or “Kobo’s brush slips sometimes.”

“And it was your first true death match, wasn’t it?”
“…Honestly, I think I was arrogant. I believed no one could surpass me in strength. I think I was conceited in that way.”

Not consciously, but perhaps unconsciously, I felt that way.

The Knife Goddess gave a faint wry smile.

“That’s a path everyone passes. It’s a natural human thought.”
“…I see…”
“You’ll gradually digest it.”
“Y-Yes. She called herself a True Relic God… What exactly is that?”
“It’s the evolution beyond a Pseudo Relic God. You’re handling a fragment of it.”
“…Rave Form…”
“Yes. That power is divine itself. Not a temporary imitation—true godly power. It’s not to be handled lightly. That’s why evolving from a Pseudo Relic God to True is no easy task. Currently, eight people have reached that level.”
“Eight? That’s more than I thought.”

Eight people like that…

“That’s within what we know. One recently joined.”

A name came to mind.

“Alweld?”
“Yes. Alweld von Rutvelt has reached it.”
“…Impressive.”
“He had a good hint, after all.”
“Ahaha…”

Well, with that much, he would reach it.

“But he can’t fully utilize it yet. Limit is two minutes.”

One minute more than me.

“True Relics have a five-minute duration with a seven-day cooldown?”
“Six minutes with seven days.”

Even Laada couldn’t perfectly use it.

“Though only one person has six minutes. Next was Laada.”
“Wait, isn’t it five minutes for everyone?”
“No. Most are three minutes. Two are four minutes. Ah, now seven because Laada died.”
“So I’m not counted?”

Right, I’m only a fragment from a pseudo form, not True.

“Yes. Just a fragment. Yet even a fragment, you’re exceptional—almost equivalent.”
“Hahaha…”

Exceptional, huh. I’m aware… though I don’t want to admit it.

“In the future, your paths may intersect or clash. The most True Relic holders are in Seihou—four of them.”
“Four?”

A religion with four actual gods?

I recalled the witch had mentioned Pseudo Relic God holders. Are they True? Or another Pseudo?

“Seihou is the world’s largest religion, partly due to military power. Be careful not to antagonize them.”

Please don’t speak like a foreshadowing flag…

“Also, a now-vanished country had a former knight commander who possesses six-minute True Relic power. Stronger than Laada, so be cautious.”

Stop flagging me! Who would even fight that? I have no reason or connection.

“Oh, one personal question… is Giza also a True Relic holder?”
“No. Pseudo Relic. Not yet True.”
“Even a fragment of a god is pseudo?”
“Yes. Because it’s a fragment.”

Ah, because it’s a fragment. Let’s ask more.

“Do all the daughters possess Pseudo Relic Gods?”
“Only those who can humanize. A vessel or mere possession isn’t enough.”
“I see… understood.”

“And that Spear-like thing you acquired…”
“Yes, that.”
“It’s best to show it to the witch with Mineha present.”

I intended to, but now I had no choice if the Goddess said it.

Mineha present? Maybe because she was upset? Unusual advice from the Knife Goddess.

“Y-Yes, understood. Oh, also… the Knife of the Different Sea… it has one more tentacle now.”
“That’s because it consumed a water orb. Don’t you remember? The round beads?”
“…Ah, from the river pirates’ loot.”

Ah, right. It moved and ate it on its own.

“These are scattered worldwide. Have it consume them if found. The Knife of the Different Sea will continue to serve you.”
“Understood.”

Time was nearly up.

“Wof. You will face many trials and hardships ahead.”
“I’d prefer if they didn’t wait for me.”

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind ignoring them.

“Wof. Your bad habit is trying to solve everything alone. You’re not alone. Many can be relied upon. You’re still a child. Never forget that. Of course… the Knife Goddess is here too.”
“Thank you. You always help me.”
“Yes. And if fifty knives break, I have something to give you.”
“No need to break that many.”

Fifty? Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

“Wof. Knowing when to give up is important too.”
“If I give up, it’s over!”

I barked instinctively; the Knife Goddess smiled.

Wait… that archaic smile… hold on, I want to say something about that smile…

“Seriously! You’re the Knife Goddess! Expecting knives to break is absurd!”
“Kyaa!?”
“Whoa! Eh, w-what!?”

Suddenly, a scream erupted nearby. I was startled.

Something warm pressed against the back of my head… wait, when did I… sleep?

“Huh? Eh?”

A large round shadow appeared before me. Behind it, a human face peeked through.

This round shadow… the scream earlier… could it be what my head was resting on?

“Is that… sleep-talking?”
“M-Mineha-san…?”
“Oh, you’re awake. Geez, you suddenly fell asleep; I got so scared.”
“S-Sorry.”
“You must have been exhausted. Well, no wonder.”

Apparently, I had fallen asleep.

We were at the witch’s shop. Chairs were arranged, and I lay across them.

Mineha-san was giving me a lap pillow.

Chairs arranged, allowed to lie down, and a lap pillow… embarrassing.

“Sorry…”
“You’ve been working too hard, haven’t you?”
“Eh, really?”
“It’s fine if that’s okay with you. But I’ve always thought… you’re too kind. Think more about yourself.”
“…S-Sorry…”
“No need to apologize.”

A sigh.

Too kind… I’m not sure I understand.

I’m just doing what I want. In a way, selfish.

“Mineha-san. Thank you.”
“Why suddenly?”
“For worrying about me.”
“Well, I wasn’t really… Okay, fine. I did worry. When Laada teleported and you rushed alone, I worried.”

She pressed her hand to my forehead, lightly patting it.

“Ouch, sorry.”
“After that, I trusted you’d return.”

She chuckled, gently stroking my forehead.

Even though she’s ten, she seems like an older sister in this moment.

“I wonder… how’s the shop? Did customers come?”
“Well… currently, it’s closed for a reason.”
“A reason…?”
“The witch messed up spectacularly.”
“…I see…”

Ah, she really messed up.

“Also, Dagaa and the others came.”
“Huh? To the VIP area?”

How?

“They were flashy. Dagaa brought fish, crab, and Bid along.”
“Why!?”
“Apparently, there was a celebration. Not sure about details.”
“What celebration?”
“Victory party or something.”
“Wait, what!?”
“Who knows?”

Well… as long as they’re safe.

“What about Shaldina, Anna Kreutzen, and Hoss?”

I realized only Mineha-san and I remained.

And Haiyaan’s body.

“The witch’s mess took Giza to fetch them. I stayed behind. Someone has to watch the shop… and you.”
“…What did the witch mess up?”
“Who knows? By the way, there are two guards at the shop entrance.”
“WHAT did that witch do!?”

I sprang up.

The Full Moon Bazaar is far from over.