Chapter 27: I want to be stronger

A few days after the werewolf subjugation, Ricardo visited Lutz's workshop. It was for the maintenance of his beloved sword.

However, after receiving the sword and entering the forge, Lutz came back to the living room in about ten minutes.

"There's nothing wrong with it."

"Hmm?"

"There are no cracks or chips on the blade. I put a fresh coat of sword oil on the blade, just in case it got wet with blood. That's about it."

"I did a pretty unreasonable slash, but..."

"When it comes to a sword this big, it's easier to swing it as hard as you can. It must have gone in very nicely."

Lutz shouldn't have seen the corpse of the werewolf that had been cut in half. Still, Ricardo was both happy and embarrassed to be praised like this.

Lutz handed over the sword and then sat down next to Claudia.

“So you said you didn't get killed when you turned around. The last time I put a name on it, and this time when I was checking the blade, I could feel the killer's presence from behind me.”

“I guess that means Ricardo is now recognized by the sword as its owner.”

Ricardo nodded in satisfaction at Claudia's words.

...... Funny, didn't this man have an aversion to bewitched swords.

Now, when someone praises his sword, he smiles happily, and his eyes are full of kindness when he looks at his sword. Lutz and Claudia twisted their heads wondering what had happened to make such a change.

“You seem to have mastered the sword, which is fine, but I see some problems."

"... What are you talking about, Camellia is perfect."

Ricardo looked at him suspiciously, wondering what the problem was, whether it was that he could slay or curse.

"It's perfect, that's the problem. Ricardo, if you rely on this guy too much, you'll become weak."

If you point your sword at it, the enemy will self-destruct. One day you will start to enjoy fighting and forget how to fight.

He advised that it should only be used as a trump card when surrounded by enemies, and that if it was a one-on-one fight, it would be better to fight normally.

"And one more thing."

“There is more!?”

"It's not about fighting alone, it's about what happens when an ally is nearby. In my opinion, it's probably..."

He imitated tapping his neck with a hand sword.

"I'm basically solo, so I don't think I need to worry too much about it, but, well, I'll keep it in mind."

"Doesn't the Count ask you to escort him when he goes out?"

"Oh... it happens sometimes."

Ricardo looked up at the ceiling and sighed. There was no point in being an escort if he was the only one who survived after his enemies and allies committed suicide. It was a joke in bad taste that Ricardo would have to take responsibility and commit suicide.

Especially since the Count has recently taken an interest in swords and feels a sense of fellowship with Ricardo as his sword-friend (Kentomo), he may be more comfortable being called upon than before.

What a contradiction it is not to be able to use one's trump card in an escort mission, a battle that one absolutely cannot lose and from which one cannot escape alone.

"It's not like there's no way to use it."

"What?"

Hearing Claudia's words, Ricardo raised his head.

"From what I've heard so far, I think there's a range of effect that drives them to self-harm. The orc’s cronies escaped normally, and the two werewolves escaped."

"I see, if I attract the enemy and move away, it might not be impossible to use it."

"If you understand the range of effects correctly, it will be easier to use. Or, if you get to know Camellia better, you might be able to make only the targeted person commit suicide."

"That's it Claudia, that's it!"

Ricardo stood up in excitement.

He used to hate this demon sword, but now he says he loves it. He used to have a fear of death every time he pulled out the sword, but now he does not believe that Camellia would harm him. Their relationship has definitely progressed.

The more you deepen your bond, the more things you can do. Oh, what a sweet dream!

“I still don't know much about Camellia. I'm going to go check out the range of effects right now.”

Ricardo jumped out of the room with a high smile on his face. The two people left behind could only have a question mark in their heads.

"I wonder if the sword has changed him, or if he has just revealed his true nature. I wonder which it is."

"I thought it was the latter. He's an acquaintance of Mr. Gerhard."

"I see, it's the lowest persuasive power."

Lutz sticks his head out the window and looks for Ricardo's back, but he's already out of sight.

"The Katana is in the hands of those who should wield it, huh..."

The mutterings reached no one's ears and dissipated into the wind.

Ricardo came to the forest where he fought the werewolf.

For those in the nearby settlements,

“Then I came to check on you to see if any werewolves had appeared. No, no, this is also my duty as a hero in the Count's custody, hahaha."

He was given a place to stay for the night and dinner by grateful people who laughed with him and showed him their gratitude, but he had other objectives.

Early the next morning he set out and sought out the site of the battle.

Wild dogs and raccoon dogs devoured the corpses of werewolves, but only the bones remained.  A carcass that has been cut in half is still distinctive even if only the bones remain.

“This is where I was standing, and this is where the guys who killed themselves were. The guys who ran away were around here or ......"

I measured the distance with the hemp rope I had brought with me and found that the effective range was around five meters. This is a bit of a difficult distance to aim at with a bow or magic. On the other hand, it would be unbeatable in the narrow and winding labyrinth.

Or, as Claudia said, if I could deepen my bond with Camellia, I might be able to manipulate the area of effect at will, or even target a single enemy at a distance and make it commit suicide.

"We still have room to grow. The perfect hero will be born when this power is at its peak!"

Before I knew it, the title of hero no longer felt like a burden.

I loved Camellia, and I was going to love myself more and more like that.

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