Chapter 34: Holy Sword

“Fimia! Fimia has come for me! My Fimia!”

“Jurg, please show me your wounds… They look pretty bad.”

Ignoring the ecstatic monster, Fimia touches me.

As I watch the healing prayer wrap around my injured body, the movement of the Albert-like face suddenly stops.

“Fimia…?”

“How are you feeling, Jurg? Does it still hurt?”

“No, I’m fine. As long as I can move.”

“You always say that!”

Fimia looks up at me with a troubled expression as I stand up.

Albert gazes at her in astonishment.

“I sense the presence of culling. This must be it.”

“Fimia? Why are you ignoring me? You’re Albert’s, right?”

“A composite-type magic beast with acquired speech. Even more troublesome than Scarred beast.”

With a flail in hand, the saintly woman has a determined expression.

Seeing that, I understand.

Despite the Albert-like face, this isn’t Albert.

As the “Saint,” Fimia can clearly see that.

“Now, let’s start over, monster.”

“Why don’t you obey me?! Even now, just like that day!”

“It’s because you’re an idiot!”

With a hatchet in my left hand, I step forward.

In response, Rolo runs alongside me.

“I’ll start first!”

“Got it!”

As I step forward diagonally, I see Rolo gesturing slightly behind me.

In just one breath, he casts three spells: Critical Weapon, Weapon Enhancement Enchantment, and Chains of Bind, binding the magic chains to the monster’s body.

Rolo is truly remarkable.

I also need to do my part.

“Take this!”

I strike the axe into its long neck, then jab a right straight into the lion’s body when it flinches.

The monster screams and staggers back.

Then, Rolo mercilessly thrusts his short sword into the lowered head of the Albert-like face.

“It hurts…! Why are you doing this to me!? What did I do!?”

“You attacked the village, you killed Kati! You bastard!”

He always had a selfish and blame-shifting personality.

But he always managed to get by because he never crossed the line.

However, he’s different now.

He trampled on my important place and my important woman.

This is truly deserving of death.

I don’t know if he’s immortal or what, but I’ll kill him over and over until he dies.

“I-I just… I just wanted to kill you guys!”

“Die!”

I kick the monster as it begins to regenerate.

The monster screams as it flies through the air, knocking down several trees.

“Chi, I’m not feeling so good without the usual war club.”

I look down at the monster as it struggles to get up, lightly exhaling.

It’s not enough. I lack the power to destroy it completely.

I don’t have the weapon to kill it, the one that should represent the hero.

If that’s culling mistake in choosing, then I’m also a hero’s mistake.

I don’t have the hero’s weapon that should be a sacred relic.

The reliable weapon is just a normal lump of iron, and it broke earlier.

Should I have begged the Pope for a sacred relic?

“You seem lacking, Jurg.”

As the Albert-like monster tries to stand up, Saran looks at me while showering it with ice.

It’s a look that says, “Finish it off quickly.”

“I’m not just a half-hearted hero. I can’t seem to use that power.”

“It’s not like you. Please, use your usual violence to solve this quickly.”

“When I get back in the groove, I’ll knock him out with my bare hands.”

Saran’s words make me feel a little relieved, and I become aware of the “flame of courage” burning in my chest.

That’s right. If I’m a hero, there should be a way to beat him.

I can trust Fimia, at least.

The legendary Saint Fimia Lakers chose me.

“Jurg.”

As if responding to my determination, Fimia stands next to me.

Then, she gently takes my hand.

“Fimia?”

“Am I truly a suitable Saint for you?”

Fimia smiles slightly, looking a little lonely.

“Are we having a philosophical discussion here?”

“Please answer, Jurg. Choosing a Saint as a hero requires courage, you know? In truth.”

Fimia looks at me with serious eyes.

I can’t fully understand what she’s worried about, but the answer is clear.

“I may be lacking as a hero, but aren’t you a Saint?”

“I’m afraid that you’ll reject me.”

“Reject you? Me?”

I don’t understand what she’s talking about.

I’ve always thought of Fimia as important in my own way.

“I’m disqualified as a Saint. I chose you, but I can’t fully believe in you.”

“I see. But I believe in you.”

Lightly patting her head, I smile.

I don’t know what she’s worried about, but my answer has been clear from the beginning.

“It’s okay, Fimia. Believe in me. The man you chose as the hero is a man of his word, who will always do what he says.”

Fimia, with a slightly surprised expression, smiles softly.

Then, she quietly nods and pulls my hand to her chest.

“H-Hey…”

“Jurg, please accept this. From now on, everything I have belongs to you.”

Closing her eyes, light pours out from Fimia’s chest—where her heart would be.

From the radiant white light, something slowly emerges towards my hand.

Instinctively, I grab it.

The moment I grasp it, I understand that it belongs to me.

Fimia, too… this is for me. I understand the fact that seemed like a misunderstanding.

“Yeah, I got it.”

I pull it out from Fimia’s chest.

It feels heavy, but it fits perfectly in my hand.

It resembles the broken war club, but it’s more ferocious.

An unadorned, jet-black large war hammer.

Not a sword or a spear.

It’s a completely different weapon from the sacred relics I know, but… yes, this is good.

It’s the perfect weapon for me.

“Is this how the Holy Sword is born…!? Ah—So that’s it. So, the Saint chooses the hero. Entrusting oneself to the partner…!”

Saran’s eyes widen as he looks at the jet-black war hammer in my hand.

In response, Fimia nods softly.

“The Saint is the selector and the sheath of the Holy Sword. She should sacrifice everything to the hero.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Don’t talk about yourself like some tool or something.”

“Jurg, I…”

“You’re Fimia Lakers. A member of ‘Mercia,’ my comrade, and an important woman to me.”

Supporting Fimia’s waist gently, I look ahead.

The monster that had been suppressed by Saran and Rolo’s attacks roars and increases its pressure.

“I’ve kept you waiting, Rolo! Leave it to me from here. I’ll kill that thing.”

“The main act finally arrives. Then, let’s do it as usual!”

As we pass each other, Rolo bestows one strengthening spell after another on me.

Bathed in them, I take a deep breath and step forward one by one.

To end that monster.

“Then, shall I support you as usual with the intention of killing?”

“Leave the protective magic to me, Jurg!”

Encouraged by Saran and Fimia’s words, I lift the jet-black war hammer and dash forward.

“Ooooh!”

With a war cry, I slam the hammer into the monster and then I unleash the “power” within me.

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