kscans

Chapter 266 - Using a Curse to Control a Curse

An unusual atmosphere enveloped the inside of the main hall.

In the center of the wooden hall, a sheathed sword floated vertically.

Though it was floating, chains extended from the four corners of the ceiling and were wrapped around the sword, so it was more accurate to say it was hanging.

Numerous paper charms with some sort of strange pattern drawn on them were attached to the chains, and similar charms were pasted on the walls of the main hall.

Further beyond the sword, at the back of the hall, was an altar on which a round mirror was placed, but that altar also had charms on it.

Simon and Ash had serious expressions, but Ren was breathing a little heavily through her nose, huffing slightly. It wasn't that the sword was emitting some suspicious aura, but the presentation made it very clear that it was cursed, which was likely why.

Hayato's own heart was also pounding a little. The solemn and suspicious atmospheres were a mismatch, and that incongruity was paradoxically stimulating his mind.

Simon opened his mouth to speak.

"This is the cursed blade, Hariotsubame. What do you think, Hayato? Does it look like you can destroy it?"

"I won't know until I try. Let me see it a bit closer."

Hayato looked at the cursed sword. By 'look,' he meant he was checking its item information.

Anyone could view an item's information. Occasionally, there were stats not written in the item info, but for the most part, everything was written there.

(This is incredible. Its attack power is nearly double that of a normal sword, and it has a self-repair ability. It feels like it negates the general weakness of swords having low durability. And the equipment requirement is the minimum STR of 25, plus it's a forced equip, just as I thought. The unequip condition is the owner's death...)

STR was the status that indicated physical strength. This value determined what weapons and armor could be equipped. There were also special pieces of equipment that had DEX or INT as requirements, but for the most part, it was STR.

Equipment that could be used with the minimum STR of 25 was quite rare. The ability for even someone with a mage-like status build to equip a sword would be a coveted item for players who wanted to role-play as a magic swordsman.

That aside, this cursed blade had a forced equip property.

Forced equip meant it was a piece of gear that couldn't be stored in the item bag and would be equipped automatically. Even if another piece of equipment was already being worn, it would be forcibly unequipped and replaced.

The equipment could be removed at a church or temple, but it required a large donation. Many cursed items were like this, and it could be said they were worse than a clumsy trap in a dungeon.

And the condition to unequip it was the owner's death. In other words, when the owner was defeated, the equipment would be removed and fall to the ground.

Normally, an item left on the ground was considered discarded and would disappear after twenty minutes. There was also a system where putting an item in a trash can would make it disappear instantly.

Hayato thought this was probably an event-use item, designed not to disappear even if left on the ground.

(That's fine, but if I equip it, I'll be cursed and start slashing at everyone around me. But it should be okay. I have the curse meister Ren-chan with me. With that method, there's no way I'll get cursed.)

Hayato took out a ring and a bracelet.

"Ah, Hayato-san, are you going to use those?"

Ren asked Hayato happily.

"Yeah. I know they're important to you, but let me borrow them for a bit."

"Use them as much as you like!"

Hayato smiled at Ren's words and then equipped the two items.

(My STR dropped to 15. With this, even I shouldn't be able to equip it.)

The items Hayato equipped were the "Ring of Weakness" and the "Bracelet of Weakness." Each had the effect of lowering STR by 5. Honestly, they were useless for anything else, but this time, they were useful.

By equipping those two, Hayato, whose base STR was the minimum of 25, could lower it even further.

In this state, Hayato could not equip the cursed sword before him. He could break it down into materials without being cursed.

Hayato casually approached the sword. Then he grasped the hilt.

"W-Wait, Hayato!"

Simon was the one who panicked at this action.

Hayato turned around, still holding the hilt.

"Huh, was it not okay yet?"

"...Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. To begin with, I can't equip it right now, so I won't get cursed. So, is it okay to break it down into materials?"

"If you can, I would like to ask you to, but is there no need for the sword maidens to put up a barrier...?"

"What's a sword maiden?"

"They are maidens who suppress the power of cursed swords. We had prepared a ritual for them so that you would not be cursed, but..."

"Um, it seems to be fine. But if something happens, you can cut me down. Alright, let's begin."

Hayato, with the cursed sword still in hand, took out a portable anvil from his item bag and placed it on the floor. Then he took out his beloved blacksmithing hammer.

He placed the cursed sword on the anvil, and by using the hammer, he selected "Recycle" from the displayed menu. Then he struck the cursed sword with the hammer.

A slightly dull sound rang out, and the cursed sword's durability decreased. To be precise, its maximum durability value decreased. And an item called "Fragments of a Famous Sword" appeared in Hayato's item bag.

(So I don't get ore, but an item like this. I wonder if it can be used as a material for something?)

Hayato's face lit up at the sight of an item he had never seen before, and he struck the sword with his hammer again.

After several dozen strikes, the Hariotsubame's maximum durability reached 0, and it was completely destroyed.

Hayato let out a breath and turned to Simon.

"That should do it—um, are you okay? Why are you in a daze?"

A few seconds after Hayato said that, Simon let out a huge sigh. Then he looked at Hayato with a strange expression that was both smiling and exasperated.

"Well, I'll be. You're something else, Hayato. I did say it could be done easily, but that was after various preparations. I never thought you'd just destroy it on the spot. The maidens who were preparing probably missed their timing to come out."

"Eh? Ah, sorry?"

"There is no need to apologize. In fact, it is a joyous occasion. But, Hayato, why were you not cursed by the sword?"

"Oh, that's because of this."

Hayato showed Simon the ring and bracelet he had equipped earlier.

"This is equipment that lowers STR, so I lowered my STR below what's needed to equip the sword. If you can't equip it, you can't be cursed. I guess it's thanks to Ren-chan."

At Hayato's explanation, Ren put on an unmistakable smug face. And for some reason, Ash also looked proud.

"It's what you call using a curse to control a curse!"

"That's the first time I've heard that phrase, but I get what you mean. As expected of Ren-chan."

Cursed sword meant curse. Curse meant Ren. Before coming to the Eastern Country, Hayato had consulted the curse meister, Ren.

Her proposal was that if he couldn't equip it in the first place, it would be fine. Lowering STR after a forced equip wouldn't remove the equipment, but if he couldn't equip it to begin with, the forced equip wouldn't activate.

It was a proposal that could only come from Ren, who was well-versed in cursed equipment. Hayato thought it was a brilliant idea and decided to go with it.

(Cursed equipment has been really useful lately. The proper way to deal with Doppelgängers seems to use them too. I wonder if I can make cursed equipment. No, Ren-chan would probably pester me to make all sorts of things for her...)

Simon nodded in admiration and looked at Ren.

"That is wonderful knowledge. To think there was such a method. This may be useful for dealing with cursed swords in the future... though the maidens may lose their jobs."

There was a rattling sound from outside the main hall. The maidens who were on standby outside had probably panicked.

"Um, well, you know, cursed equipment is surprisingly hard to come by and expensive. So you need people to manage it, right? Like having the maidens manage it properly."

"That is true. It is not something anyone can possess, so perhaps the country or the shrine should manage it. Hmm, I will propose it to the Princess. Say, Hayato, there are actually several other cursed swords that are a pain to destroy. If you would, could you lend us a hand?"

"Of course. Let's break them all down into materials. By the way, when I destroyed it, I got an item called Fragments of a Famous Sword. Can I have this?"

"What did you say!"

At Simon's unusually loud voice, not just Hayato, but Ash and Ren were also surprised. Furthermore, surprised voices could be heard from the maidens who were presumably outside the main hall.

"Don't shout so loud. Your voice surprised me."

"...My apologies. But to think you obtained that... this could be rather bad."

"Eh? What is?"

"Hayato, do not tell anyone you have that item... damn, did the maidens hear? I must silence them. Please wait a moment."

Simon said that and immediately left the main hall.

The three left behind all tilted their heads.

"I wonder what that's about?"

"Maybe it's some important item?"

"It must be a material to create a new cursed sword! If you make one, please give it to me! My curse collection will grow! Uhihihi..."

"It's been a while since I heard that laugh. I haven't seen it in the real world, so I was relieved, but—wait, do you laugh like that at home?"

Making small talk unfitting for the location, Hayato and the others waited for Simon.