kscans

Chapter 273 - The Princess and the Ten Holy Demonic Swords

Hayato’s group, Lunaria’s Demon Lord's Army, and Benitsuru were all gathered in the great hall of the mansion where Hayato and the others had been staying. They were waiting for the return of Esha and the other members of the Takamagahara expedition.

The battle at the port had ended in a truce after a series of events.

Benitsuru, the princess of the Eastern Country, and Lunaria, the king of the Demon Country, had shaken hands on a temporary ceasefire, so no one around them had any complaints.

Then, Hayato’s group and Lunaria’s group were invited to the mansion where they had been staying. They were not restrained and were free to do as they pleased.

However, despite all that, Hayato was so dejected that anyone could see it. When spoken to, he would put on a forced smile and say, "I’m fine," which only made him seem more pathetic.

It was no wonder he was so down. The stolen "Adamantite Knife - Extreme" was an item that anyone who regularly used the Cooking Skill would want to get their hands on.

It was a piece of God Equipment that took the probability of one-star and two-star quality results and added it all to the three-star category. Moreover, it was a masterpiece crafted by Hayato with materials gathered by the members of Kokuryu. It wasn't just its performance, but the memories attached to it.

It would be strange not to be shocked after having such a precious item stolen.

However, Hayato knew his attitude was souring the mood, so he was trying his best not to sigh. If he let his guard down, he felt like he would let out a long sigh over and over.

That aside, why did they steal that knife? Hayato couldn’t understand it. In the first place, it was unclear how they had been able to steal it at all.

Hayato approached Diite.

"Diite-chan, can I ask you something?"

"Is it about the Stealing skill?"

"Yeah. I don’t know the detailed mechanics, but I can sort of understand why they took the cursed blade fragments. At that time, I had said I would give the fragments to Benitsuru-san. I get that they could target and steal them, but I haven’t told anyone about that knife. Can they steal something without knowing what the other person has?"

"To give you the answer first, yes, they can. However, it’s not that they were aiming for it. It’s more that they just happened to steal something that was in your item bag."

"Happened to…?"

"The Stealing skill has two mechanics. The first is targeting a specific item to steal. This is how the Stealing skill is normally used. However, there’s another way, which is to steal anything at all from an item bag."

"…Does that mean my knife was stolen by chance?"

"It’s hard to say, but that’s right. I think all five of those ninjas were aiming for the cursed blade fragments you had, Hayato-kun. However, it’s impossible for them to have done it at the exact same time. Even if it looked simultaneous, the Stealing skills were executed in sequence."

"In sequence? Is there a problem with that?"

"If the item being targeted is not in the bag, the Stealing skill will try to steal anything. One of those five stole the cursed blade fragments, so the fragments were no longer in your item bag, Hayato-kun. The Stealing skill that was executed after that stole a random item. And that just happened to be your knife. That’s likely what happened."

"…I had other items in my bag, though. Does this mean my real-life luck is just that bad?"

Hayato felt a sigh coming on, but he held it back.

"Please don’t lose heart. Not just me, but everyone has said they will help you get that knife back. If it comes to it, let’s ask Relic-kun for help too."

"Yeah. But isn’t this Stealing skill pretty dangerous? My Excalibur Replica was stolen before, too. Though that was during a Clan War."

During a Clan War, Ney’s Excalibur Replica had been stolen. Normally, equipped items couldn't be stolen with the Stealing skill, but at the time, it had been a clan-shared item, so a spy had put it in their item bag and had the opposing clan steal it.

They had managed to get it back that time, but there was no guarantee they could get it back this time. In the first place, that knife was useless to anyone without the Cooking Skill. It could be sold for money at an auction, or since it was made of Adamantite, it could be broken down into materials.

The chances of it being returned safely were likely lower than for the Excalibur Replica.

"I intend for this to be a virtual reality with a high degree of freedom, you know. The Stealing skill is a criminal act, so the risk is high. There’s a corresponding return, but for the one who gets stolen from, it’s just painful. Maybe I should consider new specifications, like making it only usable on monsters…"

As he was talking with Diite, the surroundings suddenly grew noisy. Then, he heard the sound of footsteps running hastily down the hallway. The footsteps were loud, as if filled with anger.

And the fusuma slid open with force. There stood Simon, with a demonic expression on her face.

It was Benitsuru who was most frightened by that face.

"What has the princess done!"

"H-hey! Hold on! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! B-but, it’s your fault too for keeping quiet about the fragments, Simon!"

"Anyone who has seen your usual behavior would know it was natural to hide it! It was plain to see that if I had told you, you would not have let Hayato and the others leave the country! And on top of that, you let the Ten Swordsmen deceive you! I have told you time and again that while the princess is strong, you are young and must not be fooled!"

"Well, but, all the Ten Swords said that Hayacchi and you were joining forces to aim for a gekokujo, and while other things might be one thing, hiding the fragments that are materials for a sword must mean you have something to hide. And you didn’t seem displeased when Hayacchi gave you that sword, did you? You looked so happy after you came back, and at the banquet, you had this sort of nice vibe, so I thought it was a little dangerous, you know?"

Simon let out a long sigh. Perhaps having her own thoughts on the matter, she looked up at the ceiling for a moment before bowing her head to Benitsuru.

"I admit that I was also at fault. I should have trusted the princess a little more and told you about the fragments. I apologize for that. I am sorry. But do you distrust me so much as to believe I would attempt a gekokujo?"

"All the Ten Swords have been saying for a while that you would betray me one day, Simon, so I kind of thought that day had finally come."

"So I am disliked. Very well. I am done with them. I am leaving the Ten Holy Demonic Swords. I never got along with them in the first place, as they are only interested in strength."

"Does that mean you’re done with me too…?"

"I am not done, but I am close. If you do something like this again, I will leave this country and set out on a wandering journey. I will never set foot in this country again."

"H-hey! Wait! Let’s wait! We should wait!"

"If you wish for me to wait, you should show it with your actions, not your words. Well, that does not matter. First—"

Simon looked over at Hayato. The demonic expression was gone, replaced by one that was, if anything, tragic.

Then, as she approached, she prostrated herself on the floor.

"Hayato. I am sorry for getting you involved in this country’s problems. And I hear that a precious item of yours was taken. I can find no words of apology. Bowing my head alone is not enough, but please, I beg you to forgive me."

Hayato, who had been taken aback, quickly urged Simon to stand up.

"You don’t have to go that far! So please stand up! I forgive you! I forgive you, so!"

Perhaps thinking his flustered state was having the opposite effect, Simon immediately stood up. This time, she simply bowed her head while standing.

"Again, I am truly sorry. This is like forcing you to forgive me… Please tell me whatever you wish. I will prioritize it over the princess’s orders. If you tell me to cut down the princess, I will."

"Ehh… Oh, I’m sorry. Please don’t glare at me."

Hayato tried to change the subject and asked Simon a question.

In the first place, Simon had gone to Takamagahara. She should have been with the other members.

"Since you’re back, Simon, does that mean everyone else is coming back too? They were alright, right?"

"Yes. Forgive me, but I hurried back alone after receiving the message. Everyone else should be returning via the transfer device now. With the strength of the Ten Swordsmen and ninjas, they would not be able to stop them, even after a battle with Suzaku."

"Was the battle with Suzaku alright?"

"With such preparations, there was no chance of losing. Thanks to that, we were able to cut down all of the Ten Swordsmen with ease. They should be reviving at the castle around now. By the way…"

Simon looked at Benitsuru.

"The princess is here, and the samurai are on standby near the mansion, but are the other Ten Swords at the castle? I believe two of them were here."

"Come to think of it, I haven’t seen them since they got covered in cats. I just thought they couldn’t keep up since I used Shukuchi to chase after Hayacchi and the others."

"Covered in cats…? Which means they are probably making the legendary swords by now. They must be planning to make enough for everyone and start a proper rebellion."

"What? Is that so?"

"They believe the reason they are weaker than the princess is because of their swords. They probably think that with the legendary swords, they will not lose to anyone. Once the swords are made, there will be no reason to obey the princess."

"Wow, am I really that unpopular? I even taught them swordsmanship."

Perhaps it wasn't that much of a shock, as Benitsuru said this in a light tone.

"The first thing I should have taught them was mental fortitude. They became strong too quickly, and their hearts could not keep up. And since they seek only strength, they are beyond help. To equate the strength of one’s weapon with one’s own strength is the height of folly. They are unworthy of calling themselves samurai."

"It took you a long time to get strong, Simon."

"That is in the past. I do not believe I would lose now. Well, that does not matter. I will go to the castle now and retrieve Hayato’s precious item. If I tell them not to involve Hayato in their foolishness, they will likely return it. I am sorry, Hayato, but all they want is the legendary sword. Hmm?"

Simon looked outside as if noticing something. Then, a small sound, like something piercing wood, reached Hayato’s ears.

"An arrow message."

Simon said this and removed a piece of paper from an arrow stuck in a pillar of the mansion.

(They really use arrow messages? Can’t they just use voice chat?)

Ignoring Hayato’s question, Simon read it. And her face once again became demonic.

"Um, what does it say? And who is it from?"

"Forgive me, Hayato. I ask for your forgiveness with my seppuku."

"No, don’t say such gory things. Besides, even if you commit seppuku and fall, you’ll just revive, so it’s meaningless. That aside, could you tell me what it said?"

The other members in the room gathered around. Simon sighed and then briefly explained the contents.

"It is a demand from the Ten Swords. They want Hayato to forge the legendary swords. It says to come to the castle alone. It also says that if you refuse, Hayato’s knife will be reduced to materials and lost forever. Simply cutting them down will not be enough for this. I will have them paraded through the streets and then beheaded…"

Simon said something violent, and everyone took a step back from her intensity.

However, Hayato thought.

(A request to make swords in exchange for a knife they got by chance? Oh, no, they were planning to take the members at Takamagahara hostage, so maybe it was in exchange for that. Since they couldn’t capture them, they’re negotiating with the knife? Or was there something else?)

There was no point in thinking about it, so Hayato stopped. He decided to consult with everyone on what to do.