kscans

Chapter 281 - The Princess and the Yatagarasu

The day after the banquet, Hayato was alone in the mansion they were using as a temporary base.

Mist and her group had headed to Ryugu with Simon. Most of the members had gone there, so there would be no problem with the subjugation. Especially since Lunaria, who had arrived yesterday, was extremely strong. If this group could not defeat it, who could, was the question.

The Ten Dark Knights, led by Gil, had headed to the sacred peak of Takamagahara to deal with the snake.

Thanks to Ren’s extensive investigation, the location of the snake was already known. They were not going to the summit where Suzaku was, so Gil had said with a laugh that they would probably be able to defeat the snake within the day.

Hayato was staying behind to watch the house, thinking that he would probably not be targeted by anyone anymore.

However, just in case, Maris had left the calico cat Siegfried and the nine-tailed fox Max as Hayato’s guards. He had a feeling that he had been asked to look after them rather than to be guarded, but Hayato decided to think of it as being guarded.

Hayato was sitting cross-legged on the veranda overlooking the mansion’s inner garden, stroking Siegfried and Max.

A moment ago, the two had been arguing over who would sit on Hayato’s crossed legs, but it seemed Siegfried had won. Max, who had lost, was also resting his head on Hayato’s leg, dozing off.

It’s only morning, but I’m getting sleepy… or rather, maybe I didn’t have to log in.

The preparations for the Genbu subjugation were halfway done, but with the arrival of Lunaria and her group, that was no longer necessary. With the significant increase in their combat power, there was no need to prepare so perfectly. So today, he had just come to see them off. After that, Hayato had nothing to do.

He could have gone with them for the subjugation, but he had rethought it, thinking he would just be in the way, and had decided to stay behind alone. Besides, he was also mentally tired from all that had happened.

Right now, he was sunbathing on the veranda, trying to heal his spirit.

As he was dozing off in the warm sunlight, Siegfried and Max twitched and looked in the same direction.

"What’s wrong?"

He could not communicate with them like Maris, but Hayato asked normally. Siegfried and the others did not answer, but perhaps thinking there was no danger, they soon closed their eyes again and relaxed.

It was as if they were saying, ‘hurry up and pet me,’ but wondering what had happened, Hayato looked in the direction Siegfried and the others had looked.

There was Benitsuru, peeking out from a corner of the hallway.

"Morning… Did I wake you up?"

"Morning. No, I was already awake. A little drowsy, though. What’s up so early in the morning?"

"I came for reports and other things. It might have been better when Simon was here, but I have her permission, so I thought I’d get it over with."

Hayato tilted his head. He could not think of anything that needed to be reported.

He had heard a little about the Ten Holy Demonic Swords’ punishment yesterday, but there was no point in hearing more details. If he were told about their crimes or sentences, he could only say, "Oh."

"What’s the report about?"

"Um, before that, can I sit next to you? It looks so relaxing and comfortable."

"Of course. Oh, but you’ll need a cushion. Wait a minute, I’ll go get one."

"It’s fine, it’s fine, the sun is warm, and I’m not going to sit formally."

Benitsuru said that and sat next to Hayato, dangling her feet off the veranda. Then, swinging both legs back and forth, she looked at Hayato.

"Today, I brought the Yatagarasu that Hayacchi made. And I also brought all the materials we had prepared."

"Huh?"

"You know, the nine Yatagarasu that you were forced to make for the Ten Holy Demonic Swords. We collected them after putting them in jail. One of them is the one Simon took back, though."

"That’s fine, but what do you mean, you brought them?"

"Well, I discussed it with Simon last night, and these were things you were forced to make, right? So we thought it would be better to give them to Hayacchi and let him do as he pleases with them. So please take them."

"Oh, so that’s it."

"You can use them as they are, or sell them. They have amazing performance, so I think they’ll sell for a high price. You’re quite the bad boy yourself, aren’t you!"

"What are you talking about? But is it okay to do that? They’re legendary swords, right? Isn’t it bad to take them out of the Eastern Country?"

In the first place, the reason Hayato had gotten involved in this whole mess was because of these swords and the cursed blade fragment items. The idea was that they could not be taken out of the country, but he did not understand the reason why they had come to the conclusion that it was okay to do so.

"That’s true, but even though they’re strong, I wonder if they’re cursed blades that delude the hearts of samurai. They’re called famous swords, but Simon and I decided that the Eastern Country doesn’t need them. It’s not that it’s okay for other countries to have them, but we thought that if it’s you, Hayacchi, you would sell or give the swords to the right person."

"The right person, huh… you think highly of me."

"Hayacchi is weak, but everyone admires you. And you know how to make the Yatagarasu, right? We can’t just not let you leave this country, so we came to the conclusion that we have no choice but to accept whatever you do with them."

"There was talk of that, wasn’t there. But I see, then I’ll take them."

"Yeah. Here you go, here you go."

Hayato received the nine Yatagarasu and the low-quality items that were the materials for their creation from Benitsuru.

"Are you sure I can do whatever I want with them?"

"Of course. Simon has also given her consent, so it’s fine."

"I see. Then I’ll take you up on your offer… Siegfried and Max, stay with Benny-chan for a bit."

Hayato placed Siegfried and Max, who were on his lap, on Benitsuru’s lap.

"Huh? What? This is absolute heaven, isn’t it?"

Ignoring Benitsuru’s words, Hayato put on his shoes and went out into the inner garden. Then he placed a portable anvil on the ground. He took out a blacksmithing hammer and selected "Recycle" from the creation menu.

Hayato took out a Yatagarasu and struck it with the hammer.

The sword’s durability, its maximum value, decreased. And he obtained both Fragments of a Famous Sword and Fragments of a Cursed Blade.

Benitsuru, who was watching, widened her eyes a little and then opened her mouth.

"So you’re really going to destroy them?"

"When you say ‘really,’ does that mean you expected it?"

Hayato asked while hitting the sword with the hammer.

"Yeah. Simon said so. She said that since Hayacchi is a craftsman, he wouldn’t leave things that he was forced to make, no matter how good they are. Something about a craftsman’s pride not allowing it. I was surprised that you actually did it."

"That’s a nice thing to say, but it’s not that big of a deal. I just thought that having so many powerful swords around could become a source of trouble, so it would be better to destroy them. And there’s something I want to do."

Cecil and the others would probably say, ‘give them to me,’ so I’ll destroy them. It seems like it would cause a lot of trouble.

Cecil, who was called a collector, was a collector of swords and blades. No matter how you looked at it, if she saw the swords, she would say, ‘give them to me.’ It would be a hassle, so destroying them was the best option. And he would not say that he could make them, and in the first place, Hayato had no intention of saying that such swords existed.

Hayato struck the sword with the hammer again.

The sound of the hammer striking the sword echoed around them many times.

Benitsuru just watched while stroking Siegfried and Max.

A few minutes later, Hayato had destroyed all the Meitou Yatagarasu. And he had enough fragments to make one Yatagarasu.

"Good work. I’m sorry for making you do something like destroying things you made yourself."

"No, that’s fine. I’ve done it many times for skill leveling, so you don’t have to worry about it. But wait a moment. There’s still something I have to do."

Hayato said that and selected the materials to create a Yatagarasu in his item bag.

The materials he selected were all of poor quality.

A Meitou Yatagarasu that could only be one-star quality. After confirming it in the creation menu, he started the creation, and Hayato’s hands glowed dimly.

And a lowest-quality Meitou Yatagarasu was made.

"Hayacchi? Why did you make another one? Have you lost your mind?"

"I’ll give this to you, Benny-chan. Think of it as yourself and do your best from now on."

Benitsuru looked blank for a moment, but then her face soured as she realized something.

"Hayacchi, isn’t that a bit too sarcastic? Its name and shape are magnificent, but its contents are completely useless, right? And that’s me, isn’t it?"

"That’s right."

"You’re supposed to console me! I’m at a sensitive age, so I’ll get hurt! …Oh, maybe Hayacchi is smiling, but he’s still so angry that yesterday’s apology wasn’t enough…?"

"I’m not angry. I just thought I wanted you to look at it and discipline yourself from now on. That Yatagarasu is a dull blade, but if its quality improves, it will become the strongest sword. When you become the best princess, I’ll give you a highest-quality Yatagarasu, so if you’re about to do something, you should look at it and remember this time. You might think, ‘Who are you to be so condescending,’ but."

At Hayato’s words, Benitsuru’s face broke into a smile.

"Oh, so that’s it! Yeah, then I’ll always keep this equipped! That way, I’ll never forget what I did!"

"You don’t have to equip it, maybe just display it somewhere? As a weapon, its performance is really low."

"No, no. I want to equip this. It’s a gift that Hayacchi made for me!"

Benitsuru said that, drew the sword, and was looking at it happily.

Hayato suddenly remembered. Speaking of gifts, he had planned to give her a kimono, but that was not ready yet. He thought he would do that right before he left, but then he realized that Benitsuru was staring at him instead of the sword.

"Um, what’s wrong?"

"You know, Hayacchi, won’t you stay in this country after all?"

"Huh? You’re bringing that up again?"

"Somehow, letting Hayacchi leave the country feels like letting go of a huge treasure, so I want to hold you back. The Eastern Country is a nice place, you know? I won’t force you, but what do you think!?"

After that, Benitsuru’s push for the Eastern Country continued. Hayato prayed in his heart for everyone to come back soon.