Antagonist Protection Service

My report that I wanted to visit the Tower didn't last long, but immediately after I mentioned it, I should've known.

"Hey, wait. Since you've Awakened, does that mean you have superpowers? Show."

This exasperating sister of mine wouldn't stop pestering me until she saw irrefutable proof of my claim.

"Now now, Ina, don't pressure your brother into anything. Enki, if you don't feel comfortable showing us, you don't have to."

"Whaaat? Eyy, come onn, he has to show us!"

"Ina. Even if you're curious, you can't force it out of him. I'm sure Enki will tell us when he wants to... And, I do think I may have an idea of what that power might be."

"What?! How?! What is it?!"

Receiving a sly sort of glance from my mother following Ina's wailing, my breath caught in my throat.

Glancing at each of my parents, who remained watching at the side, it became apparent that they, too, held a desire to witness the physical manifestation of a lack of falsehood in my words. Despite the words that claimed I didn't have to show them...

Or, rather than out of mere curiosity, perhaps it was that they simply wanted to confirm that I could take care of myself if I were to actually go to the Tower. That would be like them.

Realising that there was no way out of it, and thinking that there was nothing lost by showing them some evidence anyway, I thought there was no reason to let down their expectations.

"No, it's fine. I'll show you."

Letting out a small sigh from my nose, I held out my hand to the empty air. What materialised there in the next moment―

"Hey, what?!"

―Was a pure white sheath, embellished with an ornate pattern of gold across its whole surface.

"This is a Holy Sword; Ina, you actually might know more about it than I do."

I turned to face my sister, who gawked at the object in my hands with eyes that bulged so much they looked like they might fall out of their sockets. Seeing that kind of goofy expression, a smile naturally lifted my face.

At the same time, I held the sheath with two hands and, carefully so as to not cause any accidents, drew the gilded blade.

Once again, I was taken aback at how extraordinarily light it was for its weighty appearance.

Just by existing it bore a luminescent glow, like a faint aura that enshrouded the weapon and was contained by the sheath.

What was most peculiar was that the luminosity of the blade was particularly effulgent around the white edge of the sword, as well as a heightened dullness of light within the engravings that ran down the blade's middle, which were still indecipherable.

In that sense, it bore a strangely close resemblance to the evolved Villainous Blade.

Conversely, in the core of the base of the blade, a dull jewel was socketed; it was from there that the aforementioned engravings began, but I just found it strange that the jewel itself and the adjoining engravings were not illuminated like the rest of the blade.

The reason I had decided to showcase the Holy Sword out of everything else in the Storage was due to the process of elimination.

Taking something out of the Storage itself would prove that I had Awakened, but I also needed something that would show them I could handle myself, and the first thing that came to mind in that regard was obviously a weapon.

For that, I had four options: This Holy Sword, the Villainous Blade, the Black Wisp, or the freshly-purchased White Death.

Firstly, it didn't need to be elaborated why revealing either of the guns was not a considerable option―I simply didn't want to deal with the inevitable hassle that would arise.

Secondly, out of the Holy Sword and the Villainous Blade, the former was undoubtedly the one that would 'score me the most points', to put it simply―it was flashier, more extravagant, and boasted an appearance that was both clean and positively-natured.

Needless to say, the same could not be said for the Villainous Blade, in any respect.

"Oh, my. It's definitely striking. But, Enki, do you even know how to use a sword...?"

Hearing those words come straight from the mouth of my own mother, my brows reflexively furrowed.

Of course, it was a good question, and a reasonable concern to have when the subject was the safety of her own son, but did she have to say it in such an incredulous tone?

"I can use it well enough. Being Awakened lets me learn things like this quicker than usual anyway, so I plan on picking it up, which shouldn't be too hard. I've already done research, so don't worry about it."

That was mostly a lie, and only half-true in the sense that I could rapidly improve my own proficiency through the use of Skills and Traits, but those details weren't something they needed to hear.

"That thing―you didn't steal it, right?"

Then, before I knew it, my father also made such a suggestion; his nonchalant expression disguising whatever set of emotions lay underneath. Glancing at him, I remained silent before asking.

"...I mean, what would you do if I said I did?"

"Nothing if you got away with it."

"Then there's nothing to worry about."

Nodding at each other, it seems we came to a mutual understanding. Well, I thought he would get it.

Maybe it'd be alright to admit the weapon was stolen after all――

"Oh, stop it! Honestly, you two... Enki, you really didn't steal it, did you?"

"No one's coming to me to look for it, that's for sure."

At least, the owner definitely wasn't.

"And you called it a 'Holy Sword', but you're not going to start preaching religion to us suddenly, are you?"

"Hah. No."

I might have a Goddess' Blessing, but that doesn't make me any more devout than I was before, which was practically nil.

Of course, having witnessed the extent of a divine being's influence―that is, to reach the mind of even someone who doesn't belong in the same world, and to cut off my connection with the Librarian without me even realising it, I think I would definitely prefer to stay away from any sort of higher power if I can help it.

"Good. Looks like it costs a fortune. Why don't you flog it off?"

"What? Why would I do that?"

Hearing the dangerous suggestion, I scowled and brought the sword closer to my body.

"Oh, that's a good idea! I'm sure the government would pay a lot of money for a curious thing like that. Or you could go to a private Awakened organisation, even. Yes, why don't you do that? You won't be risking your life that way, it's much safer."

"But I don't want to sell it off, I want to use it."

"Enki..."

Again, the conversation circled back around to my declaration to visit the Tower and how risky it was. No matter how many times they wanted to convince me otherwise, there was no other path for me to take, and that was all there was to it.

Because I didn't want to take any other path.

If I needed to sell something off to make money, it'd either be something gained from within the Tower itself, or something valuable from an Illusory World if I need funds in an emergency.

I'm sure they thought it was stubborn of me, and they were right, but regardless, that's how it is.

In the first place, since they don't know everything about the situation, I can only rely on my own decision making.

Eventually, my obstinacy seemingly having proven too much for their words to persuade, I turned to Ina, who watched the whole ordeal with visible discomfort and persistent speechlessness, to move the topic on.

Facing her, I asked.

"Ina, can you teach me about Heroes and Holy Swords?"

There was something important I wanted to check.