I Returned with the Cheat Holy Sword

The phrase “possessor’s privilege” still remains a word of both love and hate to Carlyle.
It’s the single most powerful means of influence he possesses in this harsh world—indispensable. And yet, it also puts him in some incredibly troublesome situations.
The floating system window before his eyes now proves that.

[Specialty Info]
◆ The Archmage’s First Love
You are the one who has opened the career path of the Archmage “Vespa Luciana.”

You are destined to alter the future of someone who would otherwise fall into misfortune.
Please grant the Archmage a new ending!
▶ A “Growth Menu” has been unlocked.
▶ Progressing each listed trait grants rewards!

[Confidence 0%]
[Self-Esteem 0%]
[Honesty 0%]

[Magical Aptitude 5%]
…
“……”

What is this.
He feels like some kind of therapist.
‘They call this “Instructor,” but…’

Despite the dark-sounding skill name, what it demands is completely wholesome.
All it really asks is that he help others work through their issues.
‘…Not that I have a problem with that.’
If he’s helping, he’s helping. Nothing wrong with that.

Carlyle genuinely wanted the people he met before the regression to find happiness in this life.
But that’s also why… this is more of a problem.
“……”

Carlyle stared blankly at the system window.
His eyes were fixed on one particular line in the Trait menu.
The Archmage’s First Love.

First love, it says.
As if, just by helping her, she’s bound to fall in love with him.
[And what’s the problem with that? It’s not a bad thing if someone grows fond of you.]

“…I don’t want to toy with someone’s feelings.”
How should he put it?
It’s not like not helping Vespa was ever an option for him.

Whether for practical reasons or emotional ones, he’d never choose a different path.
But even so—was it really right to accept this kind of “return”?
She has her own heart, her own feelings.

As soon as he thought that, the Holy Sword snorted from within.
[Don’t be ridiculous.]
“Huh?”

[Did you approach Vespa to use her? Are you scheming to seduce her with an ulterior motive?]
“…Of course not?”
[Exactly. You’re helping her sincerely, out of genuine concern. Vespa simply senses that and grows fond of you.]

“……”
Carlyle blinked, dazed.
[Don’t burden yourself with guilt. What’s wrong with liking someone who treats you well? If that’s such a problem, you shouldn’t have helped her in the first place.]

“Well… that’s not wrong.”
[Just don’t look away from it. All I’m saying is—get your thoughts straight.]
“Huh?”

[Even if Vespa develops feelings for you, it’s not something you have to be responsible for. All that matters is how you choose to handle it in the end.]
“…Right.”
[Do as you please. If you don’t want to accept it, then don’t. If you do, then go ahead and accept it.]

Oh.
…Wait, what?
[You’re a good person, Carlyle Belfast. What’s so strange about someone meeting a good person and growing fond of them?]

“……”
[Don’t agonize over things you’re not responsible for. It’s frustrating.]
“……”

[…Why’ve you gone quiet all of a sudden?]
“……”
[……]

A brief, awkward silence passed between them.
“…Hero.”
[Mm.]

“Did you just… compliment me?”
Was that a compliment? It had come with comfort and advice too.
It left Carlyle feeling a bit awkward. He hadn’t expected to hear those kinds of words from her, of all people.

[You were being infuriating. That’s all.]
The curt reply made Carlyle faintly smile.
“…Thank you.”

[…It’s nothing.]
“Yeah, it really is nothing. I mean, romance advice, coming from you, of all people.”
[Go die. Preferably painfully.]

“No, no—but still. It’s a precious compliment from our dear Hero. I’ll treasure it in my heart.”
[……]
“Wow, Hero. You’ve really grown, huh? Calling me a good person? Even giving me comfort with words you don’t mean. Your social skills have come a long way.”

As he teased her playfully, the sound of grinding teeth echoed from within the Holy Sword.
[…Idiot, dumbass, clueless trash son of a—]
“……”

He didn’t know why she was suddenly spewing verbal abuse.
But in any case…
“Looks like things are going smoothly.”

Thanks to the chaos she caused, Vespa—despite not being a student—was granted an unprecedented exception to attend classes regularly.
The magic department was already starved for students because of its steep learning curve. Now that someone this talented had been discovered, professors and scholars were undoubtedly scrambling to “kidnap” her and raise her under their wing.
The professor in charge of Vespa was probably screaming with joy right now.

“Let’s see…”
Carlyle glanced down at the stack of papers on his desk.
A report he’d received from Elena.

It detailed Vespa’s progress in her magic classes, including the professor’s direct evaluations.
‘…Where does she get stuff like this?’
He thought only professors were allowed to see this sort of thing.

What the hell. Is she seriously a jack-of-all-trades?
He should give her a reward the next time they met.
He couldn’t decipher all the complicated academic jargon, but the meaning was clear enough.

“She says there’s nothing left to teach her.”
[…After just a few days?]
“A few days.”

Granted, she was in the introductory course—but even an intro course has a curriculum meant to last at least a full semester.
What takes other students months… she had mastered in just days.
They said she could already use basic spells fluently.

[Vespa looks well. She seems genuinely interested in magic.]
“Yeah, you can tell.”
People naturally get more invested when they’re good at something.

She didn’t seem particularly competitive by nature, but after Carlyle told her that “if you’re good at magic, the young lady will notice you,” she started giving it her all.
…Of course, it was more of a “nothing else has worked, so I’ll try what Carlyle suggests” kind of energy.
[By the way, aren’t you supposed to be attending classes?]

“…Now that you mention it.”
The strange part is—
Despite being busy keeping an eye on both Vespa and Gray, Carlyle hasn’t attended a single class yet, and no one has said a word about it.

He did run into Professor Shiona a while ago and got this response:
—“Ah, Carlyle. You don’t need to attend classes for the time being.”
—“…Pardon? And why is that?”
—“The Headmaster will be informing you soon. There’s something only you can do, and he wants to assign it to you.”
—“……”
…Honestly, that didn’t sound promising.

The Headmaster—a man Carlyle hasn’t even met—was apparently scheming something behind his back.
“Hmm…”
Carlyle scratched his chin.

Well, no use worrying about it now.
Some things you just set aside until the time comes.
For now, he should simply be thankful that things were running peacefully.

“Let’s hope it stays this peaceful.”
***
A few days later—

Carlyle recalled the ancient wisdom of his forefathers.
“Words become reality.”
Barely any time had passed before an incident blew up.

He looked around awkwardly.
Vespa stood frozen stiff.
And Gray… was visibly furious.

The cause of it wasn’t even anything major.
Carlyle had stopped by to check on how Vespa was doing in class. At the same time, Gray—who had something to ask of him—came to find him.
There were two problems with this.

First, that she had to come find him when she had something she wanted him to do. “How dare he.”
Second—
[System Message]

▶ The Hero’s “Possessiveness” is intensifying.
▶ The target is now displeased!
Carlyle’s time, which was supposed to belong entirely to her, had been shared with someone else.
‘…Am I not allowed to spend time with anyone else?’

[She’s pouting.]
‘Pouting?’
[She always wants to be your top priority. But lately, you’ve been with Vespa so often, it’s made her feel neglected.]

‘I’ve been doing my best, though?’
[She still doesn’t like it. Just the fact that you’re with someone else bothers her.]
‘……’

[Told you—it’s pouting. Don’t try to rationalize it.]
Seriously? Our Hero has a talent for being a mentally unstable possessive type too?
That’s a new discovery.

“—What are you doing?”
But Gray’s expression made it clear—this wasn’t the time for peaceful musings.
“Because of you, I had to waste my time and come find you myself. Are you kidding me?”

Lately, Gray had stopped expressing anger whenever she looked at Carlyle. But now, her voice was as fierce as when they first met.
Carlyle glanced at Vespa.
She was fidgeting nervously.

She wasn’t an idiot. She clearly understood that Gray’s unusually harsh demeanor today was because of her.
…Her heart must be heavy with conflicting emotions.
She’d spent her entire life serving the young lady. And now that same young lady was angry—because someone more precious to her had been “taken away.”

“Um, m-my lady, I was the one who—”
Even in this tense moment, she still tried to protect Carlyle.
“You think it makes sense that he ignored me just to waste time with something like that?”

Her words cut sharply through the air.
Vespa fell silent. Her lips sealed shut, and moisture gathered at the corners of her eyes.
That expression—trying desperately not to show how hurt she was.

Putting her own feelings aside. Trying to understand why the young lady must have had her reasons for acting like this.
It was the same face Carlyle had seen countless times before the regression.
And he knew exactly what lay at the end of that expression.

“……”
Carlyle let out a deep sigh inwardly.
He began calculating, fast. Was the “plan” he’d envisioned still viable?

‘…It should work, right?’
[It will.]
In that case—there’s no reason to wait.

“First of all.”
It might be a ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ little ahead of schedule.
But there’s no way he can just sit back and watch.

What’s wrong must be corrected.
“This person’s name is Vespa Luciana, my lady. Not ‘that’ or ‘this.’”
Gray’s eyes widened.

She’d clearly expected Carlyle to say “I’m sorry,” like he usually did.
“You should remember her name. She’s someone who served you for years. You shouldn’t refer to people like that.”
Gray’s expression grew colder.

“…You said you’re on my side.”
So you should take my side.
Whatever I say, you should go along with it.

That person over there is trying to take something that’s mine, so you should support me.
That’s what she seemed to mean.
“Yes. I’m on your side, my lady.”

“Then—”
“That’s why I’ll stop you if you’re doing something wrong.”
Gray’s brows twisted.

“…What?”
Her voice sounded more bewildered than angry.
No one had ever dared speak to her this directly before. Not to the Hero.

But—
What’s wrong is wrong.
“Apologize to Ms. Vespa, my lady.”

“……”
Vespa’s jaw fell open.