I Returned with the Cheat Holy Sword

“…No.”

That was the first thing she said.
Gray stared at Carlyle, her eyes glowing with a cold, sharp blue.
She was clearly furious. The pressure rolling off her body was on par with what she exuded in full combat mode.

And of course, that was the Hero’s pressure. Just standing in front of it was enough to strain the body. Vespa, standing nearby, looked like she was on the verge of passing out from that alone.
“Why should I have to apologize?”
But if you peel back that overwhelming energy just a little—

[…She’s throwing a tantrum.]
‘Yeah, that’s what it looks like.’
Underneath it all is a child who simply hates losing and is throwing a fit.

‘Kinda nostalgic, actually.’
[What is?]
‘You were like this too, Hero. Every time I beat your logic, this is how you’d act.’

[…Shut up.]
Whenever Carlyle talked her down with calm explanations whenever she tried to do something insane, Gray always responded like this.
In that sense, Gray really isn’t the worst. As he had already proven once by reforming her.

The fact that she’s throwing a tantrum because she hates losing means she at least knows she’s in the wrong.
[Then it’s simple.]
The Holy Sword spoke curtly.

[Just do what you did when you first taught me.]
The first and most crucial step in reforming the Hero is this:
Teaching her that you can’t treat others however you want.
That doing so will come back to bite you.

“Why should I apologize to some nobody like her?! I don’t want to!”
Then, right here—
“Ms. Vespa is not a nobody.”

Carlyle stood firm and met Gray’s gaze head-on.
This was not something to back down from.
“…What?”

“I can prove it. What would you like to do?”
In fact, this might even be a moment to press a little harder.
***

[System Message]
▶ Quest activated: [Discipline]
▶ As a reward, the target Gray’s [Arrogance] stat will significantly decrease.
▶ A new ability will be unlocked for the target Vespa.
▶ A hidden reward may exist depending on the quest outcome!
“…How did I end up like this?”

Vespa’s pupils trembled as she spoke.
Given that her entire life had been focused on housework, she had never once stepped into a sparring arena like this.
Let alone with the Hero standing across from her.

“Well, I did say it’d be best to fight her once, didn’t I?”
“Uh, b-but I’ve never even been in a fight before…!”
“Ms. Vespa.”

“I mean, I just barely learned the basics of magic…!”
“Ms. Vespa. Calm down.”
Carlyle firmly grasped Vespa’s shoulders to steady her.

“Do you know why people say magic has such a high entry barrier?”
“Uhh, I-I don’t quite follow…”
Vespa blinked in confusion at the sudden question.

“Magic is often called a discipline that carries your words through the will of the world.”
“Uhh… that’s not quite what the professors said…? They explained it using a bunch of complicated formulas…”
“You don’t need that.”

“…What?”
“Even if others do, you don’t. Trust me.”
Because—

“Hmm… if we’re talking about magic, I guess that’s what it feels like?”
This was something Vespa herself had told him directly in the previous timeline.
Magic, she said, was more like talking to the laws of the world and asking them to do what you desire.

Things like “the nature of mana” and “sensing mana” were all just part of that conversation.
In that sense, saying she had “learned the basics” meant she had acquired the minimum qualifications needed to hold such a dialogue.
And if Carlyle’s guess was right—

‘That’s more than enough.’
The Hero had officially confirmed it—Vespa’s talent was at the level of someone beloved by the world.
If someone like that made a request, what were the odds the world would say no?

Which meant—
“Just once is enough.”
She only had to do it properly one time.

And that would be more than enough for Gray.
“Just say what you want to say—clearly.”
“…Excuse me?”

“Just try putting the things you’ve wanted to tell the young lady… into your magic.”
“……”
Vespa blinked, dumbfounded.

“And.”
In truth, these were words Carlyle had always wanted to say—even before the regression.
“Ms. Vespa. I can’t help you with everything.”

“…Huh?”
“If there’s something you want, you have to claim it for yourself.”
“……”

“There’s no way you’re okay with the way the young lady treats you. But the fact that you’ve never said anything about it—that’s on you too.”
When you think about the traits that could be ‘instructed’ in this person—
Confidence: 0%.
Self-esteem: 0%.
Honesty: 0%.

Despite being kind-hearted, she had never once stood up for ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ herself or voiced her objections when she was mistreated.
That was something Carlyle couldn’t fix for her. That’s something she had to do.
“Someone who doesn’t treasure themselves… can’t expect others to see them as precious either.”

“……”
“Frustration, requests, whatever it is—it’s fine. I just hope you take this chance to say everything you’ve been holding back.”
All Carlyle could do was create the opportunity for her to speak those feelings.

And besides—
This was something that could only happen now.
After the regression, their relationships had already grown so warped and distant, there was no hope of changing them.

Vespa’s lips pressed shut.
Her eyes widened slightly.
“…I’ve never thought about it that way before.”

Instead of replying, Carlyle just gave her a faint smile and took the Holy Sword in hand.
He turned toward Gray, who stood across the sparring ground.
“Done with your strategy meeting?”

Her voice came back flatly.
“You’re the one who asked for this. I didn’t. So I assume you’re ready?”
“Yes. So I won’t mind if I get a little hurt.”

Gray’s expression darkened.
As immature and self-centered as she was—
When it came to anything involving her role as the Hero, she had never taken it lightly. Especially not combat.

So there was no way she would half-ass it just because she hadn’t picked the fight.
“Let’s keep it simple.”
She pulled her sword behind her back and readied it.

“I’ll only use one hand.”
She raised one arm for him to see.
“Just do something—anything—that leaves an impression.”

“……”
…This wasn’t just dismissing the possibility of losing—it was a statement that she didn’t even believe a fight would take place.
But she wasn’t wrong, either.

She was the wielder of the Holy Sword. One wrong move and someone could die.
“Then—here I come.”
And from the very next moment, it was clear she meant every word.

She blinked—and was suddenly right in front of him, her fist already flying toward his face.
The speed was deranged. Like the movement itself had no beginning—only a start and an end.
“…!”

Before he could even activate his mental focus, Carlyle instinctively raised the Holy Sword to block.
Even that alone caused a sonic boom. A thunderous impact ripped through the air.
And—

‘Oh. My arm’s broken.’
As that thought passed through his mind, the Holy Sword let out a voice filled with disbelief.
[…You say that so calmly? Doesn’t it hurt?]

‘If there’s ever a World Championship for pain tolerance, I’d be a top contender.’
Mostly thanks to you.
Thinking that, Carlyle took a step back.

To be honest, Gray had definitely been holding back. If she hadn’t, he’d already be dead.
The next punches still held some restraint. He could feel it.
“…You’re not going to fight?”

“How could I possibly raise my hand against you, my lady?”
“That won’t make me go easy on you.”
“I never expected you to.”

Even as he said that, she was going easy on him.
And even that was a problem.
This was a demi-god striking a human. No matter how well he blocked, the pain piled up relentlessly.

‘Oh, there go my ribs—’
[Don’t think about that! Just defend properly—!]
‘I am defending.’

The Holy Sword snapped at him, but Carlyle was already doing his best.
Even with Heroic mana channeled through the Holy Sword, even with his insight activated, and even with real-time advice being fed to him…
…Each blow still shredded his body.

‘She’s a lunatic.’
He was holding a Holy Sword forged from otherworldly steel. Even at its weakest, this thing was a national treasure.
And yet, Gray was lightly tapping it with her bare hands—and his whole body was getting wrecked, despite perfect parries.

And she hadn’t even used a fraction of her power yet.
“So what are you doing, then? You started this fight, and now you’ve got nothing?”
Naturally, Gray sounded disappointed.

She clearly couldn’t understand what Carlyle had hoped to achieve here.
“How could I ever hope to defeat you, my lady?”
“…Are you trying to be funny?”

“But—”
Carlyle smiled faintly.
“I never once said I would defeat you, did I?”

From the beginning, he’d come here to be the sandbag.
He knew his role perfectly.
The one who would land the real blow on Gray… was someone else entirely.

And just as he finished saying that—
“Y-Young lady—!”
A voice rang out.

Gray flinched.
As expected of humanity’s strongest—she instantly picked up on the unnaturalness embedded in that voice.
“—It’s wrong to hit people—!”

And with that—
“…Oh, shit.”
Even Carlyle involuntarily swore at what came next.

A terrifying something came streaking toward Gray like a meteor and landed squarely—
***
[System Message]

▶ The target “Vespa” has awakened her [Unique Skill: Word of Command] due to your influence.
▶ A Unique Skill is a power that only one person in the entire world can possess.
▶ The skill has awakened far earlier than scheduled. The future has changed!
▶ An additional reward is granted for altering the future.
▶ The target Vespa has gained a new stat: [Obedience].
▶ The target now believes everything you say is right.
▶ The target will now follow everything you say!
[ ♥ Obedience 0% → 5% ]