I Returned with the Cheat Holy Sword

Sudden disruptions are something you’ll face countless times in life.
When such things happen, it’s best to adopt the mindset of, well, I guess that can happen. It helps you stay calm.

"Are you adjusting well to academy life, Carlyle Belfast?"
"...Yes."
"That’s good to hear."

Even when you’re suddenly summoned to the headmaster’s office, with that kind of mindset, you’ll manage somehow.
Carlyle looked at the old man sitting with his legs crossed atop the table.
Despite being the head of an educational institution, the man radiated the aura of a seasoned field commander who’d seen more than his share of battles.

A living embodiment of the phrase veteran of a hundred battles.
Sior Whiteburn. Headmaster of Yoram Academy.
Former Hero.

Also—
[At present, he’s someone who could be called the strongest.]
Stronger than you? This guy?

[Stronger than I was in this era. He fulfilled the duty bestowed by the Holy Sword—fighting the greatest evil of his time. There’s no way he’d be weak.]
...Wow.
Hearing the Holy Sword acknowledge it so calmly left Carlyle silently amazed.

They said he once fought one of the demon dukes barehanded during the collapse of the system—and would’ve won if not for the horrible conditions he was under.
A monster, basically.
So when a guy like that wanted something with him, Carlyle kept quiet.

"Though, I wonder if adjusting well even matters. You haven’t been attending any classes."
"..."
That was true.
Carlyle opened his mouth to reply, but Sior cut him off first.

"I’d like to assign you a task."
"Pardon?"
"I mean, instead of fulfilling your student duties, I’d like you to handle this. I believe Shiona already mentioned this to you?"

Ah.
So this was the physical repayment for all his class skipping.
"Honestly, by importance alone, I should be handling this myself. It involves the imperial family."

Carlyle’s eyes narrowed.
The imperial family?
Not a name that brought back good memories.

Considering how they behaved during the Hell Invasion, it was no wonder.
They had no concern for the people, only obsessed with protecting their own interests as humanity stood on the brink of annihilation.
Not a trace of noblesse oblige.

"...Why would a member of the imperial family come to an academy like this?"
"To attend classes. Officially, it’s for education. Realistically, it’s exile."
"..."

"One royal who’s been pushed out of the main faction is being dumped here. The goal is to keep them as far from the palace as possible."
Is this really something a headmaster should be saying to a student?
Something about this screamed Gray.

That signature scent of someone who never cared for appearances or propriety.
"Still, royalty is royalty. Normally, I’d be the one overseeing them. But I plan to entrust that to you and your junior."
By junior, he likely meant Gray.

Assigning Carlyle and Gray to escort a royal cast out by the imperial family.
The question was—why not just call Gray too and tell them both at once?
"Then why won’t you go personally, Headmaster?"

"Because it’s a pain."
"..."
"I’m busy enough as it is. Babysitting a kid is ridiculous."

Are all Heroes like this?
Maybe the Holy Sword was always passed down to weirdos with temperamental personalities.
While Carlyle was harboring such blasphemous thoughts, Sior casually sipped his strongly steeped tea and continued.

"A Hero is public property. Being tasked with protecting humanity means you mustn’t take sides. Any involvement with a political power leads to backlash."
Even something as short as temporary escort duty.
In short—

No accidents allowed. If a Hero causes trouble, cleanup becomes a nightmare.
Especially if it involves anyone with national significance.
Sior grinned as he looked at Carlyle.

"You seem to be very effective at restraining your junior."
"..."
Ah.

That perfectly explained why only Carlyle was summoned for this conversation.
Keep Gray from making a scene. That was his job.
"Well, that’s not the only reason."

"...Pardon?"
"No Hero is perfect from the start."
Sior smiled at Carlyle.

"Do your best. Call me if it gets truly dangerous."
...The kind of smile professors have when assigning difficult projects.
***

It was true Carlyle held a grudge against the imperial family—but not against every individual in it.
And the person in front of him was one of those exceptions.
Illia Grace. Fourth imperial princess.

Her full name was far longer, but Carlyle remembered that she wasn’t even allowed to use it publicly.
The weakest member of the royal family.
The reason Carlyle didn’t dislike her stemmed from that.

There was nothing to dislike. He hadn’t even known she existed until now.
"Ah, h-hello—"
A girl barely reaching Carlyle’s waist bowed with a tearful face.

Obsidian-like imperial eyes. Violet hair.
A doll-like girl.
Tiny and delicate, like an actual doll.

Which was normal. She was only seven years old. What could anyone possibly expect from her?
And the moment she arrived at Yoram, she was dragged into the most feared first-year class—‘Monster Subjugation Simulation.’
"..."

The malice was obvious. There was no other reason behind this but pure cruelty. And in the pettiest form.
She had no political base to resist, so they could treat her however they wanted.
She hadn’t even been assigned royal guards. That’s why Carlyle and Gray had been appointed.

That alone said everything about her position.
...The headmaster must care somewhat if he assigned Gray to this.
But the imperial family clearly wanted to crush this child.

It matched perfectly with Carlyle’s memories of them.
A den of demons.
A garbage heap full of beasts with no shards of humanity.

The kind of group that would crumble into sand the moment the Emperor died.
"If things get dangerous... I’ll be in your care..."
"..."

Ah. She bit her tongue.
Princess Illia covered her mouth with both hands as her eyes welled with tears.
Carlyle gave a bitter smile and knelt down.

Meeting the princess’s eyes, he spoke gently.
"You should drop the honorifics, Your Highness. That alone might be offensive."
As he said this, his gaze briefly flicked behind him.

Cardinal Felix tilted his head at the glance.
The kind smile on his face seemed to say, Is something wrong?
"..."

Your mere presence here is the problem.
A cardinal of the Orthodox Church should be overwhelmingly busy—why was he personally attending a class like this?
Is it really okay for someone so high up in a supranational order to move around this freely…?

"We’re only here to escort you, Your Highness. You don’t need to treat us so formally."
...He was used to looking after people with ruined personalities.
He tried not to look toward Gray, because he knew a retaliatory blow would come immediately.

Despite her tears, the princess nodded vigorously.
"B-but... I still can’t treat those suffering on my behalf so casually..."
"..."

What is she, an angel?
Coming from someone used to serving people who’d say, Consider yourself blessed to serve me, hearing something like this...
"...Young lady, the princess is safe."

"Tch."
Gray lowered the foot she’d been about to kick Carlyle with.
Meanwhile, the princess blinked wide eyes and looked between Gray and Carlyle, oblivious to what had just happened.

"..."
Hmm.
This already feels like a minefield from the start.

Hero.
[What.]
Is this going to be okay?

[Of course not.]
...
Just a little optimism would be appreciated.

"Today’s task is simple. We just need to walk through this cave once. Think of it like an adventure."
Carlyle kept his tone soft and cheerful, matching the princess’s height and pace.
Gently guiding the mood so the child wouldn’t be frightened or bored.

[You’ve dealt with kids before? You’re surprisingly good at this.]
Seen plenty.
[...? I don’t recall you mentioning any marriage.]

Kids aren’t always small. Sometimes they’re just grown-up brats.
He had /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ plenty of experience with those—the kind that looked grown but caused endless headaches.
[...What do you mean by that?]

...
[...Explain it.]
Ignoring the Holy Sword, Carlyle focused on escorting the princess.

Everything was going smoothly—until something exploded at the cave entrance.
"-?!"
Startled, the princess hid behind Carlyle’s legs.

Dirt burst upward, and a magic projectile whistled up from the ground.
But Gray had already reached it and casually swatted it away with the back of her hand.
"...It’s a mana trap."

Gray spoke indifferently.
"Sometimes smart monsters plant these to repel invaders and raise alarms. This is just a simulation."
"-Hic."

"So don’t freak out like that. You scaredy-cat."
"..."
She had no filter, even for seven-year-olds.

As the princess clung to his leg, trembling, Carlyle met her eyes and smiled.
"Sometimes surprises like this pop up, but don’t worry. The young lady and I will protect you."
"O-okay..."

With that bit of coaxing, the sniffling princess finally let go of his leg.
"Young lady. Would you please walk a little ahead with Her Highness?"
"No."

"..."
Come on, just this once.
Gray stood stiff as a board, her eyes saying, Who are you to ask me for anything?

"...Please. I just need a moment to inspect something."
"What’s in it for me?"
"...I’ll somehow procure several bags of snacks from the picnic stash."

"Hmph."
Negotiations complete.
The big kid took the little kid’s hand and disappeared into the cave...

[...Don’t lump me in with that.]
That’s a hard ask.
Thinking that, Carlyle crouched and examined the area where the ground had burst.

No matter how I think about it...
It’s strange. That was his first thought when the trap triggered.
That wasn’t the kind of effect you’d expect from a simulation exercise.

Such traps existed, yes—but that one had clearly been boosted.
"...Hero."
[Hm.]

"When you said it was ‘definitely not fine’ earlier—was this what you meant?"
Carlyle held the detonated device in his palm.
Sure enough, it had been tampered with. Someone had cranked up its power output.

But that wasn’t the real issue.
The real issue was the energy emanating from it—something terribly familiar.
"It’s death aura."

The smell of brimstone.
The stench of hell clinging to the depths of a soul.
***

[System Message]
▶ ‘Main Event: Ambush’ has begun.