I Returned with the Cheat Holy Sword

The Archmages who reside on the highest floor of the Magic Tower are, without exception, unanimously described by the world in a single way.
Do. Not. Get. Involved.

Don’t look at them. Don’t speak to them. Don’t even think about them.
Nothing good will come of it.
And the strange noises echoing now from the top of the Red Magic Tower were unmistakably more fuel to that public reputation.

“...What’s wrong with the Tower Master?”
One of the assistants, with dark circles practically dripping down her cheeks, asked absently.
The highest floor of the Tower and the secretariat offices where they worked were strictly separated. Soundproofed. Completely sealed off.

Yet somehow, faint screams could still be heard, drifting eerily from above.
“What happened,” “No way this is possible,” “Even I couldn’t do it,” “No human could possibly—” “Fuck!”—an endless stream of colorful shrieks. A senior assistant shrugged.
“...Who knows? I heard it’s because something that shouldn’t have been unlocked was.”

“Excuse me?”
“You know. That research project the Tower Master’s been working on.”
“Oh—Tear of the Star, right?”

Fairly famous, within the Red Tower.
A magical treasure surrendered to the Imperial Emperor under duress.
Its encryption had been lost, and the Tower Master’s recent obsession was trying to recover its function.

“Apparently the encryption just... unraveled overnight. She says she felt it, instinctively.”
“...How would she know the encryption was broken on an artifact sitting in the Empire?”
“She’s the Tower Master. One of the peaks of magical knowledge. ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) And besides, she—”

The assistant’s words cut off.
Not that it mattered.
“—ASSISTANT!!”
“Ah fuck—!”

The explanation she was about to give was instead delivered by the massive dragon head that smashed through the door.
A dragon.
The apex of all magical lifeforms.

A single breath from one could wipe out an entire city. The supreme beings atop all magic.
“Start sending word now! I’m going to the other side of the continent! Handle the cleanup!”
“...Tower Master, going out in that form is probably grounds for an official military subjugation.”

“Oh—right.”
The furious dragon flared with power, and in a flash of brilliant light—
A tall beauty stood in its place, completely decked in red.

Red eyes, red hair, red dress.
Grinding her teeth, she stomped into the office, grabbed her bag, and threw it over her back.
...To think a Tower Master would head out like this, with no escorts, no gear, just a casual bag.

“Where exactly are you going?”
“To the Empire!”
The Red Dragon—Tower Master of the Red Tower—snarled as she declared:

“I’m going to see for myself what bastard managed to do what I still haven’t!”
***
[Gear Info]

◆ Tear of the Star
A necklace set with a jewel marked by the blood-seals of five Tower Masters. Forged from a metal obtained in an unknown dimension, it can generate near-infinite magical energy.
Magical functionality can be expanded by providing a “Mana Catalyst.”
▶ Upon activation, supplies unlimited mana for 3 seconds.
[Skill Info]
◆ Divine Descent 
Manifests the will dwelling inside the Holy Sword into the caster’s body.
▶ Without massive mana input, side effects may occur. Use with caution!

Carlyle stared at the window floating before his eyes, his expression slightly puzzled.
The description of Tear of the Star matched exactly what he remembered. No issue there.
The problem was the new skill listed under the Holy Sword.

If the will dwelling in the Holy Sword was Gray, then what did it mean to “manifest her into his body”?
[My guess is that it means I’ll be able to borrow your body to move.]
“...Hmph.”

So, in short—
Three seconds.
Gray would be able to control his body.

‘…’
[…]
Carlyle and the Holy Sword fell silent.

Two consciousnesses sharing one body…
[Sounds useful, doesn’t it? Just think of it as a tool to use in emergencies.]
“…If only it were that simple.”

[Hmm?]
“A similar technique was developed once by the Magic Tower. A Tower Master who didn’t want to die of old age attempted immortality by preserving their consciousness and repeatedly swapping bodies. Transferring their mind into other people.”
[That’s a new one. What happened?]

“They ended up going insane. Their mind and the host’s mixed and they lost themselves.”
[…]
“Which means the Hero and I could also ‘merge’ if we’re not careful. We shouldn’t be using this lightly.”

[…You have a point.]
Who knew what side effects it might have?
Best to use it with extreme caution.

‘Still—’
It was a skill that could bring forth the strongest human alive into his own body, even briefly.
In a dire moment, it would be invaluable.

“……”
Actually—wait.
Was there even a reason to use this?

Right now, he could freely change the Holy Sword’s form. The only thing stopping him was lack of mana.
But if he had a tool like Tear of the Star, which provided unlimited mana...
Then maybe he could manifest her outright?

In that case—try it now. Strike while the iron’s hot.
“Let’s go, Hero!”
[…Very well. Let’s try.]

In an empty room, with solemn resolve, Carlyle activated Tear of the Star.
Light flared, wrapping around his body.
Mana surged through the circuits carved into him, flooding toward the Holy Sword.

He focused—on the image of the Hero, fully manifested...
[…]
“……”

And then, the result appeared.
Carlyle and the Hero both went quiet.
“…Uh.”

[…]
A hand.
A human hand.

The Holy Sword in Carlyle’s grip had transformed into a single, floating, blueish hand suspended in the air.
He was… holding it. Like shaking hands with a severed wrist.
Judging by the feel, it was definitely her hand.

“…So, um—”
Before he could say more, the Hero’s blueish hand smacked him across the face.
[Are you kidding me right now?!]

“It’s not my fault!”
Even with nearly infinite mana from Tear of the Star, this was all he could manifest: one hand.
How powerful was she, really…?

[…For now, let’s agree to just use your body as a medium in emergencies.]
‘…Understood.’
Carlyle nodded and rubbed his reddened cheek, then turned to leave.

Today, Shiona was finally going to proceed with the so-called “field study” involving him and Gray. Time to head to the meeting point.
‘More importantly—’
Carlyle glanced around and scratched his cheek.

‘This is so blatant it’s almost not even funny.’
The place they were walking through now—was the black market behind the capital.
A den of mercenaries, arms dealers, hitmen… all manner of criminals.

And here he was, walking through it under Shiona’s supervision, alongside Gray.
Not a single gaze thrown their way was friendly.
In a place crawling with human garbage and sewer rats, the presence of people like Gray and Shiona—who looked visibly upper-class—drew eyes, whether they liked it or not.

…This wasn’t a place any professor should be dragging their students.
She brought them here for a reason.
‘Left Vespa and the Princess back at the inn… Figures she only brought Gray and me.’

There was definitely a reason.
“…Professor, this is part of the field study, right?”
“Well, it’s the field, and you’re learning something, ain’t you? That makes it a field study, no?”

“……”
If she couldn’t even lie properly...
Carlyle sighed as Shiona came to a slow stop.

They stood at the very outskirts of the black market—among a cluster of abandoned buildings.
Even by black market standards, this was the bleakest part.
The buildings reeked of mold and decay. It wasn’t clear if anyone even lived here.

“Starting now, we’ll be conducting a search.”
Shiona spoke calmly.
“A search for what, exactly?”

“Blood, bodies, signs of violence. Anything you can find.”
“……”
“There’s evidence this was a stronghold for demon worshippers.”

“……”
“Mm—not that I expect much. They’re always moving quietly beneath the surface. Today’s the first day, so we’ll be satisfied with even a small lead.”
Demon worshippers?

…You said this was a field study.
You said we’d learn something.
What the hell are we supposed to be learning? How to distrust professors and the Gray Cardinal?

“Let’s just finish this fast.”
Even Gray, clearly fed up, sighed deeply and stomped into the abandoned ruins.
Anyone else might have shown a hint of fear, but her eyes held nothing but boredom.

That’s our young lady. Not just fearless—utterly inhuman.
[…A bit of a strange conclusion, don’t you think?]
Ignoring the Holy Sword’s complaint, Carlyle stepped into the ruins as well.

And sure enough, Gray’s wish would soon be granted.
They’d make quick progress.
“…Hmm.”

Carlyle came to a stop in front of a ruin.
Larger than the others. No signs of life inside, just like the rest.
‘This one feels off.’

[…In what way?]
‘Those guys always liked to disguise large houses and dig giant pits underground. Like moles.’
[…True, but what makes you think it’s this one?]

‘It’s the perfect size. Exactly the kind they always used.’
[…What?]
‘It’s isolated, just on the outskirts. The slope here would be ideal for tunneling, too.’

Click.
It was instinct now.
After chasing them in every timeline, he could sniff out their hideouts with his eyes closed…

“Student Carlyle? Did you find something?”
“Hmm, this one’s suspicious.”
“…Doesn’t look special to me. What part—”

Before she could finish—
BOOM!!!
The house Carlyle pointed to exploded.

One strike had obliterated it. The building collapsed in on itself with a massive crash, a cloud of dust billowing around it.
“……”
“……”

Carlyle and Shiona stared blankly at Gray, who had just pulled her fist back from the wall.
“Most of what he says ends up being right.”
“……”

“It’s better to act than to waste time asking why.”
“...Hero, that was a bit hasty, don’t you think?”
“So what.”

“……”
“I want to get this over with. What else are we supposed to find in here?”
That’s our young lady, all right.

So impatient, she’s completely abandoned any sense of—
[…Just once. Let me slap her too.]