I Returned with the Cheat Holy Sword

“...Sigh.”
Letty scratched her head and let out a heavy sigh.

On the way out of the Mage Tower, she was radiating the energy of someone burdened with an entire basin of regret.
“I told you it could only be done once. We lost our one and only chance to talk.”
Apparently, that’s just how the Orb of Truth worked. Until its mana naturally recharged, it couldn’t be used again.

“It’s going to take at least a month to recharge... I guess we’ll have to halt development until then. Can’t be helped.”
Letty stomped her feet in frustration as she said that, but Vespa shook her head and replied.
“It’s okay.”

“...Huh?”
“The whole reason you wanted to talk to the divine spirit was to ask if it could grant your request, right?”
“I mean, yeah...?”

“If I ask, it’ll do anything for me. So just keep doing what you were originally planning to.”
“...”
Letty tilted her head, puzzled by Vespa’s certainty.

“How can you be so sure?”
“Because... I think I have a vague idea what that divine spirit really is.”
Vespa hesitated, then continued.

“...But, can I come back in a month?”
“Huh?”
“There’s something I want to ask.”

After saying that, Vespa fell silent for a moment.
...Why had it looked at her with such sad eyes?
She had to know the reason for that.
***

At the very least, they got a verbal confirmation from Letty that she would provide the agreed-upon reward.
“...Well, if Vespa’s that confident, I guess I should trust her too.”
Letty shrugged as she spoke.

“More than anything, even if the results were kind of murky, you guys did work hard. I’ve got to compensate you for that.”
Hmm. A forthright young lady.
Thanks to that, even his shameful time spent pretending to be some sleazy thug could now be chalked up as “worth it” thanks to a good outcome.

After returning to the lodging and discussing it again with the Hero, he could confirm one thing:
“She doesn’t... seem dangerous, right?”
[Hmm.]

They still didn’t know exactly what was residing inside Vespa, but at the very least, it didn’t feel like a demon from hell.
The strange part was—
“You couldn’t see it either, Hero?”

[Nope.]
Even though Vespa had said she clearly saw that entity’s form, not even the Hero—who lived inside the Holy Sword—could confirm what it was.
She said she caught a glimpse of its form, but neither Carlyle nor the Hero could perceive it.

And when he asked her directly, she just gave a sheepish laugh and brushed it off.
“...”
[... ]

They were probably both thinking the same thing.
If even the Hero couldn’t discern its identity...
Then it was unquestionably some kind of alien “other.”

Even if it wasn’t a demon, they couldn’t afford to let their guard down.
It could become a wildcard in unpredictable ways.
And since this was the final regression, he had to pay attention to everything.

That said, there was one positive sign—
– System Log
▶ Try adding ‘Divine Spirit’ to your [Instructor Target] list!

If the system was prompting that, then it probably wasn’t a hostile entity.
As he was having that thought, another window popped up before his eyes.
The rewards for completing this quest.

– System Message
▶ You can now link the artifact ‘Eye of Quiria’ with the Holy Sword.
▶ The Holy Sword gains a new function related to magic.
▶ The ability to see mana is now shared with the Holy Sword.
▶ You can designate a target to have their spells analyzed by the Holy Sword.
▶ Spells can be stored in the Holy Sword for instant activation!
As expected from the all-purpose Hero. No need to recite incantations or manipulate mana manually—just store the spell and bam, instant use.

And more importantly—
‘...This right here.’
The part about being able to designate targets and have their spells analyzed—

There were no restrictions whatsoever.
Apparently, he could just tell the Holy Sword to analyze anything, and it would be able to.
[My body once deciphered even a Dragon’s spell. There’s no spell it can’t learn.]

“You know, is there anything you can’t do?”
[I’ve never succeeded in fixing your dumbass social intuition.]
“...”

[Sometimes I genuinely want to kill you. You aware of that?]
“...That’s harsh.”
Anyway.

The fact that the Holy Sword now had magic capabilities was a massive advantage.
Sure, the Hero never needed to use magic since she solved everything with brute force, but outside of battle, magic offered a vast array of applications.
Like manipulating distant objects, teleporting through space—things no mere physical body could accomplish.

[Isn’t that all doable physically, though?]
“...Maybe for you, yeah.”
Compare like with like, please.

Also—
“There are some pretty nice combinations, too.”
[...? Combinations?]

“You never needed to learn any of this, but there are some really effective ways to use it.”
Magic + mana-based combat style—he’d tested this kind of magic swordsman build several times before his regression.
And on top of that—

‘Oh?’
Carlyle’s eyes narrowed.
If he had the Hero learn the spells that Vespa would eventually develop...

Then the Hero would be using an Archmage’s spells fueled by her own mana.
“...”
[... ]

“...Wow. Holy shit.”
[...I admit, even I’m curious how powerful that might be.]
Given enough time, Vespa—who had once split mountains with her spells—would reach her full potential.

And then, to cast those spells with the Hero’s mana?
“Wouldn’t even demons start bawling?”
[Unless they’re high-ranking nobles... yeah, probably.]

The thought alone was pretty satisfying.
Not that everything the system had to say was pleasant, of course.
– System Message

▶ Quest ‘Ingram Family’s Longstanding Wish’ has been completed.
▶ Trait ‘Archmage’s First Love’ has been activated.
[ ♥ Affection 30% → 50% ]
▶ Affection has reached a key threshold. The target may now take a more proactive role in interactions with you!

“...”
Carlyle’s expression crumpled.
“Proactive role in interactions”? What the hell did that even mean?

“Hero, Vespa’s gonna—”
[Handle ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) it yourself.]
“...”

[Just handle it. Don’t ask me about that anymore.]
“Why? You used to give such kind advice.”
[I said handle it yourself, dumbass.]

“.........Yes, ma’am.”
...He just caught a glimpse of the pre-humanity Gray.
That bloodthirsty psycho energy from her delinquent days—he hadn’t felt that in a while. Sent shivers down his spine...

‘Well, guess I’ll handle it myself.’
What choice did he have?
At least Vespa wasn’t likely to suddenly get violent with him.

Given how many unpredictable and terrifying people were always around Carlyle, that alone was a huge blessing.
Thankfully, one of those very scary individuals had been given a perfectly valid reason not to be mad right now.
He went to see Panhyma and handed her a pouch stuffed with gold bars.

As expected from the daughter of a prestigious mage clan—after helping once, she nonchalantly handed over this level of cash.
Even her eyes seemed to gleam gold as she received it...
“Would Chief Letty, by any chance, be looking to hire a personal swordswoman?”

“...She already has a knight protecting her. They seemed pretty close.”
“Just because you’re taken doesn’t mean you can’t have a fling.”
“...”

Please shut up.
“She says she’ll get your weapon repaired properly. Might take a bit, though.”
When he said that, Panhyma’s gaze settled.

“...Why are you being so good to me?”
The question came out of nowhere, and Carlyle tilted his head.
“Pardon?”

“These rewards, sure... fine. But you must’ve known it’d be hard to repair my weapon this far from home.”
Panhyma looked at him and continued quietly.
“You went out of your way to help. You arranged it so I’d get exactly what I needed, when I needed it. I’m grateful, truly.”

“...”
“That’s why it’s strange. Why go this far? You and I aren’t even close.”
A question that didn’t quite match someone from the Sacred Nation, where simply sharing a language could break down walls of mistrust in an instant.

He would’ve expected someone with that kind of communal thinking to just accept the help and move on.
“I know better than anyone that just because we’re from the same Sacred Nation doesn’t mean it’s easy to help someone with a single word.”
But Panhyma shook her head slowly.

“No kindness given without reason is ever trustworthy. That’s something I’ve learned the hard way, drifting all the way here from the Far East.”
So, I’m asking.
Why are you treating me this well?

“...”
Why?
Why, huh.

Carlyle blinked quietly.
Well, in every regression, the Panhyma he’d met was someone used to being exploited—tricked, manipulated, drained, betrayed.
A foreigner, far from home, with no one to rely on. He didn’t even need to ask to know what horrors she must have endured. Naturally, she would be wary.

But on his end, trying to explain why he was being kind would be awkward too.
—Carlyle Belfast. You are a good man.
—Go on ahead. The others need you more than they need me.
Scorching flames. Shadows. Ash. Demons flooding sky and earth. Screams of fleeing people.

—Let’s meet again in another life.
One lone sword saint, standing to protect the retreating remnants of humanity.
That was the last image he remembered of Panhyma in his previous life.

Even though she’d called outsiders “barbarians” with disdain, she couldn’t turn away when innocent people were being massacred. So she joined the war.
She never found the younger sibling she had been desperately searching for.
Instead, she stitched up those wounds with the laughter of others.

A woman who gave up her life to protect the joy of strangers.
“...”
Carlyle rubbed at his nose.

Well...
Even if she asked why—
“You’re someone who deserves it.”

Someone who made him want to see her happy.
“You think I deserve it?”
“I want you to be happy, Panhyma. That’s all there is to it.”

“...You do realize that sounds exactly like something a conman would say, don’t you?”
“I seriously don’t have any other reason. What can I do?”
He didn’t want to dance around it.

Because that was really all there was to it.
“...”
Panhyma was silent for a long while, then finally let out a long sigh.

“You’re a strange one, comrade.”
Well.
He heard that a lot.

***
– System Message
▶ Trust with target ‘Panhyma Acha Oren’ has increased.
▶ ‘Sword Saint’ added to [Instructor Target] list!
▶ Trait ‘Sword Saint’s Family’ has been acquired.
▶ This will influence main events.

– System Message
▶ You have contacted the majority of the ‘Hero Party’.
▶ Most of the ‘Hero Party’ members have been added to your [Instructor Target] list.
▶ Some members have high trait levels.
▶ Synergies may now be triggered between party members.
▶ Those affected by synergies may develop abilities or trigger events on their own.
▶ Synergy: Rivals in Love has been added.
▶ Related events will be generated.