I Returned with the Cheat Holy Sword

"I had something I wanted to ask you."
[Hm?]
"What did you do to the young lady?"

[...Why so sudden?]
Carlyle had said it offhandedly while they were on their way to Gray’s room, but even then, it wasn’t exactly a hammer out of nowhere in the dead of night.
–System Log

▶ The ‘Rendezvous with the Hero’ event has been added.
▶ A relationship may form between the [Holy Sword] and the [Hero]!
And based on past experience, when something like this pops up in the quest window, it pretty much guarantees that something will happen.
In that sense, if the Holy Sword was somehow making contact with Gray—

[No such thing.]
"...Right?"
Judging from the attitude she’d shown toward her past self so far, it didn’t seem like she wanted to encounter her at all.

If anything, she looked pained by her dark history and tried her hardest to avert her gaze.
[For now, no.]
"..."

Hmm.
...Hmm.
That tone clearly hinted that something would happen in the future, but well, it couldn’t be helped.

Even if they tried to hide it now and reduce contact as much as possible, it was practically impossible to conceal the fact that the person inside here was the Hero.
It’s not just anyone—it’s that Hero. There’s no way to keep hiding what kind of powers she’s displaying that only she could ever use.
Of course, he still wanted to delay it as long as possible.
There were too many things that were difficult to explain.

"You’re late."
"..."
As soon as he knocked, Gray yanked the door open with a harsh expression, and Carlyle once again chewed over the same thoughts.

It was like every vein bulging on her forehead was screaming with rage. It was honestly amazing how she could constantly stay this angry, moment to moment...
"...Sorry."
"Get in."

He stepped cautiously into Gray’s room.
It wasn’t awkward or anything—she always kept it well cleaned—but...
This was their first time having a one-on-one talk like this.
And at night.

And in secret.
And for what clearly seemed to be an important conversation.
"⋯⋯."

"⋯⋯."
Naturally.
In any other situation, Carlyle would’ve taken the lead in conversation, but the awkwardness had him fidgeting.

What was the best way to put this?
It didn’t feel like there were any romantic sparks flying or anything—more like a father receiving his daughter’s embarrassing secret confession...
[You worm.]

"..."
No, not just an idiot—he’d apparently evolved into something worse. Anyway.
While Carlyle squirmed like that, Gray quietly sat down and closed her eyes for a moment.

She seemed to be choosing her words.
And after a long silence, what came out was—
"...First of all, thank you."

"—Sorry?"
"Why do you look like you’re about to start sweating bullets just from being thanked?"
"..."

Considering who he was hearing that from, it made perfect sense, didn’t it?
She had said things like “thank you” or “sorry” before, a few times.
But every time he heard them directly like this, a chill shot down his spine.

"Thanks to you, I also realized the others are more useful than I thought. If a truly urgent situation ever arises, I might be able to leave a few tasks to them."
"..."
"Wasn’t that what you were trying to show me?"

At those words, Carlyle couldn’t help but smile.
...That’s right.
The young lady really did learn fast. Or rather, she was surprisingly soft and pliable.

The Gray he’d met as an adult used to get angry even when he did something like this, saying it was unnecessary help. But this one quickly grasped the lesson he was trying ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ to convey.
[⋯⋯.]
...Please stop glaring like that.

[...I’m not.]
Someone seemed to be pouting at the comparison, but there was nothing he could do about that.
"But I have one more question."

"Yes?"
"This time… you went ahead on your own because you were worried about me, right?"
"..."

Well.
As for that answer—
"Yes."

"..."
Without even pausing to think, he answered. Gray twisted her lips and rested her chin on the armrest.
"My father’s going to start making a fuss again."

"Ma’am?"
"Every time you do that, he starts going on and on about how it’s obvious I like you, how the two of us should just make something work already, how you’re the only one who can handle me."
"..."

...According to the Holy Sword, Lionel could be surprisingly sentimental about these things.
"And what did the young lady say in response?"
Of course, the way Gray casually conveyed that information already hinted at how she felt about such topics.

And her answer confirmed it.
"Same as always. I told him I’m not interested in that kind of thing."
"That’s a relief. I’m not particularly interested in romance either."

"⋯⋯."
Gray quietly nodded.
Then fell into thought for a moment.

"⋯⋯⋯."
...And her expression gradually worsened.
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."

Finally, with her face completely contorted, Gray grabbed a book next to her and hurled it at Carlyle’s chest.
The leather-bound cover slammed into him with a thud, toppling both him and the chair.
"..."

Why?
No, seriously, why...?
"Don’t go tacking things on."

"...Pardon?"
"It felt like you just rejected me. That’s annoying."
"..."

"If I did end up liking you, shouldn’t you at least say ‘thank you’ and crawl at my feet?"
"..."
"Where on earth would you ever find someone like me—"

"Ma’am, I don’t believe you called me here to discuss such things."
He cut her off before she could go entirely off the rails.
At his words, Gray exhaled deeply.

"...Anyway, that’s not why I called you."
"Yes."
"Do you know the name Aria Chasefield?"

"..."
"I think you do. Otherwise, there's no way you and she would be… that connected."
Carlyle blinked blankly.

He was pretty sure Felix had asked him a similar question before. If he knew someone.
And just like back then, there was only one answer.
...Who the hell is that?

He was hearing the name for the first time in his life.
Given the surname, it was probably a relative of Gray's.
The only difference from the time with Felix was—

This time, there was someone nearby who clearly knew that name.
[Krrrrrrgh…]
"..."

He heard the Holy Sword’s voice letting out a ghastly groan at the mention of the name.
[That misunderstanding—no, it’s just... it’s really revolting. I hate it. I hate it so much.]
...What are you talking about?

[To put it bluntly, I think she’s mistaking me for her mother.]
"..."
[...Are you trying not to laugh?]

No, of course not.
Carlyle clenched his teeth and answered.
No matter what, if he laughed here, both Gray and the Holy Sword would beat him senseless.

This was not the time for laughter.
Don’t laugh, Carlyle Belfast.
You must absolutely not laugh...

Wait, but if she’s misunderstanding it like that, how am I supposed to explain?
From the sound of it, she must have seen something of Gray inside the sword, which led her to believe that.
But from Carlyle’s perspective, there was no calm way to explain all that to Gray.

He didn’t even know what kind of relationship the woman had with her mother to begin with.
[Just leave it.]
Still, the Holy Sword sighed and replied.

[If she’s mistaken like that, maybe I can make use of it.]
...Excuse me?
[⋯⋯.]

She went silent, as if calculating something in her head.
[For now, there's no need to correct her. Trust me, and let it be.]
Well... I don’t really get it, but isn’t anything involving her mother kind of a sensitive topic?

[Exactly. Which is why we have to go slow. If you try to force it, you’ll just poke a hornet’s nest.]
That... was true.
This person—

Why did she sound so reasonable, socially aware, empathetic, and psychologically persuasive...?
Be honest. What are you plotting?
[If I say something like this, does it mean I’m plotting something?]

Say that again with your hand on your heart.
[⋯⋯.]
The Holy Sword let out another deep sigh.

[Sometimes you have to cooperate with people you can’t stand.]
Excuse me?
[Even if I wanted to do it myself, I can’t. Because I’m always stuck to you. We’re basically surveilling each other constantly.]

...What?
[Just like you want to change me, there are things I want to change in you. And to do that, sometimes I need someone else’s help—no matter how much I hate it.]
If I want to make a crack in an impenetrable fortress...

"..."
What on earth is she talking about?
Carlyle blinked.

...What?
[Well, that’s how it is.]
The Holy Sword answered in a cryptic tone.

If he could see her face, she was probably grinning slyly.
[You just stay still.]
***

He’s not saying anything.
Gray looked at Carlyle in silence and thought to herself.
It seemed like he was carefully choosing his words.

...Could there really be something?
She hadn’t seriously expected him to be connected to her mother or anything, but the longer this silence dragged on, the weirder it felt.
As she absentmindedly tapped her arm...

Something began to appear before her.
Out of nowhere.
"...?"

Gray Chasefield carefully observed the thing floating in front of her.
...Letters.
Letters, arranged with such subtle balance that no one but her would even notice them.

A covert, sneaky attempt at communication.
Almost like—
Like someone wanted to speak to her secretly, without the man in front of her knowing.

"..."
...What is this?
Gray stared at the letters taking shape with a serious expression.

They wriggled and writhed, finally settling into a coherent sentence.
–To our little gray princess.
"..."

Gray inhaled sharply.
This was...
This was what her mother used to call her when she was little.

Something no one else knew.
Only the two of them.
–Now is not the time for us to meet, so don’t be in too much of a hurry.
–There will come a time when we can speak properly.

"...!"
She almost jumped to her feet.
There really was a connection.

This man—he was somehow connected to her mother...!
–For that, I have a request.
–I want you to follow these instructions carefully.
As Gray caught her breath, more mana gathered in front of her.

It morphed into the shape of a book. A title was stamped on it.
Gray, tension etched into her face, read the title...
–[Carlyle Belfast Guide]
–[Objective: Make Him See You as a Woman, Not a Daughter]

"..."
Gray’s expression went blank.