CHAPTER 304: CH 303: THIS WEAPON IS TOO POWERFUL NOT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT

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Through an illusory door, I appear in the secluded old meadow where I usually come when I need some time alone.

I have left Alessia and Delia sleeping peacefully in bed, and now I am about to try something that I know could end terribly.

Still, the risks of equipping me with the cursed sword are not really that severe.

Now that I know I can free myself from its control by storing it in my inventory, I have an ace up my sleeve that I didn’t have before.

The only problem is that I don’t know if the sword still has any hidden tricks that I didn’t show yesterday.

That’s why I came to this place.

If something goes wrong, I’ll have plenty of time to try to fix it.

Here I don’t need to worry about hurting some innocent person, since, as far as the eye can see, there is no trace of civilization.

’I hope I’m not committing idiocy’

After taking a deep breath, I pull the cursed sword from my inventory.

Emir: !!!

The hilt of the one-handed sword that appears in my hands seems to be made entirely of gold, inlaid with small precious stones as ornaments.

But, what is more curious, the sword appears directly sheathed, even though I stored it unsheathed.

However, this is not the only thing different, as the size of the sword has been reduced considerably to fit inside the dark sheath.

I imagine this is all because the sword, being a talking weapon like Blue Wind, must also have the ability to change shape and size to some extent.

That doesn’t explain why it’s sheathed, but right now that’s what I’m least interested in.

[Zariche, the innocent legendary sword: Extremely powerful. Unbreakable. Absorbs the life force of whatever the sword damages. It is often unjustly treated by its bearers]

’Listen to me, you piece of shit. How stupid do you think I am? Stop playing tricks’

’Tch’

My plan was to start the conversation with the sword in a very different way, but seeing that the bastard tried to trick me again in such a silly way, I forgot about the plan for a few moments.

Slowly the hilt of the sword loses all its luster and detail, changing to take on the dark grey appearance, similar to that of a scorched bone, which I had seen last time.

[Zariche, the cursed demonic sword] [(Edge+) (Feather+) (Rock+) (Vampiric+) (Dementia+) (Lock+) (Bloodlust+)]

[This demonic sword is made from the remains of an ancient and cursed being. At the touch of blood the sword will become tinged with the color of the blood of its victims. The blood of its enemies fuels and empowers it, benefiting the wielder and slowly driving it towards his doom]

[Active skill ’Dementia mist’: alters the perception of people nearby, making them see horrible things]

[Passive skills: Zariche periodically drains the user’s health. Cuts produced by the sword bleed excessively and do not heal easily. As it cuts the enemy flesh, the sword drains a small portion of the target’s HP and MP to give it to the wielder. Wounds produced by the cursed sword can only be healed by a Saint or a very high-level heal]

[Zariche upgrade condition [2/3]: kill 9999 innocent people]

’That’s better...

Erm...

Sorry, I didn’t mean to start our conversation this way. I’d like to have a cordial relationship with you, if possible. Is it possible for me to earn your friendship somehow?’

’Friendship? Ha! You’re dumber than I thought, kid. No, it is not possible for us to be friends. Friendship is between two equals, and I, as is obvious, am far superior to you’

The sword’s new attitude catches me off guard, for it is the absolute opposite of the subservient attitude it had when we first conversed.

But I imagine that all his previous attitude was simply a facade to get me to let my guard down before him.

’Really? I think I’m the one with the longer straw here. But...

That doesn’t matter. If we can’t be friends, there’s no problem...

I don’t care who you think is superior to whom, but... Can we be partners?’

My intention is to try to come to something resembling a mutually respectful relationship with the sword.

If that is possible, I am confident that I will be able to use it as my new weapon.

’Yes, we can be partners... As long as you understand that I, in my grandiose existence, am a far more beautiful, intelligent, powerful and wise being than you, and that, therefore, it is only logical that you listen to and accept all my decisions.’

The weapon’s words leave me with hardly any options, as he doesn’t seem to even understand that his future is basically at my mercy.

’You do understand that I can keep you in my inventory for an indefinite amount of time, right?’

’I recognize that your strange skill is a form of torture I was not used to... However, I am not concerned about it. I was sealed in that stone for a long time, you ignorant brat. Do you really think you can threaten me with something like that?’

’I don’t want to threaten you, you fucking piece of garbage! I don’t even need to...

Haa...

Calm down, Emir...

Remember the plan’

Behind my thoughts, a loud contemptuous laugh is suddenly heard in my mind, dazing me for a moment.

Then I hear the mocking voice of the sword.

’Had you made a plan, little monkey? Did you think it would be easy to gain my trust? Did you think we could be comrades? I am born of darkness and chaos, you fucking inferior being. I am-’

Faced with the obvious disastrous course our conversation is taking, I prefer to put the sword back in my inventory, interrupting the stupid speech he was spouting.

I am especially annoyed by the fact that he used the same nickname with me that the three annoying beauties use.

It may be a simple coincidence, but if it’s not, it means that the sword may know my memories.

That makes me think that perhaps the sword has gained a much more profound knowledge of me than I would like.

"Well... It’s true that the experiment could have gone better, but it’s also true that it could have gone much worse..." I say, as I reflect on how difficult it is to engage someone in conversation when that person can read your every single thought.

"... The good news is that the cursed sword was unable to take control of my body. This could mean two things..." I say as I continue to think out loud, walking in circles on the green grass of the quiet meadow.

"... he needs me to trust him so he can start influencing me, or his evil influence doesn’t work while he’s sheathed. If so, it’s wonderful that it occurred to me to grab the sword sheath before we left that place. Hmm... Either answer is good for me, but I still don’t know the most important thing."

’If I can’t make friends with the sword...

Maybe there’s some way to mitigate or eliminate its adverse effects...

Hmm...

I should go talk to an expert about this...

This weapon is too powerful not to take advantage of it...

I’m sure there must be some way I can use it safely.’

Simply with the intention of doing so, I open an illusory door in front of me.

After walking through the door, I appear exactly in front of the door of [Hammer Without Limits].

This is old Gerald’s shop selling weapons and armor.

But contrary to what one would think based on the name of the shop and the items for sale, Gerald is not a simple blacksmith.

He is secretly a magic refiner, which means he can create magic items.

For that reason, I imagine that he must have a lot of experience in this kind of thing.

Before entering, I glance with amusement at the old piece of paper pinned over the door.

[Conditions for entry:

-You must be a woman (Very important).

-You must be beautiful (Important) (If you have a sexy body, you can skip this requirement)

-Minimum C-cup (Important) (If you have a nice ass, you can skip this requirement)

Since you bother me so much, I’ll clarify... Women with a penis don’t exist! Don’t insist!]

’It’s amusing that, but for the follies of this impotent and libidinous old man, I would not have gotten the material to create Blue Wind...

Nor would I have met Melisa...

Should I bring him some gift as a thank you?...

Nah...

He’s still a bitter, cantankerous old man. I can’t give him a reward for that.’

As I enter, I see old Gerald, leaning over the counter of his shop with a bored expression, throwing small paper balls into a basket that is several meters away from where he is sitting.

The basket is almost empty, but all around it are piles of paper buns.

When he hears that someone has entered his place, his eyes light up for a moment, probably thinking that it is a beautiful woman who was looking for something from him.

But he quickly reverts to the look of deadly boredom when he sees that it is me.

However, now there is also something else in the old man’s expression.

"I was expecting your visit. But I didn’t think it would take you this long... You’ve come to get even for what I said to your girls, haven’t you?" says the old man, as if on guard against me.

That puzzles me for a moment, as I don’t remember what he is referring to, but quickly the information about what happened the last time the old man talked to my girls comes to me.

He let slip the information about the special circumstances by which I had ’seduced’ Melisa.

Then I realize what the other emotion might be that is visible in the old man’s expression.

Concern, embarrassment, or maybe...

Fear?