By the time I was a good distance away from the arena.

The chubby Second Prince's belated roar of fury could be heard.

The sound of him flying into a rage, ordering his men to chase me.

The commotion, heard faintly from a distance, was already like a child's tardy complaint.

It was too late to do anything about it, just an unsightly display of screaming because things didn't go his way.

Good grief.

To be so immature for a prince of a nation.

Of course, they might be able to figure out my identity through a belated investigation, but so what?

Sherwood was not the kind of existence to be afraid of some rotten royalty.

If the Maia royal family had an excellent knight like the Knight of Frost from the Blake Kingdom, I might have to be more cautious, but they didn't.

Any such individuals were already in the north, guarding the northern wall.

In any case, the important thing was that they would never catch me.

I went straight over the high castle wall into District 3, then landed in a deserted alleyway.

Then, I stared blankly at the Jet-Black Sword I had brought with me.

It certainly had an antique charm and didn't seem like an ordinary sword.

"This is... the Jet-Black Sword?"

The dark blade was clean, without a single stain or flaw.

A strange energy emanated from the blade, as black as the night sky.

What kind of metal was this made of?

"Master. Did anyone jump into your consciousness?"

[Well, not a peep. I was rather looking forward to it.]

"What a strange fellow. How is the blade so flawlessly black."

[Indeed. It does not seem to be an ordinary metal.]

"Ah, it's a shame I couldn't grab the scabbard."

While I was fiddling with the sword, examining it, the Sherwood crew arrived in my alley.

Dofang was the first to approach, laughing heartily as he slapped my back.

"You crazy bastard! You can fly now? How much more are you going to surprise us?"

I muttered as he hit my back.

"I wasn't flying, I was running."

"It's the same thing!"

"I can't use it for long yet, either. I'm not used to it. I'll have to set aside some time to train and improve it."

"Hahahat! That's what it's like when you're not used to it? Once you get used to it, you'll be touching the clouds!"

Dofang kept laughing and patting my back, for whatever reason he found so amusing.

Schmidt also stared at me with wide eyes, his hands moving frantically.

He seemed extremely excited.

—Brother! Brother! How on earth did you do that? Was it magic? You were running through the sky!

I just gave him a grin.

"Schmidt."

—Yes?

"It's me, your brother."

"...!"

Schmidt looked at me with eyes that were practically sparkling.

Ah, so that is the look of admiration.

How it shines.

This time, Linda grabbed my hand and jumped up and down.

"Devil! Can't you give me a piggyback ride and run in the sky? I want to fly too!"

"Really? Want to try hanging on?"

"Yes!"

Linda clung to me like a squirrel.

"Hmm... you're too heavy for now."

Linda immediately put her feet back on the ground and looked up at me.

"Gasp! I'm heavy?"

"Relatively? The Black Immortal Steps can only be used by making the body as light as a feather. I'll give you a ride once I get more used to it and my level is higher."

"Okay! I understand!"

Only then did Dofang's gaze fall upon the black sword in my hand.

"The sword? Is it real?"

"I'm about to check."

I took a deep breath, then properly gripped the sword's hilt.

I let a small amount of internal energy flow from my dantian through my palm.

Woooong—

The sword hummed slightly, and then...

Something began to fall from the blade in specks.

It looked like black ash, or perhaps a dark mist.

"Huh? What's wrong with this thing?"

Holding it, I swung it upwards once, and the black ash scattered like feathers.

I muttered as I watched.

"Did it originally have this effect?"

It looked quite different from when it was in the hands of that William fellow.

Linda clapped her hands and cheered like a child seeing the first snow, while Schmidt watched the scene with wide eyes.

Dofang let out a small sound of admiration as he watched the black something scatter like the first snow.

"Wow... I don't know what it is, but it looks cool. So, is it the Jet-Black Sword?"

I glanced at my bracelet.

It didn't buzz and operate loudly like it did when I first held Vlad, nor did it glow.

It was just dead silent.

Peeking at the inside of the bracelet, only the single red band that Vlad had carved was still glowing faintly.

I clicked my tongue and said.

"Guess not."

"Hmm, as expected. It was a fake."

Dofang muttered as he looked at the sword.

"Still, it doesn't look like an ordinary sword."

"That's true. It doesn't seem like a normal one."

"Little brother, could you strike a pose with that?"

As Dofang requested, I struck various poses, just like William had done on the arena stage.

"How's this?"

Linda clapped her hands.

"Wow, Devil. You look so cool!"

Schmidt also made a circle with his mouth and gave a thumbs-up.

Dofang took a few steps back to observe me, then stroked his chin and nodded.

"Little brother."

"Yeah?"

"That sword. It suits you incredibly well. You should use it."

"Ah, really?"

"Of course. I'm not just saying that. It's like the sword was born for you. What was his name, William? That sword is too good for him. Let's just say you got yourself a good sword on this occasion."

I scratched my neck as I held the jet-black blade up to the sunlight, looking at it from different angles.

"A good sword is not really my thing."

"Why?"

"Why, you ask? It means I'll rely on the sword that much more. I'll get lazy with my training, won't I?"

"...? You're the first person I've heard say that."

The Heavenly Devil laughed lowly.

[There's a limit to what you should worry about. Do you know why masters search so desperately for good weapons and divine arms?]

"I don't know?"

[Because an ordinary weapon cannot properly handle their ki and will soon crack or break. They search for a sturdy weapon that can withstand their power. What would you do if your sword suddenly broke in the middle of an important battle?]

"Hmm."

[Of course, there is nothing more foolish than unskilled people who neglect their training and only covet good weapons. But those who have reached a certain level all wander the world in search of a weapon that suits them.]

"Umm."

[The more of a master craftsman one is, the pickier they are in selecting their tools. The greatsword that the man named Guston used is a similar case. Did you not see that it didn't even get a scratch from your all-out strike?]

"Did that happen?"

[It has to be at least that strong to endure in that man's hands without breaking or shattering. He probably broke and shattered countless weapons before he got his hands on that greatsword.]

"Aha."

[It is not easy for masters who have reached a certain level to show their true skills with an ordinary weapon. It doesn't matter when dealing with small fry, but wouldn't the story be different if the opponent was a strong person who required you to pour out all your strength?]

"Umm. That makes sense."

The Heavenly Devil offered me some advice.

[Shouldn't you also carry a proper sword in addition to that half-sword? You wouldn't have to infuse the half-sword with aura every time. I don't know what it's made of, but it looks quite sturdy. It should be able to withstand your ki for a while.]

I turned the sword with its jet-black blade over and over and muttered.

"Are you saying it's a pretty good sword?"

[It's no less than the half-broken silver sword you usually carry.]

"Oho?"

[And as your companion said, it suits you well.]

"You mean the sword's energy or personality suits me?"

[No, I just mean the color suits you.]

"Ah."

I gently stroked the surface of the blade and muttered.

"You pass. From today, you're with me."

Dofang, who had been silently watching my conversation with the Heavenly Devil, chimed in.

"Little brother, have you decided on a name?"

"A name?"

"A cool sword deserves a cool name."

"A name for a sword..."

I thought for a moment, then gave it a suitable name.

"I will name it the Night Sky Sword."

"Hoh. Why is that?"

"The blade is as black as the night sky, and the energy it gives off is similar to my Night Sky. It's fitting. Isn't that right, Master?"

The Heavenly Devil spoke as if surprised.

[For once, you've come up with a decent name.]

"Master, I know how to make cool names too."

[And yet you give your ultimate techniques such strange names.]

"..."

I was about to fasten my new Night Sky Sword to my waist when I realized I didn't have a scabbard.

Just then, Dofang tossed something.

Thump.

I caught it and saw that it was a jet-black scabbard that fit the Night Sky Sword perfectly.

When I looked at Dofang with surprised eyes, he grinned.

"I figured as much, so I went and got it."

I grinned back at him.

"That's our Brother Dofang. Unbeatable when it comes to thievery."

Just then, I felt an unfamiliar presence at the end of the alley.

Before I could say anything, Dofang and Schmidt whipped their heads in that direction like lightning.

Only Linda tilted her head, looking at us whose expressions had suddenly changed.

A man, holding a girl in one arm, was walking into the deserted alley.

He seemed slightly out of breath, panting.

"Hah... hah... finally caught up."

"Sir Monde. How can you be panting from just that? How are you going to be my guardian knight? You're so lazy. Do some stamina training!"

"What can I do if the princess is heavy— Ow! Don't pinch me!"

"What was that? Did you just mention the weight of the noble princess? Hmph! Hmph!"

"Ow! Ow! I told you not to pinch me. What are you going to do if you make me drop the princess?"

"If you drop me, your head will drop with me! Just you try and drop me!"

"Ow! I said stop pinching."

"..."

I stared blankly at the two people who had suddenly appeared in the alley.

A man with light brown hair who looked somewhat like a delinquent, and a girl with a cloth over her head, held in his arms.

My attention was drawn more to their conversation than their appearance.

Because there was a word that made my ears perk up.

"...Princess?"

Before I could say anything, Dofang stepped forward.

"Oho? Now this is a familiar face. A welcome sight, if I may say so."

At that, the knight holding the girl scrunched up his face.

"I thought I'd never see you again."

The girl called princess pinched his cheek.

"Sir Monde. Stop frowning. You look scary."

"Owowow. Princess, I get it, so please."

Dofang swaggered towards them and muttered.

"The guardian knight Sir Monde and his princess... It reminds me of a certain princess. Could it be the same adorable and cute princess I know?"

As Dofang approached, Monde frowned but didn't stop him or back away.

Dofang, sauntering over, gently lifted the cloth covering the face of the girl in his arms and let out a gasp.

"Aha, it is indeed our noble Princess Lilia Adrianne Maia!"

The girl whose face had been hidden by the cloth giggled.

"It's been a while, Dofang. Have you been well?"

"Of course. I have been well. And our princess?"

"I've been well too. I don't know how much trouble I had holding back my laughter when you said you were going to steal mother's tiara. As if Dofang would even glance at a tiara."

Dofang smiled.

"My, my. I'm glad the princess is tight-lipped. Otherwise, this great phantom thief Dofang might have lost his livelihood. Hahahat!"

I stared with a dumbfounded expression at the thief and the princess chatting amicably.

"What in the..."

As if he heard my muttering, Dofang turned to me with a smile still on his face.

"Ah, little brother. It may be hard to believe, but she is a real princess. It seems she's on a secret excursion."

Just then, the princess tapped Dofang's shoulder.

"Excuse me, Dofang."

"Yes. Please speak, Princess."

"I have something to say to that person."

"Ah, I see."

Dofang stepped aside, waving his arm like a nobleman, and the princess, having gotten down from Monde's arms, walked briskly towards me.

Schmidt and Linda naturally moved to either side, and soon the princess was standing before me, looking up.

"Hero!"

"...Hero?"

"Will you save our Maia Kingdom?"

As she said this, the princess's eyes were sparkling with an unreadable light.

(End of Chapter)