Side Story Part 1
Side Story 1 – Martha’s Job Consultation
“How are you feeling, Mother?”
Martha asked her mother, Melissa, when she returned home.
This is a village in the Baron’s territory. Martha’s house is located in the corner of said village.
Shortly before Yuuki’s older brother, Xellos’s entrance examination to join the magic guild, Martha took a day off to visit her mother.
“I’m worried because mother is always acting recklessly.”
“Thank you, Martha. But I’m fine. I also am not coughing anymore.”
Melissa answered as she hung the laundry in the yard.
Martha was relieved to see her mother looking well.
But to be sure, she took the laundry basket from her hands.
“Martha will hang the laundry. Mother can go make some tea.”
“Yes, yes.”
Melissa trotted into the house.
Martha’s mother was chronically ill. With regular use of herbs, she would not have a cough or fever.
It was around the time of a nasty cold epidemic a few years ago that her mother became ill.
The cold, in combination with her usual cough and fever, was really bad at one point.
At the time, her mother, Melissa, was still working for the Baron family. But she was in no condition to work.
Thus, in her place, Martha became the Grossalia family’s maid.
“It’s been five years since then…”
“What about another year, Martha?”
Before she knew it, Melissa was standing behind Martha.
She looks at her daughter, who is hanging the laundry, with gentle eyes.
“Now that I can work as well, if there’s anything you want to do, please don’t hesitate to tell me, Martha.”
“Things that I want to do?”
“I mean, you can look for a commuting job instead of a live-in job. You wouldn’t feel rested spending all day at the Baron’s mansion, right? Besides, it’s time to start looking for someone to marry at your age.”
“…I hadn’t thought of that.”
“By the way, Martha.”
“What is it, mother?”
“Why do you keep going through my nightgown pockets?”
Hearing that, Martha looked at her hand.
Her hand was carefully going through the pocket of the just-washed nightgown.
Martha blushed when she realized it. Without thinking, she withdrew her hand and looked at her mother, and said,
“I-It’s not what you think. It’s because Yuuki-sama often puts nuts and medicinal herbs in the pockets of clothes.”
“Is that so?”
“The other day, there was a piece of material in his pocket that he got after defeating a monster, you know? I took it out before washing it and gave it back to him, but he said, ‘That’s for you, Martha’. So I had no choice but to go to the market and exchange it for some high-quality soap that’s gentle on hair, which I left in the bathroom.”
“…Heehh.”
“Yuuki-sama really is a troublesome person.”
“But we owe Yuuki-sama a debt of gratitude, don’t we? It was Yuuki-sama who told the Baron to let you work at the mansion. He also often gives us the medicinal herbs to cure my cough, doesn’t he?”
“I don’t mean to speak ill of him. Besides, if Yuuki-sama gets too dependable, Martha will have nothing left to do…”
Martha’s voice got quieter.
For some reason, she felt like she was saying something embarrassing.
Her mother, Melissa, is grinning in front of her.
It’s good that her mother is feeling better, but she wishes that her mother could stop teasing her about Yuuki.
She does not hate it, but it does leave her perplexed.
…I do not know what kind of face to make, Martha ponders.
“Listen, Martha.”
“Yes, mother?”
“I’m fine now. So when the time comes for you to decide your future, please be honest and choose what you want to do.”
“What do you mean?”
“Yuuki-sama is an illegitimate child. He can’t stay in the Grossalia family’s mansion forever.”
“…I know that.”
Yuuki will soon leave the mansion to attend school.
It is Baron-sama’s school of choice, so it is probably not for commoners.
Still, it is not always a place where maids can go either.
“…Martha would like to help Yuuki-sama if possible.”
“That’s fine. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Melissa patted Martha on the head.
“Besides, there is still time. Maybe something extraordinary will happen, and Yuuki-sama’s status will rise. Then Martha will still be of service to him.”
“Yeah. Yuuki-sama has amazing abilities, after all.”
In particular, his talent for magic is in a different league.
She cannot even tell her mother about this because Yuuki told her to keep it a secret.
“…Yuuki-sama sometimes says, ‘I trust Martha more than myself’.”
So let’s secretly ask him when there’s an opportunity.
What kind of path does Yuuki intend to take in the future?
Martha is wondering if she can keep up with it.
“Come to think of it, Xellos-sama’s entrance examination to join the magic guild is coming up soon.”
During the exam, Martha and Yuuki will be staying at an inn in town.
Let us talk about it then.
Can Martha continue to help Yuuki?
Would it be okay for Martha to stay with Yuuki?
Martha began to think about it.
Chapter 11 Part 4
I kicked the ground, activated my ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ x2 spell, and raised the sword towards the disappearing dead priest.
The sword is rather light. Lyle’s arm was trembling two hundred years ago as he held this sword up.
…Forgive me, my unworthy son.
I made you kill me, even though you hated the idea so much.
But what happened to you guys after that? Was there a fight with Remilia or Alice?
Since the pledge has been fulfilled, those guys in the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ didn’t kill you, did they?
I only hope that you guys were happy. Now and always.
‘A-AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!’
“What’s the matter? Why are you afraid? You wanted this holy sword, didn’t you!?”
‘N-No! Not like this! I wanted to analyze that sword and solve the puzzle of life. And create a new ‘Ancient Artifact’, that can revive my people.’
“Is that so.”
I waved the holy sword.
“Then I’ll let you do your analysis!!”
‘Gyaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!’
With the blade of the Holy Sword Rinkal, I slashed the dead priest in half.
Naturally, the blade was bathed in my blood. But, in the end, it was not necessary.
Because the dead priest has started to vanish without the need to activate the ‘Purification’ spell.
“…One last question. Do you know Lyle from the ‘Fila Village’?”
‘…I-I don’t know.’
“…Oh really!? I hope you didn’t bully or kill them, did you!?
‘…I-It’s true! Nobody gave that order. Really!’
“…Is that so.”
I mow down the dead priest with the Holy Sword Rinkal.
“I have no use for you anymore! Get lost!! Activate, ‘Purification’!!”
‘GYAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!’
With a vertical and a horizontal slash, the dead priest, whose spiritual body was ripped apart by the cross-slash, was annihilated.
Shortly after, his figure and voice disappeared ──
The holy sword’s cave once again regained its serenity.
“Good.”
“Yuuki!? Why are you putting the holy sword back!?”
“Well, I thought I would get scolded for using it without permission.”
“No one would complain in times of emergency. Besides, the holy sword, which had been sealed for nearly two hundred years and no one had been able to investigate it, is now awakened. They will definitely be curious about it.”
“Oops. Let’s keep this a secret between you and me.”
“…It’s no use even if you put your finger to your lips and act all cutesy .”
“Please don’t tell anyone.”
“…Ughh.”
“Pretty please.”
“F-Fine!”
Nice.
“Now that we are partners. I’ll keep it a secret.”
“Thank you.”
“But I think we should tell Her Royal Highness Princess Iris.”
“…Is that so?”
“If anything, I think it would be better to tell her about it and have her on our side.”
“Will Her Royal Highness keep it a secret?”
“You should believe in her. You’re going to become Her Royal Highness Princess Iris’s knight escort, remember?”
…I forgot about that.
I was so pissed off at the dead priest of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ that I forgot about the examination.
Come to think of it, we came to this cave to be the knight escort of Princess Iris.
“There is a legend in my family about the holy sword.”
“In the Duke Sorey family?”
“Yeah, it is some kind of a legend.”
Odette tilted her head a little, as if thinking, and said,
“That holy sword is said to have been used only twice before. But my ancestors were convinced that the holy sword would awaken again.”
“What were your ancestors’ name, and their birthplace?”
“I don’t know that much. I just know that it was before the ‘War of the Eight Kings’. It’s just that…”
“Hm?”
“It’s just that my ancestors did leave a note saying that no one should touch the holy sword until the right wielder had been found.”
“The right wielder… means me?”
“I wonder.”
Were Odette’s ancestors also involved with this holy sword?
Or maybe they are from the same village as me.
“I think Odette should become a knight escort of Princess Iris.”
“Why is that?”
“If you become a knight escort, you will always be by Princess Iris’s side, which will come in handy in many ways.”
“Then what about Yuuki?”
“I’ll be Odette’s chaperon.”
“No!!”
She glared at me.
“It was Yuuki who passed the exam and defeated the dead priest. I will not be shameless enough to deprive you of that achievement!”
“Couldn’t you do something about that?”
“I am a noble! From the family of a Duke! Honor and pride are to be valued naturally!”
“No matter what?”
“…Are you trying to make me angry?”
It cannot be helped.
We agreed to keep quiet about the holy sword.
I’ll at least put up with being a knight escort.
“Hey! Yuuki-dono, Lady Odette Sorey! Guiel Wolfgang!! Are you hurt!?”
“Where’s the dead priest? Are you all okay!?”
“…Guiel… is fine, right…?”
Barnes, Demeter, and Gilvan Kiers appeared at the passageway that was blocked by the rock debris.
The unconscious Guiel Wolfgang is leaning against the rock wall of the cave.
We need to find out why he had summoned the dead priest.
Thus, the ‘knight escort selection examination for Her Royal Highness Princess Iris’, came to an end ──
The illegitimate son of the Baron Grossalia family, Yuuki Grossalia, was appointed as the knight escort ──
“…‘Erosion, Hacking’.”
Before I left the place, I hacked into the holy sword one more time.
I was in a hurry earlier, so I didn’t notice that the holy sword had a wielder’s history.
‘Holy sword Rinkal Wielders.’
‘My Lord: Dean Nosferatu: Used 200 years ago: Reincarnated.’
‘Temporary User: Alice Carmine: Used 199 years ago: Reincarnated in the same era as my lord.’
I knew it.
My blood and those close to me were on the blade of the sword.
It could not have been anyone other than Alice, the one who I once gave her my ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’.
There are several things I have learned from this.
At the time of my death in my previous life, neither Lyle nor the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ knew about the effects of this holy sword. If they knew about it, there is no way Lyle would have cried like that, and there is no way the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ would have used this against me.
It is also possible that Lyle, who became a hero after killing me, was given this holy sword.
If Lyle and Remilia devote all their efforts together, they could analyze how to use the holy sword. Those guys were ridiculously hard-working, after all.
Then Alice would understand how to use this holy sword and was reincarnated in the same era as me.
If that was the case… then Princess Iris is not a descendant of Alice.
Alice used this holy sword one year after I died.
It is impossible for Alice to have a child in that short period of time.
Alice had just recovered from the ‘Death Crest Disease’ at that time. It would be impossible both physically and in terms of age.
In that case, Princess Iris’s resemblance to Alice may be a coincidence… or she herself may be the reincarnation of Alice.
Remilia did have Alice’s brother or sister in her belly at the time. If her descendants were the ancestors of Princess Iris, and Alice’s soul dwells in that family lineage, that would make things easier.
“…Seriously, that child is such a pain in the ass.”
In the first place, this is not right, Alice.
Even if I had died, why would you think of reincarnating yourself?
Was it because you think that you could reduce the two hundred years age gap to zero? You did not think you would fail, did you?
If Lyle and Remilia had found you, they would have stopped you… or not.
I cannot imagine those two stopping Alice. I feel like they’re sending Alice off once they know for certain that she can reincarnate.
Lyle and Remilia are ridiculously hard-working and talented, after all.
Had they acquired ‘Ancient Magic’ and ‘Ancient Artifacts’, they also could have destroyed the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’. By the way, ‘Fila Village’, where I was, had a 100 percent literacy rate. The literacy rate in the royal capital at that time was just 15 percent, and all the villagers had mastered common magic.
If Lyle had been recognized by the sanctuary church for his achievement in killing me.
And if the people of ‘Fila Village’ had used that to gain knowledge of ‘Ancient Magic’ and ‘Ancient Artifacts’.
── I have a feeling that they would send Alice to this era without hesitation….
“So you’re in this era. Alice Carmine.”
I will find you.
Whoever you are in this era, I’ll find you for sure. So wait for me.
Chapter 11 Part 3
“Guiel is saved! He’s all yours now, Odette!!”
“Affirmative!”
Odette simultaneously draws two crests with her fingertips.
She brought forth a flowing chant with her beautiful voice.
“‘Ancient Magic’!! ‘Earth God Boisterous Dance, Force of Earth’!!”
Several ‘Stone Spears’ are formed from the ground.
All at once, the ‘Stone Spears’ flew up and pierced the dead priest.
‘Arrggghhhh!! Y-You little girl…!!’
“‘Fire God’s Relentless Barrage, Ifrit Blow’!!”
I lay Guiel on the ground and drew a crest on the palm of my hand.
Immediately after, I strike the dead priest with another ‘Ifrit Blow’.
‘Gyaaaaahhhhhh!! Gaaaahhhhhhhh!!’
“Departed spirits possess the living to gain magic power. They feed on magic power to materialize. Now that you are separated from Guiel, you can no longer replenish your magic power!!”
‘Boy! How did you know so much at such a young age!?’
“You are one to talk. A nearly two hundred years old dead spirit in such a sorry state, what a shame!!”
‘── What!?’
“Don’t you talk about human evolution now! Even those ‘Demi Humans’ were eliminated for that purpose!! As a result, you started the war and annihilated them. But in the end, you have turned into a dead spirit and possess a child! I feel sorry for those who have perished because of you!!”
Seriously. These people started the war and messed up the world even after all the sacrifices I made.
“If you feel frustrated, evolve and fly off far beyond the stars. You incompetent priest!!”
‘DAAAAMMMMNNNNN YOOOUUUUUUU!!’
shouted the dead priest.
‘Give me the holy sword! If I study the sealed holy sword ■■ solve the puzzle of evolution, ■■ I can be reborn!!’
“Reborn, you say?”
Odette muttered to herself.
“What we have here is a holy sword that can destroy the wicked. Supposedly, the dead wouldn’t want it, but… just what is the secret behind it…?”
“Okay. Let’s check it out.”
“……What? Yuuki!?”
“Here goes.”
I grasped the hilt of the holy sword buried in the wall and pulled.
‘──── Welcome back. My Lord.’
A voice that I had heard before echoed in my head.
‘You are registered as a user of the Holy Sword Rinkal, My Lord.’
‘The Holy Sword Rinkal is currently sealed.’
With an unpleasant sound, the holy sword was pulled out.
The blade of the holy sword has bright red rust on it. It was as if ── the blood had dried on the blade ──?
“‘Erosion, Hacking’.”
I cut my fingertips and put a drop of blood on the hilt of the holy sword.
Magic power starts to flow into it.
I am going to use ‘Erosion, Hacking’ on the ‘seal’ of this holy sword.
Internals of the magic ── Analysis Begin.
Analysis of the magic structure ── Confirming the Sealing Magic.
Magic power patterns ── Analysis Complete.
I see.
It’s got the blood of a monster that died about two hundred years ago stuck to it, and that was what sealed it.
Unless someone with the same magic power as the monster appears, it cannot be removed from its scabbard.
The coarse, dried blood is stuck to the blade.
The blood carries the same magic power as that of Dean Nosferatu, the ‘Immortal Mage, Lord of Nosferatu’.
“This is… the holy sword that killed me?”
I continue the analysis with ‘Erosion, Hacking’.
Permeating the old magical blood ── Eroding the Seal.
Reactivation of the Holy Sword Rinkal ── Successful.
Analyzing its unique abilities ── Deciphering.
The ability of this Holy Sword Rinkal is ──
‘The annihilation of the soul of the wicked, and bestow reincarnation to the righteous. However, the power of reincarnation has been used up.’
…Wait a minute.
I was stabbed by this sword. So this is how I was reincarnated.
The sword’s ability is “If the person stabbed is a good person, they can be reincarnated”.
So it reincarnated me, the ‘Immortal Mage, Lord of Nosferatu’ and ‘Vampire King, Vampire Lord’? Isn’t its verdict a little too sloppy?
Moreover, we are linked to each other.
Because it was sealed with my ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’, and the blood has seeped inside.
This sword can probably only be used by one other person and me.
“Well, that’s fine. Hear my call. Holy Sword Rinkal!!”
The rust stuck to the blade crumbled away.
The silver blade that appeared… looks awfully familiar to me.
Lyle was in tears at the time.
I thought the holy sword might know what happened to Lyle after that, but this sword only talks in systemic terms. It’s just a magic item without a will.
“Y-Yuuki!? What are you doing!? With the Holy Sword!!”
“Didn’t Odette say it just now? That this is a holy sword that can destroy the wicked.”
“But is there anyone who can just pull it out!?”
“I’m sorry. I was careless. I’ll put it back now.”
“Stop! Is there anyone who would just put it back!?”
“So what should I do?”
“You are just absurd! How did the sealed holy sword get……”
“We’ll talk later. I’m going to go get rid of the dead priest.”