I Returned with the Cheat Holy Sword

[...What are you going to do about that?]
“...Well, it turned out this way.”
[...]

“⋯⋯.”
Silence flowed heavily from the other end of the communicator where Felix was.
Carlyle had just finished reporting the Black Mirror Beast’s current state through the communication device Felix had given him for post-operation updates.

...Along with what he planned to do with it going forward.
[There are plenty of places that raise demonic beasts for experimentation or military use, but if you’re talking about domesticating one...]**
It was bound to provoke massive backlash.

This was a world where even trying to keep something like a man-eating bear or crocodile as a pet got you labeled insane. So raising a magical beast capable of leveling an entire country?
Predictable outrage.
But Carlyle’s answer didn’t waver one bit.

“Our Blackie doesn’t bite.”
Backlash, insults—none of it mattered.
Right now, he was in a position where he had to use everything at his disposal to save the world.

And this godsend had just rolled into his lap. What, was he supposed to let it go?
Not a chance in hell.
Besides, there were still mountains of unknowns surrounding the Black Mirror Beast’s abilities.

To everyone else, it was just something that exuded mana. But what if it had intent? What if it could fight?
If it could act with its own will, its power would undoubtedly qualify it as a backup force to the Hero’s party.
[...Hey.]
“It’s not like anyone got hurt. And honestly, we could spin this into propaganda, don’t you think?”

[...]
“Realistically, if we can just reduce its size a bit, it should be possible to raise it safely.”
Felix let out a long sigh.

[Listen.]
“Yes.”
[If even you start acting like Gray, I’m really screwed.]

“⋯⋯Yes.”
The mention of her name made Carlyle nod deeply in sympathy.
Dealing with that woman—who was the very embodiment of lawless chaos—was hard enough. But if Carlyle caught that same bug?
Felix’s exhaustion was deeply, painfully understandable.

The Hero, after all, was unmatched in her ability to evoke universal empathy.
[...Still, hmm. Maybe it is possible.]
“Pardon?”

[If it’s just a matter of size control, and that makes it manageable...]
“I’ll do whatever it takes.”
[In that case, we might be able to make it work.]

Wow.
Was this man a god?
If you asked him for something, he always somehow pulled together the tools to make it happen. That kind of reliability was unreal.

[I’m only doing this because you’re the one asking. Got that?]
“Thank you. I’ll make sure to repay you however I can.”
[Good. Because I’m going to pile on the hard stuff later, and you’d better put your back into it.]

“⋯⋯.”
Hearing that definitely added pressure, but...
After all the help he’d received, bailing now would be the height of shamelessness.

He wasn’t Gray. He was a functioning social animal.
[...I’m still right here, you know.]
Oops.

Mess with the Hero too much, and you get what’s coming.
As that thought crossed his mind, Felix suddenly spoke again, like he’d just remembered something.
[Oh, and... ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) something dangerous is heading your way.]

“Excuse me?”
[You handle calming it down yourself.]
And as soon as those words left the communicator—

A distant explosion sounded from below.
***
A little while later.

“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
A dreadful silence hung over the Black Mirror Beast’s back.

So.
Taming Blackie safely had been a success.
[...So you're officially calling it that now, huh?]

What do you know about our Blackie?
[...]
Ignore the sword trying to pick a fight for no reason.

Anyway, taming that had gone well.
But now they were facing an even more terrifying person.
“⋯⋯.”

“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle glanced sideways as Gray stood in front of him, silently staring.
He wasn’t the only one avoiding eye contact. Panhyma and Vespa were rolling their eyes around nervously too.

Despite just subduing a catastrophe-class beast with three people, they were now thoroughly intimidated by one human standing before them.
And frankly, it was justified.
They’d climbed up the Black Mirror Beast through sheer effort.

She, on the other hand, had jumped onto its back.
When that explosion had gone off below, she had leapt up from the ground to this altitude in a single bound.
That alone was plenty of reason to watch their step...

“⋯⋯Hmph.”
Gray let out a sharp breath through her nose as she idly kicked at the ground.
“So. You lot went and handled it without me.”

“⋯⋯Yes, ma’am.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
The moment she said that, Vespa and Carlyle exchanged a look.

Is she mad?
Not quite mad, but...
She doesn’t look happy, does she?

Not mad enough to draw her sword though...!
Their glances crossed in a fraction of a second, carrying all that meaning.
“...How the hell do you read that much from just a look?”

Panhyma muttered in disbelief at how swiftly and subtly they moved.
But that level of analysis came from long familiarity with Gray.
Which meant they immediately grasped what was going on with her now.

How to put it...
She had something she wanted to say, badly—but wasn’t sure whether she was the one who should say it.
“⋯⋯.”

And seeing that—
Carlyle’s mouth moved on its own.
“Ma’am. If something’s troubling you, would you tell me?”

“...What?”
“If it’s weighing on your mind that much, it surely isn’t a minor issue. I understand if you can’t speak now, but—”
“⋯⋯.”

“I apologize for handling things on my own. But I only did it because I didn’t want you to bear everything alone.”
“⋯⋯.”
The longer he spoke, the more heat rose along Gray’s cheeks.

“All my actions are meant to support you. So please, whatever’s troubling you, don’t hesitate to share—”
Whack!
Carlyle’s head snapped to the side.

Gray had smacked the back of his neck with a palm strike.
“⋯⋯.”
What the hell.

This was unfair.
“I told you to stop doing that.”
Gray snapped, her face tinged red.

“Look. I’m not mad because you guys handled things yourselves.”
She paused for a moment.
“What’s bugging me… isn’t something I want to talk about in front of everyone.”

The implication was clear.
She didn’t want to say it while others were around.
And when Carlyle realized that—

His face went blank.
Wait.
There was something she actually cared enough about to check how other people would take it?

Wait—did this woman even know how to read the room?
That existential terror began creeping in as Gray lightly tapped his arm, hesitating over what she wanted to say next.
“⋯⋯.”

“⋯⋯.”
The longer that silence dragged out, the more his anxiety multiplied.
No.

The mere fact that she was hesitating this much was already terrifying in and of itself.
Just what the hell was she about to say...?
“Hey.”

Then.
The moment she opened her mouth—
All his fear proved completely justified.

“Come to my room tonight.”
“...?”
“Let’s have a long, uninterrupted talk—just the two of us.”

“⋯⋯??”
Wait.
…Wait.

Surely not, right?
[I don’t know what you’re imagining, but remember—I’m in there. Odds are it means something completely different from what you think—]
That’s why it’s dangerous! What if she tortures me or something?!

[...]
She could be furious that I stole her thunder and—
[...She wouldn’t go that far.]

The Holy Sword gritted her teeth and sighed.
[Idiot.]
?

...Today really was a cursed day for getting insulted.
But surprisingly, it wasn’t Carlyle who reacted the strongest to Gray’s words.
It was Vespa.

She kept glancing back and forth between Carlyle and Gray, visibly distressed.
The whole exchange clearly made her deeply uncomfortable.
“...Um, Miss Gray—”

She tried to say something—
“Kyah?!”
But her words were swallowed by a sudden gust of wind.

A massive flying object was rising into the air nearby, kicking up powerful turbulence.
Everyone turned instinctively.
...A gigantic reptile covered in red scales hovered in the air.

The first word that came to mind:
“...A dragon?”
A dragon.

The iconic apex predator of fantasy.
“Everyone—! Are you unharmed?!”
And then the dragon spoke.

In a very familiar accent.
...A voice they knew.
“Professor Shiona?”

“Ah—ah, sorry! This is your first time seeing me like this, huh?”
“⋯⋯.”
First time or not—

Wait.
She was a dragon?!
...Then she’s stupidly strong, isn’t she?

Just like in most fantasy worlds, dragons in Demon Hunter lore were apex beings.
Before the Empire liberated humans and demi-humans, dragons had ruled the Old Continent.
So they weren’t exactly loved.

Rule always left behind blood and violence.
That was probably why Shiona kept her true identity hidden and usually walked around in human form.
“The situation was urgent, you see. And everyone here is someone His Grace trusts, so...”

Shiona offered a sheepish smile.
Even in full dragon form, she somehow managed to visibly express it. Which was… impressive.
“There are some guests coming who are even more pain-in-the-ass than demonic beasts—excuse me. Very important guests, I mean. I need to escort you right away.”

...Huh.
Who the hell could she be talking about, that she’d casually drop a bombshell like this?
But the moment she continued speaking, everything made sense.

“The First Prince and the Second Princess are on their way here.”
“⋯⋯.”
“They said they’d like to speak with you all about this incident.”

...Yeah.
Carlyle had to agree:
They were worse than magical beasts.
[System Message]

▶ Trait [Hero’s Companion] has activated.
▶ Portions of the [Rehabilitation List] have been updated!
[★ Arrogance 80% → 70%]
▶ Rewards have been distributed!
▶ Check the Trait Tab for details!

[System Message]
▶ Event [Secret Meeting with the Hero] has been added.
▶ A relationship route between [Holy Sword] and [Hero] may now be generated!