I’ll Use a Reverse-Edged Sword

Knock knock
“Come in”
As I knocked on the door of father’s office, I took a deep breath.
How long has it been?
After requesting a private audience with father, I did my best to calm my wildly beating heart.
Even after remembering that this world is the world inside the novel I created,
and that I myself am a concept-driven character created by my original self,
it seemed impossible for me as a person to change completely in an instant.
And for good reason,
My past life, or should I say my original life?
I lived for 20 years without remembering that life at all.
Those 20 years were
memories powerful enough to prevent me from instantly shaking off the sense of reality that this world’s life gives me.

“Yes, I heard you requested a private audience, so I made time right away. It’s been quite a while since we’ve talked like this, just the two of us.”
“Yes, thank you for accepting my request, Father”
Perhaps because Andrew, Adrian, sister Christina, and Lady Cordelia were not around…
Somehow, calling him ‘Father’ felt much more comfortable than usual.

“So, what is it you want to say?”
“I have a request to make.”
“A request… To think the day would come when you, Eden, would make a request of me, I’m quite curious about the content”
“That… reverse… no, the sword you received from Viscount Eckart. Could you not give that sword to me?”

……
The air in the office sinks coldly.
I could feel father’s eyes, which had been examining my face with an interested expression, gradually becoming heavier and deeper.

Tap
Tap tap
Father’s hand, which had been tapping the desk for quite a while showing signs of discomfort, points towards the bookshelf on the left wall.
“Do you mean that cursed thing?”
Following father’s gesture, I saw the reverse-edged sword placed, no, thrown aside next to the bookshelf.

“Yes, that’s right.”
“Why do you covet that cursed thing?”
“Just… it’s hard to explain, but because my heart is drawn to it.”
“Your heart is drawn… your heart… Eden, don’t you know what that sword means? Earlier, in the dining room, because your demeanor was unusual, I didn’t point it out separately… but you weren’t listening to what I was saying.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not trying to scold you now. I just want to let you know about the insulting symbolism that cursed thing carries.”
“Seeing how you’ve left it neglected like that, I thought it was something you were going to throw away anyway. Besides, wouldn’t you feel a bit more at ease if that sword was out of your sight, Father?”

“Hmm… That’s just your short-sighted thinking. I plan to keep that cursed thing always in sight and never forget this feeling of humiliation. I mean to strengthen my will of bitter resentment while looking at that cursed thing filled with Eckart’s mockery and warning.”
“I’ve heard that every sword has its own owner.”
“Are you trying to say that you’re the owner of that cursed thing?”
“…That’s what I’m asking to confirm, by wanting to carry it on my person.”
“Denied.”

I couldn’t help but be flustered by father’s firm answer.
I must have thought too lightly of it.
I didn’t think he wouldn’t give me the reverse-edged sword that he hates to even look at.
No, logically speaking,
if this world is the world inside the novel, and I, the protagonist, am a concept-driven character who’s a master of the reverse-edged sword,
does it make sense that I can’t get my hands on the reverse-edged sword?

I rack my brains and once again look straight into father’s eyes.
Although he’s so terrifying to me that my legs are trembling…
It was a situation where I couldn’t back down either.
To avoid revealing my trembling heart, I spoke again in a rather calm tone, filled with gravity.

“Father. Have I ever asked you for anything before?”
“No, you haven’t. Eden, you’ve never asked me for even the smallest thing. You were a child with a strong sense of independence, always trying to solve problems and move forward on your own. Although you never showed good results in anything and only caused trouble.”
“Ahem…”
My serious concept almost faltered at father’s comment, which I couldn’t tell was praise or criticism.

“Then, have I ever poured out resentment towards you, Father?”
“Hmm… hmm hmm… That also hasn’t happened”
This time there was no additional comment.
Even as a father, he must have known about the hardships I’ve been through.
Even if I’m a child he doesn’t care for,
as a person, he couldn’t be completely without feelings of regret.

“So just this once, for the first and last time, I ask that you grant my request. Please give me that sword. Within a set time… I will get engaged to merchant Wydro’s daughter and leave for the academy.”

It was my last card.
Of course, I had no intention of actually marrying Wydro’s daughter,
but right now, I was in a situation where I had to move forward by any means necessary.
I planned to get my hands on the reverse-edged sword befitting my concept character,
and go to the academy full of learning opportunities.
Although it was clear that this world was the world inside the novel I was writing, I couldn’t remember the plot at all.
Then, what should I do?
Isn’t the answer to face head-on the incidents, accidents, and trials that come my way, and continuously develop and grow?
After all, novels are meant to have an ending.
I had already resolved to safely progress to the ending.

“Hmm… Your obsession with that cursed thing seems quite serious… However, as a father-”
“Father! Not even once! Have you ever properly played the role of a father to me!”
Father seemed quite surprised by my sudden outburst.
Realizing this was a moment I needed to push, I raised my voice in front of father for the first time in my life.
‘Just give me the reverse-edged sword already…’
Being born as a concept-driven character, it was an inexplicable ordeal.

“Today… you’re really different from your usual self, Eden. As if you’ve become a completely different person overnight”
“……”
Even though I had regained some memories, I thought I hadn’t changed much from my usual self
But it seemed others didn’t see it that way.
Yes, suddenly I had an attachment to a sword, a life goal had appeared, and I had questions that needed answering.
Of course, I couldn’t be exactly the same as before…

“Do you see that pattern engraved on the scabbard of that cursed thing?”
“Yes. I can see our family’s, Castillo’s crest and… Eckart’s crest together…”
“That’s right. That sword is destined to catch the eye wherever it goes and inevitably reveal its underlying symbolism to the world. If you take that cursed thing to the academy and swing it around, causing trouble and being disgraced as you always do, the name of our Castillo family will be tarnished beyond repair.”
“I won’t let that happen.”
“I can’t trust you.”
“Then, I’ll prove it. I’ll prove that even if I carry that sword, it won’t bring shame to the family name.”

Father’s eyes began to shine with a different light.
“How do you intend to prove it?”
For some reason, his eyes were constantly sparkling, filled with expectation.
“Earlier in the dining room, I saw your movement avoiding Andrew’s hand. Have you been hiding your skills all this time?”
“That’s not… well, something like that…”
Father looked at me suspiciously as I hurriedly changed my words.

“Could you formally duel with Andrew while wielding that sword? Even if you don’t necessarily win, if you don’t show a pathetic performance… I’ll consider transferring the ownership of that sword to you. Of course, your engagement to Wydro’s daughter will happen regardless, as a matter of course.”

How many benefits was he trying to secure from one sitting
Regardless of the outcome, he had already established my engagement, which was his original intention, as a fait accompli, and created an opportunity for Andrew, who was in a foul mood after being humiliated, to feel better.
On top of that, not transferring ownership, but considering it?
Doesn’t that mean he could change his mind?
Is father not the invincible swordsman Marquis of the border with no mercy, but actually more suited to be a politician or a merchant…

I buried these useless thoughts and left the office after agreeing to his proposal.
At this moment, I had no choice.
To proactively unfold the life of this concept-driven character in the novel,
obtaining the reverse-edged sword, which would be the first step, was unavoidable.

“Eden! Eden!”
Raymond was calling out to me, running from far away.
“Eden! There’s a rumor spreading in the castle that you’re going to duel with Young Master Andrew while holding some strange sword, it’s not true, right? Some cursed thing from the Eckart family- Eek!”
Raymond, who was about to pour out his curiosity, screamed in surprise when he saw the reverse-edged sword in my hand.

“Is… is this that…?”
“Yeah, that’s right. It’s the sword that will soon be mine.”
“No, why would you have an official duel with Young Master Andrew over this thing? Don’t you know Young Master Andrew’s skills? There aren’t even ten people in our knight order who can match Young Master Andrew”
“Well… I’m not particularly worried”

Drawing the reverse-edged sword once again, I could be certain.
It’s different.
I, holding the reverse-edged sword, was not the ‘Eden’ who had lived for the past 20 years.

“I wonder if Andrew has arrived? Let’s head to the training ground too, I’ll show you something interesting”
Raymond looked somewhat amazed at me, who was holding the strange sword with a confident expression.

As the promised time for the duel approached, Raymond and I headed straight to the training ground.