Episode9(S1-3)：THE RELIC SWORD

“Why don't you use this sword? Even though it is a piece, it is made of The Dragon's horn. Then it must possess a reasonable amount of power.”

“It doesn't use it for me.”

Quon receives the sword from Alpina. He then tries to cut both sides of the rolled straw set up for test cutting. The straw, however, did not budge, and was bounced off the ground as if it had been cut from a rock.

Seeing this, Alpina laughs inside, although she does not say it aloud. And she fills her mind with deeply moving memories of a time when Vernard was once alive.

Stubborn as ever, Vernard. Even if it's just a piece, can't he bend your will?

“The Dragon chooses the master. That criterion isn't always strength, though. Apparently, you're not a good fit to be the master of that sword.”

Alpina borrows the sword from Quon and channels magical power into it. She is also not originally recognized as the master of that sword, but she twists his will with her magical powers to force him to obey her. And when she lightly swung the sword, the straw would lightly fall off like a flower in the wind.

“So that's the true power.”

“Now that's just my magical power forcing it to obey me. Probably only half the power.”

Well," says Alpina, concentrating her magical power in her one hand. When she holds out her hand, a jet-black hole opens in the space and her hand is sucked into it. And when she withdrew her hand, it was holding a disproportionately long sword in her small hand.

“Quon. You could use this.”

Quon receives it from Alpina and pulls it out of its sheath to observe the details. The shining silver colored blade of the sword is unusually light, contrary to its appearance. At the same time, however, it also seemed to have more than enough weight to transmit power. The handle is large, as if it had been prepared for him, and even though it is the first time he has held it, he feels as if he has been using it for many years.

“Is this ......?”

“This is The Relic Sword, called Zirnia. Like this dragonic sword, it was made of The Dragon's horn. However, unlike this sword, which is partially made of horn, this one is made of The Dragon's horn itself transformed into a sword. It is more difficult to handle, but when it is obeyed, its effectiveness will be exceptional. You should be able to master this sword.”

Quon swings its sword. He didn't need any power. The scrolls were cut in two with a natural feeling as if the sword was autonomous according to Quon's will.

“This is great.”

“It is a precious sword that I must never lose, even at the cost of my life. You keep it.”

Quon is momentarily taken aback by this casual remark, but quickly regains his composure and try to returns the sword to Alpina. He had no confidence that he had the nerve to be brazen enough to use something more important than life. However, Alpina walks to the center of the workshop without regard for Quon's mental state. She uses her magical powers to drive the furniture accessories into the corner of the room and turns to face Quon once again.

“What are you going to do?”

“You don't want to waste time, do you? It is a bit forced, but I will draw out my magical power that flowed into your soul as a result of the contract. It is also a training ground for fighting the Sacred Beasts. Come at me with everything you've got.”

Magical power is the inherent power that makes The Devil The Devil. Naturally,The Human who is only The Human Child cannot have it. However, the loophole that breaks that law is the contract. The transfer of magical power associated with the contract allows The Human Child to exercise temporary magic.

Alpina's entire body overflows with high-density magical power. Quon's brain, which cannot recognize it as magical power, processes it as pure intimidation. Yet, for Quon, it is overwhelmingly frightening. Where does such cold terror dwell in a dainty, petite girl? Once again, Quon is forced to recognize that she is truly The Devil.

“...... Okay, I've got it. Then let's get to it, Alpina!”

Quon kicks the floor. He grabs The Relic Sword he just received and slashes at her. But no matter how hard he attacked, no matter how quickly he slashed, neither Alpina's cool-headed chemistry nor her arrogant posture could be broken. Quon is humiliated to the point that he has to wonder abhorrently where she gets so much strength from her petite physique.

“Tsk, you're a beast. ......”

“Not bad for The Human Child. But it's just not far enough for me yet.”

In fact, Quon's abilities had already transcended The Human Child. He had already reduced the magical power poured from Alpina as his own and was unconsciously circulating it in his body. He unknowingly revealed it and broke the barrier as The Human Child. But even so, it is still only at the level of The Human Child, a wall of separation between the contractor and the contractee.

As expected, Quon. You are far beyond my imagination. It was worth the effort to search this far.

The attack between Alpina and Quon continues late into the night. From the depths of the village ruins, where people had disappeared and silence reigned, there was a fervor of resolve and determination.

At the time when the night's mail falls to the ground and a serene darkness dominates the land, Alpina stands alone on the roof of workshop. A soft cold wind blows, shaking her glossy-black colored hair and clothes. The stars are full in the evening darkness and reflected in her big sapphire-blue colored eyes, like a cat's.

Inside the workshop, an exhausted Quon was enjoying his last good night's sleep, dreamily reminiscing about the decades of memories with the master who had protected and nurtured him.

Alpina's sapphire-blue colored eyes turn to gold colored magical eyes as she looks out over the kingdom. Strong forces, unobservable to the ordinary eye, pervade all parts of the kingdom. It is called holy power. If magical power is what makes The Devil The Devil, then holy power is what makes The Angel The Angel. That is, it is proof that The Angel have descended to this The Earthly Realm.

Among them, there are five places where the holy power is particularly strong. It is observed in The Royal Capital and at the back of the city, which is centered on it and advanced in four directions: east, west, north, and south.

“I see. But still, eternal and ephemeral ...... It's a wonderful thing, the power of fate.”

Alpina then releases the same magical power. As if to notice the owner of that holy power, as if to show that she is returning for the first time in 10,000 years without hesitation. And, as if in reply, an equal amount of holy power gushes forth from The Royal Capital. Alpina detects it and the corners of her mouth involuntarily turn up.

So the other side has noticed my presence, too. Now, let's start the revenge fight.

Her pretty sapphire-blue colored eyes gleamed sharply as she looked at her nemesis, who existed beyond the plains.

【Masomra, The Kingdom of Prerahar, June 9, E.C. 1657. 】

The morning sun rises and clear, sunny skies fill the land. The flowers and grasses grow tall and cheerful, and the morning birds hum lightly.

Quon prepares himself and says a fond farewell to the house where he lived with his master. He then nodded to Alpina with a somewhat refreshed look on his face. She crosses her feet as she sits on the eaves of the doorway. She looked down at Quon below her with her cheekbones, but took in his determined and determined eyes.

“So where are we going now? Since it's you. You must have some guesses, right?”

Quon, whose destination is completely unknown, simply and genuinely asks Alpina.

“The Kingdom of Prerahar has developed towns in the four directions of east, west, south, and north, centered on The Royal Capital, right? We need to go to those towns, but first we will head west. Since the terrain has changed so much from the times I know, we'll have to gather information by hand from there.”

Alpina floats in the air and Quon straddles Da Darg. The metallic, inorganic body surface returns a dull glow in the morning sunlight. Quon grips the reins and Da Darg begins to run quietly. He accelerates from a regular walk to a fast walk to a canter, and the sound of the wind breaking constantly stands in his ear. Overhead, Alpina flies gracefully and daintily, flying alongside innocent wild birds. From the outside, she looks graceful and almost like The Angel.