After returning from the beach, the members of the literary club wasted no time in starting a drinking party, showing no signs of remorse for their earlier misadventures. They drank and made merry as if trying to burn the last embers of their retreat to the ground.
Normally, I would have joined in, drinking and carousing with Souji and Matsuda. However, today, I couldn't muster the mood for it. The reason was clear: I couldn't forget the look in Hinata's eyes.
I thought I had become accustomed to being feared, but the gaze Hinata directed at me shook my heart more than I had imagined. With me around, Hinata wouldn't be able to truly enjoy herself. It was for such a trivial reason that I found myself brooding alone in my room.
The sound of a knock on the door came just as the tea I had brewed had grown cold.
"Yes, yes, it's open."
Since there was a knock, it was likely Lisha or Kanami visiting. Perhaps they were concerned about me.
However, to my surprise, the unexpected visitor who entered was Kuroi-san, dressed in a yukata.
"Oh, uh, come in."
She was wearing something other than her usual all-black outfit, so I didn't recognize her at first. In fact, the fact that this girl had come to visit me was completely unexpected.
"What's up? The drinking party is still going on, isn't it?"
"Yes, it seems like it will continue for a while."
"Then why are you here?"
I asked, and Kuroi-san flashed a somewhat troubled smile.
"Well, it seemed like both Hinata-san and Yamamoto-san were acting strangely, so I thought maybe something had happened."
I see. She's quite observant, this Kuroi-san.
However, I couldn't just go ahead and tell her about today's incident on my own.
"No, it's nothing like that. We're not fighting or anything, so you don't need to worry."
"Is that so? Well, that's a relief."
"Thank you for being concerned."
She must have heard some of the circumstances from Hinata, which is why she came to check up on me. She's a good girld, as long as it doesn't involve horror.
"If that's the case, then this wasn't necessary."
"This?"
I had no idea what she was talking about until Kuroi-san brought out something she had been hiding behind her back.
I was genuinely surprised.
What Kuroi-san had hidden was a Japanese sword sheathed in its scabbard.
Moreover, it was quite an antique piece. The handle was worn, and most of the metal fittings were rusted. There was no way this could be unsheathed.
"What... is this?"
"Well, if Yamamoto-san seems a bit down, I thought this might cheer you up."
"With this?"
"Yes."
I don't quite understand. I can see the good intentions, but expecting my spirits to be lifted by looking at this rusty sword is a bit hard to fathom.
"What's the deal with this?"
It's clearly not something that would typically appear during the Literature Club's camp. It's way too old, and it exudes an odd sense of intimidation. Could it be that this isn't a replica sword but an actual one?
Kuroi-san's face brightened up, and she began to speak with great enthusiasm.
"Please listen. I found it at an antique shop when I went to buy souvenirs with everyone. It's a genuine Japanese sword that dates back to the Muromachi era!"
"R-really?"
The Muromachi era? That's about five to six hundred years ago, right? It's surprising that a sword from such an ancient time is still in existence.
"Did Kuroi-san have a thing for swords?"
"It's not that I like swords themselves, but this sword is said to be a youkai sword with all sorts of stories attached to it."
Ah, I see. So it's one of those, this Yamamoto understands now.
Finally comprehending the situation, Kuroi-san continued speaking, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"And there are stories like the person who unsheathes the blade will have their consciousness taken over by the sword, or it will never break, or it will move on its own to seek blood. There are so many legends associated with it!"
What a collection of curses and legends. She must be completely deceived.
"I thought that surely, Yamamoto-san would understand this romance. I don't know much about Japanese swords, but with your deep knowledge of weapons, I hoped you'd appreciate it."
"Oh, thanks."
I think Kuroi-san is referring to the descriptions of weapons in my writing. Unfortunately, my expertise is limited to weapons from another world, so Japanese swords are outside my jurisdiction.
But it would be impolite to say that to Kuroi-san, who looks so delighted.
Or maybe she just wanted to talk about swords?
"I haven't tried it yet, but can a sword like this be drawn even with my abilities?"
"I think that's impossible, Kuroi-san."
Ordinary swords might be possible, but this sword is clearly solidified with rust. It would be difficult to draw it even for Kuroi-san. They probably sold it here with the same feeling as a wooden sword.
"I see... I wanted to try being possessed by it, like in the stories."
"That dream is a bit too niche."
Kuroi-san said with a disappointed tone, but it seemed she couldn't give up on it.
Then, with her feeble hands, she grabbed the hilt and exerted force. Suddenly, the brim of the sword made a sound.
"Huh?"
It was unmistakably the sound of a blade being unsheathed.
From the scabbard emerged a blade gleaming with a dull color, and overflowing from it was――a wave of magic power.
Before I could even react in astonishment, Kuroi-san, still holding the hilt, opened her mouth.
"Oh, it's been a while since I felt this sensation."
With a delicate voice, her tone was a severe mismatch with that of a raspy old man. Her open eyes lost their light, and magic power enveloped her like a serpent around her delicate frame.
Clearly, Kuroi-san was not in a normal state. She let out a whooshing sound as she effortlessly released the sword from her grip.
The blade, now revealed under the fluorescent light, was heavily damaged, but it was undeniably a real sword. She waved it with one hand, cutting through the air.
Wait a minute, is this actually a youkai sword? She's completely taken over by it.
With the sword still pointed at me, controlled by something that had possessed Kuroi-san, she spoke.
"Spare me, kid. Meeting me here was your destiny. I'll return this girl's body. In exchange, kid, I'll take you."
"..."
The youkai sword specifically wants to switch into my body?
A weapon with intelligence is quite unusual. Since the body is a sword, the wielder's physical abilities become crucial.
"What if I refuse?"
"If you refuse, you'll have to endure a bit of pain."
While keeping the blade pointed at me, Kuroi-san, possessed by something, said with a sharp gaze.
The magic power enveloping her like armor, her hair waving, was not like anything I had encountered on Earth—spirits or youkai. Kuroi-san was clearly in an abnormal state.
I can't afford to harm Kuroi-san right now.
"Fine. But promise me not to do anything strange in her body."
"You're very understanding. Don't worry, I won't use it against her."
The youkai sword reversed its own blade and turned the hilt toward me. Once I grabbed it, I would also be possessed like Kuroi-san.
"You were talking about fate earlier, weren't you?"
"What?"
I gripped the hilt. At the same time, I circulated my own magic power throughout my body.
"If that's the case, then meeting you must be your bad luck."
Immediately, the magic power that had possessed Kuroi-san flowed into me through the sword.
It was like a beast trying to reverse its veins and devour my heart and brain.
"Enough with your nonsense, kid!"
The amount of magic power, truly befitting the name of a youkai sword, tried to take over my consciousness. The very existence of this item, and how it had come into being, was astonishing.
And the tremendous thoughts that flowed through the magic power were just as incredible. The power of magic changes through the stimulation of emotions. It was surprising to find such strong emotions residing in a tool.
But the opponent had chosen poorly.
"――!"
I squeezed the hilt as if to shatter it, and my magic power, like emerald light, burst through my arm, creating fireworks that scattered and disappeared.
The struggle lasted only for a moment.
The emerald crushed and trampled the sword's magic power.
"What are you doing, kid? What in the world!"
Even the panicked voice was swallowed up as the emerald pressed on. It flowed through the hilt, enveloping the blade and subduing everything in its path.
There was no longer any room for the sword to voice its thoughts. It struggled with all its magic power to resist, but it was clear to both of us that it was a futile endeavor.
Suddenly, it came to an end.
My emerald magic completely overwhelmed the sword's magic power. The magic power that had controlled Kuroi-san was exhausted, and Kuroi-san's body lost its strength, collapsing.
"Oops."
I managed to support her just before she fell. Her weight was as light as it appeared. I checked her face, and she was breathing calmly, apparently just asleep.
Thank goodness. It looked like she was about to change from a spiritual college student to a sword enthusiast college student if I had not done so.
For now, I laid Kuroi-san down in the corner of the room with a futon. If someone else came, I could say she got drunk and fell asleep.
Now then...
"The question is, what to do with you."
The completely subdued youkai sword remained quietly on the desk, offering no answer to the question.
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