The youkai sword, which had been quite talk-active just moments ago, had now grown completely silent. However, I couldn't just cool off and put it back in the souvenir shop. So, reluctantly, I drew the sword from its sheath.
"Hey, enough with the pretending to sleep. Wake up already."
'Shut up, kid. Who are you?'
The voice didn't manifest as sound but resonated directly in my head. While I've encountered intelligent weapons in Asteris, I never expected to find one on Earth.
Back in Asteris, such weapons were typically crafted by heroic-level magician. So, the existence of a magician capable of doing the same on Earth intrigued me.
Nevertheless, this sword seemed to lack a sense of place.
I manifested a partial suit of armor on my arm using magic power and grabbed the hilt and blade of the sword.
"If you have no intention of cooperating, then our conversation is over."
'Kid, what are you trying to do? Cease this at once!'
Cease it just because it asked? I'd rather turn this annoyance into scrap metal before it inconveniences anyone else.
I forcefully bent the grasped blade. It screeched as steel groaned, and the edge crumpled in my hand. Simultaneously, another scream echoed.
'Wait, wait, wait! Stop, kid!'
"Rejected."
'Are you really a human?! No onmyoji I've known would dare such recklessness!'
Onmyoji, huh? So this youkai sword might have some history with them. If Kuroi-san's story was true, this thing could be an incredibly knowledgeable living human, though I wasn't sure if they were still alive.
Thinking about that wasn't getting me anywhere. I grabbed the blade again, and the next words made my hand freeze.
"Kid, by any chance, are you a demon (mazoku)?"
――What?
I unintentionally released my grip and stared at the blade.
As for the youkai sword, it appeared shocked by my reaction. Words didn't come, creating an awkward silence.
"What did you just say?"
'Are you really a human?'
"After that..."
'Are you a demon (mazoku)?'
I hadn't misheard. Why would a word like "demon (mazoku)" come out of a youkai sword on Earth? If old Japan had demons (mazoku) like this, there should be more remnants of the term.
No use pondering it any further. I firmly grasped the blade again and spoke gently.
'Hey kid, why are you holding the blade again?'
"Listen here, if you're not going to answer my questions honestly, I'll break you."
'Are you threatening me?'
Damn right I am. The least it could do is be thankful I won't break it without further questioning.
"Have you ever heard of the word 'Asteris'?"
This time, the blade was the one left stunned. Its magic power fluttered in apparent agitation, indicating its surprise.
It was basically a response that confirmed my suspicions. This youkai sword knew about Asteris.
"How does a youkai sword like you know about Asteris? Did some drift object carry you here, or perhaps there was a human from Asteris who wielded you in the past?"
I had never seen a Japanese sword before in Asteris, so it was more likely the latter.
However, in an unexpected twist, the youkai sword spoke heavily.
'You misunderstand, kid. I am not a sword. I am Segara Takaomi, a human.'
"What?"
'Why you know about Asteris is indeed curious, but the fact remains that I lost. I shall share our story, young one.'
The youkai sword began to speak without waiting for me to inquire further. Amidst the silence of the night, far from the clamor of the Literary Club, it wove a tale that transcended hundreds of years—a tale of twin siblings who had been entangled by the threads of fate.
* * *
'We were born in a human village near the border of demons and humans. My younger brother and I were twins, and from the moment we were born, we endured severe persecution.'
"Because you were twins?"
'No, it was because my younger brother and I were mixed-blood, born from the union of humans and demons.'
"..."
Honestly, it's hard to believe that humans and demons could have offspring together. Even Matsuda becoming a real human seems more plausible.
'I know It's impossible. But impossible things were happening to us. Our mother was a human, and our father, who I've never seen, was a demon.'
"If you've never seen your father, there's no certainty."
'Unfortunately, there was evidence. My younger brother strongly inherited the demon blood. It was obvious to anyone.'
I see. In that case, there's no room for doubt.
Unlike humans, demons have significant physical variations between individuals. Some look almost human, like Jillzack Luiid, while others have appearances vastly different from humans.
However, all demons have one distinct characteristic that sets them apart from humans.
That's their magic power.
In terms of magic power quantity, humans fundamentally can't surpass demons. In magic, demons have an overwhelming advantage from birth.
However, they have their drawbacks, like being individualistic, struggling with group dynamics, and having lower reproductive rates. It's not as simple as saying one is superior to the other. Otherwise, humans would have been wiped out long ago.
It's likely that the younger brother of this youkai sword had an unusually high amount of magic power.
'Where we lived was hell. Just walking down the street, we'd get stones thrown at us, get beaten, and endure endless abuse. We hated our mother for giving birth to us and our father for disappearing. Everything seemed shrouded in a dark fog. But the reason we survived was that everyone feared our father's retaliation.'
The deep, somber voice painted a vivid picture in the quiet room. The hurling of blood-spitting insults, the senseless violence—it was as if I could feel it all firsthand.
Is this imagery reaching me directly?
Fragments of memories etched into the youkai sword seemed to fall and shatter within me.
'At that time, our mother passed away from illness. Still, our father didn't show up, and the villagers, deciding he had no interest, attempted to kill us. That's when we barely managed to escape for our lives——'
The youkai sword paused its words as if to verify the truth.
'Before I knew it, we were being nursed back to health in this world.'
"..."
It's probably the truth.
It was a hard-to-believe story, but there was a genuine weight to the youkai sword's words. It wasn't about the accuracy of the information; there was a depth that could never be achieved with a mere fabrication.
'We were saved by a couple from the farming village. They had a daughter. Their eldest son had died when he was young, so they treated us like their real children.'
The story continued.
'Nobody persecuted us anymore. Life was tough, but that alone made us happy. Over time, my brother fell in love with their daughter, and they promised to become a couple.'
The youkai sword hesitated for a moment, as if bracing itself. Perhaps it was my imagination, but the blade seemed to tremble.
'However, happiness didn't last. Some fallen warriors who had been defeated in some battle raided the village. Many heavily armed individuals. We tried to resist, but our strength couldn't match theirs, and everything was plundered. Among the spoils―—"
I didn't need to hear it to know the outcome. Still, he didn't stop the story, and the youkai sword had no intention of running away from that reality.
'Among the spoils was the couple's daughter.'
"...I see."
'Fortunately or unfortunately, our bodies were tough, and we survived despite our wounds. But from that day on, my little brother awakened to magic and became a demon. A demon that kills warriors, or rather those who have power.'
Emotion-driven. It was probably immense anger and hatred that had triggered his magic.
With such power, he could have protected his wife. But the power awakened after everything was already over, which added a cruel twist to the irony.
'I also felt anger and resentment towards the injustice of it all. But he was the only flesh-and-blood family I had left in this world. I couldn't bear to leave my brother, who had fallen into the path of demons, alone. So, I made up my mind to send him on his way with my own hands.'
The more I hear, the more it becomes a story without redemption.
'I myself awakened to magic and pursued my brother, but it ended in failure. My brother had awakened to his power as a demon, and I was powerless, easily defeated. With my legs severed, I couldn't even pursue him, and in the end, I was told that a renowned onmyoji had sealed my brother.'
'Nobody could kill my brother. Even as life faded away, his grudge remained, and the years passed countless times. Possessing this blade through magic, I couldn't even meet my brother, and I fell into a deep slumber. But just these past few days, something deep within me surfaced. We are twins, and if I woke up, it meant my brother's consciousness was beginning to awaken too.'
I see, I've got the gist of the story.
"So, you intended to use me to kill your brother?"
'That's correct. Involving others in our feud troubles me, but this body, as you can see, is too blunt to hurt anyone alone. Please, kid, can you lend me your strength?'
"...Hmm."
I understand the situation now. If that's the reason, I'll let the sudden takeover slide. But I have no obligation to assist in dealing with his brother. After all, I'm in the midst of the God-Demon War.
"In that case, I'll introduce you to some acquaintances of mine, exorcists—no, onmyoji. They should be more knowledgeable about youkai and supernatural beings, and I'm clueless about handling a sword."
If I tell Kagami-san, I'm sure she'll arrange things favorably. Leaving this to the experts is probably the best course of action, especially considering there might be significant damage if left unchecked.
However, the youkai sword seemed to panic.
'This is no time for that! Over the past few days, I've felt several magic power fluctuations approaching my brother. Those are demons. If strong individuals like them get close to him, he'll awaken immediately. The pent-up grudge that has settled over the centuries—do you have any idea how much havoc it could wreak?'
"Magic power fluctuations... What exactly—"
Wait.
Is it because the demons got closer that the demon woke up, or did it wake up, and that's why the magic power got closer?
What was I thinking just now? If I leave things be, significant damage might occur, and there are experts to handle it.
Tsukiko's image crossed my mind.
"Oh."
All the questions that had been bothering me so much seemed to connect into a single thread. Tsukiko's sudden cancellation of the training camp. If demons awakened, and the exorcists were mobilizing, there was no time for a training camp.
There's no concrete proof.
But thinking this way makes sense.
'What's wrong, kid?'
"Ah, it's nothing."
Change your perspective.
If Tsukiko is going to confront the demon, it's the best outcome. I was planning to leave it to the exorcists from the beginning, so this just eliminates some intermediate steps.
I've only seen Tsukiko briefly, but among the local magicians, she's top-tier. She's better than me at handling magic power, and her understanding of magic is high. Even if the brother turned into a demon, over these years, his physical body should have perished. Even if he's one of Asteris's demons, in his current state as a spiritual entity, he shouldn't be a match for anyone.
But a foreboding sensation, like a spreading cloud of darkness, continued to gnaw at my chest.
Normally, sealed spirits would weaken and deteriorate over time. But if, as this youkai sword claimed, it was an unchanging grudge that had lasted for centuries...
It's impossible. I'm overthinking it.
That's what I told myself, but the unpleasant premonition didn't fade away.
It's the same as when I met Hinata earlier. I'm usually right about these bad premonitions.
If I were in a position with no ties, I'd...
But it's different now.
I have decided to fight in the God-Demon War with Lisha's life on my shoulders. It would be incredibly uncaring to leave Lisha and the others to go help Tsukiko.
Taking her along? No, it's obvious that this incident has nothing to do with the God-Demon War. I can't drag her around due to my circumstances, and it would be too suspicious.
I thought first as long as 'My True Name' is active, no one would recognize me as a silver knight.
But it's not guaranteed.
By connecting the pieces of circumstantial evidence, one could speculate that the knight and I are the same person. Someone as skilled as Tsukiko would surely have doubts, and somewhere along the line, she might uncover my concealment ability.
That's what I want to avoid.
"..."
But why should I care?
Even if worst comes to worst and I'm exposed, it shouldn't be a problem. Tsukiko and I aren't involved anymore, and if anything, knowing my true identity should make coordination in the God-Demon War smoother.
I understand it logically. I should understand it, but my heart was screaming in refusal.
Ah, that's right.
I can't help it; I just don't want Tsukiko to know about Hero's (my) past.
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