Chapter 52: The Demon Sword’s Declaration

It was then. His dark eyes, once clouded, suddenly ignited, emitting an inexplicable light.

“…I can’t believe such a method exists. I wonder why it never occurred to me until now.”

Looking down at Lady Elina I, blinking through tearful eyes, Diches smiled in a sinister manner.

“I suppose I should lend a hand.”

While everyone else was already at work training in swordsmanship, Lara Schmord—arriving an hour late at the Knight Order practice field—attended roll call for the first time in ages. Even though she works in sales, she remains a knight at heart.

The atmosphere was hushed, as though a major announcement was impending. When the Company Commander eventually ascended the podium, Lara immediately understood why.

“I shall now call upon the knights who achieved the highest scores in the promotion exam. Those named, please step forward: Sir Philip, Sir Tullius, and Sir Edgar III.”

“Ooooh…”

Despite past tensions with Lady Elina III, Lara sincerely congratulated the honorees.

“And Sir Lawrence, please come forward.”

“No way!!”

At the piercing shout, all eyes turned to Lara. She dismissed it with a wave, though her gaze never left her older brother ascending the podium.

“These are the final four knights who excelled in the promotion exam. As previously announced, they’ve earned automatic entry to this month’s swordsmanship tournament.”

“Geez! They get to compete in a tournament, and what about you?”

Lara clutched the hilt of her sword, feeling deeply embarrassed. It wasn’t until after roll call, back in the sales department, that she released her grip—and at that moment, the Demon Sword began to spout words in a strange dialect.

“Really! In a swordsmanship tournament, there should be a Demon Sword on display—not some mundane implement like a kitchen knife!”

At God’s voice, Lara rested her chin in her hand, lost in thought. Clearly, such clichés were indeed necessary.

“Demon Sword? It’s hardly a sword—it might as well be a kitchen knife.”

“Really! Have you finished talking already?!”

“I might drop it in a cooking contest, but not in a swordsmanship tournament watched by the entire Empire. If Lady Elina III ends up humiliated…”

“Really! Why can’t you trust me at all?!”

Still stinging from a past misunderstanding with Lady Elina III, Lara nevertheless couldn’t let her friend suffer unjustly.

‘Really…?’

‘But…’

‘Ah, of course. Being the protagonist, she’ll win—if we follow the cliché.’

Ignoring the trailing babble, Lara rose from her seat. God chided her for her sudden movement, but she simply stepped into the corridor and entered the restroom.

“Hey!! I’m the Demon Sword, you know! Do you take me for a joke or what?!”

“Quiet down, will you?”

Lara propped the Demon Sword against the restroom door and hurried inside. About a minute later, a group of knights, fresh from training, swarmed toward the bathroom.

They’d all held it in for over three hours. Breaking through fierce competition, Lady Elina III, leading from the front, discovered the sword leaning against the bathroom door.

“Why is the sword here…?”

The moment Lady Elina III grasped the sword, it felt as though an immense, gravity-like force was binding her hand. The more she tried to free it, the more the hilt clung to her skin.

“Human, become my vessel. I am Adiosa Rune Crimaotor, the Demon Sword that feeds on human grudges and hatred.”

A chilling, indistinct voice emanated from somewhere. Lady Elina III glanced around before focusing on her hand. The voice was undeniably coming from the sword. As she set her jaw, the knights murmured in astonishment behind her.

“What’s going on? What’s happening, Edgar III?”

“It seems to be in danger.”

“Hey, you inside! Come out now!”

As the knights hurled jeers at the restroom door, Lara calmly emerged, shaking the water from her hands.

“Huh? The Demon Sword…”

Sure enough, the Demon Sword that had been left by the door was gone. As they searched, Lady Elina III dashed inside as if she’d been waiting.

“How desperate can one be… Ah, but I’m in a real hurry too.”

“Please hurry up with the restroom… We’re in a rush as well.”

“Edgar III! I’m counting on you!”

The knights collectively called out toward the door. While Lara searched outside for the Demon Sword, barely a minute after Lady Elina III entered, the sound of flushing water was faintly heard.

Hearing this, the knights shouted, ‘We believed in you!’ with hopeful faces as they waited. Suddenly, a clanking sound arose from inside—not of the door opening, but of it being locked anew.

“My arm… It just won’t obey me.”

“What did you say, Edgar III?”

In response to a knight’s query, Lady Elina III, straining, managed to say,

“…I’m sorry, everyone. I completely lost control.”

“Something’s clearly happening in there. Hey, Edgar III!”

“Hey! Open the door already!”

“Damn it, everyone—step aside! I’m going in!”

A burly knight slammed his shoulder against the restroom door where Lady Elina III was holed up.

Normally, such force would have jarred loose a flimsy lock, but the door refused to budge. It was as if something sturdy had replaced the bolt.

“Wait a minute… This door isn’t opening?”

Just then, as a knight raised his head in confusion, a faint voice emerged from inside.

“Let go…”

Though brief, the voice conveyed a torrent of emotions, and the pained grimace on Edgar III’s face confirmed it.

“…I’m sorry, everyone. We need to find another restroom—this door won’t open. The sword is obstinately blocking it.”

“Damn it, we can’t leave you behind now! I’ll get you out soon enough.”

“No, just go!”

“Edgar III… Listen up. We’re comrades. No matter how urgent it gets, we wouldn’t abandon a teammate…”

Knowing his normally stoic nature, the knights grew anxious. They all shouted that they’d get him out if he’d just wait a moment, but the door remained unmoved.

Lara watched the scene with a peculiar expression before quietly turning away. Meanwhile, Lady Elina III strained with every ounce of strength to break free from the Demon Sword’s control.

“Please, please… just move.”

Her hand reached up to scratch the back of her palm, soon rendered raw by the effort.

After what felt like an eternity, the Demon Sword began to shift, responding to her will. Lady Elina III, panting heavily, managed to clear the sword away and open the door.

As the restroom door swung open, she saw knights sprawled in the long corridor. The sight of their soaked pants and foul odors made her momentarily recoil from reality.

Yet the noxious stench filling the corridor confirmed that this was no mere hallucination.

With a heavy heart, she knelt, absorbing the vacant expressions of her fallen comrades. Tears threatened, but instead of weeping, Lady Elina III transformed her sorrow into seething rage.

“Is this truly what you desired, Demon Sword…?”

Her eyes, bloodshot with anger, fixed on the sword clutched in her right hand.

“You’ve ruined everything for the friends I cherish… and yet I’m willing to forgive you!”

“I am the Demon Sword—a blade that feeds on human grudges and hatred… Now that my thousand-year seal is broken, I can commit even greater atrocities, targeting your family, friends, and loved ones.”

Lady Elina III slipped her remaining left hand into her bosom. When she withdrew it, a sharp dagger was in her grasp. Just as she prepared to sever her right wrist alongside the cursed Demon Sword, it trembled beneath her touch.

“If you truly wish to be free of me, prove your strength in the swordsmanship tournament! Use me!”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Prove to the world how strong you are, and I’ll willingly break away from you!”

“Are you serious?”

Lady Elina III glared fiercely, her eyes locked on the gleaming blade. If she could dislodge it from her grasp—and free herself from its curse—she would spill her blood to make it happen.

At closing time, Lara headed to the Papal Court. Although she had run away from home for several days, her family remained untroubled, not even searching for her. Even her older brother, whom she had encountered a few times at the training ground, stayed silent.

‘At least Mikhail is still around—that’s a relief.’

Although God still hadn’t discovered that she was a woman—forcing her to disguise as a man—things were a bit easier for her.