I Became the Main Character’s Demon Sword

35

After finishing their studies, Rohan naturally claimed Arpel’s embrace. It was also quite a satisfying time for Arpel, who could watch intently from a nearby bench whenever they had outdoor lessons on manifesting magical power.

“Lord Arpel.”

And at this time, Dionel, who had to stand like a screen between the embracing pair, approached Arpel. Arpel turned his gaze to him without answering.

“Do you have time, perhaps?”

His gaze briefly turned to Casia. It was so brief that only Arpel, who was facing him, noticed. After pondering for a moment, Arpel nodded in affirmation.

He followed Dionel, who went ahead. Rohan was still in his arms.

They retraced the path they had taken to come outside. The birdsong from outside gradually faded. It seemed even deeper inside than when they had entered the prayer room before.

“This is where we store the demon swords.”

Dionel said this as he stopped in front of a blocked wall. Although it appeared to be a solid wall, a faint sound of wind could be heard from inside.

“If you press this part firmly, the wall will open. It might not be a bad idea to remember this, just in case. You too, Lord Rohan.”

When he pressed the end of the nearby window frame, it sank in. At the same time, the wall began to slide back silently.

What appeared inside was a spiral staircase that seemed to lead to the upper floor. Perhaps due to the lack of glass windows, the inside lit by torches was particularly dark. As it was a space with no one but the three of them, only the sound of their footsteps climbing the stairs echoed through the long space.

After reaching the top, Dionel touched the bottom of the nearest torch. A path was created without a sound where it had been blocked.

How many times did he repeat this action? Even the path that seemed endless had an end. After passing through the final passage, a wide-open space filled their view.

Looking at the several demon swords lined up inside, Arpel thought:

‘…It’s like a museum.’

The way they were each separated in white glass boxes really made it look like a museum. It felt like being in some exhibition hall. Although it was a place with only demon swords said to contain the power of a god, it didn’t evoke any particular feeling in Arpel.

“If Lord Arpel weren’t here, Lord Rohan would have chosen one of the demon swords from this place.”

“…I don’t need anyone but Arpel.”

“We think so too.”

Rohan seemed to feel the same lack of interest. Dionel smiled as usual, seeing him just hugging Arpel without even turning his head.

“We didn’t come here to show you these demon swords. It’s because of the holy sword that Leriana brought with her when she came to the temple.”

Among the various displayed demon swords, there was a single white sword that uniquely emitted a different aura. As demon swords were generally dark in color, this sword particularly stood out.

Recently, Arpel had accepted Dionel’s proposal to form a hypothesis about the power of specters within his body.

Originally, specters are fatally damaged by holy power and magical power. However, Arpel possessed both of these opposing powers together.

Although Arpel had never experienced anything that felt threatening, he needed to consider various scenarios for the upcoming battles involving the Salvation Church and even the Emperor.

The first thing they tried was exposing him to others’ magical power.

‘I don’t feel anything in particular.’

At that time, he received help from Dionel but felt nothing special. It was just a feeling of “Oh, there’s magical power.” In the first place, magical power couldn’t harm those who possessed it.

Although it was a bit different, this applied to Arpel, who also possessed magical power.

“Holy power might be a bit different. Will you be alright?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

He tapped Rohan’s arm and put the child down on the floor. The moment Arpel approached the holy sword, Rohan grabbed him.

“What… are you doing now?”

“I want to know what my weakness is.”

“Isn’t that dangerous then?”

“Well. I’m not sure.”

The child’s head turned sharply.

“No.”

“…Huh?”

“What if it’s dangerous for Arpel? What if you get hurt?”

“…I’ll just touch it once. Let’s promise.”

“……”

“If I try it this time, I can be careful from now on. Okay?”

Arpel, who really only intended to touch it once, couldn’t imagine Rohan would stop him so vehemently. Perhaps it was a natural thought, given that he had no sense of crisis about himself.

Rohan’s eyes wavered anxiously. The hand holding Arpel alternated between losing and regaining strength.

After a moment of silence, Rohan finally nodded reluctantly.

“Really just a little, just a little bit. Okay?”

“Yes, I promise.”

Although he let go of his hand, his wavering gaze was still holding onto him, so Arpel had to move quite laboriously. It was even difficult to turn his back on the child.

Let’s just get this over with quickly. He needed to touch it once and show Rohan he was fine. As if knowing Arpel wanted to finish quickly, Dionel lifted the glass case containing the holy sword.

The moment he unhesitatingly touched the tip of the sword.

“…Ugh!”

A large amount of holy power poured through his fingertips. At the same time, it felt like his head was being shaken violently. It was as if someone was forcibly stirring his mind and turning his insides out.

Unable to withstand the shaking vision, Arpel staggered, and Dionel supported him with a surprised look.

“Lord Arpel! Are you alright?!”

He regained his senses quickly. It was just a shock that passed like lightning. Arpel nodded and pushed away Dionel’s hand, but perhaps because it was a sight he had never seen before, Dionel couldn’t let go with a worried expression.

At the end of his unconsciously turned gaze, he saw Rohan standing with a pale face.

“…Arpel.”

The child repeated his name like a sigh. His trembling voice was filled with all kinds of fear.

For Rohan, who had never seen Arpel struggle or be in pain, the scene couldn’t help but be shocking.

Arpel, who approached Rohan with steps so quick it was hard to believe he had just staggered, gently placed his hand on Rohan’s cheek, which had turned deathly pale. The warmth on his fingertips was cold.

“Rohan. I’m fine.”

Wheezing breaths escaped from his slightly parted lips. A few voice-like sounds resembling breathing came out, but even those didn’t form into words. All Arpel could do was stand by Rohan’s side with a worried expression, protecting him.

“It’s okay… It will be okay.”

Rohan, who had been motionless all along, grabbed Arpel’s hand. It was unbelievably cold for a hand that had been held just moments ago, but the grip was stronger, if anything, not weaker.

“Let’s go back. I don’t want to be here.”

“…Alright.”

Arpel obediently followed the child’s hand at the whispered words. Although Rohan looked like he might cry, Arpel found it hard to speak up, thinking that all of this was because of him.

Arpel, looking so composed it was impossible to imagine he had staggered just moments ago, seemed more worried about Rohan. Dionel, watching all of this from behind, could only wear a complicated expression.

Even without seeing them for a long time, he could tell. Arpel only cared about Rohan. This meant he didn’t pay much attention to himself either.

This was evident in how he didn’t resist when the priests tried to subdue him when he first entered the temple, how he held no grudge against Dionel for orchestrating that, and how he showed no disturbance even after staggering and complaining of pain.

Both then and now, he had no sense of crisis.

“…Haah.”

So even if Rohan looked like he might cry and comforted him, Arpel wouldn’t be able to fully understand that emotion. This was the only blind spot for these two who were blindly devoted to each other.

Dionel sighed as he watched Arpel’s retreating figure, being half-dragged by Rohan despite their clear difference in size.

He put the holy sword back in its original place and tidied up the surroundings. Unfortunately, Dionel knew well that there was nothing he could do for the two of them.

***

Rohan didn’t say anything about that day’s incident. As the child seemed to quickly get over it, Arpel also didn’t bring up the topic.

It had implicitly become a topic not to be mentioned, but Arpel thought it didn’t matter. He was satisfied just seeing that Rohan no longer showed a sad face.

What made him think something might be going wrong was Rohan’s continued eccentric behavior after that.

“Stay away.”

Rohan was the same as usual. However, in situations where Leriana and Casia got even a little close to Arpel, he would turn fierce with blazing eyes.

Rohan, who had been listening relatively well just moments before, would suddenly freeze his face and bark orders as if he were a completely different person, to the point where Leriana was startled into hiccuping.

At first, Leriana just grumbled, but she started to be very careful of Rohan’s reactions when talking to Arpel.

As this behavior occurred more than three or four times, Arpel gradually felt something was off. Somehow, it felt different from his previous actions of not wanting to lose him.