I Became the Main Character’s Demon Sword

39

“…Hmm. Like this?”

Rohan adjusted his posture, moving his body according to the voice that seemed to resonate from the sword. The sword, slashing straight down from top to bottom, emitted a sharp aura. Black magical power began to form on the vibrating blade.

“Ah, but…”

Though he pouted his lips once, Rohan relaxed his stance at those words. However, he didn’t put the sword down.

<…Really.>

After a moment of silence, the voice let out a short sigh. Simultaneously, as a brief light spread across his vision, Rohan felt the hand holding the sword become heavier. Arpel, who had returned to human form without notice, detached himself from his half-embrace with Rohan.

Five years had passed since Rohan and Arpel arrived at the temple. During this time, Rohan had learned to manipulate magical power from various priests and began learning swordsmanship from knights.

Whether it was the Demon God’s blessing that helped, or if he had this talent from the beginning and thus received the blessing – only the Demon God would know which came first, but all who taught Rohan marveled at his talent.

“…Isn’t it heavy?”

“Arpel, you’re light. I think you should eat more…”

It won’t help even if I eat. Rohan muttered the latter part with a disappointed face.

Over the five years, Rohan had grown at an incredible rate. Even Dionel was surprised to see how much Rohan had grown when he returned from a week-long relief activity outside.

The small child that Arpel used to carry around had now caught up to Arpel’s height, leaving only about a fist’s difference between them.

Unlike Arpel’s body, which didn’t change no matter what he did since he wasn’t originally human, Rohan, who was very active and learning swordsmanship, had grown larger.

Rohan often seemed to feel various emotions seeing Arpel, who hadn’t changed at all since Rohan was young, while Arpel felt somewhat regretful looking at Rohan, who had completely shed his childish appearance.

“I want to learn from Arpel too!”

“Keep dreaming.”

“Casia, how has he not changed at all?! He’s still so mean!”

“Lady Leriana, you haven’t changed either.”

“…Is that a compliment?”

Arpel, who had been reminiscing about the past five years, turned his head at Leriana’s voice.

“You’ve only grown into a bear!”

“And you’re as small as a rabbit.”

“Hey! I’m not a rabbit!”

She had remained at the Demon God’s temple, just as she had three years ago. Perhaps because they had grown so familiar with each other, their bickering time had increased.

“Arpel! Look at Rohan, will you?”

“I told you not to get close to Arpel.”

“He’s really so dirty and mean!”

Of course, some things hadn’t changed. Rohan still disliked Leriana and Casia getting close to Arpel.

She always felt quite wronged seeing Rohan’s sharp attitude specifically towards Arpel, but she didn’t probe into it deeply. She had learned through experience that her only peer’s eyes would roll whenever Arpel was mentioned.

However, that didn’t make the sense of injustice disappear. As Leriana made a tearful face, unable to even express her anger, Arpel, who had been quietly watching her, suddenly spoke.

“Cute. Rabbit.”

“Could you please say that with some sincerity…?”

She responded dejectedly to the stiff tone that sounded like reading from a book, without any emotion. Leriana had long since become accustomed to this.

“…Is she cute? Her?”

Leriana had grown up maintaining the doll-like appearance she had as a child. Although she was a bit short, her flowing golden hair and lovely pink eyes were charming enough to captivate anyone who saw her, at least once.

Except for the two people in front of her.

Noticing Rohan’s sharp reaction, Arpel rolled his eyes for a moment before belatedly adding.

“No. Not cute.”

Although Leriana was standing beside them with an incredulous look, no one paid attention to her. In the end, Leriana just kept grumbling until the two disappeared into their own world.

***

The time when Arpel taught Rohan swordsmanship was the last part of Rohan’s set daily routine. Rohan quite enjoyed practicing swordsmanship with him and then returning to their room together.

Because the two behaved so exceptionally within the temple, there were many instances of this being respected. One of these was having apprentice priests bring meals for two to their room. Since it was still early for dinner, they would have to wait in the room for a while.

Arpel, discovering snacks someone had left on the table, brought them over to Rohan.

“Arpel. Haven’t I grown a lot now?”

“You’ve grown a lot.”

“Then, the contract…”

“When you become an adult.”

And lately, this conversation had been repeating.

Although Rohan didn’t look deeply hurt, as if he had already expected the refusal, his pouting lips clearly showed his disappointment. Arpel, glancing at this, reached out his hand to Rohan’s head.

Since it was no longer a convenient position to pat, Rohan would bow his head and bring it to Arpel’s hand whenever Arpel reached out.

Though his body had grown, the child who blindly depended on Arpel hadn’t disappeared. Nevertheless, Arpel felt that time was moving too fast.

“…Time is moving too fast.”

“Do you wish I would stay a child forever, Arpel?”

At this softly confessed truth, Rohan’s amber eyes wavered so intensely it was impossible to tell what thoughts they held. Meeting those eyes swirling with various emotions directly, Arpel shook his head. As an extra, he picked up a small cookie and brought it close to Rohan’s mouth.

“No. I like you in any form.”

“…Then why do you say such things?”

“Because childhood is too short.”

It’s an inevitable regret for someone who has watched you grow from childhood into adulthood, I think. Although there was still a trace of disappointment on his face, Rohan reluctantly put the snack Arpel had offered into his mouth.

“But it’s okay because you’ve grown up wonderfully.”

“Am I wonderful? Me?”

“Yes.”

As if it had never happened, Rohan’s face broke into a bright smile, as if acting cute, and a similar smile appeared on Arpel’s face.

Because it was a smile Arpel had learned bit by bit from watching the child’s smiling face when Rohan was young, Arpel’s smile resembled Rohan’s. From the slightly curved corners of his eyes to the slanted upward curve of his lips, and even the small dimple at the side of his mouth.

One day, Rohan realized that Arpel’s smile greatly resembled his own. After that, he came to like seeing Arpel smile even more. It seemed to fully prove the past they had shared together.

Whenever he saw these clearly remaining traces, it felt strange. Although he couldn’t define it, Rohan knew it was a good feeling.

“Thank you.”

Rubbing his cheeks, which somehow felt heated, against Arpel’s hand, Rohan smiled even more deeply.

***

Although not as much as Arpel, Rohan knew that he had become quite strong himself. His body, which had grown rapidly as if fulfilling a long-held wish, had become similar in height to Arpel’s, and he was very satisfied with this fact.

The time had come when he wouldn’t have to entrust Arpel’s well-being to those untrustworthy priests.

‘It’s annoying.’

Unlike Arpel, who had no thoughts about the other priests, Rohan disliked them.

He didn’t want to understand the voices that now praised and revered Arpel after persecuting him as if he shouldn’t exist in this world. The memories from his childhood had long since taken deep root in his mind.

To Rohan, they were still untrustworthy people who could turn their backs on Arpel at any moment if things went wrong.

So he had to protect him with his own hands.

‘Faster.’

He wished time would pass more quickly. To become an adult, make the contract, and ensure that no one could take Arpel away from him.

He wished that days would pass peacefully, just like now, without being separated from Arpel. Rohan wished, blinking his eyes slowly.

And that day’s wish turned into a mess before even a day had passed.

“You look like a prince!”

Whenever the central temple opened to the public, the inside was always crowded with people. However, the gathering of nobles and commoners alike only felt bothersome to Rohan.

It was rare for Arpel not to be by Rohan’s side. His tendency to never leave Arpel’s side, no matter what happened, remained unchanged from his childhood. If the Demon God hadn’t taken Arpel away for a conversation, today would have been the same.

His displeased expression softened at the sound of a young voice. A small girl stood at his feet, her mouth agape.

“…Thank you. Are you lost?”

“Umm, no! Mom told me to wait, but I got bored…”

Although he was wary of others except Arpel, he was different towards children who looked about the same age as when he first met Arpel. Perhaps Arpel’s actions from that time were thoroughly ingrained in him.

As he was briefly considering whether to take the child back, a tiny hand held out a book that she had been clutching to her chest.

“This, do you want it?”

Despite her young age, she was holding a rather thick book. However, the cover of the book was different from those he knew. Rohan tilted his head, having never encountered anything other than thick theoretical books or fairy tales he had read as a child.

“What kind of book is it?”

“Here, there’s someone like a prince, just like you, big brother!”

Somehow, he couldn’t help but be drawn to it. The pink, fluffy cover caught his attention. Seeing Rohan’s hesitation, the child pushed it forward even more.

“I’ve read this so many times! Now you can read it!”

“But this is your book.”

“It’s okay! Mom promised to buy me another one on our way back today!”