I walked up confidently. "So how about this… eight silver coins and one gold coin."
The shopkeeper stared at me. "That is less than five gold."
"…Yes, but I said it confidently."
"Still no."
Damn it, tt didn't work. Before I could continue negotiating with pure nonsense, Elariel stepped forward. "I'll buy it for him. Five gold coins, was it?"
The shopkeeper froze. is he shock? Scared? Honestly I can't tell which one, then he suddenly straightened his back like lightning hit him. "No! No, Your Majesty–Princess! I could never take your money for that!" He bowed so fast I thought he might break in half. "It has been sitting there for years! Rusting by itself! Please, just take it as a gift!"
I looked at Elariel. She smirked, powerful people really live on easy mode. She crossed her arms. "Good. But don't think I didn't notice that you're trying to charge absurd money for junk."
The shopkeeper turned pale. "Forgive me, Princess!" I was trying not to laugh. Then I looked back at the sword in my hands.
And paused. The rust…Was disappearing slowly. Like dust being blown away by invisible wind. The dull surface beneath it turned dark and smooth, almost like polished obsidian.
But no one else reacted. They didn't notice. Only me. "…Interesting." I slid the blade halfway from its sheath. A black edge reflected my face. Sharp. Clean.
Not a trace of damage. I pushed it back in quietly. Yeah, this was definitely not normal junk. We left the store soon after.
The festival lights had begun to glow brighter as evening approached. People still laughed, danced, and filled the streets with noise, but I barely paid attention now.
My hand rested on the sword at my waist the whole walk back to the palace. Elariel glanced at it. "You really like that thing, huh?"
"Maybe."
She smiled. "You looked happier holding that sword than when I bought you food."
"That's because this sword won't insult me."
"I can change that." We both laughed. When we finally returned to the palace grounds, the day had already worn me out.
Back in my room, Blaze lifted one eye from the bed. "You came back carrying scrap metal."
"This 'scrap metal' might be legendary."
"It might also give you infection"
"He's probably right" Byakuren added
I ignored both of them and laid the sword beside my bed. Replacing the steel training sword Dad gave me for now.
I stared at the ceiling with a grin. A mysterious black katana that called out to me. Rust disappearing the moment I touched it. No one else noticing.
…I might actually have one of those super rare swords from MMORPGs just like in the video games in my old world. With that very responsible thought in mind– I fell asleep smiling.
The next morning, I walked into the training hall carrying my newly acquired black sword at my waist.
Honestly? I felt cool. That alone made the purchase worth it. Blaze sat on my shoulder, half asleep. "You're smiling too much."
"I have a mysterious sword now."
"You mean dangerous?"
The hall doors opened wider as I stepped in. Elandor was already there, standing. A few young elven trainees were inside preparing for practice, and Elariel was near the weapon rack stretching her arms. She noticed the sword at my side immediately. "Oh? You brought it."
"Of course I did."
The moment Elariel said that, Elandor's eyes moved to my waist, as if inspecting it... Then narrowed. "…Where did you get that sword?" Straight to the point. Nice.
I placed a hand on the sheath proudly. "Uh… random weapons shop in the plaza?" I said. "Old man gave me a discount because he said nobody wanted it."
Silence.
Then for the first time in a while, Elandor's calm face actually changed. "…A random shop?..In the plaza?"
"Yep."
He stared at me longer than usual. Blaze slowly opened one eye. "Oh kid… you're in serious trouble."
"I bought it legally!"
"That is not the problem." Elandor suddenly turned toward the other elves in the room. "All of you, outside. Training is delayed."
The trainees blinked in confusion. One of them hesitated. "But Master Elandor–"
"Outside."
No raised voice. No anger. Still, everyone moved instantly. Within seconds, the hall emptied. Only Elandor, Elariel, me, and Blaze remained inside.
Elariel tilted her head. "You sent everyone out?"
"I do not wish to create confusion," Elandor said calmly. And that somehow made everything feel more serious.
Then he looked back at me. "Draw it."
Now that sounded dangerous...Still, I pulled the blade halfway out. The black steel gleamed under the morning light. At that exact moment–
*Hummmm*
A deep vibration echoed through the hall. I froze. The sword in my hand trembled. Then Elandor's own blade at his side began to resonate too, letting out a low metallic hum, even the air felt heavier.
Elariel stepped back. "What is that?"
I looked between the two swords. "…Okay. That's new...hold on is this dangerous?"
Elandor exhaled slowly. "So it was true."
"What was true?" I asked
He looked directly at the blade in my hand. "That sword is no ordinary weapon." He paused. "It is Valaerion." I blinked "It means Divine Will in the human tongue," Elandor continued, refusing to acknowledge me.
That got my attention. He slowly began walking as he spoke. "There are seven legendary blades known among the elves as the Divinarchs… or in human language, the Seven Great Blades of Divine Beings."
He raised one finger.
"Valaerion – Divine Will." The one you have..
Second finger.
"Aethel-Vard – Protector of Life." A sword for a King who protects his nation, which is passed down to King Aelthirion.
Third.
"Valen-Zir – Guardian's Might." The sword who protects the peace alongside with aether-vard...and is passed down to me by previous high general.
Fourth.
"Vessirith – Slice and Dice"
Fifth.
"Aethelveron – Infinite Slashes."
Sixth.
"Ignivorax – Bringer of Destruction."
Seventh.
"Aethelthul – Wrath of Divine Gods."
I stared at my sword. Then back at him.
"…And one of those was sitting beside discount spears in a market stall?"
"Yes."
"That's ridiculous."
"So are you."
Fair enough. Elandor continued. "They were forged by a great elven smith long before the Enlightenment Era. Their purpose was not conquest… but to end endless wars and destruction."
I looked again at the blade. The rust was completely gone by now. Completely. Unlike yesterday, it's just slowly fading.. Its black surface looked ancient and flawless.
Elariel's eyes widened. "Wait… it was rusty yesterday." I paused. "…You noticed huh?"
"I notice things unlike you."
"So… this thing is legendary?" I asked.
Blaze snorted.
"And dangerous obviously.."
I ignored him. Elandor rested a hand on the hilt of his own weapon. "The reason I recognized it is because Divinarchs resonate when near one another. They acknowledge each other's presence."
That explained the humming. Then he added something stranger. "The king and I already noticed something days ago."
I frowned. "What?"
"Our blades began resonating for no reason." He looked mildly annoyed just remembering it. "At first, we ignored it as another strange Divinarch whim"
I laughed. "So both of you really said, 'weird sword thing,' and moved on?"
"…More or less." That was somehow comforting.
I sheathed the blade. "Then take it if it's that important and dangerous."
Elandor immediately shook his head.
"I cannot."
"Why not?"
"Because no one truly owns a Divinarch."
His voice turned more serious. "Even those passed through royal bloodlines are only custodians. If the blade does not acknowledge its wielder… its true power remains sealed."
I blinked. "So even the king can fail his own sword?"
"Yes."
"And you?"
"…That is not today's topic." Which absolutely meant yes. Blaze laughed openly now. "So the mighty heroes are glorified sword babysitters." Elandor ignored him.
I slowly grinned. "So this sword chose me?"
"For some reason, yes...But do not let it inflate your ego."
"Too late."
Training that day felt different. Every swing with Valaerion felt smoother than it should have. Balanced. Natural. Like the weapon adjusted itself to my movements.
Elandor noticed everything. He corrected my stance, tested my reactions, and watched the sword more than he watched me.
Which was insulting. After several bruises and one lecture, he finally lowered his practice blade. "That is enough." I stretched my shoulders. "So what now?" Elandor turned toward the exit. "You're coming with me."
"Where?"
"To see the king."
I nearly dropped the sword.
"…Why?"
His expression became unreadable.
"Because of your so called discount sword "
Blaze climbed onto my head.
"Oh, this is excellent."
"How is this excellent?"
"It means your peaceful life is ending again." I sighed. I had only wanted a cool sword that looks like a katana...Now I was being escorted to the royal palace because I found one in a bargain shop. Typical.
End of chapter.