Stop It! It’s Not Me That’s Strong… It’s the Sword…! - Chapter 4

“Hah, compared to that boy…”

“Sigh! Compared to us, he is…”

more of a mature man. While we were quarreling with each other and were willing to put forth a bravado and implement an unreasonable plan, that boy had much more wisdom and less ego.

With such atrocious mindset, there is no point in standing up as an adult. I reflected from the bottom of my heart, trying to emulate that boy.

――But, everything is a misunderstanding!

It was a coincidence that he saved the children, and Kurou was working for himself from start to finish!

The only reason he looked mature was simply because he didn’t talk much due to communication problems, and to be frank, he had a nice smile and a good vibe!

However, on the inside, he is a lazy and rather scruffy man.

Unaware of this, the villagers in the neighboring village had high impression of his character and were full of admiration. With such delusional, they were even able to make peace in the chaotic meeting hall.

“I’m sorry, chief. I got carried away and called you a coward. I’m also sorry for all the rude things I said.”

“No problem. I was a little too stubborn too…”

The bloody atmosphere, which was in jeopardy a moment ago, had completely changed.

Everyone changed their attitudes and faced each other in an attempt to have a constructive discussion.

“By the way, why don’t we ask that boy Kurou’s opinion in this matter. When I saw him, he seemed pretty down.”

“Umu, he’s a kind child. He’s probably hurt because he couldn’t save all the villagers. But if it’s him, I’m sure he’ll have a good idea.”

And so, we started talking again when―at that moment a shrill came.

“Ghh! It’s a group of goblins!”

The screams of the villagers echoed from outside the meeting place!

“What!?”

“No way!”

The men immediately stood up.

As they ran out of the meeting place, they saw a swarm of green humanoid creatures―Goblins, running down from a nearby hill.

Goblins were originally monkeys that had mutated into monsters. Although they are only as tall as a child, their ferocity is immeasurable.

“Damns… the thing we were afraid of has happened…!”

If only I had acted sooner…

Bitter regrets passed through my mind, but now is not the time to stand back and watch. The village chief raised his voice.

“We’re going to evacuate everyone. First, save the children!”

Just as the boy Kurou had done. The adults are determined to sacrifice their lives for the young children, so they could see the sun tomorrow.

And just as they were about to move on for evacuation.

“――Oh! It’s time for you to stop, huh?”

“Gugegi!?”

A mighty sword strike――! Along with the voiced that echoed through, one of the bodies was cut in half…!

Two parts of flesh fell down on the ground and a large amount of fresh blood splattered on others.

“Wha… Hiiii!?”

After a moment of bewilderment, the village chief and others gasped and were filled with confusion.

They are all covered in blood all over their bodies and everyone are in a state of panic. Everyone trembled with terror at the death of the neighbor they had been discussing just a moment ago.

“Gyahahahaha! These old men are trembling like kids! It’s pathetic! Hey!”

A vulgar mockery resounded and in front of the village chief, there was a man who looked like a skeleton.

His cheeks are thin, his eye sockets were hollow, and his body is as thin as a dead branch.

――Even so, in his hand was a large sword that was larger than the height of his body.

“You… have a greatsword² in your hand, don’t tell me… that is…!”

I stared at the blade that was

blindingly bright.

A crimson faint light overflowing from the great sword. Such a sword can’t be any ordinary weapon…!

“That’s a 『Magic Armament』…!?”

“Hey! This is my partner,『Crimson Blood Stained Sword―Dainsleif³』!”

Along with the words, an abnormal situation arises.

Fresh blood was rising from the corpse of the villager who had been cut earlier.

They were sucked into the Crimson Blood Sword – Dainsleif as if they were diving in themselves.

And then…

“Aaaaaaaah! Here it is! Here it is!”

The skeletal man shouted charmingly and a thumping sound, like a heartbeat, overflowed from the great sword.

At the same time, the owner’s muscles swelled up and he transformed into a large man, leaving his face as it was.

“What the…!?”

“Hihihi! This is my partner’s ability! The features of Dainsleif are『Blood Sucking』and『Intensification of Mayhem』. It absorbs the blood of those who cut it and temporarily strengthens me! Gheeheehee!”

The man laughed as he turns away.

His eyes are shining brightly. His cruel will to see people as nothing more than prey pierces through the village chief and others as glints in his eyes.

“That’s why… you’re also going to be nourishment!”

The man’s eyes shoot out at the village chiefs and others with a cruel intent that sees people only as prey.

“Damn it!”

He raised the bloodstained blade and so, the lives of the men and women were about to end, when a shout rang.

“I won’t let you!”

At the same moment, the skeleton man flew to the side with a startled expression on his face.

Furthermore, he also held his great sword like a shield, and a powerful thrust was released at the center of his body.

His body, which had turned into a large man, was blown away more than ten meters.

“Ugh! You… you bastard…!”

“Wha…you are Kurou-kun!?”

The skeleton man and village chiefs widen their eyes.

At the end of their line of sight stood a boy named Kurou, wielding a jet-black sword.

He took a glance at the village chief and others with his cold but amazing looks, and then lashed out at the Skeleton Man.

“―You wicked man. I’ll bring you to justice for ransacking my village!”

The sentence of absolution and condemnation echoed through the air, and the villagers are also convinced by his dignified appearance.

He is―a hero who appeared to save them from this predicament!

Footnotes

1. If push comes to shove: When push comes to shove is an American idiom that describes that critical time when a decision must be made, when a commitment must be made, when action must be taken to back up words.

2. Great sword: Here it’s not Great sword as in a high ranking sword, but a type of sword called Great Sword of 50 to 72 inches in size, that needs two hands to wield.

3. Dainsleif: It is a legendary sword from Norse mythology. Basically, this sword was also referenced in Black Clover, as a wielder of bone and space-based Union Magic Spell.