Chapter 6

“……?”

Dad was blushing, covering his mouth, and trembling with joy.

I winced and stepped back, letting go of his sleeve.

‘This weapon-crazed lunatic…’

He’s laughing even in this situation. As much as I love my dad, this is seriously…

I moved far away from him and watched the scene unfold.

Vrrrrr—!!

At that moment, the sword vibrated again.

Excalibur spoke.

[Are you disappointed? It seems you’re sad because I already have a master. I can hear and see everything in your heart, young boy.]

“Haha, you even read minds now.”

The boy gently ran his calloused hand along the blade and replied.

Hmm, he must’ve really wanted it. The way he stroked the blade seemed so careful.

Still, you can’t have it! I glared at him just a little while he had his back turned.

“I have another proposal.”

The prince lightly swung the sword, then turned swiftly to face me and Dad.

“Eep.”

I quickly stopped glaring and looked up at him with the most harmless, innocent eyes I could muster.

“Even if I stole a sword with an owner, it would just be a hunk of metal in my hands.”

He handed Excalibur back to me.

I was too stunned to react as I accepted the sword from him.

[Hey! You little runt! Were you seriously thinking of handing me over to that guy?]

Of course I was.

I answered inwardly without a moment’s hesitation.

Because, obviously, Dad and my life matter way more than some talking sword.

From the way things were going, it seemed like we were safe—for now. I hugged the noisy sword tightly and subtly hid behind Dad’s legs.

“I want you to make me an Ego Sword. One that chooses its master.”

“……Forging that is extremely difficult. It requires rare materials, and it takes a long time…”

“As long as it’s finished before I come of age, that’s enough. I’ll get you the materials. I’ll even prepare a workshop for you in the capital. You can work in the palace if you prefer.”

“……”

Dad said nothing for a moment. I looked up at him.

Right, he did say it took a full seven years to make my “Excalibur” (a.k.a. fake name).

He had started making it the year I was born, wanting to give me the most amazing sword in the world.

And it took a whole seven years to finally finish it.

‘If it took seven years, it makes sense it ended up talking…’

[Excuse me?! I’m not talking because of that, okay?!]

The sword buzzed indignantly. I ignored it, used to its chatter, and looked at Dad.

He was deep in thought.

“…I…”

Of course he’d hesitate.

An Ego Sword—a sword with its own will—isn’t something just anyone can make. And even if you try, that doesn’t mean it will gain sentience.

It’s said even a master smith might only succeed once in their entire life.

‘…I didn’t realize until yesterday how amazing this sword really is.’

Wait, why did Dad give this to me anyway?

An Ego Sword is said to be powerful enough to slay even legendary dragons in the hands of a true knight.

And here it was—in the hands of an eight-year-old kid! What a waste.

But Dad didn’t seem to think so. He looked down at me and gently placed a large, warm hand on my head.

His glasses were a little crooked.

“Even if I dedicate 7, no, 10 years to making it, I might not be able to create another Ego Sword.”

“Then we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

Excuse me?!

Just then, the brown-haired man standing behind the prince stepped forward and said,

“We will pay whatever compensation you desire.”

My eyes sparkled at the word “compensation.”

‘Whatever I want?’

I curled my fingers and started calculating how much money we’d need to live a life of luxury forever.

Ever since realizing I’d been reincarnated into a novel, I’d been thinking more like an adult—but I still sucked at math, so finger-counting was a must.

Dad had died in the novel because he’d made fourteen swords for the Hero’s party and drained his life force.

‘But an Ego Sword is just one sword, right?’

Making just one shouldn’t shorten Dad’s life too much…

Okay, done calculating.

No matter how I looked at it, accepting this prince’s offer was a win.

Just make this one sword and we’ll never have to work again, Dad!

If we take this job, we won’t have to take that Hero’s party commission out of desperation, and then we can live happily ever after together.

I looked up at the brown-haired man with hopeful eyes, wondering how much they’d pay.

The prince opened his mouth as if annoyed.

“Two million gold. Paid upfront.”

“……!”

“If it’s completed successfully, I’ll pay the same amount again.”

“Right this way, Your Highness!”

I darted to the table and politely pulled out a chair for him.

Whew, way too much money to say no.

Capitalism mode: ON. I hurriedly cleared away the cold teacups on the table and led him to the chair.

“Please, have a seat!”

“You’re a clever little one.”

Of course I can’t let a noble guest stand.

“Dad! What are you doing? Go heat up some milk or something!”

“Huh? Oh, okay, sweetie!”

Dad rushed to get milk and warmed it up in a hurry.

“No need for milk. Let’s continue.”

At the prince’s words, I snatched the cup from Dad’s hand and tossed it in the sink.

“I’ll prepare a workshop for you in the capital. Like I said, you can even work in the palace.”

“I do prefer working here in the countryside, but…”

“I can’t travel out to this rural place every time.”

The prince nodded lazily. Dad and I nodded in agreement.

Right, right. Our precious client shouldn’t have to travel all the way out here every time.

[Sheesh, humans just fall all over themselves for money…]

‘Be quiet.’

They exchanged a few more words, and then said they had to leave.

The red-haired man told us we’d be getting a letter and carriage from the palace soon and handed me a piece of candy.

I popped it in my mouth and waved goodbye to our clients.

*

“Sweetie.”

“Mm.”

“Is the candy good?”

“Of course! Duh.”

I looked at Dad like, ‘Why would you ask something so obvious?’

Candy is more precious than gold in this countryside. Even rich kids can’t get it easily.

As I sucked on the candy, Dad poked my cheek and asked,

“Sweetie, once we move to the capital… do you want to dye your hair?”

“Dye it?”

Dye it? Out of nowhere? I glanced down at my hair.

My bright golden hair was rare for a common girl and often admired around the village.

‘Mom had the same blonde hair, right?’

Blonde, silver, and other unique colors were usually exclusive to nobles, so I could understand why Dad was asking.

“There’ll be lots of nobles in the capital, right? You’re worried they’ll pick on me for my hair, huh?”

“Yeah, that’s part of it… but if you don’t want to, that’s fine.”

“Then I don’t want to.”

Mom had passed away from poor health the year I was born, so I’d never seen her face.

But I liked my golden hair because it meant I resembled her.

When I touched it, I could imagine what she might’ve looked like.

When I shook my head, Dad gently pinched my cheek and said,

“Alright, sweetie. No dyeing. Just remember to brush your teeth after the candy!”

“Yup, okay, Daddy.”

I giggled and nuzzled my cheek into Dad’s hand.

“By the way, Eve.”

“Yeah?”

“That thing earlier… when you said the sword talks. Were you serious?”