TAMWSFB 08

Chapter 8 

Help Me, Holy Sword-san!

‘It has been ages since I last spoke to someone. Child, do not die.’

But I… I can’t breathe…

‘Release your magic power, and it will be fine.’

How do I do that?!

‘This is an emergency. There is no other way. I shall form a temporary contract with you.’

A temporary contract? Like an engagement or something?
Well, if it’s temporary, maybe it can be canceled later.

‘Child, state your name.’

Leticia Rosenberg…

‘That alone will not suffice. Give me your true name.’

True name? I don’t think I have anything that grand-sounding!

I can’t breathe, help me… Brother…

‘You should have another name.’

Another name… You mean my previous life’s name?

Sakurai Mana…

Ah, “Mana.” That sounds similar to “Leticia.” What a funny coincidence.
Even as pain wracked my body, my mind wandered off to pointless thoughts.

‘Leticia Rosenberg Sakurai Mana — I recognize you as the master of the Holy Sword Gran Avelle. Here and now, I form our contract.’

The moment the holy sword declared that, I felt something connect within me.

Like a thin thread linking us, my overflowing magic began to flow away through it.

Ah… it’s getting easier to breathe…

Thank you, Holy Sword-san. I’ll never forget this favor.

Wait, but… if we’ve made a contract, doesn’t that make me the hero now?

‘You have not yet physically taken me in hand. It is only temporary.’

Oh, I see. Then that’s a relief.

My hazy consciousness began to clear.
At some point, I realized — I was being held in my brother’s arms.

…Is this heaven?

‘You were on the verge of death, yet you seem quite lively.’

That’s because my love for my brother surpasses even death!

‘You say that with conviction…’

Ignoring the holy sword’s exasperated tone, I focused all my attention on my brother.

Tears streamed down from his ice-blue eyes.

Oh no… how could I?
As the president of the “Let’s Make Serios-sama Happy Club,” I’ve made him cry instead!

“Niitama, don’t cry…”

I stretched out my small, round toddler fingers and wiped away his beautiful tears.

I’m so sorry, truly sorry.
I almost died just because I still can’t handle looking at your divine face.

I nearly gave you a lifetime of trauma…

“I’m just… glad you’re safe…”

He held me gently, as if I were something fragile that might break.

(Hey, Holy Sword-san.)

‘What is it?’

(If I made a real contract with you, would it make these attacks easier to handle?)

I don’t ever want to make my brother cry like this again.
But honestly, I can’t trust myself not to get overly excited around him…

‘If by “attacks” you mean the expansion of your magic power, then yes. Being connected to me would prevent your body from being overwhelmed.’

(That’s good… but if I do that, wouldn’t that make me your master — the hero?)

‘You should consider that an honor.’

(But then what happens when the real hero appears? Wouldn’t that cause trouble?)

‘A hero, hmm. The last one who wielded me was a hero, yes… but are you saying another has been born somewhere?’

(Wait, you didn’t know?)

‘I did not.’

(Probably in a nearby village. The hero should’ve just been born.)

Maybe he didn’t know because the baby’s just been born?

‘You seem to misunderstand. The hero is not necessarily my master.
It’s true that the last hero had high magical power and could communicate with me, but I only choose as my master someone who can talk to me.’

Oh right — he did say it had been ages since he last spoke with anyone.

But… then what about Hero Abel? What happens to the demon lord’s defeat?!

“Letty, they said you’re more prone to these attacks when you’re with me… Maybe… maybe it’s better if we don’t see each other anymore.”

What?! No! That’s the real emergency!

Saying we shouldn’t meet is basically telling me to die!

I finally have a replacement for those awful magic-suppressing medicines — so don’t say that!

‘A replacement for medicine? You mean me…?’

Ignoring the holy sword’s offended tone, I clung tightly to my brother.

“Lechi loves Niitama! I wanna see you every day!”

Please, don’t say such heartbreaking things.
I hugged him with all the strength my tiny body could muster.

“Niitama, do you hate Lechi?”

“Of course not. I could never hate you. But still…”

“It’s okay! I won’t collapse anymore!”

“If I lost you too, after Mother… I couldn’t bear it.”

“I won’t die! Absolutely not!”

Now I have not only Moko but also the Holy Sword as an ally. I’ll be fine from now on!

And once I find where the Holy Sword lies and obtain the Golden Lycoris, my excessive magic problem will be cured.

So please, don’t worry anymore, Niitama!