TAMWSFB 41

Chapter 41 

 The Holy Sword Butler

“To think the holy sword could turn into a person… What am I supposed to do now?”

Ahh… even my brother worrying so seriously is a blessing to my eyes.

But anyway—if the holy sword can take any form, I would’ve preferred something fluffy instead of human-shaped.
Why did it choose a human form?

『You already have a furball. And as a sword, I must be carried. So I chose the form of a butler—someone who can remain at the girl’s side without suspicion.』

Ehhh… that’s the reason?

『Those who can stay beside someone at all times are guards or butlers. But guards must carry weapons, must they not?』

True.

『I am a sword. I refuse to let another sword be carried while serving. A butler requires none.』

Ah—yes.
That is technically correct, but still…

A holy sword as a butler?
He acts so arrogant though!?

He looks good in a butler outfit, but his way of talking is all wrong.

『Hmm. Is this manner of speech inadequate?』

Yes.
You should say, “Is this unacceptable, milady?”

『Who is milady?』

Me.

『Would “girl” not suffice…?』

The holy sword seemed oddly dejected, so I suggested maybe instead of taking human form, he could turn into a short sword or something. But apparently he’d always wanted to try a human form and immediately rejected the idea.

“What should we call the holy sword, anyway?”

“My name is—”

Gran Avel, right?

But that name is too long and awkward to call.
If I use “Avel,” it overlaps with the name of the novel’s protagonist.
So maybe “Gran”? Or even shorter.

“How about ‘Ran’?”

It’s easy to say, and not so far from his original name.
And for some reason it feels butler-like.

“Hmm. Not bad.”

The holy sword—now renamed Ran—nodded, seemingly satisfied.

I’m glad he liked it.

“Well then, let’s take these golden lycoris home.”

Feeling refreshed, I turned to my brother.

He still had a finger pressed against his temple, staring sharply at Ran.

“Yes. I have a bit to discuss with this former holy sword, so Letty, go ahead and start gathering the lycoris.”

He said that, then grabbed Ran by the arm and pulled him away.

Even though my brother is still smaller—he’s still growing—the towering Ran looked oddly intimidated…

I really wanted to know what that conversation would be about—but more importantly, I needed to gather the golden lycoris.

I brought a small shovel. If I lift them from the roots, it should work.

I headed toward the patch of golden lycoris where Moko was happily floating around.
Covered head to toe in glittering golden pollen, Moko looked fluffy and sparkly.

“I hope the roots aren’t stuck to the rocks…”

The bases of the flowers were completely dusted with golden pollen.
I crouched down and scooped some with my fingers—my skin shimmered brightly.

“Could this be… serving as soil?”

If so, I’d have to bring the pollen along when relocating them.
Transporting all that pollen seemed like it would be very difficult.

“Well, I’m not sure if we can cultivate them yet, so I’ll take a few and give them to Dr. Robert.”

“Hey.”

“If they grow in this cave, maybe they don’t need much water?”

“Hey, I said.”

“Then the question is, what do they need? Why do they only grow here?”

I folded my arms, thinking hard—when suddenly Elvin’s face popped into my view.

“Whoa! You startled me!”

I jumped back, which in turn startled Elvin.
He stepped back, then, embarrassed by his reaction, spoke gruffly.

“What exactly is going on here?”

Hmm… how much should I explain?

Maybe start with:
Golden lycoris can be used to make a cure for magic overload.

I’ll say I learned it from Moko the spirit, just like I did with my brother.

Elvin had followed along without knowing anything, but I couldn’t leave him completely clueless now.
I also needed to make sure he stayed quiet about it.

“If that medicine can be made, that’d be amazing!”

“Yeah. But you can’t tell anyone yet.”

“Why not? It’s a huge discovery!”

“It is, but we’re only beginning the research. We don’t even know if we can really make it yet.”

I believed Dr. Robert could do it, but nothing is guaranteed.
And someone might try to sabotage him or steal the credit.

“I get it. If it’s completed, you could attend the academy too.”

Elvin would be starting school soon, and he was incredibly excited to be able to play with my brother all the time.

Setting aside the fact that the academy is for studying, not playing—
I had told him that because of my unstable magic overload, I probably wouldn’t be able to attend.

In the original novel, Leticia died right before my brother entered the academy.
If the story still had “force,” there was a chance that might still happen if I wasn’t completely cured.

But if they complete the medicine using golden lycoris…

Then—
I could enjoy the school life I’d always dreamed of.
A school life with my brother.

Waaaah! What a paradise!

I must bring these golden lycoris home!!