The Sacred Sword and the Legend

Having subdued the wolf king, the group continued onward.

Deeper into the cave, the light grew increasingly dim.

The stone platform stands silently in the deepest part.

A sword was stuck in the hole.

It stood there quietly, as if it had been sleeping for millions of years along with the cave, the stone platform, and the mountains.

Fern stopped in his tracks, his pale purple eyes falling on the sword on the stone platform for a few seconds.

"Lord Frieren?"

She spoke softly, her voice clear in the silent cave.

"Is this... the Hero's Sword?"

Frieren also looked at the sword, her emerald eyes reflecting the faint light refracted by the ice.

"Um."

She responded, her tone as calm as ever.

"This is the Hero's Sword. The monsters have gathered because of it. Even protected by a powerful barrier that isolates them, the monsters cannot suppress their urge to destroy it. Monsters are born with a fear of the Hero's Sword."

Fern's gaze did not leave the sword.

There was a few seconds of silence.

"... Hmm."

She uttered a syllable indicating thought.

That's not what I meant.

She looked up at Frieren, then turned to Lowell beside her.

Lowell walked to the stone platform, reached out, and gently brushed his fingertips across the thin layer of ice above the sword hilt. Ice shards fell in a flurry, revealing the ancient metallic patterns beneath.

"Um."

He looked at the patterns, speaking casually as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary.

Himmel did not draw the sword.

Fern blinked.

Lowell withdrew his hand, brushed the ice shards from his fingertips, and turned to Fern, his expression unchanged.

"The sword he's holding is fake, just a replica of the Hero's Sword, only it's exactly the same as the real one."

Fern paused for a moment.

"... Hmm."

She uttered that syllable again, but this time it carried a different meaning.

"Then why hide the truth?"

She looked at Lowell with a serious expression.

"Himmel doesn't seem like the kind of person who would enjoy embellishing himself or seeking empty fame, does he?"

"Of course it wasn't him."

Lowell crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping over the silent ancient sword, then looking at the faint light filtering in from the cave entrance.

"It was those people who arbitrarily glorified him."

His voice sounded very steady in the empty cave.

"The hero who defeated the Demon King, but didn't draw the Sacred Sword —that kind of plot isn't needed in 'stories.' What people want to hear is a perfect legend like 'drawing the Sacred Sword, defeating the Demon King, the true hero of destiny.' Simple, direct, and full of a sense of destiny. Everyone loves to hear that."

"So-called heroes are often like this. In the mouths of bards and in the word-of-mouth traditions of the people, details are added little by little, and a halo is bestowed upon them, until they become a perfect 'legend,' but perhaps no longer quite the same as the real person. Himmel was no exception."

Fern listened quietly, and the little wolf cub in her arms seemed to sense the subtle fluctuation in her emotions, gently nuzzling her arm.

After a while, she spoke again.

"Then why doesn't Himmel clarify this?"

"Because it's not necessary."

Lowell answered quickly.

"Although such a legend embellishes his image and even 'creates' a more perfect version of him to some extent, Himmel will strive to become the person depicted in that legend."

"People say he slew a 100-meter-long serpent with a single sword strike, but he may not actually be able to do it. However, the next time he faces a similar crisis, he will work harder and fight more desperately than before, striving to truly become a hero who can slay a 100-meter-long, or even 200-meter-long, serpent with a single sword strike. The legend may not be him, but he will make himself worthy of that legend."

"Such legends will reassure the people. They will feel that with such a powerful, sagacious hero, like someone straight out of a story, in charge, Human race has hope and security. This is what everyone wants to see. Himmel understands this, so he accepted it and is responding to this expectation in his own way."

Fern lowered her head, looking at the little wolf cub rubbing against her in her arms, her fingers unconsciously stroking its soft fur.

"... I see."

Her voice was very soft.

"Himmel, you are truly great."

Lowell looked at her downcast profile, suddenly raised an eyebrow, and a mischievous smile curved his lips.

"Hey, hey."

He leaned closer, deliberately making his tone exaggerated.

"I explained it to you so earnestly and emotionally, and this is your reaction? Can't you offer something even more touching? Like, shedding a couple of tears, choking back sobs and saying, 'Sobbing... I see, Himmel was so great, I admire him so much...' or something like that?"

Fern raised his head, his pale purple eyes calmly meeting his gaze, his face expressionless.

"... What kind of persona do I have?"

She stated it in a flat tone.

"Besides, Lord Lowell, it was your behavior just now that was rather strange."

Lowell was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing and rubbed the back of his head.

"Haha... that's true. Fern is a calm type, but Ruby always sparkling back then."

He turned around and took one last look at the Hero's Sword on the stone platform.

"Alright, we've seen enough. It's time to go back."

Frieren had been waiting impatiently for a while and was squatting nearby, staring at the largest king wolf, Andrius. Hearing Lowell's words, she immediately stood up.

"Okay, let's go. I'm hungry."

She glanced at Andrius and added.

"Newcomer, you're in charge of the monsters here. Don't let anything untoward get near this sword, or the village down the mountain," Frieren instructed with a senior's expression.

King Wolf Andrius gazed at her silently with his icy blue eyes. After a few seconds, he nodded very slightly, in an extremely human-like manner, letting out a low, whimper of agreement.

Frieren gave a satisfied "humph" and turned to walk out of the cave.

Fern gently put the wolf cub in her arms. The cub circled her feet a couple of times, a little reluctant, before running back to the pack.

The three left the cave.

The snowstorm had stopped, and the sky had turned a pale blue. Sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, spilling onto the snow and reflecting a blinding white light.

The return journey was much faster.

Lowell glanced at the sky.

"The matter is settled, we should be going now."

The Village Chief paused for a moment, then smiled, a hint of reluctance in his expression.

"Huh? You're leaving already? No... won't you stay a few more days? The village may not have much good stuff, but there's still hot soup and freshly baked bread..."

No need.

Frieren dismissively, her tone casual.

"We've finished what we agreed on. We still have other places to go."

She paused, looking at the young, yet earnest, face before her, and blinked her emerald eyes.

"Next time... see you in half a century. I hope you'll still be alive then."

Village Chief:"..."

She opened her mouth as if to retort, "I'll definitely live a good life," but in the end she just puffed out her cheeks, sighed somewhat helplessly, and then smiled again.

"I've always believed that Lady Frieren would visit again."

She took two steps back, straightened up, and awkwardly but earnestly made a heart shape with her hands in front of her chest. Her pink eyes curved into crescents, and a bright, energetic smile bloomed on her face.

"Thank you so much!"

She drew out the melody, her voice clear and crisp.

"This was also Grandma's last wish!"

Frieren watched her make a heart shape with her hands and smile, but didn't say anything. She just gave a soft "hmm," then turned around and walked down the mountain path.

"It's nothing. Well then, see you in half a century."

The Village Chief lowered his hand, watched her retreating figure, then jumped up again and waved his little hand vigorously.

"I feel like I'm going to live a very long life!"

She raised her voice and called out with a smile.

Please don't be late next time! Otherwise, even the super cute me will get angry~!

The sound drifted over on the mountain breeze.

Frieren didn't stop walking; she simply turned her back to her and casually waved her hand to indicate that she had heard.

Lowell smiled and nodded to the Village Chief, then turned and followed.

Fern walked last, bowing slightly to the Village Chief.

"Farewell, Village Chief. Please take care."

"Yes! You too! Have a safe trip!"

The pink-haired girl stood in the snow at the village entrance, waving her hand vigorously until the three figures became a few small dots on the snow-white hillside, and finally disappeared around the bend of the desolate mountain road.

She lowered her hand, exhaled a puff of white breath, and warmed her small hands by breathing on them. The slight melancholy of parting on her face was quickly replaced by her usual seriousness.

She turned to the villagers peeking out from behind their doors, straightened her small chest, and announced in a clear voice:

"Alright! Danger averted! Everyone, you can get a good night's sleep tonight!"

Cheers and relaxed laughter gently rippled through this small village, protected by mountains and snow.

On the mountain road.

The wind was still cold, but the sunlight brought a touch of warmth.

Fern walked half a step behind the two and suddenly spoke.

"Lord Lowell."

"Um?"

"What you just said... Himmel will strive to become a legend."

"What's wrong?"

Fern paused for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

"You... are actually doing something similar, aren't you?"

Lowell didn't stop walking; he merely turned his head, glanced at her, and gave her a half-smile.

"Oh? How do you know?"

Fern did not answer immediately.

She watched as Frieren's silver hair swayed gently in the wind, and watched Lowell walk beside her, keeping a half-step distance between them.

"Nothing."

She finally spoke, her voice very soft.

Lowell smiled, didn't reply, but simply raised his hand and naturally took Frieren's hand beside him.

Frieren was looking at a cluster of unidentified dark green berries sprouting from under the snow by the roadside when her hand was pulled. She didn't pull away, but her fingers twitched slightly as she gripped it back.

The sunlight will shine on the pristine, silent snow, slowly winding its way out of the mountains.