"Kyoya...?"
Mikoto Kyoya's sudden apology seemed to have caught even his two companions off guard, leaving them visibly surprised.
Yet Mikoto Kyoya's expression was exceedingly serious.
"Back then, because of Lady Aqua, I harbored prejudices against you and Satou Kazuma. I even suspected you were a despicable man exploiting your companions for fame, and I said those insulting things..."
Mikoto Kyoya truly seemed deeply remorseful.
"Yet not only did you not resent me for it, you even accepted my challenge head-on. You defeated me in the most impeccable way possible and proved yourself. I still haven't been able to forget that light you unleashed back then. I believe no one else who witnessed that day could forget it either."
As he spoke, Mikoto Kyoya glanced at Fang Li's waist.
"It seems Her Highness Alice shared the same impression as I did. She even entrusted the Holy Sword to you."
Having returned to the Adventurer's Guild in the Royal Capital once more, Fang Li was still dressed casually and looked just as frivolous as ever. Only the sword at his waist had changed completely, from an utterly ordinary sword into the legendary Holy Sword.
Furthermore, even the scabbard holding the Holy Sword was exceptionally ornate and radiated a sacred aura.
"That is the scabbard that comes with the Holy Sword, isn't it?" Mikoto Kyoya said. "That is a divine artifact as well."
That was right.
The legendary Holy Sword wielded by heroes was not merely a sword. Even its scabbard was a matching divine artifact, capable of nullifying all manner of abnormal conditions and even curses. Alice had always been the one using it.
However, ever since Fang Li had been acknowledged by the Holy Sword last time, Alice had lent him the scabbard as well.
"She said that since she