Iron Hands

Kasgar lowered his head and carefully examined the anomaly in his hand.

The crack was tiny. Were it not for a Space Marine's eyesight, he surely would have overlooked it.

If it had merely been a small wound, Kasgar probably would not have paid it much attention.

But this crack seemed somewhat unusual.

Within its fine lines, he saw neither dermis nor tissue. Instead, it emitted a golden-red glow, as though something were slowly flowing within.

He tentatively touched it. It felt no different from ordinary skin.

What exactly was going on?

"I don't know."

Melusine's answer was brief and decisive.

"But all readings show no abnormalities. If nothing went wrong, it was most likely caused by the modifications you received in the underground laboratory."

"Have you encountered anything unusual these past few days?"

"No. I only underwent normal swordsmanship and etiquette training."

Other than training under Master of Ceremonies Rylanor and Sword Saint Aqua, Kasgar had encountered nothing strange.

Besides, this was Terra, and they were near the Imperial Palace.

What blind demon would dare cause trouble here?

"Then, Apothecary, is there anything else I need to do?"

"No need. I only need to record your current condition."

"Oh, right, you might not know yet." Melusine spoke slowly. "Fulgrim has returned."

Fulgrim was coming back.

Kasgar was not particularly happy about that.

Because, having read the original work, he knew exactly where she had been fooling around for the past three months!

To forge weapons for her future campaigns, she had gone to a massive foundry beneath the Ural Mountains. There, she had met another Primarch: Ferrus Manus, the Iron Hands.

The Primarch of the 10th Legion, Iron Hands, Fei No-Head, Senior Sister, Hand of Fate—though that nickname had been retired after some two-shot Boltgun target also started using it.

The two had hit it off immediately and exchanged the weapons they had forged as keepsakes.

The Phoenix and Iron Tenth had a good relationship. That was written in the original work.

Even so—

But I was here first!

Kasgar was deeply unhappy about this.

"Kasgar!"

"Open up! I'm back!"

Sitting in his room and not knowing what to do, Kasgar heard shouts from outside.

Fulgrim had come looking for him.

"Calm down."

"The timeline has changed. I'm alive, so maybe the plot has changed because of that too?"

For example—

"Huh?"

Kasgar could hardly believe what he saw before him.

The person standing outside was indeed Fulgrim, and a Flame Sword was indeed strapped to her waist.

But behind her stood another woman.

She wore simple black combat attire. Her muscles were well-developed, and she stood half a head taller than Fulgrim.

As for compared to Kasgar—even though his height had shot up recently, he could still only reach a Primarch's chest.

Her jet-black hair was tied into a neat high ponytail. One eye was covered in pure silver, while both hands seemed cast from the same pure silver, gleaming with an eerie metallic luster.

This was... Iron Hands?

Philus Malus?

The real Fei—no, Senior Sister Fei?

Kasgar could scarcely believe it.

"Kasgar, this is my sister, the master of the 10th Legion, Primarch Philus Malus." Fulgrim smiled as she introduced her to Kasgar. "Philus, this is the husband I mentioned before, Kasgar Sherlock."

"A pleasure."

Philus spoke with extreme brevity as she extended her silver hand to shake Kasgar's.

"However, forgive my bluntness."

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Fulgrim with some displeasure. "Devoting too much energy to a mortal like this will only make you weaker and weaker."

A thoroughly committed social Darwinist, Senior Sister Fei did not seem to spare him much dignity with her words.

"Oh? But I don't think Kasgar is as worthless as you claim."

Fulgrim turned toward her. Though she still wore a smile, it had noticeably lost several degrees of warmth.

Like a hen guarding her chick, she stepped in front of Kasgar.

"Perhaps things may change in the future, but as things stand, I see no reason in him worthy of the investment you've made."

Seeing this, Philus looked even more disappointed that iron had failed to become steel.

"See, Kasgar? This is what she's like."

"Like a Gorgon, baring her fangs at everyone."

After saying that, Fulgrim entered the room, sat on the large bed in its center, and burst out laughing.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Philus neither confirmed nor denied it.

"Kasgar, can you guess why this Gorgon started taking her anger out on you the moment she arrived?"

"Hehe, of course it's because of this!"

As Fulgrim spoke, she took out an exquisite Power Sword shaped like a Xhanabal Saber.

Kasgar had seen quite a few master-crafted weapons in Sword Saint Aqua's collection before.

But he had never seen one as exquisite or as gorgeous as the weapon in her hand.

"Th-this is?"

"It's a gift for you." Philus sounded somewhat sour.

"Fulgrim spent nearly three months forging it. I thought she was planning to exchange it with me."

"I specially forged a Flame Sword suited to her, but who knew that in the end—"

It seemed that Senior Sister Fei's heartfelt effort had been misplaced.

Senior Sister was so pitiful.

Kasgar sympathized with her.

And tried his best not to laugh out loud.

"Boy," she said through gritted teeth, "you'd better be worthy of this treasure."

"If, when our Legions exchange in the future, you still haven't improved much by the time you reach the 10th Legion, I'll take it back."

"Hehe."

Fulgrim gave an embarrassed little laugh. "It's fine. When the time comes, I'll forge you another Power Hammer."

"Or should I return this Flame Sword to you?"

"Forget it. There's no taking back something that's been given away."

"Hmph. I'm leaving."

She curled her lips and turned to leave.

After Philus left, the room became much quieter.

Only Kasgar remained, slowly stroking the beautiful Power Sword, his gaze never leaving it for even a moment.

What a beautiful sword.

With the Disintegration Field inactive, it was a finely crafted Xhanabal Saber. Once activated, it became a master-crafted Power Sword.

Amazing.

Kasgar sighed in admiration.

No wonder it had made Senior Sister Fei so jealous.

"Do you like it?"

Fulgrim asked as she leaned closer to Kasgar.

"Yeah. What is it called?"

"Zhanli."

She caressed the blade and answered with a smile.

"Since you like it..."

Her hand continued to wander.

"Hehe, then hurry up and let Mama check whether your modifications are normal!"

She let out a dazed laugh, narrowing her long phoenix eyes as she pounced fiercely toward Kasgar.

She had only just returned, and she was already going to grope him all over!

And make him Tile Junior Brother!

Sigh, why was Fulgrim so wicked?

Kasgar's eyes filled with grief and indignation.

He thought of his pelvis, which had only recently recovered.

What was it supposed to do?

"Fulgrim, I... I..."

"I'll fight you!"

He lost.

There were only three gender-swapped Primarchs in this book: the Third, Ninth, and Tenth.

All three had been targeted by Slaanesh.