Ex-Hero, Now Freeloader

52 – Ex-Holy Sword, Now Beauty 3

Just as Monana yelled, the shark revealed its face and came at us with its mouth open.

And it wasn’t just a normal shark.

It was ten times the normal size, its eyes were bloodshot, and furthermore, it spat out cold air from its mouth. This was unmistakably a Demon.

Did it somehow slip past the barrier?

「The effects of the barrier are to repel the miasma and make it hard to notice the existence of this island. It doesn’t have the function to repel invaders!」

Monana’s explanation made sense.

So, a demonized life form could still accidentally enter the barrier.

The shark closed its mouth with a massive chomp sound.

「Monana! It just ate the back of the boat! Can we make it to the beach?!」

「It what?! Uh, maybe! …Oh, maybe not.」

I thought the same thing at the same time as her.

That’s because our surrounding area was frozen.

The shark’s ice breath froze the water surface around the boat.

We jumped off the boat.

「Get behind me!」

「O-okay!」

The shark opened its mouth again and jumped towards us.

I immediately reached for my waist to pull out-… I just remembered that Mika turned into a human.

While it’s good that I switched to battle mode immediately, I instinctively reached for my holy sword.

「Gh…!」

In battle, a moment’s hesitance can cost a life.

I switch from interception to avoidance maneuvers. I grab hold of Monana and fly away using Wind Magic.

「Rain, are you okay?!」

「I’m fine!」

「B-but, your arm is freezing…!」

Holding Monana under my left arm, I noticed my right arm was frozen.

But exterminating the shark takes priority.

「Sorry, but this place is precious!」

I created a giant, crescent-shaped wind blade and fired it at the shark that was jumping at us for the third time. It split it in two.

Spraying purple blood everywhere, the shark remains crash into the frozen water surface, breaking it, and it sinks under the surface.

「W-wow…」

In the time it took Monana to mutter that, I used Fire Magic to melt the ice on my arm, then Healing Magic to fix the frostbite.

With that, my arm was fully healed.

I retrieved the boat and flew back to the beach using Wind Magic.

「Monana, Hero Rain! Are you alright?!」

A worried Vivi rushes towards us.

Confirming that we were unharmed, Louto let out a sigh of relief.

「You had us worried~」

「Y-yeah. We’re fine. Rain saved me again.」

「An enemy like that is no problem.」

Even though I said that, Vivi and Louto take my right arm and thoroughly examine it.

「Are you sure you’re alright? I have no doubts about your Healing Magic, but I am worried about you getting hurt.」

「Exactly~ Even if you heal, that doesn’t make the actual pain disappear~ That must’ve hurt. You hung in there~」

It feels kinda fresh to be doted on like I was a kid, so it tickled me.

「Hm? Where’s Mika, anyway?」

Mika stood alone, away from the circle of people.

I talked briefly with everyone and then walked toward her.

「Hey, what’s wrong?」

I asked, but she just hung her head, not answering.

「…I’m such an idiot.」

「Mika?」

In the next moment, Mika raised her head and slapped her cheeks with both hands.

The sound of a dry slap rang out. Her soft cheeks turned red.

「…All I’ve been doing is having fun.」

「What’s this about? If it’s about the shark, that’s not really your fault.」

Mika was the one who invited me to the beach, but that doesn’t make her responsible for what happened.

「Did you think I didn’t notice? You reaching out for your holy sword. Because that was the surest and quickest way to defeat the enemy in that situation.」

As expected of my partner, she saw that.

「Yeah, but you were stuck on the beach the last time I went out to play, too, remember? If a shark appeared then, it still wouldn’t have been your fault. It’s the same here.」

「No, because of what happened last time, I would have definitely gone with you the next time you went into the ocean. If I was a holy sword, that is.」

I couldn’t say anything to that.

Because she’s worried about me, she would definitely have asked me to bring her along in case there was an enemy.

She’s exactly right.

But this time, that didn’t happen.

Because Monana’s boat only fits two people and Mika’s a human girl.

「I never wanted to be human. I just felt left out, and jealous of everyone else.」

「Mika…」

「But you know, being a human is fun. The world feels so different and free. But I realized something, that from now on, it doesn’t matter how special you think your companion is. I will always have an irreplaceable relationship with you as your partner.」

In the face of Mika’s serious expression, I naturally open my mouth.

「I think it’s fine if you want to stay a human but, yeah… Uhm, I’d be a little lonely if… if my partner wasn’t there.」

I spoke slowly, wondering if I was expressing myself correctly.

When I looked at her, Mika was in tears.

「I’m sorry, Rain. I let you get hurt.」

「It’s fine. It was my mistake.」

「It’s my job to cover for your mistakes. I guess… I really should return to being a holy sword.」

「Are you sure? Didn’t you say it wasn’t easy to turn into a human?」

「That doesn’t matter. But… I’ll be mad if you handle me too rough.」

Said Mika, sulking.

「Yeah, you got it.」

She’s being kinda cute.

「Well, uhm… I’m turning back, okay?」

Mika’s body was shrouded in light and…she returned to the form of a holy sword.

It’s only been a few days, but it felt like reuniting after a long time.

I pull her out of the sand and hold the holy sword up against the sunlight.

Mika’s blade brilliantly reflects the sunlight…wait…

「Hm?」

『Huh?! What is it?!』

There was a reddish-brown pattern that spread across the blade part.

「…I-it’s rust.」

『Whaaat…?! I don’t rust, though?!』

I looked at Monana.

She held a hand to her mouth, her face turned blue.

「Uh… There is a very small possibility that your performance will deteriorate until you regain your full power as a holy sword… So, like, uh… It’s easier for you to get rusty…?」

「Ah… How long will that take?」

「I-I don’t know.」

『Monanaaaa…!!』

「I’m sorry, Lady Holy Sword! You’ll turn back! The rust will come off!」

Monana apologizes in tears.

『I feel itchy all over!』

It seems that rust makes a holy sword feel itchy.

「Ahaha!」

I can feel my expression loosen up.

『What’re you laughing at?! Your partner’s covered in rust!』

Mika’s angry.

But I just feel so happy to have my partner back.