The Sword of Resonance She had lost again. The first defeat she suffered was due to her own foolishness. A series of terrible mistakes led her to collapse and lose consciousness at the bottom of a labyrinth. When she awoke, her skin was drenched in sweat, and her throat was as dry as the sand around her. She had dragged herself to her feet, feeling as if she had become some kind of sand monster, and trudged back to the city, drinking from dirty puddles on the way. She’d only barely made it back alive. Her fortune turned around after that. She’d made many valuable connections and recovered fully. She thought she had gotten stronger since then, and not just in terms of her monster-killing ability. She also believed she had gained the awareness and wisdom necessary to survive in the human-populated labyrinth that was this city. That was the desire of the person who reached out to her, and it eventually became her desire as well. She knew she had to change if she wanted to protect him. She didn’t have a deep reason for sacrificing herself to protect Diamond. She just felt that if she backed down in that moment, all she had gained would end up meaning nothing. That strength, wisdom, and courage weren’t just to make her better than humans. He would have stood in the way of that attack, too, she was sure. Armed with that knowledge, she had nothing to fear. “Why, Diamond? Why did this have to happen to her?” “I’m sorry, Daffodil.” Unfortunately, the cost of her sacrifice was great. She hadn’t died, nor had she lost a limb. But the prognosis was not good. “Ms. Daffodil, Ms. Diamond…I will begin by explaining her condition,” a priest said, interrupting Daffodil and Diamond’s argument. He said a change in her internal mana would cause her stamina and muscle strength to decline significantly, and she would no longer be able to use her natural dragonian skills such as breathing fire or enveloping her body in flames. Her eyesight would also suffer. She wouldn’t go blind, but she would become terribly nearsighted and struggle to see in the dark, and she would need assistance when going outside. “That’s probably because dragonian eyes are just as special as their horns and tail. They’re filled with strong mana that allows dragonians to retain their vision in harsh environments,” said Diamond. “Our eyes consume a tiny amount of our body’s mana to achieve that. If the star curse has cut off her mana, her eyesight will suffer much more than other people’s,” explained Daffodil resignedly. “Daffodil…” “Well…this might be for the best. She was always going to get hurt working as an adventurer. She’s lucky that this happened to her before she died… Karan will accept that eventually.” “You can’t say that, Daffodil. Only Karan can choose to say whether her own injury was ‘for the best.’ We can’t speak for her until we know how she feels.” “Don’t be ridiculous! No person is that strong! I wouldn’t expect you to understand that!” Daffodil reached out to tear off the blanket wrapped around Karan. “What are you doing, Daffodil?!” Diamond yelled. “I’m taking her back to the countryside. Thank you for looking after her,” Daffodil said. “Are you just gonna carry a patient halfway across the country?! What about your son?!” “What do you think? Ares will come with us.” “That’s even more reckless! You need to calm down!” “I am calm! Do you have a better idea?!” “…Shut up. I’m trying to sleep,” said the girl on the bed. Karan had spoken. Just like that, the other two fell silent. “You were awake…?” Daffodil asked. “I was drifting in and out. I’ve been groggy, but I heard what you said,” Karan replied before yawning widely. She rubbed her eyes and stretched her stiff upper body. “I’m hungry.” The priest rushed out of the room to get some food. “Phew, that was good,” Karan said. She’d been given a tray of white bread, thin soup with vegetable scraps and bacon, and a large helping of stewed eggplants and bell peppers. It hadn’t taken her long to clean her plate. “Was that enough food? I’m sure that was nothing compared to the restaurant meals you’re used to,” Diamond asked. “It was fine. It had a gentle flavor,” Karan said with a satisfied smile. Diamond and Daffodil smiled back, relieved to see her in a good mood. “So, Karan—” Daffodil began. “I’m not going back,” Karan interrupted, looking away irritably. “I know about my condition. It’s my body, after all. I can tell something’s not right.” “That’ll make this easy, then.” Diamond’s eyes grew cold. “You have to retire as an adventurer. Your condition will not improve as long as you are afflicted by that curse,” she said, speaking the harsh truth. “Okay,” Karan replied, sounding surprisingly indifferent. “…You accept that?” Diamond asked. “Diamond, I have a request,” Karan said. “A request? What is it?” Diamond asked, looking taken aback. “Take me to the bottom floor of the Labyrinth of Bonds. And don’t tell anyone about it.” “…Why do you want to go there?” Diamond asked. “There are replicas of the Sword of Bonds, and it’s where we put the Sword of Ruin.” Surprise flashed across Diamond’s face, but it was quickly replaced by a mischievous smile. “Nope. Not happening. Rejected. Try again later.” “…Why not?” Karan asked with a sullen look. “Because it’s obvious you want to become a holy sword wielder to be able to fight again. Also, Bond has sovereignty over the Labyrinth of Bonds. I can’t break through another holy sword’s security. You’ll have to convince Bond. And your cousin here,” Diamond said. “I need to do this, Daffodil,” Karan said. “No you don’t, you idiot!” Daffodil scolded her. “Do you really have no intention of going back home? You’ve done well here. Everyone will praise you for your magnificent adventure. That was a hero’s feat you pulled on that stage.” Her words were kind even as she fumed with anger. Karan recognized that, but she still shook her head. “Daffy…thanks. But you’re wrong,” she said. “What do you mean?” Daffodil asked. “I know my body is being weakened by the curse. But that’s no reason to give up. The others are definitely going to try to cure me somehow.” “…Just because your party members think that way doesn’t mean you have to,” Daffodil said, but resignation was creeping into her voice. She’d realized she wasn’t going to convince Karan. “…Karan. I’m not saying this to hurt you. The Sword of Evolution works by forcibly drawing out the mana and potential hidden within a person’s body. I don’t think he would be able to do much for you with your body’s mana output hampered as it is now,” Diamond told her. “Huh?” Karan blinked with shock. “Oh… Well, I’ll have to think of something else, then.” She moved on quickly, however, simply sighing without a hint of despair on her face. “I see you’re not giving up,” said Diamond. Karan nodded. “I’ll give up if it becomes clear there’s absolutely no hope. But not until then. You went through the same thing, Diamond. Your strength declined until you were no stronger than an ordinary human. Then you went on adventures with your original wielder, took her name, became an idol like her, and now you’re here.” “Don’t you think that might’ve had something to do with me being a holy sword?” “Nope. Holy swords are no different from people. They just get annoying ideas because of how long they live. Some are strong, some are weak, and some spend all their time singing. That’s all,” Karan said, speaking as if that was no big deal. Karan wasn’t just trying to put on a brave face. She simply thought it was important to never give up. She was beginning to think that was the mark of true strength, something Diamond and the other idols had taught her. “…Regardless, the odds of recovery are low. Even if you do find another way to gain the strength to fight, there’s no guarantee you’d be able to defeat the enemy. Strength is a cruel thing. Sometimes there are heights a person can’t reach no matter how hard they try,” Diamond said grimly. “…Okay.” “That’s why you’re going to fight in your own way.” “Huh? My own way?” Karan wasn’t sure what Diamond meant. “Daffodil. I promise I won’t send Karan into combat. But I can grant her wish.” “What do you…?” Daffodil began, but she trailed off when she saw the look in Diamond’s eyes. “…Are you saying what I think you’re saying? Have you chosen her?” “Can I?” Diamond asked pleadingly. “I thought… Weren’t you going to choose one of the idols? But I guess this might be the safest way…,” Daffodil said thoughtfully. “Karan will just try to escape if we leave her like this.” “That’s for sure.” “No I won’t! And what are you talking about?!” Karan shouted, growing flustered. She had a really bad feeling about whatever was going on, which only intensified when Diamond dropped her bombshell. “Karan. Would you be willing to enter a contract with me?” Karan’s mouth fell open. Diamond’s words had caught her completely off guard. “A contract?” “I’m asking if you want to become my wielder, just like how Nick is Bond’s wielder.” “…Didn’t you say that it’s impossible for a person to wield you?” Karan asked, remembering what Diamond had told them beneath Starmine Hall. “Yeah. I could perform a transfer of power similar to what other holy swords do with their wielders, but I wasn’t able to make an official one-on-one contract. I’ve also mutated completely from my original design, so even if I could have entered a contract with a wielder, it would have had no effect,” Diamond explained. “Okay,” Karan said. “So I reforged myself. I gave myself a new sword form and function that matches my mutated state.” “…Huh?” Karan tilted her head in confusion. “Come with me. I think you’re going to like this.” They left the room, Daffodil pushing Karan in a wheelchair, and went to a different room underneath Starmine Hall. Diamond had brought the Survivors here before, and it was where the holy jewel—Diamond’s true body—was stored. The holy jewel was gone, replaced by some kind of weapon. It had a pommel and a grip, which was secured to the blade by a series of rivets. The blade itself was unusually thin for the size of the grip, and small bars of metal twisted around the blade in a spiral. It was a sword, but most would wonder if it could be called one at all. Karan and Daffodil were both bewildered, but they quickly realized what it was. The handle and grip were too familiar. “What did you do?! That sword was important to me!” Karan shouted. It was her beloved weapon, the Dragonbone Sword. Or rather, it used to be. Karan was angered by the sight of what had been done to it. She jumped out of her wheelchair but immediately grew dizzy, and Daffodil rushed forward to support her. “H-hey, Karan! You’re still recovering!” “B-but…,” Karan stuttered. “I can see you repaired the sword, Diamond. But…you need to explain yourself. I had heard about some of your plans, but I didn’t know you were going to use this,” said Daffodil. Both dragonians looked at Diamond reproachfully, and she rushed to explain. “C-come on, it was shattered. There was a big hole in the middle of the blade. Restoring it to the way it was would’ve been impossible. I did manage to keep its shape to an extent,” Diamond said. Her words reminded Karan of when Callios attacked her. He had shattered the Dragonbone Sword, just as Diamond said. Karan hung her head sadly, remembering that she had already lost it. “You still should’ve told us you were repairing it. Is it even a sword anymore?” Daffodil asked uncertainly. Diamond nodded. “Yeah. And not just any sword—it’s a holy sword. Or I guess I should say I’m about to make it one,” she said, pointing at what used to be the Dragonbone Sword. Karan finally realized what Diamond was envisioning. “You mean…you’re going to make this your body?” “Yep.” “And I’m going to wield it?” “Yep.” “…Will I be able to fight with it?” “No.” Diamond calmly shook her head. “It should make up for the stamina you’ve lost and help you protect yourself, as well as reduce the effects of your curse. But it will not heal you, and I did not make it with exploring labyrinths and fighting monsters in mind.” “Then what can it do?” “It resonates sound, which will allow you to hear better and give you a way of accomplishing your goals without engaging in combat. That is the only way for you to fight right now.” “Will I be able to use it?” “It’s easy to use but difficult to master.” “Can I use it to save Nick and the others?” “That depends on you.” Karan briefly shut her eyes. It didn’t take her long to reach a decision. “Okay. I know what I want to do. Please become my sword.” “I will do as you ask. Lend me your soul,” Diamond said, matching Karan’s strong resolve. “Shouldn’t you both give this a little more thought? This is a big decision to make on the spot,” Daffodil said with a weak smile, but she seemed to have resigned herself to this outcome. “Sorry, Daffy.” “Don’t worry. I’ll protect her.” Diamond reached out and touched the strange new sword. Color-shifting light shone from her body, and she transformed into a jewel that fit into the sword’s guard. The remains of the Dragonbone Sword came to life. It floated into the air, then spoke in a resonant voice. “Young adventurer. You have known love, overcome all manner of lies and schemes, and reached my starlit stage. I recognize you as a champion of love. Know that your affection will illuminate the endless darkness. I grant you a radiance that will steal the gazes of all creatures under the sun.”
Chapter 85
12 min read