At first, it didn’t seem like Elrand was making any progress at all. It took him five whole slashes to make any sort of cut in the leviathan’s hide, and a few more to reach the meat beneath.
Elrand paused to gasp for breath. “So, as you can see, we can make the incisions we need to drain the beast’s blood, particularly given that we can work with the wounds that Gon left...but do you see any practical way to butcher it beyond that?”
“W-Well, you did cut it in the end, didn’t you? It took some effort, yes, but it’s not impossible!” Bram protested.
Elrand sighed once again. “I did, yes, because I had the skills and knowledge necessary to do so. How many people do you think would be able to strike the exact same spot, multiple times in a row, with perfect precision and the force necessary to pierce its hide?”
“W-Well...”
“Not to mention that it would only be a matter of time before my precious dragon sword shattered! A short matter of time!” Elrand added. He’d casually referred to it as his dragon sword yet again, brushing past the fact that it would only be his after he’d paid off his debt. “If you can prepare several more dragon swords to expend over the course of the project, then I suppose it would technically be possible to butcher it. Is that within your means?”
“Ugh,” Bram grunted with a scowl. Everyone—presumably including Elrand—knew that the very idea of having multiple dragon swords on hand for something like this was absurd.
“And that, in short, is why I believe that butchering this leviathan may very well be impossible for us. Unless we can get our hands on a magic sword, or some equivalent tool, it’s just not going to be practical,” Elrand concluded.
Hm? A magic sword?
I looked at Elrand. He looked at me.
“Aaaaaahhh!!!”
Whoa! Why’re you pointing at me like that?! Cut it out!
The next thing I knew Elrand had sprinted straight over to me and grabbed me by the shoulders. There was a legitimately crazed look in his eyes. “That’s it! Of course! Your magic sword, Mukohda! Caladbolg! The one you found at the bottom of the Dolan dungeon!”
You’re really just saying that?! Straight up, full volume, in front of everyone?!
“I understand. In short, using a magic sword will allow you to butcher the leviathan, correct?”
Why are you chiming in now, Fel?! Of all the moments!
“Yes! Yes, it absolutely would!” Elrand insisted.
“I see. In that case, you will have to provide the equipment they need,” Fel said, glancing at me. “You have several, do you not? Bring them all out.”
Okay, nope! Hold the phone, Fel! Is everyone planning on spilling my secrets without a second thought here?!
“Hold on a minute,” Bram said. “Did I hear the fenrir right just now? Did he say you have several of them?”
O-Ooooh, no. My gaze met Bram’s. “Well, I, umm,” I stammered as a waterfall of cold sweat began to drip from my pores.
“He has four, as I recall.”
Felllllll!
Fel had once again casually given up one of my most closely kept secrets, and this one had even more of an impact than the others. Bram, Moira, Elrand, and the other guild bigwigs had all been rendered speechless. I started seriously considering spinning around and heading for the hills while they were still out of it, but before I could resolve myself to make a break for it, Elrand—who, by the way, was still holding on to my shoulders—came back to his senses a step ahead of the others and started shaking me wildly, the look in his eyes more crazed than ever.
“Y-You have more of them, Mukohda?! Caladbolg isn’t your only magic sword?!”
O-Oh, god, okay, back off! The face you’re making right now’s terrifying enough when I’m not seeing it at point-blank range! How are your eyes even that bloodshot?! “C-Calm down, Elrand, please! And give me some personal space while you’re at it!” I shouted as I shoved him away from me. It didn’t work very well. The elf kept a very firm grip on my shoulders, and was huffing and puffing wildly as he tightened his grip. He had no intention of letting me go anywhere.
“All right, settle down, Elrand,” said Bram, who stepped up to Elrand and patted him on the back. “Now then, Mukohda, is that true? Do you really have four magic swords in your possession?”
I gulped. Bram sounded calm and collected. He was smiling, even...but there was something about the look on his face—something about the look in his eyes—that wasn’t friendly at all. It was terrifying.
“Well, the thing is, I, umm,” I stammered. I couldn’t stop glancing at Bram’s face every other word.
“Give it to us straight, Mukohda. Please.”
I hesitated...then gave in. “It’s, umm, true. I have four, yeah,” I admitted. I could tell that even if I tried to lie, Bram would’ve seen right through me.
A stir began to run through the higher-ups, but Bram put a quick stop to it before things could get out of hand. “Let’s see them,” he said.
I started bringing the magic swords out from my Item Box, one by one. “This one’s Caladbolg,” I said as I pulled out the first blade. Elrand held his hands out, and I reflexively passed it to him without really considering what I was doing.
“This is the one that the behemoth at the bottom of the Dolan dungeon left behind! It’s made out of adamantite, I believe!” Elrand enthusiastically explained.
Yup, it’s adamantite! That’s why it’s so heavy, and that’s also yet another piece of information that would’ve been better kept secret! Not that it really matters at this point, I guess.
“Then these are Hrunting, Gram, and Eckesachs,” I continued as I produced the remaining three swords, which I handed to Bram and two of the other bigshots who held their hands out as well. I idly wondered if those three had the greatest seniority out of the five of them.
One way or another, all three of them were overjoyed to get to hold a magic sword. I knew that for a fact because they said as much, out loud, very excitedly. It was like they were a trio of little kids playing with their new toys, and I couldn’t help but be a little charmed in spite of myself. I spent a while watching them until finally, Elrand cleared his throat.
“Ahem! May I?” he said, gesturing toward the leviathan. He seemed ready to set about butchering the creature that very moment.
The high-ranking guild officers seemed to snap back to reality with a start, and all looked a little embarrassed by their momentary lapse. I shouldn’t have laughed, but I have to admit that I might’ve let out a chuckle.
“I believe we should have no difficulty butchering the leviathan if we borrow these swords from Mukohda, but I’ll have to test that before I can make any promises! We’ll begin by bleeding it. Follow me, please!”
Elrand led us up along the leviathan’s body, finally coming to a stop near its head—specifically, by the enormous wound that Gon had left when he bit its head most of the way off. Blue blood was oozing out of the gash, and it seemed that they’d already set out basins to collect all of it, which struck me as smart of them.
“Now, ordinarily I would make a cut around the base of the creature’s head, but seeing as Gon apparently already handled that part of the process... Hiyah!”
Elrand moved away from the wound, striking slightly farther down on the leviathan’s body with Caladbolg. The sword pierced straight through the creature’s hide with a mighty shiiing...and sliced nearly halfway through its body in a single stroke. A wave of blue blood gushed out of the gash, soaking Elrand, Bram, the rest of the bigwigs, Moira, and me from head to foot.
“Fool,” Fel commented with a roll of his eyes.
Agreed. Also, how did you manage to get out of that spotless, Fel?