Chapter 425: Familial Disgust

「And this, this is likely to be a clue」

「The piece of that magic sword」

What Fran took out was the blade of the magic sword that she had cut off. There would be a chance to get closer to its real identity. Thanks to the fact that most of the magic power had been drained out from it, its already felt much less disgusting.

『…Hmm. the material is…I think it's similar with my blade』

I have blacksmithing skills, so I can tell some things apart to some extent. At least it's not iron. I don't know exactly what this metal is, but the closest I can come to it is the metal used for myself.

As I recall, it was a metal called Orichalcos, which could only be used by a divine blacksmith. However, since only divine blacksmiths can handle it, I can't tell if it's something special with my normal blacksmithing skills.

Even that Gallus didn't understand the material of my sword. Still, I could tell that the metals that made up my sword and this were very similar.

But that would make the story more complicated. After all, there will be possibility for that magic sword to be a divine sword.

Well, compared to Gaia that Asurasu showed me, I only felt a much weaker magical power, and I think it's more likely that it's less than divine magic sword made by a divine blacksmith using Orichalcos.

When I think about it, it makes sense that I was able to activate cannibalism. An intelligence weapon made by a divine blacksmith, made of the same material. It wouldn't be strange to say that we are the same kind. It seems to be more likely related to a divine blacksmith rather than Trismegistus.

「I'd like to examine it. Can you leave it with me?」

(Master?)

「I'll make sure to return it to you when the investigation is complete. It's Fran's loot after all」

Well, we can't investigate any further on our own even if we had it, and if you want to lend it to him, that's fine.

『I think it's a good idea.』

「Nn. Understood」

While Fran and Frederick were talking in front of Gordon's body, Urushi returned.

「Woof!」

「Urushi, welcome back. you got something?」

「Woof!」

Oh, Urushi looks so confident. Apparently, the chase went well.

「…Marquis Ashtner's residence?」

「Woof!」

Urushi nodded at Fran's question. Seriously? Fran had only mentioned Marquis of Ashtner randomly, but actually it was the correct answer.

「Really?」

「Woof woof!」

When Fran asked back suspiciously, Urushi desperately appealed for her to believe him. It seems that he has really escaped to Marquis Ashtner's mansion.

Last time, it took the trouble to cut off its sign in the residential area and was wary for anyone to not follow it…But this time, it was so easy to find where its destination is.

No, because it was damaged by Fran's Sword King technique, it didn't have enough time to scatter its pursuers. And I’m sure I've absorbed some of its power too.

Incidentally, as a result of cannibalism, my magic power and durability increased by 50 each. It may seem subtle, but if I can completely absorb the power of a magic sword, I can expect a considerable strengthening.

「Did that wolf find out where that magic sword ran off to?」

「Nn. Marquis Ashtner residence」

「Really?」

「Nn. He is trustworthy」

「Gau Gau!」

When Fran suspected him, he reacted with a「please believe me」kind of whining, but when he looks at Frederick, he looks at him like saying「What? You didn't believe my words?」That's how he reacted and shot a glare at Frederick.

Even in his dog-sized state, he is powerful enough, but Frederick is not flinching at all. As expected of him.

「Don't glare at him」

「woof…!」

Fran smacked Urushi on the head and warned him. Then, Urushi looked back at Fran with a look like saying「it's because of him」

However, Fran ignored Urushi and proceeded with her story.

「I'm going to Marquis Ashtner」

「No, wait a moment」

「whine…」

Yeah, hang in there, Urushi.

「Even if you force your way in here, when you can't find any evidence of guilt, you'll just end up being pursued. It will take a long time to start the investigation again. Be cautious」

「Muh…」

「Gau!」

Urushi glared at Frederick again. Now he looks like saying「Bastard, what did you said to neesan huh」maybe?

Fran hit him on the head again, and Urushi looked away from Frederick with an attitude of 「Damn. I'll let you off the hook this time」 he said. I've never seen this boy looks so much like a thug.

In the end, there was a possibility that we would be attacked again if we stayed here for too long, and after putting out the fire with Velmeria, we decided to move on. The place we were aiming for was their hideout in the noble district where we first met Count Bailleys.

When I mentioned that the magic sword had disappeared to the Marquis Ashtner's mansion on the way, Velmeria nodded her head in agreement.

「It seems that he were involved, after all. That's one more reason for us to search Marquis Ashtner's residence」

「Assuming what that wolf say was real. We'll have to back him up」

「Gau!」

Urushi responded to Frederick's words, groaning like saying「Are you saying I’m lying! Haah?」No, he's usually a bit more of a cute guy, but he gets strangely worked up over Frederick.

Is its familial disgust? Well, he have a similar skill composition and are rivalling Frederick, who seems to be a threat to his position. He's a wolf, after all, and he's probably concerned about his position in the group.

『Familial disgust huh……』

I wonder if the disgust I feel for that magic sword is the same thing.

It is a magic sword with great power and can act independently with its own will. In addition, it can give its user skills and other abilities to strengthen it to an unbelievable degree.

Of course, this information was not confirmed yet, but at present, it was highly likely that it was an intelligent weapon with powers similar to mine.

We are alike, too much alike.

I was angry at it for its methods. But Hamuls had died because he had been in potential release for too long. It could have happened to any of us. Both I and that magic sword are dangerous swords that can bring death to the wielder. I hate to admit it, but……

『Hmm』

(What's wrong?)

『No, nothing…I just wondered why that magic sword and I are so much alike』

(Not alike)

『No, we don't look alike, but our abilities are pretty similar, right?』

However, Fran denied my words with an unprecedentedly strong voice.

(Not alike! it killed its own wielder!)

『But it's the same for us, if we overuse your potential release, you will lose your lives. The only difference is whether or not we stopped in the middle. Well, I know It killed Gordon』

(Not alike! It killed its own wielder. Master is always thinking of me. Completely different)

『…is that so?』

(Nn! that thing is a bad sword. Master is a good sword)

To be honest, I don't think there's that much of a difference between that magic sword and me. The only difference is our stance towards the wielder.

But if Fran says it's different, then it must be different. That's what I'm going to think from now on. (

Just thinking about it like that, I found that the haze in my mind cleared up. I'm a lucky guy…

『…Thanks』

「Nn!」