Chapter 61

After successfully communicating with the Payload during my sparring match with Asulin, barely managing to win, the Payload stopped interfering with my swordsmanship unlike before.

It could be seen as a significant step forward that it ceased trying to force its outdated style on me whenever I swung my sword. But just because I had overcome a major hurdle didn’t mean everything was solved. There were still problems left unresolved.

“Andy.”

“Yeah.”

“That girl seems to be rejecting your hostility.”

“She isn’t just seeming to reject it. She’s actually doing it.”

“…Wow.”

I thought we had opened up lines of communication since the Payload had self-awareness, but now that it couldn’t interfere with me anymore, it had completely shut down any dialogue. This was the core of the problem.

In a way, this was more serious than when it interfered with my swordsmanship before. Comparing it to how it had shown its true nature as a master sword by not bending to my will, this was even worse since I couldn’t even approach it to understand the cause.

Of course, just because it was serious didn’t mean there was no solution.

“…Do you think this will work?”

“It feels like it might, based on instinct.”

“If you ask me, I have no reason to refuse. I’ll do it then.”

There was nothing else to it. Instead of just swinging my sword alone in the training ground, I brought Asulin along to show her practice session.

“…Alright.”

Uuung!!

With Kaladbolg in hand, it absorbed Asulin’s hostility while showing off its power.

Kaladbolg, held by Asulin, drew a beautiful trajectory across the night sky.

The winter constellation shimmered overhead, and the frosty light emitted from the blade of Kaladbolg, which had absorbed Asulin’s hostility, added to the glittering spectacle.

While the unique color emanating from Kaladbolg was beautiful, Asulin’s form as she wielded it freely, expressing her intent through the blade, was even more breathtaking.

Unlike the ruthless aura she displayed when wielding powerful swords on the battlefield, her slow and graceful movements did not exude such energy. Ironically, this made it harder to approach her recklessly.

What should I say… It felt similar to an audience watching an extraordinary piece of art feeling daunted by its aura and hesitating to get closer.

Sssshh!!

Just as I was about to continue thinking, Kaladbolg in Asulin’s hand traced another elegant curve across the night sky.

Her usual sharp and clear linear sword techniques were replaced by unfamiliar trajectories, and without realizing it, I swallowed the saliva that almost escaped my lips.

It was beautiful. How could something be so beautiful? Her sword’s path was breathtaking, and the effort it took to summon Kaladbolg at my request, maintaining its immense hostility, was equally admirable.

There wasn’t a single thing that wasn’t beautiful.

Tat!

As I continued to marvel, Asulin and Kaladbolg leaped high into the sky.

The leap was so high that it seemed to reach its peak just as Kaladbolg sliced through the full moon hanging in the sky.

It wasn’t that the sword cut the moon, but rather that the blade reached the moon’s location perfectly, making it seem as though it had cut it.

“Huh…”

Just as the elegant sword path ended, I barely managed to suppress the sigh that almost escaped my lips when I saw the moon appear to split vertically for a moment before disappearing.

I had heard rumors that only a select few among those who could use hostility to cut through clouds in the sky could do so, but seeing it with my own eyes was shocking.

“Huuu…”

Asulin, who had performed this feat, casually dispersed the remaining hostility with a gentle breath after finishing her sword dance.

Usually, someone who achieved such a feat would boast about it, but…

“This morning, I hastily prepared this sword dance for you… I wonder if you liked it…”

As Asulin quietly asked for my opinion while blushing slightly, it was clear she wasn’t seeking pride but simply wanted to know if her performance pleased me.

And since I wasn’t one to ignore such pure desires,

“…It was too beautiful, and I couldn’t fully appreciate it. I’m truly sorry, but could you show me the sword dance once more?”

I expressed my admiration to Asulin.

Seeing her face light up instantly, it was clear this was the right response.

Normally, enjoying the night sky while watching Asulin perform her sword dance would be enough, but…

“Hey.”

Silently, I called out to another observer who had witnessed Asulin’s dance besides myself.

Rattle—

Finally, Paleord stirred faintly.

With a clear sign that he had something to say in response to my call.

Suppressing the rising disdain,

“If you cooperate properly, I think you can create a scene just as impressive, if not more so.”

I laid out my thoughts directly to Paleord, whose dialogue channels were completely closed.

…

Paleord’s trembling reached me again.

Though it wasn’t the faint voice I had heard in my mind immediately after winning against Asulin,

I somehow felt his trembling intensifying was akin to agreeing with me.

“Or are you unsure? Even if you weren’t the one holding the sword, I believe I could still witness a performance similar to what I just saw.”

I deliberately provoked Paleord’s pride.

Paleord was surprisingly proud, and I predicted he would react in some way regardless of the provocation.

“…Annoying…”

A vague voice echoed in my mind, confirming my prediction.

I couldn’t tell what he was saying.

Despite raising all my senses, including spiritual sense, to focus on Paleord’s voice in my head,

“…So annoying…”

…

Even though it was vague, Paleord’s clear words shattered my composure instantly.

For a moment, I felt an urge to throw this troublesome sword into the boiling metal near the forge, not far from the duke’s residence.

“Stay calm.”

If Asulin hadn’t desperately intervened, I would have surely acted on that impulse.

…

For a moment, I felt an indescribable anger towards Paleord, who had openly insulted me.

‘Understood.’

Knowing where this proud sword reacted gave me insight.

“Cough.”

I expelled the anger building in my chest with a rough cough.

“Scared? Afraid you wouldn’t look good in front of Kaladbolg?”

I deliberately spoke in a harsh, twisted tone, mocking Paleord.

Uuuuun!!!

Paleord responded by flaring up, and the cold air around us grew even colder.

“…Kaladbolg is clicking its tongue. Nothing has changed in its temper.”

Asulin calmly commented on Kaladbolg’s reaction, which showed no concern for the intense cold.

“I never imagined a conscious sword would reveal its consciousness so blatantly. It feels too childish.”

My breath turned frosty as it merged with the cold air, responding to Asulin.

“Geez!!”

Paleord’s voice rang clearly in my mind again.

Though I couldn’t pinpoint why, I could feel his immense pride was hurt by my direct comparison with Kaladbolg.

“So what? What’s with the audacity? You, a sword that can’t even attack or defend without someone holding you, acting like a lord?”

I countered Paleord’s stubbornness by exerting my own.

“Geez!! Geez!! Geez!!”

Paleord’s vocabulary seemed to shrink as his anger escalated, but I continued.

“If you’re upset…”

Uuuuun!!

As Paleord’s consciousness lost control, I slowly infused hostility into him, causing a golden flicker to appear in his blade, matching my pupils.

“Y-you!!”

Paleord realized too late that I had intentionally provoked him and poured hostility into him, causing him to erupt in anger.

“…Are you alright? Even so, handling a conscious sword roughly like this seems a bit much.”

Asulin voiced her concern, but I dismissed it lightly.

“It’s fine. We’re getting closer.”

I continued to infuse hostility into Paleord, which blended seamlessly with his blade despite the cold.

Buuuun!!

Testing it out, I swung Paleord toward the sky, meeting a bright golden flash as it rose.

“Got it.”

Having successfully controlled Paleord to freely execute my sword techniques, I had managed to infuse hostility into him without suppressing his will.

Since I succeeded once, repeating it would be easier.

Shrrrk—

Finally, I sheathed Paleord.

“It’s getting late. Let’s go inside and rest.”

With Asulin, I returned to our room, marking the end of a long journey in taming Paleord.

But I was wrong.

…

“Feeling better after provoking me?”

“…”

“I’ll make those arrogant jerks who think they’re better than me pay.”

It wasn’t over.