Chapter 33: I don’t want to use that as an excuse.

When I asked how to draw out the Holy Sword’s power, Carol suddenly pointed at Alicia. If she’s involved, then it must be because of her title as the “Saint,” right?

"Ahh, you’re really easy to read. But wrong."

"Am I really that obvious? Isn’t that a bit too easy to read???"

Why can these people read others’ thoughts so easily without a word being said? Hikari’s the same. If I’m this readable, it feels like it’d be a disadvantage in the “King’s Battle,” so I kind of want to fix that.

"Relax. When you’re actually fighting, you’re too focused to be your usual loose self, so you’re not readable. It’s only in relaxed settings like this that you become obvious."

"No, seriously, how do you even know? I didn’t say a single word."

"More importantly, what do you mean? That Toma’s Holy Sword awakened because of Alicia?"

"To be precise, the third ability awakened thanks to the Saint. The first ability—‘the Holy Sword returns to your hand’—is your initial ability, something you can use from the start. But from the second ability onward, they only awaken after you meet certain conditions."

Out of habit, Carol reached for the brim of her hat—but there was no hat, only a maid headband. Remembering her current outfit, she grew slightly irritated before continuing.

"In short, your abilities awaken and strengthen based on how strong your emotional bond is with someone you’re close to. The second ability awakened thanks to the silver-haired maid, and the third thanks to the Saint."

"Ah… if you put it that way, then the moment ‘Adaptation’ appeared was…"

"I watched the footage. It awakened right after the Saint shouted, ‘Do your best!!!!!!!’ That’s when you met the condition."

Back then, I was too desperate to realize… so that’s what it was. I never thought I won on my own, but it seems I was helped far more than I realized.

When I use the Holy Sword’s power, thinking that Hikari and Alicia are always supporting me makes me happy… but as a guy, it also feels a bit pathetic. It’s complicated.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu—!!!"

"Why is the Saint over there groaning?"

"She probably remembered when she got teased in town. It even included the kiss scene."

Apparently, that footage gets broadcast regularly all over Swordia… Supposedly to strengthen unity, but it feels like they’re steadily boxing me in from all sides.

Do kings not get any privacy?

"Being seen is part of the job, right? You gave speeches from the castle and everything."

"I only did it because I had to. Though, I guess it’s better for people to understand what their king is doing rather than having an invisible one."

"Being too approachable can cause problems too."

"Too late to change that now. Might as well accept it."

People don’t change that easily. My personality has been like this since before I was even born, so there’s not much I can do.

Anyway, the conversation drifted. I should refocus.

"So, to awaken the Holy Sword’s power, I just need to get closer to Hikari and Alicia?"

"You won’t awaken anything new with the silver-haired maid or the Saint. What you can do is strengthen your existing abilities. With the former, your physical enhancement and intuition—the second ability—gets stronger. With the latter, your ability to adapt to any situation improves."

So basically, each person you grow close to unlocks one ability. To strengthen it, you need to deepen that bond. And to awaken new powers, you need to form bonds with new people.

"Something like that?"

"That’s the simple version. There are other minor conditions, but there’s no point worrying about them."

"I see… Man, that’s a pretty troublesome system for a Holy Sword…"

If that’s the case, the “First Sword King,” who supposedly fully mastered the Holy Sword, must’ve been an outrageous playboy. Completely unlike me—probably some naturally smooth-talking king who flirted with girls constantly.

"A king who flirts with girls nonstop… nothing like me. But then, why wouldn’t his bloodline remain? And why did he stab the Holy Sword in the first place…?"

I can’t organize my thoughts. Maybe I’m missing information—or looking at it wrong.

Either way, there’s no way to confirm anything about the dead. Maybe thinking about it is pointless.

And yet, my instincts are screaming that I have to think this through. Not the Holy Sword’s intuition—just a bad feeling that if I ignore this, I’ll regret it.

"I just remembered something you said earlier, Toma. And you don’t think that counts as flirting?"

"In his case, he’s just saying what he genuinely thinks. He’s basically broadcasting his thoughts without realizing it—and doesn’t notice it comes off as flirting."

"Isn’t that… the worst kind of case…?"

"I’m glad I found a friend who understands my struggles. Let’s keep doing our best together!!"

"Uuuu… I ended up liking even those hopeless parts of him…"

"You’ve got it rough. I’ll just enjoy watching from the sidelines."

Still, with so little information, there’s no point overthinking it. To learn more, I’ll need to investigate the “First Sword King.”

Which means going to that place in the Maraijik Empire, where the Demon King reigns. But to get permission, I’d have to win a “King’s Battle.”

"So in the end, all I can do right now is get stronger. I don’t like being stalled, but it can’t be helped."

For now, I’ll focus on what’s in front of me. I barely won my first “King’s Battle,” and I’m not arrogant enough to think I can keep winning like this.

Even that fight was a narrow victory, helped by the unexpected awakening of the third ability. Without it, I might have lost—and Alicia might not be here.

"Still, I said I’d get stronger, but how? I’m already joining knight training and doing special routines."

"You want to get stronger? That’s easy."

Carol said it casually while sipping tea, legs crossed beneath her long skirt. As expected of a genius witch…!

"Go flirt with a girl you want to get close to. Do that, and your fourth ability will awaken."

"I feel like I’m about to regret asking you, so please explain."

"There’s nothing to explain."

She said, confidently spearing a piece of cake with her fork, as if there were no doubt it was the best solution.

"If you want power fast, just flirt with girls. If a king does the flirting, it’ll usually work. They’ve seen your ‘King’s Battle,’ so they know you’re a good person."

"Absolutely not."

"...That was immediate."

Of course it was. If I did that, I’d lose sight of why I’m fighting.

"I want to fight so the people I care about can smile—not become friends just to win. That would reverse the whole purpose. And using someone’s feelings like that? I’d never do it."

"You’re naïve. You realize that could come back to bite you?"

"I think I do. Even if I’m pushed to the limit, I’ll just do my best not to drag anyone else down. I don’t want to put one life against the many and discard the one."

If anything, I’d rather carry the whole scale with me. Why should I give up even one? The words ‘give up’ and ‘despair’ don’t exist in my dictionary.

"I’ll resist until the very end. Even if I fail, I’d regret it—but at least I wouldn’t have to live with the guilt of using someone."

"Hmm. Well, do what you want. I think you’ll regret it someday. Like, ‘I should’ve done it sooner.’"

"I have my pride too. Besides, if people found out I was doing that, my mom would probably come kill me."

She was always strict about that kind of thing… If she found out I was toying with people’s feelings, she’d come after me without hesitation.

And since her fear is deeply ingrained in me, I wouldn’t even resist. Dying like that would leave me with enough regrets to haunt the world.

"Oh, and I’ve been wondering—why does getting close only apply to girls? What about guys?"

"Hmm? Because otherwise, you can’t go all the way."

All the way…? That sounds like something I don’t want to hear. My instincts are screaming danger.

Ignoring that, Carol gestured with her thumb toward Hikari and Alicia behind her.

"Sex. If you do that, you’ll max out the enhancement instantly."

"Pffft—!!!"

Did this ridiculously strong, magic-obsessed elf just say something outrageous?! As expected, the two she pointed at turned bright red.

There’s no way something like that could—

"W-Well, if Toma really wants to… I mean, it’ll happen sooner or later anyway!!"

"I-I’m fine too… if Toma-kun wants it…!!"

"Please don’t just accept that!?"

"Ahahahahahahahaha!!! Oh wow, this kind of amusement exists too! I’ve learned something new!!!"

I don’t understand women’s hearts. I am a shipper. Raised in a tavern, I grew up watching couples—dogs and cats alike. But when it comes to people teasing me, I’m extremely sensitive.

If this elf ever falls in love, I’m recording it and preserving it forever so she can suffer from embarrassment for life. Someone please make this completely detached elf fall in love…!!

After that, the four of us played cards—but with our minds all over the place, we ended up losing to the elf.