Chapter 47

After that, we attempted to create a magic sword again, this time with Albert joining us.

However, I deliberately held back and infused the magic sword with a significantly weakened 'Fireball.'

Dian and Albert tilted their heads in confusion at the result, but I managed to pass off the previous success as mere luck.

It wouldn't do for my evaluation to get too high; if I did, I might end up being forced to make nothing but magic swords.

Creating magic swords was fun, but doing it continuously would be a hassle.

What I really want to do is magic. Creating magic swords is just a part of it.

"Hmm, can't get the same firepower as before..."

"Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about it. Well, it seems I'm the one who really suits Lloyed. Hahaha."

Albert looks oddly pleased. He's a strange guy, even to me, his brother.

"Even if it's not as powerful, it's still a magic sword. There are plenty of uses for it. ...Dian, will you help with the plan as promised?"

"Yeah, of course."

What exactly is this plan?

Seeing me tilt my head, the two of them grin.

"A magic sword unit!?"

Seeing me exclaim, they grin again.

"---Yeah, I promised Dian to introduce you. I'm planning to equip all my guards with magic swords."

"I never thought we could make magic swords in this country, but since we can, there's no choice. Let's do it, Lloyed!"

Dian and Albert shake hands firmly.

I didn't expect these two to be planning to mass-produce magic swords and deploy them in a unit.

It's a romantic idea, I suppose...

"Ultimately, even beyond the guards... While it might be too much to give every soldier a magic sword, I'd like to at least give enhanced swords to the more capable ones. In the end, equipping all the soldiers in the castle with them would create the strongest unit."

"Kuuu! That's great! I'm getting excited!"

Hold on, are you talking about all the soldiers in the castle? That's impossible, no matter what.

Even ordinary monster cores are hard to come by.

As I think this and feel exasperated, I notice something tugging at my sleeve.

"Kuun."

"Huh, what's up, Shiro?"

"Oon!"

It's Shiro. Shiro pulls me and starts running.

"Whoa!?"

"Hey, Lloyed, where are you going? We can't start without you!"

"Well, I'll be back later!"

I leave the scene, being pulled by Shiro.

We end up at the tower where the Sixth Princess, Alize, lives.

I wonder what business I have here.

"Oon!"

"Just come along, it seems," says Dian.

"Alright, alright, I get it."

I knock on the tower door as Shiro prompts me.

The maid, Elise, comes out. Her face looks unusually tired.

"Welcome, Master Lloyed. You look well."

"Hey. You seem pretty tired."

"Yes... Recently, more and more monsters have been appearing... Sigh, is there nothing that can be done about it..."

It seems Alize has been attracting more monsters again.

It's like she's using bait. Taking care of Alize must be quite a challenge.

"By the way, they looked similar to Master Lloyed's dog..."

Leaving Elise tilting her head, Shiro marches into the tower.

Hey, you can't just go in like that.

"Ooooon!"

Shiro howls in the center of the tower.

Then, something emerges from the surrounding foliage.

"Woof woof!"

"Yip yip!"

High-pitched barks as the Beowolves, similar to Shiro, run up to him.

They are a bit smaller than Shiro, like mini-Shiros.

Shiro and I are quickly surrounded by the mini-Shiros.

"Oh, where are you going, you two?"

Following them, Alize appears, carrying several even smaller Shiros—Puchi-Shiros.

"Oh, Lloyed! You came again! I'm so happy!"

"Whap!?"

I'm hugged along with the Puchi-Shiros and squeezed tightly. It's... suffocating...

"Woof!" "Yip!"

And the mini-Shiros are rubbing against me too.

What's going on here?

"Hehe, aren't they cute? These little ones wandered into the castle a few days ago, and I took them in. They seem to know Shiro. Right?"

"Woof woof!" "Yip yip!"

The mini and Puchi-Shiros bark in agreement.

Wait, can you understand what they're saying? Alize is something else.

"Ha, I wish you could share some of that communication ability with us."

"Oh, Elise, I love you and Lloyed just as much as these little ones."

"Equal to animals!? That's unacceptable, Princess Alize!"

"Hehe."

Alize and Elise chat amicably.

These two are surprisingly close.

"It seems these little ones followed Master Lloyed here."

Come to think of it, the last time we parted, they had young ones and stayed in the forest.

They wanted to follow me when I left the forest.

So, they ended up coming here with their young.

"Woof!"

The mini-Shiros go into the foliage and return with something in their mouths.

They line up red stones in front of me.

These are... monster cores.

"Oon!"

Shiro looks at me straight and barks.

"He's telling you to take them."

"So that's why Shiro brought me here."

There are quite a few monster cores, and some of them are of high quality, suitable for magic sword creation.

I was losing motivation to gather materials, but with these, I might consider helping Dian.

I also want to try out other enchantments.

"Good job, you guys. I'll come back sometimes."

"Woof!" "Yip yip!"

When I pet the mini and Puchi-Shiros, they gather around, saying, "Me too, me too."

Hey, one at a time.

"Still, those must be the monsters Lloyed attracted... Oh, no! Could it be that from now on, Lloyed and Princess Alize will attract double the monsters!? Then my vacation... No, that can't be..."

Elise mutters and collapses.

She must be tired. Being a maid is tough.

Thinking about this, I leave the tower.