Chapter 77

The meal with the sergeant turned out to be, as expected, a lively exchange of stories about our pasts. Well, to put it bluntly, it was more like a session of airing each other's dirty laundry. The sergeant would bring up some trivial story from my past to tease me, and I would counter by telling some ridiculous stories about the guys in the unit.

Despite having known each other for only about four years, we never ran out of things to talk about. Before I knew it, we had talked until the food was all gone.

"Wow... I have to say, I'm a bit surprised. I didn't think you'd get so worked up over anyone other than the previous master."

"Yeah, well, Sherrato's way of interacting with people is a bit unique, I guess."

"...Is that so? I didn't really notice."

The sergeant nodded thoughtfully, and I furrowed my brow in response.

To be honest, I didn't really feel the same way. Sure, I might change my attitude to avoid trouble, but I don't think my basic stance towards others has changed.

Lumina, who was listening in, seemed to be just as confused. She tilted her head, holding her glass of juice in both hands.

The sergeant, however, chuckled and spoke up.

"You only get close to people who can fight, don't you?"

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what I said. Sherrato, you think people who can't fight are beneath you—no, that's not a good way to put it. You see them as people who need protection, right?"

"...Well, I guess that might be true."

It's a harsh way of putting it, but I can't deny that I look down on people who can't fight. But that doesn't mean I disregard them. I just think that if you can't fight, you should stay in the back. Fighting is the job of those who can. If someone who can't fight steps forward, it benefits neither of us.

The sergeant seemed to read my thoughts, narrowing his eyes as he looked at me.

"That's why you respect people who can fight—people who have survived the battlefield. You only see them as equals after that."

"...Master really isn't very modern, is he?"

"Leave it to the foolish disciple."

There were a lot of things I wanted to say, but arguing about this would just give the sergeant more material to tease me with. I swallowed my complaints along with my drink and sighed deeply.

Still, his assessment was probably accurate. I hadn't really been aware of it, but my way of looking at people was indeed skewed. I couldn't help but twist my lips in self-mockery—then I noticed something. In the depths of the sergeant's eyes, there was a hint of regret.

(Regret, huh...)

I knew exactly what that feeling was. It was likely the same memory that both the sergeant and I shared. If this attitude of mine towards others, as the sergeant and Hima described, had developed over time, then it must have started from that day.

It was the battlefield where we first lost a comrade from our unit. In a sense, it was the beginning for me.

(If it had just been the two of us drinking, I might have told that story.)

But this wasn't a story to share with Hima or Lumina. It was a past event to keep hidden in my heart. I placed my glass down with a wry smile and responded.

"Well, the guys in the unit and I went through hell together. Like you, they're comrades I can call friends."

"Hehe, you've softened up, that blade boy who used to be sharper than a samurai sword."

"You better fix that habit of butting in with unnecessary comments, or your granddaughter will start to dislike you."

"Hahaha! Too bad, Sherrato! Just by talking about you, I'm already a favorite with my cute granddaughter!"

"...You better not tell her it's me, got it?"

Given how pushy Iori can be, she'd definitely come over if she heard that. She seems to have dreams and hopes about samurais. But the battlefield we experienced was far from that ideal—it was a hellish place. It's not something to tell to a young girl. The sergeant, seemingly sharing the same opinion, nodded with a wry smile, raising his small barrel-shaped mug.

Then, a familiar electronic sound rang in our ears.

"Hmm... Ah, it's from Fino."

"Ah, I see. Iori's equipment must be ready."

"Hmm? You asked Iori for equipment? Well, we can't keep her waiting! Let's go!"

The sergeant grinned and said this, apparently considering Iori's interests. She loves period dramas and traditional Japanese clothing, and she must be looking forward to seeing us in traditional attire. The sergeant is usually considerate of his comrades, but he's even more indulgent with his granddaughter.

Well, the meal was over, and we were just chatting to pass the time. We had already caught up on recent events, so it was a good time to wrap things up.

"Alright, we'll take our leave. Let's have a drink again sometime."

"Sure, anytime you want."

I nodded at the sergeant's smile, shook his hand, and then I widened my eyes slightly. If I had asked him what he meant with his gaze, he would have nodded slightly.

"...You two, go on ahead. I need to talk to him for a bit."

"Eh? Ah, sure... if you say so..."

"Then I'll wait outside, Father."

The two of them left the shop, tilting their heads slightly. As they left, I tightened my grip on the hand I had just shaken with the sergeant, and asked him what he needed.

"...So, what's up, sergeant?"

"Just that. I had one question, too, so this is a good time."

"A question? What do you want to know?"

The sergeant sighed and closed his eyes. It must be something he finds hard to ask. I waited, on guard, and he slowly opened his mouth.

"Sou, I saw the video of you fighting the demon."

"Oh, that one. I gave permission to post it... Is there something wrong with that?"

"You... haven't changed since then, have you?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at the sergeant's words. Yes, he would think that. The me who defeated Geryon was—indeed, the same as the me from that war.

"Are you still regretting it, Sou? What happened back then—"

"...I can't say I regret it, sergeant. I don't regret what happened back then."

"...Is that so?"

"I've never told anyone this, but... there were casualties in that operation. There was significant damage. But, sergeant... the decision I made at that time was not a mistake, and the actions I took were undoubtedly the best."

It was the first time we lost a comrade in that unit. We had prepared, we had assessed the situation—and then we found ourselves in a dire situation. We never imagined that the reinforcements would turn out to be fake after the operation started.

But we managed to break through that dire situation and even succeeded in taking down the enemy commander. And as a result, we lost two of our comrades.

"If we hadn't taken him down, we wouldn't have been able to escape. I don't think the decisions I made after that were wrong. We did our best, and that's what led to the outcome. I sometimes wonder what I would have done if I were in that situation now, but it's a meaningless hypothetical."

"But you've been like this since then, haven't you?"

"...Yeah, I can't deny that."

I'm not regretting it. The regret the sergeant feels and the emotion I carry are different. I was just—

"—furious, back then."

"...You? You always seemed so calm to me."

"Self-control is essential in the Kyuuzen Shintou-ryu. No matter how furious I was, it wouldn't affect my swordsmanship. But... I was filled with a rage I had never felt before in my life."

I couldn't accept it, I couldn't tolerate it. The fact that my friends were shot down, the way they were mocked by those people. Ah—just thinking about it now, it makes my insides boil.

"Their meaningless claims, their eager expressions as they attacked—just their very existence was a source of irritation. I couldn't accept the existence of those terrorists. The fact that those scum were breathing, laughing—it felt like an unbearable blasphemy to me."

"...Sou, you—"

"That's why I channeled all my anger into my blade. I optimized myself to kill them. I vowed not to stop until I had killed every last one of them."

The sergeant's claim that I had changed must be due to this. I can't deny it. That was the first time I wielded my sword to kill.

"...That anger is still smoldering inside me. It probably won't go away until I die."

"Your demeanor when you fought the demon... was it because of that?"

"He was a blasphemy against those who fight. It must have reminded me of those scum. The demon race seems to have that kind of nature."

I smiled as I said this. After leaving the battlefield and returning to a peaceful life, I always felt a sense of unease. I continued to challenge the old man, but I felt like something was missing. And now, I've found the answer in this world.

"Killing all the demons. If they desecrate life, I will cut them down. Not to vent my anger or to satisfy myself, but because I define myself that way."

It's a continuation of that war. Using the essence of the Kyuuzen Shintou-ryu to crush them. That is—my new goal, the one I have found for myself.

The sergeant sighed deeply after hearing my conclusion.

"...I see. If this was all part of your plan, that's terrifying."

"Sergeant? What do you mean?"

"Nothing, nothing. Anyway, I understand your thinking. It's not healthy, but... hah, you'll be fine."

"Another baseless confidence, sergeant."

"What? I have a reason—"

The sergeant raised his thumb and tapped his chest, a habit I had seen many times over the four years. I smiled wryly and finished his sentence.

"—It's my intuition."

We grinned at each other, repeating the line. Even if we were consumed by anger, we wouldn't lose the value of these trivial exchanges. We were comrades who had fought together for those four years.

"Your intuition is usually right. I should be fine for a while... see you, sergeant."

"Sure, I'm counting on you, Sherrato."

"Of course, just watch and see."

I waved goodbye and left the bar. Before heading to the street where Hima and the others were waiting, I glanced at the small piece of paper I had been handed during the handshake.

"..."

It was a coded message from our unit days. Among the seemingly ordinary words, I read the hidden message.

"...Mr. Sherrato! I was about to come back to get you, it's getting late."

"Sorry, we got a bit carried away. Let's head to the 'Eleanor Company'... Ah, Hima, can you light a fire for me?"

"Eh? Uh... [Fire Torch]"

Hima tilted her head but still produced a small ball of fire. I brought the paper close to the flame. The paper quickly burned, leaving only black ashes on the ground. Hima tilted her head again.

"What was that?"

"Just trash. Come on, let's go."

I smiled and patted Hima's back, then walked towards Lumina, who was waiting. In my heart, I pondered the words I had read.

(World, Secret... and Miniature... Garden. World, secret... box garden. What was the sergeant trying to tell me...?)

Given the way he sent the message, I couldn't ask him directly. What had he discovered, and what was he trying to convey? What should I do? I continued to think about the answers, which were not yet clear, in my heart.

---

**Avatar Name: Kuon**

**Gender: Male**

**Race: Human**

**Level: 27**

**Status (Remaining Status Points: 0)**

STR: 24

VIT: 18

INT: 24

MND: 18

AGI: 14

DEX: 14

**Skills**

Weapon Skill: [Sword: Lv.27]

Magic Skill: [Enhancement Magic: Lv.19]

Set Skills: [Dead Point Strike: Lv.17]

[MP Auto Recovery: Lv.15]

[Loot Sword: Lv.14]

[Identification: Lv.15]

[Life Sword: Lv.16]

[Demon Slayer Sword: Lv.7]

[Tame: Lv.12]

[HP Auto Recovery: Lv.12]

[Life Force Manipulation: Lv.9]

Sub Skills: [Mining: Lv.8]

Title Skill: [Fairy's Blessing]

**Current SP: 30**

---

**Avatar Name: Hima**

**Gender: Female**

**Race: Human**

**Level: 27**

**Status (Remaining Status Points: 0)**

STR: 24

VIT: 17

INT: 21

MND: 18

AGI: 16

DEX: 16

**Skills**

Weapon Skill: [Sword: Lv.27]

Magic Skill: [Fire Magic: Lv.23]

Set Skills: [Fighting Spirit: Lv.17]

[Spell Charge: Lv.16]

[Fire Attribute Enhancement: Lv.15]

[Healing Proficiency: Lv.10]

[Identification: Lv.15]

[Dead Point Strike: Lv.17]

[Fighting: Lv.16]

[Combat Skills: Lv.16]

[Endurance: Lv.16]

Sub Skills: [Gathering: Lv.7]

[Mining: Lv.10]

Title Skill: [Crimson Sword Maiden]

**Current SP: 30**

---

**Monster Name: Lumina**

**Gender: Female**

**Race: Valkyrie**

**Level: 1**

**Status (Remaining Status Points: 0)**

STR: 25

VIT: 18

INT: 32

MND: 19

AGI: 21

DEX: 19

**Skills**

Weapon Skill: [Sword]

Magic Skill: [Light Magic]

Skills: [Light Attribute Enhancement]

[Light Wings]

[High Magic Resistance]

[Medium Physical Resistance]

[High MP Auto Recovery]

[Wind Magic]

[Magic Circle]

[Boost]

Title Skill: [Servant of the Spirit King]