The cold north wind penetrated my collar.
The warmth of Ironforge was already far behind.
The road ahead was filled only with white frost.
My steps towards the north were heavy.
The silhouette of the snow-capped mountains in the distance heralded the entrance of winter.
“It’s really going to get cold now.”
My words scattered as white breath in the air.
It was a moment when I longed for a warm can of coffee.
Or maybe a Pepsi Zero.
I raised my head.
Through the clouds, a white peak faintly revealed itself.
The northern gateway, the land ruled by eternal winter.
Yet, a small smile lingered on my lips.
It felt like I had finally gained my freedom.
Aeris’ magic, Sylvia’s spirits, Seraphine’s divine power, Nia’s tracking…
No matter how much, they wouldn’t be able to follow me here.
“Looking back, they were all too strong.”
A sigh escaped my lips.
They were reliable party members in the game, but in reality, they were terrifying stalkers.
“Well, if it was a game, we would have reached the bad ending long ago.”
I smiled and took a step forward.
The snow underfoot crunched.
The white snow that deepened covered my footsteps.
‘But now I have the Demon Sword…’
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my hand.
The black inverted cross carved on my left hand, and the holy cross shining on my right.
The two symbols pulsed as if beating in unison.
“That’s strange…”
A strange premonition brushed against me.
Instinctively, I raised both hands.
“Daybreak. Twilight.”
I summoned both swords at the same time.
Zziiiing-
In that moment, the air vibrated.
The clash of light and darkness resonated.
The holy sword’s light flared intensely.
At the same time, dark shadows began to rise from the Demon Sword.
Shiiiiiing-
The two swords trembled as if rejecting each other.
The magic of the two swords collided, sparking in the air.
“This is unusual.”
The surrounding landscape began to distort.
The snow near the holy sword melted like spring, while the snow near the Demon Sword froze black.
The trees swayed.
On the holy sword’s side, buds sprouted from the branches, while the branches near the Demon Sword withered.
Zziiiing!
The holy sword’s light became even more intense.
The light of dawn tried to overwhelm the darkness of the Demon Sword.
Shiiiiiing!
The black mist rising from the Demon Sword thickened.
The twilight darkness tried to devour the holy sword’s light.
The pain in my hands grew stronger.
As the two forces negated each other, it felt as if my body in between was about to tear apart.
I hastily unsummoned both swords.
The vibration stopped.
The twisted nature returned to its original form.
Looking at my hands, the two symbols had become even more distinct.
The white cross of the holy sword and the black inverted cross of the Demon Sword seemed to glare at each other.
“This is going to be tough. I can’t use both swords at the same time.”
It seemed harder than I thought to balance light and darkness.
‘For now, I’ll have to use them alternately.’
I sighed and summoned the holy sword, Daybreak.
Even in the extreme snowfield, I felt a warm heat.
The light of Daybreak enveloped my body in a soft embrace.
“Is it calming down now…? What was the problem?”
[Calming down? How could you be so cruel!]
I almost dropped the holy sword at the sudden voice.
The light of Daybreak intensified, and a sharp feminine voice echoed.
[It’s been 5 years, 5 years! Now you’re picking up another sword… This is really too much!]
“Wait… Wait a second. Did the holy sword just speak…?”
[Yes, I’m talking! Are your ears working?]
The holy sword hummed with a low sound, vibrating.
It sounded like it was stamping its feet.
[Until now, I didn’t need to speak. You were satisfied, and I was satisfied too.]
The voice suddenly quieted.
The light of the blade softened.
[We fought perfectly together every time, didn’t we? I thought speaking would only interfere…]
“Ah…”
Suddenly, the past five years flashed through my mind.
The countless battles I fought with the holy sword.
We moved naturally, as if we were one body.
I realized that the holy sword was Ego Sword.
Well, it was an artifact forged with the goddess’s blessing, so I understood.
“So why, after all this time, is it speaking now…?”
[Why? Of course, it’s because I’m angry! That disgusting Demon Sword, what is it even!?]
The holy sword’s voice trembled.
It was filled with jealousy, anxiety, and anger.
[I am your first sword. I’m like your first love, you know?]
“That’s a bit cringy…”
[It’s cringy, but it’s the truth! I’ve been with you since you first came to this world!]
Suddenly, the holy sword shook, and a warm energy passed through my hand.
[I’ve been watching you all this time. Your growth, your struggles, everything…]
A brief silence followed.
Only the sound of the wind from the snowfield could be heard.
[That’s why I hate that Demon Sword even more. It’s full of darkness, don’t you see? I think it’s dangerous. No, it’s really dangerous!]
Suddenly, the temperature of the holy sword became hot.
The palm of my hand, holding the hilt, grew warm.
“Daybreak…”
[Don’t call me that! I… I’m angry!]
“What? Are you jealous?”
[Of course! I can never forgive you! Comparing me to that scheming sword…]
“Scheming? It’s just a little stronger.”
[Stronger? I’m stronger! I’ve taken down demons, dragons, everything!]
“Well, yes, but…”
[Ha… I knew it. Men are all the same. When something new comes along, they can’t resist…]
I heard a sigh from the holy sword.
It was a real sigh.
“What? Are you treating me like a player?”
[It’s the truth! You’ve fallen for that scheming Demon Sword…]
“I didn’t fall for it, it’s just useful…”
[Ugh.. Does that mean I’m useless now!?]
I heard a sobbing sound from the holy sword.
What is this?
“No, wait a second. Aren’t you being a bit too much?”
[You’re the one being worse! You don’t even know how I feel after 5 years together!]
Sob…
“Hey…”
[What should I do now? If you abandon me… The Hero only has you! This is unfair! Unfair, I tell you!]
The holy sword, which had always quietly shone, never spoke like this.
“Calm down. Who’s abandoning who?”
[Really…?]
The light of the holy sword flickered faintly. It was like a tearful gaze.
“Yeah. You’re my first sword. You’re special.”
[W-wait, saying that suddenly is embarrassing…]
For a moment, the Demon Sword’s symbol throbbed. The holy sword cried out sharply.
[Again! You’re communicating with that filthy sword, aren’t you? I don’t want to know! I can’t stand this anymore!]
“No, that’s not it…”
[I won’t talk to someone like you anymore! You’re such a player!]
Pfft-
The holy sword disappeared. Only silence remained in the air.
“Ah…”
Sighing, I raised my left hand. An uneasy premonition passed through me.
“Dawn.”
A purple blade appeared. A cold energy spread through my palm. Could it be… the Demon Sword too?
[Oh, you finally came for me? I’ve been waiting for this~]
Damn it. It speaks too.
A sweet yet provocative voice. Almost like a temptress from a noble family.
[Did you get tired of fighting with the holy sword?]
The Demon Sword faintly vibrated. The energy of darkness crawled up my hand.
[Why don’t you abandon that holy sword? You don’t need it anymore, right?]
The purple aura of the Demon Sword climbed up my hand. It felt like a sweet poison was seeping into me.
[Unlike the holy sword, I can accept everything from my master.]
“Are you talking about life force absorption?”
[Yeah… When my master’s infinite life force fills me up,]
“Hey.”
[Don’t you know how sharply we can cut through enemies? Our compatibility is unmatched.]
The Demon Sword vibrated faintly. The dark energy grew stronger.
“This is about battle, right?”
[Of course, I’m talking about your durability. Did you think I meant something else?]
“Please…”
[Ah~ Thinking about it now, it still sends a thrill through me. When your powerful energy filled me up…]
But why is this Demon Sword trying to act all mature? It hasn’t even been a week since its birth.
“Shut up. Be quiet like a sword.”
[Heh… Alright. Next time, it’ll be more intense…]
Suddenly, the holy sword’s symbol throbbed. Light burst out, and Daybreak was summoned.
[You… perverted Demon Sword! How dare you seduce Lord Haru like that!]
[Oh? The old-fashioned sword’s jealous? Well, we did fight pretty intensely.]
Both swords vibrated at the same time. They confronted each other, releasing energy in opposition.
[Lord Haru is mine! A filthy sword like this…]
[Old-fashioned, huh? Jealous? How outdated~]
[What?! A sword like you would…]
[Would? I’m just being honest.]
“Calm down…”
Ignoring my words, the energy struggle between the two swords intensified. The holy sword’s light and the Demon Sword’s darkness collided, causing the surrounding air to tremble.
[Lord Haru only needs me!]
[So, that’s why you couldn’t speak for five years?]
[That… that’s…]
[Honesty is key. Just like us.]
“Don’t talk about me…”
Another sigh escaped. What in the world is happening?
The confrontation between the two swords became more intense. The holy sword’s light pierced the sky, and the Demon Sword’s darkness split the ground.
The surrounding trees fell, and an avalanche occurred. As the emotions of the two swords surged, the terrain collapsed.
[How dare you try to corrupt Lord Haru!]
[You’re really getting old. True power comes from desire.]
“Can’t you both just calm down…?”
But my voice was drowned out. The sense of justice from the holy sword and the desire of the Demon Sword clashed, turning the surroundings into chaos.
‘Am I caught in an affair right now…?’
It’s shocking that the swords are talking, but the rivalry between them is the real surprise.
[I’ll protect Lord Haru’s purity!]
[Do you know how weak that purity is?]
Crash!
An avalanche occurred. The energy of the two swords resonated through the snowy mountains.
“Ah… What is this really…?”
Sighing again, I quickly unsummoned both swords. If I left them any longer, the whole snowy mountain would collapse.
In the midst of the blizzard, my lonely escape seemed pathetic.
“Sigh… Now the swords are obsessing too…”
I quickened my pace. No matter how many times I experience situations like this, I never get used to it.