Yeah. I knew it.
"Wof."
My name was called.
A mysterious, transcendent beauty carrying the gleam of a blade appeared.
It was the ever-familiar Knife Goddess. I gave a slight bow.
"It has been a while."
"The trade city of Heizen. How are things? Are you doing well?"
"Huh? Um, well, I'm having fun in my own way."
The sudden pivot to casual small talk threw me off.
Was she like a relative's aunt or something?
"What was that?"
The Knife Goddess, terrifying even when smiling.
More like a relative's older sister, maybe.
"Very well. It seems there were some minor issues, but the biggest problem — you appear to have dealt with the [Demonic] Larda."
"Y-Yes. She was incredibly strong."
"I had no idea she was hiding in Heizen, much less within the Jinryu family. She is the Sword Goddess's daughter, the most cunning of all, and has been secretly scheming across the world for thousands of years."
"For all that, she was rather underwhelming this time."
I had the feeling the goddess was being strangely emotional.
"She must have grown flustered after encountering one too many unexpected developments."
"But wouldn't someone who'd been operating in the shadows for thousands of years be able to handle something like that?"
"The more accustomed you become, the more likely you are to stumble over a single small pebble."
"I-I see..."
Maybe something like those sayings from my past life — "even monkeys fall from trees" and "even experts make mistakes."
"And it was your first life-and-death battle, wasn't it?"
"...Honestly, I think I was a little arrogant. I believed no one could surpass me in strength. That's just how I saw myself."
It wasn't deliberate, but I think that attitude was there in my mood, in my unconscious.
The knife goddess gave a faint, wry smile.
"That's a path everyone walks. It's a natural feeling for any human."
"That's..."
"Just take it bit by bit from here on."
"Y-yes. Um, she called it an Authentic Divine Relic. What exactly is that?"
"Something that lies beyond the evolution of Pseudo-Divine Relics. You've already handled a fragment of it."
"...The Rave Form..."
"Yes. That said, that power is that of a god itself. Not a temporary imitation — the real power of a deity. It's not something you can wield lightly. Which is why going from a Pseudo-Divine Relic to... an Authentic one isn't easy. Currently, only eight people have reached that level."
"That's more than I'd have guessed."
Eight people like that actually exist.
"That's within what I'm aware of. Recently, one more was added."
Hearing that, one person came to mind.
"Alverd?"
"Yes. Alverd von Lutbelte has arrived."
"…Impressive."
"He had a good hint to work with, after all."
"Ahaha…"
Well, with that much to go on, it made sense he'd make it.
"But he hasn't mastered it yet. His limit is two minutes."
One minute more than me.
"So the true form is five minutes with a seven-day cooldown?"
"Six minutes and seven days."
Even Raada wasn't perfect, huh.
"Though only one person can hit six minutes. Raada was next."
"Wait, does that mean not everyone gets five minutes?"
"No. Most get three. Two people get four. Oh, and with Raada dead, there were seven total."
"I'm not in the count, am I."
Well, it was a form derived from the imitation version, so it made sense it was different from the real thing.
"That's right—just a sliver. However, even a sliver from you is so far beyond the norm that calling it equivalent wouldn't be unwarranted."
"Hahaha…"
Extraordinary, huh. Yeah. Well, I was aware of it. Even if I didn't want to admit it.
"I can't say whether our paths will cross or turn hostile from here on out, but Seihou has the most true-form holders. Four of them."
"That many?"
An actual religion with four real gods, huh.
Come to think of it, the witch had mentioned something about holders of pseudo-divine Relics before.
Were those the real deal? Or were there separate pseudo-divine holders out there?
"Seihou being the world's largest religion also means their military force is among the world's most powerful. Please be careful not to become their enemy."
I really wished she'd stop dropping death flags like that.
"Also, there was a country that's since fallen, and the former knight commander who once served there holds six of the true-divine Relics. He's stronger than Laada, so please be careful."
That was exactly why I wished she'd stop dropping death flags like that.
Like I'd ever fight someone like that. We had no reason, no connection, nothing whatsoever to do with each other.
"Oh, one personal question — is Gieza a true-divine holder too?"
"No. She's pseudo-divine. She hasn't reached that level yet."
"Even with a fragment of a god, she's still pseudo?"
"Yes. Precisely because it's only a fragment."
Because it's a fragment, huh. Maybe I should dig a little deeper.
"Do all the daughters hold pseudo-divine Relics?"
"Only those who can take human form. It can't be acquired through being a vessel or a mere holder."
"I see... understood."
"Also, regarding that spear-like thing you obtained..."
"Yes. That one."
"You should show it to the witch while accompanied by Mineha."
That was already the plan, but now that the goddess herself had said it too, I had no choice but to show it.
But accompanied by Mineha? Was it because she'd been feeling down?
That was unusual advice, coming from the Goddess of Knives.
"Y-yes. Understood. Oh, also, about the Different Sea's knife — it's grown an extra tentacle."
"That's because it ate a water pearl. Don't you remember? A round bead."
"......Ah, right. It was among the spoils from the river bandit."
Come to think of it, there was one. It had moved on its own and eaten it, eaten it.
"That species is scattered all across the world. If you find any, feeding them to it would be wise. The Different Sea's knife will continue to be of use to you going forward."
"Understood."
It was probably about time.
"Wof. From here on out, you will face all manner of difficulties and hardships."
"It'd be great if I didn't have to face them, though."
I'd be perfectly happy to be excused from all of that, actually.
"Wof. Trying to solve everything alone is a bad habit of yours. You are not alone. There are many people you can rely on. You are a child. Don't forget that. And of course, this Goddess of Knives is here as well."
"Thank you. You've helped me so much already."
"Yes. Also, once you've broken fifty knives, I have something to give you."
"No. There's no way I'll break that many."
Fifty was definitely not happening.
Absolutely not happening.
Not happening was an understatement.
"Wof. Knowing when to give up is important too."
"If you give up, that's where it ends!"
The words burst out of me before I could stop them, and the goddess of knives gave a little smile.
Wait, what's with that archaic smile.
Hold on—I've got something to say about that smile. Just—just wait a second.
"Besides, you're the goddess of knives! It's ridiculous to expect them to break!"
"Kyaa?!"
"Whoa! Wh-what's going on?"
A scream suddenly erupts right next to me, and I nearly jump out of my skin.
The back of my head feels oddly warm... and come to think of it, when did I even... fall asleep?
"Huh? Huh?"
There's a big, round shadow right in front of me, and through a gap in it I can see a person's face.
This rounded silhouette... that scream just now... could it be that what I've been resting my head on this whole time is...
"What's going on? Were you talking in your sleep?"
"M-Mineha...?"
"Oh, you're awake. Honestly—you just suddenly dozed off on me and startled me half to death."
"S-sorry."
"You were pretty worn out, huh. Well, can't really blame you."
It seems I actually fell asleep.
This is the witch's shop, right? A few chairs had been lined up, and I was lying across them.
And Mineha had been letting me rest my head on her lap.
They'd lined up some chairs for me to sleep on, and on top of that, a lap pillow... This was getting embarrassing.
"Sorry about this..."
"Hey. Aren't you overworking yourself?"
"Huh? Am I?"
"I mean, if you're fine with it, then that's your call. But I've been meaning to say this for a while — you're way too nice. Think about yourself for once."
"S-sorry..."
"You don't need to apologize."
She let out a sigh.
Too nice, huh? Even after hearing it, I wasn't sure I really understood.
Hm. It wasn't like I was trying to be that way or anything.
I was just doing what I wanted to do.
In a way, I figured that was selfish of me.
"Mineha. Thank you."
"What's with the sudden thanks?"
"For worrying about me."
"I told you, I wasn't worried about you. ...Well, okay. I was. I was worried. When Laada teleported and you charged off on your own — yeah, that worried me."
Mineha put her hand on my forehead and gave me a light smack.
"Ow, sorry."
"After that, I wasn't worried anymore. I believed you'd come back."
She gave a soft chuckle and gently stroked my forehead.
What is it? That quality of hers — even though she's only ten, she comes across as an older sister.
I could never tell her that to her face.
"By the way, about the shop... the customers. Did they come?"
"About that. It's currently closed for a certain reason."
"A certain reason...?"
"The witch caused quite a scene."
"...I see..."
She really pulled that off, huh. I see.
"Also, Daga and the others showed up."
"Huh? To the VIP area?"
How did they get in?
"It got pretty wild. Daga."
"Why?"
"He was offering fish, crabs, and bids as tributes."
"Why?!"
"Apparently things got pretty lively. I don't really know the details, though."
"What got lively?"
"And then they went off to some kind of victory celebration party."
"Victory celebration for what?!"
"Who knows?"
W-well, I don't really get it, but as long as everyone's safe, I guess that's fine.
"Oh, come to think of it — where are Chardina and Anna Kreuz? And Hoss?"
I looked around. Only Mineha and I were here.
Plus the Hierne body.
"He got dragged off by that Guildsman who came looking for him, on account of whatever the witch pulled. I'm minding the shop. Someone's gotta keep an eye on the place and you, after all."
"...What did the witch do?"
"Who knows? Oh, by the way, there are two guards standing in front of the store."
"What did that witch do?!"
I shot up to my feet.
The Full Moon Bazaar was far from over.