"Man, I don't know exactly what happened, but I'm glad it's all resolved. As expected of the Sword Saint — what a truly principled person."
"Could you please stop? Every time something happens, you just start stirring things up however you like!"
Lucia, walking beside me, let out a soul-deep sigh.
I wasn't trying to stir anything up... but whether I praised him, humbly deflected, or spoke honestly, it always got classified as provocation. Was there no getting around that?
"Still, I can't believe I caused that much of a commotion and still got a thank-you gift."
I waved the suspiciously light staff Thorne had given me and spoke with genuine feeling.
Staff-type Treasure Weapons were among the most expensive weapon-type Treasure Weapons out there. And when one boasted high magic amplification or held special abilities, its price went through the roof. The wristband-style staff Telm used, the staff Clahi wielded — for Mages, a Treasure Weapon staff was the ultimate aspiration.
This was a Sword Saint's personal treasure. My expectations rose whether I wanted them to or not. Well, no matter what kind of staff it was, I probably couldn't use it anyway... Staff-type Treasure Weapons tended to be pretty particular about their wielders.
If this turned out to be the type of Treasure Weapon that chose its bearer, verifying its effects would take an absurdly long time. I'd have no choice but to dig through literature looking for similar legendary items. Maybe I could ask Marchis, but whether even she'd know was anyone's guess...
While I happily twirled the staff around, Lucia grumbled at my side.
"Every time the leader causes a scene, I get teased by my teachers and colleagues! 'Your brother went and did it again,' they say!"
"Huh... Have you tried punching them?"
"...Could you please make it clear whether you're being serious or joking?"
I hadn't done anything, honestly. Trouble just kept coming to me. This world was far too dangerous. Thorne had been talking about curses and whatnot just a while ago too.
Without Lucia beside me, I couldn't even walk outside in peace.
Clearing my throat lightly, as if to shake off the mood, Lucia fixed her gaze on me and spoke.
"So, when are we going to see the teacher together?"
"Huh? ...Why?"
"...I told you back at the Clan House! After you cancelled everything at the last minute for the Martial Emperor Festival, the teacher was absolutely furious — she told me to bring you to her!"
Oh, so that was actually real. The teacher truly had terrible judgment.
Unlike Luke, Lucia was earnest. And precisely because she was earnest, the teacher didn't appreciate me dragging the brilliant Lucia around. Whether it was Luke or Lucia, the system was perfectly designed to get me complaints either way.
Even House Rodan — Ark's family — sent complaints my way! If I gathered every single complaint source, practically every major figure in the Imperial Capital would be accounted for. I was one of the capital's premier complaint collectors. If I could sell those complaints, I'd be a millionaire.
Narrowing my eyes, I forced the gentlest smile I could manage and told Lucia in the sweetest voice.
"Lucia... it would actually be more disrespectful to bring me along."
"...I was starting to think so too, honestly. But she specifically said to drag you there by force if necessary!"
Lucia grabbed my sleeve with a deadpan stare. She was dead serious about the dragging part.
Well, I was her big brother, after all. I was her big brother. Granted, my authority had been eroding lately, but as far as I was concerned, I was still Lucia's guardian. Probably nobody else saw it that way, though.
If something came up, I could puff up my chest and play the mighty Level 8 big brother — but when it came to complaints, that was just pathetic.
Lucia's teacher was the head of the Imperial Capital's foremost institution for Mages, a professor at the most prestigious academy of magical arts in the capital. That academy was an organization that had once been affiliated with "Abyssal Flame Annihilation" too — a place where people pursued the study of magic day and night along a completely different vector from the practical, combat-oriented Mages who were Hunters. A true and proper hotbed of sorcery.
Compared to the lone Sword Saint, her individual fame might be lesser, but in terms of systemic scale, it was incomparable to a simple dojo. Being before the Sword Saint came with a different kind of tension — an unpleasant one at that.
Unlike the Sword Saint, the problem with Mages was that you never knew what they might pull. Even if I were going, I'd want to gauge her mood beforehand — wait, that was it!
I reexamined the staff I'd just been given. It was the Sword Saint's personal treasure. I hadn't investigated it at all yet, but it surely possessed considerable power. Converted to money, it would fetch a hefty sum. But it had originally been a sword I received from Elisa for free, so it was perfect for smoothing things over. Had the Sword Saint foreseen that Lucia's teacher was angry!? Today, I was... on top of my game! Lucky break.
"Lucia, this staff seems really powerful — why don't you bring it to the teacher? Didn't she say she was looking for a staff?"
If I gave her a high-value staff, her anger would surely evaporate. It definitely would if it were me.
At my sudden proposal, Lucia blinked in surprise, her expression turning suspicious.
"...Huh? Well, yes, she was searching for one... But did I mention that to the leader? Besides, you just received this staff, and—"
Hmph. Of course... I was just saying it off the top of my head. Besides, they'd told me not to sell this Treasure Weapon, but they hadn't said I couldn't give it away.
I'd rather not part with it, but I wasn't particularly attached to it yet either, and if letting go of this staff could help Lucia, then so be it.
Besides, it made more sense for a professor to carry a staff than for the Sword Saint to. Things were falling into their proper place.
"I'm sure your teacher will be satisfied. Come on, take it — and make sure you tell her it's a gift from me. That should calm her anger."
"O-Okay... But are you really sure about this staff?"
When I thrust it at her, Lucia looked at the staff with a rare hint of anxiety on her face.
A staff that was solid black from top to bottom was certainly unusual. Black was a color that signified luxury, but in the Treasure Weapon trade, it also meant curses. But it was fine.
"Ahahaha, it's fine, it's fine. You worry too much, Lucia."
"...That's because you don't worry enough."
The Sword Saint hadn't said anything suspicious about it. He wouldn't hand over something dangerous, would he?
Right — the other party was a magic professional. She'd likely know more about staff-type Treasure Weapons than your average Treasure Weapon appraiser. Lucia would probably hand it over to her personally, so— "For all I know, your teacher already knows what this staff really is..."
"Well, she is an expert, but... if she knew what it was, you should have told me beforehand—"
The moment Lucia's expression turned severe, the Resonance Stone in my pocket vibrated.
The one I'd received from Franz. What could this be about? I didn't want to answer, but I owed Franz a favor for intervening with the Sword Saint. He'd come through for me, so not picking up on my end would be a breach of etiquette. And besides, it wasn't like we were meeting in person.
I took a deep breath and activated the Resonance Stone, trying my best to keep my voice bright so as not to anger the other party.
"Hello? Franz? Heya, it's me!"
"Y-You! Do you always have that energy!? I've told you many times — I am not your friend!"
"...Well, I thought I'd try to lighten the mood..."
"Why in the world would I need to feel tense around you of all people!"
Same old Franz. For all his bluster, he was actually quite dependable. Truly noble in every sense of the word.
Lucia pressed her lips together and looked up at me with an annoyed expression. She hated having her conversations interrupted. Still, the timing was actually perfect. I had no idea what this staff really was anyway... and even if I said so, she wouldn't believe me.
"Oh right, thanks for handling the Sword Saint thing! I don't know what happened exactly, but it all worked out. I even got a gift on top of it... If only things always went this smoothly—"
This had surely worked out because of Franz's intervention. He was remarkably capable. Was this what real political power looked like? I'd been mooching off his connections a lot lately and felt genuinely sorry about it.
The response to my cheerfully-toned words came back through the Resonance Stone as a forceful shout.
"That's exactly what I'm calling about! You — what's going on!? The demonic sword commotion has been settled, but the prophecy hasn't disappeared!"
"...Excuse me?"
The sudden eruption of yelling made passersby flinch and stop in their tracks, before quickly hurrying away.
Lucia looked at the Resonance Stone, then at me, then at the staff I'd shoved at her — and stared at me once more, this time with a withering look.