"Strange human…"
Seeing Arthur's calm expression, Tohru couldn't help but be surprised.
Challenging a god—
he didn't seem to care at all.
His reaction was simply: "Oh, is that so?"
"What do you plan to do next?"
Their eyes met. Arthur asked again.
"Next… I don't know."
Tohru froze for a moment, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.
She had challenged a god in pursuit of freedom.
Only to be utterly defeated.
While fleeing, she was struck by the divine sword hurled by the god.
Her wounds, suppressed by divine will, couldn't heal. She had already resigned herself to death.
Yet Arthur had saved her.
So—what now?
Should she return to her world and continue wandering?
Or should she strive to grow stronger, to challenge the gods once more?
She didn't know. Not at all.
After experiencing the brink of death, Tohru began to question some of her former convictions.
So now she was lost.
She looked like a stray kitten.
No—
a stray little dragon.
Seeing Tohru's bewildered face, Arthur made a suggestion:
"In that case, Tohru, how about becoming my dau—"
He cut himself off.
"Oops, wrong line."
He gave an embarrassed smile, then spoke earnestly:
"Tohru, would you like to become my exclusive maid?"
"Exclusive… maid?!"
Tohru's gaze sharpened.
This human actually wanted her to serve as his subordinate?
How audacious.
"Yes, my exclusive maid."
Arthur nodded.
He smiled at her and added:
"From now on, we'll live together, relying on each other."
"Your troubles will be mine."
"We'll face any hardship together."
"Even if you wish to challenge the gods, I'll choose to stand by your side."
"Tohru, will you?"
As he spoke, Arthur extended his right hand toward her.
His face bore a sincere smile as he quietly awaited her reply.
"..."
Tohru's eyes flickered as she looked at him.
His words were like a stone hurled into a calm lake.
Plop! Splashes flew.
Ripples spread through the still waters of her heart.
Temptation—hesitation.
Two emotions tangled within her.
In the end, hesitation won.
Tohru's brows furrowed, then relaxed. She looked at Arthur and said:
"I need time to think."
Maybe it was because he had saved her.
Maybe because she sensed no malice from him—only kindness, and an inexplicable fondness.
Maybe because of those very words he'd just spoken.
Whatever the reason, Tohru knew one thing: she didn't actually dislike Arthur.
"…Alright, I'll wait for you."
Arthur withdrew his hand and smiled faintly at her.
Tohru hadn't outright rejected him.
That meant she didn't truly dislike his proposal.
So he asked again: "I'm heading home. What about you, Tohru?"
"…I'll wander a bit."
Tohru's eyes flashed as she gave her answer after a brief silence.
She wanted to see this world.
To learn what was different from her own.
And to think.
To think about what she should do next.
"Alright. Be safe."
"…Mm."
A glint flickered in Tohru's eyes.
Then she cast her transformation spell, reverting to her true dragon form.
Her massive body spread its small, adorable-looking black wings, which beat gently as she slowly rose into the air.
A red light flickered briefly over her scales.
She had cloaked herself in a concealment spell.
Lowering her head, she glanced at Arthur.
Arthur smiled and waved at her.
Tohru withdrew her gaze, flapped her wings, and flew into the distance.
After watching her leave, Arthur wrapped himself in a barrier and activated the Silver Sanctuary to fly home.
On the way, he opened the Compendium of All Things.
Nickname: Dragon-Slaying Holy Sword
Grade: Purple
Description: A product of divine will
Acquisition: A Knight Does Not Die Weaponless
Note: Special entry. Similar items will not be recorded again.
…
"Purple grade?!"
Arthur was shocked at the sword's classification.
That the divine sword could even be catalogued was surprising enough.
But its grade? That was even more shocking.
A divine sword—on par with Akashiya Moka.
Of course, purple had its tiers.
In terms of value, the divine sword was nowhere near Moeka.
And it was unique.
Similar items born purely of divine will and divine power would not be catalogued again.
Arthur pondered:
"Could it be to prevent players from bug-abusing the Compendium for infinite rewards?"
After all, divine swords could be mass-produced.
All it took was a god's will and a bit of divine power.
If every one could be recorded, he could literally enslave a god and farm rewards endlessly.
Clearly, the Compendium's rules would never allow that.
Still, Arthur wasn't disappointed.
He claimed the reward immediately.
A surge of formless power swept through him.
Within his consciousness, a phantom knight appeared out of nowhere and fused with his soul.
A Knight Does Not Die Weaponless.
Also known as: A Knight Does Not Die Barehanded.
Like the "Third Magic," it originated from the Nasuverse—a Noble Phantasm wielded by the Heroic Spirit Lancelot.
Type: Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm
Range: 1
Rank: A++
Maximum Target Count: 30
Grants the ability to designate any weapon in hand as a Noble Phantasm.
Can also convert enemy Noble Phantasms or mundane objects—iron rods, fighter jets, and so forth—into D-rank Noble Phantasms.
If the original Noble Phantasm exceeds D-rank, it retains its original level.
The ability only applies to objects recognizable as weapons.
A highly practical Noble Phantasm.
With a thought, Arthur summoned the Black Sword used to call forth the Divine Armament Mecha Dragon, Bahamut.
He activated the Noble Phantasm's ability.
Force gathered into his right hand.
Golden energy, streaked with purple, wrapped around the Black Sword, imbuing it with a faintly divine aura.
The sword had gained the attribute of a D-rank Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm.
Arthur mused:
"Does this Noble Phantasm enhancement apply only to the Black Sword… or also to Bahamut itself?"
He paused to test it.
Flying a few hundred meters higher, he spread a spherical barrier a hundred meters across.
Raising the Black Sword before him, he began the summoning chant:
"...Appear, tyrant dragon who devours the flesh and blood of gods, who cleaves the heavens of black clouds—Bahamut!!!"
When Bahamut descended, Arthur raised the Black Sword.
A dazzling red light burst from it.
It blazed like scarlet flame.
Behind him, the light took the shape of a massive dragon—Bahamut, the Divine Armament Mecha Dragon, manifesting once more to encase him.
The glow faded in an instant.
Before him stood a towering, awe-inspiring mecha dragon.
Its body was jet black, crisscrossed with pulsating violet-red energy veins.
Sensing through his Noble Phantasm, Arthur discovered the summoned mecha had not inherited the Noble Phantasm's attributes.
But that was fine.
He simply activated A Knight Does Not Die Weaponless on Bahamut itself.
Golden veins, laced with violet, replaced the mecha's original violet-red lines.
Enhancement successful.
The Noble Phantasm attribute had been applied, bolstering both attack and defense.
Though ranked only D, its power far exceeded the norm.
Experiment complete, Arthur spent time inside the barrier familiarizing himself with the mecha dragon.
Their consciousnesses were closely linked; he could command it as easily as moving his own arm.
Dragon and master, moving as one.
…
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/HorizonStudios0