While Azu Was Away

The tavern patrons ended up using Azu's stories as drinking material and kept right on going, so the group slipped out before getting roped in.

Azu still wasn't fully recovered, so rather than rushing home, they decided to stay the night after all.

They rented a room for all four, Kazusa included.

It was a large shared room, so they tucked the already dozing Azu into bed.

"Is it really okay for me to stay too?"

"We haven't settled accounts yet, and this much won't draw any complaints."

"That's right. Azu-chan told us about you, so tell us everything."

"Sure, I guess…"

Kazusa fielded questions from Alexia and Elza, doing her best to answer.

Meanwhile, the sun began to set.

They borrowed a large tub from the inn, and Alexia prepared water with magic.

The tub filled before their eyes, and fire magic heated it to a boil.

"Isn't that a bit too hot?"

"Stir it and it'll be just right."

Alexia told Elza this, rolled up her sleeves, and swirled the water around.

"Just like that. You really are amazing, Onee-san."

"Fufu. It's a bit small for a proper bath, though."

They soaked a towel in the hot water and wrung it out.

Removing their tops, they used the towels to clean themselves.

"Ahhh, this feels nice, but I really want to get home for a proper bath."

"True enough. This doesn't let you wash your hair properly."

Kazusa set aside some hot water and wiped Azu down.

Having many siblings apparently meant she was used to looking after others, and she finished quickly and efficiently.

Once they'd all tidied up, they disposed of the leftover water and had the remaining portable rations for dinner, finishing off their supplies.

"Mm, the bed's softer than I expected. I should sleep well."

Elza slipped out of her priest robe and flopped onto the bed.

It was perhaps a tad unladylike, but Alexia was just as tired.

"Right then. To bed."

"Mm."

They doused the lights, and within moments, everyone's breathing filled the room.

Faint noise drifted from a distant tavern, but it didn't disturb their sleep.

 

＊　＊　＊

 

The next morning, Azu was the first to wake.

She clenched and unclenched her fists, checking how they felt.

Her body was still heavy as lead, but at least it was somewhat better.

She lowered her feet from the bed and stood up.

A brief wave of dizziness hit her, but it passed quickly.

On the floor by her feet, her sheathed sword lay with the belt removed.

Beside it, for some reason, sat the Black Knight's sword.

She was sure she'd put it away. Puzzled, Azu grabbed the Black Knight's sword and tried stuffing it back into the bag.

But it wouldn't go in.

The bag still had room, easily enough for a single sword.

Yet no matter how hard she tried, it was impossible, so she gave up and left it be.

"Why, though?"

She racked her brain, but of course the answer didn't come.

When Elza woke up and she asked about it, Elza made an uncharacteristically sour face.

"You've been cursed."

"You're kidding…"

To confirm, Azu had indeed drawn the Black Knight's sword once.

That, it seemed, had been enough to curse her.

"Hmm, the dispelling miracle… let's see…"

It had apparently been a while since she'd dealt with a curse. Elza's lips moved uncertainly as she worked through the words for the miracle.

"By the name of the Creator King, I command: be purged of this curse."

Elza spoke the words and grasped the Black Knight's sword.

Holy light enveloped the blade.

A red glow surfaced, and in its place, the patterns that had stained the blade faded away.

The red light drifted upward as if to leave, but then veered toward Azu's sword.

"Um?"

Azu drew her blade from its sheath. The Sealed Sword Grungaus had changed.

The blade, which had once reflected its surroundings like a mirror, now bore a tinge of red.

She felt, faintly, the Black Knight's presence.

It seemed to be saying: take me with you.

"Azu-chan, what do you want to do?"

"Well… it doesn't feel malicious, so maybe it's fine as is."

"Hmm, I suppose so."

Strangely enough, the newly transformed Sealed Sword Grungaus gave off no sinister aura.

If anything, she could sense the Black Knight's power within it.

The Black Knight's sword, meanwhile, had become nothing more than an ordinary mithril blade, and she was finally able to put it away.

By the time the morning sun streamed in, Kazusa was up as well.

She neatly made her bed, then came over to Azu and the others.

"Azu, you're up already?"

"More or less. Sorry for making you worry."

"It's fine. Just surviving that place is more than enough."

"Yeah."

Surviving through their own strength had been a stroke of fortune.

For Azu personally, the victory had been too hard-won to build much confidence, but for the party as a whole, it was undeniably a major achievement.

"So, Azu's employer is going to buy everything, right?"

The discussion of what to do with the items they'd collected had come up on the road, and they'd told Kazusa they'd be bringing everything to Yohane.

They'd considered splitting things evenly by headcount as before, but this time they had the orb from clearing the dungeon.

That, at least, couldn't simply be divided.

Kazusa had tried to decline her share, but since she'd done real work, they insisted she take it.

"Yeah. He's a merchant."

"Hmm. Well, as long as I get paid properly, I don't mind."

Alexia was the last to wake.

"My, everyone's quite the early riser."

She stifled a large yawn behind her hand as she said this.

In truth, it was Alexia who was late rather than the others being early, but Azu was considerate enough not to say so.

They checked out of the inn and set off from Potram, eating bread the innkeeper had made for them along the way.

Using portals, they headed for home base with Kazusa in tow.

It took a bit longer than planned, but they arrived back in the city of Kassad.

They showed their adventurer's proof at the gate, and when they returned to Yohane's shop, a small crowd had gathered and the scene was hectic.

Wondering what had happened, Azu threaded her way through the onlookers.

There, she found Yohane talking with a guardsman, the atmosphere between them slightly hostile.

When Yohane noticed Azu, he broke off his conversation and cleared the area.

The guardsman, apparently finished with his business, returned to his duties.

"Welcome back. Looks like you made it in one piece."

"I'm back. Um, did something happen?"

"Yeah. A gang of thieves hit the shop. The damage wasn't too bad, but…"

"That's terrible! Are you hurt?"

Azu's concern was evident, but Yohane calmed her down.

Azu reported that she'd brought Kazusa along, and since this wasn't something to discuss out in the open, they all went inside.