Chapter 40 - Sophia's Holy Sword

Sophia nodded and encouraged me to continue. I breathed in. “Why did you help me?” I had pondered it for a while, but I couldn’t think of any reason. “You told me that Daddy was in danger, and you helped save Harel.” ‘Why is she helping me?’ “I’ve been thinking, and I can’t find an answer.”

“Do you not want me to?”

“No, thank you!” I was grateful to her, but I was curious. “I just want to know why. Is it okay for you to help me?” I carefully asked her, but she laughed.

“I have to mention one thing.”

“What?” I asked.

“The only thing I helped you with was the prayer. You’re the one who performed the miracles. You’re the one who saw the future and revived the child.”

“I did?” I blinked as Sophia laughed. 

Sophia raised the holy sword into the air. It shone in the moonlight. “All saintesses exist on this earth with a mission.” Sophia turned her gaze toward me. “Wasn’t it your mission to save that child?”

“…!” It wasn’t grand enough to call a mission, but it felt useless to say anything. 

“So I wanted to help you.” Sophia continued.

“Why…?”

“Because I haven’t completed my mission.” Her friendly eyes looked at me as she said, “I wanted you to at least fulfill your mission.”

I couldn’t say anything at her words. A saintess truly was a saintess. “Will something happen to you for helping me out like this?”

“That little bit is fine. Are you worrying about me?”

As I nodded, I saw an expression flit across her face. I couldn’t figure out whether it was happiness or sadness.

“To be honest, I was happy to meet you. No one’s been able to see me until now. I was alone for too long.” Sophia explained that she had been tethered to the sword for thousands of years. However, I had never read anything about her being bound to it.

“You must’ve been lonely,” I said.

“It was quite lonely.” Sophia laughed. “… It really was.”

I tightly hugged the sword, visualizing it was Sophia. She laughed again, and her laugh was brighter this time. I said to her, “Let’s talk more. We’ll play a lot and stay together.”

Sophia lightly nodded at my words. “I think I know why the holy sword chose you as its master.”

“…?” I tilted my head, and Sophia mysteriously laughed. ‘What’s going on?’  “Why did it choose me?”

Sophia looked at me as if she were questioning why I didn’t know. ‘So what if I don’t know?’ I pouted and Sophia laughed. 

“Think about the reason the holy sword was created.”

“…?”

* * *

“Kais.”

“…”

“Why are swords made?”

Kais’s reaction was cold. His expression seemed to ask why I was there asking such questions. I felt like I could read his thoughts. I had taken time out of my busy schedule, but his reaction felt like cold water.

“…”

However, he wasn’t telling me to get lost. The kid who used to look at me as if I were a bug was now letting me sit next to him. I was feeling happy at this rapid development when Kais opened his mouth and said, “To kill.”

“…?” I tilted my head, and Kais looked away, ignoring me.

‘What’s he talking…’ “Oh!” He had answered my question. I was a bit touched. I thought he was totally ignoring me, but he wasn’t! “Kais!”

“Get off.” I didn’t care if he was uncomfortable. I happily hugged him. “You’re finally opening up to me!” I needed to keep him happy for my dad and my happiness. 

‘I thought it would’ve been harder.’ I saw a glimpse of hope when Kais opened up. “I’ll work hard!”

“What?” Kais looked confused, and he made a face. He seemed to be asking “What are you working hard for?”

“I’ll work hard in anything!”

“Let go!” The battle between Kais, who wanted to be free, and me, who wanted to keep holding on, started.

“Saintess.” … And it only lasted for a minute. Luciana couldn’t hide her disappointed face and looked at me. 

“What’s wrong?”

“The medical examination is finished—” 

Before Luciana could finish talking, Kais pulled me off his arms and ran to Harel. He was so fast that I could barely see him. ‘Does he hate hugging that much?’

Right when I was about to go see Harel, the holy sword that was still with me started crying out.

“…?” ‘Why’s it making noises?’

“Ah!” ‘Is it resonating with Kais?’ I looked between the holy sword and Kais a few times. Kais was looking desperately at Harel, who still hadn’t gained consciousness. ‘Ah, I see.’  “The reason the holy sword was made.” Kais’s answer wasn’t wrong, but there existed another reason as well. 

“To protect.” It was made to protect things dear to its owner. That was the kind of sword Sophia’s sword was. It was an everlasting strength that existed to protect one’s beliefs, will, and their ideals. I remembered Priscilla’s memory I had during my fever. Ludwig had become the owner of the holy sword because of his will to protect Priscilla, and I… became the owner probably because of my will to protect my dad. “I see. Thank you for teaching me.”

Whoosh!

“Please take care of me from now on.” ‘So I can protect my dad.’ 

The light shining from the sword responded to me as if it were alive.