The Great Sword is not the Main Body!
Chapter 195 – Prayer

I felt strength draining from my body as Kartia materialized.

[…Frey?]

Confusion and longing mingled with traces of affection and hostility in Kartia’s voice.

The deadly atmosphere that had enveloped Aaron and me began to dissipate.

“So you remember me.”

A voice filled with warmth.

Kartia’s brow furrowed at Frey’s tone.

[Is it really you, Frey?]

“And is that really you, Kartia?”

[Judging by your shit way of talking, I’d say it is…]

“Hahaha!”

Kartia folded her arms and stepped slightly in front of me, nodding in acknowledgment.

[But what the hell happened to you? That tacky greatsword, that ill-fitting armor… No, no, put all that aside. Why the hell have you become so weak?]

“There were circumstances.”

[Oh, circumstances. How convenient. And what’s with that way of speaking? Do you have any idea how much I want to slap you right now? Look at that expression. What, going to shut up again because of your precious ‘circumstances’?]

“…You really are Kartia.”

Even Aaron, who had maintained his sharp demeanor, relaxed his hostility in response to the familiar banter between Kartia and Frey.

Following suit, Rubia and Serr, who had approached from behind me, also lowered their guard and tried to make sense of the situation.

“Noah, what exactly… is going on here?”

“Ah, Bamilion… no, Fre… um… that armored person seems to be Kartia’s friend.”

“Bamilion is… Lady Kartia’s friend…?”

Rubia glanced back and forth between Kartia and Frey with a bewildered expression, then turned toward Laila who stood behind her.

Receiving Rubia’s gaze, Laila closed her eyes and shook her head slightly, as if to say she didn’t know either.

Her eyes are closed… Is she sensing Kartia’s condition?

There’s no hostility coming from Aaron or Bamilion now. Seems like they’re the only ones present in this space.

I felt the weight of Frey in my hand.

I assessed my condition, checking whether I could swing Frey at any moment.

Just for a little while… I should be fine.

As I exhaled, I traced the connection to the greatsword bound to my soul—the distant land where it was embedded.

I tried to recall the battle that had unfolded in Cartia.

From the sensations flowing through the greatsword, it didn’t seem like the people of Cartia were destined to lose.

One formidable beast remained, but the current Heinzel should handle it easily. Even if the remaining Masters were to intervene, Heinzel would not be defeated.

Surely, he would protect everyone.

The only problem was…

“Noah?”

“Uh… Yes?”

“Are you hurt somewhere?”

Rubia examined my body with concern.

“N-No… I’m fine.”

“Really?”

There’s no real need to share what’s happening in Cartia. I don’t want to.

Even keeping track of what’s unfolding right in front of me is difficult enough.

If their attention gets divided like mine was earlier, everything could fall apart.

Between friends, especially between Rubia and me, there shouldn’t be secrets… but this time, I have no choice.

“Y-Yeah, really.”

I nodded frantically and averted my gaze.

Nearby, Kartia and Frey continued their exchange. Kartia mocking Frey, Frey simply laughing it off—meaningless banter.

Serr watched them quietly, arms crossed, a thoughtful expression on her face as she listened to their conversation.

“…You’re still crazy. Honestly, I want to kill you right now.”

[Hey. Don’t use such harsh words. You’ll look weak.]

Kartia wagged her index finger back and forth and chuckled. Then she sent a message directly into my mind.

[Don’t worry about what’s happening outside. Everything will work out.]

‘…Everything will work out?’

[Yeah. Just trust me and wait.]

Her voice carried complete conviction.

‘But… if that’s the case, then Kartia…’

[Tsk. Listen to me. When children behave and listen to adults, they get jelly even in their sleep.]

‘I don’t need jelly… I just… don’t want you to disappear, Kartia…’

Kartia turned to look at me, surprise in her eyes. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

[Thanks.]

Then she turned back to face Frey.

“Haa… Alright. Enough small talk. What exactly happened for you to end up like this, Kartia?”

[You really don’t know??]

Kartia, her smile now gone, crossed her arms again and adopted a serious expression.

“Hmm?”

[You… really don’t know anything, do you.]

“What are you… talking about?”

[Aah… So you can’t comprehend it. I see. Is that how it is? Well, you’ll find out someday. To put it simply, the current situation is a result of my unique ability… wait, no. No, not yet. It’s still too early.]

“Kartia. I’m asking you… what exactly are you trying to say.”

[Right. You’ll come to understand eventually. So I can’t explain it now. But… I’m certain the day will come when I can tell you. When that time comes… when it comes, no, will such a day even come? Maybe.]

Gritting her teeth, Frey approached Kartia with heavy steps.

I immediately raised my greatsword and stood beside Kartia.

“Kh… Kartia! What are you talking about!”

[Aah, in the end… I guess this is how it has to be… Is that right? I suppose so… I’m sorry, Frey. In my current state… I can’t tell you anything. If the time comes… then you’ll be able to find the answer… or maybe that’s just wishful thinking.]

At Kartia’s strange yet oddly familiar manner of speaking, Aaron’s face twisted with discomfort.

Serr, who had been quietly listening beside us, also grimaced.

Even Laila, who had her eyes closed behind us, was no exception.

Everyone except Rubia and me wore expressions that gradually turned grim and hostile.

“…Rubia, Noah. Do you two actually understand what Lady Kartia is saying?”

Eventually, unable to contain her frustration, Serr let out a sigh and cast a wind barrier to block out the surrounding noise.

“Why?”

“Because… I couldn’t understand any of it. But your expressions are so calm, as if you completely understood.”

“Aha.”

Rubia looked at Serr as if wondering what she meant, then nodded in sudden realization.

And with perfect composure, she replied:

“I didn’t understand a word.”

“Pardon?”

“Not a single thing.”

“Then why…”

“What do you mean, why… I think I’m just used to people talking like that all the time now?”

“Ah…”

Rubia’s words hit so close to home that I let out an involuntary gasp.

Serr tilted her head.

“Who exactly talks in that infuriating way?”

“…You do.”

“What? I don’t speak like, like that kind of speech… I…”

Serr fell silent, shame filling the pause.

Her expression stiffened.

“…There was a reason for it.”

“I’m sure there was.”

“Please don’t take it that way.”

“Okay, okay.”

“…Just answer me honestly.”

“O-kay.”

Eventually, Serr covered her face with both hands, turned away, and mumbled softly.

“…I’m sorry.”

“As long as you realize it now, it’s fine.”

Rubia chuckled and gently patted Serr’s shoulder, helping to ease the mood.

“Anyway, I wonder why Lady Kartia suddenly started acting that way. And also… why are Aaron and Frey just calmly chatting?”

“From how it began, it doesn’t seem like they came here just to fight.”

“That’s true…”

“Hmm…”

Whether they came to fight or not—

Honestly, I wanted to eliminate those two from this place immediately. If I hadn’t messed up earlier, it would have been simple.

Or so I thought.

But seeing Kartia chatting and laughing with Frey—the same name as the sword in my hand, the same as the teacher and friend I once knew—cooled my head somewhat.

Kartia’s emotions played a part too.

Longing, joy, relief, regret, guilt, and peace.

Hope.

Those emotions, and Kartia’s smiling face, held me back.

Meanwhile, killing intent began seeping from Frey, still being teased by Kartia.

Kartia responded with an ominous pressure of her own.

But it was faint.

It didn’t feel serious.

They began drawing their weapons, releasing similar strength as if it were second nature to both of them.

[You’re really going to fight me? What, stuck in a body for a thousand years and now you’ve got bad eyesight? Did your precious goddess forget to patch up your body too?]

“Stop with the nonsense.”

[Huslrnr glrmmr.]

“…Crazy bitch.”

[Ah! Dropping the act now, huh?]

Kartia giggled her usual teasing laugh.

Her irritating voice followed.

[Tsk. I really don’t wanna even cross blades with a scrub like you. So…]

Her eyes locked onto me. The sword in her hand, Frey, trembled slightly.

And the wind barrier Serr had cast to block out sound vanished without a trace.

[Go, Noahmon! Body Slam!]

“…Huh?”

[Noahmon!! Body Slammmm!!!]

“Uhh…?”

As I stared at Kartia in confusion,

[Noah, this is something only you can do. So please.]

Her voice echoed in my head, completely sincere.

I could feel her rage boiling to its limit.

[Kill that son of a bitch pretending to be Frey.]