When I Tried Strengthening 【Rusted Sword】, It Evolved Into An Overpowered Magic Sword
Vol. 1 - Ch. 13 - Sword and Shield

"It doesn't look like these exam dolls are going to be easy to get." The white haired girl told me.

I sighed as I scanned my eyes across the woodland area, “Seems like you're right."

It has been thirty minutes since the exams started, and in all that time the shield-bearer girl and I have not seen a single exam doll. As we walked deeper inside the forest, I couldn’t help but notice that it indeed shines with seven colors.

No wonder they called it the ‘Forest of Seven Colors’.

This forest’s vegetation glimmered under the sunlight with all seven colors, and the leaves looked like a piece of precious stone in a multicolored jewelry set.

Its unique and enchanting features made the forest a popular tourist destination.

However, despite its beauty, the forest was also swarming with monsters. Therefore, some of its areas were closed off from the public. Certain parts were forbidden for us to enter for our own safety.

Regardless of the warnings, we’ve entered into the forbidden parts of the forest to look for the exam dolls.

But, so far, we still haven't found anything.

Just as I expected, this Adventurer’s Exam won't be easy, and it certainly won’t be overcome by ordinary means. I suppose the examiner was right, there was a high probability that the monsters already picked up the ‘exam dolls’ and walked off with them.

"I would have liked to finish this test without having to fight monsters, but it doesn't seem like it will be that simple. We're going to have to start proactively searching for snatch thieves." I told my companion. However, she only remained silent. Since it seemed like a response from the shield-bearer wasn't forthcoming. So, I took that as a sign of her agreement and proceeded further into the forest.

Even though we’ve been together since the start of our exams, we still barely talked to one another, and this situation makes me feel awkward and strange.

I wonder what her deal is?

After all, she did accept my invitation.

Because of that, she had safely become my teammate, and now the two of us were seeking the exam dolls together. But despite this, she didn't seem happy.

Maybe she didn't want to be with me?

At the time, maybe she was just going along with the moment, and had acknowledged my invitation. But perhaps, at the back of her mind, she didn't want to join up with me.

If possible, I want to continue the ‘Adventurers’ Exam’ with her, but if she doesn't like it, maybe there is no other choice but to dissolve this relationship.

While I was thinking this through, she finally said something to me, "Er, well…"

I casted my attention to her and waited for her to continue,"… earlier, you were saying we have a good affinity. What do you mean by that?"

"Well? Uhm…" I was startled that she would ask me something like this now.

Still, come to think of it, I didn't explain to her why I said that.

Truthfully, I primarily said those words to make her agree to team up with me, but if I told her that, I doubt that she would like that, and it didn’t seem like an appropriate answer either.

Perhaps, what I said feels incomplete, like I left something out.

I mean, saying "We have good affinity", will make any sane person confused. Depending on how one takes it, there could be a lot of interpretations to its meaning.

Maybe this is why she had been so quiet and acting a little strangely from the start?

I gave her a sideways glance and upon closer inspection that underneath her downcast eyes, her cheeks were red.

Perhaps my explanation was late, but I still wanted to give her my answer, "What I meant by saying that we have an affinity…"

However, right before I was about to tell her my thoughts, ‘something’ from behind us jumped out suddenly.

"Gugaa!"

She gasped and exclaimed, "M-Monster!?"

What the shield-bearing girl had said was true. Just then and there, from out of the thicket had come out a wolf-like monster.

The wolf was about the same height as myself.

It opened its large mouth, and its sharp fangs glimmered at us.

It started approaching us at lightning speed, as if aiming to bite our heads off. Without a moment's delay, I put my right hand behind my back and pulled out my rusted sword.

My companion looked at my sword and was obviously shaken by its appearance, "What are you going to do with that beat up sacred weapon!"

It's a natural reaction, one that I’ve been used to for years!

Although I've been saying not to judge the sword by the way it looks, when it comes to sacred weapons, I have to admit it's hard to judge it by anything other than its appearance.

Furthermore, if it was the first time you saw the sword, it was understandable that you'd think that there was no way it could be used against a monster.

On her part, the girl quickly grabbed her large shield and placed it into position. She tried to come between myself and the monster. However, I held up my left hand and signaled for her to stay back. I took a deep breath and said, "...Evolve"

In an instant, a black light emitted from the rusted sword, and like an egg shedding off its shell, the rust that enveloped my sacred weapon fell off to reveal its true form.

"Haaaa!" I wielded the sword right in front of the wolf's eyes.

I held my sacred weapon as high as I could, gripped it tightly and waited for the wolf to come closer. As it neared us, I saw an opening and swung my sword down in one swift motion as if I was tearing the sky into two. Doing this, I managed to quickly slice the wolf in half and my weapon briefly glimmered with a strange light before it disappeared.

"A-Amazing…" The girl with the shield stared at me with wide eyes and a dumbfounded expression painted on her face.

Judging by the way her gaze was looking down at my weapon, seemingly transfixed by it, I reckoned she was more shocked by my weapon than by me being able to take down that wolf with one swift attack.

I suppose, witnessing a ragged sword turn into a Majin’s sword will render one speechless.

Especially when a sacred weapon being able to change its form is something that hasn’t been known before. I’m pretty sure, my sacred weapon is the first of its kind.

Before she could feel even more confused, I quickly explained, "This is my sacred weapon, the ‘Cursed Demon Sword’. Before evolving, it is just a worthless rusted sword, incapable of being used in a fight, but after using the ‘Evolve’ skill, its form changes. I’m sorry if I surprised you."

She did not say anything for a couple of seconds before finally responding, "…Is that so?"

It seemed like she was indeed taken aback by my sacred weapon, but it didn't appear that she was frightened by it.

Well, if that’s the case, then I'm glad.

If she had run away because it looked like a Majin's weapon, I don't know what I would have done.

Since for the time being the uneasiness between us had somehow diffused, the girl tilted her head while looking at the cursed demon sword and asked, "If that's the case, then why don't you have the sword stay like this? Why go out of your way to return it to its ragged state?"

I guess her asking questions is only a natural reaction after seeing my sacred weapon’s ability.

To be honest, it would sound more practical if it were always at its ‘Cursed Demon Sword’ state. Furthermore, if I wasn’t able to transform the sword quickly enough, we both would have been eaten. But…

“Indeed it is more beneficial to have my sword stay in its ‘Cursed Demon Sword’ form than have it revert back to a rusted sword, but using that ability drains my energy and after prolonged usage, I may grow so exhausted to the point of passing out.”

“What?”

"As of the moment, I can only use the ‘Cursed Demon Sword’ for as long as three minutes. Beyond that is already treading into dangerous waters. I can't use the ‘Evolve’ ability all the time. Once the battle is over, I return it back to its rusted sword form. I resolved to only use the magic sword form for battle purposes."

Based on my own research, I've learned just a little about this sacred weapon.

One of them is learning that my cursed demon sword has a time limit.

I get super tired when I use it, and if I overdo it by continuously wielding it, I lose consciousness.

The time limit is about three minutes.

That feels like a very short amount of time.

Nevertheless, compared to the first time I used it, I am able to hold on to it longer now.

It seems like while I'm using the ‘Evolution’ skill, I'm also getting used to it, and gradually I’m able to push my time longer.

Still, each time I use it I am able to rake in a few seconds. Judging by my pace, I suppose I need more time before I can fully master it until my body is at ease.

Therefore, it seems only practical that I only use it during battle, that way I can utilize my time well.

Just then her eyes glimmered, "Ah. Then when you said our affinity is good did you mean…"

"That’s right! When I get tired by using my cursed magic sword, I want you to step up and protect me with your shield. If I'm able to rest a little, then I can use it again. It seems pitiful to say it outloud, but when I’m using the rusted sword, I am quite worthless.”

After I said this, I let out a bitter laugh.

I briefly wonder if I came across as arrogant just now. Perhaps the meanness of that purple haired girl from earlier rubbed off on me.

Regardless of whether or not my words seem callous, that doesn't change the reality of my inability and weakness.

That is why it is crucial for me that the shield-bearing girl agree to be my teammate.

Now that the long and overdue explanation is out of the way, I noticed that the girl visibly relaxed with her newfound knowledge. She then nodded her head towards me and flashed me with a bright smile, "U-Understood. If there is anything I can do, I'll do it to the best of my abilities."

"Um, then please take care of me, alright?”

Still there was one final detail we still needed to sort out between us, “Ah, well…" I started.

"…We still haven't told each other our names yet. I'm Rust, Rust Stone. What is your name?"

"I'm Diamond. Diamond Karat. I look forward to working with you Rust."

"Right back at you!" I smiled, and once again, we shook our hands together.

She probably doesn’t know just how much I’m planning to depend on her. But I am serious about it. Like I told her a while ago, my sacred weapon has a fatally weak point where I can potentially pass out, and if I am unable to compensate for that, the worst case scenario is my death.

I had to be extra careful especially during the ‘Adventurers’ Exam’ because the moment we decided to participate in it, we have also effectively waived our rights to safety. We were on our own and we had to survive no matter what. If we die it was a risk we all knowingly took in order to become an Adventurer.

Therefore, one must be vigilant during the exam, and one should have a strong spirit and be prepared, since a monster could suddenly appear and attack at any given time.

Since I can only use my power for a limited time, that makes me a very weak participant.

Before the start of the examination I was on my toes in nervous anxiety as I worried about my prospects. I knew if I didn’t find anyone to rely on and that I was on my own, I needed to remain vigilant since my abilities may not be enough to help me survive.

That’s why I felt so grateful when I met Diamond.

A shield bearing companion is exactly who I needed. I couldn’t have asked for a better teammate than her.

As calculative as I may come across, I had another reason for asking her to team up with me…

Because she was being verbally abused back at the guild.

I couldn’t help but wonder that since she was called incompetent, would other participants in the exam still want her in their teams? If I hadn’t asked her, would she have found and joined up with another party?

Still, I knew I was in the same boat as her the moment I butted in her affairs. After all, people wouldn't want someone in their party who was poking their nose into someone else's troubles, like myself.

Since Diamond had been shamed in front of everybody and I had established a meddlesome reputation with my interference, the most suitable solution for us would be to pair up. There was no ‘grander’ explanation other than that.

Truly, it is human nature to constantly think and reflect on past events, but now it was time for me to focus on the present, "Well now that our belated self-introductions are complete, let's go look for those dolls again."

Just as I finished saying that and before we could take our first step, a monster came swooshing from out of the thicket once again.

However, this time, it wasn't a wolf, it was a monster that looked like a ‘small child’.

-To be continued.

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