When I Tried Strengthening 【Rusted Sword】, It Evolved Into An Overpowered Magic Sword
Vol. 1 - Ch. 5 - Three Years Later

After killing the third Treant this day, I put my sword away, "Hmm, I think that's enough for today." I whispered to myself and prepared to leave. 

As I started walking towards the exit of the forest to return to the village, I couldn't help but reminisce about all the years I've spent in these grounds.

It's been three years since I received the blessing ceremony and I've been running a rudimentary lifestyle, composed of a simple routine of me waking up, having breakfast, fighting against Treants in the forest and then returning home. Even after years of doing the same thing, I wasn't able to make a lot of progress, skills wise. 

I cannot see any visible changes to my own prowess, but more importantly, there hasn't been a single improvement in my sacred weapon, at all! 

Its current properties are the following; Name: Rusted Sword; Rank: F; Level: 9; Attack Power: 9; Benefit: Strength +0, Endurance +0, Agility +0, Magic +0, Vitality +0; Skills: None; Durability value: 10/15.

Since the time I received the 'Rusted Sword', my level has risen to nine. The attack power of my weapon has also increased accordingly, but still, it possessed no magic nor skills, while all the benefits still remained at zero level.

The changes in my sacred weapon are so subtle that one may not even realize that it has improved. Maybe it didn't really improve, maybe my training over the years just made it a little bit easier to use against a Treant?

As sad as it seems, this is all that I have achieved in the past three years.

"Ha..."

I inevitably find myself sighing a lot these days. When I started my training three years ago, I thought that; 'Everything is a trial', and that I would be able to work on my weaknesses and improve as long as I kept a positive attitude. 

But I have to admit, I've been feeling very disheartened lately.

I began to doubt myself, 'Is there really any point in continuing any of this?'

I don't mean to borrow the words of Hero Pearl, but I guess she was right. Perhaps, I really don't have it in me to become an adventurer.

Furthermore, I'm no longer as enthusiastic about my training as I used to be.

I was able to raise the level of my sacred weapon to nine, but I've been stuck in this range since a year ago! For a while now, I haven't leveled up at all.

It's as if the 'Rusted Sword' is telling me that this is the limit.

I've finally hit a slump and I don't know how to break it.

On top of that, the rumors that were making its way around the Red Village were putting a damper on my already grim thoughts. I feel so small whenever I hear about it. Even right now as I made my way back home, I could hear the villagers talking about it in my head. The news was about the fact that Ruby is a hero's right hand.

It's been three years since she left Red Village, and Ruby is now a prominent member of a party of heroes.

I heard that she performed as well as the other key members of their guild and even managed to raise her adventurer class to 'Platinum' in just three years.

That's right, in three years Ruby managed to travel by leagues, while I was able to only move by an inch.

Mind you, being a 'Platinum' adventurer is no easy feat. There is a class system for adventurers, from the bottom up, the ranks are: Bronze; Silver; Gold; Platinum; and Master.

'Platinum' is just one step away from the top.

Her current status was enough proof that she was already a first-class adventurer. In addition, Ruby is only fifteen years old and is known as the youngest female adventurer girl to ever reach 'Platinum'. Recently, she's even earned herself a nickname and has been referred to as the 'Fiery Swordsman' and is also recognized as the right-hand man of the Hero.

I'm sure she'll go down in history as an amazing female adventurer.

I couldn't help but look up at the blue skies and think of my childhood friend and what she's achieved. Lately, the fact that we had promised to become adventurers together seemed just like a fanciful dream when I think about it now.

I promised myself that I would catch up to her, but the gap between us grew wider and wider as time passed by.

I don't think I can do this anymore...

As I was feeling more lethargic than usual, I suddenly heard a male voice call out to me, "Hey, look at that guy."

I glanced at the direction it came from and saw two young men carrying axes with them.

Come to think of it, I recognize those guys. 

The axes they were carrying were sacred weapons given to them in a blessing ceremony, and I heard that they have been using it to work as lumberjacks.

Therefore, I sometimes see them when I'm training in the forest. However, I've never actually talked with them directly.

One of the guys walked towards me, "I can't believe you're still doing that." He said.

"Don't you know it's pointless?" His companion added as they stepped closer.

I just remained silent as they stared down at me. It seemed like they knew me the same way I knew them; through us passing by each other in the forest.

Three years ago, I was the only person in the 'Bountiful Harvest Generation' (the year that produced many high-ranking divine weapons), who was blessed with an F-ranked divine weapon.

And now, three years later I'm still trying to become an adventurer with that same 'Rusted Sword'.

I can understand how I would seem ridiculous from an outsider's point of view. Their contempt is even to be expected. Like I said before, if I were in the opposite position, I too would have thought that I was wasting my time.

I clenched my fists in secret and gnashed my teeth in frustration. Just because I was used to people's judging eyes, doesn't mean I had to tolerate it and so I spun around and ran towards the opposite direction to get away from the lumberjack brothers.

"Fuck, shit, damn it!" I cursed to the wind as I picked up speed.

That's right, I knew better than anyone else that what I was doing was futile.

I don't need to be told that. I've already despaired over it, so many times.

I know I have no talent, I have no special qualities, and that I don't even have the ability to become a normal adventurer.

It's true that I'm getting a lot of support from my mom, but there's no chance of me paying it off if I remain this way.

I really want to be an adventurer...

Just then a voice called out to me, "Um, big brother!"

It was a girl's voice from nearby, and so I stopped in my tracks and scanned the woodland area around me. 

Finally, my eyes landed on a familiar face. The voice came from a girl who lives in the Red Village, and I often see her around the forest too whenever I would go home after I train. Due to the fact that I often would run into, we developed a habit of casually greeting each other. Seeing her now made me realize that I was already nearing the outskirts of the forest.

"You dropped this, big brother." She told me as she held out her hand. I gave her a confused look and in turn, she presented me with a lunch box.

It was my lunchbox. My mother always makes me bring my lunch and so the young girl must have grown accustomed to seeing me with it that she realized it belonged to me. I was running so fast to get away from the lumberjack brothers that I didn't even notice that I had dropped it.

I smiled at her sheepishly as I received it, "Thank you! Thanks for going to the trouble of picking it up."

"You're welcome!" She replied as I began to put the lunchbox in a cloth bag which was tied around my waist. When I started to leave, the girl stepped forward and blocked my way. She gave me a quizzical look and said, "What are you always doing in the forest, big brother?"

She asked me a question in a manner that made me think that she was trying to stall me. However, I wasn't in the mood to humor her. The wounds I received from the lumberjack brothers were still fresh and I need to heal. Therefore, I would rather go home as soon as possible and lick my wounds in the comforts of my room.

Still, I couldn't just ignore the naive girl's question and leave her there.

I pushed down my feelings of despair for the time being and gave her a bland answer, "It's my job. I slay monsters that appear around here."

"Hehe, I see!" The girl replied with innocent eyes. I let out a distressed sigh.

Honestly, this situation is really pitiful. The truth is that I haven't even earned a single penny in the last three years.

I'm still an unemployed person. 

I'm still being taken care of by my mother while I continue my training.

I probably should have answered her honestly, but my weird ego got in the way.

For a couple or more seconds, we just stared at each other. The silence was getting rather awkward and so I took the opportunity to ask the girl something I had always been wondering about, "By the way, what are you doing here? I often see you around this area." My question wasn't a form of 'payback' from the question she's asked me. I was just genuinely curious.

The girl flashed me a dazzling smile, before she answered in excitement, "I'm playing hide-and-seek with my friends! They can't find me on this side! I haven't told anyone else that I go here to hide and they don't come here either."

What I really wanted to say to her was; 'That's because there's Treant over here and it's dangerous, so the other kids may have been told to stay away.' Instead I replied, "Oh, I see."

Now that I understand why she is here, like a reliable big brother, I decided I will give her a gentle reminder.

I stood up straighter and lowered my voice, "It's a little dangerous over here, so I think you should play a little closer to the village. It's pretty easy to hide at the back of the village chief Beril's house. They would also have a hard time finding you there." I told her. 

I hoped my older demeanor and last advice managed to convince her not to loiter around this area anymore.

"Oh, I see! I'll do that then!" She answered and gave me a small smile before she waved her hand and left.

I felt nostalgia creeped at my heart again; I used to play hide-and-seek with other kids my age when I was little too.

Though I was only invited to play to make the number of participants even, it still doesn't change the fact that I had memories of playing here. Back then, everything was so fresh and everything I saw was new and beautiful. I remembered how I used to dream of being an adventurer with my childhood friends, and we'd often play games together too. I'm sure I must have sported the same radiant smile when I was that girl's age.

Now... I am just a sad, worn-out person who constantly sighs and is hopeless about his future. Just then, I heard a scuffling noise, but it was so subtle that I wondered if I was only imagining it.

Suddenly, I felt a gush of wind swept through me. I realized it was still early, and I don't usually go home at this time. This fact made me feel reluctant to leave the forest. I feel like if I were to go, I would be denying myself the simple pleasures of reminiscing my childhood memories.

At that time, I was certain of my desire to become an adventurer, and seeing the girl's innocent smile made me remember some of the passion I felt back then. More than that, I really don't want to be insulted by the lumberjack brothers. I want to prove them wrong.

"I think I should hold on for a little longer and try a bit more." I told myself. 

As I turned my attention back to the forest, I drew the rusted sword that hung from my back and held it tightly. Then I broke out into a run and went deeper into the forest in search of a Treant to battle. As I picked up my speed I kept reminding myself that though it may be pointless, and though I may not have the aptitude to become an adventurer, this is all just a trial that I should overcome.

'Everything is a trial!' This is what I've always told myself.

That day I continued to hunt Treant until the sun went down.

By that time, the road back home was already dimly lit and so I quickened my pace as I reviewed my progress for that day as well as my performance.

I mentally counted how many Treants I battled that day and realized I only went up against five. 

Even though I stayed until sundown, the number of kills that day was quite small. In the end, I only encountered and managed to defeat two, after I parted ways with that girl. Somehow, I felt like there weren't many Treants today. Not only that, I began to realize that even the Whispering Forest seemed unusually quiet too. For some reason, this made me feel a bit uneasy. I brushed these worries away as I neared the exit of the forest. After all, maybe it's just my imagination. 

I was in the middle of contemplating if I should just run back home because my mom will scold me if I'm out too late, when I heard a scream, "Kyaaaaaa!"

I stopped in my tracks and listened to the forest, "What the hell was that?"

Suddenly, a girl's scream echoed throughout the woodland. I know this voice, it's the voice of that girl from earlier this day!

Why didn't she go back to the village yet? I mean, I did tell her to stay away from the forest because it was dangerous. However, I pushed those thoughts aside, as I knew I currently had bigger issues to deal with. 

That scream I just heard, must mean that something terrible happened to that girl!

I instantly rushed towards the direction of her screams.

I weaved my way through the thick woods and ignored the twigs that scratched against me until I eventually landed into a large clearing. I finally caught sight of the girl from earlier and saw an unknown figure standing over her. 

It was cornering her.

"That's...." At first glance, it looked like a human being, however I knew it definitely was not an ordinary human being. Its body was that of a human's, but it also had some monster-like features. Its dark hair stood up to its tips, and resembled that of a wolf's fur, while its sharp eyes petrified anyone with just a glance. Furthermore, I could see its glistening fangs peaked out of its mouth. As it hovered around the scared girl, it flexed its sharp claws at her.

In sum, I supposed one would call it a werewolf. However, there was something in his hand that caught my attention, it was a jagged jet-black great-sword.

"Ma, Majin...!" It was a Majin.

A Majin is a high-ranking monster that possesses intelligence. They are extremely belligerent, cunning, and have a strong preference for killing people. Rumor has it that if a monster is able to survive for twelve years, the gods will give it a 'Sacred Weapon'. These gods are not the same gods that watched over us humans. Rather, those gods were the 'Evil Gods' who harbor malicious hearts. Even so, it didn't matter who or how Majin got that weapon. What matters more to me is how it ended up in a place like this? It was inconceivable to me since they were rarely seen in this area. However, I reminded myself that now is not the time to worry about that.

I have to figure out a way to help that girl! 

Just then, I heard footsteps coming up from behind me. 

"Oh, is that a Majin?"

"You're kidding, right? Why is it near such a rural village ..."

The voices came from those lumberjack brothers I saw earlier at noon. They must have been working in the forest until this time and when they heard the girl's screams, they came here to investigate. The two young men, however, were clearly terrified of the vicious Majin that imposed itself before the girl.

They began to tremble and their hands which held their sacred weapons started to clatter too, while their faces contorted with fear. It was apparent to me that they were scared, perhaps that's why the young men immediately tried to turn on their heels. I immediately reached out and grabbed the young man by the sleeve, "Wait, where are you going?"

"Are you kidding me? Isn't it obvious? We've gotta get out of here! Can't you see that Majin?" He responded.

I can certainly see the Majin too, but that's beside the point, "But we have to save the girl..."

"This is no time to be talking like that! We're no match for that thing! Our first priority should be to get out of here and call the village guards!"

One of the lumberjack brothers suggested, but I was not convinced and kept my hold on his sleeve.

I know if we waste any more of our time arguing, she'll surely be killed.

Besides, aren't the axes that the two of them were holding, sacred weapons that could be used to fight against the monster?

It's bound to have a much higher attack power than my 'Rusted Sword'.

Even if we can't defeat it, we should at least be able to stall it long enough for the kid to get away. If we confront Majin right now, we might be able to save her.

"Just let me go!" The lumberjack insisted and pushed me off.

I was forcibly jerked out of the way and landed on the forest grounds, "Ah!"

Then I saw the lumberjack brothers run away until their silhouettes faded in the view. As I was the only one left behind, I couldn't help but panic and started to fumble around for no reason.

"Hey, someone ..." Somebody help her, please!

Somebody help that girl who is about to be attacked by a Majin. If we don't hurry, that girl is going to be killed by that demon.

Somebody ... Someone ... Anyone...

I began praying for anyone to come, and hoped that the wind carried my pleas to someone capable of saving her, "Some...one..." 

But there is no one!

Right now, I'm the only one who can help her.

That's right! What's the use of having a sacred weapon in my right hand if I don't use it at a time like this? How can I be an adventurer if I can't even bring myself to step up and defend that girl? 

I reminded myself that I should not rely on anyone else, and that the only person I could rely on is myself!

Even if it's with a 'Rusted Sword', I can still fight it!

What I needed was not a strong sacred weapon, I only needed the courage to face my fears!

I  also needed to make a move here! So I got up and started bracing myself. 

That's right, move it self!

"U, uwa aaaa~a!" I let out a pitiful shout as I charged at the Majin, with the 'Rusted Sword' in my hands.

-To be continued.

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