I Became the Main Character’s Demon Sword

27

Meanwhile, Dionel felt a heavy sense of guilt when he confirmed with his own eyes that Arpel was a demon sword. He finally realized that the lost demon sword had fallen into the hands of none other than the Salvation Church.

The inexplicable accident, the loss of the demon sword, the erasure of records, the Salvation Church’s experiments, the leak of information about Rohan, and the incident in the village – everything was interconnected. At this point, even Dionel couldn’t help but notice the identity of the spy.

But there was insufficient evidence. There were almost no remaining documents, and the suspected spy was pretending to be quite devout, so many priests followed them.

In this situation, acting recklessly would only endanger the position of the High Priest. Since no one but Dionel had proper suspicions, if something were to happen to him, it was clear that there would be no one left to investigate this matter.

“Instead, swear that you will become this child’s eternal ally.”

In fact, asking Arpel for help could solve everything. He was the one who had directly experienced it all, after all. Although Arpel didn’t particularly remember this past, Dionel, unaware of this fact, thought so. However, he simply couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Everything that had happened to him was the temple’s fault. From the loss of the sword to being forcibly injected with the power of specters, to subduing him recklessly even after he had escaped and safely brought Rohan to the temple.

Dionel couldn’t bring himself to shamelessly ask him. That is, if Arpel hadn’t proposed it himself.

“I promise on my name, and… even on my faith in the god. No matter what happens, no harm will come to Lord Rohan.”

Arpel was thinking only of Rohan until the very end. Now that he looked closely, Arpel’s clear purple eyes were filled with blind trust and affection for the child, to the point where Dionel couldn’t understand why he had mistaken him for a minion of the specters. It was something Dionel couldn’t judge carelessly.

Whether he was influenced by the power of specters or not, Arpel would never harm Rohan. Dionel dared to guarantee this uncertain future.

“…Hmm. May I ask you for a favor right away?”

Dionel looked with a troubled face at Rohan, who was still nestled in Arpel’s arms despite the ongoing conversation.

“I don’t mind.”

As soon as he heard the definite answer, Dionel quickly disappeared from the spot, saying he would immediately gather the elders. In the end, only Arpel and Rohan were left in the corridor.

“Are you feeling a bit better now?”

“…Yes.”

Arpel whispered in a small voice as he slowly stroked the child’s back. Rohan, who had been clinging to him without moving, nodded immediately.

Although traces of crying remained, warmth gradually returned to his pale face. As if touching a jewel too precious to handle carelessly, Arpel gently cradled the child’s face with a feather-light touch.

Rohan, who had been nuzzling his face slightly, spoke while leaning his cheek on Arpel’s hand.

“Arpel, did those people hurt you?”

“…You could say that.”

It was a question about the spies. Although it was a distant past he couldn’t even remember, it was true, so he simply nodded. He would have continued to do so if it weren’t for Rohan’s voice whispering with lowered eyelashes while burying his face.

“I’ll protect you from now on.”

Arpel paused for a moment and looked down at the child. His lovely eyes, though slightly swollen from crying, drew beautiful lines as they held a radiant smile. It was as if a flower was blooming.

In the end, Arpel couldn’t say anything and just hugged Rohan tightly. He couldn’t help it as he felt a tickling and fluttering sensation in his chest. He was simply grateful for the fact that he could continue to be with this small and precious child.

***

The existence of someone who can support you is important to everyone in this world.

It could be family, friends, lovers, or it’s not limited to just relationships with someone – it could be something you like. Who would want to lose this?

In this sense, Rohan had no choice but to be blindly devoted to Arpel. He had already lost everything he held dear. One such experience was enough.

The only one who remained by his side after losing everything. Now, it didn’t matter to Rohan whether he was a sword or a person. Only the fact that he was ‘Arpel’ mattered.

The emptiness of losing everything he loved without exception, the hope that someone was still by his side, and the innocence of a young child made him not only blindly follow this figure but recognize him as his world.

Was it because he was a mysterious being from who knows where, or because of his honest eyes that whispered he would stay together but envisioned leaving someday? Rohan considered his relationship with Arpel precarious and tried to remain by his side.

Thus, all of Rohan’s actions revolved around Arpel.

This world was almost shattered for the first time. No, it was half-shattered.

‘Arpel!’

Rohan still couldn’t forget the moment when Arpel was forced to his knees by numerous hands, the voice whispering that he would cause trouble for Rohan, and the sharp blade pressed against his white neck.

At that moment, Arpel truly seemed to have given up everything. It felt like he would leave Rohan’s side without any lingering attachment at any moment. If he really left, Rohan would lose his world once again.

It was a fear that cut to the bone.

Even though Arpel had returned and embraced him tightly, he couldn’t shake off that feeling. How difficult would it be to make a decision again after having made it once? Only then could he understand. If Arpel were to face such a situation again, he would repeat the same action.

And if such a day comes again, there’s no guarantee that Arpel would return to his side.

‘…I need to become stronger.’

He hoped Arpel wouldn’t think of him as ‘someone to protect’. Rohan didn’t want to receive his protection. He just wanted him to remain by his side forever.

‘I wish I could become Arpel’s world.’

Just as Rohan recognized Arpel as his world, he wished Arpel would do the same. If only the two of them were left in this world… Even such a frivolous thought crossed his mind.

Arpel had said the temple would protect him. So they had to go to the temple. Whether they went or not didn’t matter, but Rohan had simply nodded. For him, wherever Arpel said to go was his destination. It seemed it wouldn’t matter where they went as long as Arpel was by his side.

But upon arriving at the temple and seeing the people who had shouted to protect him all attack Arpel, Rohan couldn’t trust anything anymore.

The temple, which had tried to take away the most precious thing in the world under the pretext of protection, was like that, and so was Arpel, who didn’t grasp the hand Rohan had extended, wishing to be together until the end.

Arpel is Rohan’s world. The whole world was filled with him. But that emotion was separate from trust. Rohan could no longer trust Arpel.

Because if such a thing happens again, Arpel would once again let go of his hand without hesitation.

“Rohan. I think you have a fever.”

“I’m fine…”

Arpel, who had been hugging him tightly, whispered as he brought his head closer. Although his head felt hot, Rohan shook it forcefully.

He didn’t want to just receive worry anymore. Unaware of Rohan’s feelings, and even if he knew, unable to stop worrying, Arpel adjusted his hold on Rohan and placed his palm on his forehead. Perhaps because of the cool sensation, Rohan’s blinking slowed.

He feared the moment this hand’s warmth would disappear. Despite his disjointed thoughts, Rohan could be certain of at least that much. The memory of when Arpel’s body had crumbled and changed into a sword, giving no response, remained like an afterimage. He tightly grasped the palm that was about to pull away with both hands and leaned his face against it. The fingers that had hesitated for a moment gently caressed Rohan’s cheek.

“Quickly…”

“Hm?”

“I want to grow up quickly… Soon…”

He imagined his body suddenly growing much larger just by closing and opening his eyes. It was nothing more than a pitiful delusion.

But if the day really comes when he becomes as big as Arpel, maybe even bigger… Rohan won’t let go of this hand.

Never.

***

He quietly looked down at the child who had fallen asleep, breathing heavily.

The worry that he might develop a fever after crying so much wasn’t unfounded. For now, he was cooling the child’s head with his own low body temperature, but it would be better to give him medicine and lay him down on a bed soon. However, he didn’t like the idea of grabbing just any priest and leaving Rohan with them.

Throughout his time with Rohan, or more precisely, since the day he had thought he wanted to spend his entire life with the child, Arpel had lived with the worry that he might have to part with him someday. He was content just knowing that they could be together from now on.

At the same time, his selfish true feelings were revealed.

He wanted to be the only guardian the child relied on and followed. Thinking about Rohan thanking someone else who had taken care of him and following them around made him feel inexplicably annoyed.

“Lord Arpel.”

The one who wedged himself between Arpel and Rohan, who had been acting as if they were alone in the quiet corridor, was a pedantic-looking man. With light blonde hair tied and draped to one side, a monocle on his right eye, and pale skin, the man had a rather sensitive impression, perhaps due to his stiff expression.

Although Arpel, who had known someone was approaching for a while, showed no particular reaction, the man paid no mind to this.

“Lord Dionel is looking for you.”

“…Do you have any medicine suitable for the child?”

“Medicine?”

After fiddling with the edge of his monocle a few times while staring at Rohan, he soon brought his hand closer. As Arpel’s expression quickly hardened, the man stopped and added an explanation.

“I will perform a brief blessing.”

“…A blessing. I see.”

Holy power and magical power given to the priests. The main purpose of these two powers was to return specters to the earth, but they also showed excellent effects in protection and healing. Although not enough to cure a fatal disease in an instant, they could recover from a mild cold.