I Returned with the Cheat Holy Sword

"I didn’t cancel the restaurant reservation since you said not to. I did good, right?"
“……”

Was that supposed to be a good thing?
Carlyle sat on edge, glancing nervously around.
If there was one saving grace to the current situation, it was that they were in a sealed, private room—at least no one else could hear.

Around the large table, Carlyle, Gray, and Felix sat in silence.
“……”
Their meals sat untouched in front of them, the silence growing thick and uncomfortable.

Well—not everyone was leaving their food untouched.
"Ahhh—"
“……”

Carlyle looked at Felix with a pale face.
Felix, wearing his usual cheerful smile, was holding a cut piece of steak up to Carlyle’s mouth.
"What is this. What exactly are you aiming for?"

A man who could kill someone in less than ten seconds from his seat—what the hell was he doing now?
"Don't be like that, you’ll hurt my feelings. What’s so strange about cutting up food for an injured person?"
"It’s strange."

“……”
Felix stirred his fork with a sulky expression.
But Carlyle couldn’t help reacting that way.

Across the table, Gray was glaring at him without so much as touching the food in front of her.
“…………”
And then, without warning—
Gray picked up the metal bowl placed before her with both hands.

And with a sharp grk—, she crushed the dish into a ball like it was nothing.
She hadn’t used mana. It was pure brute strength.
"You two seem pretty close now."

Gray muttered with a dull voice as she mashed the steel bowl like it was clay.
…The way that metal contorted with ease reminded Carlyle a little too much of himself in this moment.
"When did that happen?"

“……”
"Cardinal Felix, were you always like this?"
The air turned sticky with tension.

Carlyle had already been told by the Holy Sword that Gray was furious because of what he'd done.
If she were just openly angry, as usual, it might’ve been easier. But right now, she was like frozen steel—calm on the outside, but touch her, and she’d bite straight through flesh.
The bigger problem was that Felix didn’t care one bit about any of that.

"So then—"
Still smiling brightly, without even glancing in Gray’s direction—
Felix opened his mouth.

"What was that?"
“……”
…It felt like someone had jammed a rock down his throat.

Of course it was this guy. There was never any buildup or polite lead-in when it came to him.
"Even Lady Chasefield couldn’t manage a blow like that."
“……”

"The Capital Defense Command went into panic mode. Who did it? That’s going to be a hot question—especially once the Royal Family catches wind. I’m sure a lot of people would like to know who could pull something like that off."
“……”
"Of course, that’s all assuming no one decides to ‘cover for you.’"

Felix waved his still-offered fork lazily in the air.
"If nothing else, getting marked by the Royal Family is going to be a pain, you know?"
“……”

I know.
He’d learned the hard way through countless regressions just how unreasonable that side of the world could be.
He was already busy enough protecting Gray and dealing with whatever incidents cropped up near her. The last thing he needed was to get entangled with them.

"So if you just tell me honestly, I’ll protect you. Even the Royal Family would think twice about making an enemy of me. How about it?"
The piece of steak came even closer.
…It was dripping with juice. It actually looked kind of delicious. He almost wanted to just bite it.

But still—
"…Cardinal Felix."
Carlyle forced a smile.

"I’ll handle it myself."
“……”
"I’m sincerely grateful for your help this time. Because of you, we avoided a major crisis. I’ll return the favor in whatever way I’m able."

But even so—
"…I’d prefer not to get entangled with you professionally."
Getting mixed up with him would be just as exhausting—if not more—than the Royal Family.

And besides, how was he supposed to explain any of this?
That he was someone who had repeated countless regressions, that the Empire was doomed to fall to demons, that he would die a failure, and that even Gray had failed to save humanity—leading to total annihilation of the continent?
If Gray didn’t immediately draw her sword for the insult, it’d be a miracle.

"…I see."
Felix smiled as he withdrew the fork.
Then he dragged his chair forward and sat directly across from Carlyle.

…The pressure coming off his face up close was suffocating.
"Well, fine. You don’t have to explain. Either way, I’m going to start digging in for real now."
“……”

"I don’t know how to describe it… it’s like being seduced. You’re the first person I’ve ever met who’s so completely unpredictable."
From how well he understood Gray—despite only recently meeting her on paper—Felix had already started doubting.
And now, after everything that had happened, he was certain.

His precise knowledge of demons, his ability to choose the exact 'correct' path to minimize casualties…
In other words—
He understood things too well, including things that had never once been revealed before.

"I’ve suspected for a while, but you—"
It was like—
"Do you know the future?"

“……”
—It felt like poison whispered in his ear.
His whole body went cold.

Even if it was just a fragment, a glimpse—
This man had hit frighteningly close to the truth of Carlyle’s identity on his own.
His blood felt like it was being squeezed through narrow veins.

"…No."
His brain spun wildly.
He didn’t know what to say, but at least he understood this: his actions demanded an explanation.

If there was any excuse he could come up with—
"I’ve just… always had a strong interest in demons."
That would be it.

Cardinal Felix scoffed in disbelief.
"An interest in demons?"
"I had a lot of encounters with them when I was young."

"Encounters?"
"Well, uh…"
He forced an awkward smile.

What could he even say?
Think.
'Let’s see, I’m sure…'

This man, Carlyle Belfast, was someone with no traceable past in this world.
The reason was simple—his background was utterly insignificant.
Two ordinary parents caught in a tragic accident, leaving him orphaned at birth. Raised in an orphanage, then joined the Imperial Army.

That was the past he knew. So common and forgettable, it wasn’t even documented.
And being that nondescript made it ideal for… embellishment.
"There was an incident when I was young. Related to demons."

He made it sound meaningful.
…There had probably never been such an incident, but he kept bluffing.
Felix narrowed his eyes.

"An incident?"
"My whole family got caught up in it. Ever since then, I’ve stayed curious."
Of course, that explained nothing. He was leaving out everything that mattered.

This was basically a roundabout way of saying: please stop digging.
“—”
And yet—

The reaction was more dramatic than expected.
Felix’s eyes visibly wavered.
That was rare. He was someone who never let emotions show. But now, clear confusion passed across his face.

For him, that meant this hit close enough to shatter his composure.
"…?"
Huh?

Why?
Was there anything in what he just said that warranted a reaction like that?
"…Do you happen to remember who your parents were?"

"No. I don’t have any clear memories. It was too long ago."
Not that he forgot. It never happened.
"I… see."

Felix turned his eyes away with difficulty.
His expression was tangled—like some long-buried memory had surfaced and thrown his emotions into chaos.
“……”

“……”
An awkward silence fell.
Felix fidgeted at the table, glancing toward Carlyle.

"Um, hey."
"Yes?"
"Should we go somewhere else?"

“…Sorry?"
"What you just said… I kind of want to ask more about it."
“……”

Damn.
It felt like he’d stepped on a landmine.
He’d tried to reduce Felix’s interest, but somehow he’d only made him more curious.

"Lady Chasefield, I’m sorry, but could you excuse us for a moment?"
He actually said it—he asked Gray to step aside.
Naturally—

Gray’s expression contorted sharply.
"…Not even trying to hide it now, are you, Cardinal Felix?"
"Ah, I’m sorry. But that was just something I couldn’t ignore—"

"Do whatever you want."
Gray’s voice came out in a cold snarl.
"I’m going back."

That was it.
"You two seem to be having a really fun conversation. Not like I know any of it. It's pissing me off."
It was the voice of disappointment.

At Carlyle, who kept everything hidden.
"I had something to tell you… but I guess it doesn’t matter anymore."
Then she stood up and left.

Carlyle stared blankly at her retreating figure.
Her voice—icy enough to send chills down his spine—left no room for doubt.
It felt like…

She was done with him.
Like if he let her go now, that’d be it.
[…No, I don’t think it’s that—]

"—I’m sorry, Cardinal! We’ll talk later!"
He barely registered what the Holy Sword was trying to say—Carlyle leapt to his feet and dashed after Gray.
***

"Miss—!"
“…?”
Gray, walking briskly along the main road, turned around at the desperate shout.

"…Huh?"
A disbelieving sound escaped her lips.
There he was.

Carlyle was stumbling toward her—his entire body a wreck.
Blood streamed down from everywhere, shards of what looked like glass stuck in his arms and legs, and one of his legs was clearly injured, making him limp heavily.
He looked so pathetic it turned heads. People on the street had frozen in alarm, staring at him.

“…"
Gray turned her gaze back toward the restaurant building they’d just left.
The glass windows had shattered completely.

It was at least five stories tall.
"You jumped out of that?"
…So that scream she’d barely heard earlier was someone.

If that was what happened, then she could understand his current state.
No—he had jumped from five stories bare-handed, wrecked his entire body in the process, and still managed to chase her down from a considerable distance?
"Ah… You were already so far away, Miss. I didn’t have time to take the long way around."

"…Why would you do something like that?"
"Because there’s something I really wanted to tell you."
Carlyle took a deep breath and bowed his head low.

"I’m sorry for hiding things from you! I’m sorry I couldn’t explain what I’ve been keeping secret!"
“…Huh?"
Gray blinked, caught off guard.

But Carlyle’s voice overrode hers—loud, desperate.
"Even if you beat me to death, I’m on your side, Miss—!"
“……”

"I’m sorry I can’t tell you everything, but I swear I would never do anything to harm you. I swear it on my life—!"
“……”
Gray looked at him for a moment.

Staring at him blankly.
So long that Carlyle started to feel nervous.
"……"

Huh.
Did he screw up?
She’d looked seriously upset earlier, and he panicked, thinking he had to make it right somehow.

Because this was the kind of person who, once truly angry, wouldn’t hesitate to cut people off.
That anxiety clawed at him as he waited for her response.
"Pfft."

And then—
She laughed.
"Puh—hahaha!"

A hearty, unabashed laugh.
“……”
[…?]

Carlyle and the Holy Sword both stood frozen in shock.
This—this was the first time either of them had ever seen her laugh like that.
"You—did you really do all that just because I looked pissed?"

"Uh…"
"I wasn’t that mad, you know."
"…What?"

"I just didn’t like how chummy that Cardinal was acting toward you, that’s all."
That’s it.
That whole reaction was just because she didn’t like watching the two of them laugh and talk together.

"………But still."
Maybe Carlyle had left something a little too big unexplained.
That sword strike he’d launched with the Holy Sword—anyone would be suspicious of something like that.

He’d expected her to be mad that he’d kept it secret from her.
"…Is it really that big a deal?"
“…Excuse me?"

"It’s not like it’s the first time you’ve hidden some skill or trick. And besides—"
A crooked smile tugged at Gray’s lips.
"I can’t use it yet, but honestly? I don’t think it’s worth making such a fuss about. It wasn’t that impressive a strike."

"……"
"I feel like I could pull that off pretty soon myself, you know?"
“……”

…Ah.
Right.
To her, that attack wasn’t anything so amazing.

And it made sense—after all, the one sealed inside the Holy Sword was a future version of herself. Of course she'd think that way.
[…Hmph.]
The Holy Sword let out a rumbling sound from inside the blade.

[…Bold words from a cocky little brat.]
“……”
Why was she picking a fight with herself?

Well—if that was really all it was, then it was a relief.
[…Told you it wasn’t that serious.]
“I was anxious, okay.”

Carlyle sighed inwardly. Gray was the type who could explode at the slightest misstep—even if you were close.
As he was thinking that—
Gray spoke up again.

"Oh—right. I did have something I wanted to say."
"Yes?"
"Vespa and the little one. They said thank you."

“……”
Apparently, when the crisis broke out—
The fact that they were the first ones Gray rushed to left a strong impression on them.

Gray hadn’t said anything, but it seemed Shiona had made sure the message got through to her.
That was where the gratitude came from.
And for Gray—

It seemed like, surprisingly, she hadn’t disliked it.
Even if the ones thanking her were what she considered ‘less valuable’ people—
Even if they were just ‘close acquaintances’—

"If you hadn’t pushed me into that situation, I probably never would’ve experienced something like that."
“……”
"So yeah. I was mad at first because you didn’t ask me, but… it wasn’t bad. That’s what I wanted to say."

"I’m glad to hear that, Miss."
"Still doesn’t change the fact that seeing you get all buddy-buddy with the Cardinal made me want to rip someone’s throat out, though."
“……”

Gray ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) stared at Carlyle for a moment, then smiled faintly again.
Honestly—
A guy who jumped from a five-story window without hesitation just because she looked a little upset.

Who limped after her while drenched in blood, all the usual sarcasm and snark stripped away, eyes blazing with raw sincerity.
That kind of guy…
Well.

"…I’ll let it slide this time."
"Ma’am?"
"Just this once. I’m in a good mood."

Her heart…
Was pounding in a way that didn’t make any sense.
***

[System Message]
▶ Trait "Cardinal’s Ideal Type" is activating!
▶ "Pending Trait" is now manifesting!
[♠ Obsession 0% → 20%]

▶ Additional reward granted!
▶ Target shows increased interest in your past!
[System Message]
▶ Trait "Hero’s Companion" is activating!

[★ Affection 0% → 40%]
▶ Additional reward granted!
▶ Positive trait threshold has been sufficiently met.
▶ Negative trait values are below critical limit.
▶ The Hero’s perception of her "Companion" is beginning to shift.
▶ A new event chain related to “Hero’s Companion” has been unlocked!