I Returned with the Cheat Holy Sword

“…So.”
There had been various complications, but all in all, it would be best to consider this a fairly trustworthy source of information.
“You’re not going to lie to us, right?”

“…Do I look like I could? In this state.”
Vissels fidgeted as she replied.
She still didn’t seem fully adjusted to her body.

“You’re the one who threatened to decide at your whim whether or not to turn me back. How shameless.”
Vissels said this, her eyes narrowing.
She may not have anything left to her name ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) now, but she still clung to her inborn pride and arrogance as a member of the imperial family.

“That’s something I obviously should do, don’t you think?”
“……”
“You’re not in any position to be acting all high and mighty in the first place. Do you want something terrible to happen to you?”

As Carlyle said that, color visibly drained from Vissels’s face.
She slowly moved to cover herself with her arms.
“…Y-You bastard, your tastes really are revolting…”

“Don’t spout nonsense.”
Regardless of having turned into a woman or whatever, this person’s insides were still that of a man. If Carlyle didn’t turn her back, he could be charged with regicide against the imperial family.
What the hell was this person imagining with that attitude? The narcissism was off the charts…

Vespa, watching the exchange from the side, chimed in.
“Ah, you don’t have to worry about that.”
“?”
“This person, he barely even reacts to perfectly normal women.”

“……”
“It’s like his brain’s just totally shut off when it comes to stuff like that…”
As she spoke, Vespa’s expression grew increasingly gloomy.

…Vissels glanced back and forth between Vespa and Carlyle, watching them cautiously in the heavy atmosphere.
“……V-Very well, then.”
Vissels cleared her throat and opened her mouth.

“Ask what you want. I’ll answer whatever I can, within reasonable limits.”
Hmph.
[…Even here, she’s still drawing lines. Incredible.]
She said she’d answer only what she could.

Even after everything, she was still thinking of self-preservation. In a way, it was impressive.
And—
While Carlyle might be able to overlook it, there was someone here who absolutely could not tolerate such an attitude.

Gray’s kick landed squarely on Vissels’s chest.
With a loud crash, Vissels was thrown to the floor.
She coughed violently and writhed in pain for a long while…

“Use honorifics.”
“……”
As Vissels stared up blankly, Gray growled.

“Honorifics.”
Her eyes glinting menacingly, Gray demanded again, and Vissels slowly looked away.
…Well, even back when she had imperial backing, Vissels had always avoided clashing directly with Gray.

In this situation, she really had no choice but to grovel like she was in hell.
Tears welling in her eyes from the pain, Vissels finally sat up in her chair and coughed as she spoke.
“I will… do my utmost… to answer…”

But before she could even finish her sentence, Gray’s foot came flying once again.
Another loud crash as Vissels was sent flying once more.
“……”

Everyone, including Vissels, stared at Gray in a daze.
The expression on their faces seemed to say: What the hell set her off this time? But Gray didn’t so much as blink as she spoke.
“Smile when you talk.”

“……”
“Smile. Don’t piss me off.”
“……….”

Hmph.
Yes, that was our dear Hero.
Lately, she’d been acting relatively mild around Carlyle, and he’d almost forgotten.

“………W-What would you like… to ask me?”
With a pale, almost ashen face and a forced, twisted smile, Vissels now looked almost pitiable.
Anyway.

There were a few key questions that needed to be asked.
Specifically, what exactly she knew about the demonic beast currently heading toward Yoram.
And just how far the imperial family’s involvement went regarding that.

Thankfully, Gray’s rather unique arrogance-removal therapy seemed to have had some effect—Vissels obediently began to explain.
“—It’s a catastrophe-class demonic beast. The observer referred to it as ‘Black Whale.’ That’s the only thing left in the lost records.”
As soon as she said that—

A chill swept through the room.
“…Did you say catastrophe-class?”
Gray asked quietly.

Her voice was more serious and subdued than Carlyle had ever heard it.
As expected.
The word “catastrophe” wasn’t thrown around lightly when describing demonic beasts.

It wasn’t just a matter of being powerful. To be called that, the creature had to pose a level of threat where, if left unchecked, it could wipe out at least an entire nation.
Gray had originally been chosen by the Holy Sword precisely because she’d subjugated a dragon that bore that “catastrophe” title.
“It’s a creature that lives in the ocean between the Far East and the Empire. It looks like a whale flying through the sky. They said it left its territory and is now flying toward Yoram.”

Vissels added that the royal observer had given the report in a near-scream, shaking as he continued, unable to believe what he’d seen.
“They said it’s destroying everything in its path.”
Carlyle stroked his chin in silence.

That’s not normal behavior.
[Hm?]
‘Black Whale is a territorial animal. It’s not one to stray from its habitat. And above all, it doesn’t engage in random violence like that.’

The demonic beasts living in the ocean between the Far East and the Empire were typically peaceful unless their territory was invaded. Especially one of the Black Whale’s caliber—a catastrophe-class that had likely dwelled in that region for a long time.
Normally, it would never leave its territory or its young.
[……]

The Holy Sword released a baffled silence.
[…Didn’t she just say the only thing left in the records was its name? How do you know its behavior—never mind, fine. It’s knowledge from a regression, isn’t it.]
‘Yeah… I once tried to use it as an ally. Failed, but I studied its behavior thoroughly.’

[…You tried to tame a catastrophe-class demonic beast?]
‘Didn’t work out, but it was worth the research.’
[That’s… flexible thinking, to say the least.]

Thanks for the compliment.
Carlyle sighed inwardly.
No wonder people were saying this could burn down all of Yoram. If that thing really was the one attacking, then even having two Heroes might not be enough.

Especially—
If Carlyle’s suspicion turned out to be true.
[What suspicion?]

‘Demonic beasts don’t feel emotion. If it’s behaving in two ways that go against instinct, then it’s likely being manipulated.’
And if someone really was manipulating a creature powerful enough to earn the “catastrophe” title…
There was only one kind of entity Carlyle knew of that could pull that off.

[…You think this is the work of a demon? That someone manipulated it and sent it this way?]
‘Highly likely.’
Carlyle narrowed his eyes.

‘…It’s a noble-class. No way a mere lesser demon could pull this off.’
There was a sulfurous stench.
Not like before—not just lesser spirits.

This time, it was the stench of a real monster.
[But why go out of their way to attack Yoram? Even with its symbolism, it’s just an academy.]
That answer was simple.

Carlyle’s eyes flicked to the side.
There stood Gray, arms crossed, quietly listening.
‘Because she’s here.’

[……]
Knowing how demons operate, it was likely the same tactic as before—sending threats to probe for weaknesses.
One by one, in moments of crisis, they’d collect data on the Hero’s vulnerabilities, then strike at them with precision.

That’s what demons were. Quiet shadows that observed, then infiltrated like poison.
‘—But that can wait.’
For now—

The immediate issue was the Black Whale currently flying toward Yoram in a violent rage.
There was more to ask.
“But something’s weird.”

“What do you mean?”
“…Shouldn’t there be a nationwide emergency in the Empire by now?”
Geographically, even though Yoram was located on the outskirts, it was still connected to the capital.

And if the creature had already caused widespread destruction on its way here, there should’ve been an official response. Things were too quiet.
“……”
Vissels fell silent.

She seemed to realize the absurdity of what she was about to say.
“…If there are casualties… it makes the crisis more serious.”
“…Excuse me?”

“Handling a national disaster with casualties makes for a more ‘heroic’ narrative than one with none.”
“……”
“…The First Prince and Second Princess referred to it as ‘raising the stakes.’”

Hah.
Hahaha.
So this wasn’t just about monopolizing information and claiming all the credit?

They wanted people to die so the disaster would seem more dramatic?
‘They’re actually insane.’
[Please. That’s nothing new.]

As Carlyle gripped his aching head, Gray rose from her seat.
“…Well, that’s all we needed to hear. Time to prepare.”
She glanced toward Carlyle.

“You’ll handle things while I’m fighting, right?”
“…?”
Carlyle blinked.

What was she saying?
Gray frowned slightly and clarified.
“It’s a catastrophe-class demonic beast. I won’t be able to watch my surroundings during the battle. You handle the rest.”

“……”
Wait.
Wait, hold on.

Was she seriously saying—
“…Are you planning to face it alone?”
Even for a Hero wielding the Holy Sword, the Black Whale wasn’t a trivial opponent.

And she was going alone?
“I’ve done similar things before. I’m stronger now than I was then.”
“Young lady, that’s too dangerous. You should take people with you—”

“Take who?”
“……”
“Who’s going to help me?”

For a moment—
Words caught in Carlyle’s throat.
“Who? You guys?”

“………”
“Hey.”
Gray smirked coldly.

“You really think that? That you could help me?”
“……”
“Spare me. Just focus on not getting in my way.”

With that, she turned coldly and stormed out of the room.
“……”
“……”

Vissels and Vespa exchanged wary glances.
That was how sharp Gray’s attitude had been just now—like a blade.
And—

…To Carlyle, it was all the more painfully clear.
She may respect them more now than she once did.
But at her core, nothing had changed.

Supreme. Untouchable. A lone army.
The Hero stood above all.
No one could help her.

Only she could face the catastrophe.
Everyone else remained beneath her feet.
“……”

Watching her go, Carlyle clenched his fists.
She was exactly like that in the previous life.
Never felt the need to move in step with others. Always acted alone.

And Carlyle knew all too well what that path led to.
How many needless sacrifices had been caused by that obstinate refusal to listen?
[So what will you do?]

‘Fix her.’
He had to.
It was one of the Hero’s many flaws that had to be changed if the future was to be rewritten.

[How? I mean… I only realized it after losing everything. You can’t use the same method.]
That was the problem, of course.
But Carlyle had an idea.

‘Make her admit she’s wrong.’
[…What?]
‘Show her that the people around her are useful—maybe even more so than the Hero herself.’

Even Gray. Even the Hero.
She needed to do more than swing logs around and rage all the time.
Even Heroes needed to be carried sometimes.

‘How about it, Miss Hero? Want a ride on the bus for once?’
[…What’s a bus?]