As Edbert said, if the sword he wanted to give was truly an item, it would be good to accept it.

It would surely be of great help.

There was an incomparable functional difference between ‘ordinary weapons’ and ‘weapon items’.

However.

“It’s alright. I feel too guilty to accept such a precious item.”

I decided to decline Edbert’s gift.

It was literally too burdensome.

Just as there was an incomparable functional difference from ordinary swords, the price of items was also incomparably expensive.

I was already receiving help from Edbert, so it felt too much to accept such a weapon as well.

So I declined, but for some reason, Edbert didn’t back down easily.

“Please don’t decline. There’s no need to feel burdened.”

“No, even so—”

“The sword’s previous owner would want this too.”

As I was about to refuse again, I quietly asked about the words he suddenly uttered.

“The sword’s previous owner?”

“The one who previously owned the sword. That person would surely want a hero like you to use their sword. It would be more valuable than me keeping it locked away in storage.”

After pondering for a moment, I asked.

“Who used to wield this sword?”

“Just know that it’s someone who has passed on. That’s why I kept only the sword and stored it away.”

“Ah.”

“Isn’t it a shame? Such a good sword, going to waste with no one to use it. The sword’s previous owner would surely be heartbroken if they knew.”

I had originally intended not to accept it, but hearing him say this much made my resolve waver.

“Is it really alright for me to use it?”

“Of course.”

“I understand. Then please show me the sword first.”

Since he said the sword’s previous owner had already passed on, and the current owner Edbert seemed to want me to use the sword, I thought it might be good to accept it.

So when I asked to see it, Edbert gave some order to the servant behind him.

The servant then carefully presented an object wrapped in cloth before me.

As the cloth wrapping the object was unwrapped, a beautiful sword was revealed before my eyes.

“Ah.”

An exclamation escaped my lips without realizing.

The sword Edbert wanted to give me was clearly a masterpiece at first glance.

The blade was silvery white like my hair, and a jewel as clear and cool as ice was set in the hilt.

The strong magical power emanating from that jewel told me.

How precious this item was.

As I was about to ask again if I could really accept something like this, Edbert spoke.

“This is a sword named ‘Memory of the Moon’. As I said before, it’s an item with special abilities.”

“What kind of abilities does it have?”

“This sword transmits memories. It stores the memories of battles fought by its previous owners and passes them on to the current user.”

“Memories?”

Nodding, Edbert gave an example.

“For instance, let’s say someone in the past used this sword to defeat a certain monster. Then, when you encounter the exact same monster, you will receive memories from this sword. Memories of when that person from the past defeated that monster.”

“Ah.”

“Even if it’s a monster you’ve never seen before, by receiving those memories, you’d be able to deal with it more easily, wouldn’t you?”

“A sword that passes on experiences… Interesting.”

In other words, this was both a sword and a record of swordsmen’s battles.

The more the sword was used, the more memories would be recorded in it.

If it was passed down through generations for several hundred years like that, it would truly become a treasure with countless battle experiences stored within.

After contemplating, I answered Edbert.

“Alright. I’ll use this sword. If I can record my battles in the sword and pass it down to descendants, it will be of great help to future generations.”

“Well thought. The masterpiece sword has finally found its rightful owner.”

Saying that happily, I bowed my head in gratitude and fastened the sword at my waist.

Meanwhile, he looked around and asked.

“By the way, where is Martin? I thought he’d be with you.”

“The captain is at the training grounds of the castle. He said he wanted to stretch a bit while I packed my things.”

“Is that so? So he’s not here right now? Then can I tell you a secret about Martin while we have the chance?”

Edbert glanced around once more and then leaned close to my ear.

Seeing his cautious attitude, it seemed he was about to tell me quite a confidential story, so I willingly lent my ear.

Soon, a secretive voice whispered to me.

“Martin wasn’t originally a very greedy person. He didn’t have much desire for wealth or power. He seemed to think it was enough to have just enough to live comfortably. But—”

Edbert continued in an even lower voice.

“He seems to have changed a lot since meeting you. The other day, while drinking together, he confessed that he feels the need to climb higher… for you. That is, ‘to protect you from danger.'”

“Pardon? Higher?”

“What higher place is there for a duke?”

The only position higher than a duke would be the imperial throne.

And he felt the need to climb to that high position, to the imperial throne.

Finally understanding Edbert’s words, I immediately covered my mouth.

Barely suppressing a scream that almost burst out in surprise, I asked him for confirmation.

“Is it true? Did the captain really…?”

“Yes, it’s true. So I became a bit worried as his friend. He looked like he would jump into a fire if it meant he could protect you. I’m concerned he might endanger himself by recklessly trying to dethrone the current emperor for your sake—”

“Edbert!!”

In the middle of Edbert’s words, the captain suddenly appeared and strode towards us.

As soon as he approached, he demanded of Edbert with an angry face.

“Didn’t I tell you not to say unnecessary things?”

“Th-that… Ah, come to think of it, I have an urgent matter to attend to that I forgot about! I’ll be going now!”

Caught revealing his friend’s secret to me, Edbert hurriedly disappeared with those words.

However, neither the captain nor I thought to chase after him.

I immediately asked the captain to confirm if what I heard was true.

“Captain. Is what I heard true? That you were planning something like… usurping the throne?”

“…”

“Please tell me honestly. This isn’t something I can just let go.”

If the captain, who had given up the throne to his brother without greed, started coveting that position, it could bring a bloody storm to the empire.

It meant a terrible civil war could break out in this time already in turmoil from rifts and monsters.

So when I pressed him, he let out a long sigh after a prolonged silence.

“What man in this world doesn’t want to protect his woman?”

“…”

“I’m the same. I want to protect you. From my damned brother.”

He grasped my shoulder with his large, warm hand.

“If I don’t make the first move, that bastard will keep targeting you.”

“…”

“I really don’t want to experience losing you… no, losing Julia again. I mean it.”

For a moment, I couldn’t find words to respond.

Though I knew I should stop him, I couldn’t say I didn’t understand his feelings.

For a while, I remained silent, unable to either agree or refute.

As I was pondering, the captain spoke first.

“Let’s talk about this later. For now, let’s focus on hunting monsters.”

“…Understood.”

Yes, it seemed I needed more time to think.

It wasn’t an issue I could easily decide on.

And so, our problem was temporarily postponed without being properly resolved.

“Your Majesty! We’ve succeeded! We’ve succeeded in stabilizing the test subject!”

An alchemist who came to the emperor’s office delivered such news with a joyful face.

Ernant, without even thinking to pick up the pen he had dropped in surprise, immediately asked the alchemist.

“…Is that true?”

“Yes, it’s certain. There are no signs of going berserk from this test subject. It’s perfectly stable.”

Until now, all humans who had chimeras implanted in them met with death.

Either dying while coughing up blood, or being put down after going berserk.

But now, for the first time, the first test subject that neither died nor went berserk was born.