Chapter 364: Evolution

"......Now I'm a little heartbroken. Let's just eat. I'll have them fix a meal for us."

"Can I have one too?"

"Hmm, I'll give you a special one."

Alistair stood up with a forcefully cheerful voice. It was followed by Asura and Fran. Everybody there seemed to have understood that a change in atmosphere was in order.

"Who will prepare the meal?"

"A golem. I have a type that can cook."

A golem making food? Now that's something new.

"Is the food they make delicious?"

"...Well, it's all right."

Fran turned her gaze to Asura, as Alistair and gave her that answer. I also thought that it was okay, although it didn't feel like it's going to be too delicious. Fran seemed to share my thoughts on this too.

"It seems hard to prepare the food for now. Let's just eat this."

"Hoo. You have leftovers stored in a time-space spell? That's handy."

"Nn. You could always cook beforehand and then just store them, and you can take the food out anytime you want to eat. The best food is always the freshly made ones after all."

"But still, this one looks good."

"This is curry, the best food."

Fran took out a curry pot. Then, she placed a clay pot filled with rice and a side dish for curry on the table together.

"Put this on the plate like this, and then like this."

"Aside from the color, it smells good. May I have some of that?"

"Of course. I'll put this, this, and this on top of that, and then we're done."

Fran took out some more additions, which were some of my favorite toppings lately. They were a pickle, one that looked just like the fukujinzuke1 I found and stocked up on in Barbora, crispy fried onions, and even a boiled egg.

Alistair and the others also imitated Fran, pouring the curry into their mouths in a fearful manner. I didn't hear anyone saying the word "delicious" out loud, but anyone could tell by the way the food was shoved into their mouths that they all liked it. Rather, they were so absorbed in eating the curry that they couldn't speak.

Both Fran and Urushi, who had been served a super-sized portion of curry by Fran, started wolfing the curry down their mouths in silence. For a while, the only sounds in the room were the sounds of chewing and the clinking of dishes and spoons as they collided with each other.

In just five minutes, they all emptied the super-sized curry pot. However, this special curry made with plenty of magical beasts' meat was so generously served.... Fran seems to have liked the combination a lot.

With his belly churning, Asura pounded on his own abdomen and burped.

Mmm, that's vulgar. It's bad for Fran's upbringing. Oh, come on Urushi! Don't imitate the burp!

"Fu. It was delicious. I don't think I've had anything this good in a long time."

"Me too. Where did you get it from?"

Oh, did you think that we had put away something we bought at some restaurant.

"Master made it."

"Hou..."

"Who is the master? Is it Miss Fran's master?"

(Master, is it fine?)

Fran glanced at me. I think she wanted to reveal me to Asura.

I knew you'd like this guy.

『As I've said before, if Fran wants to tell him, then I don't mind.』

"Nn. This is my Master."

"...What? What happened to that sword?"

『Hi. My name is Master and I'm an Intelligent Weapon. Pleased to meet you.』

"Wha- tha- I- is that sword speaking?"

I was surprised to see Asura almost fall off his chair. I wondered what the owner of a divine sword would say when he found out, but apparently he was also surprised when he saw a talking sword.

After that, Fran and Alistair explained me to Asura. After he heard all the explanation, Asura is looking at me with great interest.

But still, he was quicker to accept me than I thought he would be. After all, he was also a user of the divine sword, and I wonder if he had more resistance to strange swords.

"I see... So it was Master who made my madness disappear."

『Maybe it's just temporary.』

"No, as I told Miss Fran before, I am truly indebted to you. If you need any help, just tell me. I will help you with everything I got, okay? Just keep that in mind."

Maybe, the mad demonization was taking a bigger toll on Asura than we had expected. I could tell that he was really happy.

『Hey, can you show me your Divine Sword?』

"Gaia? I don't mind."

Asura lifted the great sword that was propped up at his side and placed it on the table. The name of it is Ground Sword Gaia. It seems that if he breaks the seal to unleash it's true power, the sword will regain its original name and ability as the Earth Sword Gaia.

The sword looked really big. A handle wrapped in thick leather, and was long enough to be held by both hands, with a plain, rectangular hand guard without any particular carving on it.

The blade had a straight shape with no curvature, a so-called Western sword. The thickest part of it looked like it's a good 30 centimetres. It was a lump of metal that emphasized smashing rather than slashing. The black, dull-colored sword blade, which was devoid of all decoration, gave off an oppressive sense of intimidation.

It looked like a greatsword just like any other. However, when you look at it this way, the intimidation it could display was overwhelming. Anyone could guess that it wasn't just a regular big sword.

Just for a while, I, for some reason, felt inferior just from looking at it. Was it my instinct as a sword? The feeling came naturally and I immediately understood that it was far superior than me.

It's frustrating, but I'm only a semi-divine sword. Well, that's only if it's permissible to say so. And over there is a complete divine sword. The difference was large.

"... Someday, Master will exceed this."

『Fran?』

"I'll see to it!"

Fran has a frustrated, yet motivated look on her face. I felt oddly pleased. I'm inexplicably glad that Fran believed in me so.

『That's right!』

"Then we will need to get Master back to full form first."

"Hmm! Please!"

『Please.』

I was motivated. I'm worried about what my remaining skills will become, but if I don't do it, I won't be able to fight in the future.

"Now that we've had enough of a break, let's get back to the workshop."

10 minutes later.

"Then, we'll begin."

『Oh.』

"Hmm."

Alistair declared that, and poured her magic into me, and primed the magic circle on the workbench to shine.

At the same time, I felt something welling up from inside my body. Suddenly, a faint pain rushed through me.

『Guh.....!』

My body felt hot. I could feel something strong and hot coming out of the bottom of my body. And I could detect something huge stirring inside me.

『Gaha!』

"Master!"

『.........!』

No! I tried to say something back to Fran, but I couldn't speak.

Terrible pain. Along with that, a torrent of intense power surged in me, and that magical power began to rampage. I knew something inside of me was changing and reforming itself. I cease to be myself - No I was changing into something different, while still remaining myself.

Evolution.

Naturally, the word came to mind. Is that the reason why? No wonder I wasn't afraid. Rather, elation and anticipation took over me.

This horrendous pain that seemed to have broken apart my whole body was also bearable when I considered that it is necessary to do so.

『Guaaahhhhh!』

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

TL NOTE :

1 >>> Fukujinzuke (福神漬) is a condiment in Japanese cuisine, commonly used as relish for Japanese curry. In fukujinzuke, vegetables including daikon, eggplant, lotus root and cucumber are finely chopped, then pickled in a base that is flavored with soy sauce. The end result has a crunchy texture

You can see more complete explanation and the picture here : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukujinzuke

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•