Chapter 617

「…What happened to Sierra?」

「Oh, that kid? Well, if you’re that curious, why don’t make me tell you?」

「I’ll do that」

「You’re still acting tough even when you’re in tatters huh?」

As Zelyse said, we were still recovering. Fran and I were pretty exhausted after using the Divine Attribute twice a day.

It wasn’t so bad that she was breathing heavily, but she couldn’t hide her weariness. After all, using the Black Lightning God’s Claw was quite straining.

『Urushi!』

「Grrr!」

「Uwaah!」

Urushi, summoned by my Familiar Summon, attacked Zelyse.

「I thought I’d taken care of it!?」

「Shii!」

「Grrr!」

Zelyse let out a pathetic scream, but he was able to avoid Urushi’s surprise attack perfectly. I was sure he was wary of Urushi, who could unleash attacks with the Space-time Attribute. However, while he was paying attention to Urushi, Fran and I made a decent slash at him.

As I felt in our earlier fight, he was quite strong as a warrior.

「Well then, I wonder what would happen if I use this?」

「Muh」

『A magic stone sword?』

When I received the attack of the magic stone sword that Zelyse took out, that was all it took for that sword to be absorbed by me. However, Zelyse did not show any sign of regret. Rather, his smile deepened.

「Hahahah! Then what about this!」

『Another one!?』

Zelyse took out another magic stone sword again and attacked me in succession. Obviously, his attacks were aimed not at Fran, but me.

However, if I avoided it, Fran might lose her bearing and it would be dangerous for her. Therefore, I had no choice but to take it, and once again I met the magic stone sword head-on.

「That’s amazing! As I thought, it really was the ability of that sword! A magic sword that can absorb magic stones! Amazing! I really want to do some research on it!」

What a freak!

But suddenly Zelyse turned serious and tilted his head. Then he looked at Fran with a serious expression.

「Eh? Is that so? Hmmm」

「What?」

「Somehow ‘that me’ lost interest in you」

「Lose interest?」

「He said that the Fran in that timeline was stronger, scarier, and more dangerous」

「!!」

Fran was annoyed by Zelyse’s words. Even the current Fran was quite strong. Did that mean that Fran in that timeline was that much different than this Fran?

The differences between that timeline and now were the people who slipped in time like Sierra and Zelyse… I see, come to think of it, there was surely a big difference between that timeline and now.

The incident at Barbra. If it was as Zelyse had said, we would have annihilated the magic stone soldiers and I would have been strengthened considerably. That was why I might have ranked up four or five levels at once.

What would happen as a result? There was a good chance that we would have been able to kill even stronger magic beasts, and that we’d have been able to strengthen faster than we had now.

But as a result, it was possible that my turning into a mere sword would have been hastened. In other words, while I would have been stronger than I was now, I would have completely lost my heart as a person.

As Rhyn had taught me, if that happened, Fran might run amok.

That meant, she was stronger than she was now (because I got strengthened), scarier (Fran had run amok), and more dangerous (I never advised her, so she wields her power as she runs amok) than she was now.

So, when I thought about it, were we saved by Zelyse from that timeline? No, it must be just a coincidence. If anything, it might actually be thanks to Fran from that timeline who had done us all the favor.

Thanks to Fran’s rampage in that timeline, we were now able to be saved and have hope in the future.

『…』

(Master, what’s wrong?)

『Ah, sorry, I was just wondering what happened to Fran in that timeline』

(I’m sure she’s fine)

『Why is it?』

(Because Master will never abandon me. Even if I go out of control, I’m sure he’ll come right back and save me. So, she must be fine)

『But Rhyn said I had completely turned into a sword, remember?』

(She’ll be fine, she’s with Master after all. I’m sure he’d do something)

I could feel Fran’s straightforward thoughts.

『I see… You’re right』

(Nn!)

It was strange how Fran readily believed in me and she really meant it. But she was right.

There was no way I was going to completely turn into a sword and leave this cute little Fran behind. I was sure myself in that timeline felt the same way too.

If that was the case, then maybe Fran was right and I would get my heart back again someday.

Fran was no different. Even if she did get a little out of control, she would soon realize her own mistakes. I was not there? It didn’t matter. I was sure that without my help, she would be able to regain herself, punch me in the face, and get me back to my senses.

Besides, there was no way for us to know what happened in that timeline.

We didn’t even know if that timeline branched off and became a parallel world, or if it was overwritten by the current timeline and disappeared.

If that was the case, it was better for us to stay positive. Worrying about it was not going to help.