Does the mechanical girl dream of the Messiah?

"can you?"

"I haven't spoken to anyone in I don't know how long."

On the other side of the wall of fire, there was a brief pause in conversation.

"How long ago was it? It's so long ago that I almost forgot how to talk to people."

"Isn't that great? You'll get lonely if you don't talk to anyone all the time."

"……Fool."

"Ok?"

"Are you the type who gets lonely if you don't talk to people? You're just like a child who hasn't grown up yet."

"Ah—I'm only twenty-one?"

Lunicea chuckled.

"Although I heard that women out there get married as young as 14 or 15, which is scary."

"Out there...are you the one, Saint?"

"do you know?"

"Um……"

"Hey, I thought that was a secret of the Divine Court."

"Indeed it is."

"what?"

"Yes, it's a secret... Saint or something, it's really... nostalgic."

I can't see anything, I can't hear anything. This is supposed to be a dark and narrow room where I can only see my own reflection. But now I have such a strange companion - although I can't see her face, and I am even fooled by her using my own face, I am also tormented by her strange actions, and the words she says are unpleasant to the ear, but this feeling is not bad.

"I used to be... yes, I was also a saint."

"Ugh?"

"..."

"Yeah, same as me?"

"..."

This time the silence was longer than the previous ones.

It didn't seem like he was thinking, or because he was not used to the conversation. The silence was so long that it seemed to end the conversation. Lunicia was uneasy. Was it because it reminded her of the past, or was it because of something else? She didn't seem to be an elf living in this giant sword, but a human being who existed in this world just like herself.

Lunicia didn't want to upset her because of such an insignificant conversation.

"Um, did I say something that made you unhappy? If so, I apologize."

"…No, it's nothing. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Y-really?"

"I am just an evil sword."

"Ok?"

"It is an ominous blade, an evil thing, a taboo that should be sealed, everyone says so. It was you who picked me up, but you seem to know nothing about it. What on earth is the Divine Court doing now?"

She seemed to be losing her temper.

"Ahahaha... Father Sieli seemed to have mentioned this? But I didn't take it seriously."

"You can't just ignore this kind of thing, right?!"

"There's nothing we can do about it."

"Are you really an idiot?!"

"That's so rude—"

"Why did they choose me? I should be placed at the very back of the armory, sealed in a box, and no one can use it without permission, right? There are many good things out there, right? After seeing those weapons that are more practical than me, it is impossible that anyone would be interested in this inexplicable sword, right?"

"How should I put it?"

Lunicia scratched her cheek lightly with her fingertips as if she was embarrassed.

"Because you think we're a good match...? Or something like that... Oh my, I'm so sorry..."

"..."

Such words seemed to choke the fiery girl, and she didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Although her face and figure could not be seen here, and only the blazing orange flames could be seen, the expression on her face must have been very interesting. Lunicia did not say this to tease her, and although she felt strange only after she said it, at least at that time, she did think so.

Weapons of various shapes - daggers, halberds, broadswords, rapiers, long swords, war hammers, axes, and even less popular weapons like whips and sickles can all be found in the armory of the Central Cathedral. Since this was a preparation for the Saint's trip, Sieli specifically asked her to choose her favorite as a farewell gift. Of course, there were more than just ordinary items to choose from. In other words, apart from weapons with special meanings and things that belonged to someone, there was no limit to Lunicia's choices.

Even the giant sword that was sealed layer by layer and could only be viewed from outside the glass box was the same.

As a weapon, it is hard to say that it is qualified. Too huge means too heavy. Even if the destructive power increases, the difficulty of operation also increases exponentially. This is not a child's play world. The result of "mistakes" often means death. The reason why the difficulty of operation is an important criterion for judging the practicality of many weapons is that it directly determines the frequency of "mistakes" - the more difficult the weapon is to operate, the higher the requirements for the user's judgment ability and physical fitness. How to wield it, and how to wield it at the right time. If there is an error in judgment, the difficulty of correcting it is much greater than other weapons.

The giant sword weighed about 150 kilograms and was almost as long as Lunicia's height. No matter how you looked at it, it was not a good choice.

Moreover, the layers of seals, tight security, and dangerous notes all indicate the danger of this weapon. It is not dangerous to the enemy as a weapon, but dangerous to the user.

Even so, the girl chose the sword.

Without making any other choice, the girl stubbornly decided to carry the pure white giant blade at the first sight.

No matter how people around you try to dissuade you.

No matter how dangerous the sword exudes.

The girls did not change their decision.

"Really—you've really decided to choose that sword?"

Yes, Master Sieli.

"What about the 'Avenger'?"

Yes, Master Sieli.

"In that case, I believe you have already heard about the sword."

Yes, Master Sieli.

"And I know why that divine weapon was sealed like this."

...Yes, Lord Sieli.

"It seems you have made up your mind."

Because, that sword is the only thing that I can't take my eyes off.

It was like it was waiting for me to grasp the hilt and swing it.

"After that, what old Sieli said was quite scary. 'Perhaps I should stop you no matter what, even if it means canceling this trip' - Oh my, this is not something the high priest should say, right? But in the end he still agreed because he couldn't persuade me."

"..."

"Because every previous owner died a violent death - is that right? That's why it's called an evil sword, a demon sword, and a cursed weapon. It's natural that Father Sieli would be worried, and Evelyn's expression was scary too. Everyone advised me not to use this sword."

"...Then I will advise you this way."

"Ugh?"

"Just detune me and throw me somewhere where no one can find me. It will be better for both of us."

One can imagine what a lonely expression she had behind the curtain of fire.

"It's impossible."

"..."

"There's no way I'd do anything like that."

"……Fool……"

"Ok?"

"Is it because you crave power? You can't do anything without me?"

"You can't say there isn't such a reason. A paladin can't lie."

"There are still many weapons, right? It would be the same even if I choose something else, right? I have no advantages other than the useless transformation mechanism, right? Even if other weapons are not as sharp, they have a variety of functions to make up for it."

"Maybe so."

"Then—"

“Because I can’t just ignore it.”

"……well?"

"Before I experienced 'those things', I had no reason to choose other weapons. After experiencing 'those things', I have more reasons not to choose other weapons. Didn't I say it before? I also want to know your story, your experiences, and everything that has happened to you."

Lunicia smiled.

"Because... you look lonely."

"..."

The nameless flame burned quietly.

There is no firewood, no crackling sound, no wind, no low whistling sound, the flame burns quietly, so no one can hear any emotion from it, as if fire is supposed to be like this.

"Are you... a nice guy from somewhere?"

"Someone seems to have said so."

"Only a deranged person would talk to a sword. A sword is lonely."

"This statement is more hurtful than 'idiot', isn't it?"

"I am a dangerous and useless weapon."

"perhaps?"

"None of my previous masters were vicious people. They included saints like you, priests, pastors, holy warriors, and noble warriors. Every one of them died because of me in the end. Without exception, no one would think that they died gloriously in battle. They would only think that they were a group of fools who died of greed and desire for power."

"maybe?"

"I also want to kill the person you like."

"I like her... ah... indeed, because she's my first love. And my current travel companion."

Lunicia couldn't help but laugh out loud - it was embarrassing to say such things.

"But you're not like that now, are you?"

"Who knows..."

"He was neither irritable nor high-spirited. Even at the beginning, he only blamed me for my evasion and cowardice."

"Just because I don't want to see you look so stupid."

If the two were facing each other, Nameless Flame would have averted his gaze by now.

She wasn't a paladin, so it didn't matter if she lied - it was just a clumsy lie like that, no one would be fooled.

"I won't expose you."

“…Is there any point in saying this?”

"Well, no, probably."

"So, you don't even plan to dislike me? Hate me? Spit on this inexplicable magic sword?"

"I'm not in a position to do that, am I?"

Lunicea smiled self-deprecatingly.

"I used you to kill so many people. Am I going to blame the weapon at this time?"

"Even if I have controlled your body? Even if I have done things that are against your will? Even if such things happen again in the future?"

"Because, you don't want that, do you?"

"..."

Yeah, yeah.