When I Tried Strengthening 【Rusted Sword】, It Evolved Into An Overpowered Magic Sword

Chapter 16 Purple Lightning Bracelet

A glamorous girl with long purple hair, confidently wearing a short magician’s robe resembling a miniskirt. She stands beside her sister, who carries a large scythe on her back. Watching them in amazement, Dia, standing beside me, appears equally surprised.

“A-Amethyst-san, why are you here?” Dia stammered.

It seems the purple-haired girl is called Amethyst. Hearing Dia’s murmur, I learned the name of the girl before me. So, why is this Amethyst here?

Currently, the Seven-Colored Forest, where the adventurer exam is taking place, is quite vast compared to other areas. The probability of encountering fellow exam participants in such a large area is extremely low. Moreover, meeting the troublemakers who caused a commotion at the start of the exam is more than just a coincidence.

Did they deliberately track us? No, that’s unlikely.

“At first, I was genuinely surprised you decided to take the exam with that guy. How have you managed to stay safe so far? Despite being a Dia, the epitome of incompetence,” Amethyst said with a mocking tone.

Silent, Dia received her words, looking uncomfortable as she averted her gaze. As I thought during the start of the exam, these two really don’t get along. The two behind Amethyst are merely watching with amusement, indicating they share the sentiment towards Dia. Did they approach us just to say these things?

Now, Amethyst’s scornful gaze is directed at me.

“In addition, you, without heeding my advice, bringing Dia along is quite foolish. How does it feel to be burdened with incompetence now? Or perhaps, have you fallen head over heels for Dia-chan?”

It’s a straightforward provocation. Somehow, it feels nostalgic. I’ve been teased and bullied by Helio-kun and other kids since childhood, to the point where I got used to being picked on.

Silently sighing, I glanced briefly at Dia beside me.

“When it comes to falling head over heels, that might be true.”

“Eh?”

“I fell in love with Dia at first sight and invited her to take the exam together.”

“R-Rust-san!?”

Dia blushed intensely, taken by surprise. On the other hand, I, while anticipating Dia’s embarrassment, continued, gazing at the “Immortal Great Shield” she possessed.

“Because, you see, having a shield artifact like hers is an impressive talent unlike anyone else’s. When I saw Dia with that, I really wanted her to become my companion. It’s quite strange that no one else invited Dia to be their comrade.”

“I-Is that so…”

Suddenly, Dia seemed disheartened, her shoulders drooping.

Meanwhile, gazing at the “Immortal Great Shield,” I continued, thinking that it wasn’t enough and declared to Amethyst.

“Moreover, the more I got to know Dia, the more I realized what an amazing girl she is. Dia isn’t the incompetent and clumsy girl you’re talking about. She’s kind, reliable, and a girl who should become an adventurer, able to stand in front and protect everyone!”

“…Rust-san.”

Approximately less than an hour since the start of the exam. We’ve only been together for a short time, but I found many good qualities in Dia without even trying.

Although her initial impression of being timid and introverted hasn’t changed, it’s precisely because of that that I’m moved by the kindness and reliability that appear in fleeting moments.

I believe that someone like her should become an adventurer.

With those honest feelings, I confronted Amethyst before me.

“Haha! You’re saying such passionate things. It’s amusing how you can be so supportive of this crybaby and bullied kid from the village. Like she could ever become an adventurer.”

“Even if you say that, we actually obtained one of the ‘Test Doll’ just now. Dia has the potential to become an adventurer. This is the undeniable proof.”

Saying that, I showed the Test Doll we just acquired to Amethyst and her companions.

She briefly widened her eyes, then narrowed them like threads.

“Oh… You’ve obtained a doll.”

“Yeah. But to pass together, we still need one more, so we’re going to search for it again now. Time is tight, and we’re leaving already. See you.”

Despite the somewhat indifferent tone, I gave a proper farewell and tried to leave the scene with Dia.

Feeling some unpleasant anticipation or a premonition, I wanted to get away from them as soon as possible.

Above all, the lack of time is a real issue. We need to acquire one more Test Doll from here and return to the guild. I don’t want to get involved in any more troubles.

Feeling the urgency, I slightly forcefully took Dia’s hand and started walking. But soon, Amethyst called out to us.

“By the way, we still only have one doll, too.”

“…?”

So what? I stopped and turned around involuntarily at her incoherent words.

With a mocking smile from before and now a sharp gaze like a hunter targeting prey, Amethyst spoke to us.

“Come to think of it, that examiner said, ‘As long as you bring back a doll, that’s enough,’ right?”

“…Huh?”

What… are you saying?

“No matter where, no matter how, just bringing one is enough, right?”

“—!”

In an instant, Dia readied her shield.

“Step back, Rust!”

Amethyst thrust her right hand forward.

“[Purple Lightning]!”

In an instant, purple lightning surged from her palm.

With a roaring sound, lightning raced towards us.

Despite its terrifying speed, Dia, who had anticipated it, intercepted it with [Immortal Great Shield].

A sound that might be perceived as thunder echoed.

“Ugh…!”

Dia slightly grimaced, but that was enough for her to withstand Amethyst’s Purple lightning attack.

Incredible. Probably, if I were to receive that attack in my current condition, I would lose consciousness instantly.

However, at the same time, her attack was equally formidable.

Was the current purple lightning a ‘magic’? Moreover, it was directly emitted from her palm.

And she was shooting something dangerous like that toward us. This wasn’t a magic attack meant for participants.

“Participants are not prohibited from snatching from each other. Accidents and injuries are self-responsibility, so naturally, you should have been prepared to have things taken from you when you decided to take this test, right? Isn’t that right, both of you!”

Saying that, Amethyst continued to release her purple lightning.

One strike, two strikes, three strikes—the lightning flickered.

Dia blocked all of them with [Immortal Great Shield], presenting a stunning sight that left me frozen.

This wasn’t the kind of scene you’d expect in an adventurer’s test.

Both of them already had incredible strength.

Or rather, this wasn’t the time to be thinking about that.

“As expected of Dia, the shield bearer. But merely defending won’t win you the match. I wonder if you can really become an adventurer just by doing that!”

“Ugh…!”

In this situation, there’s no choice but to fight. It’s annoying, but what Amethyst says isn’t entirely wrong.

Certainly, that examiner only said, ‘As long as you bring back a doll, that’s enough.’

She didn’t limit the method.

So, it’s not a problem to snatch dolls from other participants.

Perhaps this kind of conflict among participants was also taken into consideration for the test content.

For adventurers, arresting ‘Renegade Apostates’ like this is within the scope of their work.

These malicious individuals who use the artifacts bestowed by the gods to commit crimes in order to defeat the demon race are collectively called ‘Renegade Apostates.’

Fights against them will come sooner or later, so it might be a good idea to get used to interpersonal battles from now on.

As a fundamental premise, if you’re not strong, you won’t make it as an adventurer.

If you’re strong, you pass; if you’re weak, you fail. This test merely made it more rational. It’s simple.

Anyway, there’s no time to hesitate.

“Dia, what’s Amethyst’s artifact!?”

“Eh?”

“If it comes to this, we have no choice but to fight! We need to destroy her artifact and render her powerless!”

I rushed in to break Amethyst’s artifact.

To do that, I needed to know what her artifact was.

Considering they were from the same village and acquainted, I assumed Dia would know about Amethyst’s artifact.

Amethyst’s artifact was likely a catalyst-type artifact, allowing her to use magic just by equipping it.

However, I didn’t know where she had it equipped or its specific form.

So, I asked Dia, but she seemed visibly confused.

Does she not know Amethyst’s artifact? No, it’s not that kind of reaction.

She appeared extremely bewildered by the words I uttered, “There’s no choice but to fight.”

She seemed to say, without words, that fighting against them was unthinkable.

Well, it’s clear she has a significant aversion to Amethyst and her companions.

Even I would hesitate if told to fight against Helio-kun, considering everything that has happened so far.

Perhaps it’s better not to let Dia fight against them.

Although it’s regrettable, for the sake of safety, it might be better to hand over the ‘Test Doll’ to them, resolving the situation peacefully.

As I silently became more hesitant, Dia shouted with a determined expression.

“It’s called [Purple Lightning Bracelet], and it’s on her right wrist! Please, Rust!”

From her cry, a strong determination to fight for the sake of becoming an adventurer, an understanding that there’s no choice but to confront this challenge, resonated.