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

Chapter 30 Lost child

“I am lost…”

In the midst of the forest, a lone girl gazes quietly at the dark sky. Tonight, the almost cloudless clear sky allows the stars to twinkle beautifully.

It’s a gentle night that would make anyone think it illuminates the dark feelings. However, contrary to this, the girl’s heart is clouded to the point where it feels like rain might fall at any moment.

“I am lost…”

Immediately after thinking this, she shakes her head, telling herself, “Maybe I’m not lost after all.” Despite saying it herself, the term ‘lost’ doesn’t suit her.

After all, ‘lost’ is a term used for a child who has a place to return to. She doesn’t have a place to return to. Therefore, ‘lost’ is clearly incorrect. So, who is she exactly? She doesn’t even know that.

“Hey, where did that kid go!?”

“If the kid escape to the town, it’ll be the worst! Find the kid quickly and hunt her down!”

Such voices could be heard from behind, and immediately the girl’s expression darkened.

She attempted to run in the opposite direction, as if trying to escape, but…

“Ouch…”

The moment she took a step, a sharp pain shot through her right knee.

Glancing down, she noticed it was scraped. Probably from when she fell earlier. The girl made a quick and calm assessment, promptly placing her right hand over the knee.

“…[Recovery Heal].”

In an instant, the palm of her right hand and the ring on her index finger emitted a gentle glow, casting a faint yellow light in the dim forest.

For a while, the light illuminated the surroundings, gradually fading away. And by the time it settled, the knee wound had completely disappeared.

As if checking her condition, the girl lightly tapped the tip of her right foot on the ground. Satisfied, she began to run away.

The knee pain was completely gone, and running posed no problem. However, the girl’s heart was filled with a throbbing pain.

“I hate this power…”

If she didn’t have this power…

If she hadn’t been found by them…

If only she hadn’t been born like this…

“…”

The girl bit her lip, muttering silently to herself, with no one to hear.

“Help me…”

Even though she knew there was no one to help her, the girl wished for it.

No one would come to help her. She had no place to belong.

Yet, she earnestly continued to wish.

If she kept saying it, maybe, just maybe, someone would really come to help her.

…Even though there was no reason for that to happen.

“Help me… Onii-chan…”

With tears streaming down her face, the girl continued to run through the pitch-black forest.

○●○

A week had passed since passing the adventurer exam. Dia and I, now aspiring adventurers, were diligently taking on daily quests.

“Is this enough?”

“Yes, I think it’s plenty.”

We looked into the bags we were holding, confirming with each other. Inside were many shiny, translucent grasses. When you peered into the bag, your reflection faintly shimmered. This was called “Mirror Grass,” a peculiar material found in the Seven-Colored Forest. It was known to be robust and easy to process, serving as material for various items.

“We’ve gotten used to gathering quests, huh? And it doesn’t take much time now.”

“Yes, that’s true. Well, maybe it’s because we’ve been doing gathering quests in the same area all this time.”

Generally, gathering quests were assigned for items that could only be collected in dangerous zones. Since there was a risk of monster attacks while collecting items in these areas, adventurers were often assigned gathering quests. Some adventurers chose to wield their artifacts and collect items themselves, but many couldn’t do so due to low-ranked artifacts, fear of monsters, or simply finding it troublesome.

Well, there was also the fact that…

“Gathering quests are said to be the easiest because you can avoid fighting monsters. The rewards are low, and it’s hard to accumulate stamps in the adventurer’s notebook guild book. It’s only natural that you get used to it quickly.”

The fact that the rewards we received were low also meant that the clients paid less. If you could procure materials cheaply and safely without facing any dangers, it was only logical that fewer people would choose to go themselves.

For us novice adventurers, having any quests at all was still a welcome opportunity. Bronze-rank quests typically included “Gathering Quests” and “Search Quests” in low-risk areas. To access other quests, you needed to raise your rank or gain recognition from the receptionist.

Exceptions existed where clients directly requested adventurers, leading to various types of quests. However, it was highly unlikely for inexperienced adventurers like us to encounter such eccentric clients.

In any case, the fact that we could complete a quest for just 3000 Kira (approximately the cost of two nights at a budget inn) made gathering quests in the Seven-Colored Forest quite reasonable.

“Oh, by the way, how many stamps have we collected in the adventurer’s notebook guild book?”

Curious, I took out the bronze-colored notebook from my pocket. Flipping through the pages, I immediately slumped my shoulders.

The adventurer’s notebook guild book was given to us upon passing the adventurer exam, and it served as proof of completing quests by receiving stamps. Accumulating a certain number of stamps allowed adventurers to take the “Promotion Exam” to increase their adventurer rank.

It was challenging to collect these stamps with simple quests. While difficult quests could earn you ten stamps or more at once, gathering quests in the Seven-Colored Forest typically yielded only one stamp.

As there were two of us working on the quests, we each received half a stamp—referred to as a “half-seal.” This meant it would take quite a number of quests to even qualify for the promotion exam.

In some cases, adventurers could achieve a “Special Promotion” without taking the exam by capturing notorious renegades or defeating powerful demons recognized as threats. However, this was heavily dependent on luck, making it an unreliable method. The surefire way was to diligently complete quests and gradually gather stamps.

Dia seemed well aware of this, and she encouraged me as I slumped my shoulders.

“Let’s continue steadily. It may be a slow progress, but it’s certainly proof that we are moving forward.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Dia’s right about that. Oh, but…”

I took out my wallet along with the adventurer’s notebook guild book and couldn’t help but force a wry smile at its lightness.

“I do want to rank up sooner. We both have our goals, but…”

“…?”

“Well, it’s a bit of a crude topic, but we need living expenses…”

“Ah…”

Dia also seemed to be in a financial bind, letting out a deep sigh of understanding.

Since coming to Milchronde, the town of novice adventurers, about a week ago, we had continuously rented rooms, resulting in a significant expenditure. Despite being a town for fledgling adventurers, there were reasonably priced inns, but they weren’t free. Living in the town required a considerable amount of money.

So, we both wanted to rank up sooner and take on higher-paying quests.

“Someday, I want to build a proper party house in a big town as a distinguished adventurer. Living together with party members under the same roof is something I’ve been aspiring to.”

“Oh, that sounds wonderful. Living with companions must be very enjoyable.”

“Well, to make that dream come true, I have no idea how much time it’ll take, to be honest.”

We shared awkward smiles while discussing distant dreams.

“Then, shall we head back to town soon? We’ve completed the request, and it seems like the sun is starting to set.”

“Yes, that sounds good.”

Having said that, we looked up at the sky and started making our way back to town…

“Grrrr!”

…Or so we thought until a wolf-like monster jumped out from the nearby bushes.

“Ugh!”

It was the somewhat traumatic monster that appeared during the adventurer’s exam.

I quickly reached for the sword on my back, but in a positive sense, I was too late.

The moment I gripped the hilt of my sword, Dia’s back was in front of me.

“Rust-san!”

BANG! A high-pitched sound echoed through the forest. It was the impact of Dia’s “Immortal Great Shield” colliding with the wolf-like monster.

I was saved by Dia at a critical moment. Although my sword could have made it in time, if Dia hadn’t intervened, I would have probably used the “Rusty Sword” to block the enemy’s attack.

If that had happened, there might have been a risk of the worst-case scenario: the destruction of the artifact. I hadn’t thought that far, but Dia’s quick and excellent movement saved the day.

(However, her reaction speed is still unbelievably fast…)

Dia’s awareness or rather her “defense instinct” never ceased to amaze me.

Throughout our time fighting together, how many times had I been impressed by her instantaneous defense?

According to Dia, due to her past experiences of being bullied and her timid nature, she is exceptionally sensitive to hostility and malice.

Because of this, she can somehow sense the signs of an impending attack…

Honestly, it’s too impressive. Is this also a kind of talent?

There probably isn’t anyone more suitable as the owner of the shield artifact.

(…But, this is no time to be admiring her!)

I regained my focus and smoothly unsheathed the “Rusty Sword” hanging on my back.

” Evolution!”

Immediately, I evolved it into the “Cursed Magic Sword” and I leaped out from behind Dia.

Approaching the monster, which was now vulnerable after having its attack blocked, I swung the magic sword held at my left hip horizontally.