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

Chapter 40 The Village Teachings

When requesting the search for the artifact, there were three things I had to ask Gem-san about.

First, where exactly in Seven-Colored Forest did they lose the artifact?

Second, why were they in Seven-Colored Forest?

And finally, what kind of artifact did Gem-san receive?

I decided to confirm each one.

“When your artifact was taken, where were you in Seven-Colored Forest?”

“Well, I think I was around the middle of the forest? I was sunbathing there, and during that time, a small devilish creature snatched my artifact.”

“…So that story was true.”

Upon receiving Gem-san’s response, I was secretly amazed.

It matched exactly what Charm-san had told me.

Apparently, it really happened that while sunbathing, the Snatch Thief took away the artifact.

I had been half in disbelief that Charm-san might have been joking, but it turned out to be true.

And right in the heart of the danger zone. What was Gem-san thinking…?

“Well, because the weather was nice, I just wanted to soak up the sun! Sunbathing felt so good! How about doing it together next time?”

“…As long as it’s not in the danger zone.”

I gave a non-committal response and moved on to the second question.

“So, why were you in Seven-Colored Forest, Gem-san? Did you have some important business there?”

Surely Gem-san wasn’t just in Seven-Colored Forest for sunbathing.

They must have had some reason to enter the forest and took the opportunity to sunbathe.

Thinking that, I asked, and Gem-san answered with a mischievous, boyish smile.

“I heard there was a ‘demon appearing’ in that forest.”

“Huh…”

…Demon.

Upon hearing that unexpected word, I involuntarily lost my voice.

A demon appearing in Seven Colored Forest.

In my mind, I envision the figure of that cat-like demon.

I haven’t heard any other information about a demon appearing in Seven Colored Forest.

Could they possibly be referring to her?

“I don’t know the details, but just last week, they conducted adventurer exams in that forest. During that time, there were rumors of a demon suddenly appearing and attacking the participants. Haven’t you heard about this?”

“Uh, well… I’m not sure.”

I exchanged a knowing glance with Dia in secret and forced a wry smile.

There’s no mistake. They are indeed talking about the demon we encountered.

It’s inconceivable that any other demon attacked the participants during the adventurer exams besides her.

So I have a good idea of which demon Gem-san is talking about.

However, for some reason, I lied in response to her question.

Why did I deceive Gem-san with my answer? Because of that, Dia also hesitated to respond in solidarity with me.

“In the end, the rumor goes that after that, the participants who were attacked managed to defeat the demon, but since active adventurers rushed over, there are conflicting rumors about whether those people actually defeated the demon. Some even say the demon might still be alive.”

“…So Gem-san, did you enter Seven Colored Forest to search for that demon?”

“That’s right.”

I unconsciously cast a skeptical glance at Gem-san’s nonchalant response.

Why would she be searching for that demon? I can’t imagine any reason an ordinary person would have for hunting a demon.

It might be my overthinking, but could it be that she’s not really searching for that particular demon?

Could it be that she’s actually looking for the participant or adventurer who defeated the demon?

The incident was officially announced, but due to lack of witnesses and evidence, hardly anyone believes it.

It’s unthinkable for exam participants to defeat a demon. If there were active adventurers who rushed to the scene, they would be the ones who defeated it.

Did a demon really appear at all? Under this doubt, the rumors faded in just a week.

Thus, very few know the truth of the incident, and it wouldn’t be surprising if someone entered Seven Colored Forest to investigate.

Perhaps Gem-san is searching for the person who defeated the demon and came to Seven Colored Forest…

A faint possibility crosses my mind, and reflexively, I deceived her.

Surely, this suspicion arises because of that black cat demon.

“‘I will chase you to the ends of the earth, inflict as much suffering as I can possibly devise, and then I’ll kill you without fail.'”

The words of the black cat demon echo in my mind.

At the same time, I secretly gauge Gem-san’s reaction, feeling sweat forming on my fists.

Could there be… no connection?

Could it be, as the black cat demon said, that perhaps the leader of the rogue legion has given orders to search for us?

Does Gem-san have ties to that rogue legion and is she secretly searching for the person who defeated the demon?

It’s an absurd speculation, but there’s no evidence to definitively prove their lack of involvement.

Therefore, a slight doubt, like the tip of a claw, begins to gnaw at my heart.

“…”

…No, no.

It’s far too rude to doubt the client who relied on adventurers for help.

Besides, the idea of an ordinary person having ties to a demon is simply inconceivable.

Humans and demons are fundamentally incompatible.

Moreover, it was Charm-san who connected us with Gem-san by introducing the search request.

To doubt Gem-san as the client is akin to doubting Charm-san, the one who referred the request.

How much support have I received from that person until today? And after just a brief conversation, it was clear that Gem-san isn’t a bad person.

Internally, I deeply regret my suspicions and silently apologize to Gem-san.

At the same time, I decide to ask her directly.

“Why are you looking for the demon, Gem-san? Is it out of curiosity… or something else?”

In response, she nods knowingly and makes a circle with her finger.

“Well, that’s part of it, of course. I’ve never met a demon before, so I’m curious to see what they’re like. But the real reason I’m searching for the demon is something else.”

“Something else? What could that be…”

“Actually, I’m in the middle of a ‘significant journey’ right now. And to complete that journey, I need to find the demon.”

“A significant journey?”

What kind of journey requires finding a demon?

Wait, if she’s on a journey, could Gem-san be a ‘traveler’?

I had assumed she was just a bored villager visiting town as a mere ‘tourist.’

Is that not the case here? What exactly is this ‘significant journey’?

As I ponder silently, Gem-san smiles brightly and answers again.

“You mentioned earlier that ‘Gray Village has nothing to offer.'”

“Oh, yes…”

“But you see, even in a place like Gray Village where there’s nothing, there’s just one peculiar ‘teaching.’ I’m following that teaching on my important journey right now.”

…Teaching?

Is it some kind of tradition or legend in Gray Village?

I’ve heard that ancient villages often have unique “teachings” or customs that aren’t found in other villages or towns.

Things like only eating two meals a day being correct, or waking up exactly at six in the morning being appropriate.

Well, they’re basically just customs.

But these village “teachings” are considered ancient traditions, and I’ve heard that most of them have disappeared in recent times.

Could Gray Village still have such a “teaching” in existence?

Being a village in the remote frontier, it wouldn’t be surprising if ancient customs were still preserved there.

But wait, does that mean…

“What teaching is passed down in Gray Village?”

Personally, I’m curious about what kind of teaching relates to Gem-san’s important journey.

Following that teaching on her journey must signify something profound in Gem-san’s beliefs.