When I Tried Strengthening 【Rusted Sword】, It Evolved Into An Overpowered Magic Sword - Chapter 63

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

Chapter 63   Camping

I walked towards the Guild headquarters for a few hours. The surroundings were gradually getting darker. We had already passed through the dangerous forest and arrived by a beautiful lake, where we decided to make camp for the night.

There was a convenient spot under the trees facing the lake where we alternated bathing in the water, washing away the fatigue and grime of the journey. After that, we set up a fire in a suitable open space. Finally settling down after a long while, Citrine fell asleep almost immediately. She seemed quite exhausted.

I wanted to rest in a village or town tomorrow, but I wasn’t sure if we’d find a place that would allow Citrine’s entry. If we were stopped by guards, we might only manage to resupply water and food before camping again. It would be a cramped journey, but there was no question about helping Citrine.

However, that was just my personal opinion. Even my partner, who was currently enjoying portable rations by the campfire, might not share the same sentiments.

To confirm this, I quietly spoke to Dia.

“I know it’s a bit late to say this, but thank you, Dia.”

“Huh?”

Dia, with one cheek puffed out, looked at me. Her expression seemed to ask what I meant, so I quickly clarified.

“I mean, thank you for coming along with me. You knew it would be a tough journey, and yet you still came along. It’s really reassuring.”

“Oh, um… You’re welcome. Hearing you say that again… it’s a bit embarrassing.”

Dia chuckled awkwardly.

Taking the opportunity, I asked her about something that had been on my mind.

“But, why did you help me?”

“Huh?”

“Your goal is to raise your adventurer rank and get permission to enter the ‘Shiragane Kutsu(Platinum Cave),’ right? But this time, this wasn’t part of an adventurer request. It won’t affect your rank, but you could even face penalties. So, why…”

At noon today, was she waiting for me in front of the guild? I’d been concerned about that for a while.

Back then, she said she was equally guilty for helping Citrine with me, but honestly, Dia had done nothing wrong. I was the one blamed for aiming a artifact at a human. There was no need for Dia to get involved.

Despite this, when I asked, Dia puffed her cheek slightly and looked at me.

“If you already know and you’re just teasing me, that’s a bit mean, Rust-san.”

“M-Mean? I wasn’t trying to be…”

I didn’t have any intention to tease her at all.

As I hesitated in my response, Dia, who had been pouting, suddenly cracked a smile.

“Because we’re comrades, of course. Rust-san, you understand that perfectly well, don’t you? Because if the roles were reversed, wouldn’t you have helped me too?”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

If Dia had said she was going to help Citrine and aim for the Guild headquarters for Citrine’s sake, I would have definitely gone along with her.

Realizing this anew, I felt my question had been rather pointless.

Perhaps it was rude of me to ask.

“And besides, I wanted to help Citrine-chan too, so it’s not a burden at all. Traveling with the three of us is really enjoyable. Besides, I…”

Dia suddenly cut her words short and her smile turned into a wry one.

“I’m just incompetent and can’t do anything without you, Rust-san.”

“…”

There was something underlying in that smile, at least from my perspective.

She seemed to have something on her mind.

Come to think of it, she had a similar expression a while ago…

Was something bothering her?

I was about to ask Dia about the slight unease I felt, but unfortunately, she beat me to it.

“By the way, why did you decide to help this kid, Rust-san?”

“Huh?”

“You said your goal was to catch up to a certain adventurer, right? Even if you help this kid, your adventurer rank won’t go up at all. So why are you working so hard for this kid’s sake? Payback for earlier, perhaps?”

Before I knew it, the meaningful wry smile had disappeared, and Dia now had a mischievous grin on her face.

She was back to her usual self.

Although I was still curious about her previous expression, since she asked first, I reluctantly decided to respond.

Why did I decide to help Citrine?

…Well, judging from Dia’s mischievous grin, it seemed like she already knew the answer.

Well, that was to be expected. After all, the reason I helped was simply because I wanted to help. It’s as straightforward as that.

I’m sure she wanted to hear that from my own mouth.

But helping Citrine wasn’t just because of that.

I decided to tell her the other reason as well, rather than just give an honest and simple answer, because I felt like I had been outdone by Dia.

“I do have a goal of catching up to someone. That’s why I became an adventurer and why I want to catch up to that person as an adventurer. But even if our ranks were the same, would that really mean I’ve caught up?”

“…What do you mean?”

I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.

How can I catch up to Ruby?

If I become strong by mastering the Cursed Magic Sword?

If I become known as a ‘hero’ as I’ve always dreamed?

“Actually, my ‘goal’ is quite vague. Unlike Dia, I don’t have a clear purpose. I just have this vague feeling of wanting to catch up to someone. I’m not really sure what I should do to achieve that.”

So…

“So, I thought I’d try to imitate that person a bit.”

“Imitate?”

“If it were my benefactor, would my benefactor have done the same thing?”

That’s right, if I said this, it would just be a mere imitation.

Ruby would surely have helped Citrine in the same situation.

So I decided to help Citrine in the same way.

Because I thought that by helping, I could get closer to Ruby.

Well, in reality, after helping Citrine, I just realized that Ruby would have done the same thing.

Anyway, for now, I’m just following Ruby.

Following Ruby to become an adventurer, and doing my best as an adventurer.

Thinking that, I realize how empty of a person I am.

What is it that I truly want to do?

“…I see. I understand now why you helped Citrine-chan, Rust-san. And also, how important that person is to you. I hope to meet her someday too.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you’ll get along well.”

For now, I’ll put aside the goal of catching up to Ruby.

I just want to see her face again after so long.

I have to boast about becoming an adventurer, and I want to introduce Dia too.

Most of all, since it’s been three years since we last met, I want to reunite before she forgets my face.

For now, once I’m done with Citrine, I’ll try to find Ruby.

I still haven’t decided what I truly want to do, but at least I’ve found a new purpose.

“…”

Suddenly, I see Citrine sleeping next to me.

And the ring on her right index finger glimmers, catching my eye.

Come to think of it, she used ‘Healing Magic’ at that time.

It seemed like this ring was shining then.

Which means this ring must be Citrine’s ‘Artifact.’

…I’m a bit curious to see it.

I wonder what kind of magical properties it has.

It’s considered bad manners to peek at someone else’s Artifact, but I cautiously reach out to confirm Citrine’s innocence.

Pardon me.

Name: Ring of Faint Light

Rank: C

Level: 1

Attack Power: 0

Benefit: Strength +0, Endurance +0, Agility +0, Magic +80, Vitality +20

Magic: [Heal]

Skill: [Photosynthesis]

Endurance: 30/30

“Huh? What are you doing, Rust-san? You look kind of happy…”

“Huh? Oh, um, it’s nothing.”

I withdrew my hand from Citrine’s ring and absentmindedly held it out towards the campfire.

It was understandable why the Guild deemed her harmless.

Perhaps the staff had also seen the properties of her Artifact.

Level 1—a testament that she had never harmed a single human being.

No offensive magic present—sufficient evidence to trust in her harmlessness.

Of course, this alone couldn’t confirm everything, but Citrine’s innocence became more evident.

Feeling reassured, I started to feel sleepy.

That day, Dia and I took turns getting some sleep and spent the night peacefully.