When I Tried Strengthening 【Rusted Sword】, It Evolved Into An Overpowered Magic Sword - Chapter 70

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

Chapter 70   Brother

His brother’s name was Light.

His surname was “Treat,” the same as Citrine’s.

And that made sense because Citrine inherited the surname from Light.

According to Light, it was like “imitating humans.”

“Humans have not only names but also family names that connect them together. Isn’t that wonderful? It’s like there’s a bond between them even without saying anything.”

Light loved humans.

He adored them, admired them, and often said he wanted to be like them.

He was particularly interested in the human concept of “bonds.”

That’s why he cherished Citrine, who was born in the same area, like a younger sister from a young age; it was because he wanted to imitate humans.

And Citrine, in turn, looked up to Light as a true brother.

This was partly because he had been kind to her, but also because they looked alike.

With his golden hair, modest horns, sleepy eyes, and slight build, Light had fewer demonic features, making him look particularly similar to Citrine.

That’s why Citrine recognized Light as her brother and called him “big brother.”

“Why do you love humans so much, big brother?”

“Well, it’s not just that I like humans; it’s the bond between them that I really love.”

Demons, by nature, loathe humans.

There’s a theory that “demons” are manifestations of souls that resent humans.

It is said that those who resented humans in their past lives died, and their souls were gathered by the dark gods and reincarnated as demons.

It is also said that demons possessing features of animals like dogs and cats reflects a faint projection of their previous selves.

Due to the faint and fragmented memories of their past lives, many demons harbor a deep dislike for humans.

However, there are some demons who do not view humans as enemies.

This could be because they have few memories of their past lives or because they were treated well by humans after their reincarnation and changed their hearts.

There are various reasons, but Light was one of those rare demons.

Similarly, Citrine also had almost no memories of her past life, and influenced by her brother Light, she did not particularly see humans as enemies.

That said, she neither liked them nor disliked them.

“So, Citrine, what do you like?”

“Hmm… Big brother!”

There might have been times when Citrine answered like that, confusing her brother. He probably didn’t mean it in that way.

While engaging in such trivial exchanges, Citrine lived with Light on Obsidian Mountain.

It was a quiet, peaceful daily life without conflicts.

Indeed, the fact that Obsidian Mountain was so difficult to live in had the advantage of keeping others away, which was fortunate for the two who disliked conflict. It could be considered a stroke of luck that they were born in this area.

How long did they continue their tranquil life there?

At least for the fifteen years from Citrine’s birth until she received the divine artifact, she remembers spending those years quietly on Obsidian Mountain.

By the way, when she received the [Ring of Faint Light], it was very memorable that her brother was more delighted than she was.

“Citrine, just like me, you also have a ring artifact. And it has the power to heal wounds, which makes it a very kind artifact.”

She was genuinely happy to receive a healing artifact.

More than anything, she was happiest that her brother Light was pleased.

Receiving an artifact that could make her brother so happy was a deep source of joy for her.

Reflecting on it, they might have had conversations like this:

“Among humans, there’s a custom where, when a couple becomes romantically involved and makes a formal bond, they exchange rings on their left-hand ring fingers.”

“Then, we should put it on our left-hand ring fingers together, right?”

“No, Citrine. Since we’re siblings, let’s not put it on the left-hand ring finger. How about putting it on the right-hand index finger instead?”

“Why?”

“Because it’s the finger used to point. My artifact aside, Citrine, your artifact has a warm light, so I thought it would be nice if that warm light could one day reach humans.”

So, she wore the [Ring of Faint Light] on her right-hand index finger.

Hoping that her healing light would someday reach the humans her brother loved.

Thus, she received the healing artifact from the dark gods.

A healing artifact, a kind artifact, an artifact that never hurts anyone.

…That’s what she thought up until then.

It was an ordinary day.

On one such peaceful day, a wounded demon came to Obsidian Mountain.

It seemed he had fled here after being chased by adventurers.

The demon was covered in wounds and in apparent agony, so Citrine offered her healing.

She remembered helping the demon without much thought, and her brother praised her, saying, “Citrine is so kind.”

However, there was one thing that troubled her: the demon left without expressing any gratitude, looking surprised as it went away.

And that seed of concern quickly grew into something suspicious.

A group of demons arrived at Obsidian Mountain.

“Are you the healer with healing abilities? The demon from my place was taken care of by you, right?”

The group of demons that arrived was known as the “Onyx Legion.”

It seemed the demon Citrine had healed was a member of this “Onyx Legion.”

The leader, Onyx, was in search of a healer at that time.

Apparently, he had lost his right arm due to being slashed by adventurers.

Since a divine artifact’s true power can’t be fully utilized without both hands, he had been desperate for a long time to heal his arm.

Demons generally don’t receive healing artifacts and have to find humans to heal them.

However, since healers are few in number, and finding one skilled enough to restore a lost arm is exceedingly difficult.

Moreover, abducting humans with one arm missing is perilous.

At such a time, a demon healer—Citrine—appeared.

It was only natural for Onyx to be interested.

“Let’s get this right arm of mine healed, just like the demon from my place. And while we’re at it, I want you to join my legion.”

It seemed he was in the midst of gathering members for the rebuilding of the Demon King’s army.

Therefore, Onyx had forced Citrine to join the legion.

Moreover, he even said he would inflict pain if she didn’t comply.

The despair she felt for the first time was so cold compared to the warm days she had known before, it felt like a lie.

Seeing Citrine trembling, Light naturally stood up to protect her.

“Citrine’s current power isn’t enough to heal an arm. Please, give up and go back.”

To resolve the situation peacefully, Light tried to persuade Onyx in a non-provocative tone.

However, Onyx showed no interest in Light’s words and dismissed him entirely.

“Not right now, huh? Well then, it’s simple. If that kid kills some humans and grows the divine artifact, she’ll be able to heal my arm.”

“Citrine doesn’t want that. She is very kind and would never hurt a human. You mustn’t make her do it.”

Onyx did not listen to Light’s words at all.

Eventually, he even started saying he would force Citrine to fight humans.

He seemed to care less about what happened to Citrine.

Fearing that Citrine would suffer terribly, Light urgently said:

“Run, Citrine! To somewhere far away!”

Citrine was confused.

If she didn’t escape, she would suffer terribly. But if she ran, she would be alone.

Of course, she was anxious about whether she could survive alone.

But more than that, it was unbelievable to be separated from Light, who had been with her since birth.

She had always thought they would be together forever, and realizing that it couldn’t be so made her mind go blank.

Thus, Citrine fled Obsidian Mountain, with Light helping her escape.

Honestly, it felt like a miracle that she managed to get away.

It was surely because Light, with a resolve to sacrifice himself, allowed Citrine to escape from Onyx’s grasp.

Afterward, Citrine fled to an area closer to human towns.

“I have to save big brother!”

Anyone would do. She thought she had to ask someone for help to rescue her brother, Light.

In her desperation, she turned to human “adventurers.”

Normally, she avoided getting close to humans to prevent being captured as a demon. But Citrine thought that only adventurers could save her brother from the “Onyx Legion.”

Moreover, having heard countless gentle stories about humans from Light, Citrine hoped that if she spoke to them properly, they would understand her.

However, as a result, Citrine became a hunted target for adventurers.

She didn’t understand what went wrong.

Even though she had only asked for help because her brother was in danger, she was met with hostility and weapons pointed at her.

Hunted by both the demon faction and adventurers, Citrine found that there was no place left for her.

She didn’t even know what to believe in anymore.

“I hate ‘this power’.”

One month after escaping Obsidian Mountain, Citrine heard rumors that the “Onyx Legion,” led by Onyx, had established Obsidian Mountain as their base of operations.

At the same time, she learned that her brother Light, who had protected her…

had been killed by Onyx.