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

Chapter 82 Altar of the evil god

“The ‘Altar of the Evil God’…?”

The ominous sound of it made my heart stir with unease. Seeing my worried expression, Gibeon gave a small nod.

“Exactly. It’s the opposite of the altar we humans often rely on, an ‘Altar of the Evil God’ used by demons. It’s an evil altar where they receive or repair their divine weapons, and it’s always located in high-difficulty danger zones. We need you to destroy it.”

“Why do we need to do that?”

I’ve used altars many times myself. Whether it was to restore the durability of my divine weapon or during the ritual when I first received it, the altar was essential. I know the demons have similar altars, but why do we need to destroy them now? Because, if I recall…

“Recently, we’ve discovered that destroying the Altar of the Evil God significantly reduces the appearance rate of demons in the surrounding danger zone areas.”

“Appearance rate of demons? Do you mean demons and monsters won’t appear as often?”

“It’s not that they’ll completely disappear, but their numbers definitely decrease. Special high-alert danger zones that were once overflowing with monsters have become eerily quiet after an altar was destroyed.”

If that’s true, then Gibeon’s request to actively destroy the Altars of the Evil God makes sense. Fewer demons would mean less damage caused by them, and without the ability to repair their divine weapons, the demons’ combat power would be significantly reduced. But…

“I’ve heard before that ‘you must never destroy the Altar of the Evil God.'”

Dia, who had been listening quietly beside me, voiced the concern I was feeling. Yes, we were always told not to destroy the Altars of the Evil God. I’ve heard that many times. The reasons vary, but the story I heard most often is…

“I’ve also heard that breaking the Altar of the Evil God would incur the wrath of the Evil God and bring about disasters,” I said.

“Yeah, that’s a fairy tale often told to children. In the past, it seems there were actually misfortunes occurring right after an altar was destroyed, so even within the guild, it was advised not to mess with the altars. But in the end, it seems those were just coincidences.”

Coincidences? So, the misfortunes that happened after the altars were destroyed were all just “happenstances”?

“We’ve already destroyed several, and nothing has happened. In fact, the dangerous areas around them have seen significantly fewer demonic appearances. It’s been nothing but good news. You shouldn’t believe in old superstitions so easily.”

“How did you figure this out now? Did someone actually destroy an altar to prove it?”

We’ve always been told not to destroy the Altars of the Evil God. Who would go against such a long-standing tradition to destroy one? Though thanks to their daring, we’ve uncovered new facts. But what if a disaster had occurred? That would have been reckless in the extreme.

“No, that too was just a coincidence.”

“Huh?”

“An adventurer stumbled and fell while exploring a danger zone, and their divine weapon accidentally smashed into an altar, shattering it to pieces. That’s how we found out about the reduced demonic appearance rates and the supposed coincidence of disasters.”

“Oh… I see…”

So, it was just an accidental discovery. Sometimes, coincidences can be quite revealing.

“In any case, we’ve confirmed that it’s beneficial to destroy these altars.”

“The ‘Altar of the Evil God’ in Obsidian Mountain, where you fought the ‘Onyx Legion,’ has already been destroyed. As a result, the demonic appearance rate there has decreased, and now it’s just an ordinary mountain.”

“So, it would be best to destroy the other altars in the danger zones as well?”

“Exactly.”

That’s the request being made to us: to destroy the Altars of the Evil God. These altars, located in high-difficulty danger zones, were built by the Evil God long ago, and their exact numbers in each danger zone are unknown. However, if we can destroy all these altars, we can significantly reduce the global appearance of demonic creatures and impair the demons’ ability to repair their divine weapons, weakening their forces considerably. This would be a major objective not just for adventurers, but for all of humanity.

“So, what do you say, kid? Can you take on the request to destroy the altars? Even if it’s just destroying them when you come across them during other tasks.”

“…”

I pondered quietly. I didn’t have any particular reason to refuse. Moreover, if it’s just destroying them when I come across them during other tasks, it wouldn’t interfere with my usual activities. Just as I was leaning toward acceptance, Gibeon gave me an extra push with his next words.

“By the way, for each altar you destroy, you’ll receive a reward of one million Kira. And if you destroy five, you’ll be guaranteed a special promotion. It would really help if you could accept the request under these conditions.”

“…”

One million Kira for each destroyed altar, plus a guaranteed special promotion for destroying five. The conditions are almost too good to be true, bordering on suspicious. Upon hearing this, both Dia and I froze, as if time itself had stopped. Then, our eyes lit up with determination. The substantial sum of one million Kira was tempting, but the prospect of a special promotion was even more enticing.

We weren’t foolish enough to miss the significance of this offer: just by destroying five altars, we could get promoted. Both Dia and I were eager to advance in rank as adventurers. I wanted to catch up to my idol, and Dia wanted to find her missing parents. Achieving the next promotion would elevate us to the coveted Platinum rank. This was a rare opportunity.

We exchanged a glance, our resolve unified.

“If it’s alright with us, we would be happy to take on the task…”

“We’ll actively search for the altars, rather than just destroying them if we happen to come across them.”

“Great! I’m really glad I called you two here!” Gibeon exclaimed with joy, clearly relieved to have found adventurers willing to take on the task.

“Honestly, I’d like to have all adventurers help with this, but given the locations of the altars, we can’t just spread this information recklessly. There are young adventurers who might charge in recklessly for the reward. We need to be careful about who we entrust this task to.”

He was right; if the request to destroy the altars were made public, many might rush into these high-risk zones for the reward. The areas near the altars are bound to be teeming with dangerous monsters and demons. Inadequately prepared adventurers would certainly face casualties. To avoid this, the selection of those who take on this task is crucial. Being chosen meant Gibeon recognized our abilities.

As I silently smiled to myself, Dia suddenly spoke up.

“Um…”

“Hm? What is it, missy?” Gibeon asked.

“Aren’t you… going to fight as well?”

“… ”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Asking him if he wasn’t going to fight seemed like a huge slight against him. Gibeon is the head of the Adventurer’s Guild, the person who assigns tasks to adventurers.

“D-Dia!? Wh-what are you saying? This person is the highest-ranking official in the guild…”

“Ah, well, I understand that, but… how should I put this…”

While Dia tilted her head in confusion, Gibeon didn’t seem offended. Instead, he appeared intrigued and impressed.

“It seems you’re not trying to be sarcastic. Hm, you’ve got a keen eye, missy. Or rather, a keen sense.”

“A sense?”

What did he mean by that? Did Dia sense something about Gibeon that I hadn’t?

To answer my unspoken question, Dia sheepishly began to explain.

“When I first saw the Guild Master, I could immediately tell he was a very ‘strong person,’ but more than that, there was an overwhelming aura of ‘fighting spirit’ emanating from him.”

“Fighting spirit?”

Hearing this, I couldn’t help but scrutinize Gibeon closely. However, I didn’t sense anything special. He just looked like a friendly older man sitting behind his desk.

But if Dia said so, it must be true. Gibeon seemed to have a remarkable fighting spirit, so intense that Dia could perceive it.

That made Dia wonder why someone with such evident fighting spirit was holed up in the highest room of the guild headquarters. If he wanted to fight, why not do it himself instead of relying on other adventurers?

Suddenly, Gibeon’s expression softened into a smile.

“Being able to sense other people’s fighting spirit is quite something. And it’s not even some special artifact power. You must be a fine judge, being the wielder of the Shield artifact. Oh, I see, the young ones nowadays don’t know me. Alright, let me show you.”

With that, Gibeon stood up from his chair. At that moment, a strange clanging sound echoed through the room, like a heavy metal object dropping to the floor.

Gibeon then stepped out from behind his desk, revealing his hidden legs: they were metal prosthetics.

“Those legs…”

“Yep, lost them in a fight with demons. I can’t even walk properly now. I’d love to be out there fighting myself, but for now, I have no choice but to rely on others. Sorry about that.”

“N-No, I’m the one who should apologize.”

Dia, flustered, bowed her head. She had no idea that the Guild Master had lost his legs. It seems Dia hadn’t known either and had unintentionally asked an awkward question.

Gibeon, noticing Dia’s discomfort, responded with a hearty laugh.

“There’s no need to apologize. I never expected to meet someone who could see through my abilities at this point, so I’m genuinely pleased. Not just the boy, but you’re quite the talent yourself.”

“…”

Gibeon’s attempt to comfort Dia made me feel the depth of his character. Even though he wanted to fight himself, he had to depend on others. It must be incredibly frustrating, and perhaps it also brought some guilt.

Dia’s ability to sense his fighting spirit probably made him feel a bit better, knowing that someone recognized his will to fight.

“Gibeon-sama was once the strongest adventurer who held the title of ‘Hero.’”

“Eh!?”

When Paparatcha said this, Gibeon’s expression immediately turned into a wry smile.

“Please don’t bring that up, Paparatcha. It’s embarrassing. The title was something others just said about me, and now it’s been taken by Parlti-chan.”

“…Parlti-chan?”

Could she be referring to Parlti Lightning?

I suddenly recalled an event from three years ago. A dignified woman who had firmly told me, while I was bestowed with the [Rusted Sword], that I could not become an adventurer.

She was also the one who invited my childhood friend Ruby to join her party, creating a bit of a grudge.

Currently, Parlti Lightning holds the title of ‘Hero,’ so it’s almost certain that Gibeon’s ‘Parlti-chan’ is indeed Parlti Lightning.

So, Gibeon used to hold the title of ‘Hero’ himself?

Hero Gibeon. It feels like I’ve heard of it before, but I’m not quite sure…

“I still believe that Gibeon-sama is the most formidable adventurer.”

“Oh no, please don’t flatter me, Paparatcha. I’m already past my prime. Even if my legs were still functional, I wouldn’t be able to beat Parlti-chan. And now, there’s ‘this boy’ as well.”

“…”

It’s too much of an exaggeration.

No matter how powerful my artifact might be, I don’t think I could rival the former Hero.

Yet, Gibeon remained humble.

“A worn-out old man like me can’t achieve much. That’s why I have to rely on the younger folks now. I’ve even given the current request to Parlti-chan.”

“Eh?”

I involuntarily let out a sound.

“Hmm? Is something wrong, boy?”

“Oh, no…”

I forced a stiff smile, trying to maintain my composure, but my heart was pounding loudly.

The Hero’s party is taking on the current request?

The request to destroy the Evil God’s Altar?

Does this mean Ruby is now out there searching for the Evil God’s Altar and exploring dangerous areas?

If they’re searching for the Evil God’s Altar, then I might eventually…

The possibility of meeting Ruby again filled me with excitement, and I felt a surge of joy at finally being on the same stage.

It seems that, little by little, I’m getting closer to the person I admire.

“Anyway, about the altar destruction, please take care of it. When you destroy an altar, a ‘strange orb’—will appear. If you bring that back to the headquarters, you’ll receive your reward. I’ve already informed the reception about it. So, be careful and good luck.”

With that, the conversation seemed to be wrapping up and we were about to disperse.

However, before leaving the room, I called out to Gibeon.

“Um, Gibeon-san…”

“Hmm? What is it, boy? Is there something you don’t understand?”

“Uh, well, about that ‘artifact’…”

I pointed to the artifact placed on the desk and hesitated.

The artifact of the sword used by the Seven Great Demons’ Onyx.

Gibeon then seemed to grasp what I was hinting at and looked at me with surprise.

“What’s the matter, boy? Are you collecting demon artifacts too? You have a peculiar hobby. It’s going to disappear in a few days anyway. Or are you planning to exchange it at the guild as proof of your conquest?”

“Oh, no, that’s not quite it…”

It’s hard to ask for it just because I want to try something.

I thought about being honest, but found myself hesitating for some reason.

Should I explain my artifact synthesis skill, or rather, my artifact itself?

Perhaps Gibeon might offer some useful advice about it.

There might be new facts revealed about the still mysterious [Cursed Magic Sword].

However, since he had already checked the artifact’s performance properties without asking for details, revealing information now feels somewhat awkward.

Also, I’ve already been here quite a while. The guild master must be busy, so I should save my questions for another time.

“Well, since it’s an artifact of a demon you defeated, you can do as you like with it.”

“Oh, thank you!”

Without further explanation, I was able to receive the Onyx artifact from Gibeon.

It felt strangely eerie and cold, despite having lost all its power and no longer having a master.

I’ll synthesize the artifact later. The powerful enchantment magic it had, though bothersome, should be useful for future endeavors.

I’ll keep a rational approach without getting emotional.

After exchanging a few more words with Gibeon, Dia and I left the room.

――――

“Gibeon-sama, you can be quite underhanded.”

“Hm?”

After the promising new adventurers had left, a faint whisper echoed through the now quiet room.

Hearing this, Gibeon looked at Paparatcha with a puzzled expression.

Paparatcha then conveyed the meaning of the whisper with a serious demeanor.

“Why did you lie to those two?”

“Lie? I didn’t lie. I just didn’t tell them the whole truth.”

“…Isn’t that the same as lying?”

Paparatcha’s tone was thick with exasperation.

Not telling the whole truth, hiding it, and assigning the altar destruction request under those pretenses was essentially equivalent to lying.

While Gibeon spoke, Paparatcha was clearly bursting with the urge to interject.

“It’s not just those two. You also didn’t disclose ‘that matter’ to the other adventurers who accepted the request. That’s no different from deceiving them.”

“Hey now, ‘deceiving’ sounds a bit harsh… or rather, it’s basically the same thing, so I suppose it’s fine.”

Seeing Gibeon’s growing nonchalance, Paparatcha’s face showed increasing fatigue.

Noticing this, Gibeon began to explain himself.

“Sure, I should have been upfront, but I’m still half in doubt myself. I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, and there’s no decisive proof.”

It was an excuse that sounded just as flimsy as it was true.

“Besides, if the information gets out, there’s a chance that the mischief-loving heretics might learn about it. If they do, they’d definitely try to hinder us with all their might. So, I have to be careful about who I tell.”

This reasoning was valid, leaving Paparatcha unable to argue further.

Indeed, if the Renegades got wind of this information, it would cause trouble.

Using a different reason to disguise the true aim was the smartest approach.

Ultimately, the goal remains unchanged. As long as the ‘Evil God’s Altars’ are destroyed, the objective will be achieved.

So, Gibeon chose to use another reason for the request. However, Paparatcha still had one lingering doubt.

“But even so, I thought you would have told those two.”

“Hm? Why do you think that?”

“It seemed like you were quite fond of them.”

“…Well, I can’t deny that.”

Uncharacteristically, Gibeon averted his eyes in embarrassment.

It was the first time Paparatcha had seen Gibeon, usually so cheerful and chatty, looking this way since he became the guild master.

This led Paparatcha to think that he might reveal the truth to those two.

“But still, I thought it would be better to wait until I’m certain before sharing the information. I didn’t want to scare them unnecessarily.”

“…”

Paparatcha initially believed that those two would not be easily frightened. However, immediately after that thought, she reconsidered.

Despite being novice adventurers, the young man and woman possessed both great talent and bravery.

Although they had a somewhat timid side, their hearts were ablaze with a fierce fighting spirit.

Yet, there was a real possibility that even they might be frightened.

Indeed, because those two…

“Can you believe it? They say an ‘even more malevolent demon’ has appeared, more terrifying than the Seven Great Demons.”

This was especially true since they had just encountered the threat of the Seven Great Demons.

Hearing that something potentially more dangerous than the Seven Great Demons had appeared would surely frighten even the bravest of young adventurers.

And above all…

“Moreover, this demon is still just a child who hasn’t even received a divine weapon yet. It’s a really absurd story.”

Paparatcha had to agree with that sentiment, nodding deeply to herself.

It was indeed an absurd and almost unbelievable tale.

The only comfort was that there was still no proof confirming it as fact.