I Became an Illegal Cheat User

126 – Theme: Roleplay (5)

Ha, look at this?

‘Wrapping up bullying a child as a trial, huh?’

It’s absurd. A hollow laugh escapes me.

‘Fine, let’s call this ridiculous act a trial.’

Then shouldn’t I feel sorry for As?

Isn’t it normal to feel guilty about putting a seven-year-old child through a trial?

‘But why is she so confident?’

As if she were something extraordinary.

As if it were only natural, regardless of how young the Hero is.

Her tone, the essence of the sword, deeply unsettles me.

‘Ah, what should I do?’

Right now, I want to break the sword immediately.

I want to throw this trash sword, with its pretentious name Sacred, into a furnace.

But unfortunately, I can’t do that.

And for good reason.

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【Trial’s Holy Sword Sacred (C)】 [Bound to: Aster] [0 / 100]

The holy sword bestowed upon Hero Aster by the deity of the Divine Continent (the hidden world).

The Sword of Trials possesses the power to challenge the hero, as its name suggests.

– Divine damage upon attack.

– Ignorance of the fog of death.

(*Effects also apply to hero’s party members.)

– Destruction of the Demon King’s immortality.

– Ability to use the power of the holy sword.

「Guardian of Light (C)」

「Blessing of Light (B) – Locked.」

「Strike of Light (A) – Locked.」

「Baptism of Light (S) – Locked.」

(*Unlocking depends on the item’s grade.)

– Can impose trials on the user (hero).

「Upon overcoming the trial, the hero’s power (proportional to the intensity of the trial) increases.」

(*Receiving help from others is considered giving up the trial and cancels it.)

「Upon overcoming the trial, the item grade increase gauge rises (5 times a day)」

(*When the gauge is filled, the item’s grade increases [Max: S grade])

– All stats +10

(*Effects increase as the grade rises.)

– Indestructible.

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It’s just a holy sword, yet it possesses an ‘indestructible’ option like an S-grade item.

That doesn’t mean it can’t be destroyed.

Astra.

With the S-grade weapon I frequently use, even if it has the ‘indestructible’ option, it can still be destroyed.

Of course, since I haven’t tested it in reality, I’m not sure. Still, since it’s been realized in the game, I believe it’s possible in reality as well.

Therefore, I can use the non-negative C-grade holy sword as a sacrifice for Astra’s ‘mimic’ option.

But unfortunately.

I cannot feed this irritating holy sword to Astra.

‘Ignorance of the fog of death.’

The violet mist I saw with my far sight.

An option that seems to allow me to enter the fog that has mostly enveloped the north.

And, crucially, an option that removes the choice of “eliminating the holy sword” from my mind.

“Undying destruction of the Demon Lord.”

Because of the option that informs me of the Demon Lord’s immortality and allows me to destroy that immortality, I cannot erase the holy sword from this world.

“Ha… this is really annoying.”

It’s unfortunate that As, this young child, became a hero due to regulation.

The awful holy sword makes me feel very unpleasant, disregarding the situation, conditions, and the child’s state.

I glared at the holy sword, feeling a boiling heat rising within me.

Then, with a deep sigh, I thought.

“…I don’t like it, but there’s nothing I can do.”

I have no choice but to negotiate through conversation.

Just as I was about to speak with that thought in mind.

– Hey, can’t you hear me? Hurry up and take your filthy hands off!

The holy sword spoke with a cocky tone, as if commanding.

Crackle!

It emitted a stronger electric current.

“……”

Ah, this won’t do.

“What do you mean negotiate through conversation?”

I realized for certain as I watched the Aegis on my finger turn gray.

That conversation is a mercy for this hunk of scrap metal.

“Tera.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Keep a little distance from As.”

“Yes, understood.”

At my command, Tera gracefully bowed.

Then, leading the bewildered Tera, I stepped back. No, it was beyond just stepping back.

“As, would you like to have ice cream with me?”

“Ice cream? What is that?”

“It’s a cold and sweet dessert.”

“Whoa…! Sweet deal! Yes, I’ll eat it!”

“Very well. Then, come this way.”

I took out an iron golem in the shape of a car from my inventory and got in with Asu.

It’s still Terra.

It’s just as I thought.

Of course, since Terra’s essence is a system, it can read my thoughts, but…

I praised myself for successfully bringing Asu to a place where the holy sword couldn’t see.

As I was thinking that, the holy sword, which was emitting electricity like it was going to burn my hand, asked me.

– …What’s your plan?

A slightly trembling voice.

Asu’s voice, which seemed to be surprised that I had brought it into the car, was shaking with anxiety.

I smiled wryly at the holy sword and opened my inventory.

“What plan?”

And I took out Astrae, the teacher who would discipline the holy sword, from my inventory.

“It’s a plan to fix your rotten swordsmanship.”

– What’s that supposed to mean……

The holy sword’s voice was trembling, as if it had seen something terrifying.

The electricity that was filling my Igis’s damage absorption gauge disappeared, and it started vibrating like it was in resonance mode.

– Wh…what is that!

The holy sword’s previous angry voice was nowhere to be found.

It let out a terrified cry, its voice shaking with fear.

I chuckled at its reaction and said.

“Ah, this? It’s an introduction.”

I held out my hand towards the holy sword, and Astrae’s arrowhead, which was hovering slowly above my palm, pointed towards the holy sword, as if it had found a delicious meal.

“I’m your teacher who will discipline you.”

As I said that, the holy sword’s screams echoed in my mind.

– aaah! Get that away!

Pzzzzt!

At the same time, a completely different kind of electricity burst out, unlike anything before.

Pffft!

The aegis, which had been turning gray and nearly fully charged, turned to ash and disappeared.

And following that, the color of the aegis on my right finger began to change rapidly.

“Yes, yes. Try to resist.”

It’s fine as long as I pull out a new one.

I equipped the new aegis through transmission and tightened my grip on the holy sword.

Creak, creak….

– Kyaaa! Kyaaa!

The holy sword let out a bird-like scream.

As the blade embedded in the ground became more visible, the intensity of the sound and electricity increased.

Whatever the case.

I resolutely pulled the holy sword upward.

– Don’t pull me out! I’m telling you not to!

No, I don’t want to. I’m going to pull you out.

– Nooo─!!

Ugh, how noisy.

Anyone would think I’m doing something bad.

I grimaced at the screams ringing in my head and pulled out the holy sword.

– No! The trial…!!

“What do you mean no?”

Indeed, what this holy sword needs is not conversation, but discipline. I need to correct its spirit for As.

– …You! Do you really think you’ll get away with this!

“Uh, yeah, I will.”

Even without your worry, I’ll live long and well.

– Rude human! Divine punishment will fall upon you!

“Oh dear, that’s scary.”

Divine punishment, huh.

The regulations are much like a system.

And if those regulations have intelligence.

If there truly is a god in this world, then my actions are justified.

The options inherent in the holy sword.

‘Trials can be imposed on the user (the hero).’

Nowhere is the difficulty of the trials defined.

Thus, a trial suitable for As can be given, one appropriate for a young child.

Of course, it is written in the item description that As’s strength increases in proportion to the intensity of the trial.

But is there really a need to impose a trial that exceeds As’s strength, one that he cannot possibly overcome, like pulling a sword stuck in the ground?

I think not.

Building strength?

It’s important.

Raising item ranks?

That’s important too.

But is it really worth pushing As, the hero, to the brink for that?

‘Honestly, if I were the holy sword, I would gradually impose trials on As, keeping him within his limits.’

The number of times the rank-up gauge can be filled is five times a day, so what’s the rush?

‘…Well, designating a 7-year-old child as a hero is already a mistake.’

If the rules had any sense, they would be treated as a malevolent deity.

So, my actions now are justified.

As a member of the hero’s party, it is right to train the holy sword for the hero.

– …You’re going to trip on the road! You’ll lose all the money you have! You’ll be subjected to all sorts of bad things! So please, let me go right now!

“Oh, really? That sounds like quite a problem.”

The divine punishment is truly… adorable.

I let out a small chuckle as I raised the holy sword.

And, as if filled with anticipation, I reached out my hand holding the holy sword towards Astra, whose arrowhead was standing at attention.

“Astra, open your mouth.”

A sacrifice is about to be made.

– Kyaaah! No! No!!

“Yes!”

&

&

&

– I’m so sorry. I’m truly sorry. I was greedy, and I’m really sorry. From now on, I will impose easy trials suitable for the hero…….

“Then.”

– …And I won’t act recklessly or disrespectfully…

“Right, let’s be careful. Do you understand?”

– …Yes.

The discipline was successful.

I dipped Astra in and pulled it out. After repeating this a few times, the holy sword finally yielded.

Of course, during that process, there was an incident where Astra sulked and went into the inventory.

Well, I did tell it to open up, promising delicious food, but I made it wait a bit… so it couldn’t help but sulk.

Anyway, the holy sword’s temperament improved significantly. So, it wasn’t a bad outcome.

“From now on, unless we’re in battle, stay like that. Understand?”

– …Yes, I understand.

And as a result, the holy sword gained a new option.

“Wow…, big brother. Is this my holy sword?”

“Yes, this is your holy sword.”

“Hehe, it got smaller!”

That was the transformation in form.

From a longsword suitable for an adult, it shrank to the size of a carrot knife, once famous on Earth, an unexpected harvest created by the holy sword to survive after absorbing energy each time it was dipped into Astra.

– …How did I end up like this…, sob sob…

The holy sword in As’s hand trembled and let out a whimper.

“Huh? Big brother, the holy sword is crying.”

“It’s happy because it got smaller.”

“Ah, I see.”

At my words, As nodded in understanding and licked the soft-serve ice cream held in her other hand.

Then, with sparkling, bright eyes, she looked at Terra sitting next to her.

“Sister, this is really delicious too!”

“Is that so? Then I’m glad.”

Terra smiled gently and wiped the mess from As’s mouth with a handkerchief.

As let out a bright, cheerful laugh at Terra’s actions.

Ah, what a truly heartwarming sight.

Thinking that, I raised my right wrist.

And I activated the hologram on my smartwatch, opening the group chat where my leading friends were.

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[Lee Yu-jin]

– The king is scheduled to arrive in 3 hours.

– And we’re picking up the ‘hero.’

[Arthur]

– That’s good news.

– Thanks to that, I can save the trouble of looking for the hero separately.

[Noah]

– Thank you, Lee Yu-jin.

[Lee Seo-yeon]

– Yu-jin, let me know when you arrive at the king’s place.

– I’ll come to meet you right away.

[Asuka]

– Chief! We’re all at the inn where Lee Seo-yeon is! See you there!

[Lee Yu-jin]

– Yeah, see you soon.

[Asuka]

– Oh, right!

– Chief, what does the hero look like?

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What does he look like, you ask?

I turned my head to the side at Asuka’s question.

And I typed on the hologram keyboard while looking at the little angel. No, the little hero, who was smiling brightly.

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[Lee Yu-jin]

– He’s super cute.

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Other than that, I had no other answers to give.