I Returned with the Cheat Holy Sword

Carlyle had caught the attention of Cardinal Felix.
And Gray had come to trust him more than before.

It was a shift that could be summarized just like that.
“⋯⋯.”
How did it end up like this?

Carlyle stared blankly at the window in front of him.
To be honest, based on how he responded, he hadn't expected any sort of positive reaction from Felix.
And yet Felix was now “interested” in him, and some related event was apparently about to trigger…

You want me to ‘instruct’ that man?
He didn’t even want to associate with him, let alone act as his instructor.
The Holy Sword had warned him. And there was that strange pressure he felt every time they met—just seeing Felix’s face made his insides twist.

Let’s just say this is a good thing and leave it at that.
Well, it was the final round anyway. He had to use every tool at his disposal.
Even if it meant more suffering ahead—if it granted him something useful, it wouldn’t be the worst outcome.

And if he could get close to Felix, it might make managing Gray’s behavior easier, too.
After all, even Gray seemed to tread lightly around the cardinal.
Speaking of her, the girl currently lingering at the center of all this—

“⋯⋯My lady.”
“What.”
“May I ask why you’re doing this?”

Carlyle asked with a smile, though cold sweat was pouring down his back.
It was good that Gray had impressed people by demonstrating a technique she’d been practicing during the academy trial, but ever since then, something was clearly off.
Normally, she’d just dump tasks on him and occasionally grumble about the results.
Now she was clinging to him—following his every move.

No matter what he did, she would tail him closely and observe him like she was stalking prey.
“It’s none of your business.”
“⋯⋯Don’t you have anything else to do?”

“There’s nothing left to learn for now. Do you think there are many people who can actually teach me—”
Gray’s confident words suddenly turned into a frown.
Because standing right in front of her was one such person.

Someone who could teach her something.
“M-My lady…”
“Shut up and do your job.”

“⋯⋯.”
And just like that, Gray’s suffocating stalker behavior resumed.
Is this… her new method of harassment?

[She’s just showing interest.]
…Excuse me?
[If I were her, I’d say it’s obvious. She wants to ask, but saying it aloud would feel like a loss. That’s why she’s acting like this.]

What kind of logic is that?
[She doesn’t want to admit she’s curious how you used that technique—so instead she’s watching everything you do to figure it out herself.]
Ah.

So because asking "How can you use something I can’t?" would hurt her pride…
She’s decided to silently stalk him and gather every possible clue she can.
That’s… kinda cute, actually.

Carlyle glanced sideways at Gray, who was still following right behind him with a scowl.
Considering her usual behavior, she should’ve already grabbed him by the collar and screamed "How the hell do you know that?!"
[She’s doing it because she’s grateful.]

Grateful for what?
[Your consistent attitude, regardless of who’s watching. She probably found it admirable that you stood your ground against the cardinal, even when most would grovel.]
Huh?

[She overheard your entire conversation with the cardinal. That’s why she’s acting this way.]
…Ah.
So she was listening in back then.

And because of what he said during that conversation, she felt grateful—so now she couldn’t treat him as roughly as usual. Hence the awkward tailing.
“⋯⋯.”
That is kind of cute in its own way.

But still.
If you knew she was watching back then, why didn’t you say anything sooner?
[You didn’t ask.]

⋯⋯.
[Do I have to report every little thing to you? You try confessing something embarrassing from your past and see how it feels.]
...Fine, when you put it like that, I guess I get it.

And really, if you thought about why she was eavesdropping in the first place—
It was because she didn’t want to leave Carlyle alone with the Gray Cardinal. She had pretended to step away while secretly listening in to make sure he was safe.
Thinking about her holding her breath just outside the room made him smile a little.

“⋯⋯My lady, my lady. No one can know what someone else is truly thinking.”
“Sounded like you were thinking something rude.”
“I wasn’t.”

Gray narrowed her eyes and raised a fist—then slowly lowered it, tilting her head.
This girl… her instincts were terrifyingly sharp.
Can’t even afford to think anymore.

“Anyway, my lady.”
“What.”
“I don’t mind staying with you, but now…”

It was about time for him to start attending classes.
The first few days were an adjustment period, where students could explore the campus freely, but the actual term was beginning now.
As a normal student, Carlyle had no choice but to separate from Gray.

“⋯⋯.”
Apparently even she couldn’t push back on that, because she scowled and begrudgingly nodded.
“Fine. Do well in class.”

Huh.
Is she… worried about him?
“If I hear that you’re falling behind other students, I’ll personally twist your neck.”

“⋯⋯.”
“Got that? Don’t disgrace me.”
“⋯⋯Yes, my lady.”

Of course not.
What she meant was: “If you don’t do well, I’ll kill you.”
***

[By the way, where are you headed now?]
“Let’s see… Apparently I need to find my assigned senior mentor.”
At Yoram, there was a 1:1 mentoring system where upperclassmen guided incoming students.

They helped pick appropriate classes, adjust to academy life, and build camaraderie between juniors and seniors—at least, that was the official explanation.
Sounds more like a hazing system to me.
With so many eccentric first-years, that seemed more likely.

He yawned and kept walking. As he crossed the sunny courtyard, a thought came to mind.
…He was worried.
Now that he’d left Gray alone, he couldn’t help but worry about what kind of disaster she might cause while he was gone.

Felt like leaving a toddler by the river.
[She’s not that bad.]
“…You think so? I mean, she can handle herself, right?”

Watching young Gray now, Carlyle couldn’t help but feel that she was softer than he remembered.
The way she reacted instantly to every small thing—she felt more like a twisted, violent little kid than the tyrannical war machine he’d dealt with in past loops.
It made him curious.

What kind of “academy experiences” had turned this person into that person?
“What kind of horror happens in a place like this?”
Carlyle muttered, looking around the peaceful courtyard.

It was serene. But according to Gray, this was a blood-soaked suspense hell where corpses danced and blood sprayed freely.
[Well, it’s true. In fact… one particularly memorable incident is coming up soon.]

[The first time we encountered a demon.]
“⋯⋯.”
[Well, not a real demon. A demon worshiper. But still—it was horrific.]

“⋯⋯Yeah, okay. That’s enough detail.”
Carlyle chuckled and ran a hand through his hair.
The Holy Sword said it so casually, but if he described something as “horrific,” it had to be something serious.

That had to be humanity’s first real encounter with the forces that would one day try to wipe it out.
Blood would be spilled. No matter how you sliced it.
And…

Carlyle glanced at the system window.
Events tied to both Felix and Gray were listed as about to begin.
It wasn’t certain, but he had a hunch—this must be related to the incident Gray had just mentioned.

Given that—
“I’d better prepare thoroughly.”
[Of course.]

For now, he should focus on being ready for the upcoming encounter with the demon worshipers.
And for that, the first thing he needed was—
[A helper.]

A helper?
[Someone in the academy who’ll follow your instructions without question.]
But they couldn’t be too noticeable—or too weak.

He needed someone in that perfect sweet spot—under the radar but capable of gathering information.
“⋯⋯Hrm.”
Sounded like a laundry list of impossible criteria.

“Why so picky? Why does it have to be someone so ambiguous?”
[Because the demon worshipers already have a strong foothold in the academy. You already know the kind of tactics Hell uses.]
“⋯⋯.”

[To face what moves in the shadows, you must move in the shadows. Standing out is dangerous.]
…True.
When the invasion from Hell began, the collapse of the Empire—and the other nations—happened far too fast to explain unless rot had already set in from within.

Assuming Yoram didn’t already have some of those seeds was foolish.
The terrifying part about Hell’s demons wasn’t just their raw strength—it was their cunning.
They schemed and deceived—fomenting internal ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) division, blackmail, seduction, coercion…

Every form of manipulation imaginable.
…Which means we need an ally too.
Trying to handle something like that alone was suicide. He’d need someone moving with him.

But as for who fit Gray’s list of conditions—
[Ideally someone who won’t complain even when dumped with dirty work.]
“What kind of person is that?”

[Well… maybe someone you have leverage over?]
Yeah, right. Like someone that convenient was just going to appear in front of him.
And then—

He arrived at the location where his assigned senior mentor was supposed to be waiting.
“You’re late! What kind of freshman keeps their senior waiting?!”
A girl with a rigid posture, wearing a sword at her side.

And—
They’d met before.
“Lady Anastasia of House Marquis?”

This was…
The same person Carlyle had saved from being killed by Gray at the banquet.
“⋯⋯.”

Her face froze when she recognized him.
“Y-You… what are you doing here…?”
That arrogant look she’d been wearing completely crumpled.

Watching her, Carlyle let out a small laugh.
Oh, dear Hero…
[Mm.]

…How about this one?
He might’ve just found his helper.