CH 1

Ugh!

–tired. I'm really tired.

This request was also hell-like one.

I was sent to hunt an SSS-rank monster – the Extinct Sea Monster 『Kraken』, which is a threat to humanity.

My leg muscles are already tight. I never thought that I would be forced to run on the sea.

Or rather than that, my arms are more in tatters due to the transcendental sword technique that requires the movement comparable to that of the speed of sound.

It's all because of this jet-black magic sword – the『Demon Blade – Muramasa¹』 hanging on my waist. Please be kinder to me...

"Haa. My body is only that of an ordinary person..."

The moment I returned to the imperial capital while muttering so, a loud cheer resounded.

"Whoa! Welcome home, 『Condemner²』 sama!"

"Oh, that's the strongest magic swordsman, Kurou-dono of the 『Black Sword』?!"

“Thanks to you, my hometown was saved! Thank you very much!”

Voices of praise resounds throughout the city.

Tens of thousands of people thronged the roadside, looking at me with respect.

As I walk through it, I thought from the bottom of my heart.

‘Stop it! Don't raise your evaluation of me any more!’

Everyone praises me with exaggerated words, and in the influence of these words, the subjugation guild, the church and even the lords around here gives me outrageous requests!

Besides, walking in the crowd like this...

"- Ugyaaaaaaa!?"

‘Ah, I did it again...’

Before I knew it, I had pulled out my blade and cut down one of the hooded person.

Fresh blood splatters under the blue sky, and the storm of praise soon turned into the high-pitched screams.

"Kurou-san, what are you doing... Wait, isn't that a black mage on the wanted list!?"

"Hey, look! This guy is carrying an elemental bomb in his pocket!?"

“Was he planning to carry out a bomb attack in the city?”

In a crowded place full of people, there ought to be at least one criminal mixed in.

Learning that the man was a black mage, the people soon subsided their confusion and were discussing with each other.

As soon as I learned that the person who was cut was a dangerous person, I was relieved even though I was noisy.

And…

"Well... as expected of Kurou-san! You can see through a criminal in an instant!"

The next moment, there was a roar of applause that made my ears hurt.

People started to make noise like crazy and it’s almost scary, while in the middle of this, I made a legend.

‘Uu, but I'm sorry everyone. I didn’t recognized that guy as a criminal.’

Yes. Everything was done on its own by the blade held in my right hand, the magic sword –『Demon Blade』.

To be frank, this sword is a cursed equipment. It's a fucking sword that absorbs the souls of its victims.

Well, it seems that the souls of criminals and monsters that are full of desires are particularly delicious. So, whenever, it detects them, it attacks them on its own accord.

No matter how strong the opponent is, this damn sword only uses my fragile body! Damn it!

‘Haa~. No matter how I think about it, it's dangerous. If this sword gets hungry, then it might even kill a normal person…'

I felt a gentle vibration from the handle, and it seems that the sword

fell asleep after a full stomach of dinner. You're too selfish.

If people around me knew that my body was controlled by such equipment, I would be treated as a dangerous person at once.

If I’m lucky, I would at best be imprisoned, while if I’m unlucky, then I could even be sentenced to death.

In order to avoid such a tragic future, I'm playing a character that challenges dangerous criminals and monsters on my own, instead of being controlled by the magic sword.

That’s why, now I’m finally going to say my cheesy one shot line. I sharpened my cool face by 20% more and said with heroic expression.

"Evil will perish. As long as I'm here, you won't be able to take anyone's life...!"

"Ohhhhh!”

With my cool (hard thought) lines, the people got very excited.

And then its already the festival feast.

"A toast to Kurou-dono, the hero of the Lemurian Empire!” saying this he began to drink on his own. (※ I’m Geko³, meaning I’m one of those who can’t drink much alcohol.)

"Hmm, it really turned into an outrageous event…”

I mutter a little in the hustle and bustle.

I'm happy to be admired, but it's certain that I'll be forced into further unreasonable requests.

In the past, I was just an ordinary villager. So, this load of responsibility is really heavy!

‘Hey!『Demon Blade』, thanks to you, my whole body is covered in pain. I'm begging you, please release me...!'

I stroke the hilt while praying earnestly. It's quietly sleeping now, but when the night comes and darkness descends, it'll start groaning again to feed on others’ soul. I know because this sword has been with me for a year.

‘Why did I have to pick this up that day?!’

In the cheers, I remember the scene of a year ago with regret.

It was a day when I picked this demon sword, and also the day since when I decided to pretend to be the『Evil Condemner』, who cuts off all the evils and monsters!

Footnotes:

1. Muramasa: The Muramasa is a Japanese Katana sword known as cursed and demonic. It is a real historical sword surrounded by terrifying legends and stories.

2. Condemner: The actual word was 断罪者 (danzai-sha) – judgment (of a crime); conviction; condemnation; beheading; decapitation; where 者(sha) means someone doing that work; I know, it might sound a little weird to use Condemner here, but if someone knows a better way to say it, then I would like to know.

3. Geko: People who can't drink much alcohol are called "Geko", and conversely, people who like to drink a lot are called "Jogo".