That day, Rudeus and his companions decided to spend a night in the Holy Sword Region.
They were lent a room in the true dojo and spending the night there.
However, Eris was called to Nina’s house.
She was planning to stay with Rudeus and the others but she was fervently requested by Nina.
Nina’s house.
That is to say, this is Jino Britts’ house as well.
When Eris told Rudeus that she would be staying there alone, Rudeus worried and opposed her decision at the same time.
He was worried about the att.i.tudes of the Sword Saints.
The Sword Saints were oozing bloodl.u.s.t due to their involvement in the death of Gull.
Rudeus was most likely exposed to such bloodl.u.s.t.
However, as far as Eris knew, the Holy Sword Region was always like that.
From the beginning, most swordsmen wanted to be seen as strong rather than actually becoming strong.
However, there was no one with a strong enough fighting spirit to ambush an opponent who came from outside the dojo.
If there was someone like that, he would be similar to Eris in her past.
Nevertheless, Eris left behind Rudeus and arrived at the Britts residence.
It was a bit distant from the dojo and was a small house unfitting of someone with the t.i.tle of Sword G.o.d.
[Welcome. Come inside. Jino is out doing training at this time so he won’t be back anytime soon]
[T-thanks for having me]
Eris went through the doorway nervously.
Thinking about it, it may be the first time Eris has ever done this since she was born.
Going over to a friend’s place.
She meets Isolte each time she visits the capital of the Asura Kingdom.
However, she never went over to her house.
Though she had been to the dojo nearby, it is different from [going over to a friend’s house].
[Welcome back!]
The thing to greet the nervous Eris was a lively voice.
Making noises with their little feet, two children came out to greet them.
[Mother! Welcome back]
[Welcome back!]
On one side was a lively little boy. With a sword in his right hand, his smile covered his entire face.
On the other side was a little girl. This one was still young and was running as if she was trying to catch up to the boy.
They ran all the way to the doorstep but after being surprised by Eris, they stopped in their tracks.
[This is my son Nel and my daughter Jill. Both of you, this is Eris. She is mom’s friend]
[H-hi, I’m Eris]
After being introduced as a friend by Nina, Eris tightened her mouth and bowed her head.
The two kids’ eyes widened after hearing of Eris’ name.
[Red hair! Are you by chance the Mad Sword King Eris!?]
[Red hair!]
Nel couldn’t hide his astonishment after hearing that name.
As for Jill, it seems she didn’t know what was exactly going on but decided to just repeat what was being said.
However, despite not knowing much about Eris, she seemed to be curious about Eris. With glittering eyes, she drew closer to Eris.
She is probably curious about her red hair.
Jill stretched her hand out at Eris’ waved hair.
[Come on now]
[R-red!]
Jill said in a dissatisfied voice and started throwing a tantrum.
Seeing Jill act in such a way, Nel raised his voice in panic.
[No Jill! It’s the Mad Sword King! If you touch her, she’s going to eat you!]
[Gulp?]
Jill looked at Eris with frightened eyes.
Seeing such a scene, Eris laughed.
For some reason, the way these two kids acted reminded her of Ars and Sieg a few years back.
[I won’t do something like eating you]
[… Your plan to make them put their guards down and eat them aren’t you?]
The person who said such words was Nina.
Looking at Nina with question filled eyes, Eris tightly shut her mouth.
After seeing Eris make such an expression, Nina laughed and held Jill out to her.
[I’m just joking. Do you want to try holding her?]
[Mhm]
Eris receives Jill from Nina.
Jill was frightened but after realizing that Eris’ way of holding her was more experienced than her mother, she quickly settled down.
Grabbing the red hair, she smiled saying [Red, tasty!] and put it in her mouth.
[Ah, Jill. You can’t eat that!]
[… Uuu]
Being scolded by Nina, Jill quickly put it away from her mouth.
Regardless of the colour being red, it was still hair and wasn’t delicious at all.
However, it was too late and Eris’ hair became all sticky.
[Looks like I was the one who got eaten]
Eris said so in laughter as she brushed Jill’s hair.
Nina looked at the scene in surprise.
As if she was saying “Is that really Eris?”
No, there was a time when Eris saw a similar scene play out in the Asura Kingdom.
Since Eris is a mother as well, she can act in such a way.
[Since you know that it isn’t tasty, you can’t eat it anymore okay?]
[Uhn]
As soon as Eris put Jill down, Jill began to jump around and ran back inside the house.
[I’m Nel Britts!]
And so Nel appeared as if him and Jill had switched places.
He greeted her using one knee.
[Mad Sword King! Your the real deal right! It is an honor to meet you!]
[… I’m Eris Greyrat. You can get up now]
[No! Uhm! Uhm! Since a long time I always…]
Looked up at Eris with glittering eyes.
With an excited expression, he tried to say something.
[Alright, that’s enough. Nel. Are you planning to keep Eris at our doorstep? At least carry on after dinner]
And so, Nina stopped it there.
She put her head on Nel’s head and patted him with a bit of strength.
[Okay…]
Nel lowered his head in dissatisfaction.
He wanted to talk to her more. If it was possible, he wanted her to help him in his training.
However, his mother will most likely not allow him to do so.
It’s always been like that.
When famous swordsmen visited the Holy Sword Region, they were never allowed to meet him.
Leaving the dissatisfied Nel behind, Eris was invited into the house.
[Everyone changed didn’t they?]
After dinner, Eris relaxed in the living room and began talking to Nina.
There is no sign of Jino.
He returned to his room with the kids after dinner.
Judging from the sound of the children’s laughter, he seems to be playing with them.
[I would have never thought that he would become like this at all]
Nina, Eris and Jino.
Jino was the most inferior out of the three.
He always swung his sword with a sulken face and couldn’t even reply to the Sword G.o.d’s words.
Despite this, he reached the point of taking Nina as his wife and beating Eris in a single blow.
When Eris realized this, she couldn’t hide her astonishment.
Though she heard about it from Gal, actually seeing him in person made her think that his entire person had changed.
[Well you didn’t even grab your sword at the dojo as well]
Nina is the same as well.
Despite the fact she was so deadset on becoming stronger.
She only looked at Eris in the dojo. Not only that, she also let Jino do as he pleased.
Back in the day, Nina would have never done such things.
[Well, I do have another child coming]
Nina said that as she gently touched her belly.
Thought it was diffcult to tell from the outside, it is certain that her belly has swollen a little bit.
[Although Jino gave me the t.i.tle of the Sword Emperor, it looks like I’ll have to retire soon]
[Are you satisfied with that?]
Eris asked in contrast to the laughing Nina.
Though Nina dropped her gaze towards Eris, she showed a satisfied face.
[Yep… I’m satisfied. I do have feeling that I want to continue in swordsmans.h.i.+p. But it’s weird, I have little regret.
To me, my path to the sword may have been over after my loss to Jino]
[You lost?]
[Yep. Before Jino challenged the Sword G.o.d, he told me to become his if he beat me in a fight. So I fought hard and ended up losing]
[What a lovely proposal]
[I know right?]
Nina recalled those moments in her past and began to laugh.
Before that day, Nina thought about becoming the strongest swordsman, or even becoming the Sword G.o.d herself.
However, such thoughts disappeared in an instant.
Jino was just that strong.
He brought her down in a single strike as if all the effort she had put in were in vain.
Just like he did to Eris today.
If it wasn’t Jino.
If he wasn’t her little henchman back in her childhood, things may have been different.
She might have cried in frustration and become even more obsessed with the sword just like she did when she lost to Eris.
However, her opponent was Jino.
Jino became strong so that he could marry her.
And after beating her, he went straight to the Sword G.o.d and achieved victory.
Returning with the t.i.tle as the new Sword G.o.d, Jino stole away Nina’s lips and put himself unto her.
That day, Nina became Jino’s.
In mind and body.
Though Nina claimed that she wanted to become the next Sword G.o.d, she knew that effort alone wasn’t enough.
It is difficult with just effort or talent alone.
Even if you have those two things, it may be hard to reach such a goal.
Despite that, Jino worked as hard as Nina as if he was pulled in by her.
With such a mindset, he worked himself to a b.l.o.o.d.y pulp far surpa.s.sing Nina.
And so Jino arrived at it.
The state known as the Sword G.o.d.
The place that only a select few can hope to reach.
Therefore, Nina is thinking that Jino should receive a [fitting reward] as well.
The fitting reward would be as Gal Farion said, [letting him do as he pleases].
It’s fine to let the Sword G.o.d can do as he pleases.
So even if Jino behaves in the manner he did today, she won’t say anything.
Whether it is her thoughts or things she wants to say, Jino would hear her out.
But she felt if she did such things, Jino may become weak.
Nina couldn’t bear being a hindrance to the one she admired.
Anyhow, Nina abandoned her sword and began to focus on another matter.
Parenting.
She was satisfied with that.
[How about you Eris?]
[I’m satisfied]
[Even though there are two other wives than you?]
[I don’t really mind. It’s quite normal. Though my father only had my mother as his wife, my grandfather had his hands on
a lot of women. Even Rudeus’ father had two wives as well.]
[Although I’m not a Millis believer, I can’t think of someone having multiple wives]
Of course, Eris had her complaints as well.
She did think about what it would be like if she was Rudeus’ only wife.
They would probably be always happy.
However, it would just be the two of them from day to night without bothering anyone else.
Comparing that to the current [Greyrat household], how would it be.
A home without Sylphy and Roxy.
There would be no Lucy and Lara, Sieg and Lili as well.
To make up for that, Eris would probably have more children, but it was hard to think of her having more children.
It’s because she knows the present that she feels dissatisfied.
For instance, having a towel handed to her sweat drenched self after training.
Or when she enters the bath and forces the mud covered Lala into the bath right after.
And after was.h.i.+ng the children, the new clothes and underwear that were placed for them to wear in advance.
Being able to pa.s.s her work to the others without feeling bad or sticking to them all the time, the right kind of distant feeling.
Sylphy and Roxy
Thinking about how life would be without the two of them was hard for Eris.
To begin with, she currently feels complete.
Watching the kids grow up is both fun and worth doing.
In a little while, she will teach them real swordsmans.h.i.+p.
Lucy is heading towards the path of magic and though Lala’s path isn’t clear, Ars is definitely going to go into swordsmans.h.i.+p.
How should I teach them? How will the grow up?
Even by just thinking about such things gave her happiness.
[Eris, you’ve changed as well]
[You’re right]
[If it was the old you, you would have probably sent kids flying with your kick]
[How rude, I wouldn’t kick or do something like that]
[In the past you seemed to be like a child but now you are taking care of children]
[I’ve given birth to two children after all]
[How about a third one?]
[I think I’m good with children for now]
[Even that as well?]
When Nina asked, Eris’ face blushed.
[… I, I wouldn’t mind more of that]
That was Eris’ true feelings.
However, the heavy and discomforting feeling during pregnancy isn’t something she likes at all.
[Nevertheless, the current Eris is so much easier to get along with]
[I too like the current Nina much more as well. Back in the day, you were kind of a bother]
[I guess so]
Nina in her past was sharp.
She always thought that she was the strongest and didn’t care about anyone below her.
Though the thing that caused her ego to completely vanish had to do with coming into contact with Eris, her marriage with Jino played a major role as well.
[… Ah, thinking about it, Isolte also got married. Did you hear about it?]
Eris suddenly remembered one other person.
Isolte Cruel.
Currently calling herself the Water G.o.d Reyda, the one who stands at the top of the Water G.o.d Style.
[Yep, there was a mail telling me she was going to get married. But I couldn’t go due to my pregnancy.]
[Then how about the news that she gave birth to a child?]
[That’s the first time I’me hearing it. Is it a boy? A girl?]
[It’s a girl. Since she can’t give birth to a lot of children since she is the Water G.o.d, she sighed over the fact that she couldn’t give
birth to a sucessor that could carry their lineage.]
[I guess it’s hard for her too. But her partner is a North Emperor right? Wouldn’t he be upset over the fact that it is a girl?]
[Doga would never do such a thing. He is a good guy]
While talking, Eris brought up her memories.
Thinking about it, the person who voiced their objection against the marriage between Isolte and Doga the most was probably Rudeus.
Rudeus has the utmost trust in regards to Doga.
It’s because his life was saved by Doga during the battle in the Biheril Kingdom.
His savior.
Simple, honest and someone who could be easily deceived, such was the man named Doga.
Hearing that Doga was going to marry a person who had high standards like Isolte made him say things like [Is she in it for the money?], [Is she just toying with him?] and it seemed like he was also going to do a secret background search on her.
Despite the fact Isolte helped him out as well…
Anyhow, it’s impossible to think that a simple man like Doga who is trusted so much by Rudeus can be someone that would be upset that his child was a girl.
What Eris saw before was him putting his daugther who took after her mother on his shoulders and having a large grin on his face.
From cleaning, doing the laundry to even taking care of his kid, he always seemed to take the initiative.
It was to the point that even Eris who didn’t do much of the basic household ch.o.r.es asked Isolte, [shouldn’t you be doing something as well?]
Eris would never forget the mumbling Isolte who responded to her with deadpan eyes [He is much better than I am at it…]
[This time, it would be nice if our kids got along as well]
Eris nodded to Nina’s words.
[You’re right. It’s also not a bad idea to send your kids abroad to study at the magic university]
[That sounds interesting. But Jino would probably not allow that. He’s the type of person that wants his loved ones nearby at all times.]
[Then the kids would never be able to leave the Holy Sword Region]
[When that time comes, they’ll leave as they please]
Having such a conversation with Eris, Nina laughed out loud.
This kind of conversation would have never happened with the old Eris.
[Hm?]
Eris sensed a presence and turned her head around.
At the entrance of the living room, there was a boy.
It was Nel.
In his hands, was a single book.
When he met eyes with Eris, he started walking towards her as if he made up his mind.
[Excuse me! Mad Sword King!]
[… What?]
[You … You are acquaintances with this person right!?]
The book he held out had the t.i.tle [The adventures of the Supard race]
It was a book that Eris was very familiar with.
It was a book written by Norn, made by Rudeus and sold by both Zan.o.ba and Aisha.
[Are you talking about Rujierd? Or are you talking about Norn?]
[Norn… Are you perhaps acquainted with the author as well!? Ah, of course, your last names are the same …!]
[Norn is my sister in law. She is also Rudeus’ younger sister]
[You are talking about the seventh Great World Power “Quagmire” Rudeus! Also known as the right hand of the Dragon G.o.d “Magic King” Rudeus!]
[Yep, you know quite well]
[My mother told me a lot about the Supard race and Eris san! I’ve heard stories about the Quagmire and the Mad Sword King from ministrels as well! I always wanted to
meet you guys even if it was just once!]
Nel said as he looked up to Eris with glittering eyes.
To Nel, Eris was a character straight from the stories that were sung by ministrels.
In other words, she was a being from legends.
Unlike his father, he was very interested in [The outside world]
When he goes out into the outside world, he too wants to become someone who is sung by ministrels.
This was his dreams for the future.
[Well, that’s an honor]
Eris felt like she was going to laugh.
But, she couldn’t break the dreams of the boy in front of her, so she tightened her face and humbly nodded to him.
The image she was thinking in her brain was the ever formal Roxy.
[Rudeus and Orsted is here as well, so you can visit them before we leave if you want. The North G.o.d Kalman III is here as well.]
[Can I!?]
Nel looked at Eris as if he was going to fly.
The seventh Great World Power and the second Great World Power.
After that, Kalman, who was famous in the North G.o.d heroic tales.
Beings who are on par or even surpa.s.sing his father who held monstrous strength.
He would have never thought that he would be able to achieve his dreams and meet such beings on a regular day like this.
[Uhm…]
Nel put his book behind his back and put his legs together.
[Mad Sword King sama has traveled around the world before right?]
[Yep, from the Demon continent to the Millis continent, and to the end of the centeral continent. I haven’t
been to the Heaven continent and the Bagaritto continent.]
[About your adventures… I would like to hear about them, is it okay?]
[Mine? Not Rudeus’?]
[I would like to hear the Mad Sword King’s stories!]
Eris smiled slightly and nodded her head.
Thinking back, she liked listening to such stories.
Constantly begging Ghyslaine, she heard stories about her adventures.
But she never thought that she would end up being the one doing the telling.
No, there were times when she told her stories to Ars and Sieg when they begged her to.
Even now, Sieg frequently listens to her stories.
However, this is a little different sensation from that.
This is because she isn’t being treated as a mother, but rather as a hero.
But Eris couldn’t understand that.
She just felt a little elevated.
[That huh… Then, I’ll tell you about my adventures in the Demon continent]
Eris was starting to tell her stories about her past in joy.
Seeing her like this, Nina felt her mouth forming a smile as well.
[She really changed…]
She changed herself, and so did Eris.
A relations.h.i.+p that mutually lifted each other up, she couldn’t say such a compliment out loud.
However, it felt as if she became closer to Eris.
When they first me, she was sure that they would never get along.
When Eris became a Sword King and left the Holy Sword Region, she respected her but couldn’t call her a true friend.
But it’s different now.
Though her respect for her has decreased, she is feeling something towards her she never felt before.
Though she won’t meet her for a while, if she met Isolte she would probably be feeling the same thing.
For someone like Nina that didn’t have a close friend starting from her childhood, it was a rare feeling.
[Eris]
[— And then, Rujierd suddenly killed the pet kidnapper… what?]
[Next time, let’s bring our children and go meet Isolte]
Hearing such words, Eris blinked her eyes and suddenly nodded her head.
[Alright]
Jino became the Sword G.o.d and changed.
If the Sword G.o.d is like that, the Holy Sword Region will change as well.
Jino may even be unexpectedly defeated by an outsider.
That is the life of a swordsman.
Swordsmen are unstable beings.
However, this friends.h.i.+p will probably last for a long time.
Because I’m no longer a swordsman myself.
Such were Nina’s thoughts.