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Chapter 157: X-Stick

「So, why does it have to expand? 」
Dean saw En and Vak’s weapons and asked again, looking dissatisfied.

「I believe it will be better to give up on this. 」
Hey Butler! Understanding and giving up will give you very different impressions, you know!

「My sword’s not as effective as Wolf King’s because I don’t have enough mana, not because it’s a lower quality version, right? 」
Dean is the type to just smash things instead of cutting, so his great sword is a lot thicker than Dinosso’s and it gets that heavier feel when he swings it around.

There’s also the difference in size, but yeah, his fire did look a little inferior to the overpowering blazing flames of Dinosso’s.

「Fufu! Let me now demonstrate this magnificent sword of mine! 」
Chris waved his sword with flourish, scattering light while doing so.

「ArrgggHHHH!!! 」
「WhoaaaaaAAAHHHH!!! 」

I already predicted this would happen, so I circled my arm around Ash and covered her eyes with my arm from behind her. We didn’t get hurt because of that.

Dean and Chris, the one who happily brandished the sword, tumbled on the ground. Dinosso and Shiva protected the kids properly.

「It’s a pity the direction of the attack cannot be controlled, unlike that of the fire. 」
Unruffled Butler commented nonchalantly.

「Thanks. Mm, it’s my turn now. 」
Ash ignored the two guys twitching on the ground.

Well, the light just now wasn’t as strong as the one I accidentally activated back in my house, so they’re probably gonna be fine, I guess. Well, it doesn’t hurt to be sure, so maybe I’ll【Heal】 them later just in case.

Ash stepped forward and swung her sword.

She was still far from an hourglass figure, but she got that svelte, alright. I’ll adjust everything in her wardrobe that she’s been using until now after I give her some summer clothes.

The water sheath on her blade flew and turned into sharp blades, cutting the branches of a tree nearby.

「It’s a little shaky. Looks like I need to practice.. 」
Scary-faced Ash put away her sword. Seems like she didn’t like the trajectory of the water blades.

「Long-range attacks, huh. How nice. Plus it doesn’t even damage the material. 」
Oh, right, come to think of it, Dinosso’s — and Dean, too — flames can potentially damage the materials.

But then, it can inflict burns during a fight, so I guess fire is probably better.

「Okay, me next, huh. 」
Retze’s sword seemed quite eager; green vines were already snaking out of it.

「Oy, wait, don’t suck on Dean and Chris. 」
The vines were about to reach out to the two guys who were squatting down while clutching their eyes and heads, so Retze stopped them.

「Uh…So there’s no need to swing the sword, huh. 」
「Seems like it. 」
Retze answered Ash when she dubiously asked him.

「So these vines can stealthily creep on to someone without any presence. Very convenient. 」
「I control when they slither out, but they tend to do whatever they want after that. Well, I guess not being able to use mana myself might be a reason. 」

The vines returned back to Retze and twined around his arm.

「Quite attached to you, aren’t they? 」
「Yeah, watered them properly, after all. 」
Retze gallantly cares for this sword, huh. The sword that is planted on a pot.

「I’m the last one. 」
Alright, what to do now that I stepped forward?

「What’s that? Did you make that too, Jean? 」
The recovered Dean asked.

「It looks like a bough stick, did you hew it yourself, perchance? 」
Chris stared fixedly at X-Stick.

「I thought it’s quite well made, but… I don’t think it’s been whittled down. 」
Ash commented.

「Fufufu. It’s not just an ordinary stick, X-Stick! 」
「Ou! Master! I’m Pokey Stick EX! Nicknamed X-Stick! I’m fine being an ordinary stick, too! 」
Heh, you’re fine being an ordinary stick — great sense of identity you got there.

Some of the guys froze when X-Stick appeared at the tip of the stick. The trio who were already in the know either averted their eyes or else pressed their mouths and swallowed the sigh they’re about to heave.

「A possessed bough… How unique. 」
Ash behaved like usual.

「Uwa~ so cute! 」
「It’s a Spirit, a Spirit!! 」
「First time I see one so clearly! 」
The goggley-eyed kids were dumbfounded at first, but they happily gathered around me soon after.

「Noth, I’ll hold X-Stick, so can you cut him for me? 」
「…………………… X-Stick, is it? 」
「Yup. 」
「………. 」

Butler stood transfixed with a smile plastered on his face.

「I’ll do it instead. It’s rare to see Noth hesitating like this. 」
「Ah, eh? You’re gonna do it? 」
「You’re also acting strangely, Dear. There’s no way I’m going to slash at Jean, alright? 」
Shiva looked dubious at Dinosso’s abnormal behavior.

Retze turned away.

「Now come! 」
「Ey! 」
「Ahhhh….! 」
Shiva didn’t even mean to go all out; she just brought her sword down with a light shout. Somebody shrieked hoarsely.

「…! I’m tingling. 」
X-Stick was safe and sound, but the arm I used to support X-Stick felt numb up to my elbow.

「Goodness! 」
「Indeed, this truly is bad for the heart. 」
Shiva was astounded, Butler pressed his heart, Dinosso slumped down, Retze looked aghast.

「This ‘sword’ looks like the easiest one to cut down, and yet… Oy, it’s amazing! 」Dean.
「Yeah. Thank goodness it’s not Dinosso’s huge sword. 」
If Shiva’s ‘blow’ had been any stronger then【Heal】 would have been activated. Gold-ranks are incredible, yeah, so awesome.

「Ignorance is bliss…. 」
Retze was mumbling something.