With the goal of creating a new sword style suitable for himself, Ark is all motivated to embark on an arduous training.

Just that...

"My sword broke! I can't train without a sword!"

His recent fight with Ragna destroyed the sword to smithereen, and the order had no spare swords in stock.

"Iyaa, sorry 'bout that. My sword is special so I don't need anything else." Ragna laughed it off.

"We have daggers in small amount. It's usually for Kristan but I'm he'll give you one if you ask." Liliana was also there for some reason.

Ark couldn't care less about her, completely oblivious to the rising attraction she feels with every achievement he makes.

The chances of her becoming aware of his true shitty character gets slimmer by the day.

"That won't do, Lily. A dagger isn't a sword. If Ark wants to create a new sword style, he needs a genuine sword." Ragna said.

"I see..."

(These two sure get along well. Why did she even stick with me then?)

"Anyways, what should I do?"

"Just buy a sword in the capital. Well, see you later."

"Where are you going?"

Ragna was supposed to help Ark with the development, so he should have time.

"Since we can't start right away, I'll go hunting in the forest. Gotta keep my edge."

Leaping away with a fearsome momentum, Ragna disappeared into the horizon.

Liliana turned to Ark with a smile. "I can come with you. We can have a date like the one you did with that Sylphid..."

"No. I will go alone."

(Damn, I feared this moment to come... why are the best blacksmithes in the capital?)

Cutting Liliana nonchalantly, Ark went to request a ride from Elizabeth.

"Sure. When do I pick you up?"

The sage is really generous with her teleportation magic. It resembled a mother dropping a kid at a friend's house.

"No need. I think making my way back on my own might help with my sword, since I assume Ragna won't come back in a while."

He said it causally, but there was more that could meet the eye.

Not that he didn't thoroughly hid it with Phantom.

"Okay, make sure it doesn't take longer than a week." With a snap of fingers, a teleportation magic circle appeared under Ark's feet. "Don't hurt yourself again."

Really like a mother.

Was it on purpose? Ark arrived right next to the entrance gate. He still carries his adventurer ID so he managed to pass safely without a hitch.

"Now then, time to put on the custom."

Going to his secret hideout, Ark was glad he didn't have the opportunity to transfer the stuff to the order. It was filled with trashy items that he took from rogues and thieves while working as an adventurer.

Putting all the necessary items, Ark once again became Aria.

(Damn it all. I hope I won't meet Silvia here.)

Naturally, he was reluctant to put the custom since Silvia resided in this city and meeting with her would be beyond troublesome.

But Ark had no choice.

"It's all these blacksmithes' fault."

While adventuring in this city for four years, Ark had come to possess a myriad number of swords, some of high quality. But not one sword could withstand Ark's strength when he goes overboard. It also certainly didn't help when he tried to slash such tough opponents.

The blacksmithes that treat their crafts as children were upset with Ark's sword breaking habit and forbade him of entering their stores.

Ark had to scavenge a weapon through bandit subjugations, and it didn't go well. His last was destroyed in one battle against Silvia.

It's a temporary solution, but as Ark didn't plan to go cheating any time soon, and he urgently needed a sword, he would buy one under a fake name.

Taking a deep breath, 'Aria' entered the weapons store.

"Hey lass, are ye lost?"

A bearded dwarf greeted Ark with a cheerful attitude.

(You shitty old shorty! When I first visited you, all you did was giving me a 'hmph'.)

"No, I'm looking for a weapon to gift a friend of mine."

The store was filled with a variety of high quality equipment. Daggers, swords, spears, shield, various pieces of armor... it had interesting crafts with unique designs.

"What weapon does he use?"

"Well, mainly a sword."

Swords are mainstream so Ark had no reason to fear being connected to it.

"Hmm, what's the budget?"

"Eh, 600 to 700 gold."

(Since everything is expensive here, this is just fine for a decent sword. Even though it easily breaks, this greedy dwarf...)

It's Ark's fault though.

"A noble kid, ei? Don't worry, I won't pry. Here, these are all swords within your budget."

Mumbling a thank, he rummaged through the pile and examined the swords briefly. Two minutes later, a suitable sword was found.

"This one."

"The plain one? Don't you wanna give your boyfriend a prettier gift?"

"I'm not ga—giving it to a boyfriend, just a friend! And for your information, he like plain swords."

"Plain swords..."

(Oh shit, I said that before!)

Luckily, Ark was saved by the bell, signaling the entrance of another customer.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

The dwarf hurried to greet the customer. "Welcome, miss. Always a pleasure to see you coming to our lowly shop."

(Another lady, but he treat that one so politely, almost stressed. Who in the world...?)

"Aria, is that you?"

Inwardly, Ark sobbed and whimpered so badly. After crying his soul out in three seconds, he smiled and put his mental mask on.

"Silvia! I can't believe I get to see you here!"

Who else could it be other than the girl Ark had hoped to see the least, Silvia. His rival and the source of all his problems.

Brought to him upon himself, of course.

"Good to see you, Aria. What are you doing here?"

"T-that? I'm buying someone a sword..."

Silvia examined the sword. "A plain-looking design, yet the balance is excellent and the materials are good too. This is a fine weapon. People don't appreciate plain things anymore though."

"Y-yeah. My friend likes it plain, so..."

(Fuck! I feel like I'll get exposed any second now.)

"He 'likes' it plain, huh? It kinda reminds me of Ark. He is dressing modestly and his sword was also plain, even though most advanturers go with flashy weapons for appearances..."

Ark doesn't like plain stuff. He simply has the habit of attracting trouble, so he was forced to learn how not to draw attention. That is with plainess that shows he has no valuables to steal from.

There is also the saving money habit. Flashier designs costs more money, so he goes with modest models to save money.

"Right, I've heard that miss is acquainted with that accursed 'Sword Killer' Ark..." The dwarf wore an ugly expression when saying his name.

Activating Phantom to scan his expression, Ark sensed the anger and suspicion directed at him.

"Are you buying a weapon to that guy Ark?"

"N, no."

"Who is it to, then? Surely you can tell me his name."

Ark was backed into a corner. He knew no knight outside those in his order, and he couldn't lie properly due to Silvia being there.

"..."

"I will take it as my answer. Get out!"

He was kicked out by the dwarf.

(Curse you, Silvia! Why do you always bring me trouble whenever we meet?)

"Are you okay? To think you'd be kicked out simply for buying something for Ark... I didn't know you two knew each other."

"Only on a superficial level! Like how you know a neighbor: barely but enough to do favors every now and then."

They went to a back ally to conduct a proper conversation without interruption.

Ark fabricated a story explaining the situation, monitoring and manipulating intent signals to guarantee a successful deceit.

"So you are doing this for Ark since he earned a Sword Killer reputation and can't buy the sword himself, huh? And he had an emergency back at the order HQ so he had to run back... should we worry?"

Silvia adorably squinted her eyes in worry. Ark payed her no heed.

"No, he was sighing, so it's porbably nothing serious. I did hear that his order is filled with lunatics and crazy people."

There is no such rumor. You just arbitarily place your own biased views there.

What sort of idiot would buy this load of shit?

"I see. That makes sense."

Silvia reminisced her own short visit to the Solitary Wolves. There she saw a red-haired elf girl glaring and scowling at her, being held by beautiful blonde woman with a demeanor of a noble lady at its epitome yet a gaze of a predator. Anyone would find the situation weird.

So Ark's rumor became plausible thanks to Liliana and Scarlet's efforts(?).

"Well, now I can't buy the sword. Guess Ark will just put a robe and a mask or something and purchase the sword himself."

(Instead of coming here dressed as a girl. I just want a sword. Why is it so damn hard?!)

Because you keep breaking them.

It really is your fault, you know.

"I can buy the sword for you if you want." Silvia suggested.

"No, the shopkeeper probably won't let you buy a sword for m—Ark even if it's you. It's already a bust. Besides, he is right. Ark will just break it again."

(I ain't gonna own anythin' to her, ye hear.)

"If normal swords break, why not make one out of sturdier materials?" Silvia grinned. "I can commision a weapon from mithril or orichalcum or..."

"How about you take a spare sword from your order house? That would be much better!"

(Who need expensive weapon anyways. Magic metals are overvalued!)

Ark can't use a sword made of magic metals. Oricalcum is too heavy for him to carry and use in combat efficiently, and mithril sword works best conducting a single type of mana, rendering Ark's greatest advantage useless.

In addition, rather than a magic sword, a normal sword would react better to the sword spirit. He couldn't tune the balance between the two powers properly.

"A spare sword?"

"Yes. Here is Ark's money, that is more than enough comensation right?"

He placed his precious money within Silvia's palms and broke into tears inwardly.

Nodding with a reluctant face, Silvia accepts it. However, she couldn't hide her disappointment that is expressed fully in her sigh.

"Enough about that. Lets forget about the sword thing and go have some fun of our own."

"Eh? But don't you need to bring this to Ark..."

"You can bring it to him yourself... if that's okay?"

(I don't wanna do this but I can't be seen in too much or my diguise will be blown.)

Ark mustered his entire deception skills to manipulate Silvia out of this situation. Not something a friend should do. He managed to get her flustered thinking of meeting with Ark again so everything proceeded smoothly.

"So, when we first met before the tournament, you knew who Ark is?"

"Eh? Ah, yes. I knew Ark but I didn't think he stood a chance... maybe I was a little biased because it was you."

(Don't ask annoying questions. Talking about myself like this is cringing me out.)

"Well, my first impression was 'a strong opponent'. I also couldn't fathom his full power."

Silvia's eyes glinted with admiration as she spoke.

The unrivaled her never knew of his truly undefeated existance. Not only did he defeat her overwhelmingly, he managed to make the extraordinary achiement of slaying an ancient gluttony demon not long after his entrance to the knight order.

Ark's true self is weak. Even when he strengthen his spirit with intent using his skill, he can only become moderately strong for a short time. But being able to use the surroundings, he can fight and overwhelm the truly powerful ones.

Silvia is an unfortunate victim of his deceit. If she leans on the feeble existance she believes is strong, Ark will flail and shatter. By then it would be too late to realize.

It's because he knew, and because he is constantly reminded of his own weakness, that Ark swore to become even stronger.

(Easier said than done. Shit!)

"Hey, would you like to go eat ice cream with me? There is a new store I'd like to check..."

Again, another bomb was dropped.

The man he was most wary of was the duke. Were he to hear of his daughter hanging out with an unknown person, it's only natural to thoroughly investigate her. Ark knew he himself was probably investigated, but if he finds the connection it won't end well.

So, he needed to get out of this mess safely.

Luckily for him, the perfect opportunity dropped out from the sky. An ominous sensation eroded Ark.

"Watch out!" Mustering strength, Ark pushed Silvia with all his might.

The knockback caused the surprised Silvia to fall three step back, as the place where she stood was run by a shadowy blade.

"Tch, I had the perfect chance to rid of the Sylphid. You ruined it, wench!"

Coming from the shadow was a slender man with awful expression. Shadows covered his entire body. Ark noted to himself that it was stronger than Kristan's shadows, albeit slower.

"A shadow demon." Silvia's eyes went serious as she drew her rapier.

As this was a real battle in front of unidentifed enemy, she didn't hold back. Her astral wind caused silver to coat her body, her sword spirit sharpened the blade and meshed with the silver.

"This is bad, I can't beat you." The demon admitted defeat from the start. "But can you afford to fight this recklessly here, with the wench behind you?"

It was true. The vulnerable Aria could die even from collateral damage. And if the demon aimed at her during the battle, she may find herself critically injured.

Ark just waited for Silvia to ask him to leave so he could maintain his character, but seeing the urgency he said, "I will call for help!" And left immediately.

(Tsk, the situation is not good. I can't afford to stand on the sidelines.)

Silvia will be just fine, but seeing as a demon infiltrated the city, Ark activated Phantom to check for other demons. A group of demons are currently attacking the main gate. It's an explosive situation where civilians could easily die if it's handled wrong, so a few commanders who were in the city stepped up.

But, that is merely a diversion.

They cannot defeat the commanders led by the commander of the first order, Julius. Despite not being as excellent as the sage, he just might be the unquestionable second strongest, and a capable leader.

No, their target must be to inflict damage on the commanders who stand at the frontlines as pillars for Arcadia. A dead commander would greatly weaken the kingdom, as well as sow chaos.

"In the forest..." Ark muttered, on his way to the Aracnum forest with his regular appearance.

He couldn't feel the demons due to the natural ominous feeling of the forest, but there is underlying strong intent coming from there.

He spotted a first order girl managing the citizen with a few men. Without hesitation, he snatched the girl's sword out of its scabbard.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"I'm ninety percent sure there is a commander under attack in the forest. I must head there but I need a weapon."

"What are you talking about? It's not the job of a civilians, so don't dare try deceiving me!"

There was no time to properly explain. "I'm Ark from the Solitary Wolves. Here, see the symbol."

The girl twitched at his name. She recognized the symbol from textbooks though she never saw it on a uniform.

"I will head with you..."

"You're out of your depth. Bye." He leaped on one of the men, used synchronization to usurp his mana that was of the wind attribute.

A technique inspired by Orcus: mana steal.

Compared to Liliana's collosal magic power, the guy was cute. Taking it by force was easy. But it was enough. "Sorry, I will compensate you later. Ventus Potentia!"

The strengthening magic of the wind element, focused on speed, helped soaring with momentum they couldn't catch up.

Ark jumped over the walls and entered the forest.

He had kept his intent radar activated, to his fortune, as he felt strong killing intent causing him to duck.

"Somone did come after all, huh? Sorry, boy, the commander will be done in a minute, and you will die in seconds."

"Demons blabber a lot. You'll die in 2 seconds."

"What? Die!" The demon snapped in anger an attacked, covered in jet black darkness.