The Extra Saved the Terminally Ill Princess and Ran Away - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: White Night (2)

***

"But why?"

I couldn't help but whine.

Regardless of whether it was a treasured sword or not, this was Black Night's twin.

I knew exactly what would happen if I took this sword.

'That demon would hunt me relentlessly.'

That couldn't happen.

He and I were a terrible match.

More precisely, his Black Night and this White Night were a terrible match.

Black Night.

A sword that activated under the moonlight, when the moon was brighter than the sun.

It negated the wielder's perception of the sword's weight, although the actual weight remained the same.

This allowed the wielder to swing it effortlessly, as if it were an extension of their arm.

And it granted the wielder the perfect assassin's traits.

Concealing their presence, their magical energy, their scent, their sound, everything but their physical form.

White Night, on the other hand, activated during the day, when the sun outshone the moon.

The irony of an assassin's sword being usable only during the day drastically reduced its value.

That's why it was a terrible match against someone wielding Black Night, a sword usable at night, when assassins thrived.

Compared to Black Night, White Night was just a well-crafted, sharp sword. Nothing more.

Its abilities, for a sword from the academy's treasury, were underwhelming. I turned away, intending to continue my search.

Then, White Night pulsed with light again, demanding my attention.

Shut up.

I can't see you.

I'm not taking that useless piece of junk.

I took another step.

White Night pulsed again, its blade vibrating with a low hum.

I ignored it and—

"Berry, why don't you try wielding it? You can always put it back if you don't like it."

"…I have a question, Headmaster."

"What is it, Berry?"

"What are the criteria for being chosen by White Night? You seemed surprised that I was chosen…"

If I were alone, I would have pretended not to see or hear it.

If the Headmaster hadn't kept glancing between me and the sword, his expression softening only when looking at White Night, I would have.

If the Headmaster hadn't tried to persuade me with the same kind of flimsy excuse men use when they don't want to wear a condom—"Just the tip, I promise"—I would have.

But in the end…

I sighed and turned around. The Headmaster smiled, pleased with my acquiescence.

"Ah, it's natural that you wouldn't know. White Night's criteria are… unique, unlike other treasured swords."

"That's what I'm asking. What are those criteria? I need to know why it's so interested in me."

This information wasn't in the original story.

How could I possibly know about a sword that never appeared in the story?

The Headmaster answered, and…

…my face fell.

"Despite being an assassin's blade, White Night, as its name suggests, only activates during the day, when the sun shines brightly."

"…"

"Therefore, its criteria are simple. A swordsman with exceptional talent, but a tragic fate."

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

I couldn't help but curse.

What kind of stupid criteria was that for a treasured sword?

"For your information, Black Night was created after White Night. So, its criteria are the same."

"So, carrying either White Night or Black Night is like advertising my tragic fate to the world?"

"Advertising? I don't know what that means… but they are still valuable swords."

"Because they're treasured swords?"

If that was the case, I'd rather choose a different sword. Anything would be better than this cursed weapon.

"No. It is said that whoever wields both White Night and Black Night will overcome their tragic fate."

"…"

This was new information.

So, that demon had been searching for White Night to escape his tragic fate…

I glanced at White Night, questioning the Headmaster's words with my eyes.

It continued to glow.

I couldn't tell if it was confirming or denying the Headmaster's claim.

But still…

The Headmaster's words had given me a reason to choose White Night.

This world was unfair. Incredibly, unbelievably unfair.

But it still followed its own rules and settings.

The characters acted according to their established personalities, and the weapons and monsters retained their characteristics.

So, even if the author twisted and turned our fates,

They couldn't change the fundamental settings of the world.

Only I could interfere with the author's settings, twisting them, changing the course of history.

The author's actions so far proved this.

The journey to obtain the elixir.

Since that journey wasn't described in the original story, the author could freely intervene and torment me.

And my relationship with Lili was the result of the author's manipulations within the established settings.

The Lycansthrope incident.

The presence of one Lycansthrope was part of the original scenario.

The author couldn't simply add another one.

So, they had created a different creature that resembled a Lycansthrope, hoping I would mistake it for one.

In short…

If the Headmaster was right about White Night's properties, then wielding both White Night and Black Night,

Would allow me to defy the author's attempts to force Lili and me down a tragic path.

Thud.

I took a step towards White Night.

"Do you want me to choose you?"

Hum…

White Night pulsed with light, welcoming me.

Yes.

The author, trapped by their own settings.

A fitting end for a writer of forced tragedy.

'I'll make you regret adding all those convoluted settings.'

"Alright, let's do this. And don't shine that light without my permission."

I grasped the hilt, and the humming stopped.

Hum… Crack.

The levitation stone holding White Night shattered, and the sword's weight settled in my hand.

Or rather, it didn't.

I only felt the rough texture of the hilt against my skin. Nothing more.

It was still daytime, the sun shining brightly.

Even without the sun's presence, I shouldn't have felt its weight.

'Wait a minute.'

So, White Night could be used effectively indoors, in the dark?

Like in the Lycansthrope forest.

Even during the day, there were shadows.

And…

"Hey, how bright can you shine?"

White Night pulsed with light again, illuminating the long corridor, its brightness almost blinding.

My eyes stung, but it was a welcome discovery.

"It seems White Night is quite fond of you, Berry."

I turned to see the Headmaster, a dark barrier surrounding his face.

He had seen my pleased expression.

"But please warn me next time. It's a bit much for an old man like me."

"Ah, yes… I apologize."

Hum…

White Night dimmed its light, as if apologizing as well.

"It's alright. I anticipated this and prepared a barrier. More importantly, you must be eager to try out your new weapon. How about we head to the training grounds and see what White Night can do?"

I had planned to go straight to the student council meeting after choosing a sword.

According to Grace, I was almost fully recovered, and the student council partners were being decided this afternoon.

'But I can't pass this up.'

It was important to understand my new weapon's capabilities.

I nodded, accepting the Headmaster's offer.

***

Swish. Slash.

White Night's white blade flashed in the sunlight, drawing a crescent of light.

The training dummy, placed before me, was cleaved cleanly in two.

It was sharper than any sword I had ever seen.

Perhaps because its blade was as thin as a leaf.

And it was probably lighter than other swords as well.

But White Night made sure I didn't feel even that slight difference in weight.

I felt nothing but the texture of the hilt in my hand.

"This really is a sword for the talented."

Normally, a lighter sword would be considered an advantage.

But there was a difference between "lighter" and "weightless."

When wielding a sword, you used your muscles, your strength, to control its movements.

But how could you control a sword that felt like nothing, a sword as light as a twig?

It was a sword that required exceptional talent to wield properly.

It wasn't a sword you swung to cut.

It was a sword you guided, tracing the path you wanted it to take.

Not with brute force and directness…

But with smooth, swift, and precise movements.

"Huh."

The more I used it, the more I realized that this was a sword made for assassins.

"An assassin with the Sword Saint's talent."

I had deviated from Finn's path, but it couldn't be helped.

He and I were different people.

Even if we shared the same experiences, the same nourishment,

Our roots were different, and we would inevitably bear different fruit.

I couldn't rely on Finn's experience alone.

I had to forge my own path, my own style.

Finn's talent and experience would be my guide, shaping my path, but I had to walk it myself.

Because as long as I couldn't fully access his power, this was the only way to utilize his legacy.

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