“Good… good morning, Sei-san. Come, let us go now.”
In the early morning. I didn’t expect Brynhildr-sama to recover from that after one night rest as she came and welcome me who was waiting at ‘Valhalla’.
“Good morning Brynhildr-sama! Um… about the matter yesterday.”
“Let’s not talk about that.”
“Roger.”
Um… since I’d never talk about it so I wished that you could remove your hand from your waist sword.
“Our plan got delay by one day because of me so let’s try our best to recover as much time as possible. That’s why I bought Grani-kun over with me today.”
“That explains it, let’s do our best today, Sei-san.”
“Yup, let’s do our best, Grani-kun!”
While I tried to move my front leg to give a salute, Grani-kun laughed out and gentle bite on the nape of my neck. After that, he gentlly threw me to his back.
Brynhildr-sama caught me after I made a gentle curve and I settled down at my usual position.
“Fu fu. Then Sei-san, I understand that you are aware of this since we have went there a few time already but… the journey will be long. Moreover, I think that it will took almost a day so will you be fine?”
“Yes! There will be no problem at all!”
Although we were relying on Grani-kun this time, it wouldn’t be as fast as the first time where we cast ‘Ehwaz on three person’ so it’d take some time until we reached our destination.
“Hey Sei-san, I’m sorry. This might sound like an excuse but I am more of a power type instead of an agile type. Please pardon me as I am not suitable in these emergency time.”
“What are you talking about, Grani-kun! There is no need for you to purposely apologize for that since we are best friend after all!”
“Huh? Best friend…?”
After hearing that reply, I shouted ‘I had done it.’ in my heart. This was bad… my desire to become best friend with Grani-kun had been rejected twice. Even though it was one sided, didn’t I just expose on the fact that I though he was my best friend without getting his permission!
“Ahh… that’s not it, I’m sorry. Since it still early to rank up from a friend to best friend after all…”
“Hmm? Rank up? …Ah! So this is what you meant when you mention that you want us to be more than friend!”
As if he had finally understood something, Grani-kun shouted in an unusual manner. Eh… I wondered how did he misunderstood that. Normally, wouldn’t that be the first thing that came in mind when one mention to be more than friend?
“That was my bad, Sei-kun. If that is the case, then there is no reason for me to reject it. From today onward, we are genuine best friend.”
“! Gra… Grani-kun…! Thank you!”
Yeah! I had no idea what had happened but I had succeeded on my sudden proposal to rank up on our friendship!
Yup~ since it came to this, it was normal for a human or a boar to have selfish desire. Instinctively, I had the urge to deepen our friendship to a whole new level.
“Hey, Grani-kun. Since we had become best friend now… I think that we are ready for the next step.”
“Next step? What’s that?”
“That’s bad of you, don’t make me said such insensitive matter. Since we are talking about a relationship that is more than best friend… the only choice left is that only right?”
Grani tilted his head toward my word and close his eyelid as if he was using his own wisdom to answer this. After a few seconds— I was not sure what he had thought of but he had rejected me in a manner that surpassed the past two rejection.
“I reject! It’s impossible for us to be more than best friend! Please forgive me but let’s us just settle with being best friend only!”
“I see… it’s a pity but I understand. But… I believe that we will become that one day.”
That’s right—the next level— was ‘True friend’.
But I wonder what happened. After that, Grani-kun was trying his best to point his tail downward as if he had decided not to let me see his butt.
After I had settled my relationship with Grani-kun, Brynhildr-sama activated the rune of ‘rad’. Then, all of us immediately arrived at the shore of ‘Svartálfaheimr’.
From there onward, we’d be relying on Grani-kun. Even though he was unable to beat his father, Sleipnir or Frey-sama golden boar, Gullinbursti, he was still one of the leading swift horse in this world. He galloped at a speed that pierced through the perpetual night sky like a shooting star.
After a few hour later, we had arrived at our destination which was the solitary island, ‘Lyngvi’ earlier than what Brynhildr-sama predicted.
“Thank you for waiting, Sei-san, we had arrived at our destination.”
After Grani-kun landed gallantly on the solitary island, Brynhildr-sama brought me down from his back. Then I was put on the ground gently and I immediately headed toward to meet Fenrir.
“Hey~ Fenrir~!”
The place that I was rushing was the centre of the island where a crater can be found, a giant wolf could be seen there who ws sleeping while using the giant boulder as a bolster.
“…So it was you. Don’t scared me since I had just put the sword back to my mouth.”
While complaining, Fenrir bent the sword in his mouth and spitted it out.
The spitted sword bounce on the ground for a few time before it turned back to its original shape.
Yup, as expected of a customized made sponge gourd sword. It worked exactly the way that we had wanted it to.
But other than that… he didn’t restraint himself as usual when he wagged his tail. I understand he was happy with our reunion but I think it would be better if he was able to hide his obvious self-assertion.
“Hey Fenrir, stop wagging your tail. Since there is a great cloud of sand.”
“Ha!? It’s not like I am wagging it! Doesn’t that sound like I am happy with meeting you! I will bite your head off!”
Fenrir showed us his threatening objection face while baring his fangs by opening his mouth as wide as possible until grapevine gave off a shrieking sound. But it was a pity that he didn’t stop wagging his tail.
“Tch… so what’s the matter? Why did you come here which is at the end of the world? I believe that you didn’t come here to seek for more wisdom or you wanted to have another bothersome discussion right?”
“That’s not it, so please rest assured. The reason for us coming here, is not you Fenrir.”
The moment when I answered him, both Fenrir tail and ear literally faced downward. Sigh, I went and done it. Didn’t you say that you hate to be bothered?
“Well, previously there was a huge sword that was stick to your mouth right? We had come here to retrieve it actually.”
“Ah… so it’s that damn annoying lump of steel. What do you plan to do with it?”
“It’s something necessary to set you free. But it’s not like it will be used directly.”
“Huh? To think that sword which is a pain in my mouth can contribute to my freedom. He he, that’s good, since it doesn’t sound like a sarcasm at all.”
Fenrir said that as if he was able to sense the unfortunate encounter that I faced. That sounded like the truth if you put it that way… as expected it seemed like the goddess of luck was frowning at me.
“So that why, Fenrir. Do you remember which part of the lake did I throw the sword?”
“Huh, didn’t you said that you have no use for me!”
Argh, well that was the truth…. That time, I went and throw that sword to the lake in an easy going manner and without thinking twice. Moreover, most of the object in this island was blown away by Fenrir roar, so there wasn’t much landmark here that I could remember.
“Sniff sniff…. It’s pointless. I am unable to track it with my sense if smell since it had sunken to the bottom of the lake for quite some time already. Well since you had the rune of mannaz, why don’t you transform into a suitable sea creature and look for it?”
“Ya… that’s right… sigh, it seems that I have no choice other than that…”
When I let out a sigh from my depressed face, Brynhildr-sama hit her hand as if she had thought of something.
“Sei-san, it’s a bit late for me to say this now but… if it was possible, why don’t Sei-san just transform into that sword?”
“Eh? Into that sword… ah, that’s right! I still have that method!”
As expected of Brynhildr-sama, that was a nice idea!
Right, since I was able to transform into Brynhildr-sama sacred weapon the day before yesterday after all. So it’d be easy for me to transform into a magic sword or two. Instead of that, I wondered why didn’t I thought of that.
I was able to have a proper look at the aforementioned magic sword when I took it out from Fenrir mouth, so I was able to have a firm imagine of it.
“Okay, let’s do it! Haaaaa, rune of mannaz!!”
I activated the rune of mannaz after putting it my greatest fighting spirit and heart into it.
But somehow— nothing had happen at all.
“Huh? That’s strange… rune of mannaz! Mannaz!”
Even though I became tenacious and retried it for a few time, I was unable to transform into one at all. Hey, I was unable to accept the fact that the transformation into that magic sword was more difficult than a Valkyrie sacred weapon.
“Hm… now that I thought of it, Sei-san why were you able to transform into my sacred weapon the day before yesterday?”
“Actually… I am not so sure about that also. I was able to transform into a dragon from the start and for the transformation of Fenrir and Gullinbursti, I have a suddenly desire of ‘becoming’ on a certain day only…. It the same for the transformation of the sacred weapon, I was able to transform into that after my strong thought to become one, that the gist of it.”
“Huh? Hold it. Are you saying that you were even able to transform into me?”
Fenrir enquiried me the moment he heard his name was mentioned and I responded with a careless nod.
“Are… are you for serious, I am unable to believe that at all… you really are not a normal being at all, that explain why my father is interested with you.”
“Is that the truth? Come on~ you are making me feel shy if you, the mighty magic wolf said that, ha ha ha.”
“But that feature. To be able to become anything just by having a strong thought, aren’t you quite similar to that? …which is a cockroach.”
“!? Wait for a moment, what did you just said!? Why are saying that I am like cockroach!?”
That was really rude! Wasn’t there a better way to say that instead of saying that I was like a cockroach? I’d not be able to get over this if I didn’t get a detailed explanation from him!
“That is because, they seem to be able to fly the moment when they thought about it.”
“No, that is just a folklore only! It’s just a downright rumour only! By the way, instead of flying they are actually just gliding in the sky! Moreover, it’s not like all cockroach is able to fly since there is a lot of condition for it! For example the temperature! You need to be caution if you are able to hear large buzzing sound in the middle of the night like a sultry night. Moreover, since they like wood so it’s possible for them to appear in a new-build wooden house. In addition, they are able to survive without eating anything for two weeks, they are able to run at a distance which is forty time their height within one second and the female can give birth to approximately three hundred…”
“Wait, stop right there… why are you so knowledgeable about that? Don’t tell me, you are…”
Eh? That’s wrong? That is because there is a saying that…in order to win you need to study your enemy well right? I know it because of that.”
“Se… Sei-san truth identity is a coc…”
“That’s not true at all!? I am sure that not it!! So please don’t look at me like that, Brynhildr-sama!!”
I… I needed to solve the mystery behind my power right away or else it’d become a troublesome manner! Okay, let’s us end the search for the magic sword immediately so that I could go on a journey of self-discovery next!
Thus, I used the rune of mannaz to transform into a seal. Before jumping into the lake… I did some warm up first as a safety precaution.
“Ah, let me help too. I am wearing my swimsuit beneath my clothes since I thought that this might happen.”
“!?”
Swim… swimsuit!? Brynhildr-sama, did you mention swimsuit just now!?
Immediately after saying that, she started to take off all her equipment. What appeared together with her lustrous skin is the blue bikini style swimsuit which was the same colour as her armour. It was the perfect design for a tidy female as it was just a simple swimsuit without any decoration.
“…Beautiful…”
“Se… Sei-san, please… don’t look at me that much… since it’s embarrassing.”
“Ah… I’m sincerely sorry!”
That was close. Even though I was the number one gentleman in the boar world, I unintentionally stared at her. But now I was a seal okay?
But it was impossible for a person to not look at all. Regardless whether the appearance of the charming swimsuit or the posture to hide her body, both of it had certainly lit the fire known as curiosity and spirit of inquiry inside of me. That explained why I was attracted to look at her even after I excluded my ulterior motive.
Putting that aside… there was a single question that popped up in my mind and it was not related to that thought.
“Um… Brynhildr-sama. Why am I not allowed to look at your swimsuit appearance even though both Fenrir and Grani-kun are looking at it also?”
“Eh!? That is because… Grani-kun is like a family to me and since Fenrir is a gentleman despite his appearance, so I am unexpectedly fine with that…”
Hmm? Maybe it was just my imagination, else it was imply that I was a different type of gentleman than Fenrir…right? That couldn’t be true, I didn’t think that Brynhildr-sama view me in that manner.
“If that is the case, then I will be Fenrir right now! Be shock as my name is ‘the magic wolf’ Fen…”
“No, you can’t do that!! Sei-san, you are still prohibited from looking even if you become Fenrir!!”
“That… how could that… then what should I do so I can stare at your swimsuit?”
“No matter what you do, you can’t look! If you want to look at it that much then please steal a glance in a quietly manner! Ah, that’s not what I meant, it’s not like I am suggesting you to do that at all…”
Yea, I’d done it! With this, I was able to enjoy looking at her swimsuit appearance freely! That was because I had gotten permission from the person herself! …But, Brynhildr-sama, weren’t you being a bit too careless…?
…I needed to reflect on this. I apologized for being an existence that was much inferior to a cockroach…
After all that, we began our expedition.
I thought that I’d be able to find it if I just jumped into the lake but it was much darker than expected. Moreover, the lake was much deeper than I thought, even if I wanted to dive to the bottom to search for the aforementioned magic sword, I was unable to see anything at all. I had planned to steal a glance at the swimsuit if things went well but it seemed to be an impossible act.
(Is it here? Or is it here? Argh… I am afraid of searching it by hand. Even if I do manage to found it, I might get cut if I touch the blade… I wonder if Brynhildr-sama is alright.)
When I looked around as I was worry about her, I saw a big swaying ball of fire. That fire was from the rune of ‘Kenaz’ which was one of the runic magic of Brynhildr and it was quite mystical as it did not get extinguish by the water.
Anyway, I could be at ease since Brynhildr-sama had a light source. After I regained my senses, I started to swim slowly toward the bottom by stroking with my front leg. Then, instead of my front leg, my face was touched by something.
(Wah, that scared me. What’s this? It’s quite soft… for a boulder.)
While I carefully examine it with my hand, that thing that was in front of me started to move.
This… was this by chance a living being!? Hold it, it did not have the size of human… don’t tell me that this is a kraken or some other monster…?
Damn it, I didn’t heard that this lake was the home to such monster! Brynhildr-sama would be in danger if I let this thing to escape. Since that was the case… I’d defeat it alone!
(The greedy fellow, my name is — ‘The greedy fallen dragon’ Fafnir! )
I used my skilled rune of mannaz to transform into a dragon and grabbed the monster tightly. Okay, I had caught it! Time to swim upward at once since I’d be in a disadvantage to have an undersea battle with a kraken!
I flapped my solid wing that wouldn’t lose to the water pressure and I immediately reached the surface from the bottom. The water was divided magnificently into half after I flew out from it and the thing that I was holding is— not the tentacle of a kraken but instead it was Brynhildr-sama. Moreover, she was trying to escape from my by cutting off my finger with her sword right now.
“Hold… hold it for a moment, it’s me… it’s me… it’s me!”
“Ah! Sei, Sei-san! What was that all about… since that surprised me.”
Brynhildr-sama stopped her sword and gave off a big sigh. I see… it seemed that both of us thought the same thing. I was so happy since it seemed we had a good compatibility…
“Well~ I didn’t think that it was Brynhildr-sama. Since I saw a ball of fire at a distance, so I was sure that you were over there.”
“I’m sorry… I thought that if I leave the ball of fire at a fixed location, then it will be able to lighten up the lake. It seem like I had gotten close to Sei-san position without realizing it. It seemed that it would be better if I carry a light with me instead of prioritizing on saving the magic power. That was careless of me.”
While saying that, Brynhildr-sama ducked her head in an apologetic manner. No, I was also to blame here. If the two of us were to plan to continue the search in the lake, then it would be better if we had a strategy for it.
While thinking about that, I looked downward and saw the water splash due to the two side of water that was crashing against each other since it was split due to the force of me flying out of it.
“…huh? Since it had become this… that right! I might be able to use this!”
Unintentionally, I let out a cry of joy. After looking at me, Brynhildr-sama also had a happy expression on her face.
“Sei-san, is there any chance that you had thought of something again?”
“Yes! Brynhildr-sama, please look at the bottom of the lake while I go and split the lake by crashing to the surface with all I got.”
“! Roger that, as expected of Sei-san! By doing that, we will be able to look at the bottom of the dark lake without a need to dive into it! Please leave it to me, I will definitely find the magic sword!”
Brynhildr-sama replied with in an exciting manner and took her position after spreading her wing. After we exchanged eye contact with each other, I flew up briefly to increase the distance and descending toward the lake vigorously.
My fist which was supported by my weight had divided the lake into half. I landed on the bottom of the divided lake and looked toward the sky and Brynhildr-sama shouted out while pointing at a single point.
“Sei-san, I found the magic sword! It’s on your left at your back!”
“!!”
After I went to the designated place, the magic sword ‘Rigel’ was indeed vertically impale to the ground.
I immediately grabbed the hilt with my tail and flew up. It was so heavy that my tail hurt but I somehow was able to overcome and dropped the sword at the shore.
“Phew~, we had finally obtained the magic sword.”
“You have done well, Sei-san! That was quite cool!”
After I turned back to my boar form, Brynhildr who had descended immediately gave a congratulation hug. Ah, this sensation… I could do my best anytime as long as I have this.
Anyway, with this we had managed to complete the task given by Loki. I’d be able to boast all I wanted since I expected that he didn’t have any much hope for me. I couldn’t wait until we meet each other now.
“Um… Brynhildr-sama.”
“Yes, what’s the matter?”
“Just now when we bump into each other in the water, may I ask where did I touch you?”
“…Ah….um… I wonder where it was. Ha ha ha…”
Brynhildr-sama averted her eye while blushing and she slowly moved me away from her chest.
—Okay, we had found our answer. Somehow, I didn’t believe that this was a coincidence since I had a lot of encounter with breasts recently.
Anyway, I was really lucky.
After I had imprinted Brynhildr-sama swimsuit appearance in my retina and the feeling of her breast in my brain, I went and met up with her who had finish changing behind the big boulder.
“I only realize it now but… isn’t this sword a bit too big, it’s not possible for us to bring this back. I wonder how exactly Sigurd-san wielded this.”
“Well, he didn’t exactly use this when it’s in this form. Since Odin-sama had cast a runic magic to enlarge it so that it’d fit Fenrir mouth. It will return back to normal if we dispel it but… it’s a pity that I…”
While saying that, Brynhildr-sama ducked her head in an apologetic manner.
I see… I’d be troublesome if we asked Odin-sama but it would be best if we manage to find a runic magic caster that happened to know the spell.
Well…the only runic magic caster that we knew and would help us immediately are Loki and Siegrune-sama only.
“There is no choice. It a pity but let us leave it here and discuss with Loki about this later.”
While saying that, I remove my dragon transformation and reverted back to my boar form.
“Ho? Hey Sei, what is the thing that you want to discuss about?”
“Of course, it about…eh!? That voice is…!”
At that moment— I heard a familiar voice coming from the sky. I was unable to hold my excitement since it had been a while since I heard this voice. The owner of the voice is the person that I mentioned just now—
“Loki! It had been a while! I amaze that you knew we were here.”
“Well, who do you think I am? It was quite easy if I just ask Ratatoskr.”
The one who appear magnificently while mounting on the living legend, the eight legged military horse, Sleipnir is the God of trickster, Loki.
‘’Father…’’
While looking at the appearance of Loki and Sleipnir, Fenrir and Grani-kun words overlap against each other. Ah, that right. Fenrir was the son of Loki and Grani-kun was the son of Sleipnir. So it couldn’t be blame if their word overlapped each other.
Putting that aside, it really had been a while since I met Loki. I couldn’t believe that we hadn’t met for this long ever since he chose to remain in ‘Helheim’ to search for the whereabouts of the Dwarf Blacksmith, Regin.
Since Loki had come here, that meant… that Loki had made some progress from his side.
“You have arrived at the perfect timing, Loki. Look here, it seems that the sword that we threw away previously was actually the magic sword, Rigel’. He he, I had fulfilled the end of my promise properly!”
While saying that, I puffed up my chest.
“Oh, so this is… you have done well, Sei, as expected of my partner. To be frank, I had run into difficulties from my side, so this really helps a lot.”
“Come on, there is no need for you to say that. So… you ran into difficulties? As expected, is it about the fact that even Loki is unable to locate Regin?”
“It’s fine. Even though he had cause me trouble, I will take proper responsibilities and find him at all cost.”
“Oh! That’s why…”
“But—“
I became excited after hearing the goods new but Loki overlapped with my word with his penetrating voice.
“The circumstance had changed. I will keep the ‘Rigel’ that you had found but… it’s a pity that we had to temporarily halt our search for the sword ingredient.”
“Eh…?”
That sudden declaration. Brynhildr-sama and me and even Fenrir who was behind me looked at each other in sync as if there was a dramatic change to our plan.
“I’m sorry for being selfish. Since it means we had to put a temporarily halt with the Fenrir matter… but I had obtained quite an outrageous information. It’s happy that we have found ‘Rigel’…”
Loki had a complicated expression on his face at the same time when he said that. I wondered what happened… from the look at it, he seemed a bit sad as if he sympathized with someone.
No matter which it was—I didn’t believe that it would be good news at all.
“Sei. And… that’s right, Brynhildr also. Can you follow me without asking anything? There is something I want you to see… and something I want to tell you.”
Those eyes didn’t allow us to reject all.
Since Brynhildr-sama and I weren’t unable to say anything, we mounted on Grani-kun and followed after Loki and we had left ‘Lyngvi’ in this manner.
“Good… good morning, Sei-san. Come, let us go now.”
In the early morning. I didn’t expect Brynhildr-sama to recover from that after one night rest as she came and welcome me who was waiting at ‘Valhalla’.
“Good morning Brynhildr-sama! Um… about the matter yesterday.”
“Let’s not talk about that.”
“Roger.”
Um… since I’d never talk about it so I wished that you could remove your hand from your waist sword.
“Our plan got delay by one day because of me so let’s try our best to recover as much time as possible. That’s why I bought Grani-kun over with me today.”
“That explains it, let’s do our best today, Sei-san.”
“Yup, let’s do our best, Grani-kun!”
While I tried to move my front leg to give a salute, Grani-kun laughed out and gentle bite on the nape of my neck. After that, he gentlly threw me to his back.
Brynhildr-sama caught me after I made a gentle curve and I settled down at my usual position.
“Fu fu. Then Sei-san, I understand that you are aware of this since we have went there a few time already but… the journey will be long. Moreover, I think that it will took almost a day so will you be fine?”
“Yes! There will be no problem at all!”
Although we were relying on Grani-kun this time, it wouldn’t be as fast as the first time where we cast ‘Ehwaz on three person’ so it’d take some time until we reached our destination.
“Hey Sei-san, I’m sorry. This might sound like an excuse but I am more of a power type instead of an agile type. Please pardon me as I am not suitable in these emergency time.”
“What are you talking about, Grani-kun! There is no need for you to purposely apologize for that since we are best friend after all!”
“Huh? Best friend…?”
After hearing that reply, I shouted ‘I had done it.’ in my heart. This was bad… my desire to become best friend with Grani-kun had been rejected twice. Even though it was one sided, didn’t I just expose on the fact that I though he was my best friend without getting his permission!
“Ahh… that’s not it, I’m sorry. Since it still early to rank up from a friend to best friend after all…”
“Hmm? Rank up? …Ah! So this is what you meant when you mention that you want us to be more than friend!”
As if he had finally understood something, Grani-kun shouted in an unusual manner. Eh… I wondered how did he misunderstood that. Normally, wouldn’t that be the first thing that came in mind when one mention to be more than friend?
“That was my bad, Sei-kun. If that is the case, then there is no reason for me to reject it. From today onward, we are genuine best friend.”
“! Gra… Grani-kun…! Thank you!”
Yeah! I had no idea what had happened but I had succeeded on my sudden proposal to rank up on our friendship!
Yup~ since it came to this, it was normal for a human or a boar to have selfish desire. Instinctively, I had the urge to deepen our friendship to a whole new level.
“Hey, Grani-kun. Since we had become best friend now… I think that we are ready for the next step.”
“Next step? What’s that?”
“That’s bad of you, don’t make me said such insensitive matter. Since we are talking about a relationship that is more than best friend… the only choice left is that only right?”
Grani tilted his head toward my word and close his eyelid as if he was using his own wisdom to answer this. After a few seconds— I was not sure what he had thought of but he had rejected me in a manner that surpassed the past two rejection.
“I reject! It’s impossible for us to be more than best friend! Please forgive me but let’s us just settle with being best friend only!”
“I see… it’s a pity but I understand. But… I believe that we will become that one day.”
That’s right—the next level— was ‘True friend’.
But I wonder what happened. After that, Grani-kun was trying his best to point his tail downward as if he had decided not to let me see his butt.
After I had settled my relationship with Grani-kun, Brynhildr-sama activated the rune of ‘rad’. Then, all of us immediately arrived at the shore of ‘Svartálfaheimr’.
From there onward, we’d be relying on Grani-kun. Even though he was unable to beat his father, Sleipnir or Frey-sama golden boar, Gullinbursti, he was still one of the leading swift horse in this world. He galloped at a speed that pierced through the perpetual night sky like a shooting star.
After a few hour later, we had arrived at our destination which was the solitary island, ‘Lyngvi’ earlier than what Brynhildr-sama predicted.
“Thank you for waiting, Sei-san, we had arrived at our destination.”
After Grani-kun landed gallantly on the solitary island, Brynhildr-sama brought me down from his back. Then I was put on the ground gently and I immediately headed toward to meet Fenrir.
“Hey~ Fenrir~!”
The place that I was rushing was the centre of the island where a crater can be found, a giant wolf could be seen there who ws sleeping while using the giant boulder as a bolster.
“…So it was you. Don’t scared me since I had just put the sword back to my mouth.”
While complaining, Fenrir bent the sword in his mouth and spitted it out.
The spitted sword bounce on the ground for a few time before it turned back to its original shape.
Yup, as expected of a customized made sponge gourd sword. It worked exactly the way that we had wanted it to.
But other than that… he didn’t restraint himself as usual when he wagged his tail. I understand he was happy with our reunion but I think it would be better if he was able to hide his obvious self-assertion.
“Hey Fenrir, stop wagging your tail. Since there is a great cloud of sand.”
“Ha!? It’s not like I am wagging it! Doesn’t that sound like I am happy with meeting you! I will bite your head off!”
Fenrir showed us his threatening objection face while baring his fangs by opening his mouth as wide as possible until grapevine gave off a shrieking sound. But it was a pity that he didn’t stop wagging his tail.
“Tch… so what’s the matter? Why did you come here which is at the end of the world? I believe that you didn’t come here to seek for more wisdom or you wanted to have another bothersome discussion right?”
“That’s not it, so please rest assured. The reason for us coming here, is not you Fenrir.”
The moment when I answered him, both Fenrir tail and ear literally faced downward. Sigh, I went and done it. Didn’t you say that you hate to be bothered?
“Well, previously there was a huge sword that was stick to your mouth right? We had come here to retrieve it actually.”
“Ah… so it’s that damn annoying lump of steel. What do you plan to do with it?”
“It’s something necessary to set you free. But it’s not like it will be used directly.”
“Huh? To think that sword which is a pain in my mouth can contribute to my freedom. He he, that’s good, since it doesn’t sound like a sarcasm at all.”
Fenrir said that as if he was able to sense the unfortunate encounter that I faced. That sounded like the truth if you put it that way… as expected it seemed like the goddess of luck was frowning at me.
“So that why, Fenrir. Do you remember which part of the lake did I throw the sword?”
“Huh, didn’t you said that you have no use for me!”
Argh, well that was the truth…. That time, I went and throw that sword to the lake in an easy going manner and without thinking twice. Moreover, most of the object in this island was blown away by Fenrir roar, so there wasn’t much landmark here that I could remember.
“Sniff sniff…. It’s pointless. I am unable to track it with my sense if smell since it had sunken to the bottom of the lake for quite some time already. Well since you had the rune of mannaz, why don’t you transform into a suitable sea creature and look for it?”
“Ya… that’s right… sigh, it seems that I have no choice other than that…”
When I let out a sigh from my depressed face, Brynhildr-sama hit her hand as if she had thought of something.
“Sei-san, it’s a bit late for me to say this now but… if it was possible, why don’t Sei-san just transform into that sword?”
“Eh? Into that sword… ah, that’s right! I still have that method!”
As expected of Brynhildr-sama, that was a nice idea!
Right, since I was able to transform into Brynhildr-sama sacred weapon the day before yesterday after all. So it’d be easy for me to transform into a magic sword or two. Instead of that, I wondered why didn’t I thought of that.
I was able to have a proper look at the aforementioned magic sword when I took it out from Fenrir mouth, so I was able to have a firm imagine of it.
“Okay, let’s do it! Haaaaa, rune of mannaz!!”
I activated the rune of mannaz after putting it my greatest fighting spirit and heart into it.
But somehow— nothing had happen at all.
“Huh? That’s strange… rune of mannaz! Mannaz!”
Even though I became tenacious and retried it for a few time, I was unable to transform into one at all. Hey, I was unable to accept the fact that the transformation into that magic sword was more difficult than a Valkyrie sacred weapon.
“Hm… now that I thought of it, Sei-san why were you able to transform into my sacred weapon the day before yesterday?”
“Actually… I am not so sure about that also. I was able to transform into a dragon from the start and for the transformation of Fenrir and Gullinbursti, I have a suddenly desire of ‘becoming’ on a certain day only…. It the same for the transformation of the sacred weapon, I was able to transform into that after my strong thought to become one, that the gist of it.”
“Huh? Hold it. Are you saying that you were even able to transform into me?”
Fenrir enquiried me the moment he heard his name was mentioned and I responded with a careless nod.
“Are… are you for serious, I am unable to believe that at all… you really are not a normal being at all, that explain why my father is interested with you.”
“Is that the truth? Come on~ you are making me feel shy if you, the mighty magic wolf said that, ha ha ha.”
“But that feature. To be able to become anything just by having a strong thought, aren’t you quite similar to that? …which is a cockroach.”
“!? Wait for a moment, what did you just said!? Why are saying that I am like cockroach!?”
That was really rude! Wasn’t there a better way to say that instead of saying that I was like a cockroach? I’d not be able to get over this if I didn’t get a detailed explanation from him!
“That is because, they seem to be able to fly the moment when they thought about it.”
“No, that is just a folklore only! It’s just a downright rumour only! By the way, instead of flying they are actually just gliding in the sky! Moreover, it’s not like all cockroach is able to fly since there is a lot of condition for it! For example the temperature! You need to be caution if you are able to hear large buzzing sound in the middle of the night like a sultry night. Moreover, since they like wood so it’s possible for them to appear in a new-build wooden house. In addition, they are able to survive without eating anything for two weeks, they are able to run at a distance which is forty time their height within one second and the female can give birth to approximately three hundred…”
“Wait, stop right there… why are you so knowledgeable about that? Don’t tell me, you are…”
Eh? That’s wrong? That is because there is a saying that…in order to win you need to study your enemy well right? I know it because of that.”
“Se… Sei-san truth identity is a coc…”
“That’s not true at all!? I am sure that not it!! So please don’t look at me like that, Brynhildr-sama!!”
I… I needed to solve the mystery behind my power right away or else it’d become a troublesome manner! Okay, let’s us end the search for the magic sword immediately so that I could go on a journey of self-discovery next!
Thus, I used the rune of mannaz to transform into a seal. Before jumping into the lake… I did some warm up first as a safety precaution.
“Ah, let me help too. I am wearing my swimsuit beneath my clothes since I thought that this might happen.”
“!?”
Swim… swimsuit!? Brynhildr-sama, did you mention swimsuit just now!?
Immediately after saying that, she started to take off all her equipment. What appeared together with her lustrous skin is the blue bikini style swimsuit which was the same colour as her armour. It was the perfect design for a tidy female as it was just a simple swimsuit without any decoration.
“…Beautiful…”
“Se… Sei-san, please… don’t look at me that much… since it’s embarrassing.”
“Ah… I’m sincerely sorry!”
That was close. Even though I was the number one gentleman in the boar world, I unintentionally stared at her. But now I was a seal okay?
But it was impossible for a person to not look at all. Regardless whether the appearance of the charming swimsuit or the posture to hide her body, both of it had certainly lit the fire known as curiosity and spirit of inquiry inside of me. That explained why I was attracted to look at her even after I excluded my ulterior motive.
Putting that aside… there was a single question that popped up in my mind and it was not related to that thought.
“Um… Brynhildr-sama. Why am I not allowed to look at your swimsuit appearance even though both Fenrir and Grani-kun are looking at it also?”
“Eh!? That is because… Grani-kun is like a family to me and since Fenrir is a gentleman despite his appearance, so I am unexpectedly fine with that…”
Hmm? Maybe it was just my imagination, else it was imply that I was a different type of gentleman than Fenrir…right? That couldn’t be true, I didn’t think that Brynhildr-sama view me in that manner.
“If that is the case, then I will be Fenrir right now! Be shock as my name is ‘the magic wolf’ Fen…”
“No, you can’t do that!! Sei-san, you are still prohibited from looking even if you become Fenrir!!”
“That… how could that… then what should I do so I can stare at your swimsuit?”
“No matter what you do, you can’t look! If you want to look at it that much then please steal a glance in a quietly manner! Ah, that’s not what I meant, it’s not like I am suggesting you to do that at all…”
Yea, I’d done it! With this, I was able to enjoy looking at her swimsuit appearance freely! That was because I had gotten permission from the person herself! …But, Brynhildr-sama, weren’t you being a bit too careless…?
…I needed to reflect on this. I apologized for being an existence that was much inferior to a cockroach…
After all that, we began our expedition.
I thought that I’d be able to find it if I just jumped into the lake but it was much darker than expected. Moreover, the lake was much deeper than I thought, even if I wanted to dive to the bottom to search for the aforementioned magic sword, I was unable to see anything at all. I had planned to steal a glance at the swimsuit if things went well but it seemed to be an impossible act.
(Is it here? Or is it here? Argh… I am afraid of searching it by hand. Even if I do manage to found it, I might get cut if I touch the blade… I wonder if Brynhildr-sama is alright.)
When I looked around as I was worry about her, I saw a big swaying ball of fire. That fire was from the rune of ‘Kenaz’ which was one of the runic magic of Brynhildr and it was quite mystical as it did not get extinguish by the water.
Anyway, I could be at ease since Brynhildr-sama had a light source. After I regained my senses, I started to swim slowly toward the bottom by stroking with my front leg. Then, instead of my front leg, my face was touched by something.
(Wah, that scared me. What’s this? It’s quite soft… for a boulder.)
While I carefully examine it with my hand, that thing that was in front of me started to move.
This… was this by chance a living being!? Hold it, it did not have the size of human… don’t tell me that this is a kraken or some other monster…?
Damn it, I didn’t heard that this lake was the home to such monster! Brynhildr-sama would be in danger if I let this thing to escape. Since that was the case… I’d defeat it alone!
(The greedy fellow, my name is — ‘The greedy fallen dragon’ Fafnir! )
I used my skilled rune of mannaz to transform into a dragon and grabbed the monster tightly. Okay, I had caught it! Time to swim upward at once since I’d be in a disadvantage to have an undersea battle with a kraken!
I flapped my solid wing that wouldn’t lose to the water pressure and I immediately reached the surface from the bottom. The water was divided magnificently into half after I flew out from it and the thing that I was holding is— not the tentacle of a kraken but instead it was Brynhildr-sama. Moreover, she was trying to escape from my by cutting off my finger with her sword right now.
“Hold… hold it for a moment, it’s me… it’s me… it’s me!”
“Ah! Sei, Sei-san! What was that all about… since that surprised me.”
Brynhildr-sama stopped her sword and gave off a big sigh. I see… it seemed that both of us thought the same thing. I was so happy since it seemed we had a good compatibility…
“Well~ I didn’t think that it was Brynhildr-sama. Since I saw a ball of fire at a distance, so I was sure that you were over there.”
“I’m sorry… I thought that if I leave the ball of fire at a fixed location, then it will be able to lighten up the lake. It seem like I had gotten close to Sei-san position without realizing it. It seemed that it would be better if I carry a light with me instead of prioritizing on saving the magic power. That was careless of me.”
While saying that, Brynhildr-sama ducked her head in an apologetic manner. No, I was also to blame here. If the two of us were to plan to continue the search in the lake, then it would be better if we had a strategy for it.
While thinking about that, I looked downward and saw the water splash due to the two side of water that was crashing against each other since it was split due to the force of me flying out of it.
“…huh? Since it had become this… that right! I might be able to use this!”
Unintentionally, I let out a cry of joy. After looking at me, Brynhildr-sama also had a happy expression on her face.
“Sei-san, is there any chance that you had thought of something again?”
“Yes! Brynhildr-sama, please look at the bottom of the lake while I go and split the lake by crashing to the surface with all I got.”
“! Roger that, as expected of Sei-san! By doing that, we will be able to look at the bottom of the dark lake without a need to dive into it! Please leave it to me, I will definitely find the magic sword!”
Brynhildr-sama replied with in an exciting manner and took her position after spreading her wing. After we exchanged eye contact with each other, I flew up briefly to increase the distance and descending toward the lake vigorously.
My fist which was supported by my weight had divided the lake into half. I landed on the bottom of the divided lake and looked toward the sky and Brynhildr-sama shouted out while pointing at a single point.
“Sei-san, I found the magic sword! It’s on your left at your back!”
“!!”
After I went to the designated place, the magic sword ‘Rigel’ was indeed vertically impale to the ground.
I immediately grabbed the hilt with my tail and flew up. It was so heavy that my tail hurt but I somehow was able to overcome and dropped the sword at the shore.
“Phew~, we had finally obtained the magic sword.”
“You have done well, Sei-san! That was quite cool!”
After I turned back to my boar form, Brynhildr who had descended immediately gave a congratulation hug. Ah, this sensation… I could do my best anytime as long as I have this.
Anyway, with this we had managed to complete the task given by Loki. I’d be able to boast all I wanted since I expected that he didn’t have any much hope for me. I couldn’t wait until we meet each other now.
“Um… Brynhildr-sama.”
“Yes, what’s the matter?”
“Just now when we bump into each other in the water, may I ask where did I touch you?”
“…Ah….um… I wonder where it was. Ha ha ha…”
Brynhildr-sama averted her eye while blushing and she slowly moved me away from her chest.
—Okay, we had found our answer. Somehow, I didn’t believe that this was a coincidence since I had a lot of encounter with breasts recently.
Anyway, I was really lucky.
After I had imprinted Brynhildr-sama swimsuit appearance in my retina and the feeling of her breast in my brain, I went and met up with her who had finish changing behind the big boulder.
“I only realize it now but… isn’t this sword a bit too big, it’s not possible for us to bring this back. I wonder how exactly Sigurd-san wielded this.”
“Well, he didn’t exactly use this when it’s in this form. Since Odin-sama had cast a runic magic to enlarge it so that it’d fit Fenrir mouth. It will return back to normal if we dispel it but… it’s a pity that I…”
While saying that, Brynhildr-sama ducked her head in an apologetic manner.
I see… I’d be troublesome if we asked Odin-sama but it would be best if we manage to find a runic magic caster that happened to know the spell.
Well…the only runic magic caster that we knew and would help us immediately are Loki and Siegrune-sama only.
“There is no choice. It a pity but let us leave it here and discuss with Loki about this later.”
While saying that, I remove my dragon transformation and reverted back to my boar form.
“Ho? Hey Sei, what is the thing that you want to discuss about?”
“Of course, it about…eh!? That voice is…!”
At that moment— I heard a familiar voice coming from the sky. I was unable to hold my excitement since it had been a while since I heard this voice. The owner of the voice is the person that I mentioned just now—
“Loki! It had been a while! I amaze that you knew we were here.”
“Well, who do you think I am? It was quite easy if I just ask Ratatoskr.”
The one who appear magnificently while mounting on the living legend, the eight legged military horse, Sleipnir is the God of trickster, Loki.
‘’Father…’’
While looking at the appearance of Loki and Sleipnir, Fenrir and Grani-kun words overlap against each other. Ah, that right. Fenrir was the son of Loki and Grani-kun was the son of Sleipnir. So it couldn’t be blame if their word overlapped each other.
Putting that aside, it really had been a while since I met Loki. I couldn’t believe that we hadn’t met for this long ever since he chose to remain in ‘Helheim’ to search for the whereabouts of the Dwarf Blacksmith, Regin.
Since Loki had come here, that meant… that Loki had made some progress from his side.
“You have arrived at the perfect timing, Loki. Look here, it seems that the sword that we threw away previously was actually the magic sword, Rigel’. He he, I had fulfilled the end of my promise properly!”
While saying that, I puffed up my chest.
“Oh, so this is… you have done well, Sei, as expected of my partner. To be frank, I had run into difficulties from my side, so this really helps a lot.”
“Come on, there is no need for you to say that. So… you ran into difficulties? As expected, is it about the fact that even Loki is unable to locate Regin?”
“It’s fine. Even though he had cause me trouble, I will take proper responsibilities and find him at all cost.”
“Oh! That’s why…”
“But—“
I became excited after hearing the goods new but Loki overlapped with my word with his penetrating voice.
“The circumstance had changed. I will keep the ‘Rigel’ that you had found but… it’s a pity that we had to temporarily halt our search for the sword ingredient.”
“Eh…?”
That sudden declaration. Brynhildr-sama and me and even Fenrir who was behind me looked at each other in sync as if there was a dramatic change to our plan.
“I’m sorry for being selfish. Since it means we had to put a temporarily halt with the Fenrir matter… but I had obtained quite an outrageous information. It’s happy that we have found ‘Rigel’…”
Loki had a complicated expression on his face at the same time when he said that. I wondered what happened… from the look at it, he seemed a bit sad as if he sympathized with someone.
No matter which it was—I didn’t believe that it would be good news at all.
“Sei. And… that’s right, Brynhildr also. Can you follow me without asking anything? There is something I want you to see… and something I want to tell you.”
Those eyes didn’t allow us to reject all.
Since Brynhildr-sama and I weren’t unable to say anything, we mounted on Grani-kun and followed after Loki and we had left ‘Lyngvi’ in this manner.
