Stage 2 unlocking? I never set that up.
"What is this?"
Giranox, seeing Agnes glowing and floating, was so scared his teeth chattered.
I don't know either, man.
When the protagonist used Agnes, chanting its name sealed the contract, and they could talk immediately. Why's it different for me?
"Oh…"
As Agnes's light grew brighter, Giranox tried to kneel and bow.
Good thing we're in an alley. This would've caused a scene on the main street.
[Stage 2 unlocking complete.]
[Would you like to proceed with a soul contract with Agnes?]
"Contract!"
The moment I shouted, I felt something pierce my heart. The glowing sword vanished, replaced by a small, transparent object floating in the air.
This transparent thing is Agnes?
It looked different from the Agnes I'd introduced in the story, throwing me off.
[What the heck!]
A cute female voice echoed not in my ears but in my mind.
The voice matches the setting—cute, like a female voice actress.
Giranox was staring blankly, so Agnes's voice must be audible only to me.
[What's that supposed to mean?!]
"What?"
[Who are you to unlock me?! A talentless nobody!]
"What!"
This thing's personality is way off from the novel. Is it because I lack sword talent?
In the story, Agnes becomes a fangirl, devoted to the protagonist's talent, serving like a slave. But with me, it starts with hostility.
[Wow, I'm dumbfounded! Contracted to a useless guy like you! I'm so mad I could die!]
"Calm down."
A cute voice saying stuff like that feels weird.
[Calm down? Calm down? Imagine waking up after centuries to marry the ugliest person alive. Wouldn't you be pissed, talentless?!]
Agnes's voice grew louder, genuinely angry.
[And where'd you learn my unlocking incantation?! How'd you know it, and who are you?!]
Who? The novelist who created you.
"A prophet told me."
[A prophet? No way! The Great Prophet still exists?]
"Yeah."
The Great Prophet is a contrived plot device I made to maintain story coherence. They know every secret and the location of every person and object—like a real-world search engine.
[Damn it. And the prophet chose a talentless guy like you to find me?]
Agnes's dislike is obvious. As a story artifact, it can't sense my martial arts or inner energy.
To Agnes, I'm just a talentless nobody.
[Still…]
"Hm?"
[Your face is decent.]
"…"
Her tone softened slightly. Maybe I should reveal my abilities. It's ridiculous that a sword cares about looks.
Is it because I gave it a female voice that it acts like a woman?
"Lord Yuren?"
"Sorry."
I'd been so caught up with Agnes I'd neglected Giranox, who was looking at me, terrified.
"It was talking to me."
"What? It has a will?"
"Yeah. Its name's Agnes."
"Agnes…"
Giranox mumbled the unfamiliar name.
[Don't just give out a lady's name!]
"It's fine. He's with me."
[Hmph!]
A lady, huh? Really acting like a woman.
Oh, I forgot to ask.
"Agnes, what's Stage 2 unlocking?"
[Oh, I didn't know either, but it popped into my head.]
She suddenly sounded friendlier, probably because she liked my face.
"It just came to you?"
[Yeah. I had no idea, but when you unlocked me, it felt like something I've known since I was created.]
Like how my martial arts knowledge embeds in my mind.
"So what's Stage 2?"
[Division.]
"Division?"
[Yeah. I could only transform into one thing at a time. Wait, you know my abilities too?]
She threw a sharp question.
"The prophet told me."
Blamed it on the prophet again.
[Oh? That makes this quick. I can now transform into two things at once—sword and sword, or sword and armor. Pretty awesome, right?]
"Yeah, that's wild."
I acted calm, but I was floored. If she's right, it's like having two Agneses.
[But you can't use it anyway. I can tell you'll never wield aura, even with a lifetime of training. Ugh, if your skill was half as good as your face.]
"Does it need aura?"
[Yeah, a lot. You'll never unlock it, so don't worry about it.]
No problem then. I've already tested using inner energy instead of aura.
"Giranox."
I called to him, still gaping, to wrap up his business.
"Yes, yes!"
"How much for all these swords?"
"About 30 gold, I think."
"Alright."
I pulled 30 gold from the pouch. It was meant for the return warp, but I'd "borrow" more money and treasure later, so no big deal.
"How long to pack up?"
"Three—no, two days."
"Meet me at the central fountain in two days at noon. It's like a meeting square."
I'd noticed the fountain was crowded. Perfect for people-watching while waiting.
"Got it."
"Don't run, or I'll chase you to the ends of the continent."
"Eek! Never, I swear!"
He took my joke seriously, panicking.
"Agnes, come."
At my call, the floating Agnes glowed brightly and wrapped around my finger as a beautiful ring.
[Huh? How'd you use me right away?!]
To transform Agnes, you need a clear mental image. I did it without instruction, so her shock was natural.
"I'm your master, what else?"
[Grr!]
No matter how much she complains, the contract binds her to obey me.
[Who are you?!]
"I've got a lot to say and tasks for you, so let's talk later."
[Tasks? What're you planning to do with me?!]
Ugh, already exhausting.
The next day, I went to a nearby forest to test Agnes.
She grumbled but obeyed, transforming as I wanted.
My biggest worry was whether she could replicate the Sichuan Tang Clan's hidden weapons perfectly. Thankfully, she could—and with even greater power than described.
To test one more thing, I was back in the forest on the meeting day.
[It's your meeting day. Not going?]
"One more test."
[You messed with my body all day yesterday, and now what?]
"People might misunderstand…"
She's been saying stuff like that since yesterday's transformations. So tiring.
[What're those things you make me turn into? Why're they so powerful?]
"They're hidden weapons."
[I know hidden weapons! But those intricate designs take generations to perfect, not decades.]
As a weapon, she's sharp.
"It's a thing."
[Hmph, knew you wouldn't tell me. So what's today?]
"Division."
[Sigh, I get you want to try, but you need aura or mana.]
"How's it done with aura or mana?"
[Infuse me with power while picturing two images.]
"Simple enough."
Following her instructions, I imagined two daggers in my hands and infused her with inner energy.
[Eek! What's this power?!]
Agnes screamed, startled by my energy.
[It's so pure! I've never felt anything like this!]
She sounded ecstatic, loving the Ten Thousand Poison Magnetic Spirit's energy.
Wooong.
Two daggers, exactly as I pictured, appeared in my hands.
[Yuren, what is this?! How didn't I sense this power?]
"You just called my name."
She'd only said "you" before, despite knowing my name. Guess she's acknowledging me now.
[Forget the name! What's this power?! I'm made to sense my master's strength, traits, and talents, but I felt nothing from you.]
Her voice rose, frustrated that she couldn't read me.
"That's your limit."
[Grr!]
"They call someone like me, who exists alone, a genius. It's natural a mundane relic like you can't grasp my power."
I hadn't used inner energy yesterday to set up this moment. Seeing the talkative Agnes speechless was satisfying.
"Listen to your master, you shoddy relic who can't even sense my greatness."
[Grr! You!]
Fwooosh.
I threw the dagger-shaped Agnes with both hands.
Boom!
They pierced one tree and lodged in the next.
Even with minimal force, the power was insane. I've gotten stronger, but Agnes's destructiveness is unreal.
Reaching out, Agnes returned to my hand.
This is her best feature.
She's perfect for hidden weapons—transforming into countless forms and instantly retrievable after throwing.
Agnes isn't a sword; she was made for hidden weapons. Good thing I didn't let the protagonist have her!
"Done testing. Let's go."
[Meeting time?]
"A bit early, but being punctual is professional."
[Professional?]
Another real-world slip. I'm still not fully adjusted to this world.
I headed to As Castle's central fountain.
"Still so many people."
The castle bustled with knights and mercenaries, the sound of hammering echoing from forges.
"Busy, noisy, full of life."
[This is living?]
"People are complicated."
It reminded me of a market or mall.
"He's not here yet."
I arrived at the fountain early; Giranox wasn't there. Sitting on the edge, I people-watched.
"Good times."
Seeing a young mercenary couple arm-in-arm made me smile, feeling oddly paternal.
Is this what being an old man feels like?
"Yuren?"
Someone called my name—not Giranox's voice.
I turned naturally.
"What're you doing here?"