Why did Charlie choose to travel by road instead of air, which would have taken much faster?
The answer is simple: flying is too conspicuous!
Although he could become invisible with Spirit Arts, there's a possibility that Elementalists could detect him. After all, Spirit Arts are the power of spirits, so it's not surprising that Elementalists could sense them.
Since time was limited, Charlie wanted to keep a low profile to avoid being noticed by the strongest existence near the forest, Greyworth Ciel Mais.
This forest is located near the Areishia Spirit Academy. Greyworth could arrive quickly if she sensed any anomalies.
Charlie wasn't afraid of fighting Greyworth. It's just that he was reluctant to start a fight without any benefit, which would only be a waste of time.
*WHOOSH!*
Running swiftly through the forest, Aishia suddenly asked Charlie a question.
"Why does Charlie prefer the Demon King-Killing Sacred Sword over the Vorpal Sword?"
"Aishia, if someone suddenly wants to form a contract with you, would you agree?"
"I would refuse. I belong to Charlie, and that will never change."
"Well, that's why I didn't choose the Vorpal Sword."
"...?"
Seeing Aishia tilt her head with a confused expression on her face, Charlie gave a simpler explanation.
"The Vorpal Sword, or Restia Ashdoll, has a deep emotional bond with Kazehaya Kamito. So, just like Aishia would refuse someone who wants to contract with you, she would also refuse me. That's why I didn't even consider it and firmly chose the Demon King-Killing Sacred Sword."
"I see... The Demon King-Killing Sacred Sword has been sealed away for hundreds of years. She has rejected every Elementalist who wanted to form a contract with her, fearing they would suffer the same curse as Areishia Idriss."
Knowing all of Charlie's memories, Aishia already understood why Charlie chose the Demon King-Killing Sacred Sword, also known as Terminus Est, as his spirit.
Before knowing this, she thought Charlie wanted Est because the girl looked cute and wore black stockings.
"What's with that look in your eyes?"
Feeling her gaze fixed on him, Charlie felt confused.
"It's nothing."
After saying that, Aishia turned her face away. She decided that after they returned, she would let Charlie play with her legs wrapped in black stockings.
"...?"
Unaware of Aishia's idea to please him, Charlie continued chasing the bird in the air.
❂❂❂❂❂
Ten minutes later.
The shrine housing the Demon King-Killing Sacred Sword stood quietly in a clearing in the forest.
"Thanks, buddy. This is for you, lay lots of eggs and hatch cute babies."
After giving the commission in the form of food, Charlie, who communicated with animals through Crystallized Wisdom, waved his hand at the bird that had guided them here.
"There's a barrier that prevents people from entering."
Reaching out her hand, Aishia touched the invisible barrier covering the shrine.
"It's not just weapon immunity; the Armor of Fafnir gives me Magic Resistance of Rank B and below. This ability is somewhat similar to the God Slayer (Campione) physiology, which neutralizes all magic except divine-level. However, the Armor of Fafnir is a weaker version."
After saying that, Charlie stepped forward and approached the barrier without doing anything.
The barrier touched by Charlie's body began to ripple and churn like boiling water. It proved that the quality of the barrier was below Rank B, so the Armor of Fafnir neutralized it.
*CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!*
*CRUSH-BANG!*
Then, like shattered glass, the barrier sealing the shrine's entrance exploded.
"..."
If an Elementalist saw this phenomenon, they would surely be stunned. However, Aishia wasn't surprised at all, as if it were a normal occurrence. She followed Charlie into the shrine.
Upon entering the shrine, a dark and damp corridor appeared before Charlie and Aishia.
The interior of the shrine was foggy and dark, with a heavy atmosphere, and there was even a smell of mold in the air. It was clear that no one had visited for a long time.
*SHUA!*
A ball of light floated in the air, faintly illuminating the shrine's walls. The shrine looked like a cave filled with stalactites.
It was Charlie's doing, using Light Spirit Arts.
Passing through the tunnel-like corridor, Charlie and Aishia reached the depths and finally saw the end of the corridor.
The place was surrounded by stone walls.
In the vast open space, there was a stone path, and at the very front was an altar.
On the altar, a sword was thrust upright into a large stone.
Undoubtedly, it was an ancient sword likely hundreds of years old, but there was no rust along the blade nor any dents on its edge. Delicate ancient runes were engraved on the surface of the blade, emitting a faint blue light.
"No one would believe that the real Sacred Sword Severian is here."
Sacred Sword Severian is another name for the Demon King-Killing Sacred Sword. If Charlie didn't know the plot, he wouldn't believe that the legendary Sacred Sword Severian was the rusty sword in front of him.
Humans are visual creatures. They judge appearances first before anything else. That's why handsome men and beautiful women in modern times have more advantages compared to those with talent but average looks.
In fact, replicas of the Sacred Sword Severian thrust into stones can be found everywhere in the Ordesia Empire. Some remote villages even have them to revitalize the village. Compared to the fake Sacred Sword Severians used to attract tourists, the Sacred Sword Severian on the altar looked shabby.
No one would believe that the Sacred Sword Severian in this shrine is real, not even the protagonist before taming it.
"Aishia, don't do anything while I'm taming it."
"Um, I understand."
Seeing Aishia obedient, Charlie stepped forward and walked leisurely towards the altar.
Arriving in front of the sword, he reached out and firmly grasped the hilt of the sword before him.
There was no need to chant spells like other Elementalists when contracting spirits; he only needed to activate his unique magic, Spirit Contractor.
*ZWOOOSH!*
A dazzling light erupted from the Sacred Sword Severian.
A gust of wind blew in all directions with the altar as the center without any warning. The strong wind blew back and forth like a fierce storm, causing sand and dust to fly everywhere.
"I knew it wouldn't be easy."
Still standing unshaken in place, Charlie held the sword tightly.
From the Sacred Sword Severian thrust into the stone, an immense divine energy erupted. If it were an ordinary Elementalist, they would have fainted.
Unfortunately, Charlie is no ordinary person!
"Come on!!!"
Gripping the sword even tighter, waves of magical power like a flood began to fluctuate in his hand, channeling it into the sword in an attempt to communicate with the spirit sealed within.
"Girl, aren't you tired of staying in this dark place for hundreds of years? Become mine, and I'll show you the beauty of the world."
The sword in Charlie's hand vibrated violently as if provoked by his words. Suddenly, the sword emitted a stunning light, exploding with a powerful impact.
*BAM!*
However, the shockwave force equivalent to being hit by an isekai delivery truck didn't shake Charlie in the slightest, now blessed with the Armor of Fafnir.
"So, your answer is no. What a pity, I'm not a man who gives up easily just because of one rejection. Don't compare me to the loser protagonists in Romcom anime who despair just because they're rejected by the girl they like!"
Exerting more strength, Charlie successfully pulled the sword from the stone.
"This feeling... It feels like I'm King Arthur pulling out Caliburn."
After he made the joke, the sword rebelled and slipped from his grasp.