Aldo returned home carrying the sword that Rudolf had forged for him. This weapon, imbued with the power of a malicious spirit, was so dangerous that merely touching it could influence the mana vessel within oneโs mind.
Although the mana vessel wouldnโt shatter immediately, prolonged contact without understanding its nature could lead to severe mental instability. Handling it required utmost caution. Aldo was especially determined to ensure that Iris would never touch it.
โIโm home!โ
โWelcome back, Dad!โ
Iris came running toward Aldo, her little feet pattering across the floor as she prepared to leap into his arms. But Aldo stopped her with a firm โWait.โ
โHuh? Whatโs wrong, Dad?โ
Irisโs face crumpled with unease as she hesitated, her small hands trembling nervously like a frightened animal.
โIris, listen carefully and stay calm. Right now, Iโm carrying something extremely dangerous.โ
Aldo showed Iris the sword forged from the malicious spiritโs essence.
โListen, Iris. You must never, ever touch this. Understand?โ
โOkay.โ
Iris nodded earnestly.
โNot even out of curiosity. If you touch itโฆ Iโll be very angry!โ
โY-Yeahโฆ I wonโt touch it.โ
Seeing Aldoโs serious expression, Iris was overwhelmed by his intensity. She could tell from his demeanor that this was no trivial matter. While a more rebellious child might have been tempted to touch it out of mischief, Iris had learned to respect the authority of her parents. She vowed deep in her heart never to touch the sword.
โAldo, thereโs a new dungeon nearby!โ
Later, after finishing work, Aldo met up with Clara, who was practically glowing with excitement over the discovery of a new dungeon.
โItโs close to where you work, so you can explore it right after your shift again!โ
โYeah, that sounds convenient. Alright, letโs check it out.โ
โWow, youโre really motivated, Aldo.โ Clara grinned.
โWell, I did just get a new weapon. I want to test its strength.โ
โTotally get that! I received some mana power from a spirit recently, and Iโve been itching to see how much stronger Iโve become.โ
Though Clara had already been formidable, clearing a dungeon had granted her even greater powers through a spiritโs blessing. Aldo couldnโt help feeling a little discouraged at the growing gap between their abilities.
โHow about we dive in tomorrow?โ Clara suggested eagerly.
โSure, Iโll let Iris know too.โ
The next day, Aldo and Clara headed to the new dungeon.
โSo, this is the new dungeon,โ Aldo remarked, eyeing the entrance.
โIโll take the lead,โ Clara said, stopping Aldo as he prepared to step forward. But he shook his head.
โNo, I want to test this weaponโs power myself.โ
โHmm, I can sense a dark, ominous energy from that thing. Is it the weapon forged from the malicious spirit?โ
โYeah. By some twist of fate, I found someone who could forge it for me. Now I have one.โ
โI see. In that case, Iโll count on you this time.โ Clara glanced up at Aldo with a playful smile.
โAlright, Iโll handle it!โ Aldo nodded confidently.
โGreat!โ
As they ventured deeper into the dungeon, Aldo detected an enemy presence. He gripped his sword as a gigantic bipedal rat spirit emerged from the shadows. It was about the size of a five-year-old child but moved with startling speed.
โLook out, Aldo!โ Clara called out, worried for him. Despite its size, the rat retained the agility typical of its species, moving far faster than any ordinary human. But Aldo was ready.
โSwift Strike!โ
With a single swing of his sword, the rat vanished instantly.
โThatโฆ that was so fast!โ Clara exclaimed, wide-eyed with astonishment. Though Clara was quick herself, Aldoโs newfound speed exceeded her expectations.
So cool, she thought, gazing at Aldo with admiration. His calm, composed expression made him look even more impressive.
โWhoa! What just happened? Did I already take it down? Clara, did you see that? I was fast, wasnโt I?โ
Far from the stoic hero she imagined, Aldo was excitedly basking in his success, which made Clara chuckle fondly.
โYes, Aldo, that was amazing.โ
โThanks, Clara. But how did I manage that? Changing weapons shouldnโt affect my speed or strength.โ
โMaybe thatโs just how malicious spirit weapons work. My spirit-enhanced mana improves my physical abilities too. Perhaps this weapon amplifies the wielderโs abilities in a similar way.โ
โAh, Iโve heard that spirits and malicious spirits share a common origin. That would make sense.โ
As Aldo contemplated the implications, three more giant rats appeared.
โHere they come again. Letโs goโฆ Swift Strike!โ
โYouโre not the only one who can show off, Aldo! Iโm joining in!โ Clara declared.
The duo quickly dispatched the rats, with Clara landing a powerful kick on one while Aldoโs blade took care of the rest. In no time, the enemies were defeated, leaving behind gray shards. Clara picked them up while Aldo closed his eyes.
โWhatโs wrong, Aldo?โ Clara asked.
โThereโs more malicious spirit material here.โ
Using a pickaxe, Aldo began mining the dungeon walls, unearthing a root-like object.
โWow, youโre amazing, Aldo! I didnโt sense that at all. Youโve gotten stronger in combat and even better at finding hidden resources. Iโm starting to feel a bit jealous,โ Clara said with a warm smile.
โNo, no. Iโm still far from it. Itโs just the weapon thatโs strong. Without it, I canโt do much,โ Aldo replied.
Clara puffed out her cheeks in a playful pout.
โHmph. But the fact is, you have that weapon, right? That means earning it is part of your skill too. Overdoing humility can come off as annoying, you know.โ
โUghโฆ Thatโs tough to balance,โ Aldo said, scratching his head.
โHaha, just kidding! Sorry if I went a bit too far,โ Clara said, flashing a playful smile and sticking out her tongue. Her innocence disarmed Aldo, making it impossible to hold any grudge.
โNo, Iโm the one who should apologize. Iโll try to be more confident,โ he said with a nod.
โYeah, thatโs the spirit!โ
With their minor quarrel resolved, the two continued their dungeon exploration. The spirits and other creatures they encountered along the way proved no match for the duo.
Aldoโs newfound ability to fight significantly improved Claraโs movements. In their first dungeon expedition, Clara had to focus on protecting Aldo, which held her back from unleashing her full potential. Now, with the added boost from her spiritโs power and Aldoโs strength, they made an unbeatable team.
Walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Clara, Aldo couldnโt help but reflect on how much his new weapon had enhanced his abilities. The cursed weaponโs power was truly remarkable.