Chapter 5

About Theresa Light.

According to her grandson, Lux Wright—

“She was incredibly scary, really. Tough, and her training felt like she was trying to kill me. Plus, she’d suddenly shout out. Anyway, she was a lively and dangerous person.”

◆

About the holy sword called Durandal.

Theresa Wright still vividly remembers its end—

“……”

Durandal was a silver holy sword passed down through generations of the Wright family.

Legend had it that it was forged by dwarves from meteorite iron brought by fairies, but the truth of this is uncertain.

Theresa no longer knows what legends were built around that sword.

She simply inherited it from her parents, passed it on to her daughter like her parents before her, believing it would eventually pass into the hands of her son.

However, the era of knights came to an end.

There is something called the “non-existent war.”

Knights disappear one after another, their honor tarnished, and their families ruined.

By the time it was realized that this was being brought about by someone or something mighty and colossal, it was too late.

Her daughter and her husband died.

And it was easy to imagine that the same fate awaited her grandson, Lux, who was left behind.

So, as a last resort, Theresa decided to “destroy” Durandal.

More accurately, she melted it down into ingots and exchanged it for a pittance of gold.

By doing so, the Wright family essentially surrendered, showing that they had no intention of fighting.

…Perhaps it fell into the hands of “someone.”

But even so, it’s okay.

Some things are worth more than life itself.

If releasing the holy sword can protect the life of the precious grandson left behind by her beloved daughter, then it’s a small price to pay.

Still, there is regret.

Is that sword creating new sacrifices?

…As a knight, should she fight against great evil wielding the holy sword?

Now, she no longer knows what the right answer is.

Theresa is growing old, and the days of reminiscing about the past are increasing.

The precious child her daughter left behind.

━━Lux.

Ah, if he’s still laughing now, and if he’ll continue laughing in the future—

“Granny, what’s magic?”

One day, Theresa was asked this question, and she struggled to come up with an answer.

She couldn’t teach him about holy sword magic.

After all, the Wright family’s holy sword magic required the presence of a sword.

Nowadays, there was literally no existence resembling the will to fight among the household items.

To play the harmless role of a fallen old family, there was no choice but to do so.

However, it was her cute grandson’s request.

So, reluctantly, she decided to teach him about ordinary magic, the basics.

“Listen, Lux. Magic begins with expelling the magical power residing within your body outward and giving it shape.”

“Like this?”

Suddenly, a sparkling sphere of light was born.

“What…?”

Um, what’s that…? Scary.

Magical power itself is formless and easily dissipates if it’s not given meaning by the caster.

However, Lux was outputting magical power as an “unintelligible, meaningless existence” and holding it in place.

Theresa didn’t understand the meaning of this phenomenon and was at a loss for an answer.

“Uh, well. Lux? Once you’ve got the basics down, you need to envision what you want it to become next.”

In any case, Theresa felt it was dangerous to leave his vague magical power untouched, so she instructed him to give it meaning.

“Alright, then. Here we go… Oh! Granny, it turned into a sword!”

Um…?

Somehow, her grandson seems to be wielding magical power?

After swinging the now rod-shaped object around in front of her bewildered grandmother, he muttered “Alright!” and held it up to the sky, satisfied.

“You, yes you! You’re Durandal!”

!!!

The next moment.

━━Like a brilliant aurora illuminating the three thousand worlds, dazzling light overflowed.

When it cleared, there stood a silver holy sword.

Surely, it was the very one—Durandal—that Theresa had buried with her own hands.

“O-Oh…!”

Tears welled up, and Lux, her grandson, was taken aback by his grandmother’s reaction.

(Eh, what…?)

After shedding tears for a while,

She became convinced.

(This child, this child is the one—this child will illuminate Neon City, which is being tainted by darkness, with true glory, becoming the shining presence of salvation!!!!!)

Shaking with emotion, Lux thought he might have had some kind of dangerous seizure and considered taking out his phone to call for help.

“Lux!”

“Y-yes?”

At that moment, Theresa made up her mind.

Even if it meant sacrificing everything she had, she would raise this child to become the strongest knight.

…And show him as the illuminator of this world, the savior.

“We can’t stay like this! I’m going to teach you everything I know, starting now!!”

“Um, no—”

“You will only say yes or yes! Got it?!!!!”

“Y-yes…”

It seemed to Lux that his grandmother suddenly started hustling and going crazy.

…After that, she passed on all her skills to Lux without showing any signs of aging.

Once it was done, she passed away with a satisfied expression on her face.

It was a warm spring day.