The two sentences from the little Sword Spirit loli made Zhu Qiu freeze for a moment before she finally regained her composure.
“It’s not what you think. I’m not some little princess. As the Human Sword Saint, currently trapped in the Dragon Race Imperial Palace, I’ve been constantly looking for a way to deal with Zhu Xiaxia. Everything you said was just a delaying tactic to achieve my goal. It was all to lower Zhu Xiaxia’s guard so I could finally find an opportunity to defeat her!”
Zhu Qiu waved the broken half of the Holy Sword in her hand.
She tried to look cool, but in reality, she looked like a child playing house, which was actually quite adorable.
“So, you’re intentionally pretending to be a good daughter to deceive that Evil Dragon? Acting all spoiled in her arms, whining while she’s bathing you, and even needing her to coax you just to drink some milk? Is that it?”
“That’s right… wait, no! When did any of that ever happen?”
“How could it not have happened? Hmph! Don’t think I don’t know just because you’re playing dumb. You are the Holy Sword Wielder I’ve chosen. Your appearance was given by me, and so was your personality. How could I not know about such small things?”
Upon closer thought, it seemed those things really did happen.
Zhu Qiu had been bullied into submission by Zhu Xiaxia many times without being able to win even once.
‘Waaaaah! How does the Sword Spirit know about all these embarrassing things?’
‘It’s over. I’ve completely lost face.’
“Tell me, when do you plan to turn me back? I don’t like being a little Dragon Loli all the time. This is a massive humiliation for me as a Sword Spirit!”
Zhu Qiu scratched her head; she didn’t know either.
A sudden gust of cold wind blew in through the window, feeling quite chilly.
“How about I close the window and we talk under the covers? It’ll be warm and comfortable that way. Plus, if Zhu Xiaxia comes in right now and sees you, it’ll be even harder to explain.”
“…Hmph! This Sword Spirit isn’t afraid of being seen by that Evil Dragon. I can hide back inside the Holy Sword at any time. If it weren’t for the fact that you’re my chosen Holy Sword Wielder, I wouldn’t have agreed to this.”
In truth, the Sword Spirit knew a bit about Zhu Xiaxia’s power.
In short, she was extremely strong.
There was no way to win with just a single Holy Sword.
Besides, the Holy Sword had been easily broken by Zhu Xiaxia.
The Sword Spirit was actually afraid, though she was unwilling to admit it.
A moment later, the two little lolis were lying under the covers, snuggled up against each other.
“Alright, hurry up and tell me. When can you turn back?”
“I don’t know how to turn back.”
“You don’t know? Then what did you come to the Dragon Race Imperial Palace for? To lie down and give up? I feel like teaching you a lesson on behalf of your father.”
“That’s not it! I’m a victim too. I was tricked into coming here by Zhu Xiaxia. She said she could turn me back, so I came. In the end, I fell into her trap.”
“What? You’re the Holy Sword Wielder, and you were tricked by an Evil Dragon just like that?”
“I didn’t want to be! Anyone else would have been tricked if they were in my position.”
“…Let’s stop talking about useless things. What’s your plan for now?”
“Plan? Zhu Xiaxia is going to hire an Etiquette teacher. I don’t want to be tortured, so I’ve decided to escape from here.”
“That’s a good idea. Escaping is a must. It’s just… you’re only escaping because you’re afraid of learning things, right? If the Evil Dragon didn’t hire a teacher, you’d just stay here and enjoy yourself as her daughter for the rest of your life, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course not! No matter what, I’ll escape. I am the steadfast and unyielding Human Sword Saint.”
“It better be that way. Don’t let this Sword Spirit see you in such a depraved state again, or I’ll get angry.”
The Sword Spirit rolled over under the covers, climbed on top of Zhu Qiu, and gazed into her eyes.
“When this Sword Spirit appears again, I don’t want to still be in the territory of the Dragon Race.”
“I’m going to rest now. Goodnight, my Holy Sword Wielder.”
The light emanating from the little Sword Spirit loli began to fade.
Seeing this, Zhu Qiu immediately stopped her.
“Hey! Sword Spirit, don’t go yet.”
“Is there something else?”
“Yes. Why was it that twice before, the Holy Sword couldn’t be summoned? And another time when it was summoned, there was no Holy Light and no power at all?”
The Sword Spirit thought for a moment before speaking.
“Because I’m not just a cold weapon. I have a consciousness and feelings too. Sometimes the opponent is far too strong, but you’re too stupid to realize it and try to strike a stone with an egg. Naturally, I won’t be foolish enough to throw my life away alongside you.”
“As for the lack of Holy Light, wasn’t it because I was disgusted by your depravity? You are the Holy Sword Wielder, the Human Sword Saint. Do you think I could avoid being angry at the way you were acting?”
“…”
Zhu Qiu couldn’t win an argument against Zhu Xiaxia, and it seemed she couldn’t win against the Sword Spirit either.
“I won’t say more. Those previous times were intentional on my part, just to wake you up. Now that the goal has been achieved, I will assist you with all my strength in any future actions. I won’t hide away, and I won’t refuse to exert power.”
“Even if you fall into depravity again — “
At the mention of the word ‘depravity,’ a blush appeared on the Sword Spirit loli’s small face.
“Even if that really happens, I will help you unconditionally and wake you up!”
“If you really end up throwing your life away, I’ll be right there with you!”
“Af… after all, we’re the best of friends in the whole world. The Sword Spirit and the Holy Sword Wielder. I won’t abandon you, and you aren’t allowed to learn any of that Magic and leave me behind. We’re both essential! Got it?”
The little Sword Spirit loli became more and more excited as she spoke.
Her face was like a ripe red apple, and her heart pounded against Zhu Qiu’s chest.
Zhu Qiu curiously reached out her hands and touched the Sword Spirit’s small face.
“Sword Spirit, your face is so red. It feels warm to the touch.”
“Eek~ I hate you! It’s only because your personality rubbed off on me. In the past, I… I would never be like this… See you tomorrow. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Sword Spirit.”
The Sword Spirit vanished from beneath the covers.
At the same time, a slightly shimmering Holy Sword appeared beside the pillow.
‘So the Sword Spirit is this shy. Her face turns red just from being touched.’
Zhu Qiu shrunk back under the covers, wrapping herself tightly for a better sense of security.
‘Don’t worry, Sword Spirit. I will definitely escape the Dragon Race Imperial Palace tomorrow. Trust me.’
Zhu Qiu fell asleep.
***
Dawn broke, and the sun rose to the center of the sky.
It was noon.
Inside the Dragon Race Imperial Palace, the little loli who had been tucked neatly under the covers the night before was now sleeping in a sprawled-out position.
The blanket had been ruthlessly kicked onto the floor, as usual.
“Waaaaah! You, you, you!”
The little Sword Spirit loli jumped up and pressed down on Zhu Qiu.
To wake her up, she had to make a lot of noise.
“Mmm~ who is it?”
“Who else could it be! Your Sword Spirit is here to wake you up. Look at what time it is! You’re still not out of bed!”
Zhu Qiu rubbed her head, looking out the window in a daze.
There was no sun visible; it must have just risen.
“It’s still early, right?”
“Early? It’s already noon!”
“Huh? It’s noon?”
“Yes! What about the Escape Plan you promised me? Why are you still sleeping?”
“I… I must have overslept. No rush. With a whole afternoon, I can definitely escape.”
“Hmph!”
Just then, the doorknob turned. Seeing this, the little Sword Spirit loli immediately retreated into the Holy Sword.
At the door, Xiaguang walked in holding a book and a bottle of milk.