A Talking Possessed Sword?!

Oh! Oh, travelers! I beg you, please! Help me!

Hmm? What's wrong?

......

T-Tsukiha, hang on! Are you really just going to ignore this guy?!

Goodwill attracts opportunism. In my home town, it was not uncommon for bandits to ensnare their victims in this manner.

But what if he really needs our help?

Even then, I am under no obligation to offer him my aid.

Furthermore, I have no time for detours. My own concerns are my top and only priority.

Please! My daughter... My daughter was taken from me!

Your...daughter?

Come on, we've gotta hear him out. Besides, he doesn't seem like a bad guy.

Very well. Make it quick.

Oh, thank you, thank you! I am a traveling arms merchant operating out of the Royal City. I was on my way there with my daughter when, out of nowhere, a gang of thieves attacked us and took her away.

As a merchant, weren't you traveling with security?

Of course, and I paid them well for it, too! But they were no match for the thieves, blast it. I was knocked out and when I woke up my dearest daughter was already...

How old is your daughter?

She's yet but a child. Cute as a button and sweet as pie, I tell you! I understand why someone would take my valuable goods, but my little girl...

Understood.

Huh?

We will rescue your daughter.

Y-You will?! Truly?

You bet. We would never turn our backs on a child in need!

Speak for yoursel–

Oh, a thousand thanks to both of you!

Well then, do you have any idea which direction they fled in?

I'm afraid not. I was out cold.

Which means you have no clues to give us.

Yes...

What are we gonna do? Even if we choose to scour the land for her, we still need to find her fast, to ensure her safety.

Could you instead tell us precisely where the attack occurred?

It was on the western side of this marsh. But why would you want to go there?

The location may provide some insight. I am a witch, and I have quite particular methods of gathering information.

A witch?!

Consider my craft as something akin to that of the magicians here in your land.

Well, we should get started. All right, time to go look for those clues!

But before we do,

Take this.

Are these...tourniquets, and healing herbs?

Yes. Use them to dress your wounds. I am sure your daughter would be quite upset if she came home only to see you covered in unhealed wounds.

Take care treating your wounds and return to the safety of Unigan. You may wait for us there.

Oh, I cannot express the extent of my gratitude. Thank you. I just know you'll bring her home!

I knew you wouldn't ignore his plight in the end, Tsukiha.

Children are innocent creatures. That is the only reason I agreed to his request. Now, rather than engage in idle chatter, we should make haste to the west side of Karek Swampland.

The place the merchant was talking about should be right around here.

There are residual signs of an altercation here. They indicate a quite vicious scuffle.

Hmm. But there isn't anything that indicates where the bandits went after. And I can't see anything else that looks like it would.

If only there was a weapon left behind from that fight. Then we'd have something...

......

A katana. Perfect.

Right, you can read the memories of swords, is that it?

Yes. To be specific, I can turn them into spectral blades, and then read their memories from them.

Oh, right. Is that a kind of sorcery?

No. That power comes with possessing this awful, cursed arm of mine...

How so? It's just a sword.

With but a simple spell I can read the memories it holds.

Woah! That was unexpected. Is that a witchcraft thing?

No. That power comes with possessing this awful, cursed arm of mine...

Cursed arm? What...

Hush. I need to concentrate so please, be silent.

Ngh!

Tsukiha? You look like you're in pain, are you okay?

I'm fine. This is normal.

Tch, giving me a hard time, are ya? That weren't smart. If you'da given up the goods nice and easy I woulda played nice.

Papa! Papa!

Pipe down, you little runt!

Eek!

Listen here, now. You and me are gonna hurry on down to the Nuaru Uplands. If we ain't on time for that clown, he'll be arguin' all night, tryin' to cut a better deal.

What's going to happen to me?

You don't wanna know, runt. Now get to walking!

Anything useful?

It appears that they were headed for the Nuaru Uplands. The bandit is planning to meet someone there.

You learned all that from a sword? That's some power! Right, the Nuaru Uplands. We've got to hurry!

Hmm. This area appears to be as yet untouched by civilization.

The landscape is rather unlike that of my home...but the flowers that bloom here certainly are beautiful.

So it's kind of like you, huh?

Huh?

Even though you're different, you have a delicate side to you too. Like right now, when you're enjoying the flowers.

I am not enjoying anything.

Err, but...

Purge your head of that nonsense at once. Flowers have always been irrelevant to my purpose. I need not "enjoy" them.

Speaking of which, I've been wondering what this purpose you keep mentioning is. Does it have something to do with your arm being cursed?

......

I don't want to make you tell me if you don't want to. But I do want you to tell me if there's anything I can do. If I can help, as your frien...

You really are rather meddlesome, aren't you. And in spite of the fact that people usually have their hands full with their own worries.

Hey, it's just that if a friend's in trouble, I can't just let them suffer alone.

Hmph. Really, now?

Your concern is appreciated. Nevertheless I alone must walk the path I have been set upon. And as for my arm...there is nothing that can be done for it now. I have tried every fix and counter-hex. All of them have failed.

No kidding? How did you come to be cursed with magic that strong?

No more questions. I must concentrate on tracking the bandit.

Oh, right. But there's no-one around. Wait, did they already, ?!

There are two sets of footprints leading west from here.

We should be able to catch up with them. Let's not delay any longer.

No lollygaggin'! Move it!

No! I wanna see Papa!

Get it through ya head, kid! Even if your old man wakes up, he ain't gonna be the same with those injuries, I tell ya!

*sob*

Hold it.

Wha, ?! Who the heck are you?!

Unhand the child.

Whazzat?

I demand her release on behalf of her father. Return his beloved daughter to him.

Papa?!

Tsk! So he got himself some muscle, huh?

Let the girl go! Now!

Heh! You loons think I'd ever say yes? Ya mess with my trade, ya get turned into monster food! Peeps back on the menu, boys!

Monsters!

He is a robber. His predisposition against reason is par for the course. Fear not. The rancorous force of my spectral blade will motivate him to reconsider.

You're kiddin' me?! Takin' down big monsters like that...

Now. Will you continue to resist?

Stuff this! I-I was gettin' sick of her anyway!

Am... Am I okay now?

Yes, you're safe with us. Are you injured at all?

Nope! I fell and grazed my knee a bit but I won't cry! Papa says that armorers' daughters have to grow up strong!

My, what a nice Papa. He's waiting in Unigan for you to come home. Let's get you back there.

Okay!

......

Tsukiha? What are you doing?

It appears that the robber dropped these weapons as he was fleeing. We should also take them back to Unigan.

Papa!

Oh, my darling! Thank the heavens!

Listen, Papa! The nice lady and the man saved me!

That they did! I'm so glad...

AND I didn't cry. Not even once...

The bond between parent and child is a wonderful thing, is it not?

It sure is. It was nice to see you smile for once, too.

I had no intention of making such an expression. I was merely reminded of something from long ago.

You mean, your family?

......

Kind travelers, I cannot thank you enough! You've saved our family!

Thanks, Miss! Thanks, Mister!

Don't worry about it. We all need a helping hand sometimes.

Here are the items the bandit took. I have already looked them over, but, if you would, please check that everything is in order.

Yes, of course.

All accounted for! Now I'll be able to return to business as usual too! In fact, take whichever weapon you like, as thanks. They're all top quality, as is the standard here!

Your generosity is humbling. Even so, nothing can replace the sword I have used for all along.

I'm just happy that you're happy too.

But, I cannot let you go without...

All right. Perhaps you might show me your katanas, if you have any?

Absolutely! If you're sure that's all you'd like.

Here. I don't have many, but what I do have I'm proud of.

Thank you. I'd like to handle them, if I may.

You read another memory, huh? What was in it?

It was the last the very last thing the sword's master saw. Such is the case for many blades.

I have also felt their lasting affection for loved ones left behind, and the desperation to be remembered in their dying cries. To concentrate your life into a single, persistent emotion... We owe that effort both memory and honor.

Err...Miss?

Thank you. I'm afraid none of them was the particular sword I seek. I shall return them to you now.

Now, if you'll excuse me. I must return to my travels.

Of course. Well, you must let me thank you properly when we next meet!

Bye, nice lady!

Now that I think about it, when we took down that robber it seemed like you were looking for something. Were you trying to find a sword?

Yes. The particular sword I seek is the key to locating my enemy.

Who or what is it?

The uxoricidal wretch who brought our homeland to its knees, and caused such suffering to those whose death he caused. My archenemy...

......

My curse was inflicted by that same man. Now my arm is more witchcraft than flesh, intangible to all living creatures. It is capable of one thing only: invoking an evil blade steeped in the hateful whisperings of the long-departed.

So your purpose has always been to take revenge on this guy?

Yes. The same wicked fiend who killed my mother. Who betrayed my country and gave me this curse...

My... Father. My goal is to destroy him.