However, I held the sword normally, but I feel like I was rash if it was a cursed piece of equipment - if Ariadne was right about this being an 'armament', if it was dangerous just to hold it, they would have let me know in advance if it was dangerous, and I was actually okay with it. I don't have a problem with it.

'Lord Atobe, the knapsack you brought here seems to be glowing...'
What is it?

　The knapsack that I had let go of during the battle, but when I looked at it, it was emitting a blue light.

''Oh, brother, even that sword is glowing, isn't it dangerous?''
No I don't feel any dangerous spirits. I'm sure nothing bad will happen.
..........

　Theresia is terribly worried about me, but Suzuna is right, I didn't feel a bad omen, or even an ominous sign, as strange as it sounds.

　If you look closely, you can see an indentation in the hilt of the sword, which emits a faint blue light and envelops the entire sword - as if it were pulsating.

(Blue, or light blue... or maybe it's light blue... similar to the color of Ariadne's hair... this is still indicative of her relationship with the secret god.)

　The one that shone inside the knapsack was the 'Breakthrough Crystal'. It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

"Does this mean I'm going to be able to fit that jewelry into the hole in the hilt...?
"...Aricht, be careful. I trust Suzuna's instincts too, but you never know what will happen.
BOW!

　Igarashi-san, Elitia, and Sion are also watching over her. Serafina-san also seemed to be nervous about what was about to happen and kept her eyes on them the whole time.

''........Atobe-dono, is it okay for me to be present at such an important occasion?''
'We should be rather grateful to have Seraphina-san fight with us and be present until after the battle.
'Well if you say so. I'll never tell you about it either. Now, as a member of this unit (party), let's have a look.

　As soon as he picked up the breaker crystal, there was no pain, but sparks flew out without a sound.

''Huh ... no, I'm fine. But this........this is going to be even more outrageous than I expected......!

　The Breaker Crystal is fitted into the hollow of the hilt. At that moment, a blue light ripples through the entire blade like a circuit, and its shape changes - from the appearance of a Japanese sword, the blade and the sword flange unfold, and its appearance changes dramatically.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　'? Change the owner of "Weapons of Will" to "Aricht".
　'? The first name in Weapons of Will turns out to be "Murakumo".

　--My name is Murakumo. I have authenticated Arihito as my master and he is now under the control of the secret god Ariadne.

"....!

　The voice in my head was the same inorganic one as it was before I entered the fight - but I didn't feel the will to eliminate us now.

　I had let go of the hilt of my sword - the sword would just float away and stop at nothing.



　Hearing Suzuna's whispered voice, I make one inference.

　The sword wasn't moving as if it were alive. Only the technique of spinning like a wheel would have been the sword moving on its own - but other than that, the movement like a skilled swordsman was made possible by the spirit body in the Murakumo.

　That spirit body rapidly formed a substance and appeared in front of us. A girl grasps the hilt of a sword and stares at us with inorganic eyes.

　She looks like a young Ariadne, and is clearly dressed in a foreign guise. She wears a suit that is far removed from the civilization seen in the labyrinthine country, a cybernetic, polymer-like material that sticks to her skin, and on her head she wears something like a headgear.

'You ... the will that resides in this sword. Are you saying that up until now, you've been keeping your figure invisible?

　Murakumo doesn't move her mouth, just nods back. The voice that echoes in her head is probably hers, speaking to her in the same way as Ariadne's, but she doesn't seem to be making any actual sounds.

'Huh ... soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Isn't it kind of like a suit that looks like it could go into space by itself, somehow?　This is.
''It's true ... but then again, it's unbelievable that such a pretty girl could attack me so hard.

　Both Misaki and Igarashi are impressed. Even though she's called cute, the girl - Murakumo - doesn't move her expression at all.

"I guess it's called an image with mass. I couldn't see it completely before, but...

　Murakumo doesn't nod. Images are a little different, and I guess that means that she, as a spirit body, can switch between making herself visible and hiding, depending on her will.

　In my chest, I ask Ariadne a question - will her voice reach here?

''I'm glad that you are safe. I was able to confirm just now that the 'Star Machine Sword' has been added to my management. If my power has been of any use to you, I'm beyond excited.

(Well it makes me happy to hear you say that much. It's thanks to Ariadne's blessing that we've survived.

''When I blocked the Star Machine Sword's strike with my hand, I felt that I was able to fight alongside you. I am grateful to have met a contractor like you.

　Compared to when we first met, I can feel the heat in Ariadne's words - they're bland, but they've definitely changed from what they were before.

　I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that I have increased my faith value, but either way, it's good to know that our trusting relationship is steadily building.

''........I received the recognition code. The Murakumo is also capable of being a part of me, but it can be equipped by an arihit that I recognize as its owner, or someone else can use it. Only a limited number of people can equip it, but it will probably be a powerful weapon that you won't see when you get up to the Seventh Ward.''

(Well you don't have to go deliver it as a part of Ariadne?)

'It's only in your possession and under my control. I can summon Murakumo to my hand. With one more part, I can spread the effects of transference to the entire party. However, there are some drawbacks, such as the lack of equipment when transitioning.''

(That would be great in an emergency... hopefully it could be used where the scrolls don't work.)

''When you use the skills of a secret god, you will make a different theory of transference than if you allow those human skills to be used as tools. As a general rule, there is no environment in which they cannot be used.''

　The more I talk to him, the more I feel like I'm getting more out of this one - I'm still glad I tried to open the box.

　As I finish my exchange with Ariadne, I notice that Murakumo is looking at me - a little bit of it is fading away.

'I have very little time to visualize it. My master, you should equip and transport me.
Can you talk? Okay, can I just walk with it?
I shouldn't really say a word. A weapon should be a weapon.
........or is she cute......isn't she actually a bit cute?
Misaki, don't be too careless with your hugs or anything.
Wow, I know, but~.......I look like this, and I have a lot of maternal instincts.......
...When I met her like this, she was very pretty, wasn't she?

　In sharp contrast to the fierce battle we had just witnessed, our atmosphere around the Murakumo is extremely peaceful. It's a good thing we're all on the same side now, so it's good that everyone accepts us.

　The Murakumo finishes its visualization as it said and becomes invisible again. The sword that had been transformed has also returned to its original Japanese sword form - I asked Madoka to arrange a special scabbard for it, and I wonder if it would be a good idea to carry it on my back.

'Bau, bauh.'
'Zion-chan you're great, you're doing a great job, even though I didn't say anything.

　Theon had added some of the larger equipment that was scattered about and brought it to me. Many of the items didn't seem particularly magical, but there was a mix of things that I thought were this - I think I could update some of the equipment.

　And we spent the next two hours or so collecting and sorting through the treasure in the black box's contents - five thousand five hundred gold coins, quite a bit of money if you include silver and copper coins, mixed in with some metal coins I'd never seen before.

　Some of them included equipment that must have been dropped by members of the Arctic Star. I got a few magic stones that I had never gotten before, as well as two runes.

　Since I was very indebted to Falma-san, I gave her about a hundred gold coins as a reward for success, in addition to the normal fee. I was going to give her more than that, but she said she had decided that even if she received it, that was the limit.

''You can't be bothered with any amount of money. Even if you are moved up to the seventh ward, there are always occasions when you will need it. Besides, a hundred gold coins is an excessive amount of money for our family... and it's a shame that we have to accept a mere opening of a box.
'No, you did a dangerous box-opener for me. Thank you so much, Mr. Falma.
'No...I am the one who has been amazed since I met Atobe and the others. I always wish I could have had the same adventures you have had. But I'm happy enough just to hear your stories.

　We're all embarrassed to have been told that much - I feel the same way.

　And today is the end of my days in District 8, which were so fulfilling.

　The relationships I've built up here will continue in District 7 and beyond. I greeted Falma again and headed to the guild with my friends - to invite Louisa, who had said she would drink with me after she had finished her work.