Leaving the shop, Louise shot Hayashi Maki a puzzled look.
"So why pick a junk sword?"
Before Hayashi Maki could answer, the "junk" in his hand protested on its own:
"I'm no junk, girl. Surprising, isn't it—what age is this? And you still run into a true swordsman?"
Louise's eyes widened. "If I'm not mistaken… that sword just talked?"
Hayashi Maki nodded calmly.
"Yep. It's a sentient blade—the priciest thing in that shop. A hundred gold was a steal."
Louise grimaced. "It looks like the legendary Derfflinger. Honestly… is bringing such a weird thing back really okay? Maybe we should go elsewhere and get a real sword?"
She couldn't accept that after finally deciding to give him a gift, he'd chosen a 100-gold "rusty stick."
The sword bristled. "No taste at all, girl. Partner, name's Derflinger. And you?"
"I'm Hayashi Maki. Pleased to work with you, Derf."
"Haha—you get it, partner. Use me well; I won't disappoint."
Louise's mouth twitched. "You really like that thing?"
Hayashi Maki ruffled her hair. "This one's fine—no need for gaudy ornaments. Besides, forget my alchemy already? The blade's base is excellent; it can absorb wind, fire, earth, and water magic. And since I'm the wielder, I can take it further—like… this."
Mana poured into the blade.
"Oooh—partner, your power's no joke—ahhh, I'm full, I'm melting!" Derflinger yelped.
Hayashi Maki's face darkened. "Cut the weird noises."
Bathed in mana, the battered sword flared. Rust vanished; in his hand gleamed a blade etched with mysterious sigils, silver-white and razor keen. He dropped a single hair across it—snip, cleanly severed. He tapped a nearby boulder—
Thunk—boom! Under Louise's stunned gaze, the rock burst into powder.
"Incredible! That's its true form?"
"No, no, girl—this is Derflinger's evolved form. Hayashi Maki, you're something else! Even the last Gandálfr didn't have power like this. Not even a ten-thousandth of the Founder's compares," the sword crowed.
Hayashi Maki stroked the blade, satisfied, then flicked his wrist—the sword dissolved into light and settled as a sigil on the back of his hand.
"It can be stored away? That's… convenient."
Since meeting Hayashi Maki, Louise had been shocked so often she suspected nothing would ever surprise her again.
"Time to head back, Louise."
He summoned the bike and offered his hand. Blushing, she climbed on. Hayashi Maki settled her in his lap and fired the engine. The motorcycle itself could serve as a weapon; he willed Derflinger to fuse into the frame. A sigil rippled across the chassis; hellfire licked along the body, enchanting and reforging ordinary parts. Twin cannons unfolded along the sides.
Louise's lips twitched. Another bizarre development—the mount suddenly looked aggressive.
"Oho, partner—I feel strange. Is this mount a weapon too? Feels like I could breathe fire!"
As if on cue, the barrels spat flame, bathing the surroundings in red. Derflinger, exhilarated, handled the ride—more certain by the moment that this new master was anything but ordinary.
Hayashi Maki only smiled, let Derflinger drive, freed his hands, and hugged Louise to enjoy the wind. Derflinger was speechless—his master sure knew how to flirt and enjoy himself… but he didn't mind taking the wheel. A weapon exists to serve its master.
…
With Derflinger's boost, speed doubled—but at Hayashi Maki's request they kept it reasonable. In thirty minutes they rolled back into Tristain. A stylish swerve, a gentle drop—done.
It was a Void holiday—no classes—so Louise, for once, lazed in her room. Hayashi Maki, meanwhile, chatted with Derflinger, prying at Founder lore. According to the sword, he'd been the off-hand weapon of the first Void familiar, Gandálfr—used to pierce the Founder's heart.
After a bit of small talk and a word to Louise, Hayashi Maki summoned Derflinger and headed to the lawn to "practice." He didn't lack power—what he needed was style.
"Practice," of course, mostly meant showing off. Don't forget—his retainer contracts had granted him "God's Hand: Weapon Mastery."
As the blade swept, whirlwinds spun around him. The silver-white sword blurred into hundreds of afterimages as he recreated a "100-hit" combo. With a suitable second blade, he could bust out a true Starburst Stream.
His swordwork drew attention—especially Guiche's. Just seeing Hayashi Maki made his scalp tingle; watching that unreadable flurry, he shivered. Best not to provoke him—more humiliation would be guaranteed.
Under the girls' adoring eyes, Hayashi Maki slid the blade home; it dissolved into light and sank back into his sigil. One day, given the chance, he'd like a holy sword that could turn into a girl…
Up in a tower, a green-haired mage narrowed her eyes, watching.
~~~
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