There's Hope for Me

“It’s empty!”

I quickly flipped the pages over in a panic. To my surprise, the entire book was empty. Afterward, I inspected every part of the book.

Naima noticed some writing towards the end of the book. Our eyes were diverted to the small writing on the last page. We read the note in unison.

“I, Satori Zapata, forgot to make this book. The press wanted me to write this to pass down my knowledge about my weapon. But anyone with any level of swordsmanship or mana control could use the blade. So, making a book would have been pointless. Also, I doubt anyone with good intentions would ever use it to honor my name or something.”

“However, if someone did manage to use the Tri-Carver, I would like to mention one thing. You don’t choose the weapon… the weapon chooses you. Good luck, by your hero, Satori.”

Everyone’s faces widened in shock. I snapped, downright furious at Satori’s note. “Are you serious?!” I slammed the book to the ground.

Is Satori really that stupid? In all the manga I read, the main characters usually inherited the past hero’s weapons. Surely, he thought someone would eventually use the blade. He needed to write down his knowledge. For people like me!

Amada broke the awkward pause in the air, commenting, “Wow, Mr. Satori really does act like you. That’s something you would say… are you sure you aren’t him?”

I refused to react to her. I decided to ignore her insult while trying to keep my composure.

Seeing the defeat in my eyes, Anojin took it upon himself to leave the library. “There’s no point for me to be in here, so I’m going outside for some air.”

“If you don’t mind, Takumi,” Hinabe shyly requested. “I want to accompany Anojin so he isn’t alone.”

The crusader felt butterflies in his stomach. He cheerfully replied, blinded by his lover-boy persona. “Oh my. Miss Hinabe wants to accompany me? Wow, what did I do to deserve such amazing treatment?”

His persona rattled my ears. His presence would provoke me, making me angrier. With that in mind, I sent them off on their side quest while the rest of us continued to search for information.

…

Anojin and Hinabe retraced their steps back to the cave’s entrance. Anojin planned to wait outside the cave for us. But their break would end before it started as they opened the door.

Once they escaped the darkness, they heard chattering outside the cave. Their eyes adjusted to the sunlight.

A horde of elves surrounded the entrance. They cheered for us as we exited the cave. Anojin and Hinabe curiously glanced at one another, hoping the other would have an answer. Why were the elves there?

They began acting like paparazzi, bombarding the pair with questions regarding me.

“Is Mr. Satori in there?!” an elf cheerfully shouted.

“I can’t believe he's actually visiting our village!” another said.

Miss Hinabe gestured with her gentle hands, desperately trying to calm the crowd down. Her effort was ineffective as the crowd kept insisting on seeing me.

Due to one of Satavio’s captains infiltrating Dryd village, the citizens were distracted. I assumed once the immediate threat was gone, people would spread the rumors of my presence.

Anojin clicked his tongue with a disgusted look resting on his face. “I have a horrible feeling about this.” The crusader called out to Hinabe. “Miss Hinabe, let’s head back inside. I feel like we aren’t going to have a break.”

Hinabe obliged to his request. They turned their backs on the citizens.

However, the citizens refused to let this opportunity to find me slip from their hands. So, they chased after Anojin and Hinabe.

The pair felt the pressure of the elves pressing against their bodies. There was no single file line like in the school drills. It was a free-for-all for everyone to enter the cave.

“Let us in!” the crowd chanted.

Anojin grew impatient with the elves’ behavior. He didn’t ask for this. At first, he didn’t care if the elves had entered to meet me. But then, he thought about it logically.

He wondered how much more chaotic it would be if these maniacs had met him, given how disorganized they already were. In fact, he began to worry about Naima and Amada’s safety.

“I will not allow any of you to harm Miss Amada and Miss Naima inside!” The crusader equipped his shield and entered his defensive stance. “Miss Hinabe, please stay behind me!”

Anojin dug his heels in, standing firm against the crowd’s onslaught as he protected the sleepy elf.

…

Back inside the library…

The girls and I discussed Satori’s message in the book: I don’t choose the weapon, the weapon chooses me. I had no idea what he meant by that.

Naima wondered, “Do you understand what he said, Takumi?”

“No, not in the slightest.”

Amada chipped in with her input. “Well, he did mention that anyone with some swordsmanship skills or mana control can wield the weapon. And you clearly lack the sword skills.”

I clenched my fist, ready to strike her. I let her get away with the first slick comment, but not this one. “Listen here, you-”

Amada cut me off, finishing her train of thought. “But we could work on your mana control.”

“That could work,” noted Naima as she clapped her fists together, clearly getting Amada’s idea.

I immediately calmed down, thinking about her idea. Garlan only taught me the basics of swordplay. Since this was a magical world, I would assume using the Tri-Carver would require some mana control. Her suggestion actually began to make sense. Maybe… she wasn’t as useless as I thought.

When I performed the deadly three slashes, I felt like my body instinctively concentrated its mana towards the sword. However, I did not know how to use it at will. I would only be able to use it in dire situations.

Amada turned her attention to Naima. “Hey Naima, I know you elves have great mana control. My mana control is extremely average. Do you think you can help Takumi learn how to control his mana better?”

“Yes, I can help him out. I’m sure Hinabe wouldn’t mind helping out either.”

I glanced at Amada with sheer shock. This wasn’t the same useless Amada I knew. This version of her had good ideas. Who was this person, and where did they take Amada?!

Amada sensed my awkward gaze and questioned me. “Are you okay?”

“Who are you? What did you do to Amada?”

Naima returned the books to the shelves. “Alright, it sounds like we have a plan. Let’s head back to my house. I can teach you how to control your mana there.”

Once we'd created the plan, we headed for the exit. Before we headed out, I picked up Mr. Satori’s book and took a moment to inspect it. Soon after, I returned it to its original home. With the cleanup complete, we made our way outside.

…

We opened the door and were welcomed by Anojin and Hinabe, who were pushing back the crowd. The citizens noticed me walking out of the door. Screams rang in our ears as they chanted for Mr. Satori. They grew rabid, fighting back even more against the crusader.

I approached the pair, grabbing their attention. “Anojin! Hinabe! Are you guys okay?”

The crusader clicked his tongue once again after hearing me speak. “Took you long enough, fraud.”

“Takumi, Amada, and older sister! Did you guys finish down there?”

Naima answered. “Yes, Hinabe. We’re going to train Takumi to control his mana better. Would you like to help?”

A warm smile formed on Hinabe’s face. “I would love to help out!”

“I don’t mean to interrupt you, beautiful ladies,” Anojin kindly interrupted the girls’ conversation. “But I don’t know how long I can last with these barbarians.”

“You’re right. Let’s get moving!” I exclaimed.

We grouped up, creating a formation with Anojin in the lead. We marched straight into the crowd of elves.

The crowd desperately tried to grab my attention, acting like wild animals. I nodded at the crowd to let them know they were acknowledged. I felt claustrophobic as if I were on the main floor at the Cutesy Twins’ concert.

They were pulling on my clothes and calling out to me. I could feel them stretching out my shirt.

“Hey, don’t pull on my shirt. You’re ruining Kowala’s face!” I shouted.

The girls clung to the crusader, trying to hide from the crowd. Anojin, annoyed from his role in this plan, shoved the elves away from the path as he protected the girls.

After a grueling minute of pushing through the crowd, we finally made it to the edge. The path opened up. I was finally able to walk around freely.

As the crowd kept following us, we made a hasty getaway and sprinted back into the village to begin another training session.

The citizens would not give up and chased after us. I felt a sense of déjà vu from when I first arrived in Doppolia. The citizens in Stalu were used to me walking around, so I slightly forgot how people reacted to me.

Luckily, most of the elves following ran out of stamina. We slowly gained distance from the crowd. As we approached the house, the number behind us gradually decreased.

The last session failed, but I was optimistic. Swordplay was difficult enough. So, I was hoping to see results this time around.

…