CLWE 04

Chapter 4

I thought so too.

And because of that, I ended up wasting the very last golden window of time.

Looking back, the moment the hoe started talking, I should’ve thrown it away without even looking back. Instead, I foolishly took the bait.

“Y-yeah. I’m your master.”

—The contract has been formed.

The instant I answered, the hoe burst into a dazzling white light.

My right hand burned as if it were on fire, and strange characters I had never seen before were etched chaotically across the back of my hand.

My eyes flew wide open. It was definitely a hoe—absolutely a hoe!

But when the light faded, what remained was a single, sleekly elongated sword.

—The name of this body is Louis Garbon Bontoir the Third.

It was a sword with no eyes, no nose, no mouth—yet somehow it radiated the rich, greasy aura of butter.

Was it just my imagination, or did the sword wink at me?

—Consider it an honor to have become my tenth master.

“T-tenth master?”

What was with that number? Don’t tell me it changes owners every year and that’s why it’s the tenth?

And a sword. A sword!

I staggered backward away from the sword floating lazily in midair.

“Why did your form suddenly change? What I picked up didn’t look like an expensive sword like this.”

A sword, my foot. What I picked up was a rusty hoe.

As my lips trembled with indignation and confusion, Louis spoke smugly.

—If I were to tell the story of my birth, even ten handkerchiefs wouldn’t be enough, so I’ll keep it brief.

Brief, my ass. What followed was a saga worthy of a long-running historical drama.

—I am a sword forged by the God of Abundance, Lord Boneracol, over three days and nights! Abundance dwells within me. That is why so many have coveted me.

Boneracol? What kind of name is that for a god?

The credibility of the story plummeted instantly, but Louis, oblivious to my narrowed eyes, continued dramatically.

—But I am a most intelligent sword! I have only ever permitted myself to those with the makings of an emperor who could shoulder the future of this nation. However, nine times was enough. More and more unqualified fools tried to become my master, and I grew sick of everything, so I hid myself in a trivial form.

Now emperors were involved.

‘What a liar. I don’t know what you are, but you’re definitely a liar.’

It was certainly a sword that looked noble and mysterious, but it didn’t seem like something an emperor would carry.

Wouldn’t an emperor wield something, you know—bigger? Heavier? Something like that?

This sword looked light and thin enough for me to swing around easily. Its blade was as transparent as ice, and no matter how I looked at it, it didn’t seem meant for combat.

‘I’ve gotten mixed up with something weird.’

It seemed I’d answered wrong once and ended up in a contract.

‘Can this be undone?’

I rubbed the back of my hand with my fingers. The pattern moved as I rubbed it, as though it were part of my skin.

‘Damn. Doesn’t look like it’s going away. So I have to live with that noisy, useless sword attached to me?’

Unaware of my inner thoughts, Louis suddenly lunged his body toward me and shouted.

—But Master! You recognized my true worth even while I hid in a trivial form!

“Huh…?”

I just picked you up because you were a hoe.

—Eyes that can see the beauty of a flower buried in mud! You truly possess the qualities of a ruler. Receive the protection of me, Louis Garbon Bontoir the Third!

Isn’t this guy seriously misunderstanding something?

I waved my hand with an awkward smile.

“But I’m just an ordinary farmer. I don’t need something as grand as you.”

—What kind of person you are doesn’t matter.

“How can it not matter! You said you hid like that for a long time to find the right master! Then you should go to someone brave and wise who suits you.”

I tried coaxing it to leave me alone, but Louis wouldn’t budge. Instead, it spouted utter nonsense and clung to me even tighter.

—The state is I.

‘What is this, Louis XIV?’

Just because the name’s Louis doesn’t mean they’re all the same Louis.

And what state? I just want to tend my farm! Wondering whether I should plant pears or quinces tomorrow!

“I don’t even know how to swing a sword. I really don’t need you. Go to someone who can wield a sword properly.”

I said it sincerely, but—

—Khh! Wisdom and humility! You truly are my master!

It was useless against a sword drunk on self-admiration.

“……”

This guy’s a total ‘answer-decided’ type.

‘Ah, whatever. Let it be.’

If I’d already fallen into a fantasy world, what was the big deal about carrying around a talking sword?

‘It actually makes it feel more like I’ve really transmigrated.’

I wasn’t married yet, and I had no family. I’d been bored anyway—might as well think of it as gaining a comfortable conversation partner.

‘It’s just been too quiet until now.’

When you have no one to talk to, even a single sword that chatters is something to be grateful for.

Thinking positively, I reached out my hand toward Louis.

“Thanks for choosing me. Let’s get along from now on.”

—I look forward to it as well, Master. Please live long enough to smear shit on the walls and make me happy.

“That’s a bit much.”

I’d like a life that preserves at least a basic level of human dignity.

‘And imagining an old grandma holding a sword while smearing shit on walls is kind of funny.’

…No, maybe that’d be entertaining in its own way.

Anyway, I obtained Louis Garbon Bontoir the Third.

And right after that, strange things began to happen.

“Something strange has been happening in the territory lately.”

“Something strange?”

Every month, on the second and fourth Wednesdays, was the day I shared tea with the old lady lord.

I was slicing open a fresh Korean melon and peeling the skin myself when the old lady lord spoke while munching on it.

“Don’t throw away the seeds. They’re sweet and delicious.”

“Let’s respect household preferences and not interfere.”

“You always have to talk back to your elders.”

I didn’t like seeds getting stuck in my teeth, but since the old lady preferred eating them, I made sure not to remove the seeds from the melon I served her.

She continued munching and said,

“All of a sudden, the trees and grass are growing like crazy. The hoya in my office bloomed for the first time in seven years. Isn’t that amazing?”

“It’s because the sunlight’s good. The climate’s been really nice this year.”

The sun blazed, and the rain fell just the right amount—like a god turning on the faucet, thinking, this should be enough, and then shutting it tight.

The wind was just right too, spreading pollen everywhere so all kinds of plants were pollinated well. Even the beehive I’d placed on a whim was already full of honey and needed harvesting.

‘Now that I think about it, the weather really has been unusually good this year.’

How could it be this perfect?

‘Well, it happens sometimes.’

Just as I let out a quiet sigh through my nose, the old lady’s story continued.

“When dogs give birth, they always have exactly eight puppies. And when chickens lay eggs, they’re always double-yolked. People are actually having fun trying to find eggs that aren’t double-yolked—doesn’t that seem strange?”

“If things are abundant, that’s good, right? It’s because you’re such a good lord.”

“No. It’s strange. No matter how I think about it, it’s strange.”

If it were me, I’d be shouting “Jackpot!” in delight, but perhaps because she was cautious by nature, the old lady kept tilting her head in doubt.

‘And yet she trusted me the moment she saw me.’

Not only trusted me—every time we met, she’d mutter, It’d be nice if I took you in as an adopted daughter.

‘Though adopting me seemed complicated.’

Novels make adoption seem easy, but in reality it’s incredibly complicated, involving inheritance and asset distribution.

It’s not something one can decide lightly, nor something that can be done with just one person’s approval.

‘And honestly, getting that close would be a bit much for me too.’

I liked things just the way they were—calling her “Grandma,” and her calling me the same.

As I was lost in thought, peeling the melon, the old lady stopped chewing and pointed at my hand.

“But why are you wearing bandages on your hand?”

“Ah…”

Well, you see, there’s a dark flame dragon living on the back of my hand now.

‘I obviously can’t say that, right?’

With no good excuse, I smiled awkwardly. The old lady jumped up from her seat in alarm.

“Are you hurt? Show me at once—I’ll treat it!”

She looked ready to start shouting for a physician, so I quickly sat her back down.

“N-no, I’m not hurt.”

“Then what is it?”

“I picked up something strange while walking around the farm last time…”

“Did you get metal poisoning? Untie it right now! You could die!”

Ah, seriously, it’s not like that.

“It doesn’t hurt. It’s just… something like a strange tattoo appeared.”

I felt embarrassed showing it to her, but her stubbornness was no joke. With an awkward smile, I slowly unwrapped the bandages.

The old lady’s eyes widened at the sight of the back of my hand.

“This is…”

Ah, so even to her it looked strange.

‘It really does look like an over-the-top chuuni magic circle.’

Why did it have to be on the back of my hand of all places? I smiled sheepishly.

“It’s not something I wanted. I don’t know how it happened.”

“…I see. Wrap the bandage back up.”

“Huh? O-okay.”

I expected her to scoff and say it was nonsense, but she let it go surprisingly easily.

Then, looking oddly pale, she pressed a hand to her forehead and said,

“My head suddenly hurts. Would you mind heading back for today?”