The Appraising-Eye Slave Trader ~ A Blind Boy Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble Dominates with the Power to 'See True Talent' ~ - Episode 11: Let’s Appraise the Demon Sword

Episode 11: Let’s Appraise the Demon Sword

Today, I just intended to do a little procurement.

While looking at various goods, as usual, I was using my appraising eye to search for a “hidden gem”. but I was feeling a little bored.

“…Not many hits today…”

At the last market, I struck gold with things like a “mithril sword” and “high-grade herbs”. But I can’t count on that kind of luck continuing.

No, as long as I have the appraising eye, I wouldn’t call it luck.

Anyway, today there were no noteworthy slaves in stock. And I didn’t see any particularly rare tools.

Stifling a light yawn, I turned my feet toward an alley I don’t usually go to.

It was a small back street. Unlike the flashy weapon shops on the main street, dusty old shops stood shoulder to shoulder.

Suddenly, my feet stopped.

…What’s this?

I felt a strange “gaze.”

Being watched? No, not that.

It felt more like I was being “called.”

At the back of a wooden box in front of the shop, there was a sword covered in dust.

The sheath was falling apart. The leather on the grip was peeling. It looked so rusty that it didn’t seem usable—in short, a junk sword.

…Despite that, my appraising eye reacted on its own.

No, rather than a reaction… it was being dragged into my vision on its own.

(Hey, what is this feeling…)

Naturally, I crouched down and reached out for the sword.

—In that moment.

A sound like “metal creaking” echoed in the back of my head.

Not in my ears—directly in my brain.

It was a low groan, like a heartbeat or a moan.

“…This is…”

I slowly activated my appraising eye.

The window floating in my vision flickered like static,

And just barely displayed the information.

《Appraisal Result》

[Name] Demon Sword Velze-Fang (Sealed State)

[Properties] Mental Interference Type / Mana Drain / Self-Repair Function Present

[Seal Level] B (Tearing in Progress)

[Risk] May interfere with the user’s mana and mind; possible domination

[Weakness] Interference can be blocked by injecting inverse-phase mana into the core stone

[Compatibility] User must have info interference skill / medium or higher mental resistance

→Currently, no master. The demon sword is reacting in search of a “new master.”

A chill ran down my spine.

The sword in my hand was clearly showing interest in “me.”

(…Seriously? This thing’s alive…?)

But—

“This is getting interesting…”

I smirked and stood up with the ragged sword in one hand.

An elderly man poked his face out from behind a sun-faded counter. He looked like the shopkeeper.

“You… picked that thing up?”

“Yeah. This is for sale, right?”

“Well, yeah. That’s a cursed sword that’s been sitting unsold for a long time. When I showed it to a blacksmith, he laughed and said it was just ‘rusty iron.’ I kept it around just because it’s a hassle to dispose of. Occasionally, some eccentric takes it in hand. But for some reason, they all collapse on the spot… It’s useless.”

Hey now… don’t leave something that dangerous just lying around like that…

Well, thanks to that, I was able to meet this thing…

“Then—how about three silver coins?”

“…If you’re willing to buy it, that’d be great. But don’t blame me if you get cursed.”

“No worries. I’ve got a good ‘eye’.”

“Hmph, all you young folks say that.”

“Then, I’ll take it.”

Saying that, I handed over the silver coins and slung the demon sword, wrapped in cloth, over my shoulder.

Even at that point, the “voice of metal” still faintly lingered in my mind.

『…Heh heh… Interesting. Then, try it. If you have the resolve to wield me…』

My appraising eye was about to open a new “door.”

Once back at the mansion, I went straight to my room without showing the demon sword to anyone.

I only told Lilia and Kariya, “I’ve got something I want to test.”

Closing the door, I quietly placed the tattered sword on my desk.

From appearance alone, no matter how you look at it, it’s just scrap.

But—

“Alright, let’s wake you up. Show me your ‘true form’.”

I placed my hand on the demon sword and slowly poured mana into it.

In an instant, the sword’s sheath shattered with a crack. Red-black light filled the room.

The blade should’ve been rusted. It now glowed with black-silver light. And twisted engravings surfaced.

The air grew heavy. Mana distorted the space.

『…At last, we meet. My new master…』

The voice echoed directly in my mind.

It was low and muddled, not clearly male or female.

It sounded like low and high tones played at the same time.

It echoed as if from the bottom of the deep sea—ominous, yet sweetly seductive.

—But soon, that turned into “invasion.”

My vision swayed. And I felt black mist flowing into the back of my head.

Anger, obsession, fear, jealousy, hatred… a blend of all “negative emotions”—a mental interference.

(…So this is “mind domination”…)

『Kneel… O one who has taken me in hand. Now, offer your soul and become one with me…』

Certainly, an ordinary human would have been swallowed by this voice.

But—

“…Too bad. I can ‘see’ it.”

I looked at the spirit through my appraising eye.

The demon sword’s structure, the source of interference—the mana pattern of its “core stone.”

My appraising eye had noticed a slight distortion in its center.

(There it is… the point where ‘inverse-phase’ mana flows in…!)

I deliberately reversed the nature of the mana I was channeling.

I clashed an inverse waveform against the normal mana wave.

Then—

『GyaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!』

The demon sword let out a scream-like metallic resonance.

The black mist that filled the space scattered like sparks.

And then.

Everything went completely silent.

The black-silver sword sat there quietly, simply and beautifully.

『…Master confirmed. Domination complete. Will obey commands from now on.』

I gripped the hilt again and let out a deep breath.

“Phew… that was close… But—”

I smirked and muttered.

“—I won. With my ‘eyes’.”

Its true nature, structure, weakness—

I didn’t overpower it with force. I conquered it with “information.”

That’s my style.

Carrying the demon sword on my back, I returned to the mansion courtyard.

Kariya and Varna had just finished their training. And Lilia was watering the garden flowers. They noticed me.

“Ouji-sama… What is that sword…?”

Lilia timidly asked.

The blade gleaming in black-silver clearly emitted an extraordinary aura.

Now unsealed, the demon sword Velze-Fang was exuding a beautiful yet dangerous “presence.”

“Just a little treasure I found. …It was a demon sword, but I’ve tamed it properly.”

“A-A demon sword!? You’ve brought back something really dangerous again…! Please don’t do reckless things…”

Kariya put a hand to her temple and sighed.

“I’ve heard stories before about nobles who went mad after touching cursed equipment… Are you really alright…?”

“No problem. If anything, now it only listens to me. The master-servant relationship is fully established.”

When I said that and shrugged, Varna’s eyes sparkled as she leaned forward.

“Eh!? Then does that sword talk!? Does it have a will!? Is it a companion!? What’s its name!? What are its skills!? Does it breathe fire!? Do its slashes have attributes!? Does it transform!?”

“C-Calm down, Varna… You’re asking too many questions all at once…”

“Amazing… Ouji-sama, you keep discovering new things… It’s like you’re a master treasure hunter.”

Hearing Lilia’s words, I blushed just a little.

(Well, it’s pretty much a “treasure.” If you’ve got the eye, the world’s value is yours for the taking.)

◆　　◆　　◆

Night.

In an empty room.

I had propped the demon sword Velze-Fang against the wall. And just as I was about to turn over in bed—I suddenly heard a voice.

『…So you have indeed become “master.” One with a discerning eye…』

That low voice. But now, it wasn’t interference. Just a kind of whisper.

『…To have seen the crack in the seal, pierced it, and taken control. Master… You are “different” from my previous masters…』

…Different?

『—Then, I shall slowly tell you the secrets of the “kings of magic arms” I know. The genealogy of the demon swords hidden in this world. And the name of their “creator”—』

That’s where the voice ended.

I narrowed my eyes and glanced at the demon sword.

(I see. This thing… isn’t just a weapon. It’s a kind of “gateway,” huh.)

“Interesting. Then—‘show me’ what’s beyond it.”

My appraising eye was once again beginning to “decode” a new world.