There’s a fair bit of distance between the Aldo estate and Rastal Village.

Earlier, I was alone, so I managed to reach it in just a few dozen minutes.

However—now that I’m carrying three adults, that’s not the case anymore.

Whether I like it or not, I can feel a malicious presence directed at us.

…Is this a pack of monsters?

Charging straight through them seems difficult.

We’ll have to fight our way through.

I gently set the members of the Arceus Salvation Party down on the ground and sharpen my gaze toward the nearby thicket.

—And then.

“Arios-sama… As expected, your presence detection is unbelievable…”

Weeeen’s mechanical voice echoed dully.

What is it?
Being non-organic, it’s hard to read emotions from him, but I could sense a nuance of exasperation.

I glanced at Weeeen for just a second before turning my attention back ahead.

“…Obviously. I’m carrying members of the Arceus Salvation Party. There’s no telling what might happen.”

Worst case, their fellow members might come to attack us.

Well, I’m not sensing any signs of that, so we’re probably fine.

“…As expected of the Silver Sword Saint. You’re exactly the kind of person Farlus-sama saw promise in.”

“I told you—I’m not the Silver Sword Saint…”

How many times are we going to have this conversation?

“…Regardless, as your subordinate, I shall go forth. Arios-sama, please stay back.”

“Is that so… Well, if you’re offering, I’ll leave it to you.”

Although the strength of the Ancient Weapon is legendary, I still don’t know the full extent of Weeeen’s combat capabilities. I’d like to see what he can do here.

“Excuse me a moment.”

Weeeen carefully lays the two members down on the ground.

Surprisingly meticulous, he even brushes the weeds off their shoulders with a rod of iron.

“…Now then, shall we begin? Activating. Combat Mode.”

The moment Weeeen muttered those words—his appearance began to change.

His previously rounded and cute body transformed rapidly, shifting into a more humanoid shape.

A crimson line ran across what would be considered his eyes, and large holes formed where his hands were.

His form had completely changed into something worthy of being called combat mode.

“Heh… Let’s go, my cute little kittens.”

In the next instant—

DODODODODODODODODODODODODODODODODO!!

With a thunderous roar, something was fired from both of Weeeen’s hands at high speed.

—Those were… metal bullets?

And they looked like they were enhanced with magic, too.

Even a single hit from one of those would hurt badly, yet Weeeen fired them in rapid succession at extreme speed.

Naturally, the sound was deafening.

“H-Hey!?”

No, seriously.

That’s not just strong—that’s overkill.

This is way too much. Obviously.

“Fuhahahaha!! I still have other transformations left!! Do you understand what that means!?”

As he laughed maniacally while launching a spectacular assault… yep. He looked like nothing but a villain.

Seconds later.

There wasn’t a single monster left alive in the area, which had been turned into a complete wasteland.

Well, the presence turned out to be a pack of White Wolves.

Monsters that even B-rank adventurers struggle against, yet he wiped them out in an instant…

This Ancient Weapon is terrifying.

“Fuu, it’s over,” Weeeen muttered, spinning his torso for no apparent reason.

“Hm? What’s wrong, Arios-sama?”

“…Sorry, but from now on, I want you to only fight when I give the order. If you do that every time, it could cause an incident…”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Weeeen tilted his right hand toward what I guess was his chin.

“I am your subordinate, Arios-sama. I shouldn’t be stronger than you.”

“Th-That’s nonsense, right?”

Sure, Cheat Code Manipulation is powerful, but this level of force is…

“Don’t flatter me unnecessarily. Be aware of how strong you really are.”

“…Eh.”

Why do you look exasperated at that?

“I understand. I shall follow your every command, Arios-sama.”

Weeeen then returned to his previous form and lifted the two party members back onto his iron rod.

“If I may ask, Arios-sama, have people ever been shocked or speechless after you fought?”

“Hm? Ah… Now that you mention it, yeah, it’s happened a few times.”

“…I can practically see the looks on their faces.”

For some reason, Weeeen let out what sounded like a sigh.