58 That Which Can Only Be Drawn By the Chosen (1/2)

This is a place that looks like ancient ruins of some sort.

The vague, dream-like feeling that had been present the entire time is now gone. In its place is a slightly chilly air that quickly wakes me up.

The ceiling is high, and the entire surroundings is illuminated by magic light.

”So this is the center.”

Violet-san does a quick spin to take in the entire space.

”So what is it that we should destroy?”

I don't see anything that looks like a magic core. The only thing here is a huge door standing a distance away.

”Beyond the door, most likely.”

Violet-san walks on the stone paving, approaching the door.

”Makes sense.”

I follow after her.

The door is ridiculously enormous. Its width is enough for 100 people to walk abreast. Well alright, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration.

Point is, it's a really big door.

That ancient-looking door is covered here and there with black stains that is clearly blood, underneath which are innumerable ancient letters packed tightly together. Wound around the entire door are swathes of chains thicker than the average human waist that are keeping it tightly shut.

”Would we be able to go in if we get these chains off?”

”Probably.”

I grab one of the chain links and pull.

It doesn't even budge.

”Yep, not happening.”

No matter how many tournaments for people who can't use magic I may win, something this thick is just physically impossible for me.

If I try to cut it with my sword, it'll definitely be my sword that breaks.

”You know, this thing most probably has a key.”

”I see, good point.”

We spot it in one second.

Right beside the door is a dais with a really fancy-looking sword stabbed into it.

”Whichever way anyone looks at it, this is it for sure.”

”Whichever way whoever looks at it, this is it for sure.”

The side of the sword dais is, again, packed tightly with ancient letters.

”It seems that this sword can cut through those chains.”

So says Violet-san as she reads the ancient lettering.

But I've already understood it. A sword in a dais. This pattern...

”But this sword can't be drawn, right?”

”Eh...?”

”I can tell with a single glance...”

So saying, I place a hand on the sword hilt and give it a tug, but as expected it does not budge.

”As I had thought... here, too...”

So I mutter profoundly.

”This sword can only be drawn by the chosen...”

”What...!?”

Violet-san hurriedly traces the ancient lettering on the dais with her fingers.

And so, I let go of the sword.

”The sword... is rejecting me...”

So I say on the spur of the moment, but the sword's not actually rejecting me.

But the sword stuck in the dais being draw-able only by the chosen hero is mere common sense, a cliche used well and well again.

”The Holy Sword can only be drawn by direct descendants of the heroes... that's indeed what it says here. I'm surprised you managed to read and decode this magic text in one look.”

”Hmph... everything exists as cliches...”

”So you're familiar enough with magic letter secret codes to recognize the various patterns as cliches... so that's how you knew.”

”Something like that.”

I nod with satisfaction.

A sword stuck in a dais, and a seal on a door that can only be undone with said sword. It's indeed extremely cliche, but actually I love contrivances like this.

Isn't it great? Really feels like a fantasy world.