Chapter 9: FRIH - 9
"Good morning, Mr. Ronan," the elder greeted, smiling politely. "Did you rest well? I hope Frieren didn't disturb you."
Ronan shook his head, calm. "Elder, please skip the honorifics. I slept well. It's I who disturbed her. Is there something you need?"
The elder's hesitant expression confirmed this wasn't a social call. "There is, but it's not very important," he said. "I don't know if Frieren mentioned it, but I forgot yesterday."
He tapped his forehead, annoyed at his forgetfulness. Then, he looked serious. "I'm here to remind you. The Hero's Sword originally belonged near the Sword Village. The village guarded it for generations. Now you have it, and you say you found it by accident..." He emphasized "accident," his concern clear. "The guardians of the Sword Village..."
Ronan paused, nodding. He hadn't considered guardians; if they existed, he'd inadvertently taken their job.
"Should I tell the guardians? Or return the sword?" he frowned.
The elder waved his hands. "No! The Hero's Sword isn't something to be casually handled. What's yours is yours. Since the goddess created it, no one has ever lifted it. You lifting it proves you're the Hero."
Rules? Ronan doubted this rule held absolute authority. He wasn't a Hero; his strength likely let him lift the sword.
Then he remembered: What if the Hero was defined by strength? It made sense. The goddess was far-sighted.
He smiled subtly. Before he could speak, the elder continued, his tone lowering. "There's a consequence, even for you." He paused, measuring Ronan. "The Sword Village guardians are not to be underestimated. They've guarded the sword for centuries, and now... they may see you as a threat."
Ronan's gaze hardened. Guardians wouldn't take kindly to an unknown possessor. This wasn't ideal, but not surprising. Being mistaken for a world-saver had complications.
"I see," Ronan said, neutral. "They might come after me for the sword? Even if I didn't want it?"