Chapter Twenty: The Saint, Terminator of Magical Beasts

"Today, I once again felt that restless power surging within me. There can be no mistake; I possess the most divine power—the power of the Holy Sword!"

"I can feel it. I am the one chosen by the Goddess of Fate, destined to tread a path filled with thorns, misunderstood by all! Perhaps that is why I have always felt so out of place among those around me."

"They cannot comprehend this power, just as they cannot comprehend me. The Holy Sword, hero of the future kingdom, leader of humanity—"

"Mino Lake."

Listening to the familiar’s simultaneous interpretation, Miguo’s long eyelashes fluttered as the realization slowly dawned on her.

Could this be... the diary of Mino the Hero?

Miguo’s expression grew solemn. She had never imagined that Mino possessed such terrifying power within him. No wonder his strength was so formidable. No wonder he had become the greatest hero in human history.

Yet... Miguo turned her head, looking in confusion at Mino, who was rolling on the ground. From the moment the familiar began to read, he had been writhing, screaming, and crawling on the floor like a maggot, emitting strange, guttural wails.

"Stop reading... please, stop..." Mino’s eyes were vacant, his entire being appearing as if he were on his last breath. "I’ll talk—I’ll confess, won't that do?"

Altortai stood to the side, equally bewildered by Mino’s intense reaction. Was there... anything so shameful about this?

Still, Altortai felt something was off. As its wielder, did it not know what kind of power resided within Mino? Why had it never seen him unleash this so-called "power of the Holy Sword"? Furthermore, the timeline seemed a bit off... 53rd year of the Kur Calendar. Back then, Mino was just an ordinary ten-year-old.

Could he have truly possessed the foresight to know he would become a hero in the future? What a terrifying ability.

"Heh, interesting." Miguo’s lips curled into a delighted smirk. Though she didn't understand the reason, she ignored Mino’s pleas. For one, she wanted to savor the sight of Mino in such a miserable state a little longer. Besides, her interrogation had only just begun; how could it end so easily? With that thought, she commanded the familiar to continue reading.

"Date: July 23, 53rd year of the Kur Calendar. Weather: Sunny."

"Today, I was scolded by the training officer again. He even told me to show them the Holy Sword if I was so capable. Heh, how ignorant. How could they ever understand this power?"

"This is a mighty force meant for protection, but it is also a double-edged sword. I must use it with caution. I can feel it—that day is not far off..."

The deep, domineering voice echoed through the familiar’s translation.

In an instant, Mino’s expression froze. He curled into a ball, feeling as if countless ants were crawling all over him.

"Aaaah! Shut up! Stop reading!"

The diary continued.

"I am the chosen one! I am the Holy Sword!"

Mino felt so embarrassed he wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground... He desperately wished he could travel back in time and give his younger self a sound beating.

That’s right—this wasn't some autobiography of Mino; it was a "chunibyo diary" that every adolescent suffering from delusions of grandeur had once kept.

"Date: August 27, 53rd year of the Kur Calendar. Weather: Light rain."

"Today’s rain feels as if it were falling just for me; every drop conveys a message from the Goddess. I can feel the forces of evil closing in, and the sealed power within me is stirring. Is it finally time to awaken? Holy Sword!"

The only thing that needs to wake up is your brain, you idiot!!!

Mino clutched his head, his face contorted in the pained expression of a cat meme.

"I have made my preparations. To this end, I have secretly obtained a fragmented scroll for summoning an ally."

...

Mino took a deep breath, but the "other self" in his mind was becoming impossible to shake. Honestly, he couldn't even remember what had happened or who the other person was when he wrote that entry. But he could feel that cringeworthy, arrogant, chuunibyou persona chasing after him!

"Stay away from me!!!!" Mino wailed into the floor.

Miguo burst out laughing.

To have broken Mino to this extent was probably enough... A brilliant smile bloomed on Miguo’s face as she prepared to extract the information she needed. The interrogation could not stop, however, and the familiar’s voice continued:

"Date: August 28, 53rd year of the Kur Calendar. Weather: Overcast."

"Through the scroll leading to another world, I have finally summoned a soul-bound ally."

"Though it looks like nothing more than a puppy with rounded sheep-like horns, I recognize it... This is a familiar hiding the power of destruction within, possessing, like me, the power to topple this world!"

"In its eyes, I see a light similar to my own. An ordinary name is not worthy of it... It is destined to be a unique existence."

"On this day, the Kingdom Continent shall remember the birth of this name:"

"—Saint, Destroyer of Magic Beasts!"

"Ha! It loves the name, just as I thought!"

Miguo’s smile stiffened on her face.

With a jolt, as if her tail had been stepped on, her face flushed bright red. She looked frantically from side to side. In her mind, the hazy memories of her childhood suddenly flickered to life. A portion of them became crystal clear, sketching out a familiar—and utterly humiliating—image in her heart.

"Eh...?"

A wave of goosebumps washed over her. Miguo’s face burned. What was happening... what was this? Had she been infected by Mino?

"Date: September 3, 53rd year of the Kur Calendar. Weather: Sunny."

"Saint, Destroyer of Magic Beasts, has bared its sharp fangs for the first time. After a fierce, three-hour-long battle, it successfully defeated the evil insect-beast hiding in the shadows of the kitchen!"

"On this day, all the G-type magic beasts of the nation shall be shrouded in deep terror—"

The young girl quickly crouched down, covering her face with her hands, as a strange, high-pitched cry escaped through her fingers: "No, it's not true, stop—!!!"

"Date: September 5, 53rd year of the Kur Calendar. Weather: Overcast."

"Today is a perfect opportunity to eliminate the evil minions in the dark alleys. Heh, those little rats hiding in the gutters dare to mount a desperate resistance—"

"Alas, they must face the Saint, Destroyer of Magic Beasts!"

The automated familiar continued to recite the entries, one after another, at a steady pace.

"...Saint, Destroyer of Magic Beasts..."

"Saint, Destroyer of Magic Beasts..."

"This is... Saint, Destroyer of Magic...??!!!!"

*Snap!*

The familiar was snatched out of the air, and with a shrill scream, it was instantly reduced to ashes.

"Hah... hah... hah..." Miguo’s chest rose and fell. She stood with her back to Mino and the Holy Sword, the tips of her ears glowing hot, a faint, suspicious blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Hah... hah... hah..." Mino lay on the bed, gasping for air as he survived the ordeal.

What just happened... did the interrogation finally stop? Mino opened his eyes in a daze.

He saw the diary in Miguo’s hand dissolve into nothingness. The twin-tailed girl whipped her head around, glaring fiercely at Mino. On her defeated, crestfallen face, tears of humiliation still lingered in her eyes.

"Mi... Mino, don't think... that you’ve won just because of this!!!"

With teary eyes, Miguo turned and fled without looking back.