The One Only the Chosen Can Pull Out

The place looked like some kind of ancient ruin.

The hazy, dreamlike sensation I’d felt up until now vanished, and the chilly air snapped my senses back to reality. The ceiling was high, illuminated by the ambient glow of magical light.

"This is the center," Violet-san said, spinning around to take in our surroundings. "So, what exactly are we supposed to break?"

The so-called Core of Magic Power was nowhere to be found. Instead, a massive door stood a short distance away.

"It looks like it’s beyond that door."

Violet-san walked across the stone floor, heading toward the giant portal.

"I see."

I followed after her.

The door was enormous—so big that it looked like a hundred people could walk through it at once. Okay, maybe I was exaggerating a little. Regardless, it was a massive door.

Stains of dark, crusty blood clung to the ancient-looking wood, and its surface was covered in a dense layer of Ancient Letters. Chains thicker than a man’s torso were wrapped around it multiple times, keeping the Sealed Gate shut tight.

"I wonder if I can get through if I just cut the chains?" I asked.

"I suppose so."

I placed my hand on a link of the chain and gave it a tug. It didn't budge.

"Yeah, that’s a no-go."

Even as the reigning champion of the Tournament for People Who Can't Use Magic, I couldn't physically overcome something this thick. If I tried to hack through this with a sword, the blade would probably be the thing that snapped.

"You know, there should be a key," Violet-san offered.

"Good point. That makes sense."

It took me exactly one second to find it. An extravagant-looking sword was thrust into a pedestal standing right next to the door.

"No matter how you look at it, this is the one."

"No matter how you look at it, that's definitely it."

As expected, the pedestal was also covered in a dense script of Ancient Letters.

"It seems these chains can only be cut with this sword," Violet-san said, scanning the text.

That was when it clicked. A sword stuck in a pedestal... I knew exactly how this pattern worked.

"But... this sword... it won't come out..."

"Eh...?"

"I can feel it..."

I put my hand on the hilt and made a show of trying to pull it out, but the sword stayed firmly in place.

"As I thought... so that’s how it is..." I muttered, making sure to sound deep and mysterious. "This sword can only be pulled out by the chosen one..."

"What did you say?!"

Violet-san hurriedly began tracing the Ancient Letters on the pedestal with her finger. Seeing her reaction, I let go of the hilt.

"The sword... it’s rejecting me...!"

I only said it to play along with the mood, but honestly, I wasn't being rejected or anything. It’s just common sense in every world—the sword in the stone that only the chosen Hero can pull out is a classic, time-honored trope.

"The Holy Sword can only be pulled out by the Direct Lineage of the Hero... It really does say that. I'm impressed you managed to decipher such complex, encrypted Magic Letters in an instant."

"Heh... I’ve got every trope in the book memorized."

"I see... so you've categorized and mastered the encryption patterns of Magic Letters into 'tropes'... Is that it?"

"Something like that."

I nodded contentedly. A Holy Sword stuck in a pedestal used to unlock a Sealed Gate—it was cliché as hell, but I loved this kind of gimmick. It really gave off that "other world" vibe.

"This is a problem..." Violet-san muttered, sitting down on the edge of the pedestal.

"Any other way in?" I asked, taking a seat next to her.

"It isn't recorded here."

"I see."

We sat in silence for a while, both lost in thought. We were probably thinking about completely different things.

Eventually, I spoke up. "Do you really want to disappear?"

"Disappear?"

"If I break the core, you’ll vanish, right?"

"I suppose. Though, rather than disappearing, it would be more accurate to say I’ll be released." Violet-san smiled, though she didn't look at me.

"What’s the difference?"

"This is a Prison of Memories that repeats eternally. For me, it is a bit... too painful," she whispered in a voice so faint it felt like it might fade away.

"I see. In that case, let's wait a bit."

"Wait...?"

"If you give me a little more time, I think I can do something about that door. But before that... looks like we have company."

A rift of light tore open in front of the door. The tear gradually widened, and a bald old guy and a beautiful Elf stepped out.

"Hm...?"

"What is it?" Violet-san asked.

"Nothing. It’s just that the Elf woman looks a lot like a friend of mine."

But no, she’s someone else. Her bone structure is different, her gait is different, and her habits don't match.

"Ho... so you managed to bring Aurora out," the bald guy said, eyeing Violet-san.

"An acquaintance?" I whispered.

"Who knows? I don't recognize him. But my memories are a mess, so maybe we met somewhere."

"However, your efforts were in vain. You lot will never be able to open this door," the bald man sneered. "And what a pity for that brat, too."

"Me?" I asked, pointing at myself.

"I don't know what kind of lost child you are, but you’ve been seduced by a witch, and now you’re going to die. Olivier here will carve you to pieces."

At the bald man’s command, the beautiful Elf stepped forward. The bald guy was a total pushover, but this beauty was the real deal.

"Stop, she’s—"

"I know. She’s strong."

"We need to run."

"Why?" I whispered back.

"If you're going to hold a grudge, don't blame me. Blame that witch. And blame your own foolish self! Kill him, Olivier!"

Olivier readied a blade that looked exactly like the Holy Sword. I drew the cheap, mass-produced sword I used at the academy. Her eyes, as cold and empty as glass beads, were fixed solely on me.

I felt the corners of my mouth twitch into a smirk.

"Wait! You mustn't fight her!"

Why not?

Violet-san’s voice cried out from behind me, but I was already focused on the girl in front of me.