Scenario:Sturm - The Legendary Cursed Sword

The Legendary Cursed Sword

Having finished all of their current jobs, Sturm and Drang are taking a break. With the duo temporarily parting ways, Sturm heads to the Mercenary's Guild to pick up letters from her family, where she is caught by the guild leader, Donna. Sturm explains that she won't replace her in the post, but Donna says that she actually needs a job done, one related to the legendary cursed sword Ixaba.

---

Sturm: Stay behind me.

Rookie Mercenary: Understood, Miss Sturm. I have your back.

Strange Undead: ...

The undead's crude katana shines ominously in the moonlight.

Sturm: The legendary cursed sword Ixaba, and you, who are possessed by it...

Sturm: Will pay for my dad's death!

Strange Undead: Come.

Sturm: Haaah!

A few days earlier...

Sturm: Drang.

Drang: Munch, munch, munch...

Sturm: Drang, are you listening to me?

Drang: Munch, munch, munch... Zzz...

Sturm: ...

Drang: Ouch! Did you just stab me, Sturm? What gives?

Sturm: Don't sleep while you're chewing.

Drang: Oh, did I doze off? Sorry, I'm still feeling pretty groggy.

Drang: I guess my body's excited to get some rest now that we've finished up all those jobs.

Drang: I'll be doing a lot of sleeping for a whi—

Drang: ...
Yeah, yeah. Yes, I get it!

Sturm: ...

Sturm: (Ever since Drang visited his hometown, he's been saying that those magical orbs talk to him...)

Drang: I know, I know, our duty to protect the Sky Realm. Yes, I'll back to my village and check on the seal. Okay, you don't have to keep reminding me.

Drang: Ow! What'd I do this time?

Sturm: I'll believe you on the voices that only you hear. However, the stuff about protecting the skies is...

Drang: B-but it's real! You saw those eyeballs too, didn't you?

Sturm: Okay, I'll leave it at that. Just make sure to see a doctor, all right?

Drang: It really is real, though...

Sturm: Anyway, I'll be taking some time off too. Make sure you recover. Later.

Drang: Hold up, Sturm. Are you heading to the guild to get your mail?

Sturm: Yes. What about it?

Drang: A little bird told me that Donna's making moves on picking a new guild leader.

Sturm: I see...

Donna: Hey there, Sturm. Glad to see that you're looking cheerful as ever.

Sturm: ...

Donna: I hear you've been fully booked lately. It really warms my heart that you'd come to see me even though you're so busy.

Sturm: I only came here to pick up letters from my family.

Sturm: You're the one who dragged me to your office as soon as I stepped through the door.

Donna: Well, don't sweat the details. There's something we need to talk about.

Sturm: If it's about heading the guild after you retire, I've already made it clear that—

Donna: No, no, I want to talk about a job I have for you.

Sturm: A job?

Donna: Yeah, a tricky one. I'll need a veteran mercenary like you to handle it or things could get dicey.

Sturm: ...
No, not interested. I'm taking a break from work.

Sturm: Ask another experienced mercenary. You've got plenty of them.

Donna: It's not just about experience. I need a dyed-in-the-wool mercenary, someone who can be trusted to get a job done right.

Donna: I can't send anyone who might be tempted by their own passions or the prospect of quick glory and end up complicating things further.

Sturm: What exactly does that mean?

Donna: Hmm... This should clear things up for you.

Donna: The job may well involve the legendary cursed sword Ixaba.

The Legendary Cursed Sword: Scene 2

Sturm takes the job and sets out to defeat the undead that holds Ixaba. Upon arriving at the village where it is located, she finds a dozen mercenaries arguing over who will be the one to claim the blade. A young girl, clearly new to the profession, attracts the crowd's ire and Sturm jumps in to help her. After silencing the complaints of the rowdy mercenaries, she agrees to let the rookie accompany her.

---

Sturm: ...

Donna: Wow, I didn't expect anyone to make it through all that unscathed.

Donna: You're pretty strong for someone so young.

Sturm: What do you want?

Donna: Nothing. This battle only just ended, right?

Donna: I noticed you and wanted to say hello. Strength is important to us mercenaries, after all.

Donna: Where'd you learn the sword?

Sturm: I have no reason to tell you.

Donna: Come on, don't be like that. We could end up fighting shoulder to shoulder on some battlefield next time we meet, couldn't we?

Sturm: ...

Sturm: ...
From my dad.

Sturm: (That's Donna for you...)

Having accepted the job related to Ixaba, Sturm heads to the village that sent the request in order to learn more details.

Sturm: (My understanding is that the undead I need to exterminate shows up somewhere around this village.)

Rowdy Voice 1: Get the hell out of here! I told you all that I'm doing this!

Rowdy Voice 2: You get outta here! This job's mine!

Sturm: Huh?

Sturm approaches the commotion, where she finds a dozen rowdy mercenaries who seem completely out of place in the small village.

Rowdy Mercenary 1: Don't ya know that Ixaba's cursed? It only obeys people worthy of bein' called a god of war!

Rowdy Mercenary 2: That's why I'm tellin' you to go home, third-rate! I'm gonna be the one to get Ixaba and become the strongest mercenary of all time!

Village Chief: W-well... so long as someone does the job, we villagers don't really mind who it is...

Rowdy Mercenary 1: I'm tellin' you, I'm gonna be the one who kills that undead!

Rowdy Mercenary 2: That legendary sword is gonna be mine!

Sturm: What do you people think—

Rookie Mercenary: Excuse me, village chief.

Rookie Mercenary: I'll be taking the job to defeat the undead that's wielding Ixaba.

Village Chief: R-right... You seem quite young for a mercenary.

Rowdy Mercenary 2: What are you, stupid? Ixaba's never gonna obey a little greenhorn like you.

Sturm: ...

Rowdy Mercenary 1: You think you can look down on us? Maybe a little roughin' up from your superiors will help you learn that strength is everything to us mercenaries!

Sturm: Hey, leave—

Rowdy Mercenary 1: Take this!

The young girl easily dodges the ruffian's utterly unjustified attack.

Rookie Mercenary: You're right. And as such...

Before the man can strike again, she hits him with a rapidly-casted blast of fire magic.

Rowdy Mercenary 1: Graaah!

Sturm: ...!

Rookie Mercenary: I know that strength is everything to mercenaries, of course. Why wouldn't I have done research into the profession I am joining?

Sturm: (She's skilled for her age. I guess I was underestimating her too. However...)

Rowdy Mercenary 2: Don't get too big for your boots!

Rookie Mercenary: Behind me? I—

Sturm: Never forget, there's plenty of guys like these bumping around. Things like this happen to me too.

Rookie Mercenary: Wh-who are you?

Sturm: Hah!

Sturm: So never let your guard down once a fight has started, even if you take out all the enemies in front of you.

Rookie Mercenary: I-I see. Thank you...

Sturm: You can ignore these idiots, elder. I'm the one the Mercenary's Guild sent to deal with your request.

Rowdy Mercenary 3: W-what! Hey, bein' famous doesn't mean you can just show up and—

Sturm: You're the ones who thought you could "just show up." The guild's already given this job to me.

Sturm: But as you said earlier, my fame is less important than which one of us is stronger.

Sturm: So... If you have a problem, then come at me.

Rowdy Mercenary 3: I... I can't back down after coming all the way to this rinky-dink village!

Rowdy Mercenary 4: Ixaba's gonna be mine!

Sturm: Finally, some peace and quiet.

Rookie Mercenary: That swordplay...

Sturm: Now, where's that undead?

Village Chief: Ah, right! If you go deep into the nearby forest—

Rookie Mercenary: Excuse me, Miss Sturm.

Sturm: "Miss"?

Muile: My name is Muile. I'd like to accompany you on this task.

Sturm: No. This is my job.

Muile: Yes, I apologize for trying to take it earlier. However, I only want to join you on it. I need no part of the reward.

Sturm: Meaning you want Ixaba instead. Not happening.

Muile: No, I don't need Ixaba either.

Sturm: ...

Muile: I just want... I just want experience, and the chance to see how a veteran mercenary does her job.

Sturm: ...

Sturm: (Magic's always good to have against an undead, so it would be convenient. What's more...)

Sturm: I was never able to be so open about it...

Muile: Excuse me?

Sturm: All right. But we'll split the reward.

Sturm: Don't do work for free. It drags your name as a mercenary through the mud, and...

Muile: And makes it seem like I'm looking down on the job and client. I apologize, it is as you say.

Sturm: ...
Glad that you get it. Let's go.

Muile: Right.

With that, the two head into the depths of the forest where the undead that wields Ixaba awaits them.

The Legendary Cursed Sword: Scene 3

Sturm and the rookie mercenary, a girl named Muile, easily fend off a monster attack as they make their way through the forest. Sturm notes that Muile is skilled for a beginner and knows how to protect others. They eventually find their target, but are overwhelmed by the undead's strength. Muile manages to catch him off guard with a sword she had been hiding, buying time for the pair to beat a quick retreat.

---

Donna: Heh!

Sturm: Hah!

Donna: ...

Sturm: Donna, our squad is pushing too far up.

Donna: Wow, you've really got a good eye on our surroundings. I doubt anyone but you has noticed.

Sturm: If you know I'm right, then cut it out.

Sturm: You're the commander this time, but I'm not forming a suicide pact with a squad I was randomly assigned to.

Donna: Hey, don't worry about it. We're almost at the end.

Sturm: What?

The pair suddenly hears cheers coming from afar, and a messenger arrives bearing news of victory.

Donna: See?

Sturm: ...

Donna: Pushing ourselves a bit at the very end earns us some extra reputation for next time, and a chance for me to negotiate for some extra pay.

Donna: I'll need some proof... Where's the commander of those mercenaries we just took down?

Donna: Ah, there we are. Look, this even has a name engraved in it.

Sturm's eyes go wide upon seeing the blade that Donna is examining.

Sturm: That sword...

Donna: Look familiar?

Sturm: My dad... had one that looked much like it.

Donna: Oh?

Donna: Knights from a certain kingdom were provided with these swords. But then there was a revolution...

Donna: Well, it was a bloodless one, but the king abdicated and most of the knights lost their jobs. Then, still using these swords, they became mercs.

Donna: I see, I see... You're so skilled at protecting people because you learned swordplay from a former knight.

Sturm: ...?
I wasn't protecting anyone.

Donna: You had our backs the whole time! Do you not even realize it?

Donna: Ahaha, you're a cute one, you are.

Sturm: G-get your hand off my head!

Donna: ...
Knights are typically part of an order. They protect not only their liege, but each other. They're all on the same team, after all.

Donna: Mercenaries, figuring that today's friend could be tomorrow's enemy, often don't. However, that's a mistake.

Donna: If you want to live through today, you've got to protect today's friends.

Sturm: Yeah?

Donna: So the way you fight is correct, Sturm. But don't forget this.

Donna: We're mercenaries, not knights. And mercenaries...

Sturm: ...

Muile: ...

Sturm and the novice mercenary Muile are silently walking through the forest to find an undead.

Sturm: Hm.

Muile: Miss? Wha—

Muile: ...!

Sturm: Good, you noticed. Here it comes!

Monster: ...!

Sturm: Yah!

Muile: Hah!

Sturm: (She's not merely strong for a novice. She's good at providing backup, even for someone she's never worked with before.)

Sturm: Muile, was it?

Muile: Ah, yes.

Sturm: You covered me well.

Muile: Huh? T-thank you!

Sturm: Were you specifically trying to protect me?

Muile: ...?
What do you mean by that?

Muile: You may be much more experienced than I am, Miss Sturm, but right now we're working together on the same job. Is it not only natural to protect your teammates?

Sturm: Right.

Sturm: (We have some skilled youngsters running around lately...)

The pair resume their expedition into the depths of the forest without another word.

Sturm: We should be getting close to the place the village chief mentioned.

Muile: Can I ask you a question as we walk, Miss Sturm?

Sturm: That sure came out of nowhere. What?

Muile: It's about... your swordplay. You've personalized it so much that it barely resembles its origins, but—

Sturm: Hold up.

Sturm interrupts Muile, glaring through the trees of the overgrown forest at a haunting figure of a man...

Strange Undead: More challengers seeking this cursed blade, I assume.

As well as the weapon in his hand, a crude katana emitting an aura that seems to boast of the blood it has bathed in.

Sturm: That's my target... And his blade is the legendary cursed sword, Ixaba.

Muile: So that's him!

Undead Blademaster: I am one who was called a god of war.

In scarcely a moment, the undead advances right up to the inexperienced mercenary.

Muile: Huh?

Undead Blademaster: I will test you.

Sturm: Muile!

Undead Blademaster: Oh?

Sturm: (He's strong! What's with this guy?)

Sturm: Muile! We're pulling back!

Muile: B-but!

Undead Blademaster: Prove yourself. To Ixaba... and to me.

Sturm: Guh!

Muile: Miss Sturm!

Undead Blademaster: Ixaba bows only to the strong. Ixaba obeys only gods of war. If you want it, then prove yourself.

Sturm: Screw... you! I don't care about any of that!

Undead Blademaster: Do not lie to me. Now, prove yourself.

Sturm: (Urgh! I'm going to be overpowered at this rate!)

Muile: Miss Sturm!

Sturm: Don't come into the melee! You're a mage, you idio—

Muile: Hah!

Muile unsheathes a hidden blade and slashes at the undead.

Undead Blademaster: ...!

Sturm: Wha— You can use a sword?

Muile: Not very well, but I carry it just in case! More importantly, close your eyes!

Quickly switching back to her staff, she brandishes it high in the air and creates a blinding light.

Undead Blademaster: ...

Undead Blademaster: They fled.

Undead Blademaster: Then I must pursue them. If they do not prove themselves, then they are not worthy.

Clutching his cursed blade, the undead starts walking through the dark forest.

Undead Blademaster: If they are not worthy, then Ixaba, the title of "god of war," is still...