After Xenovia passed out from the battle I carried her to a safe location in the forest, set up camp and applied healing, but sadly she just wont wake up.

I checked her status using appraisal and sighed in relief. Thankfully she didn't suffer any form of internal injuries from the fight, it turns out it was because of the fatigue she suffered from using me for the first time.

...3 days later...

3 days have already passed since Xenovia passed out from our battle with the stray devil. I'm really starting worry she still hasn't woken up yet.

...Night Time...

Before I knew it, the sun had already set.

Time really flies, daytime quickly turned to night.

Xenovia still isn't doing any better...

Waiting wasn't enough anymore.

I began think of a way to possibly wake my host up from her slumber.

"Maybe she'll wake up to the scent of food."

I know what I thought of sounded cliche but...who knows.. if it worked in Animes it might just work in another world.

I decided to try my idea out.

So I gathered some wood, and caught some fish near a river.

I applied some fire magic to the wood, and the fire immediately spread right away. I then began roasting the caught fish.

As I roasted the fish in the campfire, the scent of it lingered in the air.

To my surprise I saw movement in my host.

"...uuuuu."

She finally regained consciousness.

I immediately went to her aid and helped her up gently.

"Easy now wouldn't want you to hurt yourself after you just woke up."

"Is your body alright? Does any part of you hurt in any way?"

"T-Thank you… I am fine."

I watch the flow of energy inside of Xenovia's body, but as she said, there're no problems.

"Um, you're the Sword~sama that saved me right...?"

"...!"

I was shocked, this girl..This is her first time seeing me in my new human form yet she was able to discern it was me...Now I want her to wield me even more than ever.

"You're not Sword~sama..?" Xenovia ask sadly.

"Ah...sorry for spacing out. No you're correct it's me. I've gained the ability to manifest in human form from our victory over the stray devil."

"I'll explain the details later for now you should eat girl."

I handed her a fish, and without hesitation she swiped it from my hand and started eating right away.

"This fish is so delicious! Sword~sama is an incredible chef! Absolutely remarkable cooking skills! *nom2x"

"Glad you like it. Here have some more, these fish are for you after all."

"Thank you... don't mind if I do."

"By the way girl I've been meaning to ask...Why have you been calling me Sword~sama..."

"I can't...?" Xenovia asked dejectedly.

"No no no! Please don't look at me with those dejected eyes. Its not that you can't, I was just wondering why you've started calling me that all of a sudden."

"When I first equipped Sword~sama...memories of combat that weren't mine flashed before my very eyes...That's why I can't help but admire you as an amazing sword master after witnessing what I saw!"

How am I a sword master when Im a sword...

"Also I wanna gain strength through your tutelage..."

"...I see."

"I...I cant?" Xenovia stares at me dejectedly.

"No no no! Its not that you can't...Ugh please stop looking so dejected, and let me explain."

"Yes..." Xenovia switches back to her poker face.

To switch from dejected puppy to a poker face right away... As I thought she has some capacity of reigning in her emotion. I have a premonition she'll be a very successful woman in the future.

"First let me clear out that I can't be your sword master so you should drop the Sword~sama..."

Xenovia's poker face instantly vanished and looked like she is about to cry..

"Please don't cry! let me finish...I cant be your sword master. Because I'm already your sword, and you have now become my wielder do you get it."

After letting what I said sink in. Xenovia nodded her head lightly that she got it.

"But fret not, if you want we'll find you a suitable master on our journey."

"Anyways, I'm a Weapon created by God to kill pagan gods and other evil entities like devils, more or less. I should be quite a strong sword… Or so I believe."

"Yes."

"Henceforth, I want you to use me as your sword. Though It is fine if you don't want to, it's alright... But you… Do you intend to use me? In other words, will you use me and undertake adventures that could very well kill you?"

Indeed, a girl shouldn't simply be forced to live such a life.

Because I've been equipped for the first time, I have been having the feeling of wanting this girl to use me, but if she says she doesn't want to, I'll give up although I pray that wont be the case.

"I want to use you. Definitely want to use you. An immediate response.

She grasps onto my hilt tightly.

"I will become stronger. Absolutely."

I wonder if its vengeance against the devils that motivate her to this extent?

"Do you seek revenge on devil kind?"

"No..." She immediately denies.

"Revenge is not Justice.."

"..."

"I distrust devils...but I will not kill them as long as I know for sure they didn't do bad things."

"Ho~ I'm Impressed girl, for someone as young as you to have that kind of mindset ..You are wise beyond your years, I couldn't have asked for a better partner."

"If it is not for revenge, then is it for a dream perhaps?"

"No..." Another immediate denial.

"Don't have have a dream yet...For now I just want to become strong to protect myself."

"I see... then I'll make certain that you'll become strong."

"Really?"

"Of course! We'll forge ourselves without holding anything back, right from the start!"

"Thank you very much."

"It's fine! I wouldn't pick just anyone to wield me you know hehe. Er… That reminds me, we haven't been properly acquainted yet have we? I already know your name is Xenovia from our contact, but may you introduce yourself again with your last name please?"

I still don't know her last name yet, even though I used my appraisal on her it didn't reveal her last name so Im kinda curious about it.

"Name...Xenovia, last name... Don't have one."

"Eh? You don't have a last name?"

"No I don't..."

Certainly, she had no last name in Appraisal, but to really have no last name…

"Why?"

"Was abandoned by my parents when I was still a baby in an orphanage... can only gain a last name when adopted."

"Is that so… then want me to give you a last name partner?"

"...Eh?"

"Want me to give you last name?"

"If its not a bother..."

"It's not a bother at all don't worry. Hm-m. How about Astra?"

"Astra..."

"It's latin for from astralis meaning of the stars, derived from the Greek word Astron meaning star."

"Is the last name to your liking?"

"Xenovia Astra..."

"Is the last name I thought of not good?"

"No, it's not no good. From now on I'm Xenovia Astra."

She seems to be happy. She nods her head again and again. With this, our bond deepened a little bit. But, the question Xenovia asked next made me perplexed.

"Your name?"

"Eh? Me?"

"Yes.. want to know partner's name."

In the past Millennia I never talked to anyone, so I didn't have to worry about it, but… I've never had a name, huh. How foolish, to have never noticed.

I still can't remember the name I used during my past life, so I can't claim that as my name. Even if I did remember it would be quite an odd name for a Sword.

But… Looking at my Status, my name is Unknown... Shit! If I had thought about it earlier, I would have been able to think of a cool sword name!

Something like Derflinger or Zangetsu!

"Well…I Uh..."

"You don't have a name?"

"That's correct."

"Then, I'll name you."

Well, that's fine too. She is my wielder, after all. If Xenovia gives me a name she likes, then I will receive that affection. Besides, I'm apathetic towards what name I'm given, so she should call me what she likes.

"Hmーm…"

"*Dokidoki." My heart pulse races.

"Fuーmu…?"

"*Wakuwaku." Excited.

"Mumu… I've decided."

"Oh! I see! So? What name did you come up with?"

"Larx."

"Ha?"

"Larx."

"Ah. Are there no other contenders? Just that one?"

"There isn't. Best regards, Larx."

[Name has been set to Larx]

Uwaah! An announcement came?! It's a lie, right? My name isn't seriously Larx, right?

"Don't like...?"

She's wearing her poker face expression as before, but there's a subtle anxiety showing on her face. Just a little. I can't say that I hate it if you look at me like that!

"It's not bad! It's a good name!"

"Glad you like it..." Xenovia says bashfully.

"Moe..."

Mmh. The sight of a cute girl like Xenovia being bashful! Beautiful simply beautiful! It was really cute! When you look carefully, it's easy to see that she's quite beautiful. When she grows up, men won't be able to leave her alone...

Uwaah! That's no good! I simply won't allow it! You'll have to defeat me first if you want to go out with Xenovia!

While my passion burned in me, Xenovia subtly smiles.

And so, Larx was decided as my name. I can't help but think that it's not a proper name for a sword, but it's fine so long as Xenovia likes it. Or so I persuaded myself.

And like so we embarked on an adventure with one thing clear in both our minds..

"The most important thing on our agenda right now is to get stronger.."

"Xen do you have any specific place in mind where you wanna go and train?"

"Mumu...Underworld."

"Eh?"

"Want to train there."

"Let's not be hasty here. Are you sure about your decision Xen?"

"Yes. As long as I'm with Larx I'll be fine."

"Sigh I guess I have no choice but to live up to your expectations then partner... Very well Underworld it is, I'll make us a portal..."

I hold onto Xenovia's arm and transform into sword form, in a blink of an eye Xenovia made cutting motion that cut through space.

"That cut is too big Xen! If this portal doesn't disappear many low level strays will come out of it and we will be held responsible."

"Apologies..."

"It's alright but next time restrain yourself ok?" I pat her head.

"Mumu...promise.."

On our way out of the portal we immediately encountered stray devils...

We defeated all them and took some of the intel they knew about the place.

And so this actions marked our adventure into the depths of the Underworld.

In this place we hunted strays to acquire more skills, Camped, and casually passed our days. As we steadily advanced to Agreas, the closest city inhabited by devils on foot.

...Months later...

We finally made it.

It wasn't easy, but our perseverance brought fruit as we reached the city of Agreas.

Agreas...A large city that is located in the Agares Territory which is being maintained by the servants of the current Beelzebub. It has a distinctive feature in it which it appears to be a large floating island suspended in the sky. It was pain to get here.

It is also one of the place that coordinates the factory for making the slave tools known as evil pieces.

Being in this place makes me feel uneasy, although there were good devils here the malice that the evil ones are emanating is foul...

Based on the info from the strays me and Xen have interrogated there is a place near here that stray devils use for a gathering..This could be a new challenge for us, so I'll have to bear with the foulness of this city for now...

...Several days later...

We confirmed the location that the strays told to us is true.

But, what lied inside was disappointing. The stray devils inside were disappointments...Mongrels that didn't even prove to be a problem even with their shear numbers..

We made quick work of those who opposed us, and stripped them of their food and resources.

After the boring battle we set our sights on the City of Lilith...The current Capital of the Satan territory.

It was here that we met him...

The man with the Plague Doctor mask...