"You… can't possibly want this one, can you?"

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, eyeing Rayne with blatant skepticism.

Honestly, if the boy hadn't been from that guild, he'd have assumed this was some kind of joke.

The sword's weight alone rivaled that of the little girl beside him. Even seasoned soldiers or mercenaries would struggle to wield it effectively in combat.

It wasn't about swinging it—anyone could manage a few haphazard strikes. But fighting? That required monstrous strength and endurance. Otherwise, fatigue would cripple them mid-battle. Worse, the sheer heft would slow most warriors to a crawl.

And this kid? A rookie mage at best.

"Yeah."

Ignoring the doubt in the shopkeeper's gaze, Rayne gripped the hilt. Beneath the white cloth wrapping, he felt supple leather—likely added for better grip.

With a sharp exhale, he lifted the colossal blade.

"Lighter than that axe," he mused silently.

Back then, he'd relied on [Boost] to wield the heavier weapon effortlessly. Now, without it, this sword's weight felt just right—challenging but manageable with magic enhancement. Within weeks, his body would adapt completely.

Testing its balance, Rayne swung downward in a clean arc—

WHOOSH—!

The blade tore through the air before halting abruptly, tip hovering a hair's breadth from the floor. The transition from violent motion to absolute stillness sent a dissonant thrill through the shop.

"…I underestimated you. My apologies." The shopkeeper bowed slightly, respect replacing skepticism. To stop a swing like that without even a tremor? This boy was no ordinary mage.

Rayne planted the sword's tip against the ground with a thunk, grinning. "Flattery won't make me overpay."

"Hah! 25,000J!" The shopkeeper crossed his arms. "This blade cost me a fortune in materials and weeks of labor. At this price, I'm practically losing—"

"It's been gathering dust in the corner," Rayne interrupted, pointing to the untouched layer of grime where the sword had rested. "No scrape marks on the wall either. This thing's been here awhile, hasn't it?"

"…Tch." The shopkeeper's eye twitched. Damn kid's observant.

He had forged this monstrosity on a whim, melting down leftover metals. Every strike of his hammer had been poured into it—more care than he'd given to half the display weapons. But its impractical weight made it unsellable. Too heavy for grunts, too plain for elite warriors who'd rather buy enchanted arms.

Years passed. Until today.

"…How much?" he sighed.

"15,000J."

"Are you robbing me?!"

But as Rayne's smile held firm, the shopkeeper groaned. "Fine. Take it."

Outside, Rayne clutched his now-flat wallet like a wounded animal. Two jobs' worth of earnings… gone in one swing.

"Treat that blade like your lover!" the shopkeeper called after him. "Bring it back for repairs if it chips!"

"You better earn me ten times what I paid before breaking," Rayne muttered, patting the leather-wrapped hilt.

The customized harness—a freebie—held the sword diagonally across his back. A magically reinforced shoulder strap anchored it with magnetic force, releasing only when Rayne channeled a trickle of magic.

As they walked, townsfolk stared. Not just at Kanna's cuteness anymore—now it was the spectacle of a child carrying a sword taller than himself.

Rayne ignored them all. His mind burned with a single goal:

Master Giant Magic. Adapt to this weapon and form. Then—

"More jobs. More money."

Flames of determination flickered around him so visibly that Kanna blinked.

"Ooh~"

That day, the figure training on the plains shone brighter than ever.

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