The Replacement of the Sword Hero

Chapter Three: My First Companion

I sat up in bed covered in cold sweat. The jewel in the legendary sword was glowing faintly. Then I noticed that the sword had transformed. The blade had become wavy, like a flickering flame frozen in time. It was pure black with purple veins spreading geometrically across its surface. The golden handguard curled back and split apart like fingers reaching out to grab my wrist.

Curse Series
Sword of ----- conditions met.

Sword of Usurpation SR: abilities unlocked
equip bonus: reader's knowledge
special equip effect: skill: "Usurpation"
mastery level: 100

I had never seen a more cursed looking weapon. Super rare? And its mastery level was already maxed out? Ren's words echoed in my mind. I bought the sword up closer to my face and stared into the jewel. It was completely opaque.
"I'm sorry, Ren." I whispered. The jewel blinked once and then the sword reverted back to default.
"Huh? Wilbur, you up?" Someone called out to me. I looked around to the source of the voice. Naofumi was sitting on his bed and fiddling with his shield. It was just before dawn and the room was still dark.
"Yeah, I'm up. I err, I usually get up around this time in the morning for work anyway." I said, rubbing my face. I checked my sword. There were no signs of the cursed weapon. I opened the weapon tree again. The Sword of Usurpation wasn't listed, and all the others were still greyed out. I let out a sigh and dragged my body out from under the sheets. The sweat on my skin was making me feel clammy. I wondered if it was worth requesting that bath now, that Motoyasu had been talking about last night.

"Oh yeah, I see." Naofumi also sounded awkward. "If you don't mind me asking..."
"Ask away." I said, grateful for the distraction.
"Did you leave much behind when you came here?" He asked.
"..." I didn't answer right away. "Well, I didn't have a girlfriend or anything, so I don't have a lover waiting for me. But I did have a good family. My parents and three younger brothers. I lived on my own so I didn't see them all the time, but..." The conversation was unexpectedly taking a depressing turn.
"Well at least I can get out of going to work today." I tried to laugh it off. "Anyway, enough about me, how about yourself?"
"My parents gave up on me when I became an otaku and they put all their expectations on my younger brother. He got pretty troubled by it so I straightened him out and got back in my parent's good graces. I don't see much of them though; they have their own lives to live and I'm at college. Well... I was at college." Naofumi gave me a rundown of his back story.

"Yaaawn. Morning fellas." Motoyasu sat up and brushed the covers aside. "Is it time for breakfast yet?" He rubbed his eyes with his free hand and tapped his spear on the floor.
Right on cue, there came a knock on the door, inviting us to come and eat.

After breakfast, an attendant visited to bring us before the king. There was also a second attendant, a knight and a magician with him. Those three spoke to me.
"We are here to escort the Sword Hero."

Naofumi looked at me with concern but I waved him off.
"Don't worry guys, I've got a side quest to clear. I'll see you guys later." I nodded at Naofumi and left the other heroes, following my three escorts. They led me away from the throne room and through the castle courtyard. We descended some steps and entered an underground hallway. The knight took a hand lantern and led the way. It was pitch dark beyond the doorway, the knight, attendant and magician led me past rows of dark cells, the pool of illumination from the lantern barely reached past the bars.
"Sir Sword Hero." The attendant appeared curious. "Pray tell, what kind of companion are you looking for from the dungeons?"
"I never said companion." I replied, putting on a sneer. "I said slave. I'm looking for a criminal who has disgraced Melromarc, someone that no one will care if I use however I please."
"In which case." Said the attendant. "We have several women-"
"They must also be a strong and competent fighter." I added.