“Well, at least it ends today.”
Today is the long-awaited day to enter the library. After that it’ll be freedom!
I encourage myself and try to start preparations.
But…
I’m pulled back, stopping my movement.
“…”
Looking back, I almost give her a word – meaning to let go.
“…”
But it doesn’t care, refusing to release its grip.
“Hey, let go.”
I try to escape the girl clinging to my waist – Eve. But she’s gripped me so tightly that I can’t get her off. This…!
Rafine and Letty are sleeping comfortably, so I understand them. But…
“I know you’re awake, hey.”
“…”
Shaking brings no answer. But the grip remains rock solid. Definitely awake.
“Hey, get up. Let go already…Hey!”
Lightly tapping her head, trying to dislodge her, but…
“Zzz…”
Pretending to sleep. What is she doing?
Eventually her hands start groping and – whoa, hey! That’s a sensitive spot!
“Get up, please.”
Begging just makes Eve cling on and say-
“Can’t wake up without a morning kiss.”
“That’s an outrageous thing to say.”
Replies jokingly. Is she still dazed?
“Then a hug will work.”
Eve spreads her arms, demandingly. Looks like there’s something wrong with her head. Morning sickness, probably.
After that, I started to get ready, dragging along the demanding Eve. No means no, you’re like a child.
Looking a bit miffed, perhaps from the ignored requests, Eve asks as I finish getting ready.
“But why are you up so early? You never get up this early.”
“A bit of a chore.”
“I see.”
Just that, and Eve obediently moves away, unlike her bratty self earlier.
Truth is, it’s still early morning. Earlier than our promised meeting time in the library.
Still, I’m awake to finish an annoying errand. Really annoying. But I promised, so I have to. Annoying.
“I’ll be back for the meeting then.”
“Mm, have a good trip.”
Eve waves me off cheerfully. She looks happy for some reason.
As I leave, I pretend not to hear Eve’s delighted “Felt like a married couple!”
After leaving the stables, through the city walls and into the forest.
I push aside the brush on the unkempt deer trails and continue on.
I know the way from the footage. And I’ve confirmed that it’s here after scanning the whole city with Detection beforehand. So no chance to get lost.
“There we are…oh, there you are.”
Entering the clearing, I spot the person I’m after.
Right next to him, a dilapidated, vine-covered hut. Totally lifeless, unbelievable that someone lives here. …Unchanged, huh.
“Yo.”
I call softly.
But he doesn’t even look back.
Crimson hair, animal ears covered with fur.
The second-in-command of the Adelph Knights and a prince of Fortis. The genius hero-
“What business, D-rank?”
Lucas replies coldly.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
“Nothing really, just passing by. Happened to see you, thought I’d say hi.”
“I see. Are you saying you think that annoying detection spell earlier was your imagination?”
I tried to feign coincidence, but it seems I’m totally screwed. Even though I used Stealth Magic to avoid detection. Useless, apparently.
“Enough pretending. State your business.”
Without even looking in my direction, Lucas speaks flatly. …Seriously, super unpleasant guy. I definitely don’t want to be friends with this guy.
“Hey, no need to be so brusque. I came even though I don’t want to talk to you either.”
“Then get lost. I’m not going to waste my time on you.”
Dismissively rejecting me outright. I’m super hated, huh.
…Well, whatever. I dislike him too. No plans to get along either.
“Henry sent me with a request for you. This…”
“Why do you know my brother’s name?”
The moment the name leaves my lips, he closes the gap, sword at my throat.
“Explain.”
Blatant hostility. Lucas, who showed no interest in me before, expands his magical power and assumes a fighting stance.
But without answering his question, I…
“Here.”
-pulls out the spirit sword I brought with me and throws it. Lucas catches the sword in his free hand.
“What is this… That can’t be!”
Seeing the Spirit Sword, Lucas’ eyes shoot wide in shock.
“Why do you have Henry’s ceremonial sword? Besides, this magical power…!”
He seems to have noticed. Well, of course, with highly attuned magical power as brothers, he’d notice at a glance.
“It’s Henry… isn’t it?”
Lucas mumbled in amazement.
Obviously disturbed, his usually calm face became flustered. He stares at the Spirit Sword as if seeing a ghost.
“That’s right. Henry’s soul resides in this sword.”
I begin to explain at length to Lucas.
About accepting a request and seeing Lucas’ past in the maze in the Garden of Spirit Trees.
How the one who showed that past was his brother Henry.
How he wanted to be beheaded after his body was absorbed by a demon.
I told everything exactly as I witnessed it. Including how I violently ripped the demon and Henry’s souls apart with some strange power. I left nothing out because I had to tell him the unvarnished truth.
“…”
After I finish, Lucas just stands there, speechless, saying nothing.
He lowers his head, stares blankly at the Spirit Sword, and clenches his fist as if thinking about something.
I wait silently without speaking.
After a while, Lucas finally opens his mouth.
“So…how long until Henry wakes up?”
“A year…or with your highly attuned magical power, I would guess six months.”
“I see.”
Lucas falls silent again. His tone is flat, impossible to read any emotion. Not happy or sad, as if completely devoid of emotion.
When I forcefully separate the souls of Henry and the demon, I temporarily put Henry’s soul into a dormant state, so he’s asleep now, but will eventually wake up. Placing him near a sufficient source of magical power and exposing him to mana should speed his awakening. With his brother Lucas, it would undoubtedly be quite soon.
“Though without a replacement vessel, he can’t leave the sword… or so I’d like to say.”
Even after awakening, Henry would still be trapped in the sword, unable to move freely. I don’t mind that, but not being able to eat or sleep and still being alive would be hard.
So
“I’ll figure something out.”
I declare this clearly – to make the impossible possible.
“After he wakes up, I’ll transfer Henry back into his original body.”
“What are you talking about? His body was consumed by the demon.”
“Yes. So I’ll ‘create’ one.”
Lucas looks at me like I’m a madman…and to be honest, I would dismiss someone who said that to me with full confidence.
Even I have doubts that I can do it. But the moment I “devoured” Henry and the demon together, all sorts of information about Henry flooded into my mind, and I intuitively knew that I could construct his body.
The principles elude me. Undoubtedly a power far removed from current magical theory. I do not even use mana, nor do I understand how to use it.
Yet I can. I’m confident that I can achieve what should be impossible. For whatever reason.
“…Then you two can become knights or whatever after that.”
“Tch…!”
Lucas bows his head and clenches his fist tightly, as if to restrain his trembling body.
Maybe he realizes that I’m not lying, that this is not a lie.
A long silence follows. Lucas remains motionless, just staring at the Spirit Sword.
A few minutes pass.
When I start to leave, Lucas opens his mouth.
“When I was little… I wanted to be a knight.”
He begins to speak in a hoarse, low voice.
I stop my steps and listen intently.
“I guess I was drawn to it. To the figures that thank you for helping others.”
“Probably?”
As if talking about someone else. But aren’t you?
“Now I do not understand. Why I wanted it, or what kind of knight I wanted to be.”
“Why is that?”
“Haven’t you ever had times when the convictions you once held changed over the years?”
“Well, maybe.”
Now that he mentions it, I too lived for a long time thinking only of becoming a hero. I gave up in the end, but back then I had some silly beliefs that are gone now.
“I hate this world. Its injustice and corruption.”
Lucas speaks tonelessly, standing motionless.
“Know this, D-rank. In this world, righteousness leads to loss. Those who stray gain, while the righteous are always mired. Isn’t that ridiculous?”
Lucas chuckles.
“The strong exploit the weak, and the weak in turn create weaker beings to perpetuate the abuse. While they preach equality, they live by creating divisions over trivial things like race and ideology.”
I continue to listen to Lucas’ monologue in silence.
“The righteous and well-meaning are exploited. Brave heroes who bravely help others exist only in fairy tales. In reality, only self-interest and ugly emotions stir.”
Lucas goes on to say
“When I see the brave hero, it disgusts me.”
“…”
“He doesn’t try to give up the self-destructive lifestyle of preaching justice. A foolish way to live.”
Lucas scoffs, as if mocking.
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