Chapter 132 – Hero Maniac

Starting with the pocket watch, familiar and recognizable items kept appearing one after another.

Among them was the scabbard Luna had lost gambling, the one she’d given as a gift to Uncle Kerian.

“…Where on earth did you pick these up?”

“Gevihenum. I found them there, took them from demons, sometimes bought them at relic shops run by swindlers, and sometimes won them at auctions. So, do you recognize any of these?”

“Uh, um… Yes. There are quite a few that appeared in Sir Ronan’s memoirs…”

That was putting it mildly. There were a lot.

Most of them were things I remembered.

“Heh… Ahem. That’s a relief. As I said before, my ability is to find traces and read memories from the past. So, even if it’s just a random pebble, if someone touched it, I can see their image.”

The Flame Empress scratched the scar on her forehead and stroked the scabbard.

“I can say for certain that this is the scabbard Sir Ronan Lujarak used. It’s not as clear as the pocket watch, but it’s still vivid. However… with that dagger over there, or the arrows, Sir Ronan Lujarak’s image is faint. So I can’t be sure.”

The dagger. I remember it clearly.

It was the dagger Luna bought for me, mainly used for cooking. And… I lost it in less than two weeks.

The arrow… that was probably the Heavenly Bow Saint’s arrow. She always claimed she could see the future, but she didn’t see her own death, she died right in front of me.

The bow snapped, so only the arrow remained. I remember firing it with a different bow.

“So? Do you like this Flame Empress’ gifts?”

Staring blankly at the things that came out of the Flame Empress’ bag, I looked up.

She was watching me with a troubled expression.

It was funny. For someone who was considered one of the strongest in the Empire, she sure was acting humble.

Is the Flame Empress a good person?

Maybe I can take her at face value, just a little.

If she’s like this, why was Leona so wary of her?

Is there something I don’t know?

Even if she looks like this on the outside, 

[This isn’t the world from 400 years ago anymore.]

Right. It’s not the world from 400 years ago.

It’s a world where I don’t have to force these kinds of thoughts anymore.

Still… I’m not certain yet.

No, even beyond certainty, it’s dangerous to reveal my identity to multiple people.

There are demons who eat human brains to recall their memories, so there’s nothing wrong with being careful for now.

So later. I’ll say it on a day not too far from now.

“Yes. I really like them.”

After finishing my thoughts, I smiled for the first time during my conversation with the Flame Empress.

“That’s good. Whew… Really… I’m so glad.”

The Flame Empress didn’t know the countless calculations running through my mind. But even if she did, she would have still smiled that brightly.

“So, do you have things from the other heroes? Like, Sir Paulo… or Lady Luna, or Lady Arisa?”

“Of course I do. But… I don’t have anything from Lady Arisa Eustetia.”

The Flame Empress’ lips drooped.

“Why not?”

“Three years ago… I lost everything to the Fist Demon, ahem. I… gave them to the Fist Demon.”

“Aha…”

Leona must’ve taken them.

Or maybe not?

Leona was Arisa’s last disciple, so giving them to her isn’t exactly wrong, is it?

The Flame Empress can’t be unaware of that.

Leona’s casual punches even have Arisa’s image in them.

So why does she look so sad?

“But, isn’t the Vice Headmaster also Lady Arisa’s disciple?”

The Flame Empress’s mouth fell open again.

“…Truly, you’re amazing, Eliaernes. How much do you really know?”

“I can’t say for sure, but I probably know everything you know, Flame Empress.”

“Is that so? I suppose that’s true. After all, you’re a direct descendant of Eustetia, and… you must have been in the Forbidden Library. So, do you… know Eustetia’s secret?”

There’s only one thing that counts as a secret. That Arisa’s blood didn’t flow in Eustetia.

“I know.”

“Heh… Are you alright with that?”

The Flame Empress’ voice became cautious.

I nodded as if nothing was wrong.

“Yes. I’m fine. That doesn’t mean I, or we, aren’t Eustetia.”

“Brave and bold. I really like you, this Flame Empress does.”

“…Do you also like women, Flame Empress?”

“Hmm? No. The only things I like are the heroes from 400 years ago and magic.”

“That’s a relief.”

I let out a small sigh and straightened up.

“Anyway, the Vice Headmaster is still Lady Arisa’s disciple, so shouldn’t she be included among the people you mentioned?”

“That’s true, but… I still wanted to give them to Eustetia’s direct line.”

“Then you could’ve given them earlier. To my father, or, uh… my grandfather, or someone like that.”

“Turrius Eustetia. Other than that man, there wasn’t anyone qualified to receive Lady Arisa’s belongings.”

The Flame Empress shook her head and replied with the most serious voice yet.

“It’s Eustetia’s matter, so it’s not my place to say much, but they weren’t qualified. And Turrius. I thought that man was more than qualified. But he refused. He said himself that he wasn’t qualified.”

“…Qualified.”

The elders and many branch families of House Eustetia were killed by my father and uncle.

I still don’t know the reason. I was only told that I’d be told when I’m an adult.

If that’s the case, did my father say he wasn’t qualified because he was a parricide who killed his own relatives and parents, or because he didn’t have Eustetia blood?

“But… yes. As you said, the Fist Demon was also Lady Arisa’s last disciple, so it wasn’t a bad choice. I just don’t like the fact that the process of taking them from me was rather violent.”

As the Flame Empress spoke, she shuddered and let out a bitter laugh. Then she took a sip of the mint chocolate latte I’d given her, savoring it with a dignified expression.

“It’s delicious.”

“You have quite a refined palate.”

“Mmm.”

For a while, I sat in silence, wetting my throat, until I couldn’t bear the look on the Flame Empress’ face any longer and finally spoke.

“The name of the technique Sir Ronan used.”

“Gasp…!”

“Ahem… I know quite a lot.”

“H-huh…!”

“Are you curious?”

“C-curious…! Please, please tell me!”

“The name of the skill that made Sir Ronan known as the Star of Calamity…”

I took two breaths.

With just those two breaths, the Flame Empress’ hips wiggled with excitement, but she didn’t rush me.

It was as if she was enjoying the anticipation itself.

Just how much do you love heroes… us?

I couldn’t hold back a laugh and finally parted my lips.

“Martial Spirit.”

Luna always shuddered at how tacky that name was.

Arisa would smile wryly, Kaloso would shake his head, and Paulo made up something similar after my name.

And the Flame Empress?

She shuddered as if struck by lightning.

Then, with a flurry, she started crying.

“…Amazing.”

That wasn’t enough, she even started clapping with soft, delicate hands as she stood up.

“Amazing. It’s a perfect name… Martial Spirit. I can’t think of any other name.”

“Right? Isn’t it cool? Powerful?”

“Mmm…! It’s cool and powerful. It’s also quite fierce, but I can feel the gentleness within it. And on top of that… I can sense Sir Ronan’s unwavering will. What a perfect name!”

“Heh…”

The Flame Empress stroked one of the gifts she had given me, her hand trembling. At the same time, a gentle mana began to emanate from her body.

Crimson eyes. A faint smoke lingered in the flames that flickered in her gaze. There was a bright smile on her lips, and her other hand was tightly clenched into a fist.

“Martial Spirit… I tried so hard to use Sir Ronan’s Martial Spirit.”

“You’re a mage.”

“Mmm…! That doesn’t matter. Don’t interrupt this Flame Empress. Anyway, I put in a lot of effort trying to use that amazing technique… Martial Spirit, with such a cool name.”

The Flame Empress’ voice grew intense, but it only sounded even happier.

“But I couldn’t do it. Even with all the control that made me the Flame Empress, I still couldn’t replicate Martial Spirit. My arm broke, my leg tore, my neck nearly twisted. Of course, it’s only right. It’s Sir Ronan Lujarak’s technique. If you want to imitate something like that, you have to be prepared to risk your life.”

The Flame Empress’ gaze returned to normal. The mana swirling around her subsided, and she collapsed back into her chair.

“But you. You use that technique. Martial Spirit. You wield it so freely.”

“Want me to tell you how?”

“Gasp… Ah, no. I can’t. I mustn’t. That’s… something only those chosen by the heroes can learn and use. It should never be revealed to outsiders even to people like me.”

The Flame Empress answered firmly, licking her lips in regret, but smiling contentedly.

“This Flame Empress is… simply satisfied seeing existences like you. Those chosen by the heroes.”

As I looked at the Flame Empress, I hesitated.

There was something I wanted to ask.

I’d wanted to since earlier. My lips itched with curiosity.

Kaloso Verheigen.

I want to ask about him.

But… should I?

The Flame Empress must know.

There’s no way she wouldn’t. If she can see memories from the past, she must have seen Kaloso too.

But Kaloso’s existence isn’t recorded anywhere in the Empire. You can’t even find his name in the Forbidden Library.

Is it right to ask about someone like that?

Still, for now… rather than that, 

“There are a lot of other things I know too. Should I tell you?”

Since I received something, now it’s my turn to give.

“O-other things… what do you mean?”

“The names of other skills… or weapons Sir Ronan used… or his favorite foods, that kind of thing.”

The Flame Empress blinked several times.

Then, suddenly, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

She wasn’t making a crying face, but tears were pouring out anyway.

“I… I mean, this Flame Empress… can’t possibly pay an equal price for hearing things like that…”

Her strange way of speaking almost faltered.

“It’s fine. I’ll just tell you.”

“…Are you really sure? Even though you’re sharing such precious stories, you don’t want anything in return?”

“Yes. Well, if you really want to give me something.”

What I’d ask from the Flame Empress, 

I’d already decided.

After a brief pause, I spoke.

“That right you mentioned before… Could you increase the number of wish tickets from one to two?”

“Ha!”

The Flame Empress beamed and spread her thin fingers wide.

“I’ll increase it to five…!”

“Wow!”

In exchange for telling her about the things I like, I get to use the Flame Empress five times.

If that isn’t a pushover… no, a good person, there’s never been a better one.

Giggling, I clapped my hands and opened my mouth.