Chapter 134 – Hero Maniac

After finishing her morning workout and eating breakfast while drenched in sweat, Yurasia looked around.

“Stella still hasn’t come back, huh?”

“Yeah. According to the Flame Empress, things were supposed to start right away today. Sounds like they’re going all-in.”

The wish tickets received from the Flame Empress.

One of the five was used to request that she become Stella’s teacher.

Honestly, I thought that even if the Flame Empress refused, I wouldn’t have had much to say.

I mean, it’s the Flame Empress.

She’s one of the Six Pillars famed across the Empire, and she’s always exploring Gevihenum, so it wouldn’t be surprising if she turned me down.

But nope.

The Flame Empress listened to my request and accepted it without a second thought. Why? The reason was simple.

‘That’s a wish I can easily grant. Understood. Shall we start tomorrow?’

Because it was within her ability to grant.

She couldn’t commit to every day, so we settled on twice a week. Honestly, that’s more than enough.

Even once a week would be plenty, since Stella would be busy absorbing what she learned during the other six days.

But the Flame Empress insisted on twice a week for mid-week check-ins.

Well… in exchange, every time she came, I’d have to meet her and chat for a bit, but that’s no trouble at all.

The Flame Empress… well, how should I put it.

She really enjoys my stories, and… she just really, really likes them. I don’t mind.

And even if that weren’t the case, it was a condition I was willing to accept.

Stella’s rapid growth by becoming the Flame Empress’s disciple? Of course, that’s great.

One day, we’ll go to Gevihenum together.

But that’s not all.

There’s another important reason.

The Flame Empress said she passes on the hero’s belongings to the descendants of heroes or those who inherit their legacy.

Stella is a Verheigen.

Kaloso is a Verheigen too.

Of course… the Flame Empress might not know Kaloso’s name or family, or even about the betrayal.

But Stella’s magic resembles Kaloso’s.

Even I can tell. If I can see it, the Flame Empress will surely realize it as well.

If so, Kaloso’s belongings will naturally be passed to Stella.

But it won’t happen without a word.

If Stella’s rank rises, or she hits a wall, or something important happens, the Flame Empress agreed to tell me first.

And she didn’t even question why I wanted to know, she just agreed.

Honestly, the moment she realizes Stella is a hero’s descendant, the Flame Empress will definitely come find me to talk my ear off.

Likewise, Stella will probably bring anything she gets from the Flame Empress straight to me to show off.

If she tried to hide it… hmm… No, I trust Stella.

So, if the Flame Empress becomes Stella’s teacher, it’ll be good for me, for Stella, and for the Flame Empress herself.

“Will it be alright?”

Looking around as she spoke, Yurasia quietly whispered.

“I think the Vice Headmaster really… hates the Flame Empress… Aren’t you going to get in trouble?”

“It just so happens I have extra lessons with the Vice Headmaster today, so I’ll ask. Why does she hate the Flame Empress so much?”

Gulp, gulp, I drank my lemonade and continued.

“Is it just because the Flame Empress took her student, or… is there some other reason? Still, hmm… I don’t think she’s a bad person. She won’t try to kill Stella or anything.”

We haven’t spent that much time together.

But even in that short time, I’ve paid close attention to the Flame Empress.

It’s not like I have a bad eye for people. I’ve been stabbed in the back so many times that I can at least tell who’s likely to do it.

The Flame Empress is someone who would cover your back.

But I can tell she’s hiding something inside.

I’ll ask Leona about that.

“Well, if that’s the case… hmm…”

Yurasia fidgeted with her fingers, as if something was on her mind, and watched me.

“Why? Is something bothering you?”

“No. Nothing at all!”

I looked into Yurasia’s eyes as she answered firmly.

“You’re worrying over nothing.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

I know exactly what’s bothering her.

I have Leona, the Fist Demon, at my side.

Stella has the Flame Empress.

Pina has the spirits.

And Yurasia?

She might not know, but she has Ronan Lujarak by her side.

“I’m always by your side, Yurasia.”

“Huh…? Always?”

“Yeah. Always.”

Yurasia blinked her clear eyes a few times.

Then her ears turned red, and her lips parted hesitantly.

“Th-that’s, suddenly… why, why are you saying that?”

I narrowed my eyes at her.

“Why else? You’ve been feeling anxious because you don’t have a proper teacher, right?”

“N-no?!”

“I’ve known you for a while, haven’t I? I can tell from your face and eyes, you rascal. What, the Sword Saint? You think that guy’s really that good with a sword?”

“Well… um… I-I think he probably is… right?”

“Huh, yeah. He’s probably good, sure. But listen. I, um…”

Pina, who’d been happily munching on tteokbokki, suddenly looked at me with wide eyes.

I closed my mouth for a moment too.

What should I say?

It’s obvious, so obvious.

Just like how the world is round, the continent is wide, the sea is deep, and the sky is high, of course I handle a sword better than the Sword Saint.

I’m so far above that guy it’s not even worth comparing.

A duel? If it came down to that, I’d win every time.

But, how do I prove it?

Right. Yurasia has seen me handle weapons before. The Arant Museum incident. She saw me cut down demons there firsthand.

But back then… did I mainly use a sword?

I used a lot of different weapons.

The sword was nothing more than a consumable.

“…Miss?”

With a look that seemed to say she regretted speaking up, Yurasia squeezed my hand tightly.

Or was it more like trying to comfort a sulking younger sibling?

I don’t know. Am I sulking? Am I? Really?

This isn’t sulking. It’s just, well, that… a little disappointed?

…What is this. What’s with me?

“I like your sword the best, Miss.”

“Don’t lie.”

“It’s true!”

“…Forget it. It’s already too late.”

Why do I even feel this way?

It’s so annoying.

“Yurasia.”

“Y-yes?”

“After I’m done with extra lessons, I’ll message you. Meet me at the private training hall.”

“…Okay.”

“Why. Don’t want to?”

“I absolutely want to!”

Hearing Yurasia’s weirdly enthusiastic reply, ‘I absolutely want to!’, I turned to glare at Pina, who was still watching me.

“Why are you staring like that. Geez, you…”

“Eek…!”

Pina lowered her gaze.

Then, she curled up and hugged her tail.

Yurasia patted Pina’s back and stifled a laugh.

“Pina, when Miss is sulking, it’s best to quietly look away.”

“What? Hey! I’m not sulking!!”

“Eeek…”

* * *

“Ellie!!! Arnes!!!!”

Thudthudthudthudthud! Leona was charging toward me from the end of the hallway.

It was crazy fast. At that speed, you’d think she wouldn’t be able to stop in time, but she always does.

So I just nodded and went straight into the private training hall.

“You’re supposed to go in with me! Are you trying to make me sad?!”

Right after, WHAM! Leona swung the door open like she was going to break it and grumbled.

“People are staring.”

“So, are you embarrassed to be seen with me?”

“Yes.”

“My god. To call your teacher embarrassing without a hint of hesitation, you’re such a bad student.”

Even as she said that, Leona laughed, “Nyahaha!” and stepped into the training hall. She twitched her nose, then suddenly unleashed a fierce, unfamiliar bloodlust.

“…Eliaernes.”

Even for a Beastkin, she shouldn’t have such a keen sense of smell. Leona really is something else.

I let out a small sigh and spoke.

“There were circumstances.”

I spoke calmly, but goosebumps prickled up my arm. My clenched fists were sweating, and a chill ran down my back.

It wasn’t that I was scared or nervous. My weak body was just reacting on its own.

“Why did the Flame Empress come here? Is there something going on?”

Leona narrowed her eyes and looked at me.

But after a moment, she gathered herself and let out a sigh.

“…Sorry. I shouldn’t be taking it out on you.”

“Vice Headmaster, do you have anger management issues?”

“You… There’s nothing you won’t say to your teacher…!”

“Well, isn’t it true? With the way you’re going, you’ll end up killing a student soon. Honestly, if it were anyone else, that aura just now would’ve knocked them out.”

Leona’s tail trembled, then drooped.

“Ugh… I guess you’re right. Sorry…”

After giving Leona a sideways glance, I wiped the sweat from my hand and slumped into a chair.

“Vice Headmaster. Come sit down over here.”

“Alright…”

With her head hung low like a sinner, Leona glanced at me as she sat down.

“Vice Headmaster, you’re one of the Six Pillars, right?”

“Well… I used to be.”

“But your name’s still on the list.”

“I definitely said I was stepping down, but those bastards left me on it anyway. One day I’m going to go over there and overturn everything, damn it.”

“You mean the Imperial Family?”

“Why not? Nothing’s stopping me.”

“That’s true.”

“What do you mean, ‘that’s true’! My student shouldn’t be picking up such bad habits.”

“You’re the one who taught me all this, you know?”

“Anyway, it’s still not allowed!”

I shot her a look that said, ‘So what do you expect me to do?’ Leona returned a look that said, ‘Yeah, what are you going to do about it?’

“So, tell me now. Why did the Flame Empress come all the way here?”

“Answer my question first.”

“Question?”

“Yes. Why do you hate the Flame Empress so much, Vice Headmaster? After talking to her, she doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

A wrinkle appeared on Leona’s brow.

Her tail stood straight, her ears perked up.

“…I can’t tell you that.”

“Why not?”

“It’s an adult matter. Kids like you… You’re too young to understand. No, it’s the kind of thing you never need to know your whole life.”

“Hm… If you don’t tell me…”

“If I don’t?”

Leona raised one eyebrow.

“I’ll stop being your student.”

“W-what?”

“And I’ll go study under the Flame Empress instead. We’ll get super close.”

“W-what kind of, how could you say that to me, Eliaernes! How could you do that to your own teacher?!”

“It’s not like I wanted to compare the two of you. But the Flame Empress tells me everything with nothing to hide, while you have way too many secrets.”

“T-That’s not true! That fool hides so much, too! But I…!”

Bang! Leona jumped up from her seat.

I purposely flinched for effect. Leona lost her momentum and sat back down.

“I… only hide what I absolutely have to. If you knew, it would just make you tired and anxious. I only do it because I don’t want my student to worry… I never, ever, not even once, intended to deceive or trick you!”

“I do understand how you feel, Vice Headmaster.”

“Then why would you say something so dreadful and horrible?!”

“But you have to understand where I’m coming from too. I actually… out of loyalty to you, Vice Headmaster… or, well, something like that, I didn’t ask the Flame Empress about it. Stories like this, no matter how much you listen to both sides, you always end up leaning toward whoever you hear first, right? That’s why I wanted to hear it from you first, to take your side and think things through from my teacher’s perspective.”

As I shot back, making it clear I was disappointed, Leona’s tail drooped helplessly.

The corners of her mouth, usually turned up, fell, and her perky ears drooped as well.

“Ugh…”

From a stubborn lion, she’d become a rain-soaked kitten.

“…Yeah. That… I’m grateful for that, too.”

“But if you keep hiding things, I might get so disappointed I’ll end up leaving for somewhere else.”

“That can’t happen! You’re my student! My one and only student!”

“Then tell me. Why do you dislike her so much?”

Leona bit her lip, then let out a deep sigh and began to speak.

“…You must never, ever, under any circumstances, speak of this anywhere. Understand?”

“My lips are sealed.”

“You can’t even let on that you know.”

“Of course.”

“Eliaernes, I… I’m telling you this because I trust you, my student… Not because I’m afraid you’ll leave me for that fool. Understand?”

“Obviously. But your way of talking has gotten weird, Vice Headmaster.”

“Ah… R-right. Thank you…”

Leona continued to mouth silent words for a while, then finally spoke in a subdued voice.

“The Flame Empress is a ghost of the past.”