Chapter 134: The Hero of Enhancement

Just by appearance alone, he seemed completely ordinary.

Yet the frivolous smile on his face carried a lightness and an absolute confidence that made the world seem trivial in his eyes.

He was the kind of man who made you wonder, “What does he know that makes him so confident?”

The Master of the Fourth Holy Sword.

Hero Candidate Felix.

He watched the man in front of Risir with keen interest.

“…”

Felix’s expression grew strangely subtle as he stared at Risir.

His current thoughts were laid bare across his face.

—Felix. What do you think of him?

His Holy Sword, Pochena, asked inside his head.

He doesn’t seem like a bad guy, at least…

If they’d met in ordinary circumstances, Felix might’ve found Risir to be a likable person.

His calm and modest demeanor was disarming, making it easy to feel goodwill toward him.

But the problem was this: he was the new Hero of Enhancement.

Felix remembered the previous Hero of Enhancement.

That man was overflowing ambition, backed by overwhelming presence.

He was the very definition of Enhancement, a man worthy of the name.

But the man standing before him now?

He couldn’t even fully accept the energy of his Holy Sword, going about with it bandaged to his hand like an amateur.

There wasn’t even a flicker of the dignity befitting a hero.

Could someone like that handle the destiny of Enhancement, when even the previous hero couldn’t?

Doubt crept across Felix’s face in the form of a skeptical smile.

Why did the Sword of Enhancement choose someone like him? Pochena, do you have any idea?

—The Sword of Enhancement… Zarak tends to focus most on potential when choosing a master. Perhaps there’s something in him we just can’t see?

Potential, huh… seems like it’s hidden way too deep.

Eventually, Felix arrived at a conclusion.

Honestly, wouldn’t it make more sense if Jane had become the Master of that sword?

—I agree. The power of Enhancement isn’t something just anyone can handle.

Among the Holy Swords, the Sword of Enhancement was notoriously difficult to wield.

They found it hard to imagine someone who couldn’t even adapt to its aura managing to master its power.

At this point, Felix began to wonder if Jane had simply handed the sword over to Risir out of kindness, despite being more worthy himself.

“Have you two been introduced?”

Just then, Jane walked up, pulling Felix from his thoughts.

Felix finally spoke to Risir.

“I’m Felix. Jane told me about you. Sounds like you showed something incredible during the sword’s trial?”

“I’m just grateful you see it that way. I’m Risir.”

Felix’s gaze stayed fixed on the Holy Sword still strapped to Risir’s hand.

He tore it away only with effort and turned to Jane.

“So, Jane. What do you think? Have you considered my proposal?”

“Well… so you came to Bondalles because of that?”

“I chose Bondalles as my destination because of the same ‘oracle’ as you. And yeah, at the moment, that goal takes top priority. I was thinking of reaching out to that the Collector staying in Bondalles, or to Frozen Breath, or even the Gray Mage Tower, but if you’re here, I don’t have to take the long way around.”

“…”

Jane mulled over Felix’s words and then looked at Risir.

“In that case, why don’t we ask Risir too while we’re at it?”

“…What?”

Felix glanced at Risir, then let out a laugh devoid of energy.

“Jane. Didn’t I tell you? This isn’t the kind of thing you just share with anyone. I told you because I trust you.”

“And I appreciate that. That’s why I’m saying this, Risir is someone you can trust. Both in terms of character and ability.”

“Someone you can trust? Didn’t you say you just met him yesterday?”

“Yep.”

“Then what are you basing that on?”

“…”

Jane chuckled, looking back on the memory.

“If I tell you, will you believe me?”

“What kind of tall tale are you about to spin?”

Jane, full of excitement, recounted the events of the day before.

“…He handled the power of Enhancement without the sword’s help, and practically caused an explosion during the trial?”

“Yeah.”

Then he realized he’d made a mistake.

When you said out loud, it sounded completely unbelievable.

Looking at Felix’s face, full of doubt, Jane nodded.

If their roles were reversed, he’d have reacted the same way.

He should’ve anticipated this and brought some kind of proof.

That was a clear oversight.

Now what…

The enhancement Risir used looked like it came with some serious side effects.

There was no way Jane could just say, “Hey, show him that ability again so he’ll believe me.”

In the end, Felix chose a compromise.

“Anyway, I’ll vouch for Risir’s ability and trustworthiness.”

“…”

If a fellow hero said this much, there had to be something to it.

Risir…

When this was over, the first thing Felix planned to do was look into that name.

He made a point to commit it to memory and gave a nod.

Only then did Risir speak up.

“Jane, what’s this all about?”

“To keep it simple, Felix’s party recently recovered an ancient relic from a dungeon. They’re looking for someone to use it with.”

“An ancient relic… to use with someone?”

“It’s called the ‘Asking Left Hand.’”

Felix interjected.

“An ancient relic that grants the user’s desire using the power within it.”

“…So, you’re basically looking for someone to make a wish with?”

Risir gave Felix a side glance.

The kind of look you’d give someone saying, “Wanna get rich quick?”

“Of course, that’s not all. In order to ask the Asking Left Hand for anything, you have to first solve the problem it presents.”

“Ah, so you’re looking for someone to share the risk and the reward.”

Now it sounded a bit less like a scam.

Risir nodded in understanding.

“To be honest, the risk isn’t even that big.”

“Sorry?”

“According to the research, the challenges posed by the Asking Left Hand are generally moderate. There’s a good chance that whoever comes with us will just stand around watching while we handle everything.”

“Then why ask for help at all?”

“Just in case. Better safe than sorry. Besides, it’s a rare opportunity to witness an ancient relic up close.”

“Ah.”

So, what do you think?

Felix glanced at Jane.

Jane went to discuss it with his party members.

It didn’t take long.

“We’re in. Verlotta and Kalia say it’s not every day you get to see an ancient relic like that. They really want to check it out.”

Now both parties turned to Risir.

An ancient relic intriguing enough to catch the interest of a hero party’s scholar and elf…

That piqued Risir’s curiosity too.

He might gain something unexpected from the experience.

“Zarak. How are you feeling? You think I can join them?”

—…Yes! I think I’ll be okay! We can even remove the bandages now!

“Oh, nice. Then let’s go.”

Risir casually unwrapped the bandages and sheathed the sword.

Felix watched and gave a wry smile.

Does he need his sword’s permission for every little thing…?

What had Jane seen in this Risir guy?

Felix set aside his deepening questions and left the mansion where Risir’s party was staying.

Shortly after, Felix returned with his party.

In his hand was a long object wrapped in a purple cloth.

Risir’s party guided them to a prearranged room inside the mansion.

A spacious room.

At its center, a table.

Felix placed the object on the table and removed the cloth.

The Asking Left Hand.

It resembled the withered hand of a monkey.

The two hero parties and Risir gathered around it.

“Ready?”

Everyone nodded in response to Felix’s question.

He gave a signal to the mage among his companions.

A small-framed woman lowered her hood and stepped closer to the Asking Left Hand.

Hair and eyes like captured stars, shimmering silver.

“…”

She began chanting in a mysterious language, lips forming strange syllables.

The ritual unfolded with a calm, almost mundane atmosphere.

They were confident from their research that the challenges posed by the Asking Left Hand were generally mild.

Eventually, her chanting stopped.

Crack.

At the same time, the Asking Left Hand began to move.

Crack.

*Snap.

Its joints gave off dry, brittle sounds like snapping twigs.

Over and over.

Endlessly.

Relentlessly.

“W-Wait—”

The woman who had remained composed throughout the strange ritual now revealed a flicker of alarm.

“What’s wrong, Tilla? Is something the matter?”

“S-Something’s off…!”

“What?”

“This reaction… this power… it’s not what the records described!!!”

The air in the room grew heavier by the second.

The Asking Left Hand.

A moment ago, it had been hollow, like a withered twig.

But now it began to pulse with power.

—Your wish has been granted.

At last, the hand began to speak.

In the same language the woman had recited during the ritual.

Risir’s party did not recognize the language.

And yet, they understood it.

—As you wished, the city was cursed, and met its ruin.

They understood the gravity of what was being said.

“W-Wait! What do you mean by that!?”

Despite the woman’s cry, the hand continued unfazed.

—Now it is your turn.

It began reciting the price of the previous user’s immense request.

—Bring before me one who holds the sword at dawn, commands arcane mysteries at noon, rules nature in the evening, and brings light with divinity at daybreak.

[Title: What the hell? Why is Felix’s hero party all dead?]

Content: Was it because of that Asking Left Hand thing?

-: Yeah
-: tf the “asking” part didn’t mean it asks questions, it meant it buries you
-[OP]: But the reports said it wasn’t dangerous?

-: The reports were based on a reference document. That document hadn’t been updated.  Because the country that maintained it went extinct

-[OP]: ???

-: The last wish made to the Asking Left Hand
Was literally the destruction of a nation lol

-[OP]: Ah
-[OP]: But what does that have to do with the hero party getting wiped?

-: The Asking Left Hand doesn’t give out tasks randomly
Their difficulty scales with the magnitude of the previous wish

So basically they just got hit with the world’s nastiest game of hot potato

-[OP]: holy shit LOL

-: Price for “destroying a nation” < how tf do you clear that

-: Seriously, if you try using the Asking Left Hand
It’s basically a death sentence

The unknown energy flowing out from the Asking Left Hand drifted between them.

Time was of the essence, yet their bodies—and their thoughts—had frozen.

“A swordsman at dawn, magic at noon… so basically, it wants someone who can wield all four powers!?”

But it was meaningless to panic.

This was the price for destroying an entire city.

And as such, the absurd request clearly belonged in the realm of the impossible.

“Khugh…!”

At that moment, the woman who had conducted the ritual clutched her throat and collapsed.

Dark marks began to spread from her neck across her entire body.

“Ugh…!”

Felix grimaced and checked his own left hand.

The same dark mark that had spread across the woman’s body was appearing on him.

That mysterious power…

It was now slowly spreading to everyone in the room.

“Damn it all…!”

They all instinctively understood,

If they failed to fulfill this demand, the consequences would be catastrophic.

But what could they do?

How were they supposed to grant such an impossible wish?

Damn it, think! Think, damn it! Maybe it’s a riddle.

No—it has to be a riddle!

There’s no way it would demand something completely impossible! Felix! Come on, remember! Remember!!!

Felix clawed for an answer amidst the impossible.

“Wait, Risir!?”

Risir raised his hand hesitantly.

No way. Did he figure it out? Did he crack the riddle!?

Felix’s trembling eyes locked onto Risir,

Waiting for him to open his mouth and speak the answer that would save them—

—… Hmm…

The Asking Left Hand let out a displeased hum.

“…Huh?”

Felix looked down at his left hand.

The black spot was disappearing.

What the…?

He hadn’t even said anything yet.

Felix struggled to make sense of what was happening.