Chapter 130

Chapter 130

You Have Changed So Much Since I Last Saw You, Leon (1)

A man was reading a book in a shabby little room, relying only on a single candle.

He had lived for no less than several hundred years, yet there was no end to learning.

—Rustle.

The pattern on the cover of the old book, whose page had just turned, was one often encountered in the East, far, far away from this place.

The book contained the origins and information of cursed blades, made by sealing the souls of resentful dead—

spirits called “demons.”

Thus, this book could originally be considered a dangerous text, one that was illegal to carry around on the continent.

But the man did not care.

What law, after all, could possibly stop “him”?

To begin with, he had not been reading it because he intended to do anything bad.

It was simply that the “East” was not a field he was confident in, and because the man he had his eye on used a cursed blade.

As he quickly skimmed through the book, turning page after page, the man focused.

Just then, the part he was curious about was written in the book.

“Handling a cursed blade does not mean one can converse with demons. However, in exceedingly rare cases, there were those who could communicate with ‘demons’: those who had grown up in environments exceedingly close to death, or those born under the Star of Heavenly Slaughter, feeling no hesitation toward killing. Fundamentally, such people are unaffected by the demonic energy emitted by demons, nor will they ever become yokai. Yet their end will be little different from that of a yokai.”

The man hesitated briefly in the middle of reading aloud.

Soon, furrowing his brow, he read the rest.

“...Exceptionally, it is said that demon-men or demons who handled cursed blades could also communicate with demons. Hm... So to be able to communicate with the dead, one must be close to death. Interesting.”

The man stopped reading and lifted his head, recalling “Zeto,” whose eyes were wrapped in snow-white bandages.

Zeto’s cursed blade seemed to contain the soul of a figure presumed to be his master.

He had guessed that Zeto could speak with the soul because he had a deep connection to spirits, but it seemed that was not the case.

“Close to death...?”

There was no detailed information about the Eastern term Star of Heavenly Slaughter, but judging by the expression that such people held no hesitation toward killing, it seemed to refer to those born with innate cruelty.

This was quite far removed from the Zeto he knew.

“Tch...”

The man clicked his tongue once and set the book aside for a moment.

Around the time he sat with his chin propped in one hand, sinking into deep thought...

“...Master.”

Someone called him and entered the room.

The woman neatly dressed in a maid uniform lowered her head once and continued speaking.

“News has just arrived. The first-year students who went to the desert for their field trip are on their way back to the academy.”

The woman’s name was Ithea.

Although she looked human on the outside, she was a golem created by him, a being who held the title of Sage in his own way.

The Sage possessed considerable knowledge of magical engineering, enough to create “Ithea,” but this was not a widely known fact.

If he released the magical engineering knowledge he possessed to the world, civilization would develop at a rapid pace.

However, excessively rapid development inevitably caused many side effects, so it was only being used modestly within the academy.

“That is sudden news.”

The day the first-year students were scheduled to return after finishing their field trip had not yet arrived.

Had some problem occurred?

Needing a more detailed explanation, the Sage turned his head and looked steadily at Ithea.

“According to what I heard, due to an unknown situation where the ‘otherworld species’ vanished without a trace overnight, Sicily Windless, lord of Delgrad, decided to urgently send the students back.”

At Ithea’s following explanation, the Sage furrowed his brow.

“The otherworld species vanished? What does that mean?”

“It means exactly that. They have vanished... They are currently nowhere to be seen anywhere in the desert. This is now the second day, they say.”

“Hmm... How strange. Those lumps of scrap metal that never seemed to have any purpose suddenly hiding themselves overnight...”

Touching his chin, the Sage let out a thoughtful hum.

The Sage knew quite well about the otherworld species.

They were beings from an “other world” whose civilization was entirely different from this place.

To begin with, the reason they had come to be named “otherworld species” owed greatly to the Sage, who had participated in the investigation of the otherworld species while hiding his identity at the time.

However, aside from showing hostility toward humans, there had been no particular oddities, so as always, the Sage had reduced his intervention as much as possible.

And Delgrad, the city located in the desert, had been stopping them well.

“...There is a high probability that an existence capable of giving them orders has appeared. Has an investigation gone out to the ‘temple’?”

“If you say temple, where do you mean...?”

Ithea, unable to understand the Sage’s words, asked back.

“Ah, I mean the ‘ruin.’ I once set foot there before those things entered the desert. Unfortunately, after the otherworld species appeared, entry became impossible...”

As the Sage said that, he traced back memories now more than two hundred years old.

Though he had become unable to set foot inside due to something like an unknown barrier or formation that appeared along with the otherworld species, there had definitely been a “temple” there.

In truth, although it would not be strange for the Sage to now be called a living “fossil,” he also held great interest in archaeology.

In that temple, built before even the Sage himself was born, there had been a statue of a “demon.”

Why had a temple worshipping a demon been built in a desert located in human lands?

The Sage guessed it was because that demon had been feared even among demons.

Among them, only one demon had ever had the position of his horns twisted due to kindred cannibalism.

A demon who tried to break the yoke of Demon King and Hero and become “king” himself.

But he failed.

So he was forgotten.

His name was erased.

That demon, whose existence was believed to have been erased without leaving any record, had ironically left traces in human lands.

Perhaps this was a temple honoring the one who, in the end, could not become king.

That was the conclusion the Sage had reached.

“Well, even if an investigation team is sent to the ruin, they will not gain anything.”

Emerging from his recollection of the past, the Sage tossed the book onto the desk, leaned back in his chair, and tilted his head back.

According to what the Sage had investigated at the time, it was certain that the otherworld species had made the temple their base.

“They hid themselves... is it preservation of forces...? Huu...”

The meaningful movements of the otherworld species.

A sigh slipped out of the Sage on its own.

“At this point, when the Demon King’s revival is known to be not far off, the otherworld species suddenly begin increasing their forces... Leon, you bastard, when are you planning to appear? Have you even been born?”

Because the situation was turning strange, the Sage complained while bringing up the name of his old companion and the Hero, Leon.

Unfortunately, Leon, swept up in the “yoke,” seemed highly likely not to possess his memories.

The Leon the Sage had met also had no memories of his previous life, after all.

By nature, if one were born with the qualities of a Hero, entering Innocence Academy would be extremely easy.

And there was no particular reason for the reincarnated Hero not to enter the academy. Where else could there be such a safe fence and place of learning as the academy?

Thus, the Sage had made several devices inside Innocence Academy that could allow Leon to regain his memories.

Among them was the “necklace” as well...

“...Zeto took the necklace, did he not?”

The Sage scratched his head.

“Still, the painting remains too, though a thief nearly stole it...”

Fortunately, there were many devices besides the necklace.

The only question was whether or not the reincarnated Leon could remember.

Even if he did not deliberately regain his memories of his previous life, as long as the Hero could fulfill the role of Hero, that would be enough. But this was the Sage’s exceedingly personal desire.

Since he had already lived several hundred years anyway, he wanted to speak once more with the friend who had met an unfortunate end... one of the few small desires remaining to the Sage.

***

Regrettably, I left the desert without having had a chance to speak with Ishmir alone.

As expected, Delgrad strengthened its guard, and under the warriors’ strict escort, the students were able to leave the desert.

Ishmir, who ended up riding with us in the carriage all the way out of the desert, clung to Lucia and whined that it was troublesome, asking if she too could be made an academy instructor.

What could Lucia possibly do?

Besides, Ishmir as an instructor... She had absolutely no talent for teaching someone, did she?

A “guard,” perhaps, but instructor was utterly impossible.

In any case... the desert was peaceful enough to seem quiet, and after parting from Ishmir like that, our journey to the desert came to an end.

After we returned to the academy, the instructors called the students together and gave notice regarding the schedule.

It had been a field trip for joint combat, but because many students had not been able to fight, they said they would prepare a separate class for joint combat.

The groups would remain the same. We would not go on another field trip, and this time, it would be resolved within the academy.

With the notice over, rest was granted for the students who must have been exhausted by the desert’s harsh environment.

At the word “rest,” the auditorium where the students had gathered was filled with cheers.

In particular, Orphel Aisin, heir of the water Aisin family, one of the continent’s four elemental families, looked so happy that he clapped repeatedly.

From what I heard from Crank, who had been in the same group as him...

Orphel, who could not withstand the desert heat well, had once poured water over his head, and the group members who had watched this carefully asked him to sprinkle water on them at every opportunity.

According to Crank, it was extremely refreshing.

...Perhaps Orphel had been treated as something like a “watering can” or “shower” in the desert.

In any case, several days of rest were granted, but for me, who had “things to do” during this precious rest period, there was no such thing as rest.

Thus, before immediately leaving the academy, I briefly stopped by the general store, bought the things I needed, and was on my way out.

[ Why did you buy so many candies...? Do you need snacks for the journey? Did our disciple like sweet things? ]

Sierra, who had watched me buy a large amount of candy from the general store, voiced doubt.

As I immediately turned into an alley and stepped into the shadows, I answered her quietly.

“...I thought the Hero might like them.”

[ Pfft... Your joke goes too far. Did you not say the reincarnated Hero clearly possesses memories of his previous life? Would a great man like the Hero put into his mouth candy that only children would like? ]

“Haha... Is that so...?”

[ Yes. It would be better to buy liquor instead. ]

Liquor, huh.

It seemed Sierra was saying that because she did not yet know what form the reincarnated Hero had taken.

This candy from the general store was an item capable of raising the Hero’s favorability.

Whether I truly had played such a game, or whether my memories had been distorted so that I believed I had, I still could not know. But at the very least, there would be no situation where the Hero disliked candy.

When Sierra saw the Hero eating candy deliciously, what sort of reaction would she show?

...Well, it seemed fine to leave that as enjoyment for later.

***

“Ray!”

One boy came running while waving his hand.

Beneath the shade of the tree the child was running toward were “Ray,” the reincarnation of Hero Leon, and the director of the orphanage.

“...Does that kid never get tired?”

It was the boy who usually showed romantic interest in Ray.

No matter how much Ray had become a girl’s body, she had no interest in men. That did not mean she had any particular interest in women either.

This had also been true when she was Hero Leon.

Leon had lived hearing things from his companions like, “You really are dense.” He still did not know why he had heard such words.

“Huff... huff...”

Ray, who had her arms crossed, stared steadily at the boy who approached her while panting.

It was obvious to Ray that he would say something about playing together again.

And she was exactly right.

“Ray, want to play with me...?”

“Do not disturb my rest.”

Today as well, Ray drew a firm line.

She had had many worries lately to begin with.

She did not have enough leisure to play with a little child.

Moreover, she had even less intention of playing with a fellow whose cheeks turned red every time he looked at her.

At Ray’s coldness, the director beside her carefully spoke to her.

“Ray, that is too harsh to say to a friend... You must not do that.”

“...”

Ray did not yield and sharply turned her head away from the boy.

Worried for Ray, who had not a single friend, the director rummaged through her pocket.

At the rustling sound, Ray furtively glanced at what the director was doing.

Before long, Ray’s eyes sparkled when she saw what was held in the director’s hand.

“Ray, would you like to eat candy with your friend and play?”

“...”

Ray squeezed her eyes shut.

“Candy” was one of the sources of the worries Ray had recently been experiencing.

The problem began when an acquaintance of the director, who had once visited the orphanage, said something like, “Is it because I have not seen you in a while? Ray has gotten completely round. Huhu, how cute.”

“How can my face become round when I train every night...?”

Ray, who was glaring at the candy with a pouty face, had plump cheeks these days.

This was because the director had recently been giving her candy whenever she did something praiseworthy.

Leon had said he utterly hated sweet things, let alone candy. Yet after becoming Ray, why did she crave sweet things this much...? She could not know.

“...”

Ray held out her hand toward the director.

It was a cold gaze that said, I do not know about playing together, but give me the candy anyway.

There was no way the director would fail to notice that.

“But can you promise to play nicely with your friend? Taking only the candy and not playing is not allowed, all right?”

“A promise...”

Ray was, in any case, the “Hero.”

A Hero who did not keep promises could not be called a Hero. No matter how trivial the promise might be.

Thus, the moment Ray accepted the candy, she would have to play with the boy.

It was something that might cause Ray to suffer psychological damage if she made a wrong move.

“Even so...”

...it was difficult to give up.

Ray, who had been pouting, soon nodded faintly and affirmed the director’s words.

Then she held out both her tiny hands.

“...Please give me candy.”

Before the enormous wall called candy, Ray collapsed with absurd ease.

The director, smiling at Ray’s cute behavior, placed candy in her tiny hands.

“Ray, you really are going to play with me?!”

The boy who had been watching this shouted in an excited voice.

“Ah, I will play with you. A promise must be kept. Because I am the Hero.”

Ray picked up a nearby branch of suitable size.

The director watched them with a warm smile, wondering if Ray, who usually liked the Hero, would perhaps play at sword fighting.

Soon, after examining the branch this way and that with her red eyes, Ray opened her mouth toward the boy, who was sending her a gaze full of expectation.

“...Have you perhaps heard of playing fetch with a branch?”