Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu

Chapter 3 - Have A Cursed Dream

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Chapter 3 - Have A Cursed Dream

Warm sun rays shone down.

It was a gra.s.s plain far away from the streets.

The clouds floated in the sky, a gentle wind caressed the gra.s.s plain.

Looking at this peaceful scene…

“Ah, this scene makes me even more sleepy…”

Ryner who had lately not been sleeping muttered to this scene. Then he said:

“Ah, even if I don’t see this scene, I can always have a huge dream, I wish that I can sleep more than twenty hours out of the twenty four hours in a day, don’t even talk about two hundred hours, these few days I haven’t been sleeping at all, what do you think?”

Once again, he told the youth who seemed to be sleeping very peacefully beside him.

Of course the youth did not reply…

Ryner shrugged, then looked around.

But, a peaceful view lay before his eyes.

“…”

Ryner was silent for a moment, then he said:

“…Ferris that person is slow. Kuu couldn’t have caught up to her…”

But, he shook his head following that.

“No, that person definitely wouldn’t let herself enter that situation…”

He said.

No, if the opponent caught up to her…

Then, at this point Ryner gave up thinking.

Because no matter what it was not helping.

He looked at Arua, then frowned.

The situation was quite undesirable.

Sui and Kuu and Runa had joined hands, clearly wanting Arua. It was like that earlier, if Ryner wasn’t be Arua’s side…

They would definitely force Arua’s Alpha Stigma to lost control, then steal his eyes…

He thought of the previous time they had fought against Sui and Kuu, Sui had said:

“It’s rare to meet Alpha Stigma. Because that is something quite valuable. I wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away. I will let your eyes crystallise, then steal them.”

The crystal that Sui spoke of, seemed to be able to let the eyes of the Alpha Stigma wielder release energy and lost control…

Then Sui had taken out something like a precious stone to show Ryner, saying:

“You don’t even know about this crystal?”

At the same time the crystal he spoke of was like a precious stone.

Then the instant, Sui had thrown that crystal, calling ‘resonate!’…

Ryner’s eyes started to lose control…

Ryner thought of the scene then.

At that time, he attempted to destroy everything again.

All things—

All living organisms—

And, even Ferris who was by his side was…

This again.

These eyes attempted to…

Steal everything.

To him…

At this moment Ryner—

“…”

He pressed a hand to his eyes, without speaking.

He pressed forcefully, forcefully…

But, he used a lazy voice to say:

“…Really, what is this thing? He says it’s a crystal… Then, are my eyes some kind of crystal? If it is stolen from my body, will they become crystals? But, after my eyes are stolen, what will become of me? It seems I will be blind… But, if my eyes are stolen, then I can become a normal person…”

At this moment, Ryner’s hand pressed down even more forcefully. He pressed his right eye hard…

“…If it were that easy to get rid of…”

Then, Ryner stopped. Then he smiled lightly as if he were tired, he raised his head to look at the sky.

“If that would really make me more relaxed… then that would be too easy… I’m willing to try a few hundred times.”

He uttered. But, no matter how much he wanted to destroy these eyes, no matter how much he wanted to gouge them out, those eyes were simply unharmed in the end.

He didn’t know why it would turn out this way, but these eyes seemed to be protected by an unseen power, it was unharmed in the end…

Then, how did Sui and Kuu steal them?

They had given him an answer.

Let the eyes lose control, then steal them. It seemed that as long as the eyes lost control, they could directly gouge them out.

Let the eyes lost control…

At this instant, Ryner looked at Arua sleeping in front of him.

Then—

“…That way… will you be saved? Or will you die? I should have asked this earlier. If you can be saved, before you hurt anyone... before you are hurt, I will help you gouge your eyes out…”

Even though matters weren’t so serious, these eyes eventually brought about harm.

Because they were born with these eyes… they were looked down as monsters, his parents were killed before him… now, even his childhood friend was captured as a hostage…

At this point, Ryner frowned.

“Speaking of which, things have really become troublesome. We have to save Kuku, but… if Sui and Kuu are looking after her… then even if we have a battle plan, the difference in our skill levels are too great…”

Then at this moment…

“…Eh.”

Suddenly, the youth groaned softly.

Ryner heard and said:

“Ah? You’re finally awake?”

The youth tried to open his eyes, then perhaps because he was looking at the sun, he closed his eyes because of the brightness… Then, slowly reopened them again.

Ryner looked at those eyes.

Although it seemed blurry, if one didn’t look carefully it couldn’t be seen, but… there was certainly that.

A red five pointed star.

Like Ryner’s eyes, the cursed mark that everyone was fearful of…

At this moment—

The youth sat up, looking around.

“…Ne, eh… Where is…my…father and mother…?”

He asked.

But Ryner didn’t answer him.

“Good, it seems that you are awake. Then let me ask you. Do you feel any pain?”

Arua heard that, then he shuddered, then glared at Ryner…

“…You, who are you! Father and mother… father and…father…”

But, he suddenly stopped. His whole face twisted in pain…

“Ah, urgh, ah…”

He trembled.

Ryner knew the reason for this.

He probably had remembered?

The image of his father’s head before him…

“Uh, Uaaaaah~~ He, he was killed… he was killed….Ah!”

He screamed.

He screamed as if he were mad.

That was a natural response. His family were killed before him, and it was his parents.

But, Ryner stared at him, half-lidded, without a single ounce of interest.

Arua’s cry was even louder. He cried as he yelled as if he were mad…

“Because of, of me… Because of me, father and mother…are dead… Ah, uh… No….no…no… everyone… I…”

At this moment, he glared viciously at Ryner.

“…You, you, you killed…killed my father and mother.”

Saying that, he suddenly stood up, his arms crossed, preparing to chant…

But.

“Too late.”

Ryner immediately grabbed Arua’s arm, and pulled him on the ground. The magic was disrupted.

Arua rolled on the ground, collapsing, staring at Ryner hatefully.

“…Why, why… why do you have to do this… I… What did I do!”

He shouted at Ryner…

But, Ryner shrugged, not speaking.

Arua cried as he said:

“No more… I don’t want it… why did it become like this… Because of me, because of me, father and mother… why did it turn out this way… I………No……no……no……”

Saying that he buried his face into the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

Ryner seeing that, frowned as if he was unaffected.

“Then, you want to escape? But, where will you run to? Do you want to die? I won’t stop you. That’s up to you. If you can be saved because of that, then perhaps that would be good.”

He told the youth.

And Arua lifted his head, and glared at Ryner again.

“You… You want to kill me, right!! You… because I am a monster… So, father and mother died… If you want to kill me then kill me! I am a monster! If that is so, then just kill me! Someone like me… a monster like me, has no meaning in living…”

But, Ryner interrupted him.

“…Yeah, you’re right. Perhaps there’s no meaning in living. But…”

At this moment he used his right finger to lift up the eyelid of his right eye…

In a moment.

The red five pointed star gave out a strong glow, appearing in his eyes…

Arua revealed a surprised expression when he saw that, wanting to say something. Ryner interrupted him again.

“…What you are thinking of now, I have thought of that hundreds of times before. I thought, I have no meaning in living on! Because of my existence, many of my important people have been hurt…and even killed… and I’m seen as a monster, and isolated and looked down on by everyone…

Why do I have to be here?

Why does someone like me have to be created?

I cried, shouted, but, I didn’t get an answer. But…”

At this moment, Ryner turned his head to the side as if troubled.

“But, every time I think of that, there is always someone who wants me to live on. Even though he knows I am a wielder of Alpha Stigma, but that curious king still wants to trap me, and some people who want to persuade me, and tell me I am not a monster…

Not only that, lately there is a person who always says I am her slave, and her sole interest lies in bullying me…

Every time I think of these people, my heart will weaken.

I will think, maybe there are some things that exist for me to live for…

Maybe living on isn’t wrong…

Then…then, those people that treasure me and think that I am very important… they want to build a world where no one has to lose anything, then I…”

Up till there, he frowned even harder, and scratched his head as he said:

“Ah, I seem to be saying strange things. Ah, anyway, what I want to say is…”

At this point, Arua stared at Ryner with a stunned expression.

“On-onii-chan is… like me… then, it was Onii-chan who saved me…”

After he finished muttering—

“But, but… I already don’t have… I don’t have anyone who wishes for me to live on…”

But, Ryner told him:

“What did your father tell you before he died?”

In a split second.

“Ah…”

Arua made a sound of surprise.

Before Arua’s father died, he had yelled desperately.

He wanted Arua to live on…

He said, his death wasn’t because of Arua…

Perhaps Arua recalled those words? His face started to twist in pain, tears started to fall from his eyes…

But, Ryner continued:

“And, the one who requested me to save you from the Runa n.o.ble, is your childhood friend, a girl called Kuku.”

Arua’s eyes widened when he heard that.

“Kuku?! Kuku is here…”

Ryner shook his head.

“She’s not here. She has been caught as a bait to attract you, she’s now imprisoned in a Runa n.o.ble’s villa. I have to save her, but… what about you?”

Arua hearing that, loudly said:

“I, I’ll go to save her too!”

Ryner laughed when he heard that.

“If that’s so, then you can’t die here? See, death is a very serious thing. Just thinking of simply dying, you realize that there are still many things for you to do… it’s troublesome, isn’t it? Even if you don’t die, I haven’t been able to sleep lately, and I’m so tired now… Like that, since you’re already awake, guard duty is pa.s.sed on to you. I’ve reached my limits, let me sleep for a while.”

Saying that, Ryner lay on the gra.s.s…

Arua panicked when he saw that.

“Eh? Eh? Wait…didn’t you say you’re going to save Kuku…”

But Ryner continued to lie there and said:

“No, no, before that, I have to wait for my companion to return. So, when that person returns wake me. At that time we can go and save Kuku…”

Then, Ryner suddenly stopped talking.

In a moment, a plan to save Kuku surfaced in his mind…

He thought about the source of the problem again.

Sui and Kuu had locked on to Arua as their target.

If separated from Ryner, Arua could be forced to lose control, and his Alpha Stigma could be stolen because of that.

That meant, as long as the two of them were locked on to him, Ryner and Arua could not separate.

That meant, they had to bring Arua along to save Kuku…

But fighting those two and protecting Arua at the same time, was really…

Frankly speaking, as of Ryner and Ferris’s current strength, fighting with Sui and Kuu was no easy task.

If they could add someone who had a strong fighting power as well…

At this moment, Ryner sat up, staring at Arua.

“…Strong fighting power? Ah~~ If we start training now, how much time would that take…”

Arua widened his eyes when he heard that.

“Eh? Eh? What?”

But, Ryner completely ignored him, crossing his arms, pondering.

“Eh, because there is Alpha Stigma, so he should be able to use normal magic immediately… if we leave the supporting task to him, but…”

Arua had a surprised expression as he looked on.

“That… Onii…”

At this moment.

“I’m called Ryner Lute. You can call me Ryner.”

“Then, then, Ry…”

But, Ryner interrupted him again.

“Ah, no, call me sensei instead. We don’t have much time, so this problem of mentality is important too.”

"Eh? Sen......sei? That means......"

Ryner stood up and looked down at Arua,

"Alright. Let"s get started."

On hearing such a thing, Arua now had a definite bewildered expression,

"Well, I"m not exactly sure what is going on, so......"

Then Ryner started,

"Well, erm, as there is not enough time, I"ll make this short ok? Just now, you said that you wanted to save Kuku right?"

"Eh? Yes. That"s right, I did say that but......"

"So in other words, you"re going to help us save Kuku right? But, you"re weak. And won"t be much of a help............ erm, how do I put this across to you. A long time ago, Germer...... ah, by the way, Germer was my master. She said this to me, you know. Erm, it goes something like this......"

At that moment, Ryner looked up at the sky, as if attempting to quickly recall what was being said to him, and in a monotonous manner,

"...... ehh...... "You want to protect someone when you have hardly any power? A brat like you, stop saying such stupid things! For you guys who are about to be sent to h.e.l.l, you don"t have the luxury to be thinking about other people. From now on, you should only be worried about your own lives. If you want to escape this place, at the very least, you need to attain enough power to stay alive in my h.e.l.l before you can even think of that!"...... something like that I think?"

On hearing that, Arua began,

"What, what a scary teacher......"

At that instant, Ryner"s face twisted in recollection of more of his unpleasant past.

"Well, tell me about it. Anyhow, the first time when we met...... when she first introduced herself......

"I am Germer Kleisrole. For this coming one year, this is the name of your G.o.d. Remember this well. My orders are absolute, if you dare go against it, I"ll kill you with no hesitation." That"s how it went."

Arua shivered,

"Ki, kill...... you? Even for a threat......"

But Ryner shook his head with a serious expression on his face.

"That was definitely no threat. She was serious when she said that. Ferris had also...... ah, Ferris is the one who should be arriving soon...... my partner I guess? She also held a sword to my neck and said something like "It seems like you really want very much to die?", and you can see the seriousness in her eyes...... women can really be terrifying......"

He said it with a tragic-looking face.

For some reason, Arua looked intently at Ryner"s tired face with a great deal of respect in his eyes.

"Ryner-sa...... no. Sensei, it seems like you have been through a lot. And for a weakling like me to say...... that I can just throw my life away like that...... I"m so sorry. But, from hereon, I"m going to do my best. Sensei is going to train me up right? In order to save Kuku...... I"ll answer to Sensei"s expectations, and do my best, so please stop making such a sad-looking face."

What a thing for him to say......

And furthermore, Arua was staring intently at Ryner. It was real respect that was embedded in those eyes......

And Ryner began......

"Well...... erm...... was that really something worth respecting so much?............ Well, fine. Then, first of all, let me talk about the fundamentals of magic, so listen up......"

Arua nodded furiously,

"Yes sir!"

And he looked at Ryner intently with a pair of absolutely serious eyes......

Ryner then,

"............ somehow, it might be nice to have a disciple......"

He wasn"t really dissatisfied with this, it seemed.

And then,

"Well now, let"s get started."

In high spirits, teacher Ryner Lute started his first lecture in magic fundamentals right in the center of a gra.s.sland.

"Well firstly, this is probably how it"s done normally in the military with regards to magic training...... but in order to make it easier for a child to understand......"

Ryner stopped to think for a moment...... and then gave a slight knock to Arua"s head,

"Whenever you want to think about something, what do you use?"

Arua tilted his head to one side and replied,

"Thinking...... about something? Erm, probably I"ll use my head......"

"Isn"t it? We use our heads to do that. Well, actually, what we use is the brain inside the head, and normally we use it to think about stuff and to give orders for moving our body...... but as a matter of fact, this brain is habitually lazy, doesn"t use much energy, and is mostly sleeping. In this sleeping brain, if we could just awaken a few certain parts of it, we"ll be able to see the invisible flow of energy embedded in this world."

As he said that, Arua looked around his surroundings......

"Ah, are you referring to those glittering fluffy golden stuff flying around in the air that we can see when we concentrate our eyes?"

What a way to put it......

Ryner snapped his fingers and said,

"Exactly. That"s correct. Well normally, it would take a person some amount of time before he can see those glittering fluffy stuff. In order to awaken the brain, he will need to undergo meditation training and the like...... and that will take him at least a year, I think? As for us, thanks to these special Eyes...... we can see them easily. In other words, we can skip a year"s worth of training that a mage soldier undergoes. Excellent excellent. And since you"ve already grasp the general concept of the energy flow, we can now proceed to the second year of training."

The lesson was moving at an incredibly fast pace.

That"s the power of the bearers of such Eyes.

To others, Arua might even be called a genius.

Having a greater power than others......

However......

Ryner would never call him that.

Since he himself had never once wanted to be called a genius.

Because in the former Roland, where others were clamoring for the name of a genius, he, not even once, desired that name......

But still, Ryner continued in rather high spirits.

"Well next, we"re going to move on to the topic of what exactly are those glittering fluffy stuff...... and like I said earlier these are the energy flows of the world however...... according to the researchers, they are termed seirei (spirits)......"

As he said that, Arua"s eyes started to light up.

"Really? Really? These are spirits-san!?"

But, Ryner shrugged his shoulders,

"Well, there are explanations along those lines but, I myself simply could not really understand from that perspective. However, this I do know, you can subordinate these glittering fluffy stuff in accordance to certain rules. It may be a little hard to explain here. In simple terms, depending on the order of arrangement of the glittering fluffy stuff, you can create various phenomena...... such as flames or lightning......"

After having said that, he demonstrated by moving his finger in the air.

On doing that, for people who can"t use magic, they would have been able to see glowing words appearing in the air from Ryner"s inscribing motion.

However......

It is different in reality.

For a person who can use magic, this would be what he would have seen.

The energy flow embedded in the air, or rather in the entire world...... the flow of the golden particles got disrupted by the finger, and got arranged in a certain precise fashion......

But......

If an Alpha Stigma bearer saw it......

Arua naturally started to move his finger......

With a dazed look, while watching Ryner, his finger started mimicking him and started disrupting the world......

Furthermore.

Even when Ryner stopped his finger, he carried on. It was as if he had seen the entire puzzle beforehand, as he inscribed the glowing words......

"I OFFER THE CONTRACTED WORDS, RELEASING THE SPIRIT OF LIGHT DANCING IN THE SKY"

In the midst of chanting that, the light above Arua"s head took up a form of dog-like beasts......

But, Ryner with a even faster speed, let his finger dance in the air......

"I OFFER THE CONTRACTED WORDS, er...anyways, DARKNESS OVERWHELMS LIGHT"

He chanted something that sounded like an incantation and yet not quite like an incantation......

Fluid-like dark blobs appeared above Ryner"s head, and he launched it towards the beasts above Arua"s head.

And then......

The beasts were swallowed up by the darkness, and were erased completely......

Arua, looking surprised, said.

"Ah...... just, just now, awesome...... Sensei, the magic just now was created by you?"

Ryner smiled,

"It"s really fun teaching you. That"s correct. I just created that magic impromptu. I think you should have more or less understood...... this is the method by which magic is used. By properly arranging what you referred to as glittering fluffy stuff, its power can be unleashed. And on top of that, at the very end of the incantation, you must create in your a mind a stronger image. The strength of the image in your mind is equivalent to the strength of your magic...... your power will depend on how well and how much strength you put into your imagination."

Even though it sounded complicated, Arua still nodded in understanding,

"I see. That"s why my magic was weak, because the image I held in my mind was weak......"

"Yes. Furthermore, the way you arrange those glittering fluffy stuff still needs more work. Well, in any case, the strength of your magic will greatly depend on the strength of your image, and the arrangement of the flow...... that"s why the military magic academy scholars of various countries put their lives on the line during their research. There is no real limit to how you can arrange those glittering fluffy stuff...... since even by changing just the beginning of the arrangement, the meaning of the entire appearance, symbol, incantation changes...... that"s why magic differs from country to country...... well though the same could be said otherwise, if one is aware of the governing rules, one can improvise and create magic impromptu like the way I did earlier."

And Arua said,

"But, that magic was created after the researchers had spent lots of time on it......"

"Yeah. It"s incomparable. Though it seems like they can"t create self-styled magic the way they create that magic that could be used in real battles. By the way, the magic that you just copied from me belongs to Estabul...... did you manage to get it and understand it?"

"Yes. It was beautiful and the glittering stuff was efficiently arranged."

"Yeah. It was pretty much near completion, I think. Inscribing it with perfect efficiency, a small number of strokes for a great amount of power...... furthermore, stronger thoughts, in the same way how you strengthen your image, could be engraved into the words that make up the corresponding incantation. Well, it could be at the same level as Roland"s magic...... perhaps it might even surpa.s.s that...... since a spell like Izuchi still has a seam in its arrangement, and I do sometimes tamper with it during usage......"

"Eh? Izuchi......? What is that?"

"Never mind, I was talking to myself. Well, if you"ve already understood this much, we are done with three years" worth of training. What"s left...... would be battle training...... and spell acquisition. Well for that, whenever I use one, you would be able to remember it easily after watching me...... it seems like you could be more useful than I thought......"

It was in the instant when Ryner said that.

“Danger!!”

A voice rung out from somewhere, Arua’s body suddenly disappeared from Ryner’s view.

No, it wasn’t disappeared.

He was forcefully taken away by someone at a blinding speed…

At some point in time, Arua’s cry sounded from behind Ryner.

“Eh, eh?! What is it?... Sen, sensei?! Save, save me!”

But, Ryner had no reaction to this. He only looked on with half-lidded eyes…

“……Uh, I really can’t see what was dangerous with that… Anyway, welcome back, Ferris.”

He turned back and said. He saw a beautiful woman standing there with Arua under her arm…

That beauty said:

“Arua, don’t be tricked by him. I don’t know how many perverted thoughts that man has taught you… but don’t trust him. Because he is the actual model of an evil person. Not working from day to night, only knowing of how to sleep, addicted to wine, not letting women live happily, and going to the streets to search for prey every night…”

Then for some reason, she suddenly blushed and said:

“…Uh, the following things aren’t appropriate for a child to hear…”

They had a strange conversation between them like usual, seeing Arua’ stunned expression, he looked at Ryner and said:

“Is, is that true? Sensei?!”

“Don’t believe her! Ah, that’s what I was talking about. This person, as I mentioned earlier, is my companion Ferris…”

Ryner said. And Arua raised his head to look at Ferris, then he had a surprised expression.

“Eh… this person? But, but, she’s so pretty…”

“Don’t be tricked by her. She’s only good looking on the outside, but her personality is so evil that she can destroy the whole world…”

Ferris unsheathed her sword, and placed it on Ryner’s shoulder…

Then looked at Ryner straight in the eye.

“Eh? What did you say?”

Seeing that, Ryner opened his mouth and closed it a few times, then he said:

“…Ah, that, uh… what should I say? The beautiful angel that will save the world……? Eh.”

For some reason, Arua laughed. He looked at the duo gleefully, then said:

“Ahaha, your relationship is so good, you’re actually a couple, right?”

Ryner heard that, and instantly replied:

“Ah, what point about us made you think that?”

Following that Ferris skillfully sheathed her sword at her waist, as she nodded:

“Mm-hmm. It’s clear that between us, you have to worship the unbelievably beautiful avalanche-like beauty, me, but because you determined yourself as ugly, for this kind of illegal romance, you are like a slug slumped on the ground—this relationship?”

“Hey hey, you can actually think of these new descriptions… Slug? Avalanche beauty? …Ah, but, that kind of romance doesn’t have a good ending, right? A slug seems to be unable to be able to survive in places with avalanches. Poor slug. It has been played with the naturally destructive evil woman…”

“You said you want to die? Alright, I’ll grant your wish.”

“Ah! I was joking I was joking! It’s alright if it cannot be fulfilled… I say, you just kept your sword, why are you taking it out again!”

“Because fulfilling the dreams of fools, is the mission of the beautiful angel. I am very pa.s.sionate about my work? Praise me?”

Ferris said, as she pulled out her sword. Ryner sighed, then looked at Arua.

“…She still wants praise from others, what do you think?”

Arua laughed again.

“Your relationship is really good.”

“Let me ask you, what point is it that makes you feel that way?”

“Eh? But, because it feels like me and Kuku.”

“…Oh? Is, is that it?”

At this moment, Ryner quietened, then said:

“Then, am I wrong about something? That… perhaps it’s too late to suggest this, but, I think it’s best not to go and save Kuku… Ah?!”

At this moment, Ryner was slapped hard. He was. .h.i.t by the sword that was swung at an unbelievable speed, his whole body struck the ground.

Ferris told Arua who was standing across from her:

“I see. You plan to save Kuku too.”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

“What is this, Arua! You’re not concerned about your sensei? I was. .h.i.t just now!”

For a moment Arua looked at Ryner with a troubled expression, then he turned back to Ferris.

“That, that, that’s the case, please look after me from today onwards…Ferris sensei…”

Ferris nodded when she saw this:

“Uh, alright. I will make you stronger.”

When Ryner heard this……

“……That brat is very strange…”

He couldn’t help but groan.

Putting that aside for now.

Ferris turned to tell Ryner:

“Then, from your earlier conversation, you plan to let Arua support us, and we deal with that pink headed team?”

Ryner pressed a hand to his head, as he stood he said:

“…Yeah, I think this method is a little foolhardy… But, there aren’t any other ways? If we can find other Heroes’ Relics like what they are using, then that would be a different story…”

“Don’t you have knowledge of that? Any stories or legends of heroes in Runa…”

But Ryner shook his head.

“There’s no time. It’s not that I have no leads, but… the probability of them being fake are higher? If it could be found so easily, then we wouldn’t be going through so much trouble in the first place. Anyway I said it before, the legends of heroes in Runa are mostly related to the royal family, so I only have news regarding the capital of Runa… If we head to the capital now… to look for relics, but return empty-handed… and in addition if we are attacked by Sui and Kuu during that time period, honestly speaking, I have no confidence that I can protect Arua…”

Until here, he seemed to think of something.

“Ah, how about this? We ask Sion to send reinforcements…”

“To Runa? Impossible. If the Roland King sends armed forces into their ally Runa, this would lower every country’s opinion of Roland. Perhaps, other countries would send soldiers to aid Runa, and Roland would be wiped out. Anyway, who would request Roland to send reinforcements? And in the time we wait for the reinforcements, what if we are attacked by Sui and Kuu? To be explicit, we cannot leave Arua alone. Because not only Sui and Kuu, even the Runa soldiers are looking for Arua.”

Ryner had a troubled expression when he heard this, he crossed his arms, deep in thought.

“That’s right… If we spend too much time, Kuku would probably be killed to… It seems we have to strengthen Arua’s strength?”

Arua replied to this:

“I’m sorry, it’s all because of me…”

“No, you don’t have to apologise. But, because there’s really no time, the training will be a little stricter… At that time you may turn around and apologise to use because of the harsh training, and request for us to stop it, so if you want to apologise, wait for that moment… That’s that, Ferris, a week… We have to train Arua till the standard where he can move in battle in a week…”

“Mm-hmm. A week? I understand.”

“Then, that’s it, I’m really going to die because of the strange reason of lack of sleep. I’m going to sleep for a while. So, Ferris, teach him the physical arts first… You are better suited for teaching physical skills than me, right?”

“Eh? You’re saying, because you want to sleep, so you’re handing the work load to me…”

“No no. I’m serious. I feel, as a knight, you have already reached the perfect state for physical skills…”

But hearing Ryner say that, Ferris still had a surprised expression.

“…Uh, I don’t know what plans you have in praising me, but… forget it, I wouldn’t argue with you. Alright, Arua, let’s go.”

Ferris said, then brought Arua away…

“Ah, I’m telling the truth, but, even though I’m saying that you’ve already reached the perfect state of physical skills, your personality is a different matter…”

Ryner said softly, so that Ferris couldn’t hear.

But, the part about perfect state physical of physical skills was true.

Because Ferris’s movements, were even faster than Ryner who used magic to release his mind’s limitations and force his body to speed up.

Honestly speaking, her movements had already reached an unhuman state.

Actually Ryner wasn’t slow either. No, as long as he wanted to, even if he didn’t use magic, he was able to cover up his presence and kill the other party before they noticed.

Because that was how he had been taught, and among those who had been taught, he was praised as a genius.

But, even if it were someone like him, he couldn’t keep up with Ferris’s movements. Her reaction speed, her swordsmanship, and sensitivity to fighting… She was way superior to Ryner on various areas of strength.

Frankly speaking, he didn’t even know, if he used magic whole-heartedly, that he would be able to win Ferris.

Ah, perhaps it was because of that, so they were the best match.

And, Ryner who was called the strongest magician in Roland Empire, and Ferris who the best swordsperson… If they joined forces, and used their strength, in battle conditions, perhaps they could win Sui and Kuu who depended on the overwhelming power of the Heroes’ Relics.

And if they could add in another force, then the process of fighting would be expanded.

Ryner lay on the gra.s.s, watching Arua who had been led away by Ferris.

“Ah, the kid may become an unbelievably difficult opponent after today…”

He murmured.

Because, he was going to learn fighting from Ferris, then he was going to learn magic from Ryner who had the same Alpha Stigma.

It was impossible in a short period, but…

Ryner closed his eyes.

“But, in a week, he will be at the stage where he can help out…”

At this moment—

“Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh~~ It, it can’t be?! You’re lying? Uh, let, let, let me go… I beg you, let me go… Aaaah!”

Arua screamed.

But, Ryner didn’t open his eyes when he heard this.

“Ah, see, he’s apologizing… It was like that from the beginning… Good luck, Arua.”

After he entered a deep sleep, Arua’s screams resounded on the plain five more times.

Runa Empire was a country that was built on their belief in G.o.d.

So this was reflected in the lives of people, even in the law…

For example, in Runa, women could not be in the military. That was because the religious text in the religion that the Runa people believed in wrote:

“G.o.d first created men, to be the power to protect the country. Then created women, to heal and support men.”

Perhaps it was because of that, this country forbid women from entering the military. Other than that, there were many other laws that took the religious teachings as their basis.

“…How inefficient.”

Froaude looked around, and muttered.

He was in the center of Runa Empire… it could be called the heart too.

It was a large castle in the center of the Empire.

The strange guardian of Runa that was a cross with stars could be seen everywhere.

Everyone had a sincere and respectful expression.

In truth…

“…Those religious teachings that that G.o.d left, are convenient things that the royal family created for their own convenience…”

Froaude complained softly, as he looked ahead.

He was in the room where audiences with the king was requested.

In there, was an unbelievably pale-skinned beautiful woman.

She was the famous beautiful princess of Runa. Princess Anna Esther.

Her skin was really a pale white, it was a kind of sickly white, it made people suspect, had she ever went out before? The pale skin matched with the graceful, elegant appearance. A fire-red amulet hung around her slim neck…

Froaude saw this, and narrowed his eyes.

(…The people are living thrifty lives, but the royal family are living comfortable lives, every n.o.ble in any country are the same…)

At this moment, Anna said:

“Are you the amba.s.sador from Roland?”

Froaude slowly placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head when he heard this.

“Yes. I am Lieutenant Colonel Miran Froaude from the Roland army. Your Highness. The purpose of my visit is to strengthen the deep relationship between Runa Empire and Roland Empire. As you know, the Roland Empire has elected a new king…”

Anna nodded warmly when she heard that.

“Yes. I"ve heard of it. It’s Sion Astal-sama, am I not wrong? My father mentioned it before, although he is getting on in his years, although he is young, but he still manages the government well, he has gained the large support from the people, he is a remarkable king.”

Froaude bowed his head to express his thanks when he heard that.

“To us Roland, what the king of the Runa Empire, has strengthened us. The alliance between Runa and Roland started from the previous king… But, now that Roland has a new king, my liege lord is worried, that there will be cracks in the relationship between our countries.”

No, there were already cracks… the fact that Runa had some unstable movements was well known.

Froaude continued:

“There have been unnecessary rumours in the streets… For instance, the rumours pointed out that the n.o.bles of Roland and Runa have been plotting privately to a.s.sa.s.sinate the Roland king…” That was actually a threat.

That meant, your plot has already been exposed, so if you want to give up, then do it now.

But, Anna revealed a surprised expression.

“Ah, there were those sort of rumours?”

Froaude replied: “………Yes. But, your king would obviously not put stock in those rumours. But, as they say, do not be scared of one thousand, but be wary of the possibilities. If there is a war between the allied Runa and Roland…”

Anna nodded when she heard this:

“Of course. In the teachings of our G.o.d, we have to avoid conflict too. We definitely wouldn’t allow anything to destroy our good relationship with Roland that we built with much effort.”

She said.

Froaude stared at Anna’s face when he heard this. But, her expression was unchanging. It seemed she was earnest about this.

From the bottom of her heart…

But, among several of the n.o.bles behind her, had turned deathly pale…

Froaude smiled when he saw this. He had his dark, as if frozen smile.

“…I will pa.s.s Your Highness’s words…to the Roland king. But, if possible, I wish that you can pa.s.s this on to the Runa king…”

But, Princess Anna had an apologetic expression.

“This issue… Although the Roland amba.s.sador has transverse a great distance… Unfortunately, the king and queen are currently not in the country…”

“Oh, they are not in the country… Then may I ask where they have gone to? I have not heard of the Runa king venturing to Roland… That means, they have headed to Ca.s.sla in the north? Or is it Imperial Nelpha?”

But, Princess Anna frowned as if troubled.

“I apologise. I am not clear about this. I think they left the country because of some public matters… I’m really sorry, I am not sure about this…”

But, Froaude shook his head when he heard this.

“…Do not apologise, I overstepped my boundaries. Women are not involved in politics… That is what all the women in this country are taught, right? Then having the princess greet me, I am thankful for your efforts.”

Saying that, he held his hand to his chest and bowed his head again.

But for some reason, Anna suddenly blushed.

“Ah, please don’t say that… Being able to see someone like Froaude-sama, is my pleasure, I’m really happy… Ah, Froaude-sama, do you have any plans for tonight? Do you plan to stay here? If you do plan to, then please enjoy a meal with me…”

She said.

Froaude’s eyes sharpened when he heard this.

He saw Anna’s slightly embarra.s.sed face, and her eyes were slightly wet……

“……My lady’s initiative is a little astounding. The n.o.bles in any place are indeed the same. No matter whether it is man or woman…”

He murmured softly.

Of course Anna didn’t hear what he said.

“Eh? May I ask, what did you…”

At this point, Froaude smiled. Then replied:

“Of course, I would be my pleasure to dine with you, Your Highness.”

That night.

In the hours where everyone was fast asleep…

In the cloudless sky, the moon was bright, it was a beautiful night.

The location was a garden in the Runa castle.

Froaude sat on the stone bench in the garden, looking at the moon reflected in the fountain, then raised his head and said:

“…Tonight is a beautiful night. Don’t you think this kind of beautiful night should be used to confess to your loved one?”

He said.

“……”

But, his companion did not say anything.

No, to be truthful they couldn’t say anything.

This person was surrounded by a pack of strange monsters… Shadows darker than the darkness of the night were in the form of beasts that surrounded him… Overwhelming fear made this man unable to move even a single finger.

It was a young male n.o.ble. He was called Anbellum Biefella. In Runa, his position was similar to a Marquis.

Froaude slowly looked in Biefella’s direction.

“You don’t have to be so scared. As long as you answer my questions, I wouldn’t do anything bad to you…”

Biefella finally spoke when he heard this.

“…What, what are these monsters… You, you… You dare to treat me like this… Do you think you can retreat safely… I, I have royal blood too? Do you know what it means to be of royal lineage?”

But Froaude tilted his head slightly.

“Uh… What does that mean?”

Biefella had an arrogant expression.

“That means we are G.o.d’s descendants. The descendants of the G.o.d who protects Runa Empire… G.o.d will punish you for treating me like this!!”

He shouted.

And Froaude replied:

“That’s frightening. Then, if I kill you now, will G.o.d punish me?”

“That’s right! So now you better…”

But, Froaude interrupted him.

“Then, let us try it? If I kill you now, will G.o.d really punish me, I must tell my king to do away with the thought of attacking Runa. Because we cannot defeat G.o.d.”

Biefella widened his eyes when he heard this.

“You… What are you saying? Roland is ignoring the alliance, and thinking of attacking Runa?!”

But, Froaude shrugged when he heard that.

“It sounds surprising. The ones who destroyed the relationship are you? Then, let me ask you, you joined forces with the Roland n.o.bles, to attempt to murder my king… King Sion Astal. My problem is this. How many n.o.bles were involved in this plan?”

Biefella panicked when he heard this.

“There’s, there’s no such thing! That’s your misunderstanding…”

But, Froaude continued:

“But, after seeing Princess Anna today, I know the answer to this question. This plot was from your king… The Runa Empire’s king. The a.s.sa.s.sination of the Roland king failed… Then, the Runa king was not in the country. But on the surface you said the Runa king had left the country… Then, which country is the Runa king going to for help? Which country would combine forces to plan to destroy Roland? Which country’s people… came forward to persuade you, and say that as long as you joined forces with them, you could defeat Roland?”

“I, I said there’s no such that…”

In a moment, the dark beast opened its sharp jaw soundlessly, and leapt towards Biefella’s throat…

But, it stopped in time.

Biefella saw that—

“Uh…ah…”

He sat on the ground abruptly…

Froaude said:

“The next time it will eat you. The one I’m asking doesn’t have to be you. Because the one whose expression changed wasn’t only you…”

Biefella’s entire face contorted in fear when he heard this, he looked at Froaude…

“You, if you do this… If, if it were seen…”

“Impossible.”

Froaude immediately replied:

“I have already told my subordinates to stand guard around here. So, please be prepared, if someone comes, then it will be your death. If someone sees things, things can get tricky… So, I will let you disappear. But, I already said before, if you reply my questions obediently, then that’s something else entirely…”

At this time, he raised his head to look at the sky. He looked at the bright glowing moon in the sky…

“Anyway… tonight’s moon is really beautiful. Don’t you want to return safely to your lover’s side?”

That sentence was the fatal blow.

Biefella’s body trembled…

Then, he started to speak.

The current situation of Runa, and the king’s movements.

After hearing his reply, Froaude smiled.

“Thank you for your help.”

“That, that is the entire truth. I have said everything. Can you let me go now? These beasts…”

Then…

He spoke until there.

Froaude raised his hand…

No, he waved the strange black ring on his finger…

In the next moment.

Only Froaude was left in the garden.

The beasts and Biefella were gone…

“Tonight’s moon is really beautiful.”

He said again softly.

Then, a week and four days pa.s.sed…

It was night time.

Because the clouds covered the sky, it was a dark night as the moon was completely blocked out.

But, that place was still illuminated by wavering flames even though it was dark.

This was a place called Jizcard, which consisted of Rajit Village which Arua was born in, the villa of the n.o.ble that ruled was in this area. There was a strong contrast between the extravagance of this villa and the poor Rajit Village…

But, Ryner had once seen this building.

“…Hey, Ferris, the last time we were here…”

Ferris nodded when she heard this.

“Yes. I picked up the carriage from here last time.”

“No, I don’t think that was picking up, but stealing.”

Ryner grumbled, then spoke with a serious expression:

“Uh, anyway, Kuku is kept here. Then the story of the hero Arua going to save Princess Kuku… will that progress smoothly?”

Saying that, he glanced behind him.

He saw an injured Arua…

His body had even more scratches and bruises than when he had been interrogated by the n.o.bles last time…

But, the youth’s eyes were filled with energy and motivation, it was completely different from how he had been a week ago.

He was glaring straight at the n.o.ble’s villa.

“I will definitely save Kuku. I wouldn’t become a stumbling block to sensei.”

He said determinedly. No, he already had the ability to make that sort of announcement.

In this week, he had experienced a training process that no normal person could imagine.

Ferris had been in charge of the physical training, in addition to Ryner’s magic lessons, and battle training on how to use magic.

In the later part of the week, he would constantly challenge normal Runa soldiers and normal Mage soldiers… At the moment he could single-handedly deal with two Mage Soldiers Uh, although he wasn’t at the level where he could defeat two Mage soldiers at the same time.

But, at this rate, if he could surpa.s.s Ryner when he was young.

Perhaps it was because Ferris was teaching him fighting skills, perhaps it was due to Ryner who was familiar with the Alpha Stigma who was teaching him magic…

But, most importantly, Arua and the past Ryner had a decisive difference, and that was…

Motivation. Arua was really training crazily to save Kuku.

Arua’s current fighting skill was enough that he could partic.i.p.ate in this time’s battle plan.

And… because of that…

Ryner stared at Arua, asking:

“Hey, before we start the rescue plan, let me check with you again. Do you really want to come along? At your current strength, in the time before we return, you can probably hide from the Runa soldiers. Even if found, you have the ability to escape from their sight. But once you are found by the Mage Knight Battalion, then obviously you might lose your life… But, if you come with us now…”

At this point, he turned his eyes to the n.o.ble’s villa again.

“You will probably lose your life immediately.”

He said straightforwardly.

“Do you still want to come along in this case?”

Then, he looked at Arua again.

But, Arua’s expression didn’t change in the least. He stared straight at Ryner.

“Of course I want to go. I worked hard till today for this reason. My power may not be matured yet, but I know, the training I had this week… was the plan to fight against the people called Sui and Kuu that sensei told me about, isn’t that right? But I understood after fighting with the other normal soldiers. Sensei taught me when fighting with normal soldiers, there clearly isn’t a need for magic and unnecessary movements… And, Ryner-sensei and Ferris-sensei cannot defeat them by themselves, right? If that is so…”

“Children do not need to worry about this. From the beginning, I did train you with this kind of mindset… But, in the end it is still too dangerous. Uh, I think that even if you were caught, it wouldn’t be so bad that you would be killed immediately… But you will become a hostage that the other party will threaten us with…”

Then, at this moment Arua interrupted Ryner.

“Even if that is the case… even if sensei stops me, I will still go. Because that is the only motivating power to keep me living. The one who killed father and mother is me…”

“You didn’t kill them.”

Ryner immediately retorted, and Arua stopped speaking.

But, Ryner was very clear, that these words were unable to comfort him.

It was caused by me.

It was because of me.

These words would frequently circle around their mind, as long as they had these pair of ‘eyes’.

Arua said with a sad smile:

“But I want to go. Because, if it weren’t sensei who came to me, I would have died at that time. It was Kuku who saved me. Kuku, she…”

“But before that, didn’t you save Kuku’s life? When Kuku was nearly killed, you used those eyes to save her. You don’t owe each other anything. You don’t have to hold yourself accountable…”

But.

“I want to go. Even if sensei doesn’t bring me along, I will go myself too. I already have that sort of ability.”

He said. Ryner frowned when he heard this, then turned to Ferris.

“……It seems we over-trained him…”

Then Ferris nodded too.

“Yes. He is trained well. He really resembles his mother. In this week, so that he wouldn’t resemble his useless father, I worked hard, it seems that you reap what you sow.”

Ryner replied with half-lidded eyes when he heard this:

“…The useless father you are referring to, it can’t be referring to me, right?”

“Eh? Is there anyone else? The world’s number one candidate in doing what he likes and not accomplishing anything since the past few centuries…”

“I’m not that old!”

The two of them squabbled lamely like this…

At this moment Ryner looked at the n.o.ble’s villa again.

He looked at the building that Sui and Kuu were waiting for them to walk into and fall into their hands.

Then he said with a lazy voice:

“Ah, I think that it has its possibilities… As long as the battle plan goes smoothly, we still have a chance of winning. If the situation is really urgent, Ferris and I will stop them, and Arua will escape quickly…”

To be clearer, Sui and Kuu were extremely interested in Ryner’s Alpha Stigma. If he allowed himself to be caught obediently, perhaps Arua and Kuku could be released.

Although they couldn’t release Ferris who belonged to Roland as well…

Ryner thought of it, then nodded in content, and said:

“We will pick one of these days deliberately and move on the night when the moonlight is the dimmest. Let us prepare to attack before the sun arises.”

Ferris and Arua nodded.

So, the three of them started moving.

Heading in the direction of the n.o.ble’s villa…

In the villa… there wasn’t a single soldier.

Before they reached here, there were some soldiers guarding the carriage room.

Ryner’s face darkened when he saw this.

“……Things seem bad, Ferris. There is no other presences in the villa, that means, there’s only the high-skilled people like Sui and Kuu…”

Although he said that, but he didn’t deliberately lower his volume.

Not only that, they even made a great noise as they destroyed the villa’s main door, walking in shamlessly…

Ferris replied with her usual mild voice:

“Uhn, perhaps the other side has noticed us. But, isn’t that one of the battle plans you came up with?”

Ryner scowled when he heard this:

“Uhn, that’s indeed true… But, I also wish, if possible, that we slip in when Sui and Kuu are not present… After dealing with the guards and those stupid n.o.bles in two, three blows, then we can rescue Kuku, isn’t that good as well? But… There’s not even a single guard. And on our way here, there wasn’t even a single trap that seemed like a trap. That means… they don’t want to wait anymore. And that means, fighting with opponents like us, don’t require any preparation at all… We have really been looked down on.”

At this moment.

“Correct answer! Isn’t that obvious! No matter how powerful you are, you can’t defeat my Ailecrono’s Scythe.”

Kuu said with an energetic voice as she appeared. Her speaking fashion was completely different from when they last met, she peeked out from behind the railing of an extremely wide staircase near the entrance.

When she wasn’t using that scythe… According to her, when she was not using the Ailecrono’s Scythe, she would talk until people suspected she would never close her mouth.

That mouth that was eternally not close opened again.

“Really, Sui Nii-san, hurry up! Do you plan to make me face two people again? Forget it, I think I alone can easily gain victory… Hey, those two people from Roland are here.”

As she finished speaking, Sui who was still smiling steadily from since the last time they met, appeared in the corridor behind…

“The two honored guests, have made us wait for a long time…”

But, at this moment Kuu said:

“Is this the time to be talking about how long we waited! It’s been a week? A week?! Aren’t you too emotionless? You clearly knew a girl was imprisoned, but you left her to wait for a week, what do you mean, Sui Nii-san, don’t remain quiet all the time, say something!”

She clearly interrupted Sui and still scolded him without changing her expression.

Sui heard this.

“Eh? Ah, ehn, I’m sorry. That, I wanted to say… we have waited for you for a long time…”

This time it was Ryner who interrupted him.

“Ah, you’ve said this before, that’s enough. In the end… what do you plan to do? In the end it’s still an unavoidable fight?”

Sui shrugged upon hearing that.

“No……There shouldn’t be a need for that? Ryner-san and the others are here to save that girl called Kuku, right? Ah, just to tell you, Kuku-chan is in the last room in the corridor behind us… The problem lies here. Just speaking about location, the nearest place to the room where Kuku-chan is sleeping is…”

Ryner interrupted him.

“Stop going in circles. Anyway, what you want to say is that Kuku’s life lies in your hands, if we don’t want her to be killed, then surrender obediently, right?”

Sui smiled when he heard this.

“That’s right. I didn’t want to use this kind of method at first…”

Kuu nodded forcefully.

“We don’t like to use such underhanded methods too. Because underhanded things are always done by people who have no abilities, right? But our abilities are too strong, in actuality there’s no need to do this. But, but, Sui Nii-san says, this time we have to do this no matter what, so…”

“Because you want to investigate my Alpha Stigma properly… am I right?”

Ryner asked, Sui stared at Ryner when he heard that… No, he stared at Ryner’s eyes.

He stared at Ryner’s Alpha Stigma.

“As expected of Ryner-san, you are right. Your special eyes… Losing that power is too bad…From what I see, the structure of your eyes aren’t any different from other Alpha Stigmas… But the power released when you lose control differs greatly. And, even if you lose control… you are able to regain your original personality. That is… because your consciousness is strong? Or because your Alpha Stigma is special…? What are you? I am too interested in you. Our king will definitely want to meet you too. So, th

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