NOVEL NEXT Chapter 132
With the pocket watch as the start, familiar and well-known objects kept appearing.
Among them was the sword sheath that Luna had lost to gambling, a gift for Uncle Kerian.
“…Where on earth did you pick this up?”
“Gebihenum. I either find them there, take them from the demon race, sometimes buy them from a fraud’s relic shop, or bid for them at auctions. So, what do you think? Are there any items worth recognizing among them?”
“Well, um… Yes. There are quite a few items that were mentioned in Ronan’s… writings.”
Though I said this, there were a lot. Most of them were things that remained in my memory.
“Uhe… Ahem. That’s a relief. As I mentioned before, the ability of the Flame Sovereign is to read the memories of the past by finding traces. So, even if it’s just a stone that passed by, if there’s a being that touched that stone, their appearance will be visible.”
The Flame Sovereign scratched the scar etched on his forehead and caressed the sword sheath.
“I can certainly say this is the sword sheath used by Ronan Luzarack. Although it’s not as distinct as that pocket watch, it’s still clear. However… the dagger and arrows next to it are somewhat hazy concerning Ronan Luzarack’s appearance. So, I couldn’t be sure.”
The dagger. I remember it clearly. It was the dagger Luna bought for me, which I mainly used for cooking. And… I lost it in less than two weeks.
As for the arrows… those were likely from the Bow Saint of Ten Eyes. She was the one bragging about seeing the future, yet she couldn’t foresee her death and died in front of me.
The bowstring broke, and only the arrows remained, which I remember shooting for her with another bow.
“So, how is it? The gifts from the Flame Sovereign… do you like them?”
As I blankly stared at the items that came from the Flame Sovereign’s bag, I lifted my head.
The Flame Sovereign was gazing at me with a troubled expression.
It’s funny. For someone who is supposedly among the strongest humans in the empire, he presents himself like that.
Is the Flame Sovereign a good person?
Just a little, can I accept him as he is?
Why was Leona so wary of him, then?
Is there something I don’t know?
Even if he appears this way—
[This isn’t the world of 400 years ago.]
Right. It’s not the world of 400 years ago.
I shouldn’t have to force myself to think like this.
Still… it’s not certain yet.
No, beyond certainty, revealing my identity to many people is dangerous.
Some demons consume human brains to recall memories, so it doesn’t hurt to be cautious.
So later. On a day not too far away, I’ll tell them.
“Yes. I really like it.”
Having concluded my thoughts, I smiled for the first time while conversing with the Flame Sovereign.
“I’m glad. Uhuhuh… really… I am.”
The countless calculations that went through my mind were unknown to the Flame Sovereign. But even if he knew about them, he would still smile brightly like that.
“Um, so, are there items from other heroes as well? Like Paulo… or Luna or Arisa’s belongings?”
“Of course, there are. However… Arisa Eustetia’s belongings… are not here.”
The corners of the Flame Sovereign’s mouth drooped.
“Why not?”
“Three years ago… everything was given to the Demon Fist, cough. I mean… was given to the Demon Fist.”
“Aha…”
Leona must have taken it from her.
No, wait?
Isn’t it okay to give it to Leona, since she’s Arisa’s immediate disciple?
The Flame Sovereign can’t be unaware of that.
After all, even in Leona’s casually thrown punches, Arisa’s appearance is present.
But why does he look so sad?
“However, isn’t the Vice Headmaster also Arisa’s disciple?”
The Flame Sovereign’s jaw dropped open once again.
“…Really, amazing. Eliaernes. Just where do you start and stop in your knowledge?”
“I can’t speak carelessly, but for now, it seems you know everything that the Flame Sovereign knows.”
“Is that so? Right. It must be. After all, you’re a direct line of Eustetia, and… you must have visited the Forbidden Library. Then, you know… the secrets of Eustetia?”
When it comes to secrets, there is only one. That Arisa’s blood does not flow in Eustetia.
“I know.”
“Hmm… Are you alright?”
The Flame Sovereign’s voice became cautious.
I nodded casually.
“Yes. I’m fine. Just because I know doesn’t mean we’re not Eustetia.”
“Brave and bold. Indeed, the Flame Sovereign takes a liking to you.”
“…Do you, by any chance, also like women?”
“Hmm? Not at all. The only beings I like besides the heroes from 400 years ago are mages.”
“That’s a relief.”
I let out a small sigh and returned my body back.
“Anyway, since the Vice Headmaster is also Arisa’s disciple, doesn’t that include him in those you mentioned?”
“That’s true, but… I still wanted to give it to the direct line of Eustetia.”
“Then you could have given it earlier. To my dad, or… my grandpa, or them.”
“Turius Eustetia. Besides that man, none had the qualifications to receive Arisa’s belongings.”
Shaking his head, the Flame Sovereign replied with the most serious tone ever.
“Since it’s an Eustetia matter, the Flame Sovereign cannot speak carelessly, but they were not qualified. And Turius, I believed that man had enough qualifications. But he himself refused. He said he lacked the qualifications.”
“…Qualifications.”
The elders of the Eustetia Duchy and various side branches were killed by my dad and uncle.
The reason is still unknown. I’ve only been told that he’d explain it to me later when I become an adult.
Then my dad…
Did he say he lacked qualifications because of his impudence in killing the side branches and parents, or… did he say he lacked qualifications because his blood doesn’t flow in Eustetia?
“However… yes. Just as you said, the Demon Fist was also Arisa’s immediate disciple, so I don’t think that’s a bad choice. However, I only dislike the somewhat violent process of receiving it from me.”
Saying that, the Flame Sovereign trembled his body lightly and forced a smile. Then, he took a sip of the Mint Chocolate Latte I handed him, savoring it with a refined expression.
“Delicious.”
“You have a very sophisticated palate.”
“Hmm.”
After a while of silence, just quenching our thirst, when I couldn’t take it anymore, I opened my mouth.
“The name of the technique used by Ronan…”
“Geh…!”
“Ahem… I know quite a bit.”
“Hu… Huh…!”
“Are you curious?”
“I-I am curious…! Please, please tell me!”
“The name of the technique that allowed Ronan to be called the Fortress…”
I took two breaths.
In those two breaths, the Flame Sovereign’s backside jolted like crazy, but he didn’t complain.
He seemed to enjoy the wait itself.
How much does he like the heroes… us?
I couldn’t help but let out a suppressed chuckle and finally parted my lips.
“Deity (欺身).”
It was the name Luna shrieked about.
Arisa smiled bitterly, Kaloso shook his head, and Paulo made something similar to my name.
And the Flame Sovereign?
He trembled as if struck by lightning.
Then, with a plop- tears poured down as he said.
“…Magnificent.”
As if that wasn’t enough, he clapped his long, slender hands together and stood up.
“Wonderful. Perfect… name indeed. Deity. I can’t think of any other name besides that.”
“Right? Isn’t it cool? Isn’t it powerful?”
“Hmm…! It’s cool, it’s powerful. And very ferocious, yet I can feel the softness within. Not to mention… I can also sense Ronan’s steadfast spirit; how perfect that name is!”
“Hehehe…”
The Flame Sovereign’s trembling hand caressed one of the gifts she gave me. At the same time, warm mana began to simmer from her body.
Crimson eyes. A faint smoke reflected in those flickering flames, a bright smile gracing her lips, while the other hand was clenched in a fist.
“Deity… I, the Flame Sovereign, have made many efforts to use Ronan’s Deity… .”
“But you’re a mage.”
“Hmm…! That doesn’t matter. Don’t interrupt what I’m saying. Ahem, anyway, I’ve made great efforts to use this magnificent… Deity. To try and grasp this, I’ve expended a lot of effort!”
The tone of the Flame Sovereign’s voice changed, almost with a sense of delight.
“However, I couldn’t do it. Even by the control the world calls the Flame Sovereign, I couldn’t mimic the Deity. My arms broke, my legs were ripped, and my neck almost twisted off. That is only to be expected, after all. It’s Ronan Luzarack’s technique. To attempt to follow that, one should risk their life.”
The Flame Sovereign’s gaze turned serious. The surrounding mana calmed down, and her once-straight posture sagged back into the chair.
“But you use that technique. The Deity, very freely.”
“Shall I tell you?”
“Wha… Oh, no. I can’t. That’s something only you, chosen by the heroes, can learn and use. It shouldn’t be leaked to an outsider like me.”
The Flame Sovereign answered firmly, but as if feeling somewhat disappointed, a satisfied smile graced her face.
“I’m just content to see someone like you. Those chosen by the heroes.”
Watching that Flame Sovereign, I pondered.
I want to ask something.
I’ve wanted to since a while ago. My lips are itching with the need to ask.
Kaloso Behrhaigen.
I want to ask about that guy…
But is it right to do so?
The Flame Sovereign surely knows.
There’s no way she wouldn’t. If she looks at the memories of the past, she would have seen Kaloso’s figure too.
But Kaloso’s existence is nowhere to be found in the Empire.
Not even in the Forbidden Library, his name can’t be found.
Is it right to ask about such a being?
Nevertheless, for this moment… rather than asking that.
“I know quite a few other things too. Should I share them?”
Having received something, it’s now my turn to give.
“Other things? What do you mean by that?”
“The names of other techniques… or the names of the weapons Ronan used… the foods he liked, and things like that.”
The Flame Sovereign blinked a few times.
Then, tears started pouring down from her eyes like crazy.
Her face and expression were not that of someone crying, yet tears just kept flowing from her eyes.
“I… I cannot. No, the Flame Sovereign cannot pay an equal price for such things…”
Even her strange speech pattern was close to breaking.
“It’s okay. I’ll just tell you.”
“…Really, is it alright? You share such… precious stories and ask for nothing in return, is that truly okay?”
“Yes. Well, if you really want to give me something.”
I already decided what I wanted from the Flame Sovereign.
I cut my thoughts short and said.
“Could you double the right to make requests… wish rights?”
“Hah!”
The Flame Sovereign laughed brightly, spreading her slender fingers wide!
“I’ll raise it to five…!”
“Wow!”
The idea of being able to utilize a being like the Flame Sovereign five times in exchange for sharing my favorite things is just incredible!
There can’t be a better good person than this!
Laughing cheerfully, I clapped my hands and opened my mouth.