NOVEL NEXT Chapter 131
“…Is it really okay for you to come here like this?”
“I’ve already finished my conversation with Sedil, the headmaster of this academy. So, it’s fine.”
“Uh… yes, well… I guess you don’t need the headmaster’s permission, but… are you avoiding the vice headmaster?”
The Flame Sovereign’s eyelids fluttered twitch-twitch.
“W-Well, it’s fine. I, the Flame Sovereign, have done nothing wrong to the Demon Fist. So, there’s no reason to avoid him.”
That’s not it; it seems he came in after confirming that Leona wasn’t present at the academy.
Just a little while ago, when I checked the device, I saw that Leona’s device was off.
“Considering that, you were running away like crazy yesterday…”
“That’s because… the intense care the Demon Fist has for his student combined with a small misunderstanding, so you needn’t worry.”
Struggling to maintain a proud expression, the Flame Sovereign straightened his shoulders. Following him, two grotesquely large lumps of fat that were not covered by his robe swayed.
“Well… if you say so, Flame Sovereign. But… I’m sorry for asking so many questions, but what are you carrying with you?”
“Hmm! I brought a gift for you and some treasures that I, the Flame Sovereign, cherish.”
A big goofy grin spread across the Flame Sovereign’s face.
“…A gift? Treasures?”
“Indeed. A gift. Things that I, the Flame Sovereign, hold dear. However… I’m not sure if you will like them.”
“Who wouldn’t like a gift? It’s just inherently good and makes you thankful!”
“Thank you for saying that.”
After briefly sulking, the Flame Sovereign returned to beaming like a child again.
Seriously… he looks like someone you’d want to slap just for looking at him, yet his behavior is just goofy.
“Eliaernes. Although it’s a gift, the reason I, the Flame Sovereign, came here was to hear your answer.”
“Ah, yes. Right.”
I nodded and pulled the chair forward.
Answer. Answer.
The question of what relationship I had with the fortress.
I already had my answer set.
Even if it’s about the six pillars, it’s an answer that cannot be easily refuted or doubted.
But.
“I, the Flame Sovereign, have thought a lot for a day. Eliaernes, could it be—”
A fierce blaze ignited in the Flame Sovereign’s eyes.
The goofy smile vanished. His voice sank, and the cool air of the training grounds became hot.
And the smell of flames began to waft slowly.
With a serious tone more earnest than ever, the Flame Sovereign said,
“Are you a disciple of Ronan Luzarack?”
“…Huh?”
“Is there a misinterpretation in the term ‘disciple’? Hmm, but still, I can only refer to you as a disciple. Even if you didn’t learn directly from him, you must have learned something from him.”
He spoke arbitrarily, misunderstood, and continued speaking freely.
“The reason why Ronan Luzarack became known as the Fortress is due to his unique combat technique. An ordinary human—no, even a genius bestowed by the heavens—couldn’t recklessly emulate his violent manipulation of mana. Due to this, it erases all recoil, delays, and preparation motions of every move.”
I felt a bit deflated by the question of whether I was a disciple, but surprisingly, he knew… knew Ronan Luzarack in detail, which made me a bit shocked.
“How exactly?”
I wondered if he could really read past memories, but to know this much would be difficult.
Wait a second. Then…
“And, Eliaernes, you also used the same technique as him. However, the history known to the world has changed significantly.”
As expected. The Flame Sovereign knows.
“I can’t tell you this in case it shocks you, but anyway, what I, the Flame Sovereign, mean is—”
“Ronan Luzarack… wasn’t just a martial artist, and I know that too.”
The Flame Sovereign’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.
His mouth dropped open, and the hand that had been resting on the table turned into a tightly clenched fist.
“…That’s right. From what I observed in the past—”
“…He could handle all types of weapons.”
“M-My goodness. You… Eliaernes, how do you know that past?”
It seemed better to let the Flame Sovereign push forward with his own guesses and conclusions.
What reasoning did he think he would use to explain himself afterward?
It was obvious.
“I learned by studying Ronan Luzarack’s… uh, traces.”
Thud! The Flame Sovereign stood up abruptly, causing the chair to topple over.
“Indeed… Indeed! There is… something left by Ronan Luzarack in the Eustetia Duchy!”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“Haha, heeheeheeh!”
A brighter smile than ever spread across the Flame Sovereign’s face, and he let out a silly laugh.
Watching that pure smile made the triangular conscience in my heart prick like crazy.
But what could I do?
It wasn’t… the right time to tell him.
Instead, there were other things I could share.
“And, I… know the name of the technique that gave Ronan a name as the Fortress.”
“What?! You… know the name of that technique?! Please… tell me! No, no—what will you take in exchange? This bag is stuffed!”
He placed a massive bag on the table.
“I can give you the second most cherished treasures of mine, without hesitation. If you wish to become stronger, I’m sure you will like them!”
“Um…”
Gulp! The Flame Sovereign swallowed hard, taking on a cautious expression as he continued to speak.
“If… it’s not sufficient… I can at least give you money. I, the Flame Sovereign, have an abundance of wealth. Rare jewels, lots of mana stones for artifacts…!”
“No, well. I don’t really want to forcefully take anything. I’d appreciate your gift, but I don’t want to twist your arm to hand it over…”
Or maybe I should have waited to see the contents first? What did I expect would be inside?
For now… the weapons I used wouldn’t be there.
All the weapons I had used were buried with me.
Then, is there really a need to take anything?
I’m not short on money, and I have enough potions.
Weapons? I’m a martial artist. Was it to honor my parents? I might have a younger sibling soon.
So, really, there’s no need to take anything.
For some reason, maintaining a close relationship with the Flame Sovereign, who seems to adores heroes, would also be beneficial.
Having the ability to read the past would definitely be helpful.
“So I’ll just say this. Regarding Ronan, I can’t claim to know everything, but I wouldn’t say I don’t know anything, either.”
I said that, and tears started to fall from the Flame Sovereign’s eyes.
“W-Why… are you crying?”
“Cough… I do not cry. I only shed tears when I meet heroes! If not, I shall never cry…”
“Yet tears are streaming down your face?”
“This… is just the heat boiling within my body and soul mixing with the external temperature, causing moisture.”
With a snap of his fingers, he instantly evaporated the tears and placed his hand on the bag with a serious expression.
“…First, I will show you the gift. I truly hope you will like it.”
Clunk! Magic began to unravel at a speed my eyes could not follow, accompanied by a click.
“Wow…”
High-level sealing magic.
I’ve seen at least thirty-seven layers. And that was just the start; it continued for at least four more layers before I couldn’t hear the clicks anymore.
“It’s something more precious than life for me. That’s why no one can undo it or break it.”
In the Flame Sovereign’s hand was a key, made of flames. When he inserted it into the center of the bag, whoosh! The sound of numerous chains releasing echoed, and the bag opened with a creak.
I peered cautiously to see inside the bag, but initially, I could see nothing.
I was left awestruck by the overwhelming number of magical seals the Flame Sovereign placed on that shabby bag—it felt like an obsession at this point.
“One of the gifts I promised you.”
Ignoring me, the Flame Sovereign cheerfully rummaged through the bag.
“Since you’re Ronan’s disciple, I’m sure you will like this. Ah, but this won’t be the payment for the story you’ll tell. These are simply things I want to give you. I don’t seek anything else.”
The Flame Sovereign’s hand emerged from the bag.
And there,
“…Huh?”
Was a pocket watch.
Old, cracked, faded, and rough.
But familiar, and something I longed for, something I wanted to find.
“It’s the pocket watch that Ronan Luzarack used.”
The pocket watch, given to me by Diana.
“Eliaernes. I don’t know why people use pocket watches in this day and age, but it seems you like them. So, I chose one from my cherished treasures. It may look old and ugly at first glance, but no, it was genuinely broken.”
It felt empty without it. The heavy, ugly watch I always carried with me was no longer there.
It was a habit to check my pockets when I looked at a watch.
So I had ordered a new pocket watch.
I didn’t like it. The feel, the usability, everything was different.
But I had to make do.
And then, someday..
That pocket watch I’d thought to look for just once is right in front of me now.
The Flame Sovereign carefully handed over the pocket watch. I received it with trembling hands.
“However, I fixed it. I didn’t put any special magic on it. I restored its natural function, letting the second hand, minute hand, and hour hand move on their own. There are no suspicious magics on it either. So please, use it with peace of mind.”
“…Is it really okay for you to give me something like this?”
“It’s fine. Rather, we should think of it as returning to the original owner. All treasures of mine exist for this reason. To share them with the descendants of past heroes or those directly related.”
Another goofy grin appeared on the Flame Sovereign’s face.
“And if by chance, I could meet any of the other heroes who might still be alive, I would return everything to them.”
“…These are treasures, right?”
“They are treasures. Perhaps they might be treasures that could connect me with the heroes. But these treasures would have also been treasures for the heroes. Even if they were mere trinkets, I would not hold onto greed. Just being able to meet the heroes is enough. However… I can’t meet Ronan Luzarack. Hence, I thought to give his treasures to the descendants who carry on his history.”
The Flame Sovereign’s hand, not just his fingers, was pointed at me. That gesture was laden with profound respect.
“And I met that descendant. The descendant who bears the name of Arisa Eustetia and carries on the great history of Ronan Luzarack. I am certain that today will be a day of happiness and fulfillment like no other for me.”
I couldn’t understand the Flame Sovereign’s thoughts, actions, and expressions.
Why return the things he found after a lifetime of wandering in the Demon Realm?
He could make a fortune just by selling one of those treasures. So why?
“Do you really… like heroes that much?”
“I admire the heroes. I hold them in reverence, I like them, I love them, I dream of them. Eliaernes, what about you?”
“Well, for me… I also like them.”
“Just as I thought.”
The Flame Sovereign smiled bright and clear like a child.
“It seems the hard work of all this time will be rewarded.”