Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: The Saint's Inner Thoughts Are Heard
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While listening to Thomas's explanation and wandering around the museum, it became difficult to gauge what kind of abilities Memoria, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, might possess.
Even at a glance, they were clearly powerful figures, yet they were displayed as if showing off.
For example, the unknown Swordmaster we saw earlier, and even the memories of a mage who became a lich after a lifetime of researching forbidden magic existed in this museum.
"…How is it? Although you cannot consume them, this is the Corridor of Memories, where all the astonishing achievements accomplished by other beings are stored."
"Frankly, it's a bit perverted."
"What do you mean?"
Astal, the red-haired one, looked at Thomas, who was excitedly explaining other people's memories with wide eyes, and made a disgusted expression.
"Most of them are pure humans rather than other races. I thought coming here would allow me to see the cultures or memories unique to other races."
The continent I lived on was a place where various races lived mixed together, of course including humans, but the beings in this museum were mostly composed of pure humans.
This was probably Memoria's taste.
After all, this guy filled his domain with slimes that had shapeshifted into human forms.
"Isn't that natural? Lady Memoria finds the creature called 'human' very interesting. Mortal beings with limited lives often leave more outstanding results than long-lived dwarves or elves."
"That's why it's perverted. This is the Demon Realm, yet it's filled only with slimes shapeshifted into humans. Other places are disguised as giant monsters or terrain features."
The red-haired Astal sighed deeply, remembering the thesis I had written at the Magic Tower. It was common for slimes to change their appearance according to their surroundings or terrain.
Absorbing the memories or abilities of other lifeforms in this way was an ability only Memoria possessed.
"…I see you must be someone who was dispatched to the continent? Well, humans are beings with different values and prejudices, so I suppose you might think that way."
Thomas said, lowering his voice slightly. It seemed he was expressing displeasure, likely because it was talk that disparaged Memoria, the master of this domain.
"Then, would you look this way?"
Perhaps annoyed by the red-haired Astal's blunt attitude, Thomas pointed somewhere with a confident expression.
"…There's nothing there?"
However, in that direction, there was only a lonely platform large enough for a few people to stand on.
Was he testing us by making only slimes visible?
Normally, I would have remained silent and tried to discern Thomas's intentions, but the red-haired Astal was showing a merciless side toward the monster opponent.
"Of course. This is a space specially created to preserve the human group called the Hero's Party."
"……."
My companions and I couldn't readily respond to Thomas's words and maintained silence.
If we were defeated by Memoria, we would be trapped here forever, just like the other humans or memories preserved in this museum.
'Ask if there are other Hero Parties.'
I advised the other personality, Astal, through inner thoughts.
If a separate space was prepared to preserve us, perhaps previous Hero Parties might also be here.
"…There's more than one Hero Party, right? Aren't there any others?"
The red-haired Astal asked Thomas exactly as I suggested, but...
"Unfortunately, Lady Memoria only became interested in the beings called 'Hero Parties' quite recently."
Thomas shook his head side to side, stating that other Hero Parties did not exist here.
"Why recently? In Dullahan's case, his identity was the First Hero. Weren't they originally selected as the strongest humans to defeat the Demon King? Wouldn't such guys be better as collectibles?"
The red-haired Astal's words held no hesitation or reservation.
To the point that if the other companions chimed in or played along even slightly, the fact that this was an act would be exposed.
"Is there really a need for that? All the past Hero Parties were weaklings not worth paying attention to."
"…What did you say?"
"I'm stating a fact. Didn't Dullahan, the First Hero, go insane the moment he saw the Demon King's form and kill his comrades?"
Thomas laughed, stretching his mouth wide as he spoke of Dullahan. It was an action possible because he was a slime, not a human.
"The others were the same. Despite having the grand title of 'Hero Party,' they were all just humans who couldn't even reach the Demon King's toes."
"So you just didn't collect them? If it were me, I'd gather such guys to give humans a sense of despair…."
Something was off.
It didn't make sense that Memoria, who collected special humans or memories like in this museum, would make an exception only for Hero Parties.
"It seems the fact that the individuals called 'Hero Parties' are strong became known only through this generation."
Thomas then pointed to portraits placed a short distance away in that space and began additional explanations.
"The leader of the Hero Party, the Hero who wields the Holy Sword of Flames that annihilates evil. Kyle Dragonica."
"…It seems drawn a bit ugly."
Kyle spoke up for the first time upon seeing his portrait. No matter how you looked at it, it was a distorted depiction unlike his usual face.
"Well, it was drawn by a demon whose aesthetic standards differ from humans'. Doesn't it resemble the monster who indiscriminately slaughtered and burned us to death?"
Thomas chuckled at that remark. From the perspective of demons or monsters, there might be no more terrifying existence than Kyle.
Kyle, a hero more fitting as a Hero than anyone, stood at the forefront alongside Astal, cutting down enemies.
"Next, the half-breed with half the blood of a Gold Dragon, the Saint who performs miracles and heals people: Victoria Everhart."
"…My chest seems drawn smaller than usual."
Victoria voiced her dissatisfaction toward the portrait depicting her, relying solely on the Perception Hindrance Magic.
Frankly speaking, the reality was larger than when clothed.
Victoria seemed slightly hurt that I didn't say anything about that part.
"Anyway, there are other members of the Hero Party like Taryon or Anima, but the most famous person is undoubtedly this one."
Ignoring Victoria's words, Thomas eventually turned his gaze to a portrait striking for its blue hair and robes.
"The being more famous under the epithet 'Mad Mage,' the human who killed both the Heavenly King Bellamora and Dullahan."
"…The Harmless Mage, Astal Caesaro."
The red-haired Astal looked at the portrait of me, grinding his teeth slightly.
It seemed the other personality harbored jealousy toward me.
"Correct. He's now famous to the point that no one in the Demon Realm is unaware of him."
Thomas frowned, his voice tinged with slight anger.
After winning the Dullahan Colosseum, my infamy had spread even more widely than Kyle, the Hero.
"What kind of madman could succeed in rescuing all the humans captured in the Demon Realm, and even create magic powerful enough to kill a Heavenly King?"
Moreover, as Thomas said, I had shown such thoroughness that every human related to me was rescued without dying.
By any measure, it was an achievement worthy of being called mad.
"He even won the Dullahan Colosseum and became a powerful existence that the Demon King Himself pays attention to. It's baffling why such a mage isn't the Hero!"
Listening to Thomas's words up to now, I finally sensed something strange.
Normally, I might have let it pass unknowingly, but now I was trapped in my body thanks to the other personality.
Reviewing the conversation from a third-person perspective, I could easily find contradictions.
'Hey, you also know that guy is hiding something, right?'
Using inner thoughts, I told the red-haired Astal that we should suspect Thomas.
From our first meeting, he acted as if testing whether we were human by wearing his ears backward,
He possessed extensive knowledge enough to handle explanations and guidance in this vast museum, which was suspicious from the start,
And he even shamelessly boasted knowledge that only the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings should know.
- Right, it's highly likely this guy is related to Memoria.
Just like me, the red-haired Astal also suspected Thomas, so he had deliberately provoked him with harsh language.
He must have known that monsters who want to mimic humans more than anyone are poor at controlling emotions in this way.
"Hey, let me ask one more thing."
"Did another human or memory catch your interest? Ah, if you go elsewhere, there are also things about combat styles unique to other races…."
"No, just reveal your identity, won't you? No matter how I look at it, your name doesn't seem to be Thomas. Memoria."
The moment the red-haired Astal realized the being before him was related to the Heavenly King Memoria, he immediately prepared to fight.
After all, since Memoria had devoured countless mages, the Perception Hindrance Magic I had cast in advance would be useless.
"Hahaha! As expected, you're clever. This is why humans are so fascinating, isn't it!"
Grin.
Thomas, disguised as Memoria, looked at me who had seen through his identity and smiled a distorted smile.
"However, there is one thing you don't know."
Then, the surrounding vision all wavered as he revealed his true form made of slime.
From the moment we entered this domain, we had fallen into Memoria's trap.
"And what's that?"
Seeing this spectacle, the red-haired Astal was the fastest to cast a Return Magic to evacuate his companions, but...
"…The ground or buildings you stand on, and furthermore, the people or entirety of this domain, are all part of me."
"……!!!"
Crack—!
The sound of magic being dispelled by an identical magic circle, failing to be cast properly, rang out.
"How does it feel? Meeting a mage of a higher realm than yourself—is it despair? Or does excitement rise, making you want to fight? I'm truly curious."
"…Fucking bullshit?"
Thomas, who had revealed himself as Memoria, mocked me like that, and the red-haired Astal spat out the curse I would have uttered.