Peering into the Heroes' Chat
Was it just my imagination? I'd known for a while that the heroes had their own communication network. Unlike the current generation, past heroes each had their own hero parties, but that didn't mean they never cooperated. Sometimes they competed, sometimes they teamed up against monsters and demons.
Past heroes mostly kept in touch via carrier pigeons, magic orbs, or by meeting at frequent hubs. But this generation was different. Something. There's definitely something. They didn't use carrier pigeons. They ignored magic orbs that could reach across continents, telepathy, or transmission spells. And yet, the heroes could communicate anytime, anywhere, just by staring into empty space. Without any cost at all.
I'd asked my disciples about it once, but they just gave each other awkward looks and said, "It's the goddess's power!"
"What a convenient ability. We didn't have anything like this back in the day."
"...Yes. It's quite convenient."
"So, what is it?"
"It's a power bestowed by the goddess. It lets heroes—people in the same situation, comrades—just communicate whenever and wherever."
"I don't sense any mana from it, though?"
"Doesn't that just mean the goddess is that amazing? Of course, Lady Lea is amazing too, but..."
"Euuuum... sure, whatever."
I nodded. No matter how whiny and pathetic the old hag seemed, she was still this world's goddess. A transcendent being who could empower thousands of heroes against the Demon King, the world's enemy. Creating a communication space just for heroes that even I didn't know about? Sure, why not.
I yawned indifferently and stretched languidly. I had some time left—maybe catch a three-day nap.
"Ugh...! Anyway."
"Yes?"
"What's it called? How do you use it?"
"......"
"Why the silence?"
"...Everyone calls it different things. You just write what you want to say in an imaginary space, and it gets delivered to the target."
"Yeah? It seems to go through almost instantly."
"It's the goddess's power."
Evan nodded with a slightly stiff expression.
It sounded so familiar, even just from the description. Had I used something like this before?
"Hmmm..."
"......"
"Hmmmmmmmmm..."
"Would you like to see it once?"
"Huh?"
"I'm a two-core holder and the only hero with a knight's title. Since you're teaching the knights, why not instruct me as well?"
Whoosh! Evan drew his training sword and requested a spar.
I set aside my questions for the moment and pulled out a wooden sword.
"Ah, stop! Pause for a sec!"
"Pause what."
And then I beat him senseless.
Clang!
"Too slow!"
"Urk..."
Clang! Scraaaape...!
"I said slow."
"I'm going as fast as I can...!"
"Still slow."
It had been a whole month since I'd started overseeing Adella and the knights' training. Adella and I were crossing blunt swords—no edges, of course.
The Iri Style Swordsmanship was too much for her right now, so I'd banned it for the time being. Sure, she'd have to use it in real combat, win or lose, but no need to wreck training weapons.
Thwack!
"Guh!"
"Side's wide open."
"A kick is..."
"Think about everything."
Adella clutched her side and staggered back from my kick. She was wobbling again.
"So fragile. Super fragile."
"...It's because you're so strong, Flame Dragon."
"I'm holding back. Holding way back."
"Still too strong."
"Hmph."
I was already trying hard not to slice her up. Even with blunt swords, one slip and it'd be A/della real quick. No wooden swords to avoid wrecking them with Iri Style—enemies in real fights wouldn't carry practice gear. Mana barriers could cover that, but no point simulating special cases.
Crash!
After about an hour of getting pummeled, Adella flopped face-first onto the training ground.
"Haa... haa... haa..."
"Lying down now? This your bedroom?"
"...No."
"Then get up. Up, quick."
"Urgh..."
She used her sword as a crutch to stand. Good. Show some grit. Knights' captain who collapses from exhaustion? Retire.
"Demons won't go easy if you're tired. Stay serious every moment. Serious."
"...The Flame Dragon sucking on candy doesn't get to say that."
"I don't need to be serious."
Crunch crunch. I chewed the sweet marble candy and nodded contentedly. If I got serious, she'd last not an hour but a second. This was consideration, basically.
She gave me a super complicated look at that, then plopped right back down.
"Well now."
"...One question."
"Shoot."
"Don't you teach this training to the heroes? Your disciples?"
"Nope."
"Why not?"
"Not ready yet."
You need kids who can at least walk and run for spars to mean anything. Sparring with toddlers? Pointless.
"That's why I sent 'em off to grow. But they keep doing useless crap."
"Useless like?"
"Keep hunting for me. Train instead."
"...Then bring them here?"
"Huh?"
I came here to dodge heroes, and now she wants to invite them?
I eyed her skeptically, but Adella's gaze was firm.
"Others aside, Haring has potential. Training here would boost not just Iri Style but her overall hero skills."
"What if the others swarm?"
"No worries. This is Legion Royal Palace. Trouble-makers get three months minimum in the dungeon cells, years max."
"Hmmm... Maybe not bad?"
Evan dropped by occasionally already—no biggie for one more Haring. If she caused issues or blabbed, boot her then.
"Fine. Tell Evan to relay. Whatever."
"Yes. I'll handle Haring's training myself. I'll make her worthy of being your disciple. Definitely."
"You look happy all sudden."
"Illusion."
After wrapping up with Adella, I called over Evan, who was training amid the squires. Knight title or not, his hero status got him there early. Still weak, much to learn—squire drills for now.
"Yes! Lady Flame Dragon! What is it?"
"Call Haring."
"Pardon?"
"You can contact, right? Know your fellow disciples' status?"
"Somewhat."
"What're they up to?"
I gave him a moment. He glanced around at empty air. After about three minutes, he spoke.
"Right now, only Haring, NyaNya, and Yugi are still looking for you. The rest have basically quit."
"Why?"
"You've been gone four months, so... given up?"
"Good job."
Know when to quit or get weeded out. Clingy separation anxiety? No army command, no demons slain.
I crossed my arms, nodded, and eyed him.
"Secretly contact just Haring. Solo."
"Yes, underst—wait."
"?"
He went quiet again. Annoyingly stuffy, but I waited.
"Ah... won't work."
"Why?"
"Haring and NyaNya searched together four months. One missing? Instant suspicion."
"Hmmm..."
Two. Two... Haring with Adella, NyaNya with me or palace mage? Bound to be one. She'd pick it up quick anyway.
"Fine. Both."
"Yugi?"
"Leave him."
Something shady about him. If all three stuck together, maybe, but no.
Evan nodded and focused on air again. Normally I'd chill, but Adella session left me oddly beat. End quick, nap time...
"Done?"
"Yeah. Just got reply... Done. Haring got the message. Coming alone, no word to others."
"NyaNya?"
"Asked—she's away now, not immediate. Twenty minutes, she'll arrive."
"...Hmmm."
"Wait and—"
"Just tell NyaNya direct."
"Uh, not that close with her. Direct send's iffy..."
"......"
I lounged in a chair for twenty, but no NyaNya contact. Evan glanced awkwardly.
"Sh-should be fine. Haring and NyaNya are tight. She'll pass it on..."
"Whatever. I'll try."
"Pardon? It's heroes-only—"
"Been curious. Lemme see..."
I hopped lightly, grabbed at the empty air Evan stared at. No mana, but something there. Goddess power I didn't know...
Crackle...!
"?"
Saw something just now, right?
"My imagination?"
"......"
"What's with you?"