Is Ambiguous Talent a Curse? (1)
Raybi was left speechless after hearing Damien’s words. She had suspected it for a while. Damien always insisted on wearing heavy plate armor and had never once removed it in front of the others. She even made sure to cover her throat and legs so nothing would show. Every part that could reveal her gender was hidden.
“You were really a woman…?”
Even so, Raybi wasn’t entirely shocked. She had been given a hint beforehand and had only been half-testing the waters. She just hadn’t expected Damien to admit it so readily.
“Shh, keep your voice down. Shade just fell asleep.”
Damien pressed an index finger to Raybi’s lips as the latter’s voice grew louder. As the Hero who could see possibilities, she seemed to already know every situation that would unfold.
“Let’s move somewhere else for a bit.”
Damien smiled at Raybi and descended the stairs, leaving the saintess with no choice but to follow.
They sat at a table on the first floor where cold mugs of beer waited. In the quiet inn, where the scent of alcohol lingered, a battle of nerves unfolded between the two women. Normally a priestess should avoid drinking, but Raybi felt she needed it now. She doubted she could suppress this unpleasant feeling without getting drunk.
“Damien, why did you pretend to be a man? There has to be another reason.”
Raybi took a sip of the cold beer and asked the question that bothered her most. Why had the Hero Damien acted like a man? Was it really to eliminate rivals in advance? No, that didn’t make sense. There had to be another reason she chose such a difficult method.
“It’s because of the prophecy.”
“…A prophecy?”
Damien lifted her own mug and wet her throat just like Raybi.
“Yes, a prophecy. Something about how if a female Hero ever appeared, she would be able to kill the Outer God.”
The Hero let out a deep sigh, as if she had no choice but to drink.
“‘Something about’? So it’s just a guess?”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean there’s no evidence.”
Damien set down her now-empty mug with a clink.
“Thirteen years ago, the Demon King invaded the Empire… If that was because of this prophecy, then it’s not entirely impossible.”
“But he retreated right away.”
“Of course. He must have found a reason not to kill me.”
“You don’t mean…”
“Yes. Shade.”
The person who now had to be called “she” looked completely relaxed. Was she weak to alcohol, or had talking with Shade put her at ease? Either way, Raybi now understood why Damien never drank in front of the others. This girl’s female side showed the moment she got drunk.
“Why Shade, of all people?”
“…Do you still think the ability he possesses is ordinary?”
“Well, you have a point.”
An ability that far surpassed human limits. Saintess Raybi had personally witnessed Shade creating clones, so she knew. It was clearly not just copying… It had to be something far greater. If it paired with the Hero Damien’s ability to see possibilities, then the connection was likely there.
…She probably didn’t need to mention that he could see the future just yet. Everyone had probably noticed to some degree anyway, but saying it out loud was different. It might draw more suspicion.
“It was Shade who wiped out all those monsters and demons. But doesn’t that seem strange?”
“…The Demon King’s army suffered that much damage, yet instead of burning with revenge, they withdrew their forces.”
It was certainly contradictory. The Demon King was supposed to be a being born to kill or violate humans, endlessly repeating bloodshed and slaughter. Yet he had retreated his army after learning of Shade’s existence. Because Shade was strong? Because he was an opponent they couldn’t handle? That was unlikely. From what she had heard, the Demon King had been trying to kill the Hero… until he noticed some variable had appeared.
“Exactly. You really are sharp.”
“Then does that mean the Demon King isn’t our real enemy?”
“Who knows. I’m not sure yet.”
Damien lowered her head. In truth, during their journey together, they had yet to encounter even one of the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings. Even though their party had grown famous enough to make a name for themselves in the Empire and was steadily building reputation… the Demon King’s side remained far too quiet.
“Why don’t you know?”
“Because there’s no guarantee that the false god we’re supposed to face hasn’t also extended its reach to the Demon King.”
“Ah.”
Damien traced an infinity-like figure eight on the table with her finger. Just how many times had this tiresome fight repeated itself? Raybi found herself wondering the same thing.
“…No matter how much I know, human affairs are still unpredictable.”
“That’s certainly true.”
“And it’s more fun this way.”
Damien couldn’t help but smile as she recalled Shade’s words. Saying an uncertain future was more interesting… Only someone who didn’t know what would happen next could say something like that.
“So… are you in love with Shade?”
Seeing that smile, Raybi decided to probe a little. …Of course, it wasn’t that she liked him herself. She had seen that expression many times before. It was the face of a girl in love. Her ears turned red and she kept tucking her hair behind her ear—it was quite amusing. This was the same person who had shown the most masculine side of anyone when recruiting party members.
“In love?”
“…No matter how I look at it, you two seem far too close.”
Raybi slowly tried to draw out Damien’s true feelings. Even while pretending to be a man, Damien’s behavior toward Shade had been far too familiar. Holding hands, staying close to nurse him, even carrying a bucket of water and a towel to wipe his sweat…
“Well, I grew up like a boy since I was little, so I’m more comfortable around men.”
“You lie far too easily.”
Raybi bit her lip. Even without the ability to read minds, she could tell.
“How could someone from the Evancia family, famous for its blue blood, have lived rubbing shoulders with common men?”
This was just her pretending to be a man so she could stick close to Shade.
“Hehe, I guess it doesn’t work on you, Raybi. Shade falls for lies so easily, though.”
“That person is… as pure and kind as snow falling from the sky. He’s different from us.”
Why am I defending him? Raybi found herself speaking up for Shade. The leader of the underworld, the king of the slums known as the Empire’s shadow… and the most devout and pure saintess was evaluating him this way.
“…Just linking arms with me makes his ears turn red and makes him sweat. He’s that adorable.”
Honestly, Shade’s reactions were far too cute. The leader of the underworld, a man who had never even held a woman’s hand until adulthood. It was honestly surprising.
“Isn’t that just because you have cow-sized breasts?”
Damien immediately glanced at Raybi’s chest and snorted. Well, with armor like that, her size was probably hidden anyway, so she was probably just jealous.
“…Unlike someone, I don’t have a heart big enough to be hidden by armor.”
Raybi lightly lifted her ample chest with one hand. When it came to size, she had absolute confidence. The soft flesh changed shape before returning to its perfect round form.
“I also need bandages and magic just to barely hide mine, you know?”
“…Anyone can say that.”
“Well, lately even the bandages are starting to feel insufficient, so I’ve been thinking about it a lot.”
Damien maintained her relaxed expression even after hearing that. …It probably wasn’t a lie. Only someone who actually possessed that would make such a face.
“What’s the reason you need me to keep your secret? It doesn’t seem like there’s any benefit for me.”
Raybi grumbled, finding Damien’s expression unpleasant.
“There’s the prophecy, and… fewer competitors means it’s easier for us to be chosen, right?”
“……Hmm.”
“Think about it. We’re the only two who know how charming and wonderful Shade is.”
Damien held up two fingers.
“But do you really think the other companions don’t know?”
“Well…”
“I think it’s only a matter of time.”
A bitter smile. This was probably the real reason Damien had kept the truth hidden until now.
“So before the other wolves notice Shade’s true value and approach him…”
“We stake our claim first?”
“Yes. It’s not such a bad deal, is it?”
“…It still feels a little unconvincing.”
“If I approach him as a reliable male companion, the gap will be even bigger when you hit him with your feminine side, right?”
Damien smiled with her eyes. Loving Shade… Well, she still didn’t like him that much yet. But making the first move for someone she didn’t want to give to others seemed like it would be fun.
“Think about it. Wouldn’t it be adorable to see that clumsy Shade getting all flustered?”
“That does sound good.”
Raybi accepted Damien’s proposal. It seemed worth going along with. Right now, aside from Damien, none of the other companions seemed to have any particular affection for Shade. …It should be fine for now. She wouldn’t actually fall for him.
* * *
The next morning, I woke up and shivered from the chill I felt. I definitely hadn’t left the window open while sleeping. …For some reason, today felt like a very strange day.
“It seems our next destination should be the elven forest…”
“H-Hiiiiii!!”
“Alvheim. You know it, right, Luna?”
“I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry!!!”
Even when I met up with my companions and told them the next goal, their reaction was the same. Alvheim. The place where the elves lived, and the name of the forest that housed the World Tree Yggdrasil.
“P-Please don’t touch my homeland!!”
“No, I’m asking you to guide us because it’s your homeland. Don’t be so scared, Luna.”
When I said that, Luna’s reaction was practically a scream. No matter how low her self-esteem was or how timid her nature, …hadn’t Damien said she would explain everything last night? What the hell did that girl do without explaining anything?
“…This is my mercenary identification tag from back then. Want to see?”
—Clink.
Faced with that reaction, I had no choice but to pull out my trump card. …She probably wouldn’t remember anyway. But I had no other options right now.
“I-It says ‘Greylord’…”
My old mercenary identification tag.
“That’s right. As the hero who protected the World Tree Yggdrasil, I want to visit Alvheim again.”
If I showed them this, even the elves who rejected humans would have to acknowledge me.