134. Hero Fanatic

Eurasia, who had been eating breakfast drenched in sweat after finishing her morning training, glanced around.

"Looks like Stella still isn't back."

"Yeah. The Flame Emperor said she'd start right away today. Seems like she's taking it pretty seriously."

The wish vouchers I'd received from the Flame Emperor.

One of the five had been a request for her to become Stella's teacher.

Honestly, I'd thought that even if the Flame Emperor refused, there wouldn't be much I could say.

I mean, she's the Flame Emperor.

She's one of the Six Pillars, famous even within the Empire, and she's the Flame Emperor who spends every single day exploring Ge Vihenum. I figured it couldn't be helped if she refused.

But what do you know.

The Flame Emperor heard me out and accepted immediately, without even needing to think. The reason? It was simple.

'That is a wish this Flame Emperor can grant without any difficulty. Understood. Shall we begin tomorrow?'

Because it was within her power to grant.

However, she couldn't oversee her every day, so we agreed on twice a week. Honestly, that's more than enough.

Even once a week would leave her busy digesting what she'd learned for the remaining six days.

But the Flame Emperor decided on twice a week, citing the need for periodic check-ins.

Well... each time, a condition was added that she'd meet with me and chat about this and that, but it's not difficult.

The Flame Emperor... well, how do I put it.

She listens to my stories... with great enjoyment, and she really... likes them. So I don't mind.

And... even if that weren't the case, it was a condition worth accepting.

Stella becoming the Flame ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Emperor's disciple and growing faster? Of course that's good.

Because someday, we're going to Ge Vihenum together.

But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that's not all.

There's another important reason.

The Flame Emperor said she passes down the Heroes' belongings to the Heroes' descendants, or to descendants who carry on the Heroes' history.

Stella is a Verheigen.

Kaloso is also a Verheigen.

Of course... the Flame Emperor might not know Kaloso's name or family name. She might not even know about the betrayal.

But Stella's magic resembles Kaloso's.

Even I can tell they're similar, so if it's the Flame Emperor, I'm sure she'll realize it.

Then, naturally, Kaloso's belongings will be passed on to Stella.

However, they won't be passed on without a word.

If Stella's Realm rises, or if she hits a wall, or anything important happens, she agreed to tell me first.

And the Flame Emperor agreed without even questioning why I'd ask her to tell me such things.

In the first place, if it's the Flame Emperor, the moment she learns Stella is a Hero's descendant, she'll definitely come find me and chatter away excitedly.

Likewise, Stella is also highly likely to bring me the things she receives from the Flame Emperor and show them to me.

If she hides them... hmm... no, I trust Stella.

So, if the Flame Emperor becomes Stella's teacher, only good things will happen—for me, for Stella, and for the Flame Emperor herself.

"Will it be okay?"

Eurasia, who had been looking around as she said that, quietly whispered.

"The Vice Dean seems to really... hate the Flame Emperor... Aren't you going to get in trouble?"

"I have supplementary lessons with the Vice Dean today anyway, so I was going to ask. Why she hates the Flame Emperor so much."

Gulp, gulp— I drank some lemonade and continued.

"Whether she simply hates her for messing with her disciple, or... whether there's another reason. Still, hmm... I don't think she's that bad of a person. She won't kill Stella or anything."

We hadn't spent that long together.

But during that short time, I'd carefully observed everything about the Flame Emperor.

I wouldn't say I'm bad at reading people. I've been backstabbed so many times that I can at least tell whether some bastard is the type to stab me in the back or not.

The Flame Emperor was a... person who would cover my back.

However, I sensed she was holding something inside.

I plan to ask Leona what that something is.

"Well, that's a relief then... hmm..."

Eurasia fidgeted with her fingers as if something was bothering her, watching my reaction.

"Why? Is something making you anxious?"

"No. Nothing!"

I looked into Eurasia's eyes as she answered confidently.

"It's a pointless worry."

"...Y-yes? What is?"

I know exactly what she's worried about.

Next to me, there's Leona, the Fist Demon.

Next to Stella, there's the Flame Emperor.

Next to Pina, there are the spirits.

And next to Eurasia?

Eurasia might not know it, but Ronan Luzarak is there.

"I'm always next to you, Eurasia."

"Huh...? Always?"

"Yeah. Always."

Eurasia's clear eyes blinked a couple of times.

Then her ears turned red, and her lips quivered.

"Th-that's, all of a sudden... wh-why?"

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at Eurasia.

"What do you mean, why? Weren't you feeling anxious because you don't have a proper teacher?"

"N-no?!"

"Do I know you for only a day or two? I can tell just by looking at your expression and your eyes, you brat. What, the Sword Demon? Does that b—, does that person really seem like she'd be that good with a sword?"

"Well... um... she does seem like she'd be... good?"

"Hah, sure. She'd be... good, I guess. But still. I'm that kind of... uh..."

Pina, who had been happily munching on tteokbokki, flinched and stared at me with startled eyes.

I also shut my mouth for a moment.

What should I say?

Of course I, obviously, as naturally as the fact that this world is round, the continent is wide, the sea is deep, and the sky is high—I'm obviously better with a sword than the Sword Demon.

I handle it so well that comparing me to a hack like that isn't even permitted.

A duel of swords? If we settled it with something like that, I'm confident I'd win no matter what.

But how do I prove that fact?

Right. Eurasia has seen me handle weapons before. The Arant Museum. She witnessed me slicing Demons to death there.

But at that time... did I mainly use a sword?

I used a great many weapons.

The sword was nothing more than a consumable.

"...My lady?"

Eurasia squeezed my hand tightly, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with a face that said she'd said something unnecessary.

Or was it? A face soothing a sulking younger sibling?

I don't know. Am I sulking? Sulking? Me?

This isn't sulking. It's just, a little, that... feeling hurt?

...What is it. What is this?

"I like your sword the best, my lady."

"Don't lie."

"I mean it!"

"...Forget it. It's already too late."

Why do I have to feel this way?

This is pissing me off.

"Eurasia."

"Y-yes?"

"I'll send you a private message after supplementary lessons later, so come to the private training hall."

"...Okay."

"What, you don't want to?"

"I absolutely want to!"

After hearing Eurasia's strange answer of "I absolutely want to," I glared at Pina, who was still staring at me.

"Why are your eyes so wide open? I'll smack you, seriously."

"Eek...!"

Pina lowered her eyes.

As if that wasn't enough, she hugged her tail and curled her body into a ball.

Eurasia patted Pina's back and giggled softly.

"Pina. When the young lady is sulking, it's best to quietly avoid her gaze."

"Wha— hey! I'm not sulking!!"

"Eeek..."

*****

"Eli!!! Arnes!!!!"

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud! I can see Leona charging toward me fiercely from the end of the hallway.

It's an insane speed. Even though it looks like she won't be able to stop in time at that speed, she stops perfectly well.

So I just gave a slight nod and entered the private training hall first.

"We're supposed to go in together!!! Are you really going to hurt my feelings like that?!"

Right behind me, Leona flung the door open as if she'd break it—BANG!—and grumbled.

"The kids are staring."

"So you're saying I'm embarrassing?"

"Yes."

"Good heavens. To call your own teacher embarrassing without a moment's hesitation. You're a truly wicked disciple."

Even as she said that, Leona laughed—nyahaha!—and stepped into the training hall. Then she twitched her nose, and—whoosh!—emitted an unfamiliar killing intent.

"...Eliarnes."

Even for a Beastkin, they don't usually have this good a sense of smell. I wonder what the hell Leona is.

I let out a small sigh and opened my mouth.

"There were circumstances."

I said it casually, but goosebumps rose on my arms. Sweat beaded on my clenched fist, and a chill ran down my spine.

It's not that I'm scared or frightened. This fragile body is just reacting on its own.

"What circumstances could there possibly be for the Flame Emperor to come in here?"

Leona narrowed her eyes and stared at me.

But only for a moment. She reined in the killing intent she'd been emitting and let out a sigh.

"...Sorry. You're not the one I should be angry at."

"Do you have anger management issues, Vice Dean?"

"You... there's nothing you won't say to your teacher...!"

"No, but it's true. You were about to kill your disciple just now. Honestly, if it had been anyone other than me, they would've passed out from that killing intent."

Leona's tail trembled—shiver—then drooped limply.

"Ugh... I guess... you're right. Sorry..."

I glared at Leona, wiped the sweat from my hands, and plopped down onto a chair.

"Vice Dean. Come sit here."

"Okay..."

Trudge, trudge— Leona, hanging her head like a criminal, watched my reaction as she sat down.

"You're one of the Six Pillars, aren't you, Vice Dean?"

"Well... I used to be."

"Your name is still on the list, though?"

"I clearly said I was stepping down, but those bastards left it there on their own. I ought to go find them sometime and flip everything upside down, the damn bastards."

"The imperial family?"

"Why couldn't I?"

"Well, that's true."

"What do you mean, 'that's true'! My disciple shouldn't be learning such wicked things."

"You already said all of it, so what do you mean, don't learn it?"

"Anyway, no!"

I gave her a look that said, what do you want me to do about it? Leona gave me a look back that said, what are you going to do about it?

"So, now tell me. Why did the Flame Emperor come all the way in here?"

"Answer my question first."

"Question?"

"Yes. Why do you hate the Flame Emperor so much, Vice Dean? From talking with her, she didn't seem like that bad of a person."

Wrinkles formed between Leona's brows.

Her tail stood stiff, and her ears perked up.

"...I can't tell you that."

"Why?"

"It's grown-up business. Kids like you... who are still green, don't need to know about this kind of thing. No, these are stories you could go your whole life without knowing."

"Hmm... if you don't tell me..."

"If I don't tell you?"

Leona raised one eyebrow.

"I won't be your disciple anymore, Vice Dean."

"Wh-what?"

"And I'll go learn from the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Flame Emperor. I'll go get really close with her."

"Wh-what in the world are you, are you saying?! Eliarnes! You, you... how can you do this to me?!"

"I didn't want to make this kind of comparison, you know? But the Flame Emperor tells me everything without hiding anything, while you hide too much, Vice Dean."

"Th-that's! No! That idiot hides plenty of things too! But I...!"

Thump! Leona shot up from her seat.

I deliberately flinched and pretended to be startled. Then Leona suppressed her momentum and sat back down.

"I... only hide the things that can't be helped. Things that would only make you tired and anxious if you knew. It's just that I wish my disciple didn't have to know... that's all it is. I have absolutely, never, not one bit of intention to deceive or trick you!"

"I do understand how you feel, Vice Dean."

"Then why in the world are you saying such outrageous and dreadful things?!"

"But you should understand how I feel too. In my own way, I didn't ask the Flame Emperor because I wanted to keep faith with you, Vice Dean...? Or something like that. Normally, with this kind of thing, even if you hear both sides, your heart naturally leans toward the side you heard first, right? So I wanted to hear it from you first, Vice Dean, my teacher, and think and judge from your side. That's why I'm asking."

As I fired off my words rapidly, showing my hurt feelings, Leona's tail drooped weakly.

Her always-raised lips fell, and her perked ears sank.

"Ugh..."

She went from a hard-headed lion to a rain-soaked cat.

"...Fine. That... I do appreciate."

"But if you keep hiding things, I might get upset and go somewhere else."

"That's not allowed! You're my disciple! My one and only disciple!"

"Then tell me. Why do you hate her so much?"

Leona, who had been chewing on her lips, let out a deep sigh and opened her mouth.

"...You must never, under any circumstances, reveal this story anywhere. Do you understand?"

"I'm very tight-lipped."

"You mustn't even let on that you know."

"Of course."

"Eliarnes, I'm telling you this because I trust you. My disciple... It's not because I'm afraid you'll really leave me for that idiot. Do you understand?"

"Oh, of course I know. But your way of speaking has gotten weird, Vice Dean."

"Ah... y-yeah. Thanks..."

After that, Leona's lips quivered for a while longer, and finally, she spoke in a subdued voice.

"The Flame Emperor is a wraith of the past."