#032 Keeping in Check
#032 Keeping in Check
500 years ago.
Mages fundamentally had to train in close combat.
-Ah, no! Protect me while I'm chanting magic!
-Who's going to protect you! Protect yourself, you idiot!
It was wartime back then.
You never knew when or where an enemy would pop out, and when an allied lich mage used magic, human heroes would leap out from underground and swing their swords at the lich.
So who was supposed to protect the lich?
The death knights who had gone to the front line?
Or the dark elves commanding the archer units in front of the lich?
-An enemy has appeared. I am mid-chant, and my allies cannot help me. Lich, what should I do?
-You must immediately grab your skull staff and smash the enemy's head in.
-A perfect answer.
In the chaos of battle, there was no way formations of swordsmen, archers, and mages could be properly maintained.
Mages, in their own way, had to learn survival methods too.
So mages, especially those easily exposed to enemy approach attacks, had to train in some weapon—staff techniques or spear techniques—to secure a means of defending themselves.
In my case, I simply trained in spear techniques directly.
To be precise, it wasn't a spear but something else, but holding something attached to a long shaft and thrusting and slashing follows the same principle.
There was even a hero among the heroes who used spear techniques, and there was a case where I captured him, said I'd spare him if he taught me spear techniques, learned the spear techniques, then performed full-body remodeling and let him go alive.
Not my specialty, but something I could use as a minor—that kind of feeling.
In fact, the Crimson Mage also swung her staff like a spear when I engaged her in close combat.
That whirlwind she used to intercept me, spinning with fireballs attached to both ends, was truly hot enough to make me lose my mind.
That was the past.
But.
"These days, mages don't use staff techniques? Or at least swordsmanship?"
"...Mages use magic."
"How do you block incoming arrows? Surely you deflect them all?"
"You just use barrier magic."
"No, what if an arrow strong enough to pierce the barrier comes flying? Like your arrows, for example."
"That's why everyone takes their clothes off to receive the Azure Moon Goddess's blessing."
"What the f...."
Shocking.
"I'm having trouble understanding, so let me ask—how do mage kids these days fight?"
"While the Azure Moon Goddess's blessing protects them, they memorize magic and take down the enemy."
"What in the...."
That was a scam.
You're casting magic, and during the casting, a barrier that blocks most attacks is automatically deployed?
"No wonder the mages at the Adventurers' Guild were walking around practically half-naked."
"Normally they wear robes, but there are mages who wear only underwear beneath their robes."
"Good heavens. That's too shocking."
Truly shocking.
"It wasn't like this 500 years ago."
"......."
Rosemas looked me up and down with a complicated expression.
There was one reason I boldly mentioned 500 years in front of her.
"Um, Crimson Mage."
"Hm? What?"
"First, making sure those two over there don't hear...."
"Mm."
First, I roughly revealed my identity to Rosemas alone.
Why did I reveal it?
Because age outranks everything, regardless of species!
-But come to think of it, aren't I older than you? No matter how strong you are, you should be speaking formally to me.
-Yes, I'm from 500 years ago. I sealed myself in case the Demon King reappeared.
-...Shouldn't the sealed period not count toward your age...?
-Yes, but my mind was awake that whole time.
-...I apologize.
Before something like that could happen, I recited my established backstory as the Crimson Mage in advance.
The mentor and guide of the hero who wields the Wind Holy Sword.
A member of the Hero Party assembled to defeat the Demon King.
After I said that, Rosemas's attitude toward me definitely became more cautious.
'Of course she should be cautious. Setting aside age, I'm the guide of the Holy Sword that defeated the Demon King Belphegor.'
I told Rosemas about the Holy Sword and the seal because she already knew the Holy Sword existed.
Since I'd already shown her the Holy Sword, it was more advantageous to keep her with us on our side.
The main objective was to keep her with us so she wouldn't go around saying, 'Arthur Lucius saved me with a Holy Sword!'
I wondered whether the elves who appeared to be Rosemas's escorts and acquaintances knew of the Holy Sword's existence, but....
"Can you really take good care of our little... sister? Hm?"
"I'll do my best."
Lucius was currently being interrogated about his skills by Marzohis.
I had proven my skill by subduing Rosemas, but that elf seemed to find Lucius, a man, untrustworthy.
'Well, of course.'
Without the Holy Sword, Lucius was nothing more than a village hunter 1.
He had grown to the level of a low-ranking rural village guard over the few days I'd been raising him, but his outward appearance was weak.
"At a glance, you look weaker than me.... Your body's decent, but your skills are still lacking!"
"I'm working on it."
"Well, work hard at it. You seem to have a good teacher by your side. And you, don't keep hounding him like that. ...Tervation can handle herself. She's stronger than you, isn't she?"
"Ugh...."
Seeing Lucius being interrogated by Marzohis and Fergus not particularly bothered by it, my earlier worry seemed to have been excessive.
'The possibility that Rosemas had already revealed the Holy Sword to those two.'
If the Holy Sword had been discovered?
Then there was no way they'd have treated Lucius like that.
Since a Holy Sword is originally something that makes even a child be revered as a hero, their attitude, no matter how I looked at it, suggested they didn't know.
'She really didn't say anything. I'm glad I made her promise Lucius after all.'
Keeping the Holy Sword a secret.
Rosemas kept her promise.
In fact, the most decisive reason I decided to recruit Rosemas was that she hadn't carelessly spread word of the Holy Sword's existence to the other elves.
A beauty.
A High Elf.
Quite good archery skills.
The resolve to sufficiently 'kill' enemies from a distance.
Favorable feelings toward Lucius.
Every condition was satisfactory for a member of Lucius's harem party, but a woman with a loose tongue could not be accepted as a comrade.
'Absolutely not. I'll pass on liabilities.'
If that had been the case, I would have immediately erased her existence, beauty or elf or whatever.
But judging by how those two seemed completely unaware, Rosemas apparently hadn't said anything.
Faith.
Trust.
And love.
What Lucius's party needed most were those three feelings toward Lucius.
Without them, a Hero Party falls apart.
'Then catching Zepar gets hard.'
I was deliberately sending out signals to Zepar suggesting that a being from 500 years ago had awakened, so I couldn't keep a woman who couldn't properly fight alongside Lucius as a comrade.
"Rosemas."
"Yes."
"You like Lucius, don't you?"
"......."
It might have been a somewhat sudden question, but this was something I needed to confirm verbally.
"The reason you want to join our team is all because of Lucius, isn't it? Right?"
"......And if it is?"
"I don't particularly care either way."
"......."
She looked like she didn't believe me.
"I don't care whether you kiss Lucius, hold hands and go on dates, or go to the elf country and declare you're going to make half-elves with this man. But."
I approached Rosemas and whispered a clear warning into her ear.
"If you cause trouble for Lucius, I won't stay still then."
"......."
Had the stern warning gotten through?
Rosemas's face went pale.
"I'm telling you clearly, so listen well. Don't get in Lucius's way. If you half-heartedly wag your tail at Lucius and obstruct and block the path he's walking, and because of that Lucius ends up walking the wrong path."
Slip.
I placed my finger on Rosemas's abdomen.
"I won't say more. Understood?"
"......."
"Your answer?"
"I... understand."
It was an answer that sounded forced, but for now, I was satisfied with that.
"Good. Let's do well."
One person had swung the whip, so now it was Lucius's turn to swing the carrot.
"Lucius! Come here for a second."
I called Lucius, who was still being interrogated.
"Would you go to the Adventurers' Guild with Rosemas and register as a team?"
"A team?"
"Yes. Since you're going to be our party's leader."
"......."
Lucius hesitated, watching my reaction.
I was about to kick him in the shin, but Marzohis glaring at us from afar bothered me.
'This is when I need to boost his confidence.'
I placed my hand on Lucius's shoulder.
"Don't worry too much. Give it about a year, and I'll make sure no one anywhere dares say you're too weak to be useful."
"Wh-what did...?"
As if stung, Marzohis raised her voice.
"Are you saying I was looking down on that man, mage!"
"Weren't you?"
"N-no, I wasn't!"
She denied it with Rosemas watching, but Marzohis had looked down on Lucius.
"Lucius. How did it feel?"
"......."
He must've had mixed feelings.
With the Holy Sword's power, Marzohis was nothing, but without the Holy Sword's power, it seemed like he'd be cut down in a single stroke.
"Just trust me. I'll say it clearly. In the next year, Lucius will become stronger than you."
"Ha, what nonsense...!"
"Nonsense? Scared? Afraid Lucius will become stronger than you?"
"......."
Marzohis began to genuinely take offense.
"No matter how strong you are, that human is...."
"He's weak for now. But he'll become strong soon."
"...Unbelievable."
"Want to bet? Come back here to Normance in a year. I'll prove Lucius has become stronger than you. No... I won't even need that. You won't even show up because you're afraid of losing."
"Now, now. Please calm down."
Fergus interposed herself between the two of us.
"I'll look forward to Lucius's growth. And please take good care of Rosemas."
"......."
Marzohis bowed her head toward Rosemas and then left.
If only I had mana, I would have knocked every one of that prick's teeth out of his gums, but since I had no mana, I held back.
Sob.
"...Master."
"What?"
"Thank you, for going that far for me...."
"It's the truth, so whatever."
"......."
Lucius said nothing for a long while.
I gestured toward Rosemas with my chin.
"What are you doing? Hurry to the Adventurers' Guild and register. You need at least three people for a party registration. Rosemas."
"Y-yes."
Rosemas approached with her head deeply bowed.
The way she glared after Marzohis's departing figure made it clear she was unhappy that Marzohis had put Lucius down.
Mm, a good attitude.
An attitude for Lucius's sake.
"You two go register the party and have a meal."
I flicked a gold coin to Lucius.
"J-just the two of us?"
"Of course."
"...Shouldn't the three of us go?"
"Too much trouble. Don't tire out your master, and take your time. Understood?"
I ignored Lucius and returned to my room.
"Be back before evening at the latest."
"...!!"
Rosemas immediately caught my signal.
They were only going out for lunch, yet I'd told them to be back before evening?
Surely they could have tea after the meal and spend a little more time alone together?
"Master...!"
I simply waved my hand lightly and walked toward the inn room.
'I've given you the opportunity. A chance to go on a date alone with the man you like.'
Now it was Rosemas's turn to handle it herself.
"...Won't there be a half-elf in 10 months? Heh heh heh."
I lay on the bed and gathered mana.
Until they came back after facing each other over a meal and conversation, followed by tea time for dessert, I would leisurely pass the time in meditation.
"Master! Party registration complete. And I brought back lunch to go. Let's eat together."
"......."
It wasn't my fault.
It was Rosemas's fault for not seizing the opportunity.