Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Not Rista
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“The Dragon Protector? I came expecting some impressive figure, but you’re just like everyone else—only capable of sneering.”
Rista… no, the Goblin Slayer crossed her arms in disbelief, glaring at me with sharp eyes.
I couldn’t say a word.
Suspecting it might be a hallucination, I briefly activated Bell Sidias to peer inside, but there wasn’t a trace of any supernatural power. It was real.
“What, want to give it a try?”
Perhaps because I’d stared right at her with Bell Sidias open, the Goblin Slayer gripped the hilt of her dagger, her eyes narrowing in irritation.
“You, you… how are you still alive?”
That was what I said.
There was no way she could recognize me now as Rain, not Lin. My mind went completely blank; I’d lost all composure.
“I wondered how you could be so strong if you only hunted goblins…”
Rista. Rista.
I barely managed to force the words from my throat, but she merely glared back with blatant wariness in her eyes.
“How am I still alive? I’ve never died—what nonsense is that?”
Stunned, doubting my own ears, Pipi circled her face repeatedly, tilting its head and chirping.
“Authentic? Authentic? Authentic? Authentic?”
“Authentic? What’s this parrot babbling about?”
Pipi landed on my shoulder and haughtily narrowed its beady eyes.
“Fake, fake, fake, fake.”
“Like its master, it has zero manners. My name isn’t ‘fake’—it’s Miria. Mi-ri-a.”
I instantly grew wary and took half a step back.
Miria could be an alias, so I might let that slide, but not recognizing Pipi was a serious issue.
Was she something like Rebeni or Ribadin—a construct made by a dark mage through human alchemy?
*But that doesn’t make sense.*
If so, she could’ve finished me off back at the branch office. Why bring me all the way here?
*But her being real makes even less sense.*
Yoshuhar had said Rista was dead, her intact corpse preserved in the Papal Ossuary. Dragons don’t lie.
*No, looking closer…*
What seemed trivial held enormous differences.
Her hair had looked white under the moonlight, but up close, it was blonde. Her eyes weren’t golden but a deep emerald green.
When a FakeWarrior grafts a dragon soul onto a human body, the hair turns stark white, and the eyes become the dragon’s gold.
Her skin tone differed too—Rista’s was the pale, translucent milk-white of an Imperial noble, while this woman had the deep bronze tan unique to the Northern Republic.
I muttered inwardly:
*Doesn’t seem like Rista…*
That was when the great true dragon’s eyes gleamed.
“Grrr…”
It seemed to stare intently at the Goblin Slayer, then shook its head as if realizing it had the wrong person—only to suddenly widen its eyes. Honestly, I had no idea what it was trying to do.
The Goblin Slayer, who had named herself Miria, let out a low sigh of exasperation and scanned us all from head to toe.
“You lot stare as a group, spout nonsense, and don’t even realize how rude it is. And the absurd part is on my end—do you know me?”
Of course. Better than anyone.
An echo from my soul rang dizzily through the wildly pounding center of my heart.
There was no way she could sense those feelings. Miria pressed her temple.
“Totally spaced out. This is why men are like this. Show them a pretty face, and they do this.”
“……”
“Sincere advice: snap out of it. I don’t like pretty-boy parasite types, but more than that… I can’t stand guys who enjoy teasing people like you.”
Her voice, as she narrowed her sharp eyes, was clear and refreshing like a mountain stream. Just like Rista’s.
“You don’t… recognize this?”
As a final hope, I pulled a gem from Celesia’s pouch.
A ring where dazzling, flame-like light flickered across the Flame Prison Stone’s surface. A memento of the Fire Dragon’s Shrine Maiden, Fride.
While she examined the ring closely, I stole a glance at her expression, but it showed no change. If anything, it grew colder.
“Looks pricey. Trying to impress me by flashing cash? Might work in the Empire, but dream on.”
A distant crow’s caw echoed then, and Miria flinched before flipping her helmet back on.
“You kept doing pointless crap, so the crows caught our scent. Don’t you get that we’re being hunted?”
Just that.
Just putting on the helmet.
The light illuminating the depths of my heart flickered out in an instant, cold darkness wrapping around my entire body, sending chills through me.
“Follow me. Any more delays, and the black witches on brooms will show up.”
Miria turned without hesitation and stepped into the cave where the goblin had exploded.
Memory fragments overlapped on her back… Rista, with the Extreme Star Sword Shyrfang slung across it, always leading the way, glancing back at me with a bright smile.
The treasure I cherished deep in my soul, that smile which shattered my heart every time I recalled it…
- The chain of severed bonds shall reconnect.
The Water Dragon Yeriserika had clearly said that.
So I naturally assumed it was Rista. But it wasn’t—what the hell was going on?
Then who the hell was she?
* * *
“Oh, Hero.”
It had been seven years since Lin’s letter arrived at the magic tower—only then could Hero Rista Alter Shyrfang bring herself to visit Osarius Academy.
If asked why it took seven years, it was because she had no face left to show while searching…
But now, with her own lifespan nearing its end, she mustered her courage one last time to fulfill her final duty and visit Osarius Academy.
Osarius Academy had grown incomparably more prosperous than when she’d last visited.
There seemed to be at least two hundred disciples, and with sponsors streaming in from across the Empire, even the academy robes had been unified.
Black monk robes draped with the same blue stoles Lin had worn throughout their journey. Rista gave a bitter smile.
“Lin absolutely loved them.”
“Did he?”
“Yes, the headmaster bought them personally. His clothes tore often in battle, but he wouldn’t buy new ones—he insisted on mending them.”
“Oh.”
“They were his most treasured possession. Along with the bamboo hat.”
A mix of sorrow and joy curved the wrinkles at Headmaster Atlante’s lips.
“If I’d known, I would’ve bought him something much nicer…”
The two exchanged sad smiles and walked along the academy corridors.
The disciples recognized the hero and bowed deeply. Watching them, something felt off.
What was it? The attire was exactly like Lin’s… Ah.
“No staff.”
“A staff?”
“Yoshuhar gave Lin one. I taught him seal arts so he could use it… Ah, if it’s all right, shall I compile those seal arts into a book for you?”
Atlante merely waved it off with a quiet smile.
“I couldn’t possibly make such a request of a noble guest.”
“No, I insist! I really want to!”
“If it’s simple goodwill, I’d gratefully accept… but if it stems from guilt, I won’t. Lin wouldn’t want that either.”
In that moment, Rista felt a tearing pain in her chest—right at her heart—as she clutched weakly at it, wrinkling her clothes.
“Headmaster… I’m so sorry… for not bringing Lin back…”
“……”
“I shouldn’t have taken him… No matter how talented, he was so young…”
“I’m the one who begged you to take him.”
“But in the end, I was the one who did. Lin must resent me…”
She could feel tears welling up over her burning eyes.
Rather than embracing Rista or saying it was his fault or offering comfort like that, Atlante silently led her to the headmaster’s office.
He then brought out a wooden box preserved most preciously in a drawer. When he opened the lid, countless sheets of paper rustled.
“Letters Lin sent from time to time. Would you like to see?”
Lin…?
Come to think of it, whenever Lin had the means, he’d write letters late at night.
[Headmaster, arrived in the Empire’s south. As hot as you said. The bamboo hat helps. Barely.]
[Headmaster, crossed into Republic territory. No class system—people seem more lively than in the Empire.]
[Headmaster, boarding ship from Akurad Continent to Adrion Continent today. Expect more fights soon. I’ll do my best.]
So like Lin…
The sentences revealed his personality so clearly she couldn’t help but smile despite herself. She’d have known they were his even without explanation.
“As you see, they started as short, reluctant notes, but they grew more mature as the years passed.”
Indeed, by the second year, the letters lengthened.
From the third year, they filled the pages, and by the fourth… they felt like someone else had written them.
[Headmaster, today Rista got angry for my sake.
Honestly, I still don’t get it. Getting teary or mad for someone else. But for some reason, it felt cool.
Headmaster, someday I want to be a cool adult like Rista. Think I can?]
So that’s what he was feeling then… A corner of her heart warmed tenderly. A few were amusing too.
[Headmaster, picked up a troublemaker.
Named it and taught some magic like you did for me, and now it calls me master and follows me around.
Seeing it makes me realize how well-behaved and clever I was—how you should be thanking me.
Kidding.]
She’d barely held back her rising tears, but the final letter made her vision blur completely.
[Headmaster, already five years gone. Expedition’s wrapping up.
Might not say this face-to-face when I visit the tower, so writing it here.
Headmaster, thank you. For letting me travel with Rista. Thanks to her, I saw so much, heard so much, felt so much.
When I return, I plan to be nicer to my crude-but-not-hateful academy mates.
Only grew a handspan taller. Face barely changed. You won’t miss me, even if you don’t like it.
Did my mates give you grief? Got lots of wrinkles? A bit worried you’ll look like a grandma and not recognize me.]
Tears flowed endlessly down her cheeks, pooling at her chin before dripping endlessly to the floor.
“Neither Lin nor I ever resented you, Hero. That child found true happiness following you.”
Atlante gently placed a hand on Rista’s shoulder.
“I can tell. The boy I raised like a son… who couldn’t express emotions openly… he sent letters this long.”
“But, Headmaster, if only I’d done better—”
“—Thank you so much, Hero. For taking Lin that day.”
*For teaching the world to Lin.*
*For letting him grow into such a wonderful adult…* Dew spots marred the floor at Atlante’s feet as she bowed deeply.
“Truly… thank you…”