“Roel!”
I could faintly hear Roel’s voice calling me from the distant woods. There was no way she could be found while searching through the Hunter’s Nest. The two reassuring thoughts that Roel was safe and that she hadn’t rejected me eased my worries. I could ask her later why she had disappeared without a word. Right now, I needed to rush to her side.
◆ Near Dragon’s Valley, Edge of the Hunter’s Nest Woods ◆
“What’s wrong, Seigel? I hear you’re an A-Rank Adventurer, but is that all you’ve got?”
“Jag, a challenge is not something you just talk about.”
“Look over there! A girl has made a grand entrance. What impressive jumping skills!”
“Your opponent is me. If you take your eyes off me and get hurt, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“…You’ve really gotten cocky, haven’t you?”
A crowd of Dragon Hunters surrounded Seigel and Jag, who were inexplicably fighting. And there, in the shadows of the trees, was Roel, her eyes red and swollen from crying, with wings on her back. I couldn’t make sense of the situation, but my only concern was for Roel. I leaped over the heads of the Dragon Hunters encircling her and landed beside her.
Startled, Roel looked up at me, then quickly turned her face away. I was honestly shocked by the wings on her back. I was curious about what had happened, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was the reason Roel had left without a word. She was huddled up like a scolded child, not saying anything.
“Roel, it’s me.”
“Lua, Lua-chan… you came for me…”
“Of course! You don’t have to be scared anymore.”
“Um, I…”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to say anything right now.”
I pulled Roel’s head close to my chest. The golden wings on her back fluttered slightly. If this was the reason Roel had been suffering, it was beyond unfair. She must want to know why this was happening to her more than anyone else.
“Lua-chan, listen. I…”
The truth spilled from Roel’s lips. It was so unbelievable that my mind struggled to keep up, but I would never block my ears. I had decided to face it head-on and walk alongside Roel from now on.
“Do you remember, Lua-chan? When we dug a big hole in the village and your father got really mad at us?”
“Yeah, I almost cried back then… Roel. No, Kurinka. Welcome back…”
“Hehe, I’m back!”
Kurinka was right there. My eyes grew warm, and the world around me blurred. It was no surprise that Roel looked just like Kurinka. After all, Roel was Kurinka. We had laughed together by the riverside until evening, wondering what we would do the next day as we fell asleep. Those happy days resurfaced vividly in my mind. Kurinka, who was often bullied by boys, would almost cry if I raised my voice, and she would giggle at the smallest things.
—— Lua-chan
“Lua-chan”
The Kurinka from that day overlapped with the Roel of now. The smile that hadn’t changed in ten years. Now it was a smile with tears flowing. Roel had helped me when I struggled to write at Queemil. I had met Truppo at Francoise’s mansion, and then I met Ai and the others. It was Roel—no, Kurinka—who had connected everything. If I hadn’t gone there, surely none of this would have happened. Just thinking about it sent shivers down my spine. The future on the other side wasn’t guaranteed to be bright. It could be a future shrouded in darkness, where I could never reunite with Kurinka. Yet, the reality that dispelled that darkness was right here.
“Kurinka! I missed you! I missed you so much…!”
“I missed you too… but we’re already together, aren’t we?”
“No! I couldn’t meet you! Roel is definitely a good girl, and I love her! But she’s not Kurinka! I had unconsciously overlapped Roel with Kurinka! But! Today, I got to meet Kurinka here! Roel, no, Kurinka…”
“What is it, Lua-chan?”
“Let’s go on adventures together. Let’s stay together forever.”
“Yes…! Mmm!”
I couldn’t express my love any more than this. So, this was all I could do. I had heard that this was something lovers did. I pressed my lips against Kurinka’s. I pulled away in an instant, embarrassed, and Kurinka seemed at a loss for words due to the suddenness of it all. She rubbed her lips as if to confirm what had just happened, her cheeks and ears gradually turning red. Seeing Kurinka blush like a tomato made me feel embarrassed too.
“Lua-chan…?”
“S-sorry. I wanted to show you how much I love you, Roel, no, Kurinka… If you didn’t like it, I’m really sorry.”
“…No, I didn’t dislike it. Can we do it again?”
“Huh…?”
“I can’t quite put it into words, but it felt really good. Warm, or maybe fluffy…?”
“Then, let’s do it again!”
This time, slowly, Kurinka and I leaned our faces closer together. Not in an instant, but slowly, slowly. Our lips met and pressed against each other.
“Mmm…”
I wished this moment could last forever. Kurinka and I wrapped our arms around each other’s waists and backs, drawing closer together. I could hear the pounding of our hearts. The warmth flowed through Kurinka’s robe.
“…Hehe, we kind of look like lovers now.”
“Y-yeah. It might be strange… since we’re both girls.”
“I don’t think it’s strange at all. No matter what anyone says, I love Lua-chan.”
“So, are we lovers now?”
Even though it had been quite chilly, this night felt warm. I intertwined my hand with Kurinka’s cold one, and we both shared shy smiles. I loved Kurinka.
“So that’s the kind of relationship you two have, huh? I may be getting older, but I can’t help but find this a bit creepy.”
A middle-aged man’s gruff voice pulled us back to reality. I hadn’t even noticed the dozens of curious gazes from the Dragon Hunters piercing into us. Their inquisitive stares were overwhelming. Some had their mouths half-open, fidgeting with embarrassment, but more than that, I was worried about Seigel. While we had been lost in our own world, Jag had gained enough composure to speak to Seigel. This meant that the tide of battle was turning in Jag’s favor.
“Hey, Seigel. So those two were in that kind of relationship?”
“And what if they were? I believe love knows no gender.”
“Kneeling like that, yet you talk big. Haha!”
Jag stood there, smirking at Seigel, who was panting with one knee on the ground. I had heard from Kurinka why these two were fighting. I wanted to punish anyone who would hunt Kurinka, but Seigel was holding up a hand to signal me to stay back.
“Don’t interfere,” Seigel said, and I had no choice but to watch. I would protect Kurinka, so she was safe, but I realized that I might be okay even if everyone here attacked us. After all, I had repelled the monsters in the Garden of Beasts with just my Fire Rod.
But I couldn’t let my guard down because these people were Dragon Hunters. They were surely well-versed in fighting dragons and would know their weaknesses. Kurinka was human now, but if she still retained any dragon traits, it could be dangerous.
“Take this!”
Seigel swung his great sword mercilessly at the defenseless Jag, aiming to strike him down. But Jag remained unfazed, standing there with an air of confidence.
Then, just as Seigel’s blade was about to reach Jag, his entire body suddenly glowed and he convulsed, crashing to the ground with a thud. It looked like he had collapsed in front of Jag without any provocation. To the untrained eye, it would seem like a normal defeat, but it was clearly Jag’s doing. Well, maybe “attack” wasn’t quite the right word.
“Gah! No way…”
“Weren’t you taught that it’s a bad habit to swing from the left when you’re struggling to attack? Well, regardless, it’s impossible for you to touch me!”
“I’m not done yet! Burst Braver!”
From the tip of his sword, small fireballs began to appear in succession, following the path of his raised sword. One by one, the fireballs exploded right in front of Jag. The deafening sound of the explosions showcased their power. Seigel unleashed a skill that could cause serious injury without hesitation. It felt like he intended to kill Jag.
But before the explosions could reach Jag, they were interrupted. Seigel himself was sent flying backward as if repelled by something invisible. He might not even have realized what had happened. There were monsters in the Abyss Cave that could do something similar, and they were a real hassle.
“Ugh!”
“Hey Seigel, did your old man like that kind of thing?”
“Where’s this coming from…? That’s not something I need to answer.”
“Well, I hated you back then! Hahaha!”
“…What did you say?”
“Hmm, how should I put it? You had this annoying air about you. Like you thought being all serious and tough made you cool? And on top of that, you were ridiculously strong, right? I couldn’t help but feel jealous back then.”
Jag laughed as he pressed his words against Seigel, who was already battered and exhausted. Seigel wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth with his arm, his eyes widening in disbelief at Jag’s words. He couldn’t comprehend what Jag was saying. What did he mean by thinking he was cool for being serious? There was no way Seigel’s father would say something like that.
“But you know, Seigel, the world is designed for serious types to lose. Your old man was too serious and foolish, and that’s why he died.”
“…Could you explain that in a way I can understand?”
“No matter how strong you are, if you’re an idiot, you won’t survive. That’s what I meant.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Come on, what’s with that scary face all of a sudden? And if you’re going to say something, it should be ‘I don’t understand,’ right?”
“Jag, I can’t make heads or tails of what you’re saying. At the very least, my father was much stronger than you.”
“Show some respect.”
Seigel plunged his sword into the ground, using it as a makeshift staff to rise. His brow furrowed, his eyes glinting like a beast ready to pounce. It was the first time I had seen Seigel genuinely angry. It showed just how much he loved his father and how he couldn’t forgive Jag for insulting him.
“Seigel’s eyes… They’re just like when he glared at me that day…”
Kurinka shivered and lowered her gaze. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders; even with my wings on my back, I didn’t care. I was just as furious with Jag’s flippant attitude. I wanted to punch him right then and there.
“You’re already falling apart. You haven’t even landed a single hit on me. It’s sad, really. No matter how much you try to become an A-Rank Adventurer in Avangarde, you can’t compare to the experience I’ve had.”
“Jag. Take back what you said about my father…”
“Jag-san, right?”
No matter how Seigel attacked, he was met with counterattacks from Jag. No matter how many times he was knocked back, he stood up again. The surrounding Dragon Hunters jeered at Seigel, mocking him for being an A-Rank Adventurer from Avangarde. It must have been frustrating for Seigel to hear that. But he held back. I understood everything.
“Your father was strong, but with a son like this, he can’t rest in peace.”
“If that’s what it takes to be A-Rank, then I could do it too.”
“Jag-san, I can’t watch this anymore… Seigel-kun is pitiful! Gahahahaha!”
It would be easy to silence those rude people right now. It wouldn’t even take two seconds. But I was an adult, so I held back. For Seigel’s sake.
“Ugh, ggrrr… I’m not done yet…!”
“Still exposing your shame? If you had just said, ‘I’m sorry for opposing Jag-san, I’ll change my ways and train under him,’ I might have considered letting you off the hook. By the way, everyone here is someone I trained. They’re all young, but each one has great potential, unlike you. Hahaha!”
“I see… So you really are different from my father and me…”
“Seigel, what are you saying?!”
Kurinka shouted in a half-crazed manner. The Dragon Hunters erupted into crude laughter, drowning out her voice. Kurinka must have been tormented by the fact that she had killed Seigel’s father. So Seigel’s words must have struck her hard. After all, Kurinka loved Seigel’s father too.
“But, Jag. It’s because I’m fighting now that I can say this. My father was stronger than you… This I won’t concede!”
“Hahaha! Hahahahaha! You still say that? Why do you think the Kirius who was stronger than me ended up dead at my hands?”
“Wha… what did you just say…?”
“That’s a lie…”
Even I, who was just listening, felt a shock. How much more of a shock would it be for Kurinka, the one directly involved? Jag had just admitted to killing Seigel’s father. It was clear as day from his own mouth.
“Your father was so stubborn. He wouldn’t budge from in front of that dragon, so I got irritated and accidentally stabbed him. And yet, you believed the lie that Kirius was killed by a dragon. What did you say back then? ‘I’ll definitely take revenge!’ right? Pfft, hahahaha! Hahahahahaha! See? Isn’t it funny? You all should laugh too.”
“Hyaahahahahahaha!”
“I-I’ll follow you for life, Jag-san!”
“If there were more like Kirius, our business would be over! We’re grateful you killed him!”
The Dragon Hunters, prompted by Jag, burst into laughter like a dam breaking. Their crude and unpleasant laughter echoed through the night sky. It was absurd; why were these people supporting Jag, who had killed someone? I had thought Dragon Hunters were all proud like Seigel.
Should I kill you all?
“Well, these guys don’t know anything about Kirius’s heyday, so let it slide. By the way, Seigel, how do you feel right now? I want to hear it! I’m really glad that dragon girl doesn’t remember.”
“…Did you really kill my father? That’s a lie, right?”
“Kirius was trying to let that dragon escape even as he was dying. He was flapping his mouth, trying to tell it to run away, even though he couldn’t speak anymore. Well, it’s true that I let it escape, and that’s my fault.”
“That’s a lie… So all this time, I…”
This was supposed to be a fact that would reassure Kurinka, but I could hear her teeth chattering. All I could do was try to stop her trembling. I held her tighter, as if to say that as long as I was here, she would be okay no matter what happened.
“Jag… why would you do something like that?”
“Because I didn’t like him, and I thought I’d kill him someday. It was just a perfect opportunity. If there are more like Kirius around, our share would dwindle to nothing. The people who gathered around me agreed with my thoughts. They’re really promising for the future. Hahaha!”
“I see… I must have been mistaken all this time.”
“That’s right. You’ve done well until now. Hahaha! Hahahahahahaha!”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“…What?!”
A light returned to Seigel’s eyes. Without missing a beat, he unleashed a Burst Braver at Jag’s feet. The ground exploded, and the shockwave knocked Jag off balance as Seigel raised his sword high. It was a clear sign that Seigel’s act was over.
“Nuh?! W-What the…?”
“Finally, you spoke. It’s not easy to hold back, you know.”
Yes. I couldn’t understand why Seigel was holding back. It was all for this moment. Whistling, Seigel drew circles in the air with his great sword. It was a clear provocation to Jag, who was trying to rise.
“Hahaha… Holding back? You’re just bluffing…”
“I had my doubts after I calmed down later. Why did my father’s body have stab wounds when he was supposed to have been killed by a dragon? Considering the size of that dragon’s claws, it would take quite a skilled person to pull off such a feat. I lost my cool back then and charged at the dragon. It must have been easy for you to manipulate a kid like me.”
“So you were pretending to be cornered until I spoke up? Hahaha… you little brat.”
“You’ve always had a habit of running your mouth when you get cocky. I’m still holding a grudge over you spilling the beans about me trying to wear female-exclusive gear to the girl I had a crush on. I wonder if she’s doing well.”
“Seigel, are you underestimating me? Me?”
“I’m not underestimating you. I’m just annoyed.”
“You little brat!”
Jag unleashed a flurry of kicks, but Seigel dodged them with minimal movement. It seemed Jag could fight in close quarters, but he didn’t have the skill to take down Seigel. I understood why he wasn’t armed; he was relying on the skills he had to counter Seigel’s attacks.
“What’s wrong, Jag? This isn’t your fighting style. Should I go first?”
“Shut up, you little brat!”
As Seigel swung his great sword, a lightning-like energy erupted around Jag. This was Jag’s skill. A counterattack skill that automatically retaliated in response to an attack. I recognized it immediately; there were monsters in the Abyss Cave that only countered without attacking.
There’s nothing quite as eerie and frightening as a skill whose true nature is unknown, but once you understand its essence, it becomes less daunting. Just like when I broke through that moment, Seigel deflected Jag’s great sword blade while striking down with it. The massive sword hit him squarely in the side, and the pain was beyond what I could have imagined.
Jag’s expression was one of sheer shock, as if his eyes might pop out. It’s a clear reminder that when a person is truly in pain, they often can’t even cry out. Watching Jag writhing on the ground, I felt a twinge of pity for him.
“Ugh…?!”
“If you know a counterattack is coming, it’s easy to read the timing and avoid it. An opponent who warns you with their attack is hardly a challenge. But from the looks of it, you didn’t get the memo. Oh, right! Hey, everyone, it’s about time you showed yourselves!”
“It seems it’s over, Seigel.”
From deep within the forest, a throng of Dragon Hunters emerged. I couldn’t count them precisely, but they easily outnumbered the Dragon Hunters Jag had brought with him.
“You’d be mistaken to think I’m just a hot-blooded fool who comes charging in unprepared. Jag, everyone here has heard about your misdeeds.”
“Z-Zeegel…! I’ll kill you!”
“I owe a debt of gratitude to Kirius during his lifetime. I had resigned myself to losing someone precious, but it seems that was not the end of it.”
“Jag, Kirius acknowledged you. And yet, you’ve done such terrible things…”
The faces of the young Dragon Hunters surrounding us changed dramatically. The laughter from earlier had vanished, replaced by expressions as if they had just been cast into the Abyss Cave.
“Look, this is the legacy of my father… the Dragon Hunter Kirius.”
Seigel gazed down quietly at Jag, who was crawling on the ground, drooling.