“Please, I want you to be mine.”
The moment Hero Klein said that and pressed his lips to the back of Aria’s hand—
BOOM!!
Aria, still seated on the sofa, waved her hand as if swatting a fly, and a shockwave resounded, making the air in the room erupt.
We members of the “Rainbow Sword” grimaced and braced our feet, while the Holy Church folks couldn’t even withstand it and fell on their behinds.
And yet—
“…Quite extreme, aren’t you? That’s what makes you worthy of being my companion.”
Hero Klein, with a calm smile, caught Aria’s hand-blade, which faintly emitted a silver light.
In that instant, Aria hadn’t even used Iron Rose; she had momentarily activated “World Rejection.” Having grown accustomed to extremely purified Magical Element and Level 5 magic, she had unleashed an attack with a combat power exceeding 3000 for just a fleeting moment.
Something like that would instantly kill even an Ogre. She’s gotten stronger again, hasn’t she? …But just how powerful is the Hero, to take that and remain unfazed…?
“…Snow, hold back.”
“…Why?”
Without looking at Dolton, who was trying to stop me from next to him, I let my magical power surge, a smile playing only on my lips.
Become the Hero’s “thing”? Who, exactly? By what right?
I’m aware that I’m not exactly normal myself, but if Aria is happy, I’m willing to bless that, you know? But that won’t do. No matter how you look at it, Aria can’t be happy with that. In that case, isn’t it best to make him understand his place? Why should I be the one to stop? Miranda and Jesha-san look displeased too, don’t they? Tell me, is there any reason for me to restrain myself—?
“Because Aria hasn’t drawn her weapon.”
That answer came not from Dolton, but from a sullen-faced Feld.
“…”
I see? So that’s one theory, is it?
“Snow.”
Aria’s faint voice reached me. When I turned my gaze towards her, Aria was glaring unhappily, but she wasn’t going as far as trying to kill the Hero.
She’s become quite the adult, hasn’t she… It makes me a little sad. I miss our childhood days when we used to clean up random trash together. Not that it matters, though.
When I suppressed my Intimidation and magical power, the members of the Holy Church finally started breathing again.
Among them, Hero Klein, who alone had maintained a cool expression, beamed a radiant smile and spread his arms wide as if in welcome.
“Wonderful…! To encounter such beautiful women, it makes my journey all the way to this continent worthwhile.”
Saying so, he knelt once more before Aria, who was giving him a cold stare.
“My apologies, young lady. I was so overcome by this wonderful encounter that I lost myself. Might I greet you once more?”
As he said this and extended his hand, Hero Klein also gave me a meaningful, knowing smile.
“K-Klein! How can such a barbaric woman possibly be a companion to the Hero!”
Just then, the Cardinal, who had been struck speechless and fallen on his behind from the impact, complained not to Klein, but to Aria. Oh dear, even my Intimidation has been blamed on Aria.
“Is it not fine? A ‘Hero-Class’ is different from the ordinary, you know?”
The Hero chosen by spirits, and the Hero’s companions acknowledged by spirits: “Hero-Class.”
The companions of a Hero, common in fairy tales, vary depending on the story, but “Saint,” “Sword Saint,” “Holy Warrior,” “Great Sage,” “Archmage,” “Great Spirit User,” and the like are typical. Aria, blessed by the spirits, would fit, but “Assassin” isn’t usually among a Hero’s companions, is it?
“B-But even so—”
“You called me because you have business with me, didn’t you?”
As Aria let out her voice, cutting off the Cardinal who was still loudly protesting, the Cardinal choked on his words despite her voice not being loud, the Holy Church members gasped involuntarily, and Hero Klein’s face lit up with delight.
“Indeed. I have undertaken a mission from the main sanctuary of the Holy Church.”
“Klein!”
The Cardinal raised his voice to stop Hero Klein, who mentioned a mission. But the Hero simply stared at the middle-aged Cardinal as if admonishing a child.
“Lord Crawford… If she is to become my ‘companion,’ it is something she ought to know, wouldn’t you agree?”
…What are they talking about?
A Hero from another continent… The Holy Church, which boasts the largest faction on this continent, is also said to have come from another continent about a thousand years ago. If their authority over there is still higher, that would be quite laughable.
The ‘main sanctuary’ the Hero speaks of is likely on that other continent, not the temple here. So these important-looking figures here, acting all high and mighty, are probably just treated as branch managers, aren’t they?
Whether the discussion was settled, or perhaps he never intended to show this Holy Church any respect despite observing formalities, the Hero quickly cut short his conversation with the Cardinal he simply called Crawford and turned back to Aria.
“I imagine you’ve guessed, but I am here on this continent on an official mission. It was fortunate to have encountered someone like you here.”
Hero Klein spoke to Aria.
Several years ago, the “Spirit of Light” that chose the Hero delivered an oracle. …I wonder if they have spirit worship on the other continent. Regardless, the content was that it had sensed signs of a “Dark Dragon” appearing on this continent.
The Dark Dragon, an Elemental Dragon of darkness, becomes a Rank 8 “Evil Dragon” when it matures. Evil Dragons are man-eating dragons that hate humans. The Holy Church on the other side, feeling the immediate need for its subjugation, decided to send a Hero. However, the Hero was informed by the Spirit of Light while on his ship that the Dark Dragon was defeated the moment it appeared.
“…”
At that story, the gazes of everyone in the “Rainbow Sword” momentarily turned to Aria, but since she believes they all defeated it together, her expression didn’t change one bit.
Be that as it may, Hero Klein came all this way for nothing, didn’t he? Wouldn’t it be better if he just went home quickly? But his story still had more to it.
“Evil Dragons are said to be ill omens, you see. It’s also said that when an Evil Dragon appears, an ‘Evil Lord’ will also manifest. In fact, the Spirit of Light sensed the use of Level 8 fire magic. I’m supposed to investigate that.”
“…”
At that story, the gazes of the “Rainbow Sword” momentarily turned to me.
It was just a joke I made before, how rude of them. If I had such power, I wouldn’t be struggling so much.
“I haven’t seen any such signs myself since arriving here. If the Dark Dragon has been vanquished, I believe there’s no problem, but… yes… Miss Aria. I’ll have you participate in my Fire Dragon subjugation.”
…Huh?
For a moment, I couldn’t understand what the Hero was saying, and not just us, but everyone fell silent. Oh, how rare, Aria’s eyes are wide too!
“W-Wait, Klein, why does it come to that?”
Surprisingly, Cardinal Crawford, the first to recover from the confusion, questioned him. Klein, without panicking, laughed cheerfully.
“You said it yourself, didn’t you? That you’re having trouble with the Fire Dragon on the other side of the Holy Mountain.”
Three countries surround Mount Curios. To the south is the Fandora Theocracy, here. To the west lies the forest where the Wood Elves live, and to the east is the Zentol Kingdom.
And to the north, a vast grassland spreads out, but it’s called the Dragon Hunting Grounds, and for the past few decades, a Fire Dragon has apparently made it its hunting ground. The Zentol Kingdom, which tried to claim it as territory in the past, supposedly received a harsh welcome from the dragon, resulting in several thousand casualties.
A human army cannot defeat a flying Elemental Dragon. It breathes fire from heights unreachable by arrows or magic, and if it sees an opening, it attacks in an instant, killing many soldiers.
“Hero… the Fire Dragon is not an evil entity.”
At that, Vincent, the Temple Knight who had guided us here, glared at him as if to admonish him.
“But there are still casualties, aren’t there?”
Hero Klein retorted with a cool expression, not minding the glare at all.
“It’s only a few dozen adventurers or those who venture too far in per year.”
“So, as the Holy Church, you’d overlook a mere few dozen?”
“I’m saying that if we interfere carelessly, the casualties will increase!”
A few dozen casualties per year. Most of them are accidents or their own fault, but it’s not few enough to overlook. But if we interfere carelessly and the Fire Dragon comes to resent humans, will towns be burned and tens of thousands die? But…
“That’s precisely why, while I, the ‘Hero,’ am here, we should just defeat it, shouldn’t we?”
To Vincent, who was saying it was necessary to accept them as necessary sacrifices, Hero Klein stated this as if it were a matter of course.
“Hold on. Don’t just start talking amongst yourselves. I believe I said that any discussions should go through me.”
At that moment, Dolton stepped forward, as if releasing his Intimidation.
Dolton is strong. But not strong enough to take on the Hero. Nevertheless, he still stepped forward.
“…I am speaking with Aria-san, you know?”
Hero Klein, having his conversation interrupted repeatedly, let out a sigh.
“Shouldn’t adults protect a young woman who has just come of age? The Fire Dragon subjugation is due to your political circumstances; don’t drag Aria into it. In the first place, why is it necessary to subjugate a Fire Dragon just to recruit Aria?”
I wonder if Dolton was also quite angry at the Hero for saying such arbitrary things?
When Feld and Jesha also let a little Intimidation leak out, looking displeased, Hero Klein shrugged his shoulders as if to say, “Good grief.”
“It’s to confirm whether or not Aria-san was able to defeat the Dark Dragon. If that turns out to be false, then the Kingdom of Claydale will also need to take responsibility, you see.”
At that moment――
At his phrasing, which sounded as if he were taking the nation… or rather, Elena, who is responsible this time, hostage, my brow furrowed slightly.
What was Aria thinking?
Had I perhaps stepped on a tiger’s tail?