Book 8: Chapter 34

Reina grinned at Ichika’s question.

「Who am I……is it. I can’t say that’s a very good question. Like that, it leaves the contents of the answer up to the other party……And above all, it’s lazy. Something like telling me to talk about everything I know, I hate people that make questions like that that have given up on thinking, you know.」

Ichika was at a complete loss for words when she was told “do it over” by Reina.

That’s right. Come to think of it, Reina was that kind of person.

The days where 「Ria」 studied under Reina, it wasn’t like they were all that long, but she should have understood well enough that she had a bit of a peculiar personality.

Reina possessed an obsession on the strangest of parts. Something like a set of rules that were peculiar to her existed, and depending on that, she wouldn’t move even if something were to happen, or conversely, she would end up getting herself involved with something.

And this time, it seemed that she had fallen in the wrong direction in those rules.

Due to there being too many things that should be asked about, it turned into the question of 「Who are you」, but Reina had decided that she 「didn’t like」 that.

However, she didn’t say that she wouldn’t answer. She told her to ask specific questions.

Ichika thought……First, she asked about what should be asked from the start.

「In that case, here is the first question. Reina, are you Human……No, to begin with, you aren’t a member of mankind, are you?」

「Yes, that’s exactly it. I am not a living creature that would be categorized as a member of mankind.」

「Eh……」

Hearing Reina’s answer, Celis, who had been watching over them while being kept in suspense, raised a surprised sounding voice.

And of course she would. Going by the commonplace categorizations, if she wasn’t a member of mankind, then it could only be concluded that she was a Mazoku.

However, Ichika thought that that possibility was also wrong.

……That’s right. Thinking about it, things were strange from the start.

Reina was an existence called the 「Legendary Maid Knight」, and she was able to train others into Maid Knights. Even the 「Ria」 of the past was trained by Reina.

However, there were no other precedents of being able to train a 「Maid Knight」 other than Reina.

For Ichika who had self-confidence in having trained herself to the very limits as a Maid Knight, if she were to be asked if she were able to make others……like Krim and Marin’s group for example, into Maid Knights, she would have no choice but to say that it was impossible.

On the other hand, Nino, who was a Maid Knight since her birth, was an existence that Vermudol, the Demon King, had created.

In other words, if it was Vermudol──if it was a Demon King, they were able to create Maid Knights.

In the past, Ichika had asked Vermudol if she hadn’t thought of trying to increase the number of Maid Knights.

But at that time, Ichika remembered that Vermudol answered like this.

Putting aside if it were just a regular maid, Maid Knights used a considerable amount of magical power. They aren’t something that can be churned out, and having two is enough……is what he said.

Vermudol, being the Demon King which possessed the greatest amount of magical power among the Mazoku, even though he wouldn’t go as far as to say it was impossible, would have a hard time.

That fact was in other words, a fact that said that it was impossible for someone lower than a Demon King, and it demonstrated the reality that it was possible if it were someone that possessed power on the level of a Demon King.

Reina was neither a Mazoku nor a Demon King. That was something close to conviction.

What she felt from Reina……was more, different.

「I think that you are most likely……a God, or something related to them. Am I wrong, Reina?」

「No, you’re right. Nice job understanding that, Ichika.」

She couldn’t think of anything other than that.

According to the creation myth, the blessings that the Gods gave had brought about various changes to mankind.

The Maid Knights were most likely one of those changes.

「Are you, Raidolg?」

If that were to be the case, that would explain how Reina was able to touch the Altluwand that had repelled Ichika earlier.

However, Reina shook her head sideways and denied it.

「No? It’s troubling to have you put me together with that old geezer.」

「Calling him an old geezer……」

Celis made a complicated face from having the God that she worshipped an old geezer, but neither Ichika nor Reina showed any sign of care.

「……In that case, which God are you? The Canal Kingdom should be Raidolg’s territory though.」

「Certainly, the Canal Kingdom worships Raidolg, and his beloved children are also here. But, it’s not like the God will always be here. Well, you could also say that it’s for that reason that this sort of situation came about this time though……」

After Reina said that, she nodded and went “Fumu”.

「So, Ichika, about your first question from earlier. I am not a God. That will be my answer.」

「……? In that case, your answer to the earlier question would have……」

Just as she was about to say “inconsistencies”, she immediately noticed that that wasn’t the case.

Earlier, Ichika had asked if she was 「a God, or something related to them」, and Reina answered that that was correct.

The fact that she isn’t a God, in other words, that meant that she was 「something related to the Gods」.

In other words, Reina was──

「I am a fragment of the God of Water Aklia. I’m one assigned with the role of giving blessings to those with the right qualifications.」

「Then, being a Maid Knight is……」

「A mark that says that Aklia has acknowledged them. That being said, since it’s greatly differed from the original meaning of the blessing……it seems that some irregular things have been born.」

Ichika immediately arrived at the thought that she was talking about Nino.

Indeed, it seems that Nino was an irregular existence similar to Sancreed.

However, for the time being, the matter about Nino didn’t matter.

「In that case, Reina. I need to consult something with you. Afterwards……」

「If it’s about the Aqua Sword, I don’t have it. If there’s someone that wants it, tell them to meet with Aklia and overcome the trial. Wyrm’s trial was passed, right?」

Smoothly dodging Ichika’s hand as she hurriedly tried to cover up her mouth, Reina spoke about that so readily.

Celis, who already couldn’t keep up with the conversation, was flabbergasted, but before long, her eyes sparkled and she started to look at Ichika.

「Eh……Erm……Could it be, is this person called Ichika-san the new Hero-sama?」

「That is wrong. Also, forget the conversation just now.」

「Eh, but……」

「Forget it.」

Taking a glance at Celis who dejectedly sank into silence, Ichika breathed a sigh.

Reina probably talked about it on purpose.

On top of learning what she was nervous about, Ichika had the impression of being a 「trustworthy personage」 acknowledged by Wyrm stuck onto Celis. The one who was acknowledged wasn’t Ichika though.

「……It would seem that you dote on this child, quite a bit, don’t you.」

「Yeah, I guess. It seems like things would happen all over again if I were to half heartedly let go of her after all.」

Ichika immediately noticed that she was talking about her──about 「Ria」 when she said that.

Certainly, 「Ria」 died soon after parting with Reina.

「If I knew the truth at that time, I wouldn’t have let you go. No, if I had at least watched over you a bit longer……Even if it wasn’t like that, if I had been by your side at that time……Even now, I end up thinking like that.」

Reina then said “but”.

「I also knew that there was a “next time”. And then, at that time, I would protect you.」

That is just an “if”.

If, at the time that 「Ria」 lost her life, the one that she met wasn’t the Demon God. If she started the 「next time」 like usual at that time, and she had met with Reina once again.

「That sort of future, might have also worked.」

「Yes. But, you pursued the truth. Therefore, you don’t have a desire to be protected by me.」

That’s right, what Ichika desired, was only one thing.

Revenge, on Philia who had toyed with her life.

To kill, that Philia who continued to kill her with the words “for mankind’s sake”.

That was, Ichika’s desire.

That was simultaneously also the desire of the Vermudol that she loved and respected.

That is why, Ichika definitely needed to accomplish it.

「……I will warn you, of only one thing.」

「What is it?」

「That which had taught you the truth, is by no means your ally. Be sure to not forget to always be suspicious of it.」

The Demon God picked up Ichika, and was the benefactor that put her together with Vermudol.

It was self-indulgent, and otherworldly……And yet, it strangely also had parts that were quite human.

But, indeed.

Certainly, the Demon God, at that time……said 「you will be keeping me company in killing my time」, that it was killing 「my」 time.

At that time, she didn’t think of it as anything more than a trifle.

But……Thinking about it now, just who was the Demon God.

The question that didn’t come to her mind due to lock called 「benefactor」, seeped into Ichika.

「That advice……I shall take it.」

「Yes, do that. So? When will the king of your place come?」

Reina said that, and dropped the next bomb.