Chapter 69

69 – Meeting the Sis-con (?) Hero, Promise for Next Time, and the Fire Sorcery User

「Brother…why are you here?」

「I had a hunch.」

He said that while looking as if he’s uninterested, but he’s slightly breathless and thinly covered in sweat.

The fact that a Hero, whose physical ability far surpasses that of ordinary people, would be like this meant that he probably ran around all over the place in order to find her.

Is he a worrywart or is he just that devoted to his sister that he would go this far just because the situation seemed strange?

「Frankly, I feel uncomfortable.」

「Shut up. Who are these guys…a Demi-Human girl and a man? What kind of relationship do you have with them?」

「We-we’re friends. I have the right to do anything I want with anyone.」

「You don’t have that right. If by any chance, your identity gets found out, do you know what will happen? Having a meal with a man? It’ll definitely become an uproar. Can’t you even understand that?」

「…It’s not just the two of us, Cashew is here too.」

Cashew had an uneasy look on her face when she looked at Philip who suddenly appeared.

Philip completely changed his cold expression to a gentle smile.

「Oh, sorry about that, young lady. I’m not a suspicious person. I’m the older brother of this lady.」

「Are you, Nico’s, older brother?」

「That’s right. I came to look for her because I was worried, but it turns out that she was having a meal with you. Thank you for accompanying my little sister…and also, the person over there, can I ask about what your relationship is with my little sister?」

Confusion is properly working on Philip.

He can only recognize me as an ordinary person with generic features and he won’t feel any discomfort in that recognition.

The smile he showed to Cashew was already gone and he was glaring at me.

「Just as she said, I’m her friend.」

「Where did you meet her? What kind of friend?」

「Br-brother, that’s rude.」

She noticed that her brother didn’t realize my identity, so she also didn’t mention anything about it.

「I’m sorry, but would you please stay away from my little sister. -Hey, let’s go back.」

「I don’t want you interfering with my private life as well.」

「That’s what ordinary brothers and sisters say. Who are you, Nico? What kind of person are you, what is your aim, and what would be bad if it happened?」

She is the Silver Hero Nicola. An Adventurer aiming for further heights. Selling herself as a prince character, her beauty, gentlemanly behavior, and stylish magic are gaining popularity. Fans are excited by her relationship with the Thief Princess and a great number of women admire her.

Therefore, it can be a serious affair if she has a lover like a normal person.

Especially if the other person is a dull man like me, it’ll be troublesome if rumors get out.

I could understand what Philip was saying.

Understanding and sympathizing are two different things, but I was able to understand his feelings.

「…Brother, I hate you.」

Perhaps because she can’t refute him, Nicola verbally expressed her emotions. It might be because she’s in front of her older brother, she seemed a little childish.

「That so? Well, I love you, dear sister.」

Philip scornfully laughed, then he looked at us.

「I’ve talked to the restaurant. Please enjoy the meal to your heart’s content. Young lady, if you’d like to, please meet with my little sister again. Of course, while excluding the gentlemen over there.」

He smiled at Cashew and gazed at me sharply. Just like that, he headed to go out of the restaurant.

「Excuse me.」

I called out and stopped him.

「What is it?」

「You said that the situation was strange. If you’re worried, how about asking and listening to her part of the story?」

「…That might be true.」

Perhaps he didn’t like being told by me, so he looked displeased for a moment, but in the end, he nodded and turned his back.

「I-I’m sorry to the both of you. My older brother just has that kind of personality.」

「It looked like he was worried about you though.」

「…I wonder about that…He probably just doesn’t want the Silver Prince character to be damaged. Since it was made by him. …Well, he’s definitely an unpleasant guy, but he’s not a bad person.」

The character of the Silver Prince seemed to be her older brother’s idea.

Since Adventurers are dependent on public favor. Ranks often drop due to members’ retirements, scandals, and deplorable events.

In that sense, the top three immovable parties are amazing.

「Just-just a minute, Lem.」

Nicola got up from her seat and approached me.

Then, her face came close to my ear.

A refreshing scent floated softly. I can closely feel her body temperature.

It made me nervous for a moment.

「I wonder if we can meet again, there…today, there were also some things that I wasn’t able to tell you.」

「That’s true, I understand.」

I told her the name and location of the inn.

「I think I’ll be with Cashew at that time, is that okay with you?」

If I let Cashew stay at the inn so that I can go meet Nicola, I would be a failure as her guardian. By no means am I afraid of the memo. This is a matter of responsibility.

「Of course. Is Cashew okay with that, would you like to meet me again?」

「Y-yes.」

「I’m glad. Because of the nature of my job, I only have a few Demi-Human friends.」

After hearing the word friend, Cashew looked happy.

Cashew is close with Milla and Sitri, but they are more like colleagues.

Even though Cashew is young, she is a hard-working person, so it might be rare for her to make a friend outside of work.

「I’m glad, too.」

「You like sweet things, right? I have a shop that I would like to recommend, so I’ll take you there.」

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Cashew’s expression became cheerful.

「Well then, until next time.」

Then, Nicola left the restaurant.

Cashew waved her hands at her until she left the restaurant.

Nicola also looked back several times and responded to her.

「It looks like you’re getting along well with her.」

「Nico, is a good person.」

「You’re right.」

「I’ll write that in my report.」

「…I see. By the way, Cashew, I’m already full, so do you want to eat this cake?」

「Eh? Is that okay?」

「Yeah, since Cashew did your best today as well.」

Slowly but surely, I moved my cake in front of Cashew.

This is not a bribe. I swear.

◇

In the training ground established in the basement of the Union’s facility.

In the center of the circular space, I was communicating with the Fire Spirit.

「O Spirit, please respond…」

After identifying their Job, all Heroes will visit the Shrine of the Spirits.

If there is a spirit who takes a liking to you, then you will be able to enter into a contract with them and be able to use Spirit Magic.

In other words, Spirits have a mind of their own. They can think about things and decide which people they like or dislike.

But usually, we can’t talk to spirits.

They seem to have a hobby of observing the life of the Human being they like. It seemed like it is standard that after granting their divine protection, they would not interfere.

So when someone really wants to talk to the spirits, they have no choice but to sharpen their spirit and call out to them.

「I have something to ask you―Sara.」

She doesn’t like her name, so I called her using this nickname.

『…What is it, you loser bird?』

I heard a voice. I don’t know where it’s coming from, but her voice reached my ears.

「Loser bird…? No, I certainly lost to Lem.」

I felt relieved that she responded and answered her.

『How could you lose even though I’ve lent you the Flame of the Gods? It’s the Flame of the Gods, you know? It’s not like「Gods」is attached to the name just to make it sound cool, you know?』

「I also feel frustrated that the opponent was an exceptional person capable of surpassing that.」

『…It is not inferior to the horn of the Demon King. You’re just bad at using it, you’re also bad at fighting. Clumsy bird. Don’t lose since you are my contractor.』

She seemed to be concerned about the defeat at that time.

「I’m sorry. Your Flames were really great. I lost because of my inadequacy.」

『…Hmph. If you understand that, then it is fine. So? Why did you call me?』

「At that time, when you taught me magic…Spirit Magic, there was one technique that you wouldn’t teach.」

『Since the you of that time wasn’t able to handle it.』

「How about the me of now?」

『I wonder…But if you fail to learn it…you will turn to ashes.』

Sara’s voice sounded serious.

「I’m planning to train using an Avatar.」

『Wow, a child of the present era. Certainly, if you do it like that, then it would be okay even if you got turned into ashes.』

It’s not good. It takes a lot of money to form an Avatar.

『However, even if your body is okay, I wonder if your mind would be able to endure it. Since it is a Technique that’ll change the structure of your body, so a Human’s mind might not be able to endure it.』

「The predecessor endured it, right? It still remains a legend.」

There is a legend of a Hero who assimilated with the Fire Spirit.

『At that time, it was in the middle of a war. He was in a situation where he had to win no matter what. If pushed to that point, Humans become strong, right?』

「Although it’s not for the sake of humanity, I feel the same.」

『You need to win no matter what?』

「Yeah.」

『It’ll be as harsh as a Human inheriting the Demon King’s horn.』

「Great. Lem endured it. If I can’t do the same thing, I won’t be able to win.」

『Ahaha, I don’t get the reason, but that’s just like you. Even in the Shrine of the Spirits, you were angry with God and Spirits saying that Lem should be the Hero, do you like that child that much?』

「I admire him. Ever since I was a child.」

『I don’t really understand that feeling, but I see. You won’t stop admiring him no matter how much time has passed. If you keep on maintaining the same admiration, I wonder if that feeling of longing will not disappear.』

Sara spoke as if she had understood something.

『However, it’s interesting. Humans try to get closer to the existence they admire. Sometimes, they can even surpass them. They don’t want to let the gap between them be that big.』

「I don’t know about other people, but for me, it’s because we are friends.」

『So?』

「I want to be on equal footing with him.」

『Hmm.』

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「Will you cooperate with me? 」

『Okay, cool bird. When you can use this Technique, you will be called a phoenix.』

I will become stronger for the sake of the rematch with Lem that will eventually come.

I will train so that I can fight without relying on Spirit Magic, in addition, I will also learn about Esoteric Spirit Magic.