Chapter 181

181 – The Tenth Stratum – The Realm of Demons and The Awakened Interceptors 14 / By Flames of Blue

「Yet another ally perishes. While believing in you.」

Said Bennu coldly.

What is up with them?

Both Lemegeton and him, they keep harping on and on about how I’m not qualified to call myself a Hero or how I’m not giving it my all.

Suddenly, I had a bad feeling. When I looked at my left leg, it was petrified. I immediately cut it off with a Wind Blade, which destroyed my balance, but I used Wind Magic to right myself.

「Farewell, random child. It was not your time to come here… It would appear that your allies made a mistake in trusting you.」

Bennu turned his back to me. Botis can no longer be seen. She probably has a Job that specializes in staying hidden.

I accelerate towards Bennu with Wind Magic and extend a blade of wind on my remaining right leg to thrust at him.

「Yo, full-body flamer! Who misplaced trust in me?」

I won’t let him call Fran and Ewan’s trust in me a mistake because of my weakness.

「Every single Adventurer who let you join the Raid Battle.」

As if knowing it was coming, Bennu turned around and deflected my kick with his left hand, and punched me in the face with his right fist.

This series of movements were too quick, I couldn’t react to it.

I was blown away like an idiot and crashed into a wall, collapsing. It’s a wonder that I wasn’t defeated by that power.

…This guy really isn’t your average Majin.

My vision was shaky. My eyes were open but everything was a blur. I could see something blurry. What is it? It wasn’t Bennu. In fact, this isn’t even the tenth stratum final area.

『I got a job that’s much more important than being a Hero.』

It’s my dad. It’s the conversation I had with the Unyielding Hero when I was younger.

Lem said it too. The Unyielding Hero didn’t give up on being 1st ranked, he’s a man who didn’t give up on his family.

I agree. He’s a good husband and a good father. But I wanted him to be the best Adventurer.

If it weren’t for me, I’m sure he would’ve proven that.

『You sayin’ it like that makes me sad.』

When I said what I was thinking, he said that with a genuinely sad face. That’s right, I remember.

『Please don’t say things like how my life would be better if you weren’t in it when you are the one thing in this world that makes me happier than being 1st ranked.』

I don’t get him.

He’s the leader of the world’s strongest party. The world’s coolest Adventurer.

I didn’t think that there is anything worth more than that.

『I’ll become a Hero. And then, I’ll prove everyone who made fun of you wrong.』

『Uhh… I’m glad, but I want you to make decisions about your future based on more positive reasons. You don’t have to become an Adventurer. Your Job hasn’t been confirmed yet.』

『I will. I’ll get to the top without the power of a Spirit…!』

『…Wraith.』

Pretty sure that was one of the rare times when my dad got mad.

『You’re right in that I wasn’t chosen by the Spirit. If you really wish to become an Adventurer, you have my full support. You have a talent for magic and your training has been going as usual. But y’know, Wraith. You must never forget one important thing.』

『…What is it?』

『Cherish the allies who fight alongside you.』

『Huh? Of course, I know that!』　

『You sure? Cos what you said earlier sure didn’t sound like you did. Cos…』

I sensed someone approaching me, probably to finish me off.

It wasn’t Bennu. Botis? I can feel the presence of someone as if they suddenly appeared.

She’s someone who conceals her presence completely when she goes to kill someone, so it’s most likely on purpose.

「These are the words of Lord Lemegeton. Heed them.」

That voice and my father’s both overlapped.

「『The Spirit is an ally too.』」

「……oh.」

Suddenly, I got it.

I don’t deserve to be a Hero. That’s why Lemegeton…

Individually, Monsters are weak, but they’re able to give the adventurers a tough time and help each other.

Lemegeton’s commands are like asking everyone to pile their efforts together to finally achieve victory.

That… Adventurers should be just like that. Cooperating with allies, seizing victory. That’s the ideal.

My dad was able to do that. He did his best, even though he wasn’t chosen by the Spirits, and became 1st ranked with his allies.

And yet…I…

Despite being chosen by the Spirit, I chose to not use its power.

I thought I could win without it, that I had to. Yeah, I did think that…

…that if I had just used the Water Spirit from the start, the outcome from the first stratum till here would have been different.

I was serious about it all, I still think that. I had no intentions to pull my punches. But…it wasn’t my all. I didn’t use all the strength at my disposal. I was seriously trying to win without using all of my strength.

『Y’know, Wraith… Instead of seeing you imitate me, I want to see you Clear Dungeons with your own allies and in your own way if you become an Adventurer. I can’t wait to watch your Clears while wondering what kind of Hero people will call you.』

I stopped listening at that point. I couldn’t understand him, so I kinda blocked him out.

But now that I do, I am disgusted at how dumb I was.

Trying to prove the strength of the world’s coolest Adventurer, only to continue exposing myself as a failure of a Hero.

All I could do was watch as my childhood friend, who helplessly chased after me when I ran ahead of her, get defeated.

After getting beat up by a stronger opponent and refusing to use Spirit Magic, a Hero turned to stone trying to protect me from an Evil Eye.

Also, ever since being acknowledged by a Spirit, I have constantly ignored an important ally.

I was in no position to say something so high and mighty to Mister Fenix.

I won’t abandon my allies? I’m an idiot. I’m just some brat who’s been constantly ignoring an ally.

I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t do it like how my father did?

What I should have learned from watching him was not something so superficial as swearing never to use the Spirit’s power.

I have always been unable to confront such an obvious thing.

Cos we kept winning and proceeding, even while I was in the wrong. We got this far…because my allies were superior.

Undine.

I pray. So that my voice may reach the Spirit. Its reply was immediate.

『What’s up, kid? The stage play isn’t over yet, right? Why’s the actor calling out to the audience?』

I said that you could be an onlooker but…I have to apologize.

『…Oh? Whatever for?』

I wanted to be someone who would cherish his allies, but I failed that. I didn’t consider you an ally. Sorry.

『Hmm…? But you can’t right? Borrow the strength of a Spirit, that is. You wanna be just like your dear old papa, right?』

What I want to become is the coolest Hero in the world. Ignoring my Spirit, causing my allies to perish, and kicking the bucket like this is the worst. All this makes me is the world’s lamest kid.

『So?』

It took courage to admit this.

I’m still weak but I’ll become 1st ranked together with Fran, you, and the future allies that I’ll make. I want to. So…if you aren’t completely disgusted by me yet…

…Please form a contract with me.

Words that I could only say because I was in a pinch and I suddenly understood it all due to a Monster’s words.

No matter how much it was interested in me in the Spirit Shrine, it’s only natural to be appalled. It’s normal to think of me as pathetic.

I prepared myself for some harsh words-

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『Eeeeeeeee! WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!』

……??

I couldn’t believe my ears.

Or rather, the sound of the Spirit’s voice ringing inside my head was so loud that I thought my brain was gonna explode.

『I was thinking how it’s been so long since such a lively and cheeky bra…young boy last appeared, so I thought I’d watch you for a while! And before I knew it, I was blessed with a growth event-…opportunity! Please let me see your face? My~, that face of yours that was brimming with confidence is all so delightfully crumpled up! It’s things like this that make fluttering about through eternity all worth it~!』

?????

I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about…

There are many Spirits with distinct personalities, which rather frequently cause Heroes to rack their brains. Aerial himself is strong so there probably aren’t many times where his life is in danger and has to call out to the Spirit, but for a Spirit to be…this unique…

『I’ll lend you my strength.』

…! …Thank you.

This isn’t the apology, reconciliation, and contract forming I expected, but this isn’t the time to mention that.

『Besides, I don’t want to lose to him. He’s been getting carried away with the idea that there’s no one better in terms of offensive power, but I don’t think it’s enough to just scorch everything. It’s not like he’s the only one with invulnerability. You think the same as well, don’t you, my boy?』

I am not your boy.

『The fact that you don’t give up easily is one of your strong poi-…best features.』

Then, I look forward to working with you.

『Same here, Hero Wraith. I accept you as a contractor.』

My awareness quickly sharpens.

「Goodbye.」

Botis’s voice was nearby.

Her knife was just about to plunge into my chest.

「You can’t do that petrify thing in quick succession, huh?」

Her Evil Eye was already hidden by bandages, but I could see the surprise in the way her lips moved.

「…You… how?」

「Goodbye.」

It’d be rude if I didn’t say it back to her.

I stand up facing Botis and go through her.

What remained after that were her Magical Energy particles, pierced by something through her chest.

My body was now made of water.

She went through me like a stone dropped on the water’s surface.

An Esoteric Spirit Magic called Assimilation. Becoming wind itself or becoming water itself. It’s like being Human but also Fire at the same time. Like being made of rock but also a Human.

Transitioning to such a state.

My missing left leg was made up with Water Magic.

『I should mention that you can’t stay in this form for longer than fifteen seconds.』

Got it.

If it could be used so easily, it wouldn’t be an Esoteric.

I wouldn’t be using this now if my body was in perfect condition.

The fifteen-second time limit isn’t the time until I’m out of Magical Energy, it’s the time until Assimilation can’t be maintained and my body crumbles.

The damage I sustained was so bad that I wouldn’t be able to move if I don’t use this. Magical Energy is slowly leaking from my left leg, and the damage to my head was so bad that my consciousness is all hazy.

To at least be of use from now on, I figured the only way was to get back to fighting strength for just fifteen seconds.

「Bennu…!」

As I yelled, he looked back in my direction.

「Still alive are you, Water Hero Wraith?」

His voice wasn’t as cold as before.

I already know. I realized. Who he and that man really are.

「Thanks to you.」

They were clearly trying to do something about my faults. They were trying to make me realize it.

I don’t know the details but thanks to that, I won’t end this raid as the biggest loser.

「Come, the final battle awaits.」

「Really? This isn’t the final battle, though.」

Blue flame erupts from Bennu’s body. It spread, more and more, until he took the form of a giant bird with two huge wings.

A large amount of water flowed out of my body. It spread, more and more, until it resembled a giant snake-like creature.

To be more precise, it was a dragon. A snake body with dragon scales and head.

He probably already knows. That if he just leaves me alone, or lightly fends off my attacks, my body will break and scatter.

But he acknowledges me as a Hero, and is fighting me head-on.

Dungeon Clears are a form of entertainment created by Adventurers and Monsters, after all.

A giant blue bird and a giant blue dragon. Each an integration of Majin and Hero respectively, they drew closer and then…they clashed.

With the sound like water hitting a sizzling hot pan, the surrounding area was filled with steam.

White filled my field of vision. By the time it cleared, a conclusion was reached.

I withstood two of his fire attacks. One of my Water Blades pierced his chest. This is what I used to do Botis in.

But it didn’t go through him.

The white clears. His flaming fist pierced through my chest.

Steam was rising from my body.

「…I want to fight you again next time.」

「Why don’t you gather your remaining allies first.」

「…You’re right. Yeah, I’ll do that.」

To be honest, I’m super frustrated.

About the loss, but also because I became an Adventurer in order to prove that my father was right.

The people who made fun of my dad have probably forgotten the things they’ve said and are just living life.

I wanted to prove them wrong.

But I’m finally self-aware. An adventure isn’t a tool for revenge.

It’s a challenge for the Adventurer and an amusement for the viewer.

Also, it’s better to say that I will be the best Adventurer because I was born from the best Adventurer.

Some day, I’ll become 1st ranked, and say that.

This isn’t revenge, this isn’t atonement, it’s a goal.

Thank you, Lem.

Thank you, Fenix.

I didn’t know that there were fights like this, where it’s not all about winning.

Bringing the best out of your opponent, fighting, and maybe winning…is the coolest.

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Sorry, Fran. Ewan. Undine. Everyone.

From now on… I-

「Farewell, young Hero. You are blessed with good allies.」

Just before my body crumbled, I heard Bennu’s voice.

Yeah…I think so too.