Chapter 20: Memories

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

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──It was during the journey to defeat the dragon of Mount Maley, in order to resolve the troubles in Phalan's hometown, when they passed through the magical city of Balhant.

Nonoa noticed an accessory at a street stall that caught her eye.

Ever since she was a child, people often said she was “tomboyish.” Yet somehow, this accessory strangely drew her in.

As she picked it up and examined it, the shopkeeper spoke.

“W-well, you have a keen eye, miss. That's a real find.”

“Oh, really…? By the way, how much is it?”

“It's normally 800 Lane… but it suits you, so I'll let it go for 400!”

“Eh, oh… haha…”

Most of the distribution money she received from the party went to her training, leaving Nonoa with no extra funds. Even saying that, she wasn't in a position to be buying accessories in the first place… She gave a vague reply to the shopkeeper and tried to put it back.

“Four hundred, count it out,”

Suddenly, Erius appeared out of nowhere and paid for it. Nonoa was so surprised that she couldn't help but exclaim.

“Wait, Erius, that's not—no matter that you're the leader, you can't just spend such a large amount from the party's funds without asking—”

“No, this is from my personal distribution money,”

“What!? Then that's even worse! I can't accept something like this!”

Ignoring her protests, Erius completed the payment and took the item: a gold ring set with a pink gem. Clenching her fist in protest, Nonoa intended to refuse the gift.

After a moment of contemplation, Erius spoke quietly.

“I never said I'd give it to you, though…”

“Ah…”

Indeed! She had to admit it made sense. But then, who was it for? Lena? Or… maybe a lover she didn't know about?

Her thoughts spun in circles in confusion.

“Y-yeah, right… it's strange for me to receive a ring like this,” she stammered.

“Yeah, I just hadn't said it,”

“Oh…!”

Using a mix of jest and his natural swordsman charm, Erius tricked her into letting her guard down, grabbed her left arm, and slid the ring onto her ring finger in a swift motion.

“Eh? Eh?”

Nonoa alternated her gaze between the ring on her finger and Erius's face, unable to keep up with the rapid turn of events.

“You picked a good one. It's rare, slightly boosting resistance to magic. You should keep it. If you miss it now, you'll never be able to buy it again,”

It seemed this was truly a gift for her. But was it really so rare that she could never buy it again…?

Deciding not to ruin Erius's kindness, she quietly accepted it. Honestly, she was happy.

Still, she couldn't resist a slightly cheeky remark.

“I can't just take it for free. I don't have the money now, but I'll pay you back little by little from my distribution money,”

Her words came out instinctively, but they were sincere. Erius, as if seeing through her, said with a triumphant expression:

“Sure. Once your training is done and you're no longer holding me back, you can take it. Though, if you get complacent from something like this, it'll still be a while,”

“…Ugh.”

There was nothing she could say. No, there was no need to think badly—she would train even harder, and she would definitely pay him back.

“I'll definitely make you accept it, geez! Once I'm stronger, I'll take it properly! Promise!”

“…Yeah. I promise.”

After that, Erius went without alcohol and reduced his meals for a while. He claimed it was “for health” so as not to trouble Nonoa, though it was an obvious, clumsy lie.

Erius was always awkward, but even more, he was kind.

---

The Demon King's powerful magic seared Nonoa's body. She was blown back by the impact, rolling across the ground several times, barely surviving.

Perhaps due to the recoil from casting such a strong spell, the Demon King didn't move. The lack of a follow-up attack was likely not due to complacency.

Standing up, Nonoa cast a recovery spell to fully restore her health, then activated her “Master of Numbers” skill. She measured the magic power of herself and the Demon King, the source of all magical energy.

The Demon King had used 750 units of magic power in the last spell. Nonoa's recovery spell had used only about 80.

Though the Demon King's total magic far exceeded hers, if he continued casting, his magical “expenditure” would surpass hers by far.

As long as she wasn't killed in one blow, it was manageable. If she outlasted him, the Demon King's magic would “bankrupt” first. In other words, what seemed like a disadvantageous magic duel was, in fact, bringing her closer to victory.

This strategy only worked because of the ring Erius had given her. Without it, she surely wouldn't have been able to stand.

──The ring slightly weakened the Demon King's powerful magic.

Thanks to it, she should have been able to return the favor. Yet… she had been tricked. Erius was a liar.

He had never intended to accept any repayment from Nonoa. Because—he knew she couldn't.

---

“Let's go see the festival,”

Erius, who usually showed no interest in leisure activities, unusually suggested this.

“The fireworks in the eastern town? I've never seen fireworks before!” Nonoa exclaimed.

Hearing the word “festival,” Lena's eyes lit up with excitement. She hadn't mentioned it, but Nonoa too was experiencing it for the first time.

The day they would go was something to look forward to.

A few days later, while watching the fireworks in the eastern town, Erius suddenly said something strange:

“This might be the last time we see fireworks like this.”

What did he mean? Concerned by Erius's slightly wistful expression, at that moment a fireworks craftsman happened to pass by.

“How are the fireworks? Beautiful, aren't they?”

A sudden voice interrupted her thoughts, and she looked at the craftsman to reply.

“Yes, they're incredibly beautiful! It's like the sparks are alive, moving… it's amazing!”

“Oh, you say something that makes me happy. You know, fireworks are unpredictable until they're launched. That uncertainty lasts until the very moment they go off. That's why, when the sparks move exactly as calculated, that moment is the greatest joy for a craftsman.”

“Move… calculated, you say?”

“Exactly. A true master can calculate and control every spark perfectly, down to the smallest fraction!”

“Calculate… control… perfectly…”

Looking back, Nonoa realized that this conversation, combined with her usual observations of Erius fighting as if he could see the future, had likely helped awaken her skill.

“Most likely, the two of them have already reached the inn,”

After the fireworks, on the way back to the inn, the crowd left by the festival had separated them from Phalan and Lena, leaving only Nonoa and Erius walking together. Thinking of Erius's earlier words, Nonoa asked:

“Hey, what did you mean earlier?”

“Huh? Did I say something?”

“The part about it being the last time… or something like that.”

“Oh… no, it didn't mean anything.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah.”

A silence fell between them as they walked. Nonoa couldn't hold back any longer.

“I don't know what you're thinking, but…”

“No, really…”

“Just listen.”

“…What is it?”

“Next time, let's watch fireworks together again. As a celebration after we defeat the Demon King!”

Erius, with a slightly troubled expression, replied:

“Yeah… if we can do that… that would be nice.”

Nonoa, frustrated at his unusual, hesitant wording, spoke firmly:

“Not ‘if we can,' we will!”

For a while, they simply stared at each other, the quiet between them feeling more like a shared gaze than a stare. Erius eventually gave in, letting a small smile appear, as if surrendering.

“Yeah… let's do that.”

“Good, that's settled!”

There was nothing more to say, and they returned to the inn in silence.

At that time, what had Erius truly been feeling? His clumsy kindness, having to make a promise he couldn't keep for Nonoa, who knew nothing, now tightened her chest with emotion.

“Strange fortune, isn't it?”

“Is that so?”

The fortune teller said this, examining the palm of Nonoa's hand intently.

That day, she and Erius had gone out together to procure supplies for dungeon exploration. On their way back, Erius suddenly pointed to a house.

“Let's try that one. I've heard the fortune teller there is quite accurate.”

It was easy to miss, but on closer look, a small sign read “Fortune Telling.”

“How did you even notice that?”

“Just happened to know about it,” he said. Not usually interested in fortune telling, she decided to go along with this unusual suggestion.

The shop was narrow and allowed only one person at a time, so Nonoa went first.

“Your fortune is hard to read, not clear if strong or weak. I've been in this business a long time… but this is a first. Rare indeed. May I take a record?”

“Well, I don't mind…”

The fortune teller took something from the shelf.

“Press your palm onto this,” he said. It was a clay-like plate.

“Record it?”

“I want to take an impression of your hand. Is that okay?”

“Ah, sure, I guess…”

She pressed her hand onto it, leaving a perfect imprint.

“Good, that will do.”

“And the fortune itself…?”

“Sorry, I can't quite tell. So, no charge.”

“Ah…”

She left the shop feeling it had been a waste of time. Expecting it to be Erius's turn next, he began to walk.

“Wait, aren't you going to try it?”

“I don't really believe in fortune telling.”

“What kind of answer is that!”

It had been a strange day.

“Finally, Nonoa.”

“Yes.”

This was during a briefing with the prince, the highest-ranking official of the kingdom's army.

While the kingdom army distracted the Demon King's forces, Nonoa would infiltrate the Demon King's castle alone. As they finalized the details, a messenger approached the prince.

“A visitor for Nonoa?”

“Yes, actually…”

“Very well, show them in.”

With the prince's permission, the soldier brought in the visitor. Nonoa felt she had seen the person somewhere before.

“Nonoa, this is the kingdom's foremost swordsmith.”

“Oh, so you're Nonoa. I've heard of your exploits. I'm the brother of the fortune teller you visited before.”

No wonder she recognized him—it was obvious.

“My brother said, ‘This might come in handy,' and asked me to forge a sword. I used the hand impression you left as reference, and I think it'll be easy for you to use.”

He handed the sword to Nonoa.

“Though I imagine you've had trouble. Left-handed swords are rare, and with chronic shortages, most are never made to save materials in this country.”

“How did you know?”

“Just by looking at your hand. The calluses on the sword grip from your hand impression were unusual.”

Truly deserving of being called the kingdom's finest, she thought. Until now, Nonoa had forced herself to use right-handed swords. She still wondered what it would feel like to suddenly switch to left-handed.

“Um, may I try it?”

“Of course.”

The moment she drew the sword, her worries vanished.

The familiar discomfort she had always felt disappeared, as if the sword itself had been made to fit her perfectly. With her “Master of Numbers” skill optimizing her blade movements, it was unmistakably the best sword made just for her.

“Amazing… thank you so much.”

“It's nothing. I just meddled a little. But I'd be glad if you use it to defeat the Demon King.”

“Yes, I can… I will. With this sword, definitely!”

As Nonoa's confidence grew, the prince interjected.

“And what name will you give this sword?”

“Huh? Haven't decided yet. Well, little lady, you can choose any name you like.”

“Me?”

Nonoa paused to think. No good names came to mind, but an idea arose.

“…I'll have someone important to me decide the name. Someone I care about.”

That's right. After defeating the Demon King, she would have Erius name the sword.

(Because the fortune telling she had reluctantly agreed to at Erius's whim had led this sword to her.)

She looked forward even more to meeting Erius after the Demon King's defeat.

The sword that played a crucial role in defeating the Demon King remains unnamed to this day. And likely, it always will be.

──The “true hero” who defeated the Demon King may never have their name told, either.