Thanks Baubo for the support. This is an additional chapter.
Kanami silently used a towel to clean up the spilled green tea.
Wait, wait, wait.
"So, what's the deal with this 'Hero' thing? I just happen to be a regular student whose ancestors happen to be from Asteris."
"Even if you say that now after getting all flustered, isn't it a bit tough?"
Fair point.
It seemed like she was convinced I was the Hero, and denying it any further would be challenging. Well, as long as Lisha doesn't find out, it's still okay.
I raised both hands in surrender.
"You're right; I am the Hero you're talking about. ...Have we met somewhere before?"
If she knew I was the Hero, that meant we must have met during my time in Asteris. However, a woman with such distinctive features should be hard to forget after meeting just once.
"Do you really not remember?"
Kanami said, lowering her gaze slightly.
"Well, it does seem like we've met."
"Yes, during the defense of the Rantenas Fortress. Do you remember?"
"..."
The Rantenas Fortress battle. That word did surprise me a bit. While it might not sound strange coming from an Asteris native, I never expected to hear it on Earth.
My primary role during the God-Demon War was to kill the Demon Lord. But when I say 'war,' it's not just about me and the Demon Lord settling things one-on-one. It's a full-scale showdown between humans and demons. That's what the God-Demon War is. And among the many battles fought, the Battle of Rantenas Fortress was one of them.
"The battle that took place over the defense of the Rantenas Fortress in the Fador Empire. I still remember it vividly, that hellish place."
"Hell... It was hell, indeed."
Not only the Battle of Rantenas Fortress, but most of the God-Demon War was a living hell. Well, war itself is pretty much like hell, I suppose.
"So, does that mean you and I met there?"
"Well, even though I said that, I couldn't participate in the battle since I wasn't capable of fighting at that time."
"Huh? If you can't fight, then why did you come to the fortress?"
That place was the front line where demons and humans were in conflict. If there were those who couldn't fight, they must have been part of the support units. However, considering the level of strength required here, it's unlikely.
Kanami brushed her violet-colored hair behind her ear.
"I was born into the royal family, so I was sent to the fortress to boost the morale of the soldiers, desu~wa. I was very young at the time and didn't serve any real purpose."
"I see. So, you're a member of the royal family?"
Even if the emperor forces them, it's not uncommon for members of the royal or noble families to go to the battlefield to encourage the troops. It's usually limited to those who won't be a problem if they happen to be lost.
I see, a member of the royal family...
...
...
"Royalty!?"
"Wh-what's with the sudden yell?"
Kanami let out a surprised voice, but that wasn't the issue here. Royalty, she's royalty. It's not appropriate to be sipping drinks at a commoners' family restaurant like this.
Come to think of it, she indeed had that kind of aura. Not just the atmosphere of a hero (eiyuu) but also the aura of someone who stands above others. At the same time, I understood her strength. Magic abilities are heavily influenced by one's lineage. Being of royal blood means standing at the pinnacle of the vast crimson history woven by the strongest magicians.
"But wait, how old were you at that time? I think I was around sixteen when I participated in the Battle of Rantenas Fortress."
"At the time of the Battle of Rantenas Fortress, I was twelve. I'm sixteen now, desu~wa."
"Sixteen?"
I couldn't help but ask again, and Kanami pursed her lips with a somewhat disgruntled expression.
"It's rather impolite to ask a lady's age and react like that, Hero-sama."
"My apologies."
Yeah, that was indeed quite rude of me.
However, I had thought she was roughly the same age as me. Lisha has a certain childishness about her, but Kanami in front of me lacked that. Born into royalty, experienced in war, and growing into a hero-worthy individual. Naturally, there couldn't be any traces of childhood.
Even so, if a member of the royal family came to encourage the troops during the Battle of Rantenas Fortress, she must be from the Fador family.
At that time, I remember I was fighting somewhere else when I received an SOS call from the Fador Empire. I rushed there in a hurry.
The Fador Empire was a powerful nation that prospered thanks to the development of magic artifacts. Naturally, this technology was also used for weapons, allowing them to compete on equal footing with the formidable demons. Despite this, the fortress was in dire straits. Human corpses piled up like mountains, and blood flowed like stagnant pools.
All of this was the work of just one monster.
A demon with the title 'Galeo (Catastrophe)'.
I fought them many times, and each time, I came dangerously close to death. Sometimes, I even felt like I was about to be killed.
The 'Galeo' who appeared at the Rantenas Fortress was not exactly in their original form, but they was undoubtedly one of the strongest among those with titles.
Closing my eyes, I can still remember the heavy, overcast sky from that time.
Because of that, I can't remember much else. Well, there might be some memories, like when Eris told me to greet an important person, but I'm not sure.
Thinking about it, I realized something.
"Wait a minute, how did you figure out that I was the Hero when I was using magic?"
The concealment ability of 'My True Name' is incredible.
In the state where I use my magic, very few have managed to uncover my true face. At least, it's not something that can be broken by a girl who is not even old enough to fight in the battlefield.
Kanami nodded and said.
"Well. Your magic is undoubtedly a super-class entity that surpasses human understanding, desu~wa. In normal circumstances, no one from the Fador Empire would have realized your true identity."
"Well, even so, being called a 'monster'..."
"In reality, what's the use of power that can defeat the Demon Lord if it's not considered super-class? ...But let's get back to the topic. Do you know about a special tradition among the Fador royal family?"
"I have no idea."
"I see, I suppose not."
I'm not responsible for the internal affairs of various countries, so I don't know much about these things. But judging from Kanami's reaction, it seems like common knowledge.
Kanami cleared her throat as if to regain her composure and pointed to her left eye.
"Our Fador Empire has developed along with magic artifacts, desu~wa. At its core, several magic artifacts are involved."
"Magic artifacts related to a country's development?"
"Yes."
It must be quite an impressive item. It's like Japan's Three Sacred Treasures, I suppose.
"All of them are artifacts that cannot be replicated with modern technology. In a sense, you could say that the magic artifacts of the Fador Empire were created as byproducts to surpass that."
"That's really impressive."
When it comes to magic artifacts from the Fador Empire, there's no one in the human side who doesn't know about them. They were renowned for their exceptional performance and quality.
To think that even after all that evolution, the modern technology still couldn't reach them, it truly is beyond human comprehension.
"So, let's get back to the topic, desu~wa. The members of the Fador royal family perform a certain ritual as soon as they are old enough."
"You mean that's your family tradition?"
"Yes. It's called the 'Transcendental Soul Ceremony (Tenpaku no Gi).' They protect it by replacing a part of their body with an artifact and spend their lifetime analyzing its power, desu~wa."
"I see."
Finally, things started to make sense.
Kanami's deep blue eyes. Upon closer inspection, only her left eye showed a faint trace of magic power. It was a difference so subtle that I wouldn't notice it unless I consciously looked for it.
If I peered into it, I could see a profound abyss, like a night sky that repels human understanding. Staring at it for too long, I might find myself drawn into it.
"So, that left eye is an artifact?"
"Yes, yes, exactly, desu~wa. This artificial eye is one of the artifacts passed down through the generations in the Empire, called the 'Shayka Eyes.' It's because of this eye that I realized Hero-sama's true identity, desu~wa."
Perhaps because I had gotten too close, Kanami turned her face away, but that was fine. Anyway, as expected of an artifact that supported by a whole nation indeed. My concealment magic wouldn't stand a chance against that.
Unexpected encounters lead to interesting outcomes, and as I was nodding with my arms crossed, Kanami began to speak.
"Now it's my turn, desu~wa. Could you please tell me why Hero-sama, who disappeared suddenly, is now here in this world, acting alongside Lisha?"
"Oh, right. I originally planned to talk about that."
I had completely forgotten about Hero-sama shock.
I took a sip of tea and explained to Kanami the events since I met Lisha.
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