After we finished talking, I picked up my green tea, but it had gotten lukewarm. Even though it's only been a few days, when I talk about it, it feels like a long time. I had some intense moments.
I noticed it was getting late, and there were fewer people in the shop.
"I never thought that Hero-sama was summoned from another world..."
Kanami said, looking surprised as she gazed at the table.
"Is it that shocking?"
I was frozen for a while.
"IT'S DEFINITELY SHOCKING!"
"Wow!"
Thud! Kanami put her hands on the table and leaned forward.
"You were the Hero (Yuusha), the strongest warrior in the God-Demon War! Many fighters and heroes (Eiyuu) followed you through the dark like thick mud! And yet..."
Kanami's eyes shook, as if she was remembering something from the past.
"And yet, you weren't even from our world..."
"..."
I didn't know what to say to her quiet voice.
After the God-Demon War, I wasn't needed anymore. I had accepted that, and in truth, people had started avoiding me.
An unused weapon could cause trouble. I only realized this after everything was over.
But watching Kanami, I realized that there were people who truly admired the Hero. Now, I even questioned if I was the Hero who survived that tough battle.
Kanami snapped back to reality, sat down, and composed herself.
"I'm sorry; I lost control."
"No, it's okay. I'm sorry if I upset you."
Seeing the real Hero...
When I revealed my true identity, I had received many disappointed looks before. I was used to it.
I thought so, but Kanami shook her head vigorously.
"What are you saying? Even if you weren't from Asteris, it doesn't make your achievements any less! It was just my misunderstanding!"
Oh... huh...?
While I was confused, Kanami bowed deeply. If there wasn't a table, she might have knelt down.
"I apologize. I am Kanami Ländtor Sith Fador. It's shameful for me to disrespect Hero-sama. When the God-Demon War ends, I'll make amends immediately—"
"Wait, wait, wait."
I instinctively held Kanami's shoulder and raised her head. Despite the cold looks from the few customers and staff in the shop, that wasn't my concern.
This girl was dead serious. Is she a warrior or something?
Kanami raised her head, her lips straight, and her eyes stared back at me determinedly. This was bad; she was really serious.
I forgot; this wasn't the first time something like this happened. Back when I was invited to a noble's house in my armor, there was a maid who made a small mistake while serving tea. But the head of the house got furious and wanted to punish her right away. Luckily, Eris, who was with me, stopped it from getting worse. But later, I heard that making a mistake in front of the Hero, especially in Asteris, could lead to the worst: either getting fired or becoming a slave.
It might sound stupid, but to the people of Asteris, the Hero's title was a big deal. It wasn't just about me; the title of Hero itself was highly respected.
And Kanami was no exception, or maybe her warrior nature made it even stronger.
In cases like this, comforting words didn't help.
Then, why don't I, as a Hero, handle this situation? Let me show her the image of the Hero that I've cultivated over four years.
While still placing my hand on Kanami's shoulder, I took a deep breath in my mind and remembered my past self. True battle spirit doesn't manifest as fierceness but remains concealed. I suppressed my fiery determination with icy calmness and circulated my magic power.
This place was a battlefield where death spread like a plague. I'll never forget that moment when I crawled to grasp even a fragment of life in my hands.
"'――Kanami, listen well.'"
"Yh-yes!"
"'I don't wield my sword to kill demons. I wield it to save many lives.'"
"...Absolutely."
"'I won't allow lives to be wasted in my presence. Shame and guilt, redeem them all. Use your life for the sake of humanity.'"
"Yes, I understand."
Alright, that seemed to work. Kanami's face reminded me of Tsukiko when she was drunk or Eris, but for now, the important thing was that her life was guaranteed.
Fainting or attempting suicide—these were indeed shocking encounters.
* * *
By the time I returned with more drinks, Kanami had regained her composure considerably.
"I-I'm embarrassed to have shown you that."
Embarrassed was one way to put it; it was quite shocking. It seemed a bit girlish, but what she was trying to do was pretty samurai-like seppuku. Her face turned pale, not red.
"Well, that's fine, but... there's something I wanted to ask Kanami."
"What would that be?"
"Where have you been all this time? I heard you got separated from Lisha."
Yes, I had been wondering about that.
A hero (eiyuu) entrusted with the role of a guardian wouldn't easily lose sight of their charge.
Kanami tightened her expression and then spoke.
"Before we discuss that, Hero-sama, how much do you know about this God-Demon War?"
"Me? All I know is that the 'Key' needs to be protected by humans, and the demons kill everyone to end it, and..."
Then, I remembered that night—the battle with Jillzack Luiid and how it ended.
"If the 'Key' dies, humans and demons from Asteris can transfer to this world, and demons can't randomly kill people in this world."
Saying that, Kanami's eyes widened in surprise.
"You know quite a lot about it. I hadn't informed Lisha to that extent."
"Well, yeah. I did mention earlier that I fought demons, didn't I?"
"Yes. However, Hero-sama, did you simply eliminate them?"
"That's the thing..."
On that night, I had indeed struck down Luiid with Ankarnam (Ultimate Sword). But even so, Luiid had survived. His body was in a terrible state, almost beyond recognition. Furthermore, by using the demon lord's body as a catalyst, my actions had left his magic circuits in shambles.
Yet, he had still survived.
* * *
In the night, where all traces of red disappeared, in the silence, a battered man lay sprawled on the ground. His white hair was scattered on the pavement, and his bloodied body faintly rose and fell as he struggled to breathe.
Even in this state, only one thing remained in his eyes—the glimmer of determination. Jillzack Luiid, on the verge of death, twisted his lips into a smirk and spoke.
"Heh... as expected of someone called a Hero. It seems your swordsmanship and magic, the fact that you killed the Demon Lord, were not lies."
"'I have a question.'"
"What would you ask of someone at death's door? Sorry, but I don't know much about the demons participating in the God-Demon War either."
I never expected to gather information from allies from the start. Demons were fiercely individualistic. They only shared a common goal of killing humans, and their sense of camaraderie was minimal.
Since he claimed not to know, he probably genuinely didn't.
But what I wanted to know wasn't about that.
"'Why didn't you kill them?'"
"What?"
Jillzack Luiid was powerful. If he had fought with the intent to kill from the start, Tsukiko and the others would probably be nothing more than ashes by now. The fact that there had been no casualties among ordinary people was mysterious in itself.
Demons, in general, slaughtered everyone they considered human. Well, it was more like both humans and demons couldn't help but kill each other; that's the kind of relationship they had.
So, the fact that Tsukiko and the others were still alive was indeed puzzling.
On the other hand, Luiid also looked puzzled.
"...You mean to say, Hero, that you don't understand the system of this God-Demon War? I don't know what circumstances led to that, but well, never mind. The reason we demons don't recklessly kill humans in this world is simply because it's a rule."
"'A rule?'"
"This isn't Asteris; it's a different world. If we, the otherworld beings, killed people in this world too much, the system would activate to maintain the balance of the world, and we would be sent to the interstitial space. It seems even the authority of the Demon Lord can't reach distant worlds."
"'That's quite a disrespectful way to put it.'"
"Hahaha, when you live for a long time, your relationship with faith changes. However, it would be a big mistake to think that we demons don't kill people."
"'What do you mean?'"
"If we kill the 'Key,' for each one we kill, the pathway connecting Asteris and this world expands. If that happens, our god should be able to intervene with their power. The world's defense system won't matter at all."
"'...'"
"Some 'keys' have already been hunted. From now on, heroes (eiyuu) from demon side that more powerful than me will come to this world, and the battles will become even more intense."
Saying that, Luiid laughed.
So that's how it worked. While I found the way the God-Demon War operated, transferring many humans and demons to another world, to be strange, it finally made sense.
The system of the Great War itself functioned as a kind of magic.
With my understanding, Luiid closed his eyes as if he had finished speaking.
"Well, there should be no more need. Go ahead and kill me."
That's right. There probably wouldn't be any more information coming from him, and he was a demon, a dangerous existence just by being alive.
I raised my sword and aimed the tip at Luiid's neck.
But...
'Yuusuke, there's something I want you to hear.'
Fragments of memory shot through my brain like lightning.
The movement of the sword stopped, and I squinted beneath my helmet.
It was a fleeting memory, like an interlude conversation inserted between stories. Did he foresee this future from the beginning, or were those words spoken in jest the stake that pierced me?
No matter how much I thought, the answer wouldn't come. The only man who knew was the strongest one of all, and I had killed him.
Luiid opened his eyes and looked at me.
"Why... aren't you killing me? Do you, a mere human, intend to show mercy to me, a warrior?"
"'Silence.'"
He still had value to me. The God-Demon War clearly had many suspicious aspects, and Luiid could offer insights from the demon's perspective.
His magic circuits were already on the verge of collapse, and he would likely be unable to use magic that resembled magic anymore. The current Luiid was nothing more than an elderly man who Tsukiko and the others could easily handle.
I found several reasons within myself and gently pulled back the sword.
Luiid's voice trembled in astonishment.
"What are you planning, Hero? Are you disrespecting me, a warrior?"
"'This isn't Asteris. I can't soil this world with my own decisions.'"
I would leave his fate to Tsukiko and the others.
If it came to harming people after that, I would definitely be the one to cut his head off.
With that decision in my heart, I turned my back on Luiid.
* * *
"That's the situation. Right now, that demon is being held in a prison reserved for magicians. Sorry for making a unilateral decision."
Saying that, I bowed my head to Kanami.
For a Guardian like her, the outcome should have been absolutely unacceptable.
However, Kanami shook her head.
"Please lift your head. Everything is based on Hero-sama's noble thoughts. There's no need for someone like me to interfere."
"I see."
Well, it's not exactly noble thoughts, more like my personal circumstances. But for now, let's just be grateful that I've been forgiven, shall we?
"Now, it's my turn. Hero-sama, lend me your ear."
Kanami beckoned me, and I leaned forward on the table. She fixed her serious gaze on me.
A pleasant fragrance filled my nose, and her silky hair brushed against my cheek. To an onlooker, it might have appeared as if we were about to kiss.
I mean, Kanami-san, we're a little too close for comfort. I'm not used to this sort of thing, so I'd appreciate it if you could back off a bit. Though I'm already quite happy with the current situation.
While I was entertaining silly thoughts, Kanami whispered in my ear.
"Demons are already operating in this vicinity."
It seems like one problem follows another, just as it always does.
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