Side Story - Side Braver V, Part Two
After saying goodbye to Silver Flash and leaving the Mercenary Guild, we boarded a carriage heading back to the royal castle. Things have calmed down a bit, but the enthusiasm for Brave hasn't died down yet. If I show my face without warning, people will gather, and we will not be able to move.
However, if I'm riding in a carriage owned by the royal family that people don't usually get to see, someone with good intuition will notice a lot of things. Aina-sama said that such a degree is a service spirit.
(Hey, Leiva)
'How was it, Master?'
I spoke to Leiva of the Holy Sword in my heart.
No one, except myself, knows that the Holy Sword is a weapon with a will. This is a secret even to Aina-sama.
At first, I was thinking of telling only Aina-sama, but none other than Leiva stopped me from telling her. When I asked her why, she didn't give me an answer, but she was an intelligent girl. It's not hard to imagine that there's a good reason for this. I didn't pursue it further.
When I need to share a little secret, it's convenient to be able to have a conversation with Leiva in my mind.
(You were listening earlier, right?)
'Yes, of course.'
(Well then, can you tell me what the difference is between 'Brave' and 'Hero'?)
I didn't even know if there was a difference between the two. But somehow, I felt there was a vague but clear difference.
It reminded me of the difference between me and Yukina.
'A 'Brave' is someone who carries the wishes of the people and saves the world. In this era, that's definitely you.'
I understand that. I'm here to save the world from the impending threat of the Demon King. The Stigma engraved on my right hand and the Holy Sword Leiva, which recognized me as her master, are proof of that.
So what about a Hero then?
A Hero in stories also bravely fights against impending threats, just like a Brave, and saves the world. Of course, there may be some exaggeration in fictional works, but in that sense, the legend of the Brave is probably similar.
'...Certainly, heroes can save the world. But that's only in hindsight and limited to what is generally known.'
(That's a tricky way of saying it.)
'...The true essence of a hero is a "strong selfishness".'
Selfishness... Does that mean being self-centered?
Just with this, it's strangely understandable.
Yukina doesn't usually follow what others say. If he believes it's necessary for himself, he'll act accordingly, but if he doesn't like it, he stubbornly refuses to accept it. That's the kind of person he is.
'If it means fulfilling their own wishes, they will do whatever it takes. With that audacious driving force, they will eventually "transform" the world. That's what a "hero" is.'
A 'brave' is someone who accepts people's wishes and saves the world.
A 'hero' is someone who uses their own wishes as power to change the world.
I see. They seem similar, but at their core, they're different.
'That's why there shouldn't be someone called a "hero." The one who saves the world is undoubtedly Master who is a "brave." As evidence, throughout history, there has never been a time when a "hero" appeared on the stage while the "brave" was present.'
Leiva, who has defeated the Demon King multiple times alongside numerous Braves, says it, so it must be true.
'That woman called Silver Flash was a big disappointment. She seems decently skilled, but to think she would consider someone like Hero as her lord... What a misguided existence.'
(This is the first time you've been so harsh.)
'It's only natural. Heroes, like that, are despicable beings. ...Choosing someone so uncouth and vulgar.'
(Leiva?)
I couldn't quite catch the last part, but I understood that she held a strong animosity towards the 'Hero'. It might have been a sensitive topic that shouldn't be touched upon. I heard an intriguing story, but let's stop there.
After finishing the secret discussion with the Holy Sword (Leiva), I turned my gaze towards Aina-sama, who was sitting across from me.
Once again, she had "that" expression on her face.
The gaze is directed outside the window, but even I can tell that Aina-sama is not looking there. It's a face that doesn't show any emotions, but it carries a sadness that squeezes the heart of the onlooker.
When she makes that face, she always places her hand on her chest.
Lately, I noticed that she does that gesture because she's touching the "pendant" hanging from her neck.
"────? What's the matter, Brave-sama?"
"Oh, nothing... It's just... I'm sorry about Silver Flash."
She noticed that I was facing her, so she asked me in a normal way. I ended up getting flustered and started talking about something neutral.
"Yes, it's true that Silver Flash had impressive skills and experience. But since she has already made up her mind about someone else, we can't force her to join the journey to defeat the Demon King. If we were to do that, it would surely lead to fatal mistakes somewhere along the way. Let's change our mindset here and start looking for the next person."
Aina-sama's reaction seemed natural. She didn't hesitate with her words.
It seemed like she unconsciously had that expression on her face.
"Um... Aina-sama, may I ask you something?"
"What is it... Could it be that your real intention was there?"
"Well, yes."
I felt a little embarrassed and scratched my cheek as if trying to hide my feelings.
"Actually... it's about the pendant you're wearing, Aina-sama."
It might be rude to say, but it seemed mismatched for someone like Aina-sama, who is a member of the royal family. It looks stylish, but it also seems like something anyone could buy.
Of course, I didn't say it out loud, but Aina-sama's reaction when I mentioned the pendant was quite noticeable.
She took a small breath, then lowered her gaze and tightly held the pendant on her chest with a gentle gesture.
Just by that action, I could tell how much she cherished that pendant.
"Is it something important?"
"Yes... It is my treasure."
Aina-sama answered with a smile.
Now it was my turn to be breathless.
Aina-sama's smile was similar to the one Silver Flash had.
It was that soft smile when you hold someone dear in your heart.
I don't have someone I can confidently say 'yes' to yet. But I was convinced. That pendant was given to Aina-sama by someone important to her.
(...Could it be?)
The identity of the person who sent the pendant to Aina-sama briefly crossed my mind.
It seemed too far-fetched.
It was like something out of a story, like a 'Hero tale'.
I immediately shook my head and denied it.
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