Volume 3 Chapter 30 The Difference Between Brave And Hero (Part One)
This guy I know, Relix, he's been like a 'Brave' even before officially becoming one. He's the kind of guy who, you could say, embodies some sort of 'ideal' as a person and as a man.
"I've been doing my best in my own way all this time. I've been striving to be Brave. And actually, a lot of people have recognized that about me."
But―― now, the Relix standing in front of me looks completely different from the one I knew before.
"But even though nobody was expecting anything from you, you always end up getting the highest praise. Like this time, Yukina is the one getting the highest praise from the king."
"Well, that's just hindsight talking."
I wasn't intentionally trying to make things turn out this way.
Without any real reason or logic, I was just sort of moving forward, preparing for the worst-case scenario, and that one in a million chance actually happened. It just happened to fall in my favor this time around.
"You know, things don't usually work out this perfectly all the time."
"But when it really counts, you're always a step or two ahead, making things happen. Especially when it matters most, you deliver the best results."
Grasping the balcony railing, Relix lowered his head.
"When the demon attacked, by the time I rushed to the royal castle, the battle was pretty much over. All I really did was spar with a weakened demon and send them back. Even back when it was the Kobold King... no, even before that, when I was still in the village――"
His expression was hidden, but the grip on the railing tightened. That showed where his heart was at.
"I'm not seeking praise. I'm not striving as a Brave for that reason. I haven't misunderstood that part. But, I've always been envious of you, and at the same time, jealous."
I had no idea he felt that way. He never showed any signs of it when we talked.
Huh? Before that?
"Hey, wait, you mean you brought me to the royal capital for..."
"Yeah, that's right. I wanted someone to talk to for real, but not just that. I wanted you to acknowledge me. By become a Brave, I wanted to prove myself to you."
Relix spilled it out without hesitation in response to my question.
"But you didn't seem to care about me at all."
"Ah, sorry about that..."
I can't say that the reason I came to Royal Capital was to flirt with a beautiful lady.
"Sure, that's the reason. But, actually, it's more like I brought you here to catch your interest."
But... Relix continues, undeterred.
"Our starting points were the same... well, I was the 'Brave' and you were just a 'villager.' It sounds harsh, but let's face it, I had the upper hand from the get-go. Yet somehow, you've managed to climb to my level, if not higher."
Relix had the backing of the country behind him in his battles. Meanwhile, I, on the other hand, came to the royal capital practically empty-handed, starting from scratch.
"It's not just about the battles. Those two are the same."
"...Kyunei and Mikage, huh?"
"You must have noticed by now, right? That they were chosen as candidates to join me on my journey as the Brave."
"So, that's how it was, huh?"
He didn't say it himself, but I had a feeling deep down that it might be true. Otherwise, there'd be no reason for Relix to visit Kyunei, the town doctor, out of the blue. And as for Mikage, she probably came to the royal capital originally to join Relix's group. Somehow, fate twisted, and she ended up as my subordinate.
"When I visited, both of them had already joined your group. And you were ahead of me."
I've been struggling to find the right words to say to him since earlier. I can tell Relix feels jealous, but the intensity of that jealousy catches me off guard.
"This makes bringing you to the royal capital seem pointless. Instead, it feels like I've been made a fool of. It's almost like I'm just a clown in this whole situation."
Relix lifted his gaze, a mix of frustration and complex emotions brewing on his face.
"Tell me. How did a mere villager like you, not a Brave or anything, end up here? Why are you standing before me?"
"..."
"What sets you apart from me? What's the difference between you and me — between 'Brave' and 'Hero'?"
I was a little surprised that the word "hero" came out of Relix's mouth.
Why does everyone call me 'Hero'? I still don't quite understand. It's not like I proclaimed it myself or there was some agreement. Yet, somehow, everyone ends up calling me Hero.
Amidst his questioning, Gram's words resurfaced in my mind.
'If the chosen one is called Brave... Then the one who chooses is the Hero.'
I see. Relix isn't just looking for a simple 'it.' Even though a specific answer hasn't popped up, some speculative thoughts have come to mind.
"So, Relix, why do you fight?"
"Well... Because I'm brave."
That just clicked with me the moment I heard it.
"Alright then, why do you do brave stuff?"
"...What do you want to say?"
Without answering Relix's question, I pressed on.
"You're doing brave stuff because you were chosen by some god or something, right? So what were you doing before that? Why were you leading a vigilante group? Probably to repay the favor of being raised, right?"
"You're right, but... what's wrong with that?"
"Nothing's wrong with it. It's actually pretty commendable as far as human behavior goes."
Probably, Relix's standard of action is 'selfless.' Always moving for something other than oneself. It seems natural, and it's an admirable deed that no one else can imitate. Ah, now I get why people around Relix admire him so much
"Okay, so in your case, Why have you been fighting all this time, Yukina?"
"For myself. I've been fighting for my own sake, always have been."
When it comes to Relix, I'm basically selfish. It's always about 'me' at the core, I don't do stuff for someone else's sake.
"And if there's one big difference between you and me, that's where it lies."
"I don't really get what you mean."
"Then I'll ask again──"
Relix, being all selfless, and me, being selfish.
The clear difference between us is──.
"Did you want to become a Brave?"
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