Volume 17 Chapter 13 Memories Of The Emblem
If I became a strong adventurer and could go with him... would "big brother" not have died?
But when I heard that the party he was with was completely wiped out, I realized that was a naive thought.
Even if there is one strong person, it's not enough.
I need a fundamentally "different power."
I want a power that can protect everyone──.
After the death of "big brother" and his party, I started to think about such things.
Eventually, I realized I had a "different power" from those around me when I was about 7 years old.
I was told I had a talent for magic... and I began to learn magic from a magician sent from the town.
In bigger cities, children with talent are gathered in magic academies, but this town doesn't have anything like that.
Well, if I had a genius-level talent for magic, I would have been invited as a special student, but my talent was said to be average for a magician.
Moreover, I tried learning various types of magic like attack magic, defense magic, curses, and summoning magic, but none of them worked for me.
There was only one thing I could use── "enchantment magic."
"Oh, you have quite a good talent."
The female magician who was my teacher praised me happily when I succeeded in enchantment magic.
It was the first time in my life that someone praised me for something.
In fact, I was praised for learning enchantment magic much faster than average.
Generally, enchantment magic is magic that enhances the performance of weapons and tools.
You can bestow "Strengthening points" converted from magic power to enhance the target's performance.
Usually, if you can bestow around "+3" or "+5," you are considered a high-level enchantment magician, but I could bestow even higher numbers── around "+10," "+15," or "+20."
That said, there is a limit to the "Bestowal points" I have, so I have to keep an eye on my remaining points while bestowing.
"Teacher, enchantment magic has various explanations that come up, so it's easy to understand, right?"
"Explanations? What do you mean by that?"
"Huh? Don't you hear a voice in your head when you use the spell?"
"I... have never heard such a voice."
My explanation left my teacher confused.
"Well, even with the same type of magic, the manifestation patterns can differ by the user. In your case, Rain-kun, it seems you have the characteristic of hearing such voices."
Is that how it is?
At the time, I lightly brushed off my teacher's explanation.
Recently, I learned that the voice wasn't a characteristic of magic but was actually the "will of the stars" speaking to me... but back then, I had no way of knowing that.
Looking back now, I think the reason I couldn't learn any other magic was that I didn't have the pure talent of a magician.
I thought what I was using was 'enchantment magic,' but it turns out it was actually the [Bestowal] of a 'Relic Holder.'
And most of that power hasn't awakened yet. It probably fully awakened when I was expelled from 'Fang of the Beast King.'
But at that time, I didn't understand anything.
I just believed I was a magician specialized in enchantment magic, and my teacher thought so too.
* * *
After several years of training, I learned the basics as an enchantment magic user. When I turned 13, I joined the adventurer guild 'Fang of the Beast King' through my teacher's introduction.
My role was to perform 'Enhancement Bestowal' on the equipment and items of the guild members.
"I want to become a strong adventurer who can take down monsters easily!"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
When I expressed my hopes, the Guild Master, Barrios, made a face that clearly mocked me.
"You can only use enchantment magic. You don't seem to have the qualities of a warrior, and without attack or defense magic, you can't really work as a magician in the field. Just stick to Enhancement Bestowal."
"Uh..."
"Do you have a complaint? You were recommended because you can use enchantment magic to some extent, and that's why we hired you in 'Fang of the Beast King'."
Barrios seemed like an arrogant man who looked down on others──especially those below him.
I had rarely met someone who openly despised others like that, so I was initially shocked... I remember feeling surprised.
I realized there are people like this in the world...
"We have many guild members, so go ahead and do Enhancement Bestowal on all the weapons and armor. You'll have plenty of work."
"...Understood."
It was different from the hopes I had when I aspired to be an adventurer, but I couldn't let my master's face be ruined since he recommended me, and I had to make a living too.
I didn't like Barrios's way of speaking, but I swallowed my unpleasant feelings and agreed.
From that day on, I used enchantment magic day in and day out.
Sometimes, to replenish my Strengthening points, I would get help from guild members to hunt monsters, but honestly, I was a burden there.
As Barrios said, I wasn't suited for the field.
Every time I went out on a hunt, my disappointment in myself grew.
As a child, I dreamed of being a strong adventurer who could charge forward and take down monsters, but once I started working, that dream gradually faded.
However, as I continued, I began to find joy in the work of 'Enhancement Bestowal.'
"Rain, the weapon you enhanced for me is pretty good!"
There were members who said things like that.
I was genuinely happy.
And at the same time──I realized that rather than stepping forward to be the main character, I wanted to support everyone and share in their joy.
Thinking that way, I was really enthusiastic about Bestowal of weapons and armor in Fang of the Beast King.
I wanted to be helpful.
I wanted to see everyone's happy faces.
After Bestowal on over 500 weapons and armor──everyone used them and succeeded in quest after quest.
I felt like I was really helping everyone.
I felt fulfilled.
So──when I was expelled from Barrios, I was shocked.
Once Bestowal was over, was I no longer needed?
Was my importance in the guild only that much?
I was seen as a replaceable tool──like a disposable item.
When I was expelled, the people I thought were my friends mocked and insulted me.
No, I was probably the only one who thought we were friends.
The guild members who praised me were actually just lifting me up to use me for their own benefit.
So, I felt betrayed.
I felt like everything I had done was being denied.
That's why I collected all the Strengthening points I had used for Bestowal.
Looking back now, I think that was too much.
I have regrets and guilt.
But at that time──the sadness was too great, and I couldn't hold myself back.
* * *
After that, when I joined 'Blue Crystal', I felt like my heart came back to life.
Everyone was warm.
No one treated me like a tool.
There was familiarity and respect among my fellow adventurers.
And there was Nina, who always healed my heart.
After being expelled from 'Fang of the Beast King', my heart, which had been screaming in sadness and despair, was saved by everyone in 'Blue Crystal'.
So──when I heard the 'Voice of the Stars' asking for help, I felt something deep inside me.
Ah, it's the same as me.
It felt similar to how I was back then.
To help the stars, I probably need to go to the deepest part of 'The Heart of the Stars'.
I don't know what I can do there──
But it seemed like the voice calling me wanted something from me.
Maybe it's my [Bestowal], or something that a 'Relic Holder' can do.
If that can save the stars──I want to give it my all.
Of course, saving the stars means saving this world.
I don't feel like we're in a crisis right now.
Honestly, when the Light Dragon King appeared, it felt much more like a 'world crisis'.
But aside from that──I have a more pure feeling of wanting to 'help'.
I think that's because the feelings in 'Voice of the Stars' are very similar to the feelings I once had.
So... it's not about the world; this is a more personal feeling.
But there are many competitors.
It seems that if you reach the center of the star, you will be granted great power, and those who hold a 'Relic' are aiming for that place.
Right now, Goldred, who is with me, is one of them, and surely other Relic Holders are too.
Whether I can get to the center of the star before them.
For that, I need more power than I have now.
In fact, the 3rd spell of [Change] that Goldred showed me was extremely powerful. Goldred showed me was incredibly powerful.
To be able to create multiple copies of a Light Dragon King-class monster...
It seems like it uses a lot of points, just like my [Bestowal], so he probably can't use it too often, but I still don't know how many more he can make.
No, even more, Goldred might have reached an even higher power──the '4th spell.'
The '4th spell' of a 'Relic Holder' that I still can't activate.
It seems that to activate it, I need to not only spend points but also manifest the 'Crest of Domination.'
I have no idea how to bring that out.
──Wait a minute.
Now that I think about it, something like this happened during my training days──.
* * *
V...Humm!
"U, u-whoa!?"
That day, when I was practicing enchantment magic as usual──.
Suddenly, the back of my right hand emitted a dazzling glow, and I was surprised.
I think I was about 12 at the time.
"C-calm down, my right hand...!"
I shouted without thinking.
Could it be that my true power, hidden until now, has awakened──?
I remember getting lost in such fantasies back then.
When I told my teacher about it, she looked at me with strangely gentle eyes.
'Yeah, yeah, Rain. Everyone has "that time."'
Mirabell used to call this kind of thing 'chuunibyou' or something like that...
No, that was when I was 14.
At that time, I accidentally put 'Strengthening points' into 'myself.'
Well, anyway.
The crest, huh?
Speaking of that, I remember there was an announcement saying that to activate the 'enchantment magic──4th spell type,' I need the 'Crest of Domination.'
I've been wondering how to bring out that crest...
But now that I think about it, maybe that thing I used during my training days was it?
I can't believe I forgot about it until now. Why did I forget?
...Maybe deep down, I felt embarrassed about that 'chuunibyou' phase I went through.
It's like what people call a dark history.
But after a long time, I'm starting to remember it a bit.
It's called [Bestowal].
Originally, my enchantment magic only works on non-living things.
So, if I try to use it on living beings, it won't boost their abilities or enhance any traits.
Of course, if I use 'Strengthening points' on myself, nothing will happen.
That's why I usually put 'Strengthening points' into weapons or items...
But back then, I accidentally put 'Strengthening points' into myself.
And then the crest appeared.
However, after that, even when I tried to use [Bestowal] on myself again, the crest didn't show up.
So, there might be other conditions to make the crest appear.
I wonder what those conditions are...
If I can figure them out... and if that's the 'Crest of Domination'...
I should be able to activate the mysterious 'enchantment magic──4th spell type'!
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