Volume 2 Chapter 23 [Interlude] Ten Years Ago, Part II
Not dark.
Not cold.
Not hard.
It had been so long since she'd known such a awakening, that of a young girl.
Waiting for her was a warm meal.
Reaching out to that meal... her eyes traced over her arms, her face, touching here and there... it was only natural to be bewildered by the absence of any 'scars.'
And then... regardless of the state of her body or heart, it was a fact that 'external injuries' were easily healed for S-Rank Adventurers.
That morning began with trying to make sense of the girl's confusion.
...It was only reasonable for her master's companion to be standing nearby, a look of astonishment on his face.
* * *
It's not just that children heal quickly.
That's not all, surely.
The girl's will to live, her will to grow strong, and the meticulous care of her master ── all of it healed her body.
By the time a month had passed, she was a 'beautiful young girl,' the kind that would undoubtedly grow into a stunning beauty.
"Now then, Rangella. First, we need to get you to activate your magic."
"Magic... I've never been able to..."
"Don't worry. There's a trick to it."
"What kind of trick?"
"Well... magic craves 'stability.' It's not about becoming anything and everything, but about having the potential to 'become' ── that's what magic is."
"The potential to become anything?"
"Right. So, a strong image... or rather, a 'conviction' of what you want to become is necessary. Let's start training with that in mind."
"Okay!"
...Some time later.
"Mmmmmuuuuh! Mmmmmuuuuh!"
With her small hands outstretched, Rangella was trying her hardest.
At the tips of her fingers, something 'murky' was forming, somewhat like 'water,' but... she was still just a 7-year-old girl.
Her scientific knowledge wasn't all that impressive, and she didn't quite understand what water really was.
Nor did she fully grasp what it meant to 'create' it.
Thus, her hands merely wove a mist, failing to produce water at her fingertips.
"...Maybe you should take a break?"
"No, I feel like I'm just a bit away from nailing it──it's all about the image, isn't it?"
"Magic is fundamentally all about the image, right?"
"Would you cut that out? You're so annoying."
"Mmmmmuuuuuh! Mmmmmuuuuuuh!"
Rangella tries her best, but even still, an image of a 7-year-old just doesn't cut it.
"Um, you know, it's like that... uh..."
"Mmmmmuuuuuh!"
"Yeah, that's it! Like you're trying to be all modest and stuff!"
"Mmm!"
In the next moment, Rangella's lower half tightens up, and water bursts into existence right before her palm.
It falls and spreads out in the basin.
"I did it!"
Rangella beams with a full-faced smile, but...
"Ugh, this is tricky, Master."
"It's not good to always imagine the bigger stuff when you use magic."
"I'm reflecting on it."
"You better improve next time."
Ivan lets out a thoroughly exasperated sigh.
Well, when you're shown something that's not even worth a joke, it's hard to come up with a comment.
...It was that night.
"...Oh yeah, Ivan, you've been preparing for a trip, but what's up? Going on an expedition somewhere?"
"...I've been thinking about this since you started training Rangella, but I'm considering dissolving our combo."
"Huh?"
Seeing Horace's bewildered look, Ivan thinks, 'That's a rare expression,' but...
"I've got a man I admire. He's nothing like you. Sure, our strengths complemented each other, and if I were to team up with someone, I'd say you're the best. But... you've become a 'teacher.' That doesn't fit with me."
"Ivan..."
"The fact that Rangella needs training is the truth. She can change the world. She can become that person. And... you're the only one who should teach her the ways."
"..."
"I'm chasing after my admiration. You do what you want to do. If we continue like that, we don't need a combo... and this is just a prediction, but I bet you'll quit being an Adventurer eventually. But the man I admire, he's an Adventurer for life."
"...I guess that's how it was."
"He's thinking of starting a guild. It's not just us anymore──more people are showing up at the front lines. Not that it's all good news; most of them are guys, and... well, way too many get "charmed" by the Demon Lord just by making the wrong move. Because of that, we can barely keep the support teams together in the rear."
"Yeah, makes sense. The kind of Adventurers Ivan looked up to... they'd never abandon the people working behind the scenes, would they?"
"Exactly."
Ivan looks Horace dead in the eye.
No hesitation, just stubborn resolve.
Anyone could see Ivan's made up his mind. There's no turning back.
Still, when it comes to holding tight to those dreams... Horace is the one who never lets go.
"A guild, huh. Got a name for it yet?"
"I want to do something big, you know? Let's just say... I'll make sure it leaves a mark."
"Got it. So, when are you heading out?"
"Right now."
"Whoa──seriously? Man, you never change."
Horace lets out a sigh, but there's not a trace of disapproval in his voice.
He's not holding Ivan back.
"...Just one thing before you go. Horace──do you really think, if it's Rangella... could she take down the Demon Lord?"
"Sooner or later, yeah. Don't worry. She'll do it──no doubt in my mind."
"...Good enough for me."
Ivan pushes his chair back and rises.
"Five years, fighting at your side. It's been a hell of a ride."
"Wait──it's been 5 years already? Damn. Hard to believe it's been that long. Remember when we both signed up as Adventurers? Same day, both of us just punk kids at 12. Then bam, 2 months later the Demon Lord pops up and the whole world goes nuts... and now? We're S-Rank. Feels unreal."
Horace is laughing, and Ivan's grinning back.
Neither one's putting on a brave face──they mean it.
"Take care of yourself, Horace."
"You too, Ivan. Go show them what you've got."
When it's time to part, there's no messy scene──no one begging the other to stay. Just quiet understanding.
They both know what needs to be said. No hard feelings, no regrets.
All that matters: even apart, they trust each other to find their own kind of victory.
"..."
Ivan's back grows smaller, fading into the distance──until he's gone.
...Rangella had been there the whole time.
Watching the two of them, silent.
* * *
Horace is the type to try and act superior when he fights dragons──especially if he can show off his smarts.
In other words: all that research, every battle technique──he's the kind of guy who has to put it all into words, pin it down with logic.
That's just how he rolls.
After imparting the basics to Rangella, the goal was to weave those theories into something she could 'understand'──apply them as her own.
Yet, even after gaining considerable combat prowess, Rangella still hesitated to become an Adventurer.
Traveling the world at large──it's easiest as an Adventurer.
But Rangella wouldn't budge... eventually, she cited the reason, "Because Horace became an Adventurer at 12," and Horace never brought it up again.
Choosing not to be an Adventurer also meant avoiding far travels, and for Horace, the meaning of remaining one faded away.
Around that time, a 'special provision' was set at the world conference, allowing even former Adventurers to find plenty of work.
Horace seized the opportunity, setting his sights on the antennae and entering the Diamante Kingdom, taking up a post at the castle.
While keeping it from Rangella, he maintained a policy of preparing a self-training menu for her during their time at the castle.
Teaching alone wouldn't make her another Horace──and since Rangella was not Horace, mimicking the same fighting style would inevitably lead to 'limitations.'
To arrange things more effectively, she needed to think for herself as well.
Occasionally, she'd pick up a 'disciple' or 'student' along the way, and Rangella grew stronger... deciding on her twelfth birthday to become an Adventurer.
The result of that is already plain to see.
Ten years before real time...
Horace and Ivan imagined a future where Rangella defeated the Demon Lord.
That future came to pass.
It was an amazing feat, one that was recognized, one that was appreciated.
But the world was so... complacent, it couldn't even fully accept it.
...It's about time. Let's return to the present.
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