Chapter 18: So You’ve Shown Your True Colors

“We’re back—”

A few hours later, Karl and the others returned to the inn with their spoils of war.

“We got a ton of treasure. Not a bad haul at all.”

“Good work...”

“We’re back, Lev.”

Maika beamed with delight, while Karl carried a large bundle of treasure wrapped up like a cloth satchel.

“That’s quite a lot. Will we be able to exchange it all by tomorrow?”

“Nah. I’m thinking we’ll wait until we reach Yowin to cash it in. Right now this town’s a mess—the power balance is all over the place and prices are unstable.”

Hmm. That makes sense. Even if it’s bulky, better to carry it and exchange it where prices are fair.

It’d be a waste to let it go for a lowball price.

“By the way, there’s something I’d like to ask…”

I accepted that logic, sure.

But more than that, what’s been bugging me is—

“…heh, hehehe…”

—Sakura, sitting behind them with dead eyes, clutching a tiny necklace in her arms and crying quietly.

“…Um. What happened to Sakura-san?”

“Ah, she’s been through a lot. Just... give her some space.”

Just what the hell happened in the short time they were gone?

---

“Maika has a good eye for spotting value in goods.”

“If you don’t have a proper sense for appraising things, you’ll just get ripped off when you go shopping.”

Karl and Maika gave me a straightforward explanation for why Sakura was sulking in the corner of the inn.

“And that matters because…?”

“Well, you see…”

“Tendo’s so-called family heirlooms were mostly fakes. Even the keepsake from her mother turned out to be practically worthless. When she heard that… well, that’s how she ended up.”

“Man…”

Apparently, Sakura had proudly introduced the heirlooms of the Tendo family, only to be told most of them were just junk. It hit her hard.

In the end, she only took some of her everyday clothing and a few accessories. Most of the treasures the Tendo family had stored carefully in their vault for generations turned out to be cheap trinkets—and she left them behind.

“…Unforgivable. Those damn merchants—I'm going to make them pay.”

“The necklace Sakura’s holding now is just colored glass, made to look like an Aquaruby. I told her it was cheap and didn’t need to be brought along.”

“But apparently, it was a birthday gift from her late mother—and her most precious keepsake. After she heard that… well, she hasn’t been the same.”

“Oof. That hurts.”

To find out your most treasured possession is actually worthless... that would crush anyone.

Her father disappeared, her organization was destroyed by demons, her heirlooms were fakes... It’s like Sakura was born under a cursed star.

I want to cheer her up somehow.

“…Sakura-san.”

“Irine.”

“Please don’t be sad. That necklace in your hand—there’s no doubt in my mind that it’s the real thing.”

Alright. Looks like it’s my turn as the emotionally mature one. If we factor in my memories from my past life, I’m easily the oldest person here.

Heh. Time to show off my wise and compassionate noble-lady persona.

“…What do you mean?”

“I mean that its monetary value is hardly what makes it important. The worth of a gift lies in the feelings behind it.”

As I said that, I took out a pendant from my bag—the one my little sister had given me.

A dark brown pendant with an unusual, almost ominous sheen. To me, it was unmistakably a treasure.

“This was given to me by my sister, right before I departed.”

“…I’ve never seen a material like that before. What is it?”

“Likely made from metal extracted from soil. Which means if I tried to sell it, I’d barely get anything for it.”

But I gently wrapped the pendant in cloth and placed it back into my bag.

“Even so, it’s my most precious belonging. It carries my sister’s pure feelings.”

“Irine…”

“Even if that Aquaruby is fake—do you think the love your mother had for you was fake as well?”

Money doesn’t matter. What really counts is heartfelt sincerity!

Yeah, that was a pretty good speech, if I do say so myself. Glad I trained my brain for this.

“…I see. That actually makes me feel a bit better. Thanks, Irine.”

“We’re companions now, bound together through thick and thin. No need to thank me.”

Sakura’s expression softened, and the atmosphere lightened. Phew, now I can breathe easy.

“And it looks like everyone made it back safe. I’m glad there were no run-ins with any bad people.”

“Ah—actually, we did have a bit of a scuffle with some thugs.”

“Oh my.”

So there was a fight after all.

Hmmm. Maybe I should’ve gone with them. I mean, Karl’s one thing, but if Sakura or Maika had gotten hurt…

Especially Sakura. Whether it’s because she’s a fellow noble or because of that time with the monkey, I feel oddly close to her.

“What kind of fight was it?”

“Pretty large-scale ambush. Some creepy musclehead named Fugger showed up as their leader.”

“Wait, Fugger!? As in that Fugger the Hundred-Killer!?”

“You know him, Irine?”

Know him? I’ve fought the guy before.

If I recall, he was a top thug under some arrogant noble and a ridiculously strong killer. When I fought him, I had the edge in raw strength, but almost lost because he was far more experienced in brawling.

They were lucky to come back unscathed.

“I’ve only heard rumors of his infamy. A former bandit, said to be a merciless monster.”

“Ah, so that’s who he was. I didn’t really care, since he went down in one hit.”

“…Is that so? I’m just glad Karl was with you.”

Well, I guess that muscle brute was no match for Karl. Anyone who can crush waves of demons like Karl isn’t exactly easy prey.

Fugger’s probably considered insanely strong by normal adventurer standards. I think he had fighting skills close to Lev’s, my mentor.

Even if I’d fought him again, I don’t know if I would’ve won.

“…No, Irine. The one who floored Fugger in a single blow was Maika.”

“...What.”

What.

“Well, it was a sneak attack. Super clean, too.”

"Ugh, I just remembered. That huge musclehead screamed his last breath after Maika crushed his crotch... Bluaaaargh."

"S-Sakura!?"

What did she just remember?

Just when Sakura’s smile had finally returned, her face went pale again and she started vomiting.

"I can't believe she did something so brutal... Even if it was against Fugger, that was just overkill."

"C-Calm down, Sakura. Maika shows no mercy to enemies, but she's really kind to her allies."

Wait a minute. In my head, Maika is supposed to be the reasonable one in our party.

Could she really have done something so disturbing that just remembering it made Sakura puke?

"Y-You're exaggerating, right? I mean, I’m weak, so I just naturally ended up with a fighting style that targets vital spots..."

"Yeah, that’s true. Maika’s not that strong in combat, no doubt. It’s just that what she does is kinda... savage."

"...Even I get creeped out sometimes. I get that it’s logical... but still, it’s a bit much..."

Even Lev, who’s fairly attached to Maika, gets freaked out by her actions?

Wait, does that mean Maika’s actually... really dangerous? Maybe I shouldn’t get too close to her?

"That’s not true, Irine! I’m not some dangerous person or anything! So please stop looking at me like that!"

"This is just my opinion, but purely in terms of threat level, Maika’s probably at the top of humanity. She just doesn’t have much raw combat power."

"...Maika has insane tactical judgment. She’s the type who would never get involved in a losing battle. Which also means... if Maika’s on your side, it basically guarantees victory. She’s like the Grim Reaper of the battlefield."

R-Right. Come to think of it, Karl once said, “No matter what, I had to get Maika on the team.”

She was Karl’s very first companion—one of the original members of the Hero’s party. Even if she doesn’t match Karl, she must have some exceptional abilities.

"In terms of threat to humanity, the big demon I fought yesterday was about 0.5 Maikas. Two of them make up the threat level of one Maika."

"...The truly terrifying ones aren’t demons or murderers. It’s the ones who seem normal at first glance... The real threats are the ones who don’t feel like threats."

"Eep..."

I get it now. Karl and the others... they’re dead serious.

No way... You're telling me that the two monsters I just barely managed to defeat—together—are only equal to one Maika?

Then I’ve got no chance against her whatsoever.

"This is a prank! You’re all just messing around, right!? Irine’s actually starting to believe you, so hurry up and clear this up already!"

"Clear it up...?"

"...Clear what up?"

"Don’t look so confused!!"

Maika’s shouting for them to clear the misunderstanding, but Lev and Karl just stare at her like she’s a total mystery.

So... they’re not joking after all.

"Are you all right, Sakura? You seem terribly unwell. I’ll escort you to your room."

"T-Thank you, von Welmund. Just looking at that girl’s face brings back the trauma..."

"See!? Now Irine won’t even make eye contact with me!"

Even Karl, who usually only says good things about his comrades, is saying this with a completely serious face. No wonder everyone believes it.

"Calm down, Maika. It’s because of who you are that I asked you to join me first."

"That doesn’t make me happy! Hearing that right now makes it so much worse!"

"...But it’s true—if we’re heading out to defeat the Demon King, someone like Maika is the most reliable kind of ally. To understand ruthless enemies, you need a ruthless friend..."

"Lev, I’m gonna remember that, you hear me!? A-And Irine, it’s not true! It’s a misunderstanding, okay!?"

"I understand, I understand, so please, just... spare me. I’m still just a lowly, inexperienced mage..."

"That reaction means you don’t understand!!"

For now, I’ll just keep my head down. Until I’ve trained enough to beat yesterday’s demons with ease, I’ll treat Maika with all the respect she deserves.

So scary. Better double-lock the doors tonight.

"It’s a misunderstandiiiiiiing!!"

---

“…Lady Ilia.”

“What is it, Sara?”

—

Somewhere else entirely, inside a carriage traveling through a barren wilderness—

A certain younger sister and her maid were already on their way to the Arcane Research City of Yowin, a step ahead of the others.

“Isn’t it about time you returned home? If you don’t show your face to your father soon, I fear he’ll be quite upset.”

“No. I’m not going home until I’ve convinced my sister.”

“Judging by her demeanor, Lady Irine seems quite resolved. Your father has already given her his blessing for the journey. Perhaps it’s time to accept that—”

The two had learned, through a listening spell embedded in a protective charm, that Irine’s group was headed to Yowin next. So, they’d hurried ahead by carriage.

“Sara, what is your job?”

“Yes. It is to act according to your will and carry it out.”

“Exactly. Then this discussion is over.”

“Lady Ilia…”

Half out of desperation, the younger sister curtly dismissed her maid’s pleading.

Unlike Irine, who had formally received their father’s permission before leaving home, the younger sister had simply run away. Without a word. For days now.

If she went back like this, there’d be hell to pay. So, if she was going to get scolded anyway, she might as well go all in—that was probably how she really felt.

“Anyway, how much longer until we reach Yowin?”

“Roughly another full day, I believe.”

“Hmph. Traveling is far more uneventful than I expected.”

“Is that so.”

To clarify: the reason her journey was so uneventful was because the maid was doing all the actual work.

“I should’ve brought a book.”

“You’ll get motion sickness if you try reading in the carriage.”

Thus continued the carefree, lopsided journey of a sharp-tongued lady and her ever-dutiful maid.

One worried for her sister’s safety; the other trembled in fear of how she’d be punished for failing to stop her mistress.

Their peaceful, uneventful journey was—

“VUUBBOOOOHH!!”

“…What?”

—abruptly shattered by the appearance of a massive, hairy beast.

“…”

“Vuboooh…”

It had the face of a great ape, the body of a lion, and a grotesque howl like the cry of a madman.

It was a creature unlike anything the two had ever seen before.

“L-Lady Ilia…”

“…What is this thing?”

The sheer presence of the thing was more than enough to knock them from their blissful travel into sheer panic.

The monster in question was a demon beast that had narrowly escaped Karl’s slaughter and fled into the wilds.

Having barely survived, it had been wandering aimlessly in search of its scattered kin—

“VUKAAAH!!”

“GYAAAHH!!”

—when it stumbled upon something too good to be true: two humans, ripe for the eating.

Of course it was going to attack.

“Th-The carriage!! Papa’s going to scold me if it gets destroyed!!”

“We don’t have time for that! We have to run!”

The monster’s claws tore through the carriage like it was made of paper, turning it into a pile of junk. Ilia was dragged away by her maid just in time to avoid becoming a lump of meat.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have disobeyed! Forgive me, Father!”

“Waaahh! This wasn’t part of the contract!”

But so what?

Even if they got away from the wreck, the monster had already marked them as prey.

“Vuuuuhh…”

“A-a-aah… We’re done for.”

Could two unarmed humans outrun a savage beast?

The answer was obvious. From the moment it locked eyes on them, their fate had already been sealed.

“Sister, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for secretly putting tracking magic on you, for stealing your snacks, for always badmouthing you…”

“Lady Ilia, please forgive me. I’m sorry for sneaking into your bed at night, for spiking your meals with aphrodisiacs, for stealing your underwear before laundry…”

They must have realized their lives had reached a dead end.

The two stopped running, slumped to the ground, and began confessing their sins, as if hoping to cleanse their souls before death.

At the very least, they wanted to pass on peacefully in the afterlife.

“I… I wish I could’ve seen you one last time, Sister…”

“If I’m going to die like this… then maybe I should just…”

And then—at the very moment they’d resigned themselves to death—

.

.

.

——A deafening roar tore through the air as an aurora-like beam of light rained down from the heavens, vaporizing the monster in a single instant.

“…Hweh?”

“…Oh my?”

“That was a close one!”

Before their eyes, a massive crater had been carved into the earth.

The energy blast that created it was a magical artillery strike—one far more powerful than even the famed Spirit Cannon wielded by Ilia’s own sister, Irine, who had once been hailed as the strongest of all.

“Shocked, are you? Looks like some terrifying monster race—those so-called ‘Demonkin’—has started crawling back into the world!”

“Uh, um… what exactly…”

“That charred thing over there was one of them. The Demonkin. A monster with combat power so overwhelming, no human could ever hope to beat it.”

Indeed, the hulking beast—far larger than any human—was now reduced to a motionless lump of scorched remains, just as the girl said.

Whatever absurd strength it once had, it now lay silent and dead.

“But fret not, civilians.”

Appearing before the dumbfounded pair was a girl who cheerfully talked on and on, completely unprompted.

She wore a black robe and had long, blazing crimson hair that flickered like fire.

“The goddess has not abandoned this world. In fact, it is by her will that a Hero has been sent forth into the world once more.”

“Wait, um… sorry, Hero?”

“That’s right.”

The girl’s name—

“I am Aldebaran! The Hero clad in the power of Demonfire—Aldebaran, at your service!”

—

This encounter would mark the beginning of Ilia’s transformation, from an ordinary noble’s daughter to someone entangled in the strange and fateful paths of heroes destined to save the world.