Summoned by Mistress Falga, I went with Nea to the hall where the throne was.

Normally, the hall would have been filled with Norns, but this time there was no one there.

Thinking about how to get to the basement where Falga-sama was, I moved to the center of the hall, and the scaffolding sank to the floor by itself and I headed for the basement.

Perhaps Mistress Falga moved it remotely, but it seems safe to assume that she finally called only me.

 

"Is it something you don't want people to hear? No, but is there such a thing only for Falga-sama?"

"I don't know, even if it's a divine dragon, it's a demon of the same clan as the evil dragon. I don't know what I'm thinking inside. The old monster is cunning, mean, smart, and downright nasty."

"It's convincing when you say it...... isn't it?"

 

The boomerang is stuck with great momentum, but .......

From Nea's point of view, Falga-sama is old enough, but from my point of view as a human, Nea, who is 300 years old, is also long enough .......

I don't dare to say it for his own sake.

While we were having a casual conversation, we arrived at the basement and found Falga-sama emerging from the spring. When he notices that I've arrived, he slowly looks up and looks at Nea on my shoulder.

 

"Are you here too?"

"Why don't you come?"

"No, I don't care."

 

Mistress Farga replied to a grumpy Nea and shifted her gaze to me.

 

"There is a purpose in calling Usato."

"Purpose?"

 

Mr. Falga nodded at my words.

I wonder what happened yesterday and today? Also, I didn't bother to talk directly to my head.

 

"The battle with Charon is near, and if you go into battle with my fragments, you will inevitably be forced to face him head-on."

"That's right......

 

Whatever the plan of the day is, it will be my role to keep Mr. Charon in check.

But what's wrong with that?

 

"I am afraid that you and Charon may be mistaken and killed."

「...... What a mistake!?"

"There is no clear difference between you and Charon in close range fighting, I am afraid that he is trying to follow those who have lost their reason, but who are awakened by the dragon, with only their bodies and gauntlets."

 

I feel like I've been treated as a monster.

But I ...... wrong. I don't want that to happen, but Farga says it's a possibility.

 

"I don't think it's possible for this survivability-focused monster to die......?"

"Nea...... We're talking about something important right now. It's not a case of joking."

"I'm not kidding at all...... that dumbfounded look on my face is so annoying!"

 

I hope you don't water down the important story at all.

As if he wasn't convinced, he slid his head over his shoulder and turned to face Falga.

 

"So you didn't call me just to give you advice, did you?"

"Ah, just keep the words in mind. I have invited you here so that I can take a peek at your memory."

"My memory?"

 

What's the use of such a thing?

Could it be that you want to know otherworldly knowledge like Nea?

As I tilted my head, Falga-sama continued to speak.

 

"What you see is the memory of the hero you know."

"It's Inugami-senpai and Kazuki...... Do you mean the heroes of the Ringle Kingdom?"

"Yes, I probably won't meet the heroes of my Lingle Kingdom in person. Before you go into battle, I want to know what the hero you know is."

 

Inugami-senpai and Kazuki.

I don't know everything about them, but I wonder what Falga-sama will do when she finds out about them.

Unlike Nea, I don't think she's trying to look into my memories to satisfy her thirst for knowledge.

In the first place, wouldn't this person be able to grasp Kazuki with his seniors who are far away?

 

"The reason I know what a hero looks like is to see if he is worthy of making my armor."

"Isn't that a very serious matter?

 

If Faluga were to create a weapon for the two of them, it would be a veritable "weapon of the brave."

 

"It doesn't mean anything without you, and there's no one better qualified than you, who are probably the most trusted."

「...... I get it."

 

If you say that, you have no choice but to nod.

However, the seniors and Kazuki in my memory?

I have the impression that Kazuki is my best friend overall, but I ...... senpai.

I ...... that it is the appearance of seniors shaking off tension, the appearance of seniors throwing work away and being free, and the appearance of running away with desire.

......。

 

「...... Mr. Farga, I will tell you in advance that one of the heroes is a very strange person. But he's a good guy! Knowing that, look at my memories ......!"

"Hmm?"

"If you say that with a bitter expression, I think you'll only have a bad premonition...... is the hero you know such a freak ......?"

 

Falga-sama and Nea are pulling slightly.

Senpai is a person who stands out for his weirdness, but he is not a bad person. In fact, he's a very nice person.

I have a criminal record of spreading non-existent articles about me and my seniors all over the continent. But I don't take him lightly enough to hate him.

...... I'll get my revenge when I get back, though!

 

「...... Now, let me show you your memories."

"What am I doing?"

"Just think of him, not as a hero, but as a friend to you."

 

When he said that, a pattern of magic appeared in the eyes of Master Farga.

Since the shape is different from yesterday's, it must be to look into my memory.

I knew there was no danger, so I closed my eyes and imagined the two of them as Mistress Farga said.

...... The first thing that comes to mind is...... Let's see.

Let's remember from that rainy day, the day I first met them as an ordinary high school student.

 

●

 

Mistress Farga spent about half an hour looking at the memory.

For me, I was in a strange feeling like a daydream, so I thought it had been a long time. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Nea on his shoulder was absent-minded, and Mistress Farga was letting out a deep sigh.

 

"You seem to have been fortunate."

"yes, it's too much for me."

"Needless to say, the brave man you know has the qualities to entrust me with a piece of mine."

 

Good.

I ...... not to be told that my seniors are not suitable for entrusting weapons because they are different from ordinary heroes.

He is relieved to hear that Kazuki and his senpai will be able to leave his weapons in his hands.

 

"All that's left is for me to create and entrust that nucleus."

「......」

 

Create, commit?

I still remember how the Norns were in a hurry when they were remaking the hero's sword into mine.

To create a powerful armor, use parts of Farga-sama's body. With the exception of mine, as far as the performance of the other weapons is concerned, it is not just a separation of the body.

Judging by the strength of Charon's and the previous hero's weapons, it may be that the power itself is separated.

It ...... if the reason why the Norn was so flustered was because he was afraid that Farga-sama's actions would have a great impact on his body.

 

「...... Nope."

 

No matter what I say, I can't stop Falga-sama.

This person is aware of this and is about to leave the weapons to the two of them. It was this person who supported the Norn-sama who continued to maintain the barrier alone, even though it was a shadow.

I can't read his speculations, but I can definitely say that Falga-sama is on the side of humanity.

He even cuts off his own body and cooperates with us humans.

 

"Falga-sama likes humans, doesn't she?"

 

I know it's rude, but that's what I said.

At my words, Falga's eyes widen. After about ten seconds of silence, he spoke heavily.

 

"I have to tell you."

"Huh?"

"It's about where the dragon factor that sleeps within Charon came from."

 

What is the source of Charon's dragon power......?

I didn't expect it to be revealed by Mistress Norn or Leona, but by Mistress Farga herself.

 

"As it turns out, Charon is like my descendant."

"Huh!?"

 

The nair on his shoulder is astonished.

Seeing Nea's reaction, Mistress Falga smiled merrily.

 

"In that respect, I'm close to you, a hybrid of human and divine dragon. The dragon's blood is infinitely thin, but its potential will not fade and will be passed on."

 

Sure, there's something close to being a half-vampire and half-necromancer.

But I didn't think it was surprising.

As long as he had the dragon factor, he knew that there was some kind of blood mixed in with him. ...... I didn't think it belonged to Falga.

 

"Why do you have your power in Charon's body?"

 

In response to Nea's question, Mistress Farga lowers her voice slightly.

 

"The reason goes back to when the Demon King was overthrown and sealed away by the previous hero."

"Does the fact that the Demon King sealed it mean that it was hundreds of years ago?"

"That's right."

 

Is it that far back?

This may be a more difficult problem than I think.

 

"After the Demon King was sealed, I lost sight of the value of human existence. Was it right to lend our strength to a human being who repeatedly fights, betrays his kindred, oppresses his alien races, and brings senseless destruction? At that time, I even questioned my own actions, and I lost sight of who I was."

"Are you ......?"

"So much so that the conflict between the Demon King's army and humans in the past was fierce."

 

It's such a conflict that Farga-sama, a divine dragon, questions humans...... I don't want to imagine it.

 

"So what happened?"

"I, who had almost lost sight of my own existence, transformed into a human form and entered a city in order to once again determine the value of human beings, not as the Farga of the Divine Dragon, but as a single human Falga."

 

Do you mean that you became a human being in order to know human beings?

Or rather, was he able to take on the form of a person like Nea? I thought Nea's transformation was unique to vampires, but I wonder if Falga-sama was transformed by magic or something?

 

"The city, with its scars from the battle with the Demon Lord, was in a terrible state, full of injured people and food scarce. But even so, the people who were there lived their days without despair and without giving up."

 

People who live in despair.

For Falga, who was on the verge of losing herself, the scene may have been indescribable.

 

"I was watching these people when someone called out to me, and that's how I met her."

"She? Could it be that he is Charon's ......?"

"Oh."

 

"She," said Mistress Farga, her tone gentle.

Falga-sama, who seemed to be remembering a memory from a long time ago, twisted the corner of his mouth slightly, and continued to speak.

 

"Through my encounter with her, I came to know more about human beings, which was fun for me to live for a long time. Human life is a series of surprises."

「......」

 

I don't know how many years Farga has lived.

I don't know, but I felt a kind of weight in the words of human life that he talked about. It was not in a bad way, but in a way that made me feel the preciousness of life.

 

"When I first saw her, I forgot my duties as a divine dragon and enjoyed the life of a man, having a child, becoming a parent, and spending decades watching her die...... She became the Divine Dragon that protects her hometown, Miarak."

「...... You look just like me."

"Hmm?"

 

Hearing Mistress Farga's words, Nea on her shoulder murmured softly.

On her shoulders, she immediately turned her head away as if to deceive herself, but she could hear the words "resemblance".

...... Those words reminded me of the village where she was.

In that village, Nea played the role of a village resident for more than 200 years. I didn't ask her why, but I could tell from her muttering earlier.

Farga-sama has been watching over the place where people live as a divine dragon.

In the village where the villagers live, Nea must have spent time together while disguising herself.

Indeed, they are similar.

 

「...... Essentially, Charon was stopped before it got out of control."

"Huh!?"

 

I was lost in thought, and I was upset by the unexpected words of Mr. Falga, who muttered to himself.

Does the fact that he was stopped before it got out of control mean that Mearlark didn't have to go through this?

 

"Even if the dragon's power is about to awaken, it will still be human, and if it is in its first awakening state, it can be stopped by magic...... But I couldn't do that."

"Farga-sama ......."

"Charon is a potential trump card against the Demon Lord, and if he takes his own power, the armor I have created, his power will be powerful and unmatched. And then there's the two heroes summoned from another world. If we work together with them, we can defeat the Demon Lord."

 

A power that can defeat the Demon Lord.

If he inherits the power of Farga-sama, who is a divine dragon, his power is equal to that of Kazuki, who is a hero, and his seniors...... No, maybe even more.

In fact, he had the same physical strength as I did.

 

"But that's just a pretense."

"What?"

 

Facade......?

 

"No matter how much I tried to make up my mind, I couldn't kill Charon. Kill Charon, his descendant."

「...... That's it!"

 

Isn't that unavoidable...... isn't it?

In a situation where you have to kill someone who is equal to your own son, it's impossible to make up your mind.

 

"I knew this was going to happen to my bloodline eventually, and if what he was trying to do was what I thought he was going to do, then this would be inevitable. ...... Even though I knew, I couldn't be ruthless. Because no matter how many generations have passed, Charon still has a vestige of her. That alone will shake my resolve again and again."

 

He lowered his eyes and said nothing to Farga, who said so in a regretful manner.

There is no way he can kill a human who is the people of Miarak who have been watching over him and who are his descendants.

 

"The reason Charon is staying here is to kill me."

"Oh, Mr. Farga!?"

"He's about to kill the source of his power and free himself from his instincts, and if he does, he could turn into a second evil dragon and destroy everything in sight."

"The Second Evil Dragon!?"

 

I was wondering why Charon was staying here, but was he staying because Farga-sama was here?!

In other words, if Farga-sama is killed, the runaway Charon will be freed from Miarak ......! It's not at the level that if Mr. Charon goes on a rampage in such a state, it will be a big deal!

Seeing the frustration of me and Nea, Mistress Falga lowered her eyes.

 

"Dragons are more fragile creatures than you can imagine, and no matter how strong or intelligent they are, their minds are not superior. If swallowed by power, it will turn into a monster like my half, whose only purpose is destruction and killing...... It's a weak creature that tilts easily."

"Are you like that?"

"Ah, I was trapped in my own emotions and misjudged my judgment, and if I thought about the future of humanity, I should have killed Charon at that time."

"It's different."

 

Mistress Farga was interrupted by Nea.

Surprised, I looked at her on her shoulder and saw her staring at Mistress Falga with eyes that seemed to be somewhat strong-willed.

 

"No, I'm sure you won't want to live if you do that. I didn't kill him because I didn't want to, and I don't want to regret it."

"Nea......?"

"I think it's wrong of me to say that I'm part of the cause, but you're quick to regret it. Charon is still alive, and Mialak is not dead, because we are still alive."

 

At Nea's words, Falga-sama becomes speechless.

You can't tell from his expression what he's thinking.

 

"I know how it feels to feel sorry for what you've done and want to die, and I've done something stupid and almost lost something important. But thanks to this good-natured person, it didn't happen. ...... So there's still hope."

 

...... Does this mean that Nea has also changed on this trip?

It's only been a month, but the changes haven't been small.

 

"Nea is right."

 

I look up at Falga-sama as she does.

Yes, there's no way I'm going to give up while there's still a chance of helping Charon.

I had always intended to help him, but now that I've heard about Leona and Falga, I can't shake my feelings.

 

"We're here, we won't give birth to a second evil dragon, and we'll help Charon-san."

「...... Even if you say it's difficult, you're going to do it?"

"I'm a lifesaver, and I'm going to let that kind of nonsense through."

 

I've always been reckless.

This time, it will be no different.

There are people waiting for Charon to come home, and there are people who don't want him to die.

That's enough of a reason why I want to help.

 

「...... After all, you are a strong person. I think that's why we're so stupid about moving forward."

 

Mistress Farga muttered, her expression calming and she looked down at me and Nea.

 

"You have the makings of a hero, but you are different: a hero is one who fights and wins, and you are one who fights and saves for others. That's why we may be fortunate that you, not the hero, have visited."

"Well, it's ...... to be able to lift it up that far."

 

I was suddenly praised and it became itchy.

I was a little embarrassed and scratching my cheeks to hide my embarrassment, but Mistress Farga closed her eyes in concern and then spoke.

 

"I have nothing to hide, and I have a favor for you."

"What? Is that what you want to ask me?"

"I want you to save some."

 

I want you to save me...... It's strange to be told that again in the flow of this story, but...

 

"Do you mean Mr. Charon?"

"It's not Charon, because I know you don't have to hope for that."

 

I tilt my head at his words, which seem to be strange.

Certainly, I am determined to help Mr. Charon even if he does not want to.

...... If so, who is Falga-sama ......?

 

"She is on her own mission, trying to solve everything on her own, and she has decided to do the worst possible thing, dragging her without even shaking off the hesitation that torments her."

"The worst, the means?"

"With a scoop of the Forbidden Well in hand, they are trying to confront those who pose a danger to this city."

「...... Huh?"

 

At these words, he looked at the fountain at the feet of Master Falga.

"Kureha Fountain"

Water that drives people crazy.

A poison that turns life into power.

The water of the fountain, which gives ruin and madness to those who seek power, is what Falga refers to "she" has obtained.

 

"No ......way!?"

 

That's how she looked yesterday!

Finally, I realized the true nature of the discomfort I had felt with her...... No, I noticed!

Amako is right, what an insensitive person I am!

With a little thought, you could see right away how mentally overwhelmed she was!

 

「...... Whew!"

"Trapped in a mission and insisting on holding it alone, neither my words nor the Norn's words can reach her, but I am sure she will still hear your words."

 

He was worried about me today.

Don't overdo it.

Don't let them worry about you.

I couldn't imagine that she, who was kind to me as if she cared about me when I was being reckless, was trying to do the most reckless thing of all.

 

"Usato, I want you to save Leona, this is something that only you can do because you didn't want to be a hero."

 

She's going to die.

I'm going to throw my life on the line to stop Charon.

 

______________________________________

This time, Charon's origin (?) It was about the anguish hidden within Farga.