“Demons value strength more than anything. To be strong is the highest distinction. That’s why my mama was so high-ranking among the other demons and why the hero who defeated her is held up even higher.”
“…I find that value system difficult to empathize with.”
“Yeah, I can tell. But, Leonie, don’t you find it strange, even uncanny, how smoothly the reconciliation between humans and demons went after the war?”
“I do wonder about it a little. When I learned about it in history class, it seemed like humanity ended up with a rather favorable situation during the peacekeeping negotiations.”
“That’s for the same reason; it’s part of our demon values to want to follow the strong. Put another way, I’m sure demons would have launched a revolt if humanity grew weaker than us. Especially since after the war, there were some demons who were oppressed, too.”
“—!”
This must have been new information to Leonie, because her face stiffened at this comment. After the war, humans and demons established a basic principle of mutual respect. Yet there were still winners and losers. I’d heard that some demons were forced into servitude or used as tools in conflicts between humans. So it made sense that some demons who still felt animosity toward humans might have considered putting up one last fight.
“But you said that in past tense, right?”
“Yeah, past tense. Demons don’t just go to war because they like to or because they think it’s fun. Of course, there are plenty of hot-blooded types among us, but even they rarely go so far as to put lives on the line… Sorry, I guess I’m getting off topic.”
“That’s okay.”
Now, where was I…?
“That’s all to say, I admire heroes much more than I could ever hate them. Like I said before, I didn’t have a great life living in the demon realm, either. Plus, I wanted to get stronger. That’s why I snuck out behind my nanny’s back and ran away.”
“…So that’s the story of why you wanted to come to the Hero Institute.”
“Yup. And to be totally honest, I have to say I am a little disappointed in this place. But I at least got to meet you and Nor, so it hasn’t been all bad. Plus, you two have some tasty auras.”
“‘Tasty’? You mean battle auras and mana have flavors?”
Leonie’s eyes went wide with surprise.
“Yeah. It’s like each person’s temperament is reflected in their aura’s flavor. Your flavor is super dense, yet gentle. Nor’s is a kinda fluffy, soft flavor. And Danita’s was a whole different story—really interesting.”
“Ruchika, do you mean to tell me you’ve been sneaking tastes from us this whole time?”
“Ah-ha-ha-ha, oopsies. After tasting so many people’s mana and auras with Gluttony, it’s kinda become a habit. But it’s really hit-or-miss. If I devour a super-tasty aura that sits well with me, I get filled with energy. But sometimes, I eat something gross that I don’t tolerate, and it can even make me feel sick. I bet I’d be down for the count if I took a bite out of Professor Aliza.”
“Ha-ha, oh, Ruchika…”
I tried cracking a joke, and Leonie let out a small laugh. She’s so cute.
I noticed I had eaten my apple down to its core, and I realized I should have bought at least one more.
“…I didn’t have any other choice but to become a hero.”
Leonie began to speak again.
“For as long as I can remember, my role as a hero’s daughter has come before even my own identity. That was the expectation under which I was raised, and in actuality, that is how I grew up.”
Though, it was her mother’s relatives who raised her, she added.
“I was given a Gear before I was even young enough to remember not having one. I trusted its guidance and followed it. Of course, I faced my own indecision or worries, but at the very least, I had faith in my Gear. To me, the device was akin to fate.”
I stole a glance at Leonie. She was expressionless as usual.
“But after enrolling in the Hero Institute and failing each day to get the results I thought I would, I’ve started to wonder if this is really what I should be doing.”
“Leonie…”
“You said it yourself, Ruchika: What the Gear says may be correct, but that doesn’t mean it’s everything. I understand that on some level, deep down. It’s just…I wanted to believe it was everything.”
Those words are stained with her own blood, sweat, and tears, I thought. They were filled with the suffering she had borne having walked this path in life. While it was an honor that she felt comfortable telling me all this, at the same time, I wished there was some way I could lighten the load on her heart.
“What you wanted to believe in wasn’t the Gear itself.”
“…No, it wasn’t.”
“It was your mama.”
“…Yes.”
It wasn’t the magical device we called Gear that she wanted to trust. And she didn’t simply follow it because the people around her told her to. She only wanted to have faith in her mother—the Almighty Hero, who had saved humanity.
“Since my mother was always on her way to some battle, I can count on my fingers the number of times I remember actually being around her in person. But there is one thing I remember as clearly as day, among all those faint memories of her. It was something she told me.”
—I’m going to make a world where anyone can be happy. For you, Leonie.
Perhaps those words had been the hero’s prayer. But—
“That’s why I want to believe in this world my mother left behind for me. That’s why I think there’s no way the world she fought so hard for until the bitter end could be wrong.”
It felt like the words Leonie’s mother had left behind for her had become more of a curse than a blessing.
“Sorry for bringing up something so strange. I didn’t mean to talk about such things,” said Leonie.
“It’s not strange. I’m happy I got to know more about you.”
“Really…?”
“Yeah, really.”
A short while after that, we arrived at the scroll shop. There, we bought a few scrolls and some books on spell circles.
During the way back—
“I can’t help but wonder if straying from the path my Gear has indicated for me is like denying the world my mother left behind for me…”
Leonie didn’t sound like she was expecting a response, so I didn’t say anything. But I couldn’t hold back anymore; I was at my limit.