“Why…? You know you don’t have to do that.”
As Ruchika asked me this, her face looked even sadder than my own. I felt sorry to have banished her usual happy-go-lucky smile.
“I don’t think everything Professor Aliza said was correct. But some of the things she said were right. I clearly don’t have what it takes to become a hero.”
All this time, I had faithfully followed the guidance of my Gear and trained my hardest. But the gap between myself and the others around me just kept getting wider and wider. Even my swordsmanship was critically lacking in combat, and that was supposed to be my best subject. For a hero, that was a fatal flaw.
“But you said so yourself—that hero work won’t be all about fighting in the future.”
“Yes, and what you say has some logic to it. But that still operates on the assumption that any and all heroes have the basic skills required to fight, and that additional skills will become necessary beyond that.”
When I said this, Ruchika made a face like I had struck her where it hurt.
“As long as humans are human, I don’t think we will ever eliminate conflict. The power to fight will always be necessary, and possessing it will continue to be the minimum requirement of a hero. And I don’t even meet that minimum.”
Like Ruchika had said before, in the future, perhaps people who could only fight would gradually be weeded out of the hero population. I believed that would come to pass. But that simply meant the relative value of fighting power had gone down. Heroes would still need the ability to overcome conflict.
“So you’re saying…you’re going to give up on being a hero because you’re not good enough at fighting?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, I just don’t have a knack for it. While it is disappointing, as the daughter of the Almighty Hero…”
As these words left my lips, I felt there was nothing more painful than this. Just like Professor Aliza had said, I had sullied my mother’s name—a hero’s name.
“You’re giving up? Even after working toward becoming a hero for all this time?”
“…Those hopes may stay with me a little longer. But I know I must give them up. It’s pointless for someone with no talent to keep on clinging to a dream she can never fulfill.”
Saying this, I wondered how I should live my life from now on. If I gave up on becoming a hero, I would have no idea what to pursue instead.
I shook my head, trying to put such doubts out of my mind. I mustn’t be a coward about this. If I kept being indecisive, Ruchika would surely never give up on me, either. She had talent. It was possible she really could become the strongest hero of our generation. I mustn’t let her get mixed up with someone like me.
“Ruchika, thank you for everything up until now. We only knew each other a short while, but I appreciate the valuable time we spent together. While our paths may diverge now, I hope we can someday—”
“…you.”
“Hmm? What did you say?”
“I said, I won’t let you!”
She repeated herself and told me again in a strong tone of voice. That earnest gaze of hers made my breath catch in my throat.
“Ruchika…”
“You don’t have to give up. Who cares about talent or whatever? I won’t let you give up on being a hero because of some stupid reason like that.”
“‘Stupid’…?”
I couldn’t help but feel a little offended at the way she had put it.
“Don’t you realize how much I’ve thought this over? ‘Stupid’? Oh, sure! Of course you’d think that. A girl like you, who’s just overflowing with talent, must think my troubles are simply idiotic!”
I thrust my retort back at her. It was the first time I had ever revealed my feelings so frankly to someone, and it was as if a dam had broken as my thoughts came flowing out uncontrollably. I lost all self-control and said exactly what I was thinking.
“It’s not like I want to give up being a hero! Of course I don’t really want to give up! I don’t want to give up! I love my mother! And I’ve always wanted to be like her! If the heroes are the successors of my mother’s aspirations, then I wanted to be one no matter what!”
While I felt it was a heavy burden to have been born the daughter of a hero, I still didn’t mind. If only I could become like my beloved mother; if only I could become a beacon of hope to the people, then I was prepared to put in as much effort and hard work as I could.
But—
“But it’s pointless… No matter how much effort I put in, no matter how closely I follow my Gear, I can never be like you… I just can’t…”
At some point, my eyes had begun to fill with tears. While it was disgraceful, in my current state, I didn’t have the capacity to worry about it.
“Ruchika…I envy you. You’re stronger than anyone, even without using Gear. And I envy how you can be so free. I really…wish I could be like you…!”
I had reached my limit. I couldn’t stop my feelings from spilling out and simply sobbed, unable to even put those emotions into words anymore.
“Leonie.”
As soon as I heard her call my name, I felt a warm, soft feeling around my shoulders. Ruchika was embracing me.
“I’ll be your fangs.”
She said it like a kind of vow. Surprised at her solemn words, I looked up and saw Ruchika staring back at me with utter sincerity.
“If a hero needs strength to fight, then let me be that strength.”
“Ruchika…? What are you…saying—?”
I was perplexed, unsure of the point she was trying to make. Then as if to reassure me, she gave me a soft smile and hugged me even tighter.
“I said this before, too, but I don’t think heroes need to be alone. Don’t you think it’d be a good idea to divvy up the roles, like one person to handle the fighting, one person to handle gathering people, one person to handle logistics, or something like that?”
“Divvying up the roles…?”
“When your mama fought against my mama, she went up against her with a party of multiple people, right? Even though she was called the Almighty Hero, it’s not like she was some super soldier who could go up against the Demon Lord all by herself, yeah?”
Ruchika was correct. While my mother was talented in all areas, she wouldn’t have been able to defeat the Demon Lord alone. My mother had been blessed by her bonds with her comrades. She had been supported in combat by Danita’s father, who shielded her from enemy attacks; Nor’s mother, who excelled in singing songs with healing powers; and another mage, who specialized in wielding a variety of magic.
“Leonie, you don’t need to try to get stronger all by yourself. If you need fighting power, I’ll give it to you. So I want you to keep walking whatever path you really want to follow.”
“Ruchika…”
“Don’t give up, Leonie. Let’s become heroes together, okay? I want to keep moving forward with you. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She gave me one last strong embrace before letting me go. Then she stayed silent for a moment and simply looked back at me. I think she wanted to give me time—enough time to think and shake off all my doubts. There were a number of conflicting feelings still inside me—hesitation, indecision, fear.
And yet there was only one answer for me to choose.
“…I have no grounding in fighting.”
“So I’ll be your fangs.”
“Even though I’m a hero’s daughter, I’m indecisive.”
“Or you’re being thoughtful.”
“I can’t live as freely as you can.”
“Then I’ll just have to drag you around with me.”
“The Gear didn’t pair us up.”
“That’s true. You called the Gear something like fate, right? I think it’s pretty cool to be a pair who fights against fate, don’t you?”
Ruchika’s smile spoke volumes. She had an answer for everything. She had already decided she would accept me and everything about me.
I still couldn’t believe my Gear could be wrong. But I was starting to think what Professor Aliza said had been incorrect…all thanks to this small, strange girl who I couldn’t find it in myself to hate.
“…There’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while now.”
“What is it?”
The life had returned to my face, and Ruchika seemed to notice. Putting my reservations behind me, I told this shameless yet dependable demon girl what was on my mind.
“I think Professor Aliza underestimates us too much. Let’s show her a thing or two about what the Almighty Hero’s daughter, Leonie Baez, really has in her.”
“Pfft! …Ah-ha-ha-ha!”
Ruchika burst into a fit of laughter. Her laugh was contagious, and it made me start laughing, too. I felt refreshed, like the fog that had been building up inside me had finally cleared.
“Ruchika, will you pair up with me?”
I asked her this question, holding out my right hand. She reached out and grasped it back.
“Of course. I’m ready to be with you till death do us part!”
Saying this, she grinned back at me with a smile as dazzling as the sun.
“This is all Aliza’s fault. We didn’t do anything wrong. So let’s shut her up once and for all!”
Ruchika puffed out her chest. Having been charmed by her declaration to stay by my side, I responded automatically—
“Yes, let’s do just that.”
—and nodded back at her.
“I’m starting to think you’ve been influencing me, Ruchika.”
“Does that mean you’re gonna be my mate?”
“Don’t be silly.”
Having regained enough energy to engage in light banter, I made up my mind. I would take on the challenge of the proficiency test with Ruchika as my partner.