Chapter 17

──That was during the journey to slay the dragon in Mount Malle, in order to resolve the troubles in Falan's hometown, in the magical city of Balhant.

Elaine found an accessory at a stall that caught her attention.

Since childhood, she had often been called "a tomboy."

For some reason, this accessory strangely attracted her.

As she was examining it, the stall owner called out to her.

"Hey, customer, you have a good eye, that's a real find!"

"Really? ...By the way, how much is it?"

"It's actually 800 lanes, but it looks good on you, so I'll let it go for 400!"

"Oh, no, ha ha ha..."

Elaine, who used most of the party's allocation for training, had no extra money.

If she said that, she wouldn't be in a position to buy accessories at all...

Ambiguously responding to the owner's words, she tried to put it back.

"Four hundred, count it for me."

Suddenly, Elise, who had appeared from somewhere, paid the price.

Elaine was surprised and involuntarily exclaimed.

"Elise, no, you can't just take such a large sum from the party's funds just because you're the leader..."

"No, it's from my personal allocation."

"Really!? Then it's even worse, I can't accept this!"

Ignoring Elaine's protests, Elise completed the payment and took the item.

It was a ring with a pink gemstone set in gold.

To protest and show her refusal to accept it, Elaine clenched her fist tightly.

Then Elise seemed to think for a moment before quietly speaking.

"I never said I was giving it to you..."

"Oh..."

Indeed! She realized.

Huh? Then who for?

Lena? Or... could he have a lover she didn't know about?

Her thoughts spun in circles, and she became confused.

"Oh, ah, s, so, it's true, a ring, I, I can't accept it..."

Stammering, Elaine tried to continue speaking...

"Well, I just didn't say it, that's all."

"Uh? ...Oh!"

Elise, using a joke to lower her guard like a swordsman, grabbed Elaine's left wrist as she tried to refuse, and slipped the ring onto her ring finger.

It was a quick move.

"Huh? Huh?"

She alternated her gaze between the ring on her finger and Elise's face, unable to keep up with the rapid developments.

"Elaine, you have a good eye. This is a rare item that slightly increases resistance to magic. Keep it, it's a rare opportunity. You won't find another one."

It seemed to be a genuine gift for her.

But was it really such a rare item that it could never be bought again...

Thinking that further protest would dampen Elise's kindness, she decided to accept it quietly.

To be honest, she was happy.

But the words that slipped out were spiteful.

"I can't just take it for free. I don't have the money now, but I'll pay you back little by little from my allocation."

The words came out involuntarily, but the sentiment was genuine.

Elise, with a triumphant expression as if he had seen it coming, said:

"Sure. I'll take it when your training is complete and you're no longer holding us back. Well, if you still get complacent over something like this, it'll be a while."

"..."

She couldn't respond to that.

No, she shouldn't think badly of it; she just needed to train harder than ever.

And she would definitely pay it back.

"I'll make you take it back, I will! When I get stronger, you have to take it back! It's a promise, okay!"

"...Sure. I promise."

For a while after that, Elise abstained from alcohol and reduced his meals.

Perhaps to avoid worrying Elaine, he said it was "for his health," but it was a poor lie.

Elise was always clumsy, and even more so, kind.

──That ring slightly weakened the powerful magic of the Demon King.

Thanks to it, she could finally pay it back.

But she was deceived.

Elise was a liar.

He never intended to accept the return from Elaine.

Because he knew she couldn't accept it.

"Let's go see the festival."

Elise, who usually showed no interest in entertainment, suddenly suggested it.

"The fireworks in the eastern town, I've never seen fireworks before!"

Hearing about the festival, Lena exclaimed happily.

Though she didn't say it, Elaine was also seeing them for the first time.

She looked forward to the day.

A few days later, while watching the fireworks in the eastern town, Elise suddenly said something strange.

"Maybe this is the last time we'll see these fireworks."

What did he mean?

She was concerned about Elise, who looked a bit sad, when a fireworks craftsman passed by.

"How are they? These fireworks! Aren't they beautiful?"

Interrupted by the craftsman, she replied:

"Yes, they're incredibly beautiful! The sparks seem to move like they're alive... it's amazing!"

"Ah, you're saying nice things. You know, the result of fireworks isn't known until they're launched, so there's anxiety until that moment. That's why, after all the preparation, when the sparks move as planned, it's the most satisfying moment for a craftsman."

"Movement... calculated?"

"Yep, down to the last detail, the movement of the sparks is perfectly calculated and controlled to be first-rate!"

"Movement, perfectly, calculated, controlled..."

Thinking back now.

The realization from this conversation.

And the way Elise always seemed to calculate and predict the future in his battles, were factors that triggered the awakening of her skill.

"Probably the others are already at the inn."

After watching the fireworks, on the way back to the inn.

Due to the crowd left by the festival, they had lost track of Phalan and Lena, leaving only Elaine and Elise.

Walking together, Elaine recalled Elise's earlier words and asked:

"Hey, what did you mean earlier?"

"Huh? Did I say something?"

"Something about it being the last..."

"Oh... no, it doesn't have a deep meaning."

"...Really?"

"Yeah."

With those words, a silence fell.

They walked in silence, but Elaine couldn't hold back and said:

"I don't know what you're thinking, but..."

"No, really..."

"Just listen. What is it?"

"...What?"

"Let's see the fireworks again with everyone. After we defeat the Demon King, as a celebration!"

Elise, with a slightly troubled expression, responded to Elaine's suggestion:

"Sure. If we can... that would be nice."

Unable to bear Elise's uncharacteristic, hesitant response, Elaine's tone became stronger:

"It's not 'if,' it's 'we will'!"

They stared at each other for a while.

Elise, seemingly giving in, smiled and said, as if surrendering:

"Sure, let's do it."

"Okay, that's fine!"

They returned to the inn without much further conversation.

What was Elise thinking at that time?

His clumsy kindness, making a promise he couldn't keep for Elaine's sake, now tightened her chest.

"Your fate is quite mysterious."

"Is that so?"

While examining Elaine's palm, the fortune teller said this.

That day, they had gone out to gather supplies for the dungeon expedition with Elise.

After successfully collecting what they needed, Elise suddenly pointed to a house:

"Let's go there, it's a well-known fortune teller."

It was easy to overlook, but upon closer inspection, a small sign reading "Fortune Telling" was hung.

"How did you notice that?"

"I just happened to know about it."

Elaine, not particularly interested in fortune telling, but intrigued by Elise's rare suggestion, decided to go along with it.

The shop was small, and only one person could enter at a time, so Elaine went first.

"Your fate is hard to read, neither strong nor weak. I've been in this business for a long time, but this is the first time I've seen something like this. It's rare, can I record it?"

"Sure, I don't mind..."

Elaine agreed, and the fortune teller took something from a shelf.

"Press your palm here."

The fortune teller placed a clay-like board in front of Elaine.

"Record?"

"I want to take a mold, is that okay?"

"Sure, I don't mind..."

She pressed her hand as instructed, and the board took the shape of her hand.

"Good, that's it."

"So, what's the fortune...?"

"I'm sorry, I can't really tell. So, the fee is on me."

"..."

They left the shop.

Honestly, it felt like a waste of time.

Thinking it was Elise's turn next, he started walking.

"Hey, aren't you going to get a reading?"

"No, I don't believe in fortune telling."

"What's that about!"

It was a strange day.

"Finally, Elaine."

"Yes."

This was during a meeting with the prince, the highest authority in the kingdom's army.

While the prince's forces were drawing the attention of the Demon King's army, Elaine would infiltrate the Demon King's castle alone.

As they were finalizing the details of the plan, a messenger approached the prince.

"Elaine, you have a visitor?"

"Yes, actually..."

"Alright, bring them in."

The soldier, with the prince's permission, brought in the visitor.

Seeing the person, Elaine felt a sense of familiarity.

"Elaine, this is the kingdom's top swordsmith."

"Oh, you're Elaine. I'm the brother of the fortune teller you visited."

That's why she felt she had seen him before.

He did look similar.

"My brother said, 'You might need it,' and asked me to forge a sword. I must say, it turned out well. I used the mold you left, so it should be comfortable to use."

Elaine, who had been using a right-handed sword, was concerned.

What would happen if she suddenly switched to a left-handed sword?

"Can I try it?"

"Sure."

Taking the sword, she drew it, and her worries were immediately dispelled.

The sword felt as if it was perfectly suited to her hand, and her skill "Master of Numbers" allowed her to optimize the sword's movements.

This was undoubtedly the best sword made specifically for her.

"Amazing, thank you so much."

"You're welcome, it was my own initiative. Well, it would be nice if you defeat the Demon King."

"I can, I will... with this sword!"

As Elaine gained confidence, the prince interjected.

"So, what's the name of this sword?"

"Hmm? I haven't decided. You can name it whatever you like."

"Me?"

Surprised by the sudden suggestion, Elaine thought for a moment.

She couldn't think of a good name, but a good idea came to mind.

"...I'll have someone else decide, someone important to me."

Yes.

After defeating the Demon King.

She would have that person name the sword.

(Because the result of the fortune telling, which I reluctantly went to, led me to this sword.)

The thought of defeating the Demon King and seeing Elise again made her even more eager.

The sword, which played a significant role in defeating the Demon King, remains unnamed.

And perhaps, it will remain so forever.

──The "true hero" who played a significant role in defeating the Demon King might also be forgotten.