Seras's reaction upon hearing the name of my target for revenge.
It was the reaction of someone who had already imagined it.
Well, I had been calling her "that shitty goddess" after all.
"…"
There was no harm in revealing it.
I told her how the goddess had sent me into the Ruins of Disposal.
And how I had survived and returned from there.
"—And then, after surviving, I met you in this forest."
After hearing the story, Seras took on a solemn expression.
"I never would have thought that the 'Sealed Underground Mausoleum' in the Forest of Darkness was actually an underground ruin used by the goddess to dispose of those she discards…"
The name "Ruins of Disposal" apparently wasn't widely known.
To the outside world, it seemed to be recognized as an unopened underground mausoleum.
In a sense, it really was a graveyard.
"The azure dragonstones I have came from the belongings of corpses I found in the Ruined Ruins. Apparently a hero called the Great Sage Anglin was sent there too."
Seras reacted strongly.
"Even the Great Sage was sent there?"
"She probably saw him as an eyesore."
"What was the reason you were sent there, Lord Touka? I had assumed on my own that it was because you didn't get along with the others, but…"
I hadn't mentioned this part yet.
"In the hero aptitude evaluation, I alone was judged as the lowest rank."
"Even with that much power?"
"Apparently they decided on the lowest disposal based on past precedents."
The purpose was to serve as a sacrifice to motivate the other heroes.
"I've heard that Alion strongly follows precedent. In that case, the decision makes sense, but…"
Things were done this way in the past.
It worked well this way in the past.
Alion's "history"—past data.
It was probably nothing more than precedents the goddess had conveniently built up to suit herself.
A history convenient for the goddess—precedents.
There was no reason that shitty goddess wouldn't use them.
"Yet you, Lord Touka, who were sent there, survived a place where no one had ever returned before… thanks to the power of those 'status abnormality skills' that defeated the Black Dragon Knights."
"Yeah."
Seras looked down with an ironic expression.
"A failure caused by the goddess's obsession with precedent, isn't it?"
"As a result, it was good to learn her true nature early. Even if my skills had been judged useful, she would have just used me conveniently for her own ends anyway."
Seras spoke words of agreement.
"I understand the reason for your revenge now."
"See? It's not exactly something to brag about to others, is it?"
I smirked.
"I just can't stand the shitty goddess who discarded me, so I want to make her suffer like hell. That's the only reason."
I raised my hand in front of my chest.
"So whenever some annoying bastard stands in the way of my revenge—I'll trample them without mercy, by my own judgment."
"…"
"But getting involved in such a selfish revenge doesn't suit someone like you, who values beliefs and honor. Right?"
"No."
Seras stepped in front of me and straightened her posture.
"If you had not saved me, Lord Touka, I would have been killed by the Five Dragon Warriors today. I myself still hold feelings toward the goddess of Alion. If my power can be of use in your revenge—"
Seras placed her hand over her chest.
"Please allow me to put this power to use for your revenge."
She knelt and bowed her head.
Like a knight kneeling in fealty.
"It seems that to my former king, Seras Ashrain is no longer necessary. The sword I dedicated to the Holy King now has nowhere to go…"
"I hate to say it myself, but revenge isn't exactly something admirable."
No one will praise it.
I can never become the protagonist of a story people admire.
Not that I ever intended to.
"Is this not righteous revenge?"
"This revenge is only 'right' for me. It's nothing but pure personal grudge. No matter how you look at it, it's revenge solely for my sake. I don't think the righteousness you seek, Seras Ashrain, exists in it."
"That is exactly why I want to be useful."
"…"
"As I said earlier, I also have personal feelings toward the goddess of Alion. But above all—you risked your life without hesitation to save me. I want to repay that debt to you. If it is right in your eyes, then I have no objection."
Seras lifted her face.
"This body that has already died once—please use it however you wish."
"…"
"If it is you, I will accept whatever treatment you give me."
She really is an exceedingly dutiful person…
The type who would easily become a guarantor if someone she trusts asked her to.
She has strong caution in general, but once she deeply trusts someone, her guard drops all at once.
I let out a breath.
"If you insist that much, then do as you like."
"—Yes. Thank you very much."
Loyalty.
Gratitude.
In some cases, they surpass relationships built on money and contracts.
Someone hired with money is reliable.
The hired party wants the promised reward.
So they work desperately to achieve the goal.
But relationships tied by money have one problem.
A person hired with money might switch to whoever offers more.
In other words, they can betray easily.
On the other hand, relationships based on loyalty or gratitude are different.
They aren't swayed by money.
Even if tempted with a huge sum, they don't waver easily.
In exchange, they require deep "bonds"…
Bonds are chains.
That was how I pictured them.
"Can I rely on the power of Seras Ashrain?"
"I will certainly live up to your expectations."
It wasn't entirely absent.
This possibility had crossed my mind.
One of the reasons I went to rescue Seras after she fled into the Forest of Darkness.
Because she resembled my aunt.
That wasn't a lie.
It was true.
But—
"It seems it went according to expectations."
I had also thought that if I did her a favor, this might happen.
Bonds are chains.
For someone like me, revenge always comes first no matter what.
I really am a piece of trash.
Evil.
"…Sorry, Seras."
As I passed by, I placed my hand on her shoulder.
"Lord Touka…?"
So at the very least,
"I intend to repay the debt of gratitude I owe Seras Ashrain someday."
Yes,
I repay what I owe.
To gratitude,
And to grudges as well.
▽
We hurried onward.
We decided to avoid Mills and take a slight detour toward the northern demon zone.
There was supposed to be a small village along the way.
That would be our first destination.
On the road, we agreed to separate occasionally.
Depending on what information had spread, a "pair" might draw suspicion.
That said, the chance of being exposed was low.
Seras was wearing different clothes from when she was in Mills.
Above all, her face was changed now.
The light spirit's confusion had settled, she said.
So she could use the power of transformation again.
However, she couldn't change her face drastically from the original.
She couldn't become an exact copy of someone else.
Right now, Seras had transformed into a face different from "Mist."
But,
What I saw was pointed ears and that familiar extraordinary beauty.
According to Seras, others saw a different face.
In other words, only I could see her true appearance.
Apparently there was such a convenient function.
But in this state, I had to be especially careful not to mix up the new alias "Misra" with her real name "Seras"…
While I was thinking about that,
"Um, from now on, may I address you as 'my lord'?"
Seras made that suggestion.
She stopped walking and continued with a hint of embarrassment.
"Do you remember the time I accidentally responded when you called my real name?"
I nodded.
Yeah, that happened.
It was a mean little trap I had set, though.
"If I have to call you 'Lord Hati' and accidentally say 'Lord Touka' instead…"
She had been worried about it.
Seras averted her eyes awkwardly.
"So if I always use 'my lord' normally, it should prevent any slip-ups…"
Her own preventive measure, apparently.
"Got it. That's fine."
"Thank you."
Seras bowed her head.
"Well—'my lord' sounds a bit stiff, though."
"Then when we're alone, I will call you 'Lord Touka.' Would that be acceptable?"
"Yeah, do that."
"Hehe, understood."
After walking a little farther, I spoke.
"For the time being, I'm leaving my back to you and Pigi-maru, Seras."
I turned my face toward the Seras behind me.
"I'll be counting on you from now on too."
Seras Ashrain responded to her lord's words with a clear, gentle smile.
"Yes, my lord."