Chapter 109 'Who Are You?'

"So Arturia? What would you like to inquire for me?" Lyan asked the person inside his mind as he wipe his body with a wet cloth while thinking how nice it would be if he could submerge himself in a hot bathtub.

Shamefully, there is no public hot spring or bath in this world unless to bathe in a river. Baths are only exist in the mansions and castles owned by big merchants, nobles, and royalties. Since the water of the bath requires wood and coal to warm the water, people would need servants to be able to enjoy the bath since the labor is exhausting and time-consuming in its own way. It's too wasteful in both resources and time for commoners to have.

(S-so you've noticed...) (Arturia)

Arturia replied in a small voice, seeming to be embarrassed by getting busted looking at him exercising and full of sweat. There are numerous times that she almost let out a gasp when Lyan made a certain move as his muscles flexed while drenched in sweat.

Unlike the human body, there's a limit to how much muscular an incubus's muscular body could get. Unlike the human body, the incubus's body size couldn't be easily adjusted by using diet and exercise, after all. That's why even though he had been hiding his well-built body beneath his cloak, Lyan had been continuing his exercise and attempting to increase the volume and mass to refine his body further.

With his body that is considered quite tall even amongst the rather tall man, the sight of him exercising made Arturia got absorbed in watching.

(Ahem! That's quite a unique display of exercise you're doing there. That 'debuff' spell you mentioned, is that applicable in battle? Increasing the weight of your body and weapon while delivering a strike could increase the damage delivered drastically, no?) (Arturia)

"Unfortunately, a debuff is something akin to a curse. It only affects the victim while dealing with no effect on the surrounding. So when I punched using my fist that got debuffed and made as heavy as 30 kilograms, I will feel the weight and felt the strain in my muscles resulting in a reduction of speed, but the thing or person I hit will only get an impact the same as my normal punch," (Lyan)

(I see... That will only make you in a disadvantageous position instead) (Arturia)

"Correct. That's why I only use it when training my body. Since rather than weakening the body, it increases the weight and forced the muscle to exert more force. It's perfect for these kinds of exercises," Lyan continues to stretch his body.

(Hm~ That's interesting...) (Arturia)

Another silence went on for a moment, and once again, Lyan breaks the ice.

"Once again. What do you want to inquire, Arturia?" Lyan asked as he once again wipes the sweat off his body with another wet cloth. Unlike before, he continues to wipe it with a dry cloth, indicating he had finished his exercise.

(H-How did you keep on noticing me...) (Arturia)

Arturia uttered bitterly.

"Getting gazed so intensely like that, I doubt anyone would not notice it, though," Lyan proceed to use his shirt.

(I-Intense... Ahem!) (Arturia)

Arturia cleared her throat and regain her composure.

(Master. No, Lyan Arkanium Evocatore. What kind of person are you?) (Arturia)

Lyan stopped his tracks, staring at the empty space in front of him.

An image, or rather, a gallant figure could be seen in his sight.

Standing in front of him, a gallant knight, holding a sword while radiating an aura of great fortitude is staring at him with eyes of novelty.

With a tone similar to a scoff, Lyan replied with a self-mocking smile.

"Just a man with an unusually great lust,"

As if not satisfied, Arturia's gaze turns into a frown inside the grimoire's space.

(There are several occasions where you should be able to utilize your strength. You are the key to our second life, we would need to save you, and with your negotiation and communication skills, I doubt any of us would be in a hostile relationship with you. Why did you stubbornly refrain from summoning and using our power?) (Arturia)

Using Lyan's wits and skills, he could take advantage of the spirits to their fullest while keeping in mind not to cross the boundary and enrage them. But he didn't. Such unusual human behavior piqued not just Arturia's attention, but the others as well.

"It's simple. I don't like to be in debt. I don't care what people think. If they said it doesn't matter, if I felt like I'm indebted, it will continue to be a burden in my mind," (Lyan)

"So I will refrain from being indebted as much as I could. I'm a person that sticks to my principles to my very end. So you could say that I'm a normal person with an unusually great lust and strongly principled," Lyan shrugged.

Arturia giggled.

(I doubt a person with unusually great lust that sticks very strongly to his principle could be considered a normal person, though. So the reason why you gave that 'chip' you mentioned at the agreement, about how you will erase the memories of the d-deed, is it because you feel indebted by summoning us before) (Arturia)

A small grin appeared on Lyan's face as he heard Arturia struggling to say the word 'deed', and replied with his eyes closed.

"You're right. I was taught to pay my debts, especially to good people, in full. It's just my way of searching for self-satisfaction, so just ignore it," (Lyan)

(I see..) (Arturia)

Inside the grimoire's space, Arturia's face cleared. If someone is there, they could see that her expression is similar to a person that just got relieved after founding an answer they wanted.

'A kind person who denies his kindness, huh... I wonder what kind of things he had seen and experienced for him to be like this...'

(He would feel much more like a great person if he reduce his womanizing habit, though) (Arturia)

"Huh? Womanizing? Like I've said, I'm a person with an unusually great lust, it's all because of my previous life as an incubus and this perverted summoning grimoire as well. But of course, I need to admit that I'm enjoying my situation as well," Lyan shrugged.

(So your situation forced you to be a womanizer, but you admit that you're enjoying it?) (Arturia)

"Hm. That's right," Lyan nods.

(Fu! Fufufu!) (Arturia)

Arturia's giggles got even more audible than before.

(I see!) (Arturia)

Following the cheerful voice, the image of the knight before him moved. Positioning his sword in front, the knight put his fist on his left chest, and salutes.

The image slowly turned into light particles, and before it disappeared, the knight opened his helmet.

What is revealed is not Arturia. It's a gallant knight living inside Lyan's memories. Neatly trimmed facial hair, short blonde hair, and a kind face that is smiling brightly.

Looking at that face, Lyan felt his chest tightens. The fact that the time couldn't be manipulated, and how the past will remain the past is something that he had already accepted long before he killed the evil dragon god.

Since Lyan didn't cast any spell, the image in front of him is not a magic, so Arturia couldn't see it. It's an illusionary image that appeared on its own.

A trick formed by his own mind.

Arturia's behavior and demeanor remind him strongly of that dear friend of his from his previous life. A hardcore fan of knights, and a person that is the literal embodiment of the term 'Modern Knight'.

'Paying debts in full is a man's duty! You saved my life once, so I will definitely protect you until the time that I die!'

It feels like his words are could still be heard clearly until now. The words that warms his heart, but at the same time, became one of many sources of his regret.

(A person like Arturia is straightforward, just, and innocent. They react positively to straightforwardness and honesty, making it easy to make a good impression on them. But at the same time, they have a great instinct) (Lyan)

Arturia noticed Lyan's strange silence. The one who understands the opposition is not only him, but Arturia is also staring at him with a pair of nostalgic eyes.

What Arturia saw under Lyan's feet is not the inn room's flooring, but piles of corpses dyed with the red color of blood.

'A man that stands on top of countless bodies of his precious ones'

'How ironic and suffering it must be'

___________________________________________________________________________

Name: Lyan Arkanium Evocatore

Occupation: Gold-ranked Mercenary

Money: 3,501,721,000 Elnes / 3501 gold 72 big silver 1 silver

Weapon: None

Equipment: Black leather cloak, Leather Armor, 1 (Decent) One-handed Sword, 2 (Good-Quality) One-handed swords, 2 Health Potions, 2 Poison Vials

Grimoire's Companions: 8 High Spirits, 3 Valkyrie, Shadow Goblin Lord (Lv. 5), Papilio Slime (Lv. 45), Galewing Butterfly (Lv. 45), Rock Golem (Lv. 50), Deadlight (Lv. 63), Moonlight Butterfly (Lv. 45), Ice Golem (Lv. 50), Acid Ant Queen (Lv. 1), Magma Bear (Lv. 1)

Grimoire's Army: 6 Shadow Servants, 800 Skeleton Army