CH 208

208 – What if there was Something that Cannot Be Let Go?

「What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you found me via my Magical Energy signature again?」

I just blurted that out, which caused Fenix to stare blankly at me.

「…? Again? I’m not sure I understand, but I’ve never been able to do that sort of thing.」

「Ah… Y-yeah, that’s right. Heh. My bad.」

When he said that to me, I realized how crazy I sounded.

What the hell am I saying?

「Besides, you are the one who called me.」

「T-that’s right.」

Yeah, I…I remembered that Fenix’s place of work was in the town where the Demon King Castle is, so I contacted him.

He came from his workplace in his Priest garb.

「Are you alright? If you’re not feeling well, would you like an examination?」

Those with the Priest Job have an Aptitude for White Magic.

I thought it was a Job well suited to the kind-hearted Fenix who can empathize with people’s pain.

「Nah, getting a physical examination by a man doesn’t sound very exciting.」

「Lem…this has nothing to do with male or female.」

「You sure? Won’t your heart be pounding if a beautiful woman did it?」

「It’s fine, I’ve trained myself to not look onto those who have come to help me with wicked thoughts.」

「Ahaha, is there even training for that kinda thing?」

「Jokes aside, are you sure you’re OK? You look pale.」

「I’m fi~ne. Let’s go get some grub.」

「R-right…」

It’s been a long time since we last met.

Even though I say he’s my best friend, that’s just how life is.

But despite the time apart, I can talk with him like how I used to just as soon as I meet him.

We talked about what we’ve been up to these days, laughed about old stories, and ate.

「Hey, Lem. Do you remember that time? The day your Job was identified?」

「Yeah, of course.」

「That time, you told me something. You said that if I got a combat-oriented Job, we’d form a party together.」

「I remember saying that, yeah.」

Fenix smiled broadly as he got nostalgic.

「I was happy. Even though you were aiming to be the world’s 1st rank, you still invited someone like me.」

「I didn’t say that because you were my friend, y’know.」

「…Really?」

「I did it because I knew that you were really strong.」

「Strong? …Me?」

Fenix looked surprised.

「No matter what happened, you never looked down on anyone, and you even worried about me over your own injuries when you were hurt. I always thought that that was amazing. I… On that day, I…I truly thought that you would become a Hero.」

「…….That’s impossible.」

「it is possible…!」

I’ve always thought that countless times.

The whole being a Hero, getting the blessing of the Fire Spirit, the Holy Sword. Everything.

They all suit him way better than it does me.

「…Lem, is…that what you would prefer?」

When I looked at Fenix, his attire had changed.

He was wearing the Hero outfit I was wearing not too long ago.

But after I blinked, he returned to his Priest garb.

「You said you’ll be the greatest Hero, right? I’ll be cheering you on.」

「……Ah, yeah. Thanks. Hey, Fenix.」

「What is it?」

「Are you…happy? With your life right now?」

Fenix didn’t say anything, he just gave a troubled smile.

After that, we talked about random things and had fun.

After parting with my best friend, I returned to the inn.

I wonder when I’ll see him again.

Maybe I never will.

◇

We’ve arrived at the tenth stratum of the Demon King Castle.

A dark hallway.

At the end lies something like a throne.

Sitting atop it was a Majin, who slowly rose.

That Majin only had one horn.

I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before.

『This truly is a well-made ideal world.』

I could feel my body get heavier.

Speed Down… It’s Black Magic!

I immediately try to Resist it.

『I wanted to be a Hero. Even now, I aim to be a hero. However, why do you think you are unable to fully give yourself over blissfully to this world?』

The tone of his voice is a little different, but it somehow sounds familiar.

「Alba! Use your Magic Sword! Bella, freeze him!」

『You are not the leader of that party.』

There was no response from the two of them.

I turned to look at them, but there was no one there.

「Huh?」

They were gone.

Like they never existed in the first place.

Alba, Lily, Lark, Bella…all gone.

The only ones here are the Majin and me.

『Even if this world is an ideal one for a child who dreamed of being a hero, it is not an ideal one for a Black Sorcerer who lives to become a hero.』

What is this Majin talking about?

The black-robed Majin removed his mask.

And what was underneath it was…my face.

◇

What is the best way to describe this sensation?

It’s like being lucid in a dream, but your own body is moving on its own regardless of you in the dream.

Finally.

I was somehow able to appear in front of him as Lemegeton.

This is a trial where only the strong of heart may succeed.

I am grateful that the Demon King Castle, a place that strongly reminds me of my actual life, could make an appearance in the dream world as well.

Because of how my life has changed here, I never had the chance to meet my master or Milla.

However, purely because I am aiming to be the greatest Adventurer, there is no avoiding having to Clear the Demon King Castle.

Also, the town where the Demon King Castle is is packed with cherished memories.

Thanks to that, I was able to remember my allies every time I Cleared a stratum.

While walking through town, cherished memories were triggered.

With all that accumulation, I was given a body with my own mind that I could move with within the dream.

I was able to gain a strong heart to overcome the dream.

The One-Horned Dark Sorcerer Lemegeton is now facing off…

…with the Flame Hero Lem.

The Lem of this world didn’t live a life free of hardships, but it was fulfilling.

I was accepted by the world, and the world watches my every move with great interest.

Loads of children admire me, and I’m able to excite people all over the world.

Of course, I lead my allies to victory over and over again.

The ideal world. The best environment. A wonderful life.

And yet, there is a reason that I wasn’t swallowed up by it.

That being, I would be leaving behind a lot of important things in reality.

And above all…she isn’t here.

The person who supported me as a Black Sorcerer. The person who showed me a new dream.

This world may be ideal, but it isn’t perfect.

It’s lacking that important someone.

「This dream…wasn’t made from my desires. All you did was read my mind and create it, right?」

I say to the Spirit, who I am sure is watching.

「I certainly did want to be a Hero. Things would have been amazing if I could have formed a contract with one of the Four Great Spirits. But…」

I close the gap between me and the confused Flame Hero Lem.

I take a deep breath.

I put all my thoughts into words.

Things that I wanted to say, no matter what.　

Things that cannot be forgotten, no matter what.

You know, I don’t know what you think you’re doing but…

「There is nothing in this world that I want bad enough to steal my best friend’s place…!」

Lem took a step back.

「What…what are you saying? Why do you have my face?」

「Meeting master! The days toiling together with Fenix! Cashew! Milla! Everyone I met ever since joining the Demon King Castle! There’s no way I can go on without them!」

「What are you saying? Wh-what are you…」

「Even if I don’t get to love the future I dreamed of as a child! I never once thought about getting rid of the life I live now! I don’t care if I don’t get to live in an ideal world! Everything that matters to me is right there in reality!」

「No!」

Lem yells.

The me that lived in this ideal world, screams in panic.

It seems that he, too, has realized what I am.

No, he’s known for quite a while, but he probably pretended not to know.

「Are you an idiot…? Have you forgotten the time since you became a Black Sorcerer? All the kids in the village made fun of you, and Fenix turned out to be your only friend. The adults pitied you and your parents were in despair. You worked hard under master’s tutelage until you almost died, but when you debuted, everyone just ridiculed you. Even though you helped your allies win, you carried a burden for seven years. You had to hide the power of your horn and your Black Sorcery. And in the end? You were driven out of the party. Demon King Army? Hero of the Monsters? All you really wanted was to be an Adventurer. You just wanted to be the world’s 1st ranked. You…you’ve always-」

Lem says it.

「-been jealous of Fenix.」

「Of course I was!」

「……」

「I’m not a saint, so of course I was annoyed. How could I not be jealous? But…I accepted it, didn’t I? I thought if anyone had to be a Hero, it’d be Fenix, right?」

「…….!」

「I’m not a Hero. But the thing we admired was never the Job. It was living as a hero would.」

「N-no…」

Lem unsheathed his Holy Sword.

He wreathed it in flames.

「Every time I was made fun of, every time I was laughed at, it hurt so much, like my heart was being torn to pieces. Every time I forced a smile, I would hate myself. Here, I can be free of such suffering. I can live as an object of adoration, showered by praise. I can actually smile. Why…why should I have to walk the life of a Black Sorcerer?」

He is me. No one knows my pain more than I do.

My conflict. The things I’ve thought about countlessly in my mind. However, I have already found the answer.

「Because that’s who I am.」

「You’re a fool.」

「Maybe so.」

「O Spirit…!」

Swinging his flame-covered Holy Sword, Lem assaults me.

I unleash the horn and block the sword swing with my right arm.

The horn I inherited from my master grows out of the right side of my head.

「Wha-」

「Also, I’m sure you know this as well as I do. I am the Flame Hero Fenix’s friend, his rival, and…his No.1 fan.」

「…!」

「He is far stronger. Your flames aren’t enough to light a match.」

「You…」

「We are the Black Sorcerer Lem, the One Horned Dark Sorcerer Lemegeton, and the One Horned Black Magician Lem. It’d be nice if we’re called the Greatest Black Sorcerer one day.」

I put strength into my arm.

The dream world Holy Sword was easily shattered.

「Then, go.」

Before I knew it, Lem got smaller.

It was my ten-year-old self.

「I’m gonna be a Hero.」

「…Yeah.」

「I want to have an adventure that will make someone’s life exciting, just like it made mine.」

「…I know.」

「Can you do that as a Black Sorcerer?」

「Well, who knows. But…no matter what the Job is, we’ll never give up, right?」

My ten-year-old self was ready to burst into tears, but still, he smiled.

「…You bet! Giving up would be…so not cool!」

I smiled. I’m sure I’m making a similar face.

「That’s just what I’d expect me to say.」

I extend a hand to him.

My young self…grabs onto Lemegeton’s hand.

「Let’s become a hero. No matter how long it takes, we’ll make that dream come true. At least, not when you’re asleep.」