Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 5 Prologue (section)

===Part 4===

"-- Why am I so strong?"

Esuperio Rushao Leon asked, Akatsuki just nods as to say "Uh huh."

Compared to the out of breath Akatsuki, Leon's composed appearance highlighted even more the power gap between the two.

"You seem to be stronger now then you were before, right?"

"Umm, I guess..... but I really didn't think too much about it."

Leon smiled awkwardly, but Akatsuki was unlikely to give up that easy. 

"Then think about it now -- Why are you so strong?"

For about a month now, Akatsuki had been receiving sword training from Leon and Zechs.

After one month of rigorous training he finally managed to grasp the basics of swordsmanship, but it was clear to Akatsuki that even if he continued to train it will be impossible for his sword skills to attain equal footing with Leon and Zechs. General sword training will only increase your general strength. It was insufficient to proceed towards the strongest realm.

In fact, Ousawa Akatsuki's idea was not to become the strongest swordsman, he only wanted obtain enough power to stop his father and brother. The fact was Akatsuki's father and brother were two of the most powerful people in his world.

So ...... I must surpass the realm of the strongest ...... 

Akatsuki's expression was serious, Leon suddenly somewhat understood.

"Maybe it is..... anger and despair.....?" 

While hanging his head Leon muttered, his easy-going face was covered with a layer of haze.

"My father and sister died at the hands of Demons ... ... You might have known that, right?"

"Umm, that was also the reason that you, a commoner, aspired to become a knight."

Leon performed very well on the battlefield and acquired countless achievements, thus obtaining the title of a "knight". Leon's strength was unquestionable, and in Sherfied and throughout Alayzard he was accepted by all the people as a Hero. Everybody thinks that he was the only candidate able to defeat Demon King Galious. 

"Is that all... ...? That was the reason you are so strong?"

Leon's answer was apparently not enough to convince Akatsuki.

The pain of losing a loved one really might be able to be converted into a powerful motive to improve oneself, but that did not mean you would be able to ascend to the realm of the strongest. This was Akatsuki's own personal experience, he had suffered even more pain.

Leon wasn't the only one who experienced the loss of a loved one..... Akatsuki lost his little sister. In Alayzard there wasn't a lack of residents who lost one of their friends or a family member, and didn't feel the same pain and grief.
 
That being the case, then what was the difference between Leon and other people? 

"...... The weight must be different..... right?" 

Due to Leon's unusually calm tone, Akatsuki couldn't help but look up. 

Only to see Leon with a wry smile, as if he saw through Akatsuki's inner doubts.

"If my strength really surpasses others, that must mean my inner pain and grief is greater than others ..... the difference then is home."

Leon's answer left Akatsuki speechless and also surprised. There weren't any rebuttal expressions in the world, whatsoever. This was made painfully clear as he hid behind a wry smile. 

Ousawa Akatsuki couldn't help thinking: If that was the case, then what you say to yourself must also drive you to grow stronger as fast as possible.

Otherwise, if Akatsuki's determination was inferior to his father or brother's, that would lead to Akatsuki's strength being much lower than the two of theirs. On the other hand, Akatsuki didn't think that desperation alone was sufficient. 

..... Not only do you have ability, you have the faith not to back down.

-- Am I right?

Enough desperation that made it hard to breathe and could overwhelm a person's heart -- Akatsuki had similar experiences.

And their was another. His beloved wife was a demon who died by human hands, which in turn angered him enough to abandon the human race and become a Demon King. Perhaps his heart was the same, also dominated by despair and sadness. 

"I say ...... Leon, Eh!"

Akatsuki stared directly at the Hero, as he slowly started to talk,

"Peace between humans and demons..... is it really that far fetched of a dream?"

In order to stop an unreasonable opponent by force your power must be greater than theirs to compel them.

Thus the present Akatsuki was unable to stop his father or brother.

However Leon was different, in that his strength wasn't less than the Demon King's.

The war between humans and Demons was virtually the same, except for minor racial difference. 

Leon was the hope of mankind, Galious was the King of the Demons, those two were the same in that they each lost a loved one. If those two leaders could find a way to compromise, then perhaps they can succeed in stopping this senseless war.

However, Leon slowly shook his head. 

"Unlikely, after all the two sides have shed too much blood. And if ...... I let off the murderer who killed my father and sister, I certainly can not forgive myself." 

The reason is very simple. 

"I've already been to both of their graves, as well as in front of mother, and pledged that I would defeat the Demons."

"But they are also desperate and just trying to survive. If it is as you say, and desire gives birth to strength, then isn't this war just two sides of a desperate race? Really is there no other solution?"

Leon showed a faint smile, his expression is very calm. 

"Akatsuki, you really are kind, it's no wonder the princess has a crush on you."

Akatsuki hearing those words couldn't help but awkwardly scratch the back of his head.

"The princess is good to me, but it's only because I come from a different world, and that is relatively rare that's all."

"No such thing, you have a particular charm about you that wins the favor of others. Zechs and Loutier became good friends with you so quickly, and you even became popular with the maids in the city."

"It happened, right? It seems that I am actually hated by Listy...... "

"Can it be that you're thinking too much of it?"

"Otherwise, why didn't anyone believe me? I still got into so much trouble."

Akatsuki looked helplessly.

"I obviously apologized for that so many times."

"Haha..... her first impression of you really was the worst."

Leon laughed.

"Who told you that she was in the bath when I suddenly dropped from the sky?"

"The summoning time and place is not up to me, yet I got blamed."

Akatsuki answered roughly.

"One second I was just about to lie down on my bed, and the next I suddenly appeared in a different world in a huge luxurious bathroom with my whole body pressing down on top of the Princess's body ... ... You absolutely are incapable of understanding how I felt."

The biggest problem was that both of us were without a stitch of clothing, which further increased our embarrassment. Akatsuki completely didn't know how to explain the awkward situation. As a result he was considered a suspicious person, so Listy loudly screamed and sent several magic attacks his way as he tried to escape in a panic. However when the maids heard the commotion they came running and Valkyria abruptly hit him on the head, knocking him out cold on the spot. Once he opened his eyes again, he was surprised to find himself actually imprisoned in a dark Dungeon for not just one day but two. Finally, it was found out that this was a big misunderstanding, clearing Akatsuki of any wrongdoing.

"Listy by nature is conservative and usually changes clothes alone with no maids present in order to not show off her bare body..... so her fright at that time, of course, is predictable."

Leon smiled and continued.

"She's never been seen naked before by a man, and that was probably the first time she ever saw a naked man too."

"Therefore I apologized to her."

"Actually I don't blame you. After all the summoning of a person from a different world is the desire of the world, and isn't something that can be controlled."

Just as Leon finished, the clock tower bell rang out.

"-- Oh, Akatsuki, I have to go." 

"Ah ...... you have to go help your mother open shop?" 

Leon's mother Selina managed the "Wildcat Pavilion" restaurant in town. Even though he was a "Hero" now, Leon was still set on going to the restaurant to lend a hand.

"Can't do anything about it, because it's only me..... and mom left." 

Everyone in the city knows Leon valueed his time with his mother Selina above all else. Therefore no one bothered Leon while he enjoyed his mother and son time. 

Naturally Akatsuki was the same, so he quietly watched as Leon left. 

Then Leon abruptly stopped and looked back at Akatsuki.

It seemed that he suddenly remembered something.

"Don't worry too much Akatsuki. Even without the gift of magic like Zechs, you can become an excellent swordsman, and you will get stronger than you are now."

"How can you be so sure?" 

Akatsuki frowned skeptically at Leon's argument, but Leon understood and smiled.

"Certainly, because you are actually somewhat similar to me."