Dai Densetsu no Yūsha no Densetsu:Volume 2 Chapter 3
The Balance Scales For The Goddesses And The Hero
She is really a beautiful woman, Kiefer thought.
It was in a room on the second floor of the tea-house.
As she looked at the sleeping, blond-hair beauty lying on the bed, she wanted to sigh out but then decided against it.
Speaking about the brief explanation that she had received, her name was apparently Ferris Eris.
During the time that Kiefer left the country in search of a way to remove the curse of Alpha Stigma from Ryner, it was Sion who made her the partner of Ryner.
It seemed like these two had been travelling together in company for the entire past year.
The two of them had been journeying to search for Rhule Fragmei...... rather, Heroes’ Relics according to Ryner’s report.
Only the two of them.
Only the two of them......
“...... travelling together huh.”
She muttered softly.
“Hn?”
Ryner looked up and looked towards here. He was sitting on a chair beside the bed of the sleeping Ferris. And was looking worriedly at her (Ferris).
At any rate.
“............”
At any rate, she was not going to be jealous.
Because, she was very much well aware that he would be kind to anyone else, and additionally, she couldn’t see any particular special feelings displayed towards her (Ferris).
And besides, besides.
Un, erm, ah ~.
“............”
Uu ~.
Right. I’m sorry. It’s really jealousy.
Kiefer groaned in such a manner within the depths of her heart all by herself.
Ah ~ now, what the heck is this. I’ve being doing my best wholeheartedly since leaving the country, Ryner-tteba. Ryner-tteba!!
What was I trying to accomplish by keeping it a secret......
“............”
At that moment, once again, she was about to sigh out in frustration, but gave up.
Because it couldn’t be helped.
Because she was someone who had betrayed Ryner and the rest, someone who had left the country. Besides, in the end, even though she kissed him and confessed her love to him, she had yet to hear a reply from him.
Thus.
Thus, this was not something unheard of right ~ it couldn’t be helped right ~ but even so I can’t accepttttttttt itttttttttttt!
In the end, not being able to accept it, her heart was in a state of turmoil.
“............”
Then, Kiefer looked intently at the sleeping Ferris.
She was really extraordinary beautiful, as far as one could see.
How could she win?
Kiefer felt dejected just thinking about all this.
She tried finding her own reflection in the mirror at the corner of the room, then looked at herself. She thought that she had become more womanly than before, growing her red hair to shoulder length, and bearing pretty well-arranged features. Not bad, she thought. Probably. Then again, she had that supreme ruler from the northern part of the continent falling for her. Surely, yes, even though she wouldn’t know it herself, surely there was no problem with her looks, she thought......
At that moment.
Kiefer, once again, looked at that thing on the bed that couldn’t possibly be a human.
She has soft silky skin, fair and smooth like porcelain, and fine, soft, golden hair.
Looks like a woman...... and it’s not just about the curves; her height, slender body, delicateness which every man would want to protect, a nice body with a great style.
It was as if she came out of a fairy tale.
“...... like a princess.”
She murmured without thinking.
On hearing that, Ryner smiled wryly.
“No, no, you are tricked by what you see, you need to experience it for yourself. She truly is a demon down to the core.”
As he used a familiar manner to talk about her, Kiefer felt like crying.
Uwaan, she was on the verge of tears, but Ryner failed to notice that.
She looked at Ryner.
He had that usual sleepy, languid face, and had that look that seemed to be ignorant of the inner workings of the love relationship between a man and a woman.
“...... sigh.”
This time, she actually sighed out.
“Ah, Kiefer should be feeling tired, it’s okay to go sleep, you know? I’ll be looking after her.”
Duh, that would the last thing I want.
Instead of crying that out, she held back and smiled.
“...... it’s alright. It’s been a while since I saw Ryner, and my tiredness had all flown away.”
She said gritting her teeth as she smiled.
As she said that, her face seemed about to turn red, but she managed to stop her flush somehow.
Furthermore, she wanted to demonstrate that she had become a woman who was able to respond with such words, that’s why she made an effort.
Besides, besides, the lines she just said were her true feelings. They weren’t made up at all.
Even though this was the first meeting in three years, her feelings had not changed at all, that was what she was certain of.
Looking at his face. Looking at his sleepy eyes. Looking at his unkempt hair. Looking at his languid lean body. Looking at his awkward behaviour.
She looked at his kind-looking face in spite of all that.
Ah, as she expected.
She thought. As I’ve thought, I’m still in love with Ryner, she realized.
But then.
“............”
Ryner still had that slight withdrawn expression.
It was the same as previously.
When Kiefer had expressed her interest in the past, he had that same face.
And she knew the reason behind it.
She knew what was embedded within his heart.
He thought of himself as a monster. He thought of himself as a cursed monster that could not take hold of anyone’s hand.
Even though he is actually a kind-hearted person. Even though he has saved many with his hands.
If I am killed by you, or shattered by you, that will still be fine, that was something she couldn’t tell him.
On just a touch, you will be shattered, he would think, you will be killed, he would think, fearfully.
It was as before, currently, his heart was surrounded by a sturdy armour.
Taken by a deep curse.
She knew that immediately when she saw him again.
That was why she went on a journey.
In order to break his curse.
In order to break his Alpha Stigma curse, and set his heart free.
In order to do that, she went on a journey.
For the sake of the person she loved, she flew off to a gallant adventure.
And the result.
“............”
The result!
Before she knew it!
A super beautiful woman came in between me and Ryner, jeez!
Geez, what is the meaning of this? I really want to cry out!
“...... geez, damn that Sion.”
She uttered without thinking.
“Eh?”
As the befuddled Ryner asked, Kiefer shook her head.
“No no. It’s nothing.”
Even though it wasn’t really nothing, but yet she said that it was nothing.
And again, she flashed a smile. She showed a grinning face.
It would be embarrassing if her flustered emotions about the appearance of a love rival were let known, so instead of focusing on these thoughts, she switched her attention to think about other matters.
There were now three important matters that she had to consider.
Regarding the situation she was now in.
Regarding the situation Ryner was in.
Regarding the situation the country was in.
“............”
First of all, the matter regarding herself was a simple one.
As commanded by the supreme ruler from the northern part of the continent. the king of Gastark Empire, Riphal Edea, she came here to rescue Ryner.
As asked, she came all the way here to bring Ryner back to Gastark.
Thus it was fortunate for her to be able to meet with Ryner just as she entered Roland.
But it was pretty unfortunate for her that Ryner had a beautiful woman for a partner.
Well, in any case, the situation that she was in now was not too bad actually......
Now, regarding the situation that Ryner was in.
“............”
She first looked at Ryner, then at the sleeping Ferris on the bed.
Ferris appeared to be attacked by someone, and had lost consciousness as a result.
Her younger sister --- a girl by the name of Iris, who is now on the first floor of the tea-house, eating dango served by the shop owner --- had filled them in.
At that moment, Kiefer thought back on the words said by Iris.
It went something like this.
"Ermh, you see, Iris was waiting for Nee-sama, then there were a lot of black ghosts, and then Iris went ‘Paang’, but it didn’t work at all! And then when Iris was running away, her back was ‘Kappu’! ‘Kappu-ed’! And then, that black man in black clothes, ‘Stop!’, Iris said but that guy didn’t say a word! And then Nee-sama came, she came to save Iris but the black shadowy ghosts also ‘Kappu’ Nee-sama! And Iris said ‘Stop!’ and cried. But it was useless, both of us shouted ‘Help us!’, but it was useless. And on top of that, the black guy said that he was sent by Sion Nii-chan, and Nee-sama cried. While crying, both of us died. We were ‘Kappu-ed’ and died. But but ‘Pah’, Iris’s eyes opened and came back to life. And then we were on the road. Nee-sama was still sleeping. Iris tried waking her up but she didn’t, and then we came here!"
That was how it went.
By the time Iris finished recounting on what happened, thirty minutes had went by, but still, she could make neither head nor tail on what had transpired.
However, as she observed Ryner’s expression then, it seemed like things didn’t look too good.
She tried remembering the occasions when Ryner’s face changed, and it was roughly during the time when Iris mentioned the following.
Black shadowy ghosts.
The black guy controlling them.
The black guy was sent by Sion.
Ferris and Iris had died once.
“............”
From those four lines, Kiefer could only guess the following.
Ryner’s partner was attacked.
By who?
By a pursuer sent by Sion.
That’s how the situation was.
In other words, Sion had dispatched pursuers after Ryner. For some reason, currently, the two of them weren’t on the best of terms.
But, why?
There were various reasons that Kiefer could think of.
It had been three years since Kiefer left Roland.
However, she had been continually keeping tabs on the state of Roland. Travelling across the central part of the continent, arriving at the north, and finally reaching the most northern part of the continent, Gastark Empire, in the midst of all that, she had been acquiring plenty of information regarding the status of Roland.
To quote, after having left the country for two years, Sion started a revolution and ascended the throne.
And in a year’s time following that, Roland was merely focusing its energies and resources on domestic affairs, accumulating power.
Furthermore, she had heard from some well informed individuals up north, that after merging with the Kingdom of Estabul, the expanded Roland generated apprehension within the neighbouring countries, but during the reign of the peace-loving Hero King, Sion Astal, there shouldn’t be any major problem.
And Kiefer couldn’t agree more.
If it was Sion, he would first stabilize Roland from within, then use non-aggression diplomatic policies towards its neighbours, and bit by bit, strengthen Roland, she thought.
In fact, she was somewhat worried about that approach.
This was due to the insight she gained while she was in Gastark Empire, watching how the country invaded and overwhelmed various large nations in the north at an alarming rate.
And on top of that, she was right beside the king of Gastark Empire --- Riphal Edea, the Hero King of the North.
She was beside him, watching how the world changed in an instant the moment he stepped onto the stage.
She was beside him, watching how Gastark swallowed up various large nations in the northern part of the continent.
She saw how the other countries in the upper portion of Central Menoris, due to fear of Gastark’s power, started strengthening their military and seeking to increase their territory, stirring up war after war.
In fact, it was very probable that the flames of war would spread across the entire continent of Menoris.
No, the truth was it was already happening.
That was why she was somewhat worried about Roland.
She was wondering how could the gentle, peace-loving Sion deal with the chaotic situation of a war-torn continent.
Of course, so as to speak, since Sion had come from a military background, he probably would be inclined to create a militaristic nation, she thought, but the problem was given his gentle nature, and the fact that he was an advocate of peace, would he really be able to properly build up Roland’s army? That was what she was worried about.
That kind of Roland would just be destroyed by another country. That would really be kinda bad, huh? She thought.
“............”
But that was needless anxiety, as she found out later during her journey back to Roland, after being ordered by Riphal to bring Ryner back to Gastark.
What she thought to be a peace-oriented Roland had started invading Nelpha.
And the army that invaded Nelpha was an abnormally enhanced one, a result of human experiments.
Furthermore, they were killing even surrendering soldiers, and women as well as children.
“............”
She never would have thought that the Sion she knew would actually act in such an entirely different manner.
But regarding that.
She didn’t think that Ryner would actually forgive such a thing.
Sion had changed.
But Ryner had not changed.
Wasn’t that the reason why the friendship between the two had come apart?
“.............”
As she was thinking along those lines, she looked at Ryner, who was looking intently at the sleeping Ferris on the bed while carrying an expression that appeared to be deep in thought.
And then she asked.
“Hey Ryner.”
“...... hn ~?”
“Well you see...... there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
“Uh-huh.”
“What in the world...... actually happened to Sion?”
Instantly.
He looked in this direction with a slightly surprised expression. He seemed about to say something, then took on a troubled expression followed by a sad expression.
And she began,
“......Ryner?”
As she asked, he took on an apologetic look.
“............”
But still, he said nothing.
Once again, she looked at him intently and then asked.
“...... what in the world...... happened between the two of you during the three years when I was away from the country?”
On hearing that, he first looked in this direction, then turned his head to look outside the window at the falling rain,
“...... it’s because I didn’t make any effort at all, which resulted in Sion being driven to the wall.”
He then filled Kiefer in on the events that had taken place during the three years when Kiefer was away.
About the report that Ryner had written in prison.
That was a report about Rhule Fragmei --- no, according to Ryner’s terminlogy, Heroes’ Relics.
About Sion becoming king during that time and making Ferris accompany Ryner on a journey in search of the Heroes’ Relics.
About Ryner returning to the country and working alongside Sion.
But those were quiet, peaceful days and he was unaware that Sion had already be driven to the wall.
Without Ryner’s knowledge, Sion had carried on Roland’s past human experiments and completed them.
And on the final day.
About Sion wanting to kill Ryner.
About him weeping while he wanted to kill Ryner.
About him saying incomprehensible things such as if he didn’t kill Ryner, he won’t able to save him.
About Sion not killing Ryner in the end in spite of that.
About how Sion appeared to be possessed by something strange, and how his appearance changed.
And finally about Ryner being thrown into prison, and Ferris rescuing him thereafter, and now that they were leaving the country.
“............”
While Ryner was talking, he smiled.
With a half-crying look, he smiled mockingly at himself.
"It’s because I didn’t make any effort."
"It’s because I didn’t notice Sion’s distress."
He smiled as he said that.
But, he would save him, he said.
To compensate for him running away all this while, he shall strive seriously this time, and save him, he said.
“............”
All that had happened were things beyond Kiefer’s imagination.
After asking, in the end, Kiefer also could not comprehend why things had come to such a state.
However.
There was a person who had predicted this.
Riphal.
Before sending off Kiefer to Roland, the king of Gastark Empire, Riphal Edea had said the following.
"I want you to save Ryner from the monster of the south --- Sion Astal."
Initially, Kiefer did not understand what he meant by that.
That was a matter of fact.
Since Sion was a friend and classmate from the same academy. And besides, in the past, Ryner and Sion were very good friends, and she couldn’t fathom how their friendship could have changed.
But Riphal said something different.
With a serious gaze, he looked straight at Kiefer and said something different.
And then, following that, the story which Riphal told her was something beyond Kiefer’s comprehension.
Even though they were talking about Ryner and Sion, Riphal suddenly started telling a very old fairy tale of the past.
What kind of story are you telling me?, Kiefer had asked but Riphal just ignored her and continued.
“............”
Kiefer started recalling that particular story.
That was truly a very old story written in ancient text.
By now, no one could guess how long ago was that. It was an ancient story that was even further back in time than before this continent, Menoris, was born.
Herself, Ryner, Sion, Riphal, no, in fact, everything that existed in this world right now, could not be traced nor linked back to the time of that story.
A legend or a myth, it had become.
But, Riphal continued.
Even when Kiefer asked what kind of story is this, Riphal merely ignored and continued.
The actors in the story were,
Goddesses, Mad Black Hero, and the sacrificial Lonesome Demon. It was a story about them.
As Riphal intentionally brought out the tomes in which the story was written in indecipherable ancient text and showed them to Kiefer, he told the story.
To summarize the main points of the story, this was how it went.
Partial: To be completed very very soon
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