Inoru Kami Wo Sirazu, Negau Kokoro no Katachi wo Miezu, Soredemo Tuki Wa Yozora Ni Noboru

“½: A Hero and His Saint”

It goes without saying that Lamia had understood.

She had understood that she had succeeded.

The story was starting, as was arranged. The leading actor of the story needs to have a perfect heroine and that role is only for one person. She hid her inner emotions with unwavering self-confidence. To exemplify that she is a Saint of the Order, she wore the pure-white robe. Alongside fixing her appearance she also readied her heart.

“My smile, check. My clothes, also good. My voice, perfect. Don’t worry. I don’t look strange at all.”

Even though an unexpected situation had happened at the battlefield, she just needed to calm down and choose a different way towards the goal. For her to lose her this much composure, she worries about what will happen in the future.

She left the sleeper car’s room that was prepared for her. A peaceful rural landscape was flowing by in the windows from walking across the aisle. Occasionally, there are slight tremors that’ll shake the passengers’ feet, but the train prides itself in being a comfortable ride, so the tremors aren’t that much of a problem. They were going on a journey by using the train. What awaits the group ahead is more difficult than what they had faced before. Lamia, especially, who thinks of it as an enemy territory.

The reserved train car was extremely silent.

Lamia stood in front of the door, took a deep breath, and made an exceptional smile on her face.

She knocked on the door in a respectable manner. After that, she gave a morning call that was reminiscent of bell chimings.

“Good morning, Hero-sama.”

“Good morning, Lamia. I have just finished changing my clothes, so feel free to come in.” The young man said, already up and ready beforehand. Upon hearing that, Lamia stepped inside the room and unconsciously had her breath taken away.

His blond hair was glittering from the morning sun’s rays entering through the window. Even though he was just wearing a plain shirt from the Order’s provisions, the clothing, when he wears it, makes it seem like a first-class product made by a tailor. The dazzling man who smiled at her was so breath-taking handsome, that she had to admonish herself to not get swept away. Not letting herself be carried away, she continued on while keeping composure. Well, more accurately, she tried to continue.

“Take you for giving me permission to enter your room. The breakfast preparation has finished so if you would please wait shortly in the dining car.”

She felt something was odd. Furrowing her brow, she glared at the strange thing in the room. On the bed of the sleeper car’s room, there was a red-haired girl, who was sleeping face-down, stretched her body and showed her naked back with her red wings that were spreaded out.

“Angelica? You, just what do you think you’re doing? Ill-mannered! Discourteous!”

The angel exposed her well-proportioned bare body and took a big yawn. She tilted her neck like she was puzzled. Of course, this was on purpose. It was a clear declaration of war.

“Morning~. Hm, why is Lamia here?”

“That is my line! Isn’t your room elsewhere? We went out of our way to prepare a vertical bed that’s meant for Angels!”

“It was just a chair with a blanket on it. Rather than sleeping in a chair and being wrapped with a blanket, I prefer to sleep face-down. If I had to be wrapped around something, then being held by Master-sama is my preference.”

“Stop saying such foolish things and put on some clothes! How, just how dare you, doing this kind of slovenly act!”

Lamia was flushed in red and quivering her body in anger while Angelica didn’t mind at all. Angelica jumped out of the bed and ran up to the young man who was reading a book near the window.

Although the young girl was embarrassed, with her blushing face, nevertheless stood in front of the young man like she was showing off her body.

“Master-sama, my dear Master-sama, good morning!”

“Morning, Angelica. It’s not good if you continue to cause trouble for Lamia. The clothes you flung off are on the table. You should change into those before you catch a cold.”

“Hmph, so you noticed that instead; so you’re that type of person. I misjudged you. I have to think of a different strategy.”

The handsome young man who was being shone upon by the morning sun, was unfortunately a gentleman. Angelica, realizing that, made a blatantly disappointed expression and turned on her feet. “He” wasn’t Angelica’s master. Hiding her chest by putting her hands over it, she started to change her clothes. On the other hand, Lamia, while shaking all over, prattled on in one go.

“I just can’t believe you! Just how many times has it been, Angelica! Please stop entering the Hero-sama room without permission. ‘My’ noble and pure Hero-sama will not keep your company. Trying to tempt him into the wrong path is futile.”

“Ok ok, I got it, don’t need to make the sermons any longer it needs to be. You know, Lamia, you’re just like Aunt Haan. Ah, she was my private tutor in the castle, ok?”

“Don’t say stupi-”

“Can I call you Aunt Lamia?” Angelica said. Although the words came out of her mouth, even Angelica thought it was over the top and had an awkward face herself. However, the effects of her words were astonishingly effective.

Being called a grandmother as a girl in her mid-teens, Lamia, who was so shocked that she lost the words to say anything back, was shaking fervently.

“You shouldn’t take it too seriously, Lamia. Angelica is saying those things because she wants to close the distance with you.”

When Lamia heard those words, she finally came to her senses. He had a refreshing smile and a gentle gaze. The young man with the glittering blond hair continued to talk to Lamia.

“Thank you for looking after us, Lamia. It’s because of you that we can live normally even in foreign lands. Although her attitude is like that, Angelica is really grateful to you from the bottom of her heart.”

At his kind words, Lamia loosened her cheek muscles like she was melting and then took in a small breath.

“It is an undeserving honor, Hero-sama. You’re as merciful and forgiving as the compassionate Hero-sama depicted in legends, even to a thoughtless, foolish, and impudent girl who doesn’t have a lick of self-control. Simple words cannot express how moved I am by your actions.”

“As always with the flattery, it’s nothing much, Lamia.”

But Lamia was tearing up while looking at the young man. Even a single tear dropped out, so her words weren’t out of flattery, but a serious statement. At the very least, she was consciously and seriously moved from the bottom of her heart.

“And, let’s end it right here! Master-sama, my dear Master-sama! It’s time for you to change! Change into “my” Master-sama!” Angelica said, who ruined the atmosphere with her eagerness. For some reason, the girl who was wearing a frilly nightgown, was for some reason clutching a knife and eagerly swinging it around. Lamia shrinks back seeing Angelica’s dangerous rush of attacks.

“Master-sama, just like you did the other day, are we going to hunt for magical beasts? I really want to be stronger. I want to kill, slaughter, and murder even more so that I can spill even more of those bastards’ blood!” Angelica brushed aside her rival, and asked eagerly.

She examined the young man’s face with glittering eyes. Her words were dyed in an innocent murderous intent; the passion to kill is very disproportionate to her carefree voice. Even her hand wielding the knife was clenching tightly despite the smile on her face.

Just before Lamia was about to restrain her, the young man’s low voice resounded first.

“What an irritating servant. Hurry up and get out of my way or else I’ll kill you. Finish this foolish farce by yourselves.”

The voice owner had black hair like the night sky and had a scowl on his face. It would be unthinkable to think that the voice now and the person just before the transformation were the same person. The two girls had the exact opposite reactions when he transformed.

“Kya, I love that attitude! Let’s kill!”

“Ah, my pure Hero-sama has turned to that.”

The boy who stood up ignored the two girls. Flinging the book aside, he was headed outside the room.

“I don’t need to be told to kill or not, as anyone who opposes me will get the guillotine. Also Angelica, stop with the stupid coquetry plays. You are my servant. You just need to be by my side at my beck and call.”

“Yes, Master-sama!”

“Founder-sama, Ancestor-sama, please lend me your power.”

The three of them had their own attitude and expressions. This one act, for them, was even becoming a routine in their daily lives. A Hero and a Master. The young man who was called both and was also that at the same time, hasn’t settled on an identity.

This is a story of the young man whose identity is swayed between the two young women.

†

The calamity that struck the Angel’s Kingdom was swept away by the hands of the revived Hero.

However, the root of the problem hasn’t disappeared yet. The malicious actions that destroyed Angelica’s peaceful life was just the start. Even the Devil’s retainers that threaten the world are only merely one chess piece on a chess board.

There is someone in this world who wants all of humanity to be destroyed.

Alongside the Devil, the majority of the retainers perished in the great war a thousand years ago and the remaining survivors were sealed.

But, after some 100 years, there have been countless occasions of war that caused the world to be in chaos. As a result, there were people who wanted to resurrect the sealed retainers.

The people who betrayed humanities became the Devil’s worshippers and became known as the Daemon. They release the sealed “Devil’s Children”, also known as “magical beasts”, and carry out destructive activities around the world.

In order to counter the Daemon and the magical beasts, each nation decided to work together regardless of national borders.

After the battle that took place at the Angel’s Kingdom, Lamia showed the young man the path that he should take as the Hero.

“There are 6 regional countries that reigns in this continent. These countries have “Academies” that gather the best of the best people to raise them as the next generation soldiers. This is to prepare for the decisive battle against the Daemon in the future.”

The stronghold of the Daemon stretches across the forbidden lands in the southern part of the continent. It is also called the Darklands, where no man has walked on nor been marked on maps. In order to advance towards the world’s destruction, the Daemon and magical beasts forces continue to pressure humanity. Their constant invasions have made humanity have too much on their hands.”

The Hero has been cooperative in helping humanity.

For now, for both Hero’s self.

And that was the issue.

The Hero isn’t just one person in mind and body.

A millennium ago, during the violent fight against the Devil, the Hero’s soul took a big damage and was injured. Due to the fatal injury, it was unable to heal in time, so it seems that the soul, when it was being transmigrated, was still in tatters when it entered the young man. As a result, the young man lost his memories and even his individuality had split as an after-effect. When the scholars researched and the doctors had examined him, the answer that the Order gave was that “the Hero has split personalities”.

“It is possible that it was due to the imperfections of the ritual. For the situation to end up like this, we deeply apologize.” Lamia said while bowing. But even after all that is done, it doesn’t mean that the Hero’s memory will return.

“If you pass the mountain range to the south from the Angel’s Kingdom, the Shiptoshelm Kingdom’s “Academy” lies there. How about attending the Academy to find a way to get your memory back?” Lamia proposed to substitute for the lost memories.

Research on ancient ceremonies is a project that is done by the whole country. Furthermore, the colleges are joint in researching the ancient ruins that contain Mystery that existed a millennium ago. On the other hand, the Academies train the students as soldiers who use the power of Mystery in order to exterminate the magical beasts.

In this continent, there are six Academies that train the students. Among those is an Academy that gathers all the “world’s knowledge” in one place. This is the Academy they are headed to get his memory back.

“An expansive otherworld library lies underground of the Academy. Even though it is a dangerous place where even the greatest adventurers can lose their life when traveling deeper in the ruins, if it’s the Hero-sama, then you may have a chance to find your answers.”

When hearing more about it, the Academy has students who are part of respectable households from young masters from influential Nobles to childrens with a knight’s lineage. For the Hero who just transmigrated and only has the “Order” as their backing, then it’s important preparation for the future to have connections with these individuals that will one day fight with the Hero, Lamia stressed.

“I will also attend to serve as the assistant to the Hero-sama. And I also prepared the name you will use from now on.” After saying that, Lamia presented the name.

“Your name will be Serot Protagonist. But let’s keep the name a secret for now. It’s possible that you may get into chaotic situations and rebellions wherever we go, so let’s gather as many achievements first before revealing your name.”

The young man, now being called Serot from now on, nodded in understanding. Then out of nowhere, a lively voice crashed into the conversation.

“That’s unfair! Even though I thought of a name, too! Listen, Master-sama! I thought of a cool name that resembles Master-sama! Add-sama! What do you think about the name, Add-sama? Add-sama, kyaaaaaaa, it’s such a good name!”

“You again, doing things out of order. It’s impolite to Serot-sama.”
Serot-sama and Add-sama. As they call the name one after another, the form of the Hero ambiguously wavers like a mirage.

It is necessary to stabilize the Hero’s form as quickly as possible.

Their changes don’t just stop at their image, but their outward appearance, voice, personality- it is a matter of the change in their existence.

Can it really be called a case of a split personality?

Of course, it wasn’t a case of split-personality.

While Angelica was tugging on the young man’s hand, the image of him was fluctuating to her side. Lamia pursed her lip, and took a deep breath to raise her spirits. The two girls who considered each other as rivals glared at each other plainly provocatively, and grabbed the arm of the young man.

The young man’s existence was swaying.

This was also a story where the young man’s heart was being swayed by the two girls who were holding onto him.

†

And with this, the three’s travel to the “Academy” continued on the train.

The young man who was called into the dining car had a form that was palely wavering. It was choosing in respect to the girl’s callings.

When Lamia saw the face of the person who was wearing a nice shirt and jacket in blue and white undertones, she gasped in surprise.

“It’s a blessing that you have calmed down.”

“Sorry, it seems that I’m still a bit unstable.”

The exchanges of smiles between the young man and the young girl. Angelica, who was away from them, had a ugly expression, like she was pouting. She was wearing a black robe, one that was used for general clergymans, and the simple plain color of it doesn’t really suit a cheery girl like her.

“Stuuuupid, stuuuuupid. Aunt Lamia is a violent person.”

“Hm? Was that the wind? Did I hear something?”

“I said nooothing at all.”

Angelica immediately straightened up in her chair, and Lamia approvingly nodded at that. Serot, who was wearing a bitter smile, sat down in his seat.

The breakfast was overall considerably modest. There was a flat and dense whole-grain bread, and a pale soup that consisted of thin root vegetables and beans. There was also a boiled egg and smoked meat. From the young man’s facial expression, it seems that he was slightly sad, compared to Angelica who was clearly very happy.

“Wow, it’s been a long time since I saw a bread that doesn’t have roots inside!”

The young man’s eyes became welled with a deeper sadness. Lamia, questioned the Hero after seeing him with such an expression.

“Hero-sama, are you not satisfied with the meal?”

“No, I’m fine. There’s nothing that I hate or like, so be at ease.”

The young man replied with a flawless smile, but Lamia’s expression had clouded.

“Hero-sama, please have my share.”

“Then Lamia would lose her share, wouldn’t you? But thank you for offering. It was very kind of you.”

While watching the bitter smile of the young man and the girl who dropped her shoulders, Angelica said something in dissatisfaction.

“Well, it’s pretty unsatisfactory.”

The scenery of the agriculture farms that were flowing in the train’s window was really a tragic sight. The fields were being burnt away, and the farmers who tried to run away were torn up by the grotesque beasts. The glass windows had pulsating veins crawling and stained the glass crimson. The red dark sky had ominous dark clouds gathering. The damage to the grain-producing region was severe. The food situation was unavoidable.

“Even at the best of times, because of the grain-tax it gets taken away. As a result, the royalty could only ever eat the leftover nasty bread!” Angelica puffed her cheeks and said.

“The revival of the Angel’s Kingdom is gradually getting better. The other day, I heard that the Crystal Kingdom has decided to finally send troops to be stationed there. Although at this stage I ask about this, are you fine with not staying behind at the Angel’s Kingdom, Angelica?” Lamia asked, seriously concerned.

“What is left there even if I stay there? Will I become a governor’s mistress? Or perhaps a puppet leader? Or just waiting to be killed? All those options are horrible, I’d rather stay by the Master’s side forever.” Angelica replied feebly.

The Angel Kingdom’s princess threw away her social status and decided to lead a new life. The royal family, due to the Angel’s Kingdom befalling to disasters, has been destroyed. At the very least, for the girl who was formerly a princess, had felt that everything was over. Her world has changed forever.

As if he was trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere, the Hero switched the subject.

“The Crystal Kingdom that you mentioned, is that Kingdom the most powerful Kingdom in the Eastern region?” He asked Lamia.

“Yes. The formal name of the Kingdom is the Shiptoshelm Kingdom. The Shiptoshelm family, a family of Nobles, is the monarch of that Kingdom.”

“So they’re the ‘King’. So Angelica’s country was swallowed into that country.” The man mumbled like he was pondering.

“The Shiptoshelm Kingdom has their troops stationed at their bases in the surrounding countries. Even though we and the other countries were promised protection from the Devil’s retainers for the stability of the continent, and continue to pay an enormous sum in exchange, they didn’t do a single thing during the time we needed them most. Only when the Master ended everything that they did as they pleased.” Angelica added.

They should have a taste of hell, Angelica cursed. While Serot was looking outside the windows of the train car, he nodded in agreement. Even though beasts were trampling on the humans, almost like a nightmarish and very one-sided fight, the help that was promised is nowhere to be seen.

Lamia connected the conversation in a slight cold-hearted tone.

“In reality, the destruction of the Angel’s Kingdom was a blessing for the sovereign Shiptoshelm Kingdom. As a person who needs protection, there is no reason for the Order to refuse to let you come in order to protect you. Not only that, we welcome anyone to join as an attendant who will support the Hero. But of course, we’re talking about an attendant that knows moderation and knows her place.”

“So what does that mean? Does that mean that I can kill magical beasts and Daemon? Speaking of which, different-color Master-sama, are you not hungry? Do you have no appetite? Then is it ok if I eat it?”

While saying that, Angelica approaches the man’s plate with a wooden spoon. Lamia, seeing the unreserved attitude of Angelica, twitches her expression. The young man gives his plate calmy, and Angelica inhales the food with an ever-growing appetite.

“Lamia, you don’t seem to have an appetite either. If you don’t want it, then I’m going to take some.”

“Wait, you haven’t received any permission yet. Haven’t you been taught about moderation and humility?”

“I learned it, but at the most important time it didn’t help me at all. I learned something when everyone died. It’s that in this world, there is only to kill or to be killed. It’s pretty much the survival of the fittest.”

On one end, Lamia succumbed to the feeling of guilt and was at a loss for a reply. On the other hand, Angelica was looking seriously at Lamia’s plate and was gradually coming closer to her side. Only a month has passed since Angelica had confronted the tragic and gruesome event. Lamia, imagining the painful emotional scars that Angelica, who was in the middle of eating someone else’s meal, held, felt her chest ache.

“Yep yep, it’s really delicious. Lamia, you make a worrying face and don’t say anything, so gullible.”

“Angelica, who is the one who should be saying that, exactly?”

“Hm? What, even though what I said was the truth?”

When she saw the innocent eyes of Angelica, Lamia shut her mouth. Angelica changed her whole self after the event. The rulers of the Angel’s Kingdom were monarchs that were beloved by their citizens, especially the princess who was famed to be a kindhearted and benevolent princess. And it took only one night for her to change like this.

It wasn’t only her heart that was scarred. She was looking forward with a strange positivity. She possessed a cheerful hatred and aggression. The fire of revenge is trying to overpower the mental state of an innocent girl.

Lamia turned her gaze to the nonchalant young man. He had a refreshing face and was a handsome young man. A flawless being and the revived legendary Hero. But inside of him was something beautiful, even now, that was made to live in there. And that something was the transformation that Angelica caused.

“I ate a lot in order to gain the power to defeat a lot of Devil’s underlings. As the Master-sama servant, this is a necessary action. It’s not because I am a glutton, ok?”

“You, again, just which are you?”

Lamia was looking at Angelica who was chewing her food with a suspicious look.

“You asked a question of whether I’m just trying to keep it together or if I’m shameless, well,” Angelica crammed food into her mouth and gulped. Then she picked up the knife from the table and rotated it easily on her palm. “The answer is that Angelica is super strong.”

She easily drove a knife to the back of her, piercing the eyeball of a cabin crew member who had turned into a furry beast. At the same time, Serot brandished the light blade he had on standby and sliced in half the beast that was headed toward Lamia.

“What?”

In one instant, the normal dining car was changed into a battlefield. The passengers that were sitting at the evenly-aligned dining tables turned into wolves that walked on two legs. They made a ferocious roar while also gnawing on dried meat, and showed their fangs to the three as if it wasn’t enough to feed on dried meat alone.

In front of the bewildered Lamia were the train car windows opening by itself. From outside, where the scene of the Nightmare was happening, the beasts who ran amok outside started to board the train.

“Lamia, get down.” Serot waved his hands and numerous light swords flew in the air. They soared everywhere as Serot pleased, and in a blink of an eye exterminated seemingly a group of beasts, but abnormally, the scenery hadn’t changed.

Lamia was confused. She did not know what was going on at all. Upon seeing that, Angelica was shocked.

“Did you not notice the scenery from the window was getting strange? Lamia, are you still half-asleep?” Angelica exclaimed.

Finally, Lamia noticed. That this situation is very unusual.

She took everything as normal. The gory rural landscape to the disgusting lump of meats and blood vessels that were crawling inside the train car. This was the intention of the enemy.

“When you become imprisoned in a Nightmare, it’s difficult without the proper mental preparations to realize it quickly, Angelica.”

“Hmph, I feel you’re bad-mouthing me.”

The lumps of meat at their feet swelled up, soared into the air, and pounced at Angelica while sharply baring their fangs. But, the young Angel girl calmly evaded, hit the beast in the air with her knife, and nailed it down to the table. The struggling and raging beast’s foot scratched a bit of Angelica’s fair skin. Although blood had flown from her, Angelica showed no signs of being in pain, and gouged the beast with a knife.

Was it that she never even felt pain from the beginning? She neither flinched nor hesitated, and until it was dead, she never stopped gouging at it. Her will to make sure it is deader than dead is very bizarre.

The scene reeking of blood made Lamia retreat while holding her mouth. Angelica’s expression had the same atmosphere as she did when she was eating earlier, but only her eyes were flaming radiantly.

This was the face of someone who wants to kill, or was it the face of someone who is deranged? A short while ago, Lamia asked ‘which are you’, but the way Angelica is right now, was for some reason, dreadfully terrifying.

“Angelica, will you let me handle this soon? I’m going to go attack the real form of the enemy.”

“Eh, but I also want to kill the Daemons toooooo.”

“Sorry. But, I think it’s more efficient if you help protect Lamia and the other passengers here.”

“Fine, I understand. I just wanted to say that line at least once.”

Lamia could only see the give-and-take exchanging with a dazed expression.

Serot was clearly treating Angelica as a “person to fight with”. On the other hand, he was treating her as “someone to protect”.

She could only send him off when he cut a hole in the roof above and jumped above. She knows she doesn’t have the qualifications to ask “Is there anything that you want me to do?” to the Hero. But what is this impatient feeling that she is holding in her chest?

Lamia felt that on top of the roof, the young man was facing a violent fight. But while she was feeling that, she examined the girl who was next to her. The figure of the girl who was covered in blood was not only terrifying, but also daring. The figure of the girl that Lamia sees wasn’t easily frightened by the grotesque shadows that came gushing out of the adjourned train car, and easily wielded her blade just like she was already a soldier.

In Lamia’s eyes, she could only think of this figure who was single-mindedly killing as unsettling. To put it in one way, it was like the angel was perfectly suited for the Nightmare world, as an incarnation of bloody violence.

The angel, who was supposed to be a common princess that can be found anywhere, had a decisive change that changed her everything.

And Lamia knew the cause of it. When she thinks about the battle that is happening above her, that she can’t even witness, she unconsciously puts her hand to her chest like she is praying.

She was supposed to have succeeded.

In the story where the right route was the Hero Serot and being supported by Saint Lamia, and anything else that happens are just insignificant details. But is that really all there is to it?

It’s undeniable where her feelings of impatience come from.

It’s because there was an opposing force by the name of Angelica. Angelica, who doesn’t hesitate and pounces on the monsters, causes the role of Lamia, who was supposed to be the “Heroine in distress”, to be in danger.

“Lamia, come here.”

After leading her by the hand, there were fangs being bared at her right before her eyes. In the next moment, Angelica had already cut the monster’s neck. Lamia couldn’t even follow the fighting sequences because of how fast it was.

“You see, I am God’s servant. You can’t even be considered my opponent, small fry.” Angelica said excitedly and with out-of-the-ordinary strength, utterly defeated the enemy.

She was no longer a heroine who cried in the corner and feared everything, Lamia thought while being protected by such a girl.

It was like in this fight Lamia didn’t exist.

It was like she had no value on the battlefield.

Because she wasn’t hyperfocused on the battle like Angelica was, she noticed something when she was looking around in a daze.

There was a small beast, who was lurking secretly behind the fallen chair, and was looking for a chance to bring Angelica down.

Waiting for a chance to pounce at Angelica, it sharpens its claws in the meantime. It seems that the only one who noticed that was Lamia. One thought came up in Lamia’s head.

If her rival disappeared, then she could monopolize “the Hero, Serot,” for herself. It’s certainly a rational impulse, she thought, but furthermore, if she did that, then it would also mean that she had accepted that she is inferior to Angelica.

Will she accept that she had lost to her? She, the honorable and proud Draconian Saint, to lose against the likes of her?

Is that really the appropriate actions of a story’s heroine?

“Get away!”

Acting without thinking, Lamia moved her whole body.

†

In the Nightmare, the scenery that is flowing at high speed has remained unchanged. The train tracks are a continuation from where they have already passed; the train is stuck in a loop between the last stop and the starting stop.

“I guess it’s better than having time turned back.”

Serot sprinted across the train cars while moving with his hands to manipulate the numerous light swords. There was a large wolf-like lump of meat that was clinging onto the train itself that Serot was cutting into indifferently, while destroying the wolves that came out of it. For a moment, he stopped and stood there, giving a frown.

“This is difficult without a trump card.”

By all means, it isn’t that it’s a hard fight. He had time to spare in the battlefield to help the passengers who were being chased by monsters in the train car below him.

Serot’s light swords can be thrown with perfect accuracy to cut only the enemies, and protect as well, so that all attacks are blocked. It is his duty to protect the people, and could easily do that too.

“If the enemy is this big and is the regeneration-type, then rather than me, he is better suited for it.”

He held memories and knowledge about the other person in him. The wide range of that person’s destructive and overwhelming power could exterminate the enemy regardless of its regeneration ability.

The problem is that if the other person uses his full power, then the train and the passengers wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“I’ll manage it in some way or another, so let’s start.”

He bisected the jaw of the beast who was coming at him, and sent one of his light blades in the other direction towards the dining car. He breathed words into the sword he had at hand, and the sword resonated with the other and sent a message.

“Lamia and Angelica, can you hear me? I need a little of your help.”

After a slight pause, Lamia replied.

“Yes, please give us any orders you wish.”

Serot noticed that she was breathing heavily. Although he thought it was strange, he had to focus on fighting the enemies as the Hero who needs to save everyone. It wasn’t the time to worry about one person’s state.

“When I give a sign, one after another, I want you to say my name. First one should be Angelica. The next should be Lamia.”

“Is that all you need?”

“Do it just like you two did before. I just need you each to wish for the person you wish for. I’m leaving it up to you two, bye for now.”

After saying that, Serot manipulated the swords to collect or push the passengers and gathered them into one place. Soon after remembering everyone in the space without any visual aid, he uses the light blade to call to Angelica.

“It’s time to start, so Angelica, could you call him for me?”

“Ye-Yes. Um, Add-sama! Please come for me!”

Although a bit perplexed, she called out her Hero with a serious voice, and in response to that, the body of the young man was swallowed into the light. The change only took an instant. The one who was standing there now was a being who was like a form of darkness, an incarnation of terrifying power.

“How dare he use me, what an insolent guy.” He spit out while having a scowl on his face.

From his palms rises a jet-black sphere, a terrifying mass of substance that is even more nerve-wracking than black clouds or smoke. The grotesque insects in that mass, due to a poisonous ecstasy, were swelling, and just by the after-effects of the swelling were blowing away the beasts alone.

“But that resolution you have is interesting. I’ll lend my power.” Add lightly laughed like he had some expectation, and threw the black ball towards the back of the train. From the future to the past. Add’s will flies over the loop in the opposite direction. The projection of the ball took a loop when it reached the back, and soon after came to be a threat that came from the front to hit the enemy.

“Snake-woman, hurry up and call out your Master!”

“You’re calling me a snake? Ugh, Serot-sama!” Lamia called out her Hero, while showing a little opposition towards Add’s words.

The young man’s body changed into Serot and immediately manipulated the light swords.

There are advantages to this split-personality state. One advantage is that multiple abilities can be used simultaneously in a small span of time.

The always-changing soul of the Hero has different personalities and different powers. If the train passengers cannot handle Add’s attack, then Serot’s power can be used to protect them.

The beast that was clinging onto the train car screamed. The jet black sphere hit its target and brought forth destruction. At the same time when the spreading darkness was swallowing the beast, was the sword covering the passengers like a shield, and its particles were falling and clinging everywhere in the train car.

The sleeper car’s exterior was gaudily dissolved into nothing by the darkness and the glass shards of the window were being scattered. On the other hand, when the engines and the other important parts were going to be included in the destruction, particles of light were protecting it like a shield.

Serot, standing on the train car, held out his two hands. Although he still had the same refreshing aura, his hands were hideously burned red and was puking out blood from his mouth. He took a lethal curse straight on, and said with a pale face.

“I’ll keep the other one as a reserve.”

As the frenzied darkness continues to earnestly destroy slowly, gradually the Nightmare that had captured its surroundings was disappearing along with it. After he checked that the disaster that had befallen on the train had been resolved, the young man staggered his way to meet with the two girls who were waiting at the dining car.

“I’m back. First off, the passengers and train cars somehow made it through all that safely.”

“Serot-sama?!”

The two girls gasped seeing the worned-out figure. Lamia called out to him in a sorrowful voice while holding him up.

“You went too far, far beyond your limit. “If anything happens to you..” Lamia stopped speaking, in fear of what she would have said next. But Serot answered her concerns calmly. From within the transparent smile, you could see his vacant-like real feelings somewhere inside.

“ ‘He’ is inside there, right? In the first place, in the end, I’m someone who doesn’t exist in this world; an existence that is only supplemented by people’s wishes. If I exist here because people wished for it, then it’s fine to become a sacrifice and die instead of someone else.”

Lamia’s facial expression was frozen, her face crumpled like she was shot. Lamia looked down, stifling her voice. Serot was gazing at her with a facial expression unlike him, and realized that he was strangely trembling. For some reason, there is a ripple in the heart of the young male who was a blank canvas.

“Lamia, are you hurt?”

There was impatience mixed in with Serot’s voice. It was because he discovered there was a big scratch in Lamia’s chest. Angelica, who was right by, was going to say something in an uneasy manner, but Lamia shook her head and said it first.

“When compared to the Hero-sama, it’s not a big injury for you to worry about.”

“That’s not good! We have to treat it immediately! Show me your wound.”

The young man put his hand over it and it was covered with a brilliant light, and miraculously it was healing. Even though the young man’s injury on his arm was an even more hideous and serious injury. But surely, Lamia will raise her head to look at him.

“Just what is with you all?”

Not understanding what she said, Serot stared at her in puzzlement. Lamia, getting even more irritated, and her tone was rising.

“What do you mean that you don’t exist? Don’t say it like you have no value!” Lami cried out, who had hit the chest of the Hero with her head. That figure was one full of grief.

“You are here, right here, standing here! Even if there is no one else, I am looking at you! If it’s just me, does that not satisfy you? Am I someone who isn’t necessary to you?”

“Lamia, you have it wrong. I don’t mean it that way.”

The young don’t understand why she became so frantic and so desperate. The emotions that she is feeling, for a person who she had just met, it’s too heavy for the young man. But he can see that she is being very sincere. That one feeling isn’t a lie, he believed.

“Then put yourself in my shoes and take care of yourself better. I don’t want to see you anymore putting yourself in danger like how you did.”

Lamia’s words taught Serot one path.

Compared to the other hero, Add, Serot’s sense of self is low. He was someone who was fine with losing himself as a feeble existence of the world. He was a blank canvas with no stirring feelings.

But if there was someone to throw a stone into still water, then there will be a ripple in the water.

“If that is what you wish, then I’ll become a Hero that is yours truly. That is all, right?”

It’s because she wished for it that he acts like this. His words are just nothing more than a one-sided, crooked, rehash of the contract. But even though the answer is like that, it brought a smile to her face. While also feeling restless for some reason, Serot continued to gaze at Lamia.

“Yes, you are my Hero-sama.”

And now the unstable relationship between the two has become settled.

For the young man who was starting from a blank canvas, this was the start of his story.

But for the young girl, it was a little different.

Lamia pressed her forehead against the young man’s chest as if trying to avoid being seen.

But there was a little pain that pricked him in the shoulder from the horn that protruded on her head.

It’s a small pain caused by a childish action.

But the meaning behind that, the young man still hasn’t realized.