"......."
Enrite was momentarily filled with doubt. Had he misheard? Why was this request so different from what he expected? Why had she suddenly brought up going for a walk? Moreover, this wasn’t the kind of request one would make while mentioning power.
"...You can't go alone anyway, can you?"
"Isn't it a bit different? I'm asking because I want to go."
"Are you saying the subject changes?"
"It's my request, and if you agree, you'll be doing as I ask. You should be following me."
"Where exactly do you want to go?"
Enrite asked, looking suspicious.
Surely, she wasn’t planning on leaving the capital of Alain Kingdom, was she? He wouldn’t allow it, but he needed to understand the reason first.
"It's not about a specific place. Just walking around is fine."
"Tell me the reason you want to go for a walk."
"A reason? Hmm... maybe because I don't want to stay here all the time? Or because you look cooped up? Uh... what else..."
"……."
Enrite fell into silence, waiting for another answer. The reason was so simple and ordinary. It might have felt more natural if she had asked for something difficult.
"It feels like we've never gone for a walk together comfortably. Wouldn't it be nice to do it now?"
"Is there no other reason?"
"Do I need more reasons?"
"...That's not what I meant."
Enrite finally set his pen down and pondered deeply. She didn't seem to have any bad intentions, but he couldn't blindly trust it. Even if she had proven her worth through achievements, the shadow of Exceed Rain hadn't disappeared.
'I still can't trust myself even after all this time.'
It wasn’t exactly about Lesia but more about not trusting himself. He had come this far, having gone through many accidents and transformations. He understood that his judgments weren't always right and that outcomes could be twisted by chance. This doubt made him more cautious in his decisions.
'I haven't achieved anything. I just met Zion and Hanette.'
From the Shadow Dragon to the Slime Dragon, Zion and Hanette were always there. Whether fighting the Abyssal King, Ocean King, Demon God, or dragons, they never left his side. While he had also participated in battles, his contributions didn't seem significant compared to theirs.
'Zion said he trusts Lesia.'
Zion's reason for trusting Lesia was simple and clear. She hadn't caused trouble, hadn't betrayed them, and cooperated well. The somewhat abstract reasons he gave only made it more puzzling.
'I can't trust someone just because they resemble me.'
Of course, he didn't mean just their appearance. The atmosphere, unique feeling, intuition. Zion trusted Enrite and therefore wanted to trust Lesia as well.
'If I trust myself, can I trust Lesia too?'
Enrite might not trust himself, but he could trust Zion. Trusting Zion meant trusting himself. Ultimately, he had to trust Lesia too.
'...I must trust her.'
Enrite closed the document and slowly stood up. The logic was contradictory, but it was the only way he could accept it. He was too weak and always swayed by worries and anxieties. Since Zion Laird, the black knight, said so, he had to accept it.
"You suggested it, so I'll follow you. Lead the way."
"Hmm... when should we return?"
"You earned this request by proving your worth. Your achievements aren't small, so I should honor your wish."
"Even if it's an all-day walk?"
"...As you wish."
"Oh..."
Lesia was taken aback, hesitating at his unexpected response. She intended to go out for a short while, considering Enrite had work to do. But since he agreed to spend the whole day, she began to waver.
'I just wanted to give him a break...'
Of course, she wasn't entirely opposed to going out. Staying in the same place for too long was tedious, and she wanted to do something different with Enrite. What could Enrite be thinking by agreeing to her request?
"We might not just go for a walk..."
"I have money. Is there something you want to buy?"
"No... not exactly..."
"I don't enjoy spending money, but I’ve never felt I lacked it. As long as it’s not too expensive, I can buy it."
"We might meet those guys on the way..."
"You mean Zion and Hanette? There's no reason we can't meet them. But we should send a message ahead."
"We don't have to meet them..."
"You asked to go for a walk with me. This doesn't happen often."
Enrite spoke firmly and calmly, pushing her to make a decision. Lesia, taken aback, awkwardly smiled.
"Shall we... go now?"
"We can leave now."
"Shouldn’t you finish your work first?"
"Why are you worrying about my work? I'll handle it."
"Oh... okay..."
Lesia glanced around hesitantly before turning to leave. Enrite followed her with a small chuckle.
'Sometimes, it's okay.'
Going for a walk with someone, visiting places—he had never experienced such things and couldn't even imagine it. It was an unexpected situation, and he decided to go along with it, even if only to test it.
'Something I want...'
He had always envisioned a future where all enemies were annihilated but hadn’t thought beyond that. While other monsters might not disappear completely, humanity would live more peacefully. Perhaps even that was part of living as a human.
'After everything is over... should I find a new goal?'
Duke Adelaira's mansion, drawing room.
Enrite visited Duke Adelaira’s residence shortly after their outing began. He had sent a message in advance, confirming Zion and Hanette would be there. Lesia had reluctantly chosen to visit Duke Adelaira’s place after some indecision.
"How are you feeling?"
"Much better, thanks to you."
Zion smiled, bowing his head. Enrite, just like Hanette, worried about him and visited often. Though he could have sent another Holy Knight, Enrite personally oversaw his care.
"Hanette, as I always say, don’t worry. Zion is recovering smoothly. His mana is circulating well and should return to normal soon."
"Thank you, sister."
"...Ahem."
Enrite, feeling awkward, turned his head. Lesia, watching, felt an inexplicable sense of loss. Wasn't this something she or Enrite should have said? Why was Hanette saying it?
"Well... right. There’s something I wanted to ask you."
"Me? What is it?"
"If my guess is right, you've awakened Brecht. The flame color changed, and its power increased. Why aren't you summoning the Magic Sword?"
This was important for Enrite. An awakened Magic Sword becomes stronger and often gains special abilities. Typically, Magic Swords are summoned as weapons, and both he and Zion always manifested their forms. But Hanette, while using fire magic, never showed the Magic Sword.
"Didn't I show it then?"
"To me?"
"Lesia, you saw it too."
"...What did I see?"
"Zion?"
"Why? I don't know anything."
"……?"
The four exchanged puzzled glances. Three didn't know what they had seen, and one was trying to find the reason. Hanette thought it over and realized the misunderstanding.
"Oh, you thought it was a sword because it's a Magic Sword?"
"…Huh?"
Enrite, understanding, recalled the past. Hanette had enveloped herself in golden flames, transforming into a bird. She had fought Slime Dragon with flaming wings and countless flame fragments.
"I'll show you again."
Hanette created a golden flame in her palm, floating it in the air. The flame shifted, taking a new form.
"Unexpected."
"Is this the Magic Sword?"
"……."
Zion stared at the table in silence. On it lay a small bird made of flames. Though touching the table, it neither burned nor produced smoke. It was a unique characteristic of Hanette's flame and defined the Magic Sword.
"This is Brecht."
"Sister, can this be called a Magic Sword?"
"It's a Magic Sword. Its title changed slightly. It's no longer the Flame Magic Sword but the Celestial Magic Sword."
The three couldn't accept Brecht. Despite seeing it fight as a bird, they struggled to acknowledge it. It was too small and alive, unlike any Magic Sword.
"Don't believe me? Come here."
Hanette extended her hand, and Brecht swiftly flew to perch on her palm.
"What do we do? Everyone seems to think you’re strange."
Hanette gently stroked Brecht, which began to nuzzle her hand. Enrite watched, stunned.
'A living Magic Sword... a bird made of flames!'
As a former Magic Sword, Enrite had encountered others. He could sense their forms and energy. But Brecht had lost its original form, transformed into a small bird.
'I can feel the Magic Sword's energy. It's Brecht.'
Enrite couldn't deny the truth. The bird carried the Flame Magic Sword's essence. It seemed to have completed its bond with Hanette and might even have its own will.
'No need to overthink. The answer is clear.'
Accepting the reality, Enrite shifted his thoughts. Brecht alone had a unique form among the seven Magic Swords. Like El Tesoykve and Exceed Rain, it had fully awakened, leading to one conclusion.
'Those who bear light and darkness will arise from me and Zion. Those who will unite the five origins...'
Enrite looked at Hanette with certainty. The Celestial Magic Sword Brecht was a new creation, born from Hanette's resurrection. It destroyed immortality and spared everything but the Slime Dragon.
'Hanette Adelaira, can you create salvation?'