"Is this the "research tower"?"
In the midst of a violent wind that foreshadowed mayhem, Meltia muttered, holding her beautiful silver hair with her right hand and looking up at the five-story tall tower.
Her back resembled that of her best friend from the past when they were traveling together, and Jenna, who rode in the carriage with her, smiled despite the situation.
Jenna's mouth tensed slightly and her heart seemed to relax at the same time.
Noticing that, Jenna cleared her throat.
"Meltia, you're allowed to come with me, but you have to listen to me―― okay?"
"...Yes."
As though to keep her determination up, Jenna said that first to Meltia.
The silver-haired princess, who had been looking up at the tall tower, smiled at her words, and when she turned around, she nodded honestly in reply.
"Even so, this is a problem for Lishlua―― it's also a problem for the bishops."
"No. This is something I said so don't mind it, Jenna-sama."
"...I can't do that."
Jenna couldn't help but sigh when she remembered how that happened.
She couldn't afford to be depressed, she thought, because they were about to go into battle.
After fighting off the humanoid slime that had targeted the statue of the goddess in the temple, after that, Meltia met with the bishops and told them that she wanted their support in defeating the slime.
The subjugation of monsters and the rescue of the country.
Of course, the bishops of Lishlua nodded their heads in agreement.
Although not as shocking as when the demon king existed, but certainly, slimes were flooding all over the world and causing damage.
The same was true in Lishlua.
"I know that. Yes, it's important for the country, for the world. But the damage has already been done here in Lishlua."
"Eh..."
"The Goddess' barrier is protecting us, but we are already surrounded by the slimes, and even within the barrier, a place called the Research Tower has been captured by monsters."
"Yes... Even in Grabalt, the land of beastmen, slimes are hiding in the darkness of the forest. There have been reports of missing fairies and demi-humans in the surrounding villages, and that's why. There is no time to spare."
"Yes, yes. We, the priests, are well aware of this, but you must also understand that we cannot divide our forces if we leave a disturbing presence within the barrier. Princess of Fonteau."
“…………”
The conversation in the temple was one that Meltia could understand.
The barrier of the goddess was safe even in the battle against the demon king. However, that safety had collapsed, and it meant that they could not divide their forces.
Even though she was aware that the world was in danger, Meltia, who was young but still a member of the royal family, understood that she had to prioritize the safety of her own people.
That being said, she couldn't say "Even so", and there was a moment of silence.
"...Then, if you are able to secure the safety of your own country, can I ask for your help?"
"Yes, yeah. Of course, Princess Meltia."
One of the old men sitting at the round table, where several people were missing due to poor health, agreed with a smile on his face.
It was a gentle, kind voice that puts the listener at ease.
The bishop, who was used to talking to strangers, could easily understand the feelings of the princess of Fonteau, who was under pressure.
She was forced to leave her country, her mother was taken captive, and the creatures that had destroyed her country were growing in number by the day.
The threat of slime.
The bishops who were not on the front lines could not measure the extent of the threat, but they could understand how abnormal it was that the number of monsters continued to increase in a world where the demon king who had created them had been defeated.
However, they were not so ignorant of the reality that they think they could defeat them by themselves.
"If Princess Meltia helps maintain the country's safety, we will join forces with Grabalt and recapture Fonteau right away."
"Thank you, Bishop-sama."
The four bishops sitting at the round table nodded to each other.
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"I heard that Princess Meltia fought the slime and survived. Please use your experience to help the save Lishlua."
As the daughter of the hero, she could be counted on.
In this critical situation, it was only natural.
And above all, unlike the warrior priest, who excelled in recovery magic but lacked the means to attack, the elf was good at magic. In addition, if she was the daughter of Queen Leticia, who was famous for being the strongest mage, her strength was immeasurable.
Normally, if they hired a mage, they needed a certain amount of money.
It was a small expense for a bishop, but was it human nature that they didn't want to pay even that small amount of money out of their own pocket? Or was it just greed?
However, Meltia wanted Lishlua's help.
The bishops wanted to regain their safety.
The bishops' faces broke into a smile at that their interests coincide. The smile on their wrinkled faces reassured Meltia, as though they were good old men.
......In their hearts, though, they just wanted only the power of that magic.
"If it is judged to be dangerous, the entire research tower can be destroyed."
"That... is that okay?"
"The safety of the people is more important than a single tower."
At these words, Meltia bowed deeply.
She was impressed by the way they tried to take care of the people rather than the important structure of the country.
"I will definitely, definitely get rid of the monsters. ――Absolutely."
The tragedy on Fonteau would never be repeated.
With that in mind, Meltia left the temple.
The bishops had involved Meltia in a problem that should have been solved by them as it was a domestic issue.
Jenna could not forgive that.
"Good grief. Meltia, there is no need for you to take any risks."
"No, Jenna-sama. I don't expect you to help me for nothing. I'm going to involve the people of Lishlua in a fight that could result in death―― what do I have to gain by not risking it?"
"...You really are just like your father, aren't you?"
Jenna smiled and walked away, telling the carriage attendant to return.
Hero.
Not the one who saved the world, but the brave one. She could still vividly recall the image of one man who was called that.
"People are much weaker"
"?"
"Even if they know they have to fight, but they're still so afraid of dying that they can't move their legs."
That was when she had been attacked by monsters more times than she could count.
When death crept up on their family and loved ones.
When facing the Demon King.
Everyone stood still. They couldn't move forward.
At that time, he stood in front of her, raised his voice, and pulled her hand.
The one who gave her the courage that she lacked.
For Jenna, the hero was someone who would give them the courage to move forward.
"The world expects a lot from you and Maria just because you are the daughter of the hero. I think there are times when the world expects more from you than you can deliver."
When she spotted her husband, Graffus, in front of the research tower, Jenna lined up with Meltia.
"There will be times when you will have to push yourself to meet those expectations. But don't forget―― the heroes were human too. If you get hurt, it hurts, and if it's deep enough, you die. Even if they understand that, others will impose their expectations on you...... Don't forget that it's impossible to meet all of them."
"……Yes"
No matter how strong you were.
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No matter how courageous you were.
As long as you were a "person", death was equal for everyone―― Jenna told Meltia.
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"Okay? You have to take the risk in the future. But you shouldn't take the risk in a place like this...... Do you understand?"
"Thank you for your concern. Jenna-sama."
"Of course―― if something happens to you, I don't have the courage to face Leticia anymore."
When Jenna said that in a cheerful tone, Meltia's face, which had not been smiling since that temple incident, broke into a slight smile.
The tension that had been building since the fall of Fonteau finally eased a little.
She had to support her younger sister who had inherited the blood of the hero, she was asked due to her power as a mage, and she also had to behave in front of her subjects and refugees as royalty and the daughter of the hero.
The life of worrying about the eyes of others had given Meltia, who a few months ago had been nothing more than a student at a magic school, exhaustion that made her heart creak badly.
So that was a little bit of a relief.
"What's wrong, Jenna? I didn't know you were coming―― and this is......."
"It's been a while, Graffus-sama. I'm Meltia, a mage from Fonteau. I'm here to help you retake the research tower."
Meltia dexterously held her mother's staff in one hand, politely lifted the skirt of her dress, and bowed gracefully.
With that, the warrior priests behind Graffus saluted. A moment later, Graffus also saluted.
"Please don't mind me. I'm here as a mage―― think of me as one of the forces that will work with you to retake the research tower."
"No, that's not――"
"It's okay, dear. Just for now."
Not as a princess of a country, but as a mage. As a woman.
She was sure it was the last time.
In the future, when she was sought after as a hero, no one in the world would ever look at her as a woman―― Jenna knew.
Because her father, the hero from another world, was like that.
He was just an ordinary man with a little bit of talent in swordplay and magic, but he was forced to carry the heavy burden of saving the world by himself.
It was a heavy burden that was never shared even with Jenna and the others who traveled with him.
But the hero stood in front, inspired his companions, saved people, and met more companions to support him.
Men and women, young and old. Lots and lots of them.
……But she thought.
If he couldn't save the world, the responsibility would have been centered on the hero.
That was what the hero was.
He gave courage to everyone, but in the end, the responsibility fell on just one person.
It was what Meltia and Mariabelle―― would have to bear from now on.
No one wanted to put the burden on just one person.
However, the famous and overly conspicuous title of "Hero" attracted a lot of attention.
"Meltia, how's Mariabelle doing?"
Jenna asked about her sister―― the sister who inherited the blood of the brave more than anyone else in the world.
"Yes. I believe she is in Grabalt, being trained in the art of the sword by Fornelis-sama."
"The sword, you mean."
"She drew our father's sword, the hero's sword. In addition to getting help from Lishlua to recapture Fonteau, she wanted to get the hero's armor."
"Yes, I see...... I'm sure Mariabelle has grown a lot. I'm looking forward to meeting her."
"I'm sure Mariabel is looking forward to it."
After she had said that much, Jenna cleared her throat.
"Warrior priest Graffus and the young warrior priests. The bishop has given us their instructions. I will explain it to you now."
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When Jenna announced that, everyone straightened up.
"From now on, we will recapture the research tower and drive the abominable monster―― the slime out of the barrier of Goddess Fasalina."
"――――"
The young warrior priests in the area shouted in agitation.
The reason was that their mission was not to "recapture" the research tower but to guard the surrounding area.
It was hard not to get upset when they were suddenly told that it was going to be a battle. And many of them have little to no experience in actual combat.
"Don't panic. The only people who would enter the research tower are myself, Graffus, and those who have experience in actual combat. Those without experience should wait outside with Mage Meltia."
"……Eh?"
Meltia was surprised by that.
She thought that she would be one of the people who would be in the front lines because she could use magic that was effective against the slime.
"That's, Jenna-sama...?"
"You have to listen to me until the end, Meltia."
It wasn't Jenna, who had been smiling gently at her earlier.
It was the face of a warrior who had hidden its gentle smile and sharpened its gaze. It was the face of a hero who had fought with the hero against the monsters and defeated the demon king.
The young warrior priests, who were upset at first, tightened up under the pressure of Jenna's gaze.
It was a silent pressure that said there was no room for complacency because they were young or inexperienced.
The battle was about to begin.
A dangerous battle with the possibility that they would lose their lives―― The young warrior priests looked up at the sudden change in the "saint" that was more than enough to make them ready.
"First, we will break into the research tower and rescue Kara, the administrator. She is researching a potion that will defeat a slime, and we have been informed that her research is complete."
That was the first time Meltia had heard of it.
It was no wonder.
The goddess was the "absolute justice" that created the world and summoned the heroes. The bishops would not approve of research that reversed the power of the goddess, so the matter was kept secret from Meltia.
The existence of a scientist named Kara.
In other words, the bishops kept the existence of Kara a secret and withheld information from Meltia so that she could at worst destroy the entire tower.
However, Jenna, who had been connected to the research tower since its inception, had been able to get that information from a researcher who had been lucky enough to finish his work and return home to escape the disaster.
"Some may consider this tower, which studies the power of the Goddess Fasalina, an abomination. However, her science is necessary to exterminate the slime. We'll rescue Kara, and then Meltia will use her magic to blow the slime out of the tower...... Okay?"
"Yes..."
The intelligent Meltia realized that she had been almost tricked by her words...... and that she had not been informed of important information.
She guessed the reason why she didn't speak in the carriage was to prevent the bishop from breathing down her neck and interfering with her.
Study the power of the goddess.
In a country that believed in the goddess, even Meltia could see how dangerous―― and forbidden such an act would be.
The bishops disliked the woman, Kara, who was doing the research...... And they probably wanted to hide behind the current turmoil and destroy the entire research tower.
"If you're not experienced in combat, you should be guarding Meltia―― the slime has wisdom and knows that Meltia is a great mage. You must protect her at all costs."
"――――Yes."
There were about thirty young warrior priests in the area.
About ten of them had experience in combat.
(So few...)
However, the demon king had been defeated, and the number of monsters had been decreasing―― although there were still some brigands and thieves, the living environment in the vicinity of Lishlua was not so difficult that it was difficult to live or eat, and there were few people who turn themselves into criminals.
As a result, the number of young people with little or no combat experience had increased, but that was also proof of peace.
Jenna felt that it was now contributing to a bit of...... difficulty.
"Then these ten warriors, me, and Graffus will go to the tower. Meltia, you never know when I'll give the signal, so keep your wits about you."
"Yes."
So Jenna, along with her husband and companions, stepped into the research tower that had been captured by the slime.