Sizzle──
The heat radiating from Selvier’s entire body was so intense that every raindrop that touched her evaporated instantly. Beneath her feet, flames flared and faded in an endless cycle.
But to me, it was merely warm.
It wasn’t because I was actually a Flame Spirit or anything—so I guess it had to be a side effect of Selvier’s Metamorphosis. Her fire didn’t harm me.
The attacks from Kra-something had stopped. He had shifted to a defensive stance, analyzing Selvier’s transformation, likely weighing his chances against her newfound ability.
“Did you awaken your Metamorphosis?”
“As you can see.”
“So you found a way out of your crisis. But tell me, do you really think you can challenge me with an unrefined, freshly manifested Metamorphosis? Fire is my sustenance.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Kra-something was a seasoned user of peak-level Metamorphosis, to the point where his name was seen even in the later stages of the Hero Selection Tournament. The gap between him and Selvier—who had just stepped into this domain—was undeniable.“Well⋯⋯?”
But the force that could bridge such gaps was always something extreme. Selvier smirked confidently, and in a single breath, she intensified her mental focus.
Then, with a sudden burst, wings of flame erupted from her shoulder blades, and the surrounding temperature skyrocketed.
Sizzle──!!
The sharp hiss of vaporized water echoed as the heat consumed every droplet.
Within a 30-meter radius, the ground dried in an instant, leaving no trace of moisture. Even the downpour from the sky dared not trespass beyond a certain boundary.
It was only limited to an area, but she stopped the rain—purely with heat.
I caught a glimpse of Kra-something’s expression—his composure faltered.
This was more than just fire. This was an overwhelming thermal force capable of repelling the rain before an attack had even fully formed. With this⋯⋯ even his Flame Serpent, a creature that thrived by consuming fire, wouldn’t be able to devour her flames!
“Burn it all down, Selvier!”
“Like you even had to tell me. Just watch!”
Whiirrll-!
A miniature sun flickered to life in Selvier’s open palms—raw, untamed, devoid of any tricks⋯⋯ but it was searingly pure.
This was fire forged from relentless effort.
The brilliant glow of the concentrated heat bathed the battlefield in an almost blinding light.
“Flame Angel(焰天使) Phase 1, 『Waves of Brilliance(輝瀲)』!”
“『Flame Serpent of Courtship(求愛炎巳)』—Devour!”
Uuung-!
The serpent lunged, maw wide open, engulfing the small sun whole.
Then, it writhed.
Its body twisted violently as if in agony, slowly expanding, and then—
Tssssaa—!
CRAAASH—!!
Its entire head exploded.
Selvier’s flames were so intense, so potent, that the Flame Serpent, which existed to consume fire, simply couldn’t withstand them and had burst!
===============================================================
Kravellin Render watched in silence.
His Flame Serpent of Courtship (求愛炎巳) had been destroyed completely, its head obliterated.
The woman’s heat was monstrous.
He had trained for a long time in Flame Magic, yet even with his expertise, his skin had been cooked merely by standing near her flames. And that was after shielding himself with his serpent⋯⋯ Had he touched it directly, he would’ve surely died.
Because the light was so intense that, despite shielding his eyes with his sleeve, his corneas still burned.
The world was unfair. Right.
It always had been.
The love he had devoted his life to had led nowhere. His efforts had been overshadowed time and again by younger, more talented mages who passed him easily and advanced.
But even within that cruelty, there existed a sliver of fairness. That was an immutable law of nature.
One— Even a genius could not manufacture experience overnight.
“What’s wrong? Do you still think you can swallow⋯⋯ phaat, hhrut.”
Selvier’s taunt was cut off as she suddenly choked. A burst of flame slipped past her lips, and she hurriedly clamped her mouth shut, wiping away the fire like drool.
A clear sign that she had yet to master her Metamorphosis completely.
It was like giving a person wings overnight—without proper training, flight would be an impossible struggle, and she would naturally be helpless. gap in experience between them still remained.
And two— There was always a cost for power.
If her flames burned this fiercely—
“『Fire Arrow』.”
“⋯⋯Haht?!”
Whirl, whoosh-!
The fire arrow Kravellin Render had launched by surprise flew at an astonishing speed, slicing cleanly past Selvier’s ankle.
It didn’t burn flesh. It passed through flame—as though he had aimed not at her body, but at the fire itself. At first glance, it seemed to do no harm.
But Kravellin Render knew better.
“No defensive capabilities. No… you’ve made yourself even more vulnerable.”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
“I see. You’ve sacrificed your durability—drastically. To the point where even a bucket of water could douse you completely. You’ve turned your body into nothing more than a living bonfire. If that is the case, then I can understand your thermal power.”
And he understood why she had staged that performance of stopping the rain. Because even a single raindrop could be lethal for her, so she had drained the entire area of moisture, wasting a portion of her strength just to keep herself alive.
The Red Tower woman swallowed dryly but faced him head-on.
“Hmph. Whether you get it or not… your serpent is dead. And I won’t let you catch me off guard like that again!”
“So naive. Maybe that’s natural, considering you just awakened your Metamorphosis. Then let me tell you something—think of it as your eulogy on the path to death⋯⋯ Never make premature assumptions about your opponent’s Metamorphosis.”
Shuufffle. Shuffle.
Wriggle.
The lifeless Flame Serpent twitched. Its decapitated form slithered as if regaining consciousness.
And then—
Puhaak-!!
Two new heads erupted from the severed stump.
“⋯⋯It returns to life as well?!”
“Even the weakest attacks must be fatal to you now. Go on—try to block it if you can. Desperately.”
“Then I’ll just blow it up again—『Waves of Brilliance(輝瀲)』⋯⋯!”
“『Devouring Fire』, 『Air Explosion』.”
Uuuung-!
Selvier unleashed multiple small suns, each pulsing with explosive power. Not giving in, Kravellin Render maneuvered skillfully through the chaos. Using the resurrected Flame Serpent as a shield, he launched spell after spell from her blind spots.
Meanwhile, the two-headed serpent lunged forward, fangs bared.
Craash-! CRAAASH-!!
The battlefield flickered violently between light and darkness.
The serpent was struck down—only for its heads to regrow. Again and again. It was relentless, enduring. Because the flames it wielded were infused with Kravellin Render’s love.
The gulf in experience between them was impossible to ignore. Kravellin Render kept his composure, steadily wearing her down. Even though he suffered injuries, he dictated the flow of the fight.
“You would’ve died if that shot had landed just a little further inside.”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯!”
He constantly reminded her. That the flaw in her Metamorphosis was her lack of defense. That one direct hit was all it would take. That she was teetering on the edge of death.
That was his strategy—to weigh down on her mentally, to make her hesitate, to force her into a passive stance.
But it backfired.
“I already risked my life for this!! I can finally shine beside him⋯⋯ there’s no way I’ll hold back now—!!”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Selvier’s determination burned brighter.
The heat surged, expanding the rain-free zone even further. Her body flickered, blurring like an unstable flame. She had weakened her durability even more.
“Flame Angel(焰天使) Phase Two── 『Flaming Vicinal Star (赫隣星)』!”
CRACKLE—!
A sound like air frying itself echoed as a miniature star ignited, orbiting the Red Tower woman’s body, scattering red sparks.
The ground beneath her melted.
Kravellin Render’s instincts were warning him. That thing was lethal. Even if he blocked it with the Flame Serpent of Courtship, he would not survive.
He had to kill it first.
He began preparing his final spell while starting to murmur,
“Is that man so precious? I saw him in the Holy City. There was another woman beside him. Even from a distance, I could see they were happy together.”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
“A love you will never attain. If you want him, you must become someone he ‘needs’ more than anyone else.”
Right.
That was why he had decided to create a sun.
The woman of the Red Tower had never once looked his way. Because her obsession was her research, and her love was only for knowledge.
So in order to get her heart, Kravellin Render had to be someone she ‘needed’ more than anyone. So he had used any means necessary to reach that goal.
Because that’s how much he yearned for her.
And yet, even while being tormented, the female Red Tower Wizard replied with eyes full of resolution.
“I don’t care. Even if I can’t get him.”
“⋯⋯what?”
“Of course, I feel it. The frustration, the sadness, the jealousy—like my insides are tearing apart, but⋯⋯! But. If I can stay by his side… if I can shine a light on him just as much as he has illuminated me⋯⋯ then even through my tears, I can understand!”
Kravellin Render clenched his jaw.
He could not accept this.
“That’s just the excuse of a loser. If you truly loved him, you’d crave him. The fact that you don’t means it’s not real⋯⋯.”
“You’re the one who’s insane!”
He had stalled for long enough. The Red Tower woman must’ve also kept talking to him so that she could cast, but Kravellin Render was one step ahead. He had definitely been faster.
While the blinding radiance of her miniature sun flashed wildly, he had hidden one of the Flame Serpent of Courtship’s heads beneath his feet.
He had made it move stealthily underground. Now, it had reached her. That woman, who had basically become an extreme glass cannon because of the influence of her Metamorphosis, would die instantly from a single bite.
He shouted.
“Swallow her!”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯!!”
Dudududu, CRAASH-!!
The ground ruptured as the Flame Serpent erupted from below.
Stone dust filled the battlefield, scattering in all directions.
And then—
The Red Tower woman was gone. Nothing remained.
The battle was over.
She had soared too high, burned too brightly, only to be snuffed out by a single strike. Regardless of how sharp a sword was, it was pointless without a shield to defend it.
Kravellin Render turned his gaze toward his next target—the Red Tower man who was left⋯⋯
Something was wrong.
He didn’t feel it. He didn’t feel the serpent’s victory. And the air was still hot.
And then—
A bleak whisper was heard somewhere.
“You must’ve thought I wouldn’t get in the way since I lost one arm, and my legs are a mess. Right, Kra-something?”
“You⋯⋯ what did you do.”
“Assigning roles is important. If Selvier picked the sword, then shouldn’t I be the shield? I have to balance the team.”
“I’m asking you what tricks you pulled!”
Sizzle.
The Red Tower Wizard suddenly descended from the sky, carrying the burning Selvier in his arms like a princess. A grin spread across his face, resembling a crow.
“『Pseudo Illusion Magic : Mirage』⋯⋯ I used something similar to Illusion Magic with Flame Magic. I improvised and gave it a shot and it somehow worked out. Are you surprised?”
“Of course I am. How could you cast another school’s magic with Flame Magic⋯⋯ are you really human?”
“You’re not exactly human anymore, either. You’re like a living flame.”
“⋯⋯it’s not hot, right?”
Casting Illusion Magic⋯⋯ together with Flame Magic? It sounded ridiculous.
Kravellin Render had lost his opening. His one chance to strike was gone.
Selvier safely finished casting, and the red star that was orbiting around her, now locked onto Kravellin.
Since it had gathered power, the next step was detonation. A fatal strike was coming. However, there was a way to survive it.
Kravellin just had to completely abandon the 『Flame Serpent of Courtship(求愛炎巳)』. All of it.
Every ounce of the power he had accumulated until now—released in an instant.
If he devoured the flames of the Serpent before Selvier’s attack and absorbed them into himself, he could block it.
“Would you help me aim⋯⋯ brother?”
“Leave it to me. 0.5 clicks left from the origin.”
Starting over like that. Accumulating flames. Gathering them. Creating a new sun.
If I dedicate it to her⋯⋯.
What would change, if he did that?
A strange, heavy feeling clawed at Kravellin’s chest.
A deep, thick sense of loss.
The Red Tower woman looked very happy.
Because she was fighting beside him. Beside her dream childhood friend.
Because, even if she couldn’t have the sun—
She was happy simply basking in its light.
Pathetic.
Fake.
It was a loser’s way of thinking. She was fake!
The miniature star trembled in the angel’s palm.
“Flame Angel(焰天使) Phase 3── 『Rising Star(新星)』!”
Chiiiink──!!
Time moved slowly.
Kravellin Render watched as the blazing column of light hurtled toward him. And in that fleeting moment—
He thought.
Everyone wanted to win love. And so did he.
He had never believed himself to be wrong.
But doubts lingered at the back of his mind. Like scorch marks on his soul. Thoughts he had ignored, yet could never erase.
What if⋯⋯.
What if he had stayed in the Red Tower, honing his magic diligently, instead of killing priests and death row inmates before abandoning it?
What if he had simply hoped for her happiness, instead of demanding to own her love?
What if—
Even if the Red Tower Master never loved him back, would he have been happy, just being by her side?
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
At the last minute, his grip loosened and his fingers, once clutching the beastkin, relaxed.
And then—
The sun swallowed the regretful wizard whole.
Kwaaaaaa──!!
⋯⋯⋯⋯.
There was no shadow where the light had passed. Only ashes, scattered and melted across the uneven rocks. And in those ashes, a lingering silhouette. A single sentence of regret was left.
Was my love… self-righteous?
===============================================================
And after that? Everything wrapped up neatly.
I scoured the battlefield and found the half-melted 『Psychopath Module』. I finally succeeded in stuffing that bastard into my head.
Mana capacity and arithmetic abilities UP!
Kravellin Render had been completely incinerated. There wasn’t a single shred of evidence that we had killed him. Not that it mattered.
Because—
Selvier had reached Metamorphosis.
Her Metamorphosis had insane potential, despite its absurd conditions. Sure, if she used it incorrectly, she’d be knocking on death’s door—but it was fine.
Because I’d always be there for her when she activated it.
Then I just had to turtle with a fancy Illusion Magic handling. If she was the sword, I was the shield. What a perfect role assignment.
And. I got a little sister out of all this!
“Will you call me brother?”
“B, B⋯⋯.”
“Ung? Euung?”
“You’ll pay the price for being arrogant!”
“Uck!”
A punch landed right in my side.
She must have called me brother before because she was overwhelmed by emotions when she had just manifested her Metamorphosis. Now that the moment had passed, she was too embarrassed to say it again.
We returned to the Red Tower after roughly wrapping things up.
Selvier was practically glowing. She walked like someone returning home in glory. Now that she had reached Metamorphosis, she looked as if she wasn’t scared of anything.
And the day we met the Red Tower Master face-to-face.
“Selvier has reached her Metamorphosis? Your talent is still the same, baby⋯⋯?”
“Stop talking nonsense. We’re here for a mission report. Kravellin Render is gone. Erased completely from the world. That’s all.”
“Euung, just in time. I prepared the thing our Selvier was hoping for.”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Selvier gulped. She glanced at me as if asking me for permission. I gave her a thumbs up to tell her not to worry. Go Selvier! Make your dream come true with the wish ticket!
At the same time, both Selvier and the Red Tower Master spoke.
“I want to know the way to restore memory loss!”
“Your childhood friend in your memories is in the Purple Tower now.”
“⋯⋯⋯Pardon me?”
“Eung?”
What?
What the hell is she talking about when I’m right here?
Selvier and I stared at the Red Tower Master, utterly blank. She just smiled, raised her hand, and tapped a nearby crystal ball that kept video records.
Buuzzz.
A familiar face appeared on the wall. Yuna. She was seething in anger.
-So, my boo went there, huh?! I-I’m coming. Right now. If you touch him, I swear—I’ll get rid of you! If you touch him⋯⋯ it’s war!
-Violetiris, you’re not scary at all when you bark quietly like that, you know⋯⋯? Besides, I respect my baby’s free will. I have no intention of forcing him into anything. By the way, oh my. You’re⋯⋯?
With the Red Tower Master’s lilted in surprise as another person had entered the frame. It was a boy who looked around ten years old. He had black hair and red eyes, but his face somehow looked a lot like the Hero.
“⋯⋯Eoah?!”
Selvier’s eyes bulged. I almost let out the same dumb sound. So my face could make such an expression?
And then⋯⋯the shota version of Mima spoke softly.
-It’s been a while, Miss Vermillion.
-There are two of you?
-Due to… circumstances. The main body who went there has no memory of the past. So please refrain from speaking about it. Please. Okay?
-Of course. I thought it was such a shame when I heard he lost his memory, but now I can laugh while talking about the past. So, is your name still──
Snap.
“See, Selvier? What I’m saying is—your childhood friend⋯⋯ seems to have been separated. I’m glad we found his whereabouts. Now, why don’t you leave the man next to you… and go find your true love?”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Selvier’s eyes wobbled before she squeakily turned her head to look at me. I mean—this was my first time hearing any of this too! There was no such module in my head. I didn’t make it!
“Tell, tell me they’re the same person. Professor.”
“⋯⋯why?”
“Because if they’re not⋯⋯ it means I’m a two-timer who likes two different people?!
“⋯⋯⋯⋯!!”
I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. Wait. Was—was that how it worked? I mean, I’d already thought that we had to be separated. But—
I didn’t mishear, did I?
Was Selvier saying she liked me? Apart from the childhood friend in her memories?
Before I could untangle my thoughts, Selvier—completely derailed—started spiraling.
“⋯⋯come to think of it, you already have two. Then isn’t it fine for me to two-time the same person⋯⋯?!”
“STOP! STOP, SELVIER! If you think beyond that, at least one of our brains will end up exploding⋯⋯!”
Neither of us knew what to do in the mess we’d just stumbled into. And meanwhile, the Red Tower Master simply laughed.
It wasn’t until much, much later that I realized that the whole thing was the Red Tower Master’s plot to prank us.
===============================================================
『Promise』 spoke softly, yet firmly to the Red Tower Master across the crystal ball.
“I am not the person of the past. I am a module, no matter what. I was created from the main body.”
“But⋯⋯ the man you call the ‘main body’ has a very different personality, though? The man I remember was simply the Hero himself. Just like you.”
“Actually, the main body… has never changed. Even now, even when he is being possessed by ‘it,’ his deepest heart remains the same. Therefore.”
“Therefore?”
-----------------
-I’m fine, so you guys go ahead and eat. Eung, I’ve already eaten.
The childhood friend Selvier remembered was like the sun—
-I’m starving, seriously… Should I have eaten a chunk? No, nutrition isso important for kids who are growing up⋯⋯.
He bluffed to some extent.
Swallowtail Village had no elders to guide them, no wisdom worth passing down, and no cherished memories. The children merely cowered beneath the weight of cruel customs.
That was why he resolved to be the light that would illuminate the darkness. And for the children who were still growing up⋯⋯.
-Alright, stay in character. Keep your composure. I’m a strong adult. I’m their pillar of support. I’m the hero who’s going to turn this village upside down!
Because he himself needed a sun.
***
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