{Chapter 1} The Mastermind is Certainly Saving Someone’s Life…
“I don’t want to die, desu-wa…”
Only death is equal.
People cannot choose the environment they are born into, nor their talents. Unfortunate souls who cannot even choose how they live or how they die are everywhere.
I was a genius. I was hailed as a child prodigy and held great expectations as a spirit user. In fact, at the age of seventeen, I had already reached a realm equal to elves who had lived for hundreds of years.
“For it to end like this… for this to be the conclusion…”
It was too much of a life. I thought I had chosen my way of living, but it was an illusion.
I was working in the forest near this city to collect special medicinal herbs. They were to serve as catalysts for a spirit contract.
However, an epidemic broke out in this city, and now I am in critical condition, on the verge of death.
In an isolated bed in a deserted hospital room, I am simply waiting for death…
“And I had so much ahead of me, desu-wa…”
I wasn’t born into a wealthy family. I just admired noble ladies, so I spoke like this.
A little more, just a little more, and I could have made the world recognize my talent. Yet, I am dying of a disease halfway through my journey.
What was all that effort for? Was it just because of my talent?
“I am not even permitted to pray to the gods.”
The catalysts and the magic circle are complete, and the theory is perfect. It is the highest level of magic.
But I cannot knead my mana.
My mana is depleted, and my life force is severely lacking.
If, by some chance, I had mana left, I could have performed a high-level spirit summoning and placed my hopes in healing magic. But this is an incurable disease that modern medicine—humanity—can do nothing about.
“To end like this, without being understood by anyone…”
In this world, I am still the only one who can understand the theory of this magic circle.
I am also the only human with enough total mana to activate this magic circle.
In other words—it has become meaningless.
“I need neither gods nor heroes.”
Praying to the gods never saved me.
Even if a hero saves humanity, I remain miserable. No, far from it…
“A hero is nothing but a fantasy, desu-wa…”
By slaying the dragon that lived around this city, the Hero saved many people. That happened half a year ago.
However, that carcass rotted and became the source of this plague.
Of course, if the dragon hadn’t been defeated, the damage would have been incomparable to a plague. Therefore, the Hero simply did the right thing.
As a result, I die. That is all.
“Anyone… please help me… someone. At least, tell me that it had meaning.”
No matter the talent, it is meaningless in death.
No matter the effort, it collapses helplessly before a single disease.
No matter the wish, it was powerless before death.
“…?”
I can’t get up, so I can’t check. But someone has come.
I felt a presence.
Even the doctors won’t come near anymore due to the risk of infection. Who could have come at this late hour?
“Hey there, young lady. I’ll be intruding for a bit.”
“…And you are?”
“Me? I’m Emo-Sugiru. A popular guy who happens to be wanted by the law.”
“Oh, a ‘bad person’… I see. It doesn’t matter, desu-wa. I was lonely.”
Even if he was a villain, I was happy. I was being swallowed by lonely despair. Having someone there in my final moments—that alone is a salvation.
This person has no goodwill. I know that.
“Nobody will chase me here, after all. Life on the run is tough. Well, I guess it’s nothing compared to your life in the hospital?”
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He was a strange man.
He had an air of listlessness about him, yet once you saw him, you wouldn’t forget him. That kind of person.
From his appearance, I couldn’t imagine anything about him.
Whether he was rich or strong, I couldn’t grasp his characteristics. Coming to a hotbed of plague just because no one would chase him—he must be out of his mind.
“I have been saved, desu-wa.”
“Hmm? You think so? To me, you look like you’re dying.”
“Yes… I will die soon. Just having someone here at the end is a salvation, desu-wa.”
“Haha, you’re quite positive.”
It was strange. It was as if he felt no sympathy. He probably had no interest.
But that’s exactly why I was happy.
If he would be my conversation partner as an equal until the very end, I would be happy.
“I don’t know what kind of illness you have, but that ‘God’ fellow is quite nonsense, isn’t he? That magic circle—you drew it, didn’t you? High-tier magic to call upon and contract with a Divine Spirit, not just a regular spirit. Even the elf in the Hero’s party was supposed to have given up on that. You’re a genius.”
“Eh…?”
I was understood? There’s someone who understands the value of this magic circle?
With the last of my strength, I had spread the magic circle across the desk.
Something incomprehensible to an ordinary person.
“Life is much happier if you make a specific someone your ‘fave’ rather than some god. Even with talent like yours, you’re dying of a disease—this world really is nonsense.”
“Ah…”
I felt as if my entire existence had been affirmed.
I felt as if I had been told that it did have meaning.
“I happen to like heroic tales. I respect people who fulfill their missions. That’s why I’ve been observing the Hero party’s journey. He was a weapon. A tool of the state to exterminate the Demon King.”
“Oh, for someone who likes the Hero, that’s a harsh way to put it, desu-wa.”
“Not really, I like that part of him too. When forced to choose between abandoning the few to save the many, he chose the many while crying his eyes out.”
“…I suppose he would.”
“Do you have a mission?”
“I might have had one… But it’s all over now.”
“Not necessarily. Would you drink this?”
“I don’t mind, but…”
I was handed a strange liquid. Strangely, I wasn’t afraid.
Is he giving me euthanasia?
I drank the liquid in the small vial as I was told.
＊
“If you have a mission, if you have talent, you shouldn’t die.”
I hand the Elixir to the girl.
I had fled into a deserted hospital, and she was the one there. If I give her this, she should keep quiet about me being here.
Plus, she might be a help to the Hero’s party.
This girl might be amazing. It looks like the magic circle the elf in the Hero’s party was talking about—well, I don’t really know…
I said something that sounded deep, but in truth, I can’t tell the difference between magic circles. I just repeated what the elf in the Hero’s party said.
“This can’t… be real, desu-wa…”
“It’s reality. Well, you were on the verge of death; it’s natural to be shaken.”
“Who on earth are you…?”
“I told you, didn’t I? Just a fan of the Hero.”
If the Hero were here, he surely would have handed over the Elixir without hesitation. He’s the kind of person who can discard the few for the many, but he won’t compromise if he can save someone.
Even if he was raised as a weapon, he’s a wonderful person who can’t completely throw away his kindness.
“What do you want me to do, desu-wa?”
“Nothing in particular.”
“That can’t be right. You wouldn’t use such a medicine without a reason!”
“Your talent and your life belong only to you. You should live however you like.”
This girl has strange eyes.
The left is red, and the right is white.
Is that what they call a Demon Eye? There was a user in the Demon King’s army too, how nostalgic.
“My name is Ortlinde-Martino, desu-wa. I speak like this, but I was born a commoner. Isn’t it laughable?”
“Is it? I think it’s wonderful.”
The Hero was originally a commoner’s child too. To fulfill a mission through talent and effort—I think that’s a wonderful thing.
It’s something I could never imitate. That’s why I respect them, and why they’re my ‘fave’!
“Sugiru-sama, will you accept me?”
“Hmm, what do you mean by that?”
“One day, I will repay this debt. I will become strong and prove my use to you.”
“You’re the one who chooses how you live. I think you should do as you please.”
I only intended for her to keep quiet about me being here. That said, if she says she’ll repay the debt, I’ll accept it. I might be on death row by then, though…
Besides, just being able to make a magic circle doesn’t mean her combat ability is high. My enemy is the state, so even if she gets a little stronger, it honestly won’t mean much.
“Oh, right.”
“What is it, desu-wa?”
“Once you’re feeling better, I think it would be good if you joined the Hero Cheer Squad (Hero Ouen-dan). I think the Masked General-san would accept you.”
It seemed like the Masked General-san was going to create a group for ‘fave-supporting’ activities, so she should join that.
Instead of me, I’ll just dump the responsibility on the General-san.
I’m sure this girl will lead a happy life once she learns the wonders of supporting a ‘fave.’
“The pursuers should have left by now, right?”
“Are you leaving already, desu-wa…?”
“I’ll take my leave. Your illness is cured, so you won’t be lonely even if you’re alone anymore, right?”
“Yes…”
“I hope you find happiness (in your fave-supporting)…”
I waved my hand and left the hospital room—
＊
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