Chapter 22: Heroes and an Epithet

Author: Kurohitsuji
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2086fk/23/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

◆ Viewpoint: Toono Tsukasa ◆

After she finished talking with us, Ouka greeted Gios and left.
She was a rather interesting person.
Her manner is very ordinary, the sort you could find anywhere. A bit rough, but a bright, good-natured girl.

That impression changes completely in combat.

She has no fear of fighting, and no strain.
In situations where a small mistake would mean a serious injury, she was smiling as if she were having fun.
Her technique was high, but more than that, her heart is strong.
Combat that natural isn’t something you see often.

That person will get stronger still.
I’m looking forward to sparring when she’s gotten stronger.
Part of it is that the way her heart is resembles someone I look up to.

I wonder where that person is now.
The one who defeated the Demon King. Our leader.

Kyousuke seemed to be thinking the same thing; when I looked, he was smiling wryly, which is rare for him.
I’ll ask Kanon again sometime.
I was thinking that vaguely when white mana started to swirl in front of me.
A high kiin sounded, an image gradually took shape, and a face I know appeared.

“Ah, re. Did the guest, already, go?”

A small woman with black hair hiding half her face.
Minazuki Kaede. Holder of the blessing “Seamless Heavenly Robe,” the world’s foremost mage.
She’d probably been watching us from somewhere.

“…Kaede. Ouka just left.”
“I see…… too bad.”

She murmurs it, a bit downcast. What, do you know her?

“…Did you need something?”
“She’s gotten famous, lately. I thought I’d, give her an epithet.”
“My. What sort of epithet?”

Kyousuke asks, smiling.
Ah, this again. Kaede has a habit of wanting to give epithets to people she takes a liking to.
We’ve been told to hold back because we have too much influence.

“Mm, and. Sakura-pink mana and black hair, so…… ‘Night-Sakura Fantasy,’ maybe.”
“Well, well. Shall I notify the guild.”

Kyousuke is definitely enjoying this.
This one hasn’t changed either.

“…I feel like she’ll come complain.”
“That would be interesting in its own way.”
“…Well, maybe so.”

If Ouka finds out I think she’ll explode.
But as Kyousuke says, that would be interesting in its own way.
Since we started being called Heroes, it’s the first time I’ve been treated as a suspicious person.
I think that person is entertaining.
Normally you’d notice at the black hair.

……Black hair. Come to think of it, Ouka had black hair too.
And the eyes. Black as black pearls.
The name has a ring close to ones from our homeland, too.

A coincidence, I wonder.
With Makoto involved, there’s a chance something strange is happening again.

……Well, whatever. It probably won’t turn out badly.
And if something happens, we can probably handle most things.

◆ Viewpoint: Ouka ◆

“Liza, I’m hooome.”
“Oh, welcome back.”

I finish lunch, get back to the Adventurer’s Guild, and Liza greets me as usual.

“I went to the knight order.”
“Good work. How was it?”
“Yeah. I never want to go again!”

I answered with a full-faced smile.

“Uh, did something happen?”
“I got jumped by about fifty knights.”
“Uwah… that’s, well.”
“And I beat that back, but I got thrown by the Hero.”
“…Eeh? What does that mean?”

Yeah. It doesn’t make sense. I didn’t get it either.

“I think I got mistaken for a bad guy or something.”
“Ouka, you really are a mess… this time it’s the Hero?”

She’s fed up. Look, I don’t think I did anything wrong.

“And that means fifty knight-order members lost to you as a group, right?”
“No, I said before, it isn’t me, it’s the weapons that are cheating, okay?”
“‘Just a town girl’ is a bit much, I think.”
“U… no, I don’t think so… I want to think so.”

I myself am a perfectly ordinary town girl… but lately the way I get pulled in is intense.

“And just now, an emergency notice came around from the royal castle.”
“Eh, what, all of a sudden.”
“Ouka. You’ve been formally granted an epithet.”
“…Haa!?”
“Here. Night-Sakura Fantasy, it says.”

She hands me a notice issued by the guild.
My name is on it, and right beside it the epithet is written in clearly.
…Oi. The issuer—there’s another Hero’s name.
Minazuki Kaede. That’s the Ten Heroes’ mage, right?
How much connection do I have with Heroes.

“…Hey Liza, can this be refused, or.”
“It cannot.”
“…Do I have to introduce myself with it?”
“You don’t, but… you won’t use it? It suits you.”
“No, seriously, please spare me.”

When I go back to the church, I’ve got material they’ll laugh at in a big way.

“Listen, I’m sorry, but. We’re obligated to post this on the guild board, you know?”

She shows me the paper looking truly, from the heart, apologetic.
I see. So people around will know.

“…Maybe I’ll hole up in the inn for a while.”
“Uh. It’s all right, it’s an honor.”
“Uwahh. A town girl with an epithet doesn’t make any sense.”
“Ouka, are you particular about the town-girl part?”
“Particular… well, it’s a fact.”

Because if someone asks what I am, all I can say is town girl.

Lately I could call myself an adventurer too, but that’s strictly limited-time.
Until I talk with Ryugeji Makoto, I have no choice, to earn lodging.
If that’s the case, I think I go back to being just a town girl.

And what’s amazing is the weapons, not me.

“Anyway, maybe I’ll stop showing my face at the guild for a while.”
“I don’t think you need to worry…”
“You think? Uumu.”
“There, there. Cheer up.”

I slump with my chin on the counter, and she pats my head.
That consideration soaks into my wounded self.

“Uooh… thank youuu…”
“It’s the first time I’ve seen you this beaten down, Ouka.”

Maybe I really should raid the royal castle and have them retract it.
Unnyu. No, that’s no good, even for me.
Next time I meet the Ten Heroes I’ll ask them directly.
…No. I shouldn’t meet them, but I have a feeling I’ll run into them anyway.