Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle

81 – Friend, Don’t Sulk, There Were Some Circumstances 2

She has a talent.

That’s right.

Milla learned about my magic and changed her perception of me first before she started watching a lot of videos.

Based on the premise that my Black Magic is excellent, she discovered my invisible activities

in the videos.

But Nicola seemed to have evaluated me even before I met her in person.

「A lot of people say rude things, but the 4th rank is one of the top class in the world. There are some people who think that there’s no way the Black Sorcerer,  who’s a member of that party, is incompetent.」

Only a few people could be at the level of correctly understanding my true strength, but if it gets widened just a little and go to the level of「He shouldn’t be incompetent since he belongs to the 4th rank party」, the number of people will increase.

That doesn’t mean they are my fans nor would they recognize the necessity of my presence in the party.

Most of them would think that, although he’s not incompetent, he’s not suitable for Fenix’s party, or something like that.

Well, that’s what a Black Sorcerer is.

「Right, but that doesn’t mean they would be able to get any insight into what I’m capable of doing.」

Anyway, they would have some idea that I might be able to use a useful level of Black Magic. Even if it’s on the scope of an ordinary person.

During the time when I was still in Fenix’s party, Nicola perceived my work.

She was my fan and often watched the videos.

That might be why she noticed that Lemegeton was actually me during the battle.

Although the person herself thinks that she recognized me because of my passion-filled eyes.

Fenix nodded.

「Talent…or I should rephrase it as sense. This is innate.」

「You have it too.」

「What I have is a technical skill.」

She also felt that Fellow and Lemegeton are similar beings.

She has an excellent sense of intuition for sensing something that cannot be described with words.

In addition to her talent being invisible, it was neglected because she experienced her first setback, then after she went through that failure, she focused on acting out the appearance that was instructed by her older brother.

The talent to discern abilities.

Is Philip not aware of it or did he consider that it’s not something that can be marketable?

Either way, what a waste.

I won’t say that it’s useless to fight gracefully, but her talent’s effectiveness would be manifested the most when she has a close fight with a strong person.

During a fight where an instant can be fatal, her sense can perceive that important instant.

「Have you told her about this?」

「I haven’t told her. Anyway, even if I did, she would only think that I was trying to encourage her.」

「For these kinds of things, it’s all about timing and the other party.」

She would be happier if she was told that she was a prodigy by someone that she respects, rather than suddenly being told that by a passerby.

But, what if she can’t relate to her talent? For this kind of thing, it’s important to have her experience it personally.

What she needs is a successful experience.

To become a hero that can make the audience feel excited.

Until now, she had followed her brother’s guidance.

She understood that it was because it succeeded that they’re able to have their current rank, and she also understood the balance she has with her teammates.

That’s why she continued to act as the Silver Prince perfectly until she met me.

That is what Philip described as the division of roles. Leave the leadership to her older brother and she should just behave nicely according to what the viewers want.

「Are you helping her because you feel that it’s regrettable that she’s not aware of her own talent?」

「Hmm. She has an ideal hero image.」

「Just like us.」

「Yeah, but…not everyone can stay that way, right?」

There’s nothing wrong with her speaking out about her feelings to me.

Or rather. It all started when I urged Philip to listen to his sister.

She just fulfilled her role, but she got dragged along by the person she once admired.

It was me and Philip who pulled her out of her place and created a place where she is once again being denied.

Eventually, those two people might have fought about their opinions even if I wasn’t involved, but this time it is a fact that I was the trigger.

It would be a lie to say that I didn’t care about that at all.

No matter how much I was asked to team up for the Tag Tournament, I wouldn’t have agreed to it.

It’s true that I’m interested in the tournament, but that’s no reason as to why it has to be her if that’s all I’m interested in.

Then why? Why am I helping Nicola?

「Are you projecting yourself onto her?」

「Hmm, I wonder about that.」

Reality stood in my way, telling me that I’m not capable of becoming my ideal self.

I wanted to be a Hero, but in reality, I’m a Black Sorcerer.

Even though there was a way of fighting that I admired, it was the prince character that was popular in the world.

Projecting…well, that might be possible. But I feel like it’s different.

「Ahh, I also think that it’s different. Since you never gave up.」

「I’m not as great of a person as you think. But you might be right, I’m not helping her because we’re the same. More like, it’s the opposite. I probably want to help her because we’re different.」

「What do you mean?」

「If you can’t do it, then you can just change it, it’s easy. However, you can’t change your Job. I can’t become a Hero, so I have no other choice but to make do as a Black Sorcerer. On the other hand, she aimed to become a hero and she got the Hero Job. I think it’s too hasty for her to treat her first failure with a reason as simple as because her character wasn’t popular.」

Even if she failed, it’s not limited to just one reason. Even if there are multiple reasons, it is not necessarily bad when viewed alone. There is a possibility that the combination of those reasons is the one that can create the tragedy.

She shouldn’t assume that the figure she admired, just as it is, would never be popular with anyone else.

「Just because she has the talent doesn’t mean she can succeed.」

「I know. There are a lot of people who are strong but not popular. However, don’t you want to see it happen…ah.」

I was finally able to express my feelings perfectly with that sentence. It could even be said that I ended up doing it.

With a thump, it all made sense to me.

Right. I thought about a lot of stuff in order to win, but I’ve made my decisions in life pretty simply.

I wanted to become a Hero because it would look cool. I didn’t give up on my dream because it would be uncool. I became the Demon King Army Chief of Staff because I don’t mind if there’s a Hero of the Monsters.

I loved watching Clear videos ever since I was little.

Her dream is to become the kind of hero that I really like.

I’m an Adventurer fanatic, so I get extremely curious about that kind of hero.

I wonder what it is.

Because she’s a fan, because I’m the trigger for her quarrel, because I was invited by her, because I’m interested in the tournament, because we’re friends, or because it’s such a waste to see her talent not being used.

There are so many things that could be the reason.

After digging deeper, what came out is that it was all because「I want to see it.」

It’s too simple, even for me.

「Ahaha, I see. Then it can’t be helped. Certainly, if you don’t help her here, you might not be able to see it, and if you help her, you can see her from the front seat. I see, there is no better reason than this.」

Fenix laughed with his fist covering his mouth.

It seemed that my childhood friend was able to understand this reason, although other people would have tilted their heads when they heard this.

After waiting for Fenix to stop laughing, I opened my mouth.

「It’s fine if you’re convinced. So? Why are you not participating?」

「Eh? Ah, it’s because of his purpose. It’s hard for me to agree with it.」

「Oh? What is it?」

「Before that, Lem. Do you know Fellow?」

「I don’t know him personally.」

「I thought that he’s similar to your master.」

「Their looks?」

「Their hair, horns…and Magical Energy.」

He’s aware of this.

「…You’re right, he’s my master’s son.」

「His objective, does your master or the current Demon King know?」

「The Demon King knows. Master didn’t reply to the letter.」

「…What about the Dungeon Clears?」

「I guess, I’ll get rid of it. Is that why you declined?」

「Do you want me to cooperate?」

「No, I’m convinced.」

There may be some other reason, but I don’t think he’ll tell me about it. I won’t ask too much.

「You’re still going to participate, even though you know about it?」

「I’m planning to obstruct the abolition of Dungeons, but I think the attempt is interesting.」

「Ahh, I understand.」

「Also, for the time being, I’ll go out as Lem.」

「I see, I thought that it would be okay if I were called by the Chief of Staff.」

He jokingly said.

「Have you even made your Monster Avatar?」

「I did place an order.」

「Ah, so you are making it…」　

Even though I was asking this as a half-joke.

「By the way, Lem. I forgot to say this.」

He said this when we were about to say goodbye after leaving the store.

「Hmm?」

「I’m convinced this time and I’m not going to complain about your decision. However, the next time you participate in an event like this, you should invite me. If it’s you and I, we won’t lose to anyone else.」

As expected, he was concerned about it.

But well, that’s okay. If I heard that Fenix is ​​going to participate in the tournament with a Black Sorcerer that I don’t know, I’m sure it’ll make me feel complicated. Something like, it’s okay, but what’s he doing, but it’s okay.

It’s like, he should’ve invited me, isn’t he being too distant?

Friendship is something that can be activated even in strange places.

「I’ll do that, but I’m not so sure if it’ll be with the you as you are now.」

「…What do you mean?」

「Your mind and Magical Energy organ are exhausted.」

「…As expected of you.」

Fenix had a wry smile.

「You were hiding it pretty well, but I still discovered it. It’s only natural for me to realize.」

It’s about my best friend. There’s no way I wouldn’t notice it.

「…I’m in the middle of training.」

He scratched his cheek shyly.

「I see. I won’t ask you for the details.」

「Ah, thanks for doing that.」

Maybe he’s trying to defeat the Demon King Army Chief of Staff with that technique.

There’s no way he would reveal his hand.

「Well then, I’m worried about what will be in the memo if I don’t go back soon.」

「Memo…? Ah, well then, see you again. Right, I’ll properly watch the match.」

「Ah.」

「I’m also looking forward to that person’s commentary.」

That person…?

I had already turned my back, but I felt a little uneasy.

In the end, I headed toward the inn without turning back.