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The Fourth Girl Finally Discovers the Truth – Part 08

Selyse explained to Paula that they had explored the Great Labyrinth of Runay-aas with the Rank A adventurer party Azure Blade Nebula. Their leader, Marius, wielded the Blue Flash, a magic sword that helped them kill a giant chimera. And it was also that sword that barely saved Selyse when she fell from the sixth to the seventh floor, although it broke from the impact.

“I can’t help but think that this sword was made as a counterpart to the Blue Flash.”

Selyse unsheathed the sword, revealing a bright red blade that glowed with magical energy.

“It looks totally different, but it’s got a magic gem that supplies the blade with mana, just like the Blue Flash. The blade length matches too. I could pay him back with this.”

“But Marius didn’t really mind,” Sara said. “If you hadn’t killed the chimera, we’d have been wiped out. He was okay with the magic sword breaking as a result.”

“You’re right, but this is just something I want to do.”

Selyse and Marius were once part of the party Distant Dawn, a significant first chapter in her journey as an adventurer.

“It’s fine. You can give it to him,” Paula said.

“What?”

“Lord Hikaru was looking for a purpose for it, so if that’s the best use you can think of, I’m sure he’d give his approval.”

“But this sword is incredibly valuable, probably even priceless.”

“If Lord Hikaru cared about money, he wouldn’t have risked his life during the Accursed Toxin calamity to save many people.”

Hikaru had also saved Paula’s home, Cotton-elka. Though the Four Eastern Stars were there too, Hikaru kept his involvement secret, so Paula couldn’t share his exploits.

But she knew. Despite having no proof, Hikaru trusted her and bestowed upon her the gift of healing magic.

Lord Hikaru is a modern saint.

Paula held Hikaru in high regard. Extremely high. Higher than the dungeon floating in the sky.

“Thank you. I owe you.” Selyse gripped the red sword tightly. “I’ll go give this to Marius, then. Azure Blade Nebula should still be in the Holy City.”

“Then, we’ll head to Hikaru first, okay?”

“O-Okay. I’ll join you later. I need to thank him for this sword. What to do? It might take a lifetime… haha.”

Wrapping the sword in cloth, Selyse left the room.

“…”

“…”

“…”

The members of the Four Eastern Stars watched Selyse leave with sighs, while Paula alone looked confused.

---

Selyse walked through the streets of the Holy City with uneasy steps.

Hikaru… Silver Face is in this city.

Since hearing from Serika that she had met him at the guild yesterday, she’d been anxious. Part of her doubted it was true. But when she saw Paula, she realized her friend was telling the truth. And she didn’t know how to handle it.

I-I can’t see Silver Face right now. Not like this.

Stopping in front of a polished shop sign, Selyse checked her reflection. Her appearance looked fine. Her usual golden hair in a chignon was perfect. Maybe her face was a bit puffy from lack of sleep, or was that just her imagination? Her restless, darting eyes were the real problem.

Get it together, Selyse. You’re the leader of the Rank B adventurer party, the Four Eastern Stars.

She slapped her cheeks lightly.

Silver Face is so strong that his power can’t be measured by rank alone.

To Selyse, strength meant everything. She became an adventurer to grow stronger and joined Distant Dawn, a party led by the adventurer Sandra, a person she admired. Her goal was to surpass Sandra, and reaching Rank B meant she had nearly achieved that.

He’s so small.

Silver Face had saved her and carried her on his back after she fell in the dungeon. She remembered keenly how warm he felt.

He possessed exceptional strength. She believed he could overcome any adversity, formidable enemy, even natural disasters. She had fallen in love then. Even Selyse, though initially confused, now understood her feelings.

“Here we are.”

She entered a luxury hotel in the Holy City. When she showed her guild card, a staff guided her to Marius’s room.

“Marius, it’s Selyse.”

The door swung open, and upon seeing him, Selyse gave a start.

“Ah, Selyse. You look well.”

Marius, a renowned Rank A adventurer, appeared with disheveled clothes and a clearly haggard face.

“Come in.”

“O-Okay.”

The room was as luxurious as their hotel, but curtains blocked out the light, making it seem like it was nighttime.

Several bottles littered the table. Marius had clearly been drinking despite the early hour.

“Don’t give me that look.” Marius plopped himself down on the couch. “You should know that adventurers have moments like this.”

In the dungeon, a Healer from the Azure Blade Nebula had fallen to a chimera. Selyse could imagine the weight of losing comrades, the sorrow and sense of loss. But there seemed to be more.

“Did you disband the party?”

“…”

Marius sat in silence, slouching on the couch. He was staring at empty space.

“I’m getting old, so I figured it was time to retire.”

Marius, a seasoned adventurer past his prime, was unquestionably in decline.

But I don’t want to see him falling apart like this.

Selyse approached the glass door leading to the balcony and drew back the curtains. Light flooded in.

“Stop,” Marius said, shielding his eyes. “I have a hangover.”

“Take a look at this, Marius.” Selyse stood against the light. “Do you still want to retire?”

Marius squinted, watching as Selyse unwrapped a sword resting in a finely crafted scabbard embedded with a magic gem.

She partially unsheathed the sword, revealing its shimmering red blade.

“I-Is that what I think it is?!”

Leaping up from the couch, Marius stumbled over his own feet. Selyse handed him the sword.

“Is this the counterpart to the Blue Flash?”

“You think so too?”

“Where did you get this? I didn’t know this sword existed.”

“I can’t tell you where I got it. But I brought it here because I wanted you to have it.”

Marius froze, taken aback. As the former wielder of the shattered Blue Flash, he understood its worth better than anyone. This wasn’t something that he could accept with just a simple thank you.

“Stop messing around, Selyse.”

“I’m serious. I’m sure you can rebuild the Azure Blade Nebula with this sword.”

The Blue Flash was the symbol of their party. Losing it had dealt a severe blow, enough that the group had to disband.

“I… can’t accept this,” Marius said.

Selyse hadn’t anticipated such a response.

“Why not? Don’t worry about money. The Blue Flash saved my life. I just want to repay you.”

“That’s not it.” Marius chuckled softly and pressed the sword back into Selyse’s hands. “You seem to have gotten the wrong idea. Everyone except me wanted to keep the Azure Blade Nebula going.”

“What?”

“The real problem was losing our Healer, but Lisa—the other Healer with the glasses—spoke up for me to the Church. She said it wasn’t my fault and promised to help find a replacement.”

“Then why disband? You can still fight.”

“That’s a harsh compliment.”

Chuckling dryly, Marius returned to the couch, now with steady steps.

“My physical strength will only keep declining. No one can defy the ravages of time.”

“But…”

“But I’m fortunate. My comrades regretted not keeping the party going, and my junior brought me this new sword. Above all, while most adventurers die on the job, I get to retire.”

Selyse thought Marius was right. Her feelings of regret were entirely her own. Marius keenly felt his body’s decline.

“Maybe I wanted to be like her,” he said.

“Like who? You’re a Rank A adventurer. Who could you possibly want to be like?”

“Well, Sandra, of course.”

This surprised Selyse. Despite being in the same party, Selyse had rarely seen Marius and Sandra talk about personal matters, only practical ones. Marius always seemed like the diligent type, so it hadn’t seemed odd.

“Back then, I couldn’t understand why Sandra quit adventuring. After Distant Dawn disbanded, we all went our separate ways, remember?”

“I do. It was odd that the remaining members didn’t regroup to form a new party.”

“Everyone was angry at Sandra. How could she abandon the party to start a family?”

That might be true, Selyse thought.

Seeing Sandra have a child with a party member, Selyse vowed never to let male members join the Four Eastern Stars.

“Going our separate ways was us lashing at her decision. But now, I wanted to make the same choice as Sandra. If I still had the Blue Flash, maybe I’d feel differently.”

“So it was a mutual decision to disband?”

“Yes.”

“Then why drown yourself in alcohol?”

“Well… Lisa says she won’t let me drink like this once I’m married.”

“What did you say?”

Marius scratched his head awkwardly. “I’m getting married. To Lisa.”

“Whaaat?! Why?!”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?!”

“Th-These things don’t really happen out of nowhere. We’ve been together so long, and I’ve grown to love her. She’ll be leaving the Church, but she plans to work a Church-related job. I won’t be able to drink myself wasted anymore.”

“So you’re enjoying your last moments of freedom as a bachelor?” Selyse said with disbelief.

“Well, yeah, something like that. Don’t give me that look.”

“…”

Selyse heaved a deep sigh, pressing a hand to her forehead. She had been worried about destroying Marius’ Blue Flash, but the man himself was already moving on to the next chapter of his life.

“I appreciate your concern, Selyse. I’m really glad I got to know you. You should use that sword.”

Marius stood up and extended a hand to Selyse. His face said he had fully let go of his life as an adventurer.

“We probably won’t see each other again,” he said.

From here on out, they would live in completely different worlds, something Marius himself was well aware of.

“Yeah.”

Shaking Marius’ hand, Selyse felt his rough, calloused palm. His was the hand of a true adventurer.