You're a brave man. Are you okay?
　As I watched Mr. Gerald's back as he left, I was approached by Princess Sophia.
　''Yes, I should thank you.

''Princess Sophia, thank you for your recovery magic earlier.
　Water Magic, Healing Water (Heal Water).
　I think it was an intermediate magic. I can't use it.

You have noticed. ...There's nothing to show for it.
　Pfft, the princess looks to the side.
　Hmm, I wonder if she is still angry because she got into a fight with a brave man from another country.
　I guess I failed.

I apologize for my country's bravery. I'm sorry, Makoto-sama, the brave of the Water Kingdom (Roses).
　Next came Princess Noel, the Sun Priestess.
　She also helped me.

''Thank you for reviving Mister Gerald's body earlier. I'm sorry for the inconvenience caused by my magic going haywire.
　Oh?　And Princess Noel looks surprised.

'You've been watching?　You seemed to have lost your mind, sir.
　Oops, by the way, Princess Noel used a resuscitation spell on Mr. Gerald, and I was fainting as Noah-sama showed me how to use it.
　Let's cheat.

''Well, I just had a feeling that way. ........By the way, why was I fainting?
　Did he get caught up in the magic he used?
　If that's the case, it's a dumb story.

'Takatsuki-kun, it's my fault.
　Sakurai-kun, who was next to me, said apologetically.
''I felt that Gerald-kun was in danger from Takatsuki-kun's magic if it continued. I was rough, but I had to stop him by force.
　Huh, that's right.

'Yes, yes!　Sakurai-kun, you know. He was going up to Takatsuki-kun at great speed and doing fast belly pans!
　Sa-san explained it to me.
　You mean, what?　Did they stop you with a belly button?

Aya. Did you see that thing?
'Great, I didn't see that at all...'
　Apparently even Lucy, who should have good eyesight, and the brave Prince Leonard couldn't follow it with their eyes.
　Sakurai-kun is amazing. And Sa-san, who can see that, is also amazing.

"You're a lifesaver, Sakurai-kun.
　I mean, if the spirit magic goes out of control, the only person who can stop it is Sakurai-kun.......
　That was a close call.
　You can't let spirit magic run amok, no way.

　Oh yeah, there's something else that's bothering me as well.

"He of the Lightning Hero, he's from the Ballantine family of the Five Holy Nobles, right?　Was it okay that I took it out?
　You told me not to disobey you, but I went back on my word.

That's all right, my dear sir. I'll let the Ballantine family know.
　Smiling, Princess Noel replied.
　Is it a relief if Princess Noel says so?

Thank you, Mr. Noel.
The heroes of the Water Country are Ryosuke's friends and valued guests. I don't care what anyone says, just leave it to me. I'm still pretty good at this, you know?
　Twitching and winking with a finger, Princess Noel, the incoming king, winked at me.
　She's a charming person, I thought.　

"Hey, spirit user. You're awake. Come to me later.
"?
　Jesus Christ!
　Suddenly, the Great Sage appeared in a spatial transfer (teleportation)!
　Then he said what he wanted to say and disappeared again.
　Jeez, you're a free person.

　Oh, Princess Noel is frozen in place with a smile on her face.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Lord Jesus. The Great Sage is my magic teacher....
　Apparently, even Princess Noel couldn't be mad at the Great Sage.

''I was planning on going to see her anyway, to thank her.
　I'm going to be very angry.

''Well, I'm going to go see the Great Sage Master now.
'What?　Why don't you get some rest? And Lucy.
'Yes - Sakurai-kun gave me a high-speed belly pan, right?
　Saa, you just want to call it a fast belly pan, right?
　Sakurai-kun's face is slightly tense.

Sasaki-san..... That was an unavoidable part of it. Takatsuki-kun, if you want to go to the Great Sage, I'll show you.
Thank you. That's very helpful.
　This reminds me of something from the Great Maze.

'Let's go Lucy,'
'What?　Me too?
You're the one who should be thanking me for the bracelet.
Uh-huh. Yeah, well... It's a little scary, but...　
　That's what I do.

What about you?
'Hmmm, I think I'd like to see some more of the training grounds here. It's got some interesting looking exercise equipment.
　It's true that I was tangled up with Mr. Courageous of Lightning as soon as I arrived at the training ground, so I didn't get to tour the facilities.
　As the training grounds for the strongest army on the continent, the facilities are well-equipped.
　I've heard that Sa-san enjoys the martial arts that Nina has been teaching him lately.
　With his high physical ability, it must be very rewarding.

　Prince Leonard and Sa-san remain in the training grounds.
　Princess Sophia and Noel left to go somewhere else, as if they had something to talk about with other royalty.
　And then Lucy and I, accompanied by Sakurai-kun, headed to the place where the Great Sage is.


　◇


I'm here.
　The place that Sakurai-kun brought me to is a space about the size of a small playground on the edge of the Highland Castle grounds.

'.........Wow.......what is this place?
　It was a different world, a silvery white world that seemed to have been cut off.
　An out-of-place ice mansion with an odd presence stood out of place.
　Lucy and I looked up at it with a pout.

　The high walls surrounding the ice mansion are probably crystal that contains magic power and glistens.
　Magical flames burned around the castle, illuminating the ice castle with tinkling flames.
　And despite the snow on the ground, there are flowers in full bloom everywhere.

　The season, it's absurd.
　No, it's all bullshit.

　--Is this created by the Great Sage's magic.......
　It's like a wonderland, a wonder garden, a wonder house.　

Okay, you two can take care of the rest.
"What?
　Mercilessly, Sakurai-kun tries to leave.

'You're not coming?'
'The Great Sage gets angry when someone who isn't called to go.
　You sound apologetic, Sakurai-kun.
　Since you live in such an assertive house, let's invite more people over!　Great Sage.
　But he seemed so eccentric.

"Well, let's go then. Lucy.
Uh-huh.
　We stepped through the unseasonable snow and opened the door to the ice house.


　◇


　Inside the ice house, it was pitch black.
　It was so bright outside!
　Barely, the candles placed evenly spaced on the ground illuminate my feet.
　A dungeon!
　What is this eerie atmosphere.....

Excuse me. I'm sorry, Takatsuki Makoto, I'm here!
Uhhhh, it's dark and scary.
　Lucy has a hold of my sleeve.
　Fearfully, I move forward.

"There you are.
Huh! "Yikes!
　With a start, Lucy and I turned around to see a doll in the form of a maid standing there.
　Scary!

What... this?
You know...?
Come on. Follow me.
　I hear the voice of the Great Sage from the doll.
　My words are ignored and I am led to the back.
　He's supposed to be a great man..............................but doesn't he have any servants or something?

　At the back of the dimly lit room, there was the Great Sage in white robes.
　He was lying on a huge sofa.
　The room feels like the inside of a tent in a labyrinth town.
　It is surrounded by expensive looking antique furniture.
　Do they like dimly lit and cluttered spaces?

''It's been a long time, Great Sage. Thank you for dealing with the water that was generated too much by the spirit magic earlier.
Thank you for that bracelet.
　First of all, me and Lucy thanked him.
　But the Great Sage-sama remained with a boring expression on his face.　

''........Spirit Master-kun, it looks like the Messenger of the Evil God hasn't quit.
...Ugh, that's...
　I immediately hit a sore spot.

''Oh, well. I didn't think that I would become a hero of the water kingdom in such a short period of time. This makes it more and more difficult to announce that you are an apostle of an evil god. It's too bad for the morale of the people.
　Displeased, the Great Sage says.
　Oh!　Apparently, they continue to miss it. Good.

"And what a nice way to beat that brave little lightning boy. It's just that Gerald is so pathetic. Even if you were given the same 'lightning hero' skill as Abel, yet...
That's what's so great about it!
　Lucy was a strong advocate for me.
　But hey, I don't remember it, you know? The magic was going haywire.

"What's so great about it. "Magic that run amok is useless.
'Yes I do. I'll be careful.
　Noah-sama made that point very well, so that's an issue for next time.

''If you're going to go out of control, I thought it was going to be that red-haired wizard over there. By the way, you're the 'Walker family', aren't you?
Well, yes. Lucy J. Walker.
　The subject shifted to Lucy.

'Jonny's offspring.... Here, I'll give you this.
　With a pop, the wand is thrown.
　Lucy takes it in stride.

"Look at this!
That's the wand that Jonny used.
Great-grandpa!　My great-grandpa?
　Hmm?　Is the Great Sage acquainted with Lucy's great-grandfather?

Lucy's grandfather is an acquaintance of the Great Sage?
　I asked Lucy, but it was the Great Sage who answered.

'You ... don't you know Jonny Walker, the hero of the Woodlands (Spring Rogue)?　It's one of Abel's friends.
Oh.
　I remember.

　Abel the Savior.
　Saint Anna the Redeemer.
　The Great White Sage.
　And Jonny, the legendary archer.

　They were part of a legendary party that saved the world.
　There are only four of them.
　I remember thinking that was a very small number.
　But to think that one of them was Lucy's great-grandfather!
　And that's a long-lived elf, indeed.
　Even if he's a thousand years old, he's four generations old?

'Lucy!　That's great!　You should have told me.
　By the way, the Great Sage Master is as generous as ever.
　He gave me a valuable weapon.
　He doesn't seem to be too upset about my runaway magic.
　Thank goodness.

Well, I can see why you didn't want to tell me.
　Grinning, the Great Sage Master let out a nasty voice.

''What?　What do you mean?
'My great-grandfather my great-grandfather Johnnie Walker, the hero of the Tree Country (Spring Rogue), was a rare womanizer in the elves...'
"Fifty wives, twice as many women I've impregnated.... I can't even begin to count the number of women I've had my hands on.
Yeah.
　A member of a party of legendary heroes?　What are you doing?
　Well, but is that what it is?
　They say heroes love their color.

That's why there are people all over the continent claiming to be descended from Johnnie Walker. Some of them are real descendants, others aren't.
I hear there's a bunch of people out there doing fraudulent business with Jonny's descendants.
I have a lot of respect for my great-grandpa. I hate his misogyny.
　.... well, that's right, isn't it?
　Lucy got a glimpse of why she was so serious about her love of color.

'But that idiot didn't try to mess with Anna or me either. Maybe it was because Abel was there.
　The Great Sage speaks fondly.
　Hmm?　What a curious way to say it.

'You talk about it as if it were your own.
　The Great Sage Master should only have inherited his memories through the 'Inheritance' skill.

''Hmm?　Oh, come to think of it, I haven't told you yet.
　He stared at me, his ruby eyes fixed on me.

"How have you heard of me? The Great Sage asks.
'You are a descendant of the Great Sage who was a companion of the Savior Abel a thousand years ago, aren't you?　With the 'Inheritance' skill, you have inherited the abilities of the first Great Sage...
　I'm sure you've heard that story before.

It's not true.
　Easily, the Great Sage said.
"What?
　Me and Lucy both scream in astonishment at the same time.

'Oh no ... what?'
'Oh, there's no such thing as an 'inherited' skill. Maybe it's out there somewhere, but I don't know of any such useful skills.
Well, then!　Does that mean you don't have the abilities of the first Great Sage Master!　Then you're fooling everyone!
　Lucy screams in anger.
　Lucy had previously said that the Great Sage Master was the greatest of all wizards, the pinnacle of all wizards.
　Maybe she feels betrayed by that.

''But he's a great wizard, so why not?''
　As for me, who came from another world, I want you to continue to be a helpful character on my side.

'No!　It's important to have the 'power' of the Great Sage who fought alongside the Savior Abel-sama a thousand years ago!　That's why the 'Brave of Light' skill is great, and Princess Noel, who has the 'Priestess of Light' skill of Our Lady Anna, has the respect of everyone. ''The 'Lightning Hero' skill is also........one of them, in a manner of speaking.''
　Mr. Gerald. I've been told it's just in case. Poor guy.
　But I see.
　Abel, the savior of a thousand years ago, and his companions are a heroic tale that everyone in this world knows about.
　Their skills are considered sacred by all the inhabitants of this world.

'Sorry to burst your bubble, but I have the power of the Great Sage, Abel's companion as you call him,'
What?
　What is he talking about?
　You haven't inherited it, have you?

What do you mean?
I am the great sage himself from a thousand years ago.
　The white-haired, red-eyed great sage said so without a care in the world.



''Oh...........................There is no way. A thousand years isn't something that even long-lived elves would live for.''
　You thought it was a joke, Lucy denies it.
　In the first place, the Great Sage-sama looks younger than me.
　His tone is ... mature, though.

''I am an undead (undead).
　The air froze.
''What?''
　What's the great story you've been told?

Only a few royalty and nobles know about this. You are the ones who are brave enough to be one of the brave ones, so it's not a problem.
Huh... is that so?
　I see, so you knew about Princess Noel and others.
　Sakurai-kun, tell me about it.....
　I'm not sure if I should have told you.

You can't get away with it. Ever since then, I've been on the side of the humans.
....
　Lucy is freezing.
　Apparently it was a shock to the inhabitants of this world.
　Was it the fact that the legendary hero was a demon race, or was it that the hero himself was alive?

''That's why they were tolerant of Lucy being a half demon race or even if Sa-san was a demon.
　I thought it was weird because last time you let me off the hook so easily.

"So that's why. By the way, my race is 'vampire'. I used to be human, though.
　Great Sage-sama smiled, nii, and I could see her sharp teeth.
　When I first saw her, I thought she was a beautiful little girl, like a doll, but now... she's... a little scary.
　The Great Sage-sama slowly approaches us.

''Are you a vampire? Was it okay for you to go out in the sun earlier?''
　I must have been outside in the daylight to clean up after my spirit magic runaway.
　When it comes to vampires, sunshine is supposed to be their weak point.

'Yeah I felt awful. I would have been asleep during the day.
　The Great Sage comes even closer.
　What is it?

'I can stand the sun's rays for a little while. It makes me sick, though.
'Oh, I see. I'm sorry for the inconvenience of that....
　The Great Sage-sama is just out of reach.
　He is looking down at the short Grand Sage Master, but I wonder if he should kneel down.

'It's making me a little anemic.
　The Great Sage's hand touches my cheek.
　That hand is cold.
　I remembered that when I was examined for my skills before, I felt that it was a very 'cool hand'.

"For your troubles, spirit user. Give me your blood.