Talent.

　That's right.

　Mira has learned about my magic and started watching a lot of videos since I changed my perception.

　From the premise that my black magic is superior, she found the 'invisible activity' in the videos.

　But Nicola seemed to appreciate me even before I knew her in person.

''There are many people who say rude things about the world, but fourth place is one of the best in the world. There are those who think that the [Black Mage] who belongs to it cannot be incompetent.

　At the level of 'I have a correct understanding of my abilities,' it's a few people, but when you expand it a bit to the level of 'I'm in fourth place, so I must not be incompetent,' the number increases.

　That doesn't mean that those people are my fans or that they recognize my need for them or anything like that at all.

　For the most part, they won't be incompetent, but I still don't think they're suitable for a fenix party or something like that.
　Well, that's what a [Black Mage] is.

''Yeah. But that doesn't mean I'm saying that with any insight into what I can do.

　Anyway, the idea that you might be able to use useful levels of black magic is part of the idea itself. Even on a civilian scale.

　Nicola sensed my 'work' during the Fenix Party days.
　She was a fan of mine and watched those videos a lot.

　That's why he was aware of me in his fight with Remegaton.
　Although his own consciousness seems to recognize it as having been noticed by the fire in his eyes.

　Fenix nodded.

'Talent........I should call it sense. This is all innate.''

You've got one too.

It's a skill.

　She felt similar to Mr. Fellow and Remeghton.
　She has an excellent sense of picking up 'something' that cannot be verbalized.

　In addition to the fact that it was invisible, furthermore, the fact that it was the first setback, the one that was left behind after the failure and the focus on directing and directing her brother's direction and required appearance.

　A talent for sniffing out abilities.

　Either Mr. Phillip doesn't realize it, or he realizes it and doesn't take into account that it's not something he can sell.
　Either way, it's a waste of time.

　That's not to say it doesn't help in fighting gracefully, but it's the last-minute battles with the strongest people that are most effective.

　A sense of sniffing out a crucial moment in a fight where a single moment can be fatal.

'For her?'

I didn't. If I did, you'd think I was encouraging you.

It's all about partners and timing, these things.

　You'd be happier to be told by someone you admire than to be told that you're a genius out of the blue by someone on the street.
　But what if you can't relate to the content of your talent?　Realization is the most important thing in these things.

　What she needs is to experience success.
　To be the person she wants to be, to be the brave one who can excite an audience.

　So far, she had followed her brother's guidance.
　She understands that this is the reason for her success and her current rank, as well as the balance between her and her friends.

　That's why she continued to perform 'White Silver Prince' perfectly until she met me.
　The division of roles that Philip-san said. Leave the helm to my brother and act as desired.

'It's a shame you're not aware of your talent, so you're going to help me?'

Hmm. She had a vision of an ideal hero.

That's just like us.

Yeah, but ... not everyone can be like that, can they?

　What's the problem with expressing my feelings to me?
　I mean. I urged Phillip to listen to his sister, and that's how things started.

　She had played a role and was simply tugging at the longing she once had.
　It was me and Philip-san who brought that out and created a place for her to be denied again.

　Even if I hadn't gotten involved, the two of us might have eventually disagreed, but the fact is that in this case, I was the catalyst.
　I'd be lying if I said I didn't care about that at all.

　No matter how much I wanted to, if I'd been asked to form a tag team when we first met, I wouldn't have agreed to it.
　It's true that I'm interested in the tournament myself, but there's no reason why it has to be her if that's all I'm interested in.

　Then why. Why would I help Nicola-san?

'Are you putting yourself in the same boat?'

Oh, no, I'm not so sure about that.

　The reality stood in the way that I couldn't reach my ideal self.

　I wanted to be a 【Brave Man】, but in reality, I was a 【Black Mage】.
　There was a way to fight that I admired, but what the world liked was the prince character.

　I guess I can overlap, well, I guess I can. But I feel like it's different.

'Oh, no, I think not, too. Because you never once gave up.

'I'm not as big a person as you think I am. But yeah, I don't want to help you because we're the same. Or maybe it's the opposite. Maybe I want to help you because we're different.

What do you mean?

If you can't, you can change it. It's easy. You can't change your job. I can't be a 【Brave】 holder. So I have to make do with 【Black Mage】. But she wanted to be brave and got a 【Brave】. I think it's too early to treat the first failure as simply because the character wasn't popular.

　If it fails, there isn't necessarily one reason for it. If there is more than one, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing when viewed in isolation. Sometimes a combination of them can be a tragedy.

　You shouldn't assume that her admired appearance, as it is, will never be popular with anyone.

'Just because you're talented doesn't mean you can succeed,'

I know. There are a lot of people who are strong and didn't become popular.

　I was finally able to express my feelings there perfectly. Maybe I should say, I did it.

　It all made sense to me.

　Yeah, I know. I mess around with my life to win, but I've made my decisions in life pretty simply.

　I'm better looking, so I'll be brave. I'm not going to give up on my dreams because I'm not good-looking. I don't care if there's a demon hero, so I'm going to be a staff member of the Demon King's Army.

　Ever since she was a little girl, she loved to watch strategy videos.
　Her dream is to be my favorite kind of hero.
　I, the adventurer geek, is curious about such a brave man.

　It's something.

　Because I'm a fan, or because I'm the catalyst for a dispute, or because I was invited, or because I'm interested in the tournament, or because I'm a friend, or because I'm not willing to let my talent rot.
　There are so many things that could be reasons.

　After digging into it, what came up was "because I want to see it"?
　It's too simple, even for me.

Oh, I see. Well, I'll have to do it. It's true that if you don't lend a hand here, you may not be able to see it again, and if you do, you'll have a front row seat. Well, that's the best 'reason' for it.

　Fenix chuckles as he puts a fist to his mouth.
　It seems that even if the reason is something that would make some people's heads tilt, it's something that would make sense to my childhood friend.

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

''It's fine if you're convinced. And?　Why are you not participating?

Hmm?　Yeah, his purpose. It's just hard to accept.

Oh, yeah? What's it like?

But first, Leme. Do you know Mister Faroe?

I don't know you directly.

I've seen the resemblance to your mentor.

His face?

The hair, the horns... and the magic.

　You've noticed this one.

''Well that's the master's son.

What does his mentor and the current demon king want?

''The Demon King knows. ''Master never replied to my letters.''

...for the dungeon.

It's gone, right? And you refuse to take it?

You want me to cooperate?

No, I understand.

　Maybe there's some other reason, but he doesn't seem to be talking and doesn't seem to be willing to say it. I won't ask in depth.

'Do you knowingly participate in this?'

'I'm going to block the abolition of dungeons. But I think it would be interesting to try.

Yeah, I can see that.

It'll show up as a lemme, just in case.

'I see. I would have thought the Lord Chief of Staff would have called me.

　He says jokingly.

'Did you make a demon demon body (avatar)?'

I did place an order.

Oh, I'm making...　

　I was half-joking when I asked.

'Speaking of which, Leme. I forgot to tell you.

　He said this as we were leaving the store and were about to leave there.

'Hmm?'

'I'm satisfied this time, and I have no intention of complaining about your decision. Next time you come to an event like this, you should ask me to join you. You and I are second to none.

　--I knew you'd be concerned about it.

　But, well, I guess so. I would definitely feel sensitive if I heard that I'm going to compete in a tournament with a [Black Mage] that Fenix doesn't know, too. It's fine, but what the hell, it's fine. Like.
　You should ask me out, it's watery. Yeah, like...
　Friendship is a strange thing to invoke in the weirdest places.

"I will. But with you, I'm not so sure.

What's going on?

His mind and magical organs are exhausted.

That's great.

　Fenix managed a wry smile.

'You're hiding it well, though. But I get it. It's no wonder.

　Your best friend has changed. It's impossible not to notice.

I'm an apprentice.

　He scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

'I see. I won't ask you for details.'

Yeah, that's great.

　Maybe he's trying to use that technique to defeat the Demon King's Army General Staff.
　There's no way I'm going to tell him to expose his hand.

''Then it's time to get back, I'm afraid of the memo.

'Memo...?　Yeah, see you then. Yeah, I'll make sure to watch the game.

Yeah.

I'm looking forward to his commentary.

　Is that guy...?

　I had already turned away, but it bothered me a bit.
　Eventually, without looking back, I headed to the inn.