What?　Where is...

　It took me a few seconds to realize Fenix's question and what it meant.

''--!　Don't tell me you're... that guy?

　Once you realize that, you can only assume that. Even though there's nothing in common, whether it's hair color, eye color, personality or spirit related.
　No, but I feel that the facial features are vaguely similar. So you had a sense of deja vu.

　And then there's the phrase Fenix said.

'I haven't confirmed it, but I think so.

　As far as I know, once, a party of [Brave] who hadn't signed a contract with a spirit became the number one ranked party.

　A party that quickly faded from the memories of the light fans as they were overtaken by Aerial Party within a year and then disbanded soon afterwards.

　But I know them. I saw them once on a video board (TV), but from there I became a fan and immediately scoured the internet for videos.
　I used to ask my parents to buy me a device, and I would watch strategy videos whenever I had time. After I became an apprentice, I remember asking my master to let me use it.

''........Wraith-kun is the son of the [Indomitable Hero]?''

　Oh, yeah.
　I have a realization.

"Pheonix. He didn't use necromancy, did he?

Oh, he was using wind magic.

　To begin with, what is a spirit art? The part about what does it mean to make a contract with a spirit.
　Spiritual arts and magic are basically the same quality.

　The one with the word 'jutsu' refers to 'the use of magic power' that some people have created from scratch.
　There is a jutsu used by the spirits, and the magic is an imitation of it by humans.
　In the same way, black magic was imitated by people.

　The sorcery created by demons, the ninjutsu created by shinobi, and the magic created by wizards who were great or evil. There are various things that are labeled 'jutsu', but they are all things that can only be used by certain races and geniuses.

　In other words, the one that raised the reproducibility and versatility of the "jutsu" is "magic".
　For example, black magic was created by the Demon King in the past. Not to mention people, even witches don't appear that often to be able to use it.
　Although the magic exists, there are few people who can master it and few ways to use it.
　It's a magic that has been improved so that anyone can use it and has an easy to understand place to use it.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. That's what I've decided.

　I nodded at Fenix's words.

　Just as I was taught black magic by my mentor, spirits give their contractors spirit magic.
　This is not something that can be used with a pop, but rather the person's talents and abilities must be able to withstand the exercise of it.
　Only when a person has the ability to use it, can he or she use the spirit art.

　For example, if you are a fire spirit contractor, you can do it to the extent of unleashing flames from the beginning, but you could say that's all you can do at first.
　That's where Fenix started, too. He said that he hasn't mastered everything yet.
　That "Flame of the Gods" that ended up using up nine years of my magic power is also the final profound effect?　It doesn't seem to be.

　And here's the important part.
　The [Brave] who made a contract with a spirit will not be able to use magic that is different from the spirit's attributes.
　Not technically, but in terms of the relationship with spirits.

　That's because the spirits don't like it very much. They can be jealous, grumpy, angry, and so on, and their attitudes vary from spirit to spirit, but generally it's like that.
　The spirits are lending me their power, and they are partners with a proper heart.

　If you try to use magic of a different attribute, the power of the spirit art of the same attribute will be reduced for a while. Even magic goes down. It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. That's how spirits work.

　Although 【Bravehearted】 is a type that is originally an all-around outstanding type, contracting with a spirit narrows down the attribute to a single one.
　You could call that a disadvantage, perhaps. There aren't too many people who see it that way.

　Even if it's just a mass of talent, 【Brave man】. What happens if you further develop a specific attribute from there with spirit magic?
　Fenix and Aerial-san became strong enough to be called the strongest of mankind.

　Even among the spirit contractors, there are those who show subtle and bold application like Beulah-san and Nicola-san, while others have clear strengths like Philip-san's 'Kongo'.

　Without a genie, this wouldn't be possible. Or it would require a tremendous amount of time to learn.
　Besides, spirit contractors are more popular in this day and age.
　The audience prefers geniuses who excel in one art form to poor dexterity.

'I think you're right that he hasn't formally signed a contract. But maybe he doesn't want to sign a contract.

　That's what he said. You heard him say it. He said he wasn't going to use necromancy. He said that when I invited him as one of the spectators, the water spirits just came on board.

　This contract is not something that is concluded in The Shrine of the Spirit. It seems.
　I'm not a 【Brave Man】 so I can't assert that, but well, that's what is said, and there is no 【Brave Man】 who denies this, so it must be correct.

　Then when will the contract be made? It is said that this is when you first use spirit magic.
　If the greeting to the shrine is an arranged marriage, the first use of spirit magic would be like a marriage.

''I have no intention of signing a contract...?''

　Fenix sounds surprised, but I'm so focused on my thoughts that I don't have time to react.

'Well that's what it was about.

　Is that why he's so obsessed with strength, and his rejection of any other evaluation criteria other than strength?

　The [Indomitable Brave] wasn't the flamboyant type.
　He wasn't excellent in appearance, nor was he young. He wasn't a spirit contractor, so he couldn't use flashy magic that way either. Versatile or dexterous. Sober, depending on who you look at.
　He never chose a strange plan or forceful breakthrough, and he always went straight to the attack.

　However, he was strong.
　His ability never wavered in the waves of his condition, and his solid groundwork made his attack stable.
　They were veterans, and when they won first place, they were congratulated for all their years of hard work.

　But the next year they were overtaken by the Aerial Party and fell to second place.
　I decided to retire that year and the party broke up.

　I remember it well because it was very disappointing.
　And the reaction of the audience at that time.
　Their strategy didn't change, but their reputation changed dramatically.
　Like a flip-flop, opinions that made fun of them flooded in.

''Wraith-kun........''

　Even I, a mere fan, was very frustrated.
　What if that [brave man] was my father?

　What if you've seen all the hype about how plain they look, how they couldn't sign up with a genie, how they were late bloomers, how they disbanded?

　Considering Lace's age, I don't think he witnessed it in real time.
　But the comments on the videos, the articles and message boards on the telegraph (internet) are not all going to disappear over time.
　If I find out that my father was a brave man, and the words that come out when I look them up.....................are full of malicious intent.

　It's natural to be frustrated. It's natural to be angry. Isn't it normal to feel unforgiveness.

　He's going to use the same method as his father to get first place and prove it wasn't wrong.......right?
　He was liked by the main body of the four great spirits and did not use the spirit arts.
　The reason he went to the shrine was to make it more emphatic that he accepted the spirits, he didn't need them.



　Perhaps Mr. Fellows knew this and approached him.
　Then he took Mr. Fellows' hand.

　Considering the fact that his father's case was not mentioned in the news and so on, it might be one of the conditions to withhold the information.
　The Demon King's Castle attack. There is no better opportunity to show the world how strong he is.
　From Fero-san's point of view, I can pull [The Lake's Brave Man] into the project.

''He said that being strong and winning in the end is the most correct form of heroism...''

Well, that's a good fit.

　And so it should be.
　We admired the same brave man.

　He invited me, a 【Black Mage】, to join him, and said he wanted to include Belito, a policeman, in his group.
　Because unpopular [Position (Job)] or subhuman, such things are irrelevant to strength.

　I told my thoughts to Fenix.
　Fenix heard that and--''

So, I see. I see. ...But Leme, even if that's true, he's.......

'I know. I want to support you, sure, but yeah. You think about it more than I do, don't you?

'Oh. I'm not going to deny his feelings. But--

　Lace-kun overlooks something.

'These things aren't something you can just say with your mouth and say, 'Yes, I understand.'

　Fenix nodded.

'It's a matter of not feeling it,'

...in a fight, for example?

Yes.

　Still, it's a strange feeling.

　There was a hero that I admired in the past.
　The Fenix that I admired is now the world's fourth-ranked hero.
　The son of the hero I admired as a staff member of the Demon King's Army asked me to join him.

　And I'm sure that Fenix and I will end up fighting him.
　As long as he doesn't drop out before the tenth layer.

'And yet, he will win, won't he?　Leme.

Yeah, I'm a demon hero.

　He replied to Fenix's words with a smile, as if to confirm it.
　He nodded with satisfaction and asked me another question.

''That should require an enormous amount of magical power to do that.......................Are you okay with that?''

I'll figure it out.

　I have to do something about it.
　I replied as I thought back to my training with the Demon King.