Wraith, who was sitting in front of me, blinked in surprise.
　I heard the sound of ice in his glass.

I was surprised. I thought you were a very quick thinker, but how did you know? How did you know?

I'm just saying that's what I would do.

"Ha-ha.

　Lace-kun smiled ludicrously. Then, happily.

'I see. That's good. Then you'll have to help me. You know what you're doing, don't you, Lame?　It doesn't matter how strong they are, Fenix-sempai, Uncle Air, or me, no matter how much they admit Leme, the ones who doubt their abilities won't go away. They can't even look at a strong man and admit he's strong.

　It's true, the fact that the incident of the tag tournament with Belito and the fact that Aerial-san recruited me was made known didn't change my opinion of 【Black Mage】Reme, or anything like that.

　It's just that the number of people who approve of me has increased a little, just a little bit.
　I'm not dissatisfied with that small step, but Wraith-kun seems to be different.

　Even those who deny me have their own standards of evaluation.
　Even if I win, it's still plain.
　The fact that black magic is invisible is a constant.
　My looks aren't superior, and I don't think that way is going to help me in my strategy.
　There are many other reasons to deny me, and there are many other reasons available and lying around.

　However, as long as you put yourself in a place where you are exposed to the evaluations of others, criticism will follow you.
　There are those who say that Mr. Aerial is old, or that Fenix lacks leadership.
　There is surely no one entity that can be praised unreservedly by all.

　Even though I know that, it's hard to be denied.
　And if it's something that's important to you that's being denied, it's much harder and more painful than it was for me.

'I can't help you,'

I don't know. I don't get it. I'm going to be brave, right? If you haven't given up, then what do you want to... well, what do you want to do, I guess? I don't know how you're going to accomplish your goal, Leme, I don't know.

　He wouldn't expect me to be on the demon's side, either.

　That's why my attitude is baffling to him.
　A man who didn't join the new party and refused his and Aerial-san's invitations, but a brave man who continues to aim for it.

'Well, all right. If you don't want to say it so much. When you see us fighting, you'll want to fight with us. You can support Leme, or you can fight on your own. Because if you're going to do it, Leme, that's what you'll need to do to win.

　It's a lot of credit.

　Well, no. He just saw my fight and decided that.
　That's what the fight with Belito was all about, and that's how he judged me.

'I'm glad you feel that way,'

But you're going to say no.　I know. Well, I guess I'll go home now. I'll be busy tomorrow.

"Mr. Wraith.

Hmm, what?　If you're talking about changing your mind, you're more than welcome.

It's not... well, I mean, I'm sorry if I'm wrong, but...

What, I'm scared.

　Wraith-kun cowered his shoulders, smiling.
　I was lost.

　When you direct a word to someone, the meaning of the word is not the only thing that is important.
　The relationship between you and the other person, the situation, the other person's state of mind, and many other things come into play.

　Just as you don't have to let go of your words and reach everyone in the same way, no matter what anyone else is saying.
　Isn't what I'm trying to say a step too far? I had that hesitation.

'I think it's good to prove someone you admire is right.'

Oh, yeah? Yeah, thanks.

　He averted his gaze and tilted his head in a cumbersome manner.
　It was probably not a desirable topic.

'Because if you want to be like the brave man you admired, I think that's a worthy goal.

Well I don't quite get what you're trying to say.

　He is firmly trying to read the back of my words.
　He doesn't expect me to just release words of affirmation from the flow ahead.

'Well, so ... you can try to be whatever you want to be. The thing is, I mean.......if you're trying to take the place of the [indomitable hero]......that's not healthy.

　He opens his eyes.

　--Ah, I got it right.

　From his statement, I could sense that he wasn't happy that [Indomitable Brave Man] had retired with a family.
　But he thinks his father's way of being during his adventuring days is right, and he's going to fight to prove it.
　I don't want to be like him, I want to prove the rightness of the brave man who was strong, this is my goal.

''Have you heard anything from........anyone?''

No, I'm sorry. It's all speculation on my part.

'Well that really scares me. Or maybe I'm still immature. So what's not healthy?

'I know what they said about [Indomitable Brave] after he retired, too. I was a fan. It was very sad and frustrating. I wondered why someone so strong and good-looking had to be talked about so badly.

'Because to the extent that I had a child, I gave up trying.

　............
　Wraith-kun's expression is distorted as he says it himself.

''I don't think that's the case.

How?　I don't know. You should have worked hard one more year and surpassed [the brave men of the storm] and the others. You could have. They say I didn't do it, and that's why I escaped. In other words, because of me.

It's not your fault.

'Oh, I know, Leme. It's a classic. "It's for your own good.

　Surely those who sensed his pain encouraged him to do so.
　And those words didn't help him.

No, it was for his own good.

What do you mean...?

　Perhaps it was an unexpected answer, but Lace started to listen to my words.

'For people who are serious about something, of course, that goal is very important. You want to sacrifice a lot of things and fulfill it no matter what effort you have to make, and you do.

I mean, he didn't really mean it, did he?

No, no. ...You know, it's not exactly the kind of thing I would say to someone who doesn't even have children.

Okay, let's hear it.

'To have something so important that you can't 'sacrifice' it, and then change your path to protect it, is not an escape. I think he made that decision for himself, for himself.

..........

'[The Indomitable Brave] didn't give up first place. He just didn't give up on his family, in my opinion.

　So you don't have to feel like it's your fault.
　You can set your sights on who you want to be and fight for it.
　That's what I wanted to tell you.　

　How long has it been?
　Lace-kun let out a huff.

'Yeah, I think you're right, Reme. I've heard that you probably meant it, and I've heard that line before. But...

　Wraith-kun smiled with just his lips.

'I don't like it,'

　Yes.
　It's not longing that's in his actions now.
　It's a denial of self. Redemption, you might say.

　He thinks that he has tarnished the strongest of them all.
　So, at least, he wants to wipe out that stain.

　The strongest that has been cleaned up in that way, and he has to make the world acknowledge him.
　He can't forgive him.

　It's too heavy for a boy of ten years old to carry.

'Mr. Wraith,'

'It was fun, Leme. I'll talk to you after the raid fight again.

　With that, he sat up.

　It would be useless to follow his back.
　A clear rejection can be felt.

　Sometimes words alone, in a trivial conversation, can save a person.
　But maybe that's not the kind of trouble he's in.
　If that's the case, what I can do is--.