How did you find this place?　Don't tell me you're not looking for another magical reaction, right?

　The words came out of his mouth on the spur of the moment, but Fenix made a pouting face.

''...?　Again?　I don't know about you, but I can't do that to you.

'Oh, oh yeah, I know. Sorry.

　After being told, I realize how crazy I am.
　Yes, I don't know what I'm talking about.

'And besides, Reme's the one who contacted you, isn't he?

Yeah, that's right.

　Yes, as I recall.......I remembered that the city where the Demon King's Castle is located has Fenix's workplace, so I contacted him.
　Fenix came straight from his workplace, or maybe he came straight from his workplace and was dressed like a [Priest].

''Are you alright?　If there's something wrong, do you want me to take a look?

　The [Priest] holder also has white magic aptitude.
　I think it's a suitable [position (job)] for the kind-hearted Fenix who understands people's pain.

''No, it's no fun examining a man, is it?

Leme it's not a matter of gender in the examination.

Is that how it works?　You'd be thrilled to see a beautiful woman, wouldn't you?

'I've trained myself not to look evil at those who come to me for salvation, so I'm fine.

Ha-ha, they have that kind of training.

All joking aside, are you sure you're okay?　You look a little pale, though.

I'm fine. Let's get some food.

'Oh, ah...'

　It's been a long time since we've seen each other.
　It's been a long time since we've seen each other.

　But when we meet up, we can talk as if we've met before.
　We discuss what's going on, laugh about old times, and have dinner.

Hey, Leme. Do you remember?　The day I got the [position (job)].

Yeah, sure.

''At that time, you told me. If it's a combat-based [position (job)], we should form a party.

You told me. I remember.

　Fenix's face broke into a nostalgic smile.

'It was nice. You have dreams of being number one in the world and you still invited me to join you.

I didn't ask you out because we're friends.

...Is that right?

I knew you were a real tough guy.

Strong?　...Me?

　Fenix looked surprised.

'You never fooled anyone, no matter what, and you worried about me first, even when you were hurt yourself. I always thought you were awesome. I........I.......that day......I really thought you were going to be a [brave] man.

Well that's impossible.

It can't be.

　All along, I've thought about it many times.
　The [Brave], the fire spirit's blessing, the holy sword, everything.
　I thought this one might be more appropriate.

...Did you think that Reme would be better?

　When I looked at Fenix, I saw that her costume had changed.
　It was a brave man's costume, the one I had been wearing just now.

　But after a blink of an eye, I was back in my priestly outfit.

'You're going to be the best and bravest, aren't you?　I'm rooting for that.

Thank you. Hey, Pheonix.

What is it?

How do you like your life now?

　Fenix didn't say anything, but smiled in annoyance.
　After that, we had a good time talking about random things again.

　I left my best friend and returned to the inn.
　I wonder when we'll see each other again.

　Maybe we won't see each other again.

　◇

　We've reached the tenth level of the Demon King's Castle.

　A dark passage.
　At the far end, there is something that looks like a throne.

　The demon who was sitting there slowly stood up.
　That Fiend had only one horn.
　I feel like I've seen this somewhere before.

''Really, it's a well-designed ideal world.''

　Gulp, my body became heavy.

　'Slowing down' - black magic?
　I immediately tried to resist (resist).

''I wanted to be a [I wanted to be a brave man]. I still want to be a brave man. But why do you think I can't enjoy the happiness of this world?

　The tone of his voice seemed to have been changed, but it sounded vaguely familiar.

'Alba!　Magic sword!　Béla freeze!

"You're not the leader of this party, are you?

　Neither of them responded.
　I looked at them and saw that no one was there.

'Eh.'

　It was gone.
　Like they had never existed in the first place.
　No Alba, no Lily, no Lark, no Beulah.

　It's just me and a demon.

''This world is the ideal of a child who dreams of being a hero, but it's not the ideal of a [black mage] who lives to be a hero.

　What's this genie talking about?
　A witch in black has taken off her mask.

　And on the mask was my face.

　The face.

　How can I explain that feeling?

　Like, in the dream, my consciousness is there, but I'm moving in the dream without regard to it.

　Finally.
　Somehow, I managed to appear in front of him as Remeghton.

　It's an ordeal that requires a strong heart.
　I'm thankful that this demon king's castle, which reminds me so much of my own life, also appeared in my dream world.

　Because my life has changed, I no longer have the chance to meet my mentor or Mila-san.

　But because I'm aiming to be the best adventurer I can be, I can't avoid attacking the Demon King's Castle.
　The Demon King's Castle and this town are filled with memories that are important to me.

　Thanks to this, I've been able to remember my friends as I've progressed through the castle.
　Walking around the city, I was stimulated with important memories.

　The accumulation of these memories has now given my own mind a body that moves in my dreams.
　I was able to have a strong mind to conquer my dreams.

　[Ship Horned Dark Mage] Remegeton is confronted.
　【Brave Man of Fire】 with Reme.

　Reme's life in this world wasn't devoid of all the painful things, but it was fulfilling.

　I was sought after by the world, and the world took a strong interest in my activities.
　There are many children who admire me and I am able to inspire people all over the world.

　Naturally, I let my friends win all over.
　An ideal world. The best environment. A great life.

　Still, there's a reason I wasn't swallowed up.
　I've left behind a lot of important things in this world.

　Most importantly, this world...doesn't have a girlfriend.
　I don't have anyone who supported me as a [Black Mage] and showed me a new dream.

　I may be ideal, but I'm not perfect.
　Something important is missing.

'I didn't create this dream out of my desire. You made it up as you went along in my mind.

　I say to the spirits who will surely be watching me.

''Sure, I wanted to be a [brave]. It would be great if I could make a contract with the Four Great Spirits. But--

　I close the distance between me and the bewildered 【Brave Man of Fire】 Reme.
　Soooo, I inhale.
　All of my thoughts are converted into a voice.

　There was something that I desperately wanted to say.　
　There was something I just couldn't forgive.

　I don't know what he's thinking, but...


'There's no way I'm going to take my best friend's seat to get what I want........!


　Leme takes a step back.

'You ... what are you talking about? Why do you look like me?

'Meet the Master!　The days of hard work with the Phoenix!　With Kash!　With Mira!　There's no way I can pretend that all the encounters I've had since I entered the Demon King's Castle didn't happen!

What are you talking about? What are you...

'Even if we don't live up to the future we envisioned when we were little!　I've never wanted to deny my life!　I don't care if you can't live up to your ideals!　Everything that's important to me is real!

I can't...

　Leme shouted.
　I, living an ideal, shouted in a hurry.

　He seems to have understood what I am.
　No, maybe he noticed it long ago and was just pretending not to notice.

"Are you an idiot...?　Have you forgotten your days as a [black mage]?　All the kids in the village made fun of me and my only friend was Fenix. The adults pitied me and my parents were sad. I tried to die under my mentor, but after my debut, I was made a fool of for the rest of my life. He let his friends win, but he was treated as a burden for seven years. I had to hide my horn power and black magic. So I was eventually kicked out. The Demon Lord's Army?　A demon hero?　You wanted to be an adventurer. You wanted to be ranked number one in the world. You wanted to be--

　Leme utters it.

'You were jealous of Fenix,'

I'm not surprised.

I'm not sure...

'I'm not a saint, so of course I was frustrated. I wouldn't have been jealous. But you were convinced. You thought Fenix would have to do something about it.

.....................

'I'm not a [brave man]. But what we longed for was not a job title. It's the way of life, being a brave man.

No, no...

　Leme drew his holy sword.
　Flames erupted.

'Every time you are made fun of, every time you are laughed at, you suffer to the point that you feel like your heart is being torn apart. Every time you laugh at me, you hate yourself more and more. Here, you can be free from suffering. I'm a target of admiration. It's natural to laugh. Why do I have to live the life of a [Black Mage]?

　He's me. He knows my pain better than anyone else.
　My struggles. The question I've asked myself over and over in my mind. But I've already figured out the answer.

"That's who I am.

You're an idiot.

Maybe.

Spirit...

　Gripping the flaming holy sword, Reme slashes at me.
　I released my horn and caught his sword with my right arm.
　The horn of the demon king, inherited from his master, sprouts from the right side of his head.

''N--''

''Also, I think you know what I'm talking about. I'm a friend, a rival, and that guy's - fan number one - of the [Fire Brave] Fenix.

.....

He's much stronger than me. I can't burn it with your attack (,,,,,)

I'm...

''We're [Black Mage] Reme, [Shiphorn Dark Mage] Remegeton, and [Shiphorn Black Mage] Reme. I hope one day we'll be called 【Best Black Mage】.

　I put strength into my arms.
　The holy sword of the dream world shattered easily.

So let's get back to it.

　The next thing I knew, Leme had gotten smaller.
　It was me when I was ten years old.

"I want to be a [brave].

Yes.

'I want to have an adventure that makes someone's life as exciting as I am exciting,'

I know.

I can be a [black mage]?

Well, I don't know. But ... whatever [position (job)] it was, you can't give up, right?

　I was ten years old and looked like I was going to cry, but I still laughed.

''Well of course, it's not cool to give up on something like that....

　I laugh too. I'm sure he has the same look on his face.

"That's why I'm Leme.

　I reach for him.
　As a child, I took Remeghton's hand in mine.

"Let's be brave. We will make our dreams come true, no matter how long it takes. "Don't sleep at night.