It has been a while since I have not met with Karen-san and the others and my stress is accumulating steadily.
I -the fire hero, Katack Mirack- am in Muspelheim today again.
That’s how it works after all.
After the appearance of those fearsome Lords of monsters -the Demon Lords- there has been a martial law placed in the higher-ups of the church and it is covered in a strict atmosphere.
The movements of us heroes has been limited to a certain degree and leaving our base is in basis a no.
On top of that, even if it is temporal, the previous heroes have returned to their posts and not only in Muspelheim, but all the five nations are in a state where we are waiting for war.
The war will start soon.
A war between humans and monsters that will decide who will be the new rulers of the surface world. A war that has our lives at stake.
We heroes have to stand at the front to fight.
The Demon Lords are overwhelming, and I don’t feel like I would be able to defeat them upfront at all, but even if that’s the case, who will fight if not us?
That’s why the Demon Lords are in hiding, and in this time of silence that could be called the calm before the storm, I have to train as much as I can and increase my power.
And in that time, what I am doing is…
***
“F-Fire hero Mirack and…!” (Mirack)
(Background voice): “The fire cow Phalaris’…!”
““Explosive hero show!!””
*Waaaaaaaaa!!*
The venue was incredibly heated up.
The audience seats were all filled with children and their parents, and their cheerings were directed at me and the cow.
……
…What’s this?
“(Oi Mirack!! What are you getting all spaced out for?! The performance has already begun, you know!)”
“Y-Y-Yes!” (Mirack)
I was shouted at by Sis Kyouka in a low voice and I hurriedly remember the words of the script that were stored in my mind.
“E-Everyone, are you doing good?! I-I am the fire hero that was chosen by the Fire Church to protect the peace of everyone, Katack Mirack!!” (Mirack)
At the same time as she does the choreographed pose she practiced beforehand, a big wave of cheers welled up.
“Kyaaa! So cool!!” “Mirack-oneechan, so cool!!” “Mirack-oneesama!!” “It was worth lining up the whole night!!”
I was made to receive all those heated cheers as the one standing on the stage.
“And today, as a special guest, we have the number one most popular in Muspelheim, Phalaris-kun!” (Mirack)
(Background voice): “Everyone, treat me well!!”
Moving in concert to the call, a cow casually moves around.
That comicalness heated up the stage even more.
“Kya! Cute!” “Phal-tan, so cute!!” “Look over here!” “Stand on two!!”
Why is this cow so popular?!
I can’t even think that this is actually that monster that destroyed a large area and made it a dangerous location.
I was displeased by a lot of things, but I have to do the duty I was given.
“Now then, today, Mirack and Phalaris will be providing you a charming endurance show!! Children and parents! As people affiliated to the Fire Church, endure till the very end, okay?!”
(Background voice): “I am Phalaris~!!”
By the way, the voice of Phalaris is being sponsored by the previous fire hero, Sis Kyouka.
***
And so, after the performance ended in a big success, I imploded in the dressing room.
“What is the meaning of this?!” (Mirack)
I slam my fists onto the table with strength that felt as if I was trying to break it in two.
Opposite of me, there’s Sis Kyouka that is licking a candy to soothe her exhausted throat.
By the way, that Phalaris is also in the dressing room munching on grass at the corner.
Just what is going on with this atmosphere?
“…”
Sis Kyouka begins to drink a lot of honey tea that’s probably also for her throat.
“…Wumu, as expected of the high grade tea that Sarasa brought from Hydra Ville. Even the scent is on a different level. This must be culture shock!” (Kyouka)
“SIIIISS!!” (Mirack)
“What’s the matter, junior Mirack. What are you getting so exalted about?” (Kyouka)
Or more like, aren’t you previous heroes getting way too along?!
“What is the reason for your anger? The public performance of today also ended in a big success. The event at the end of the performance was a success as well. The children were all going ‘please let me touch your abs, please let me touch your abs~~’. You were incredibly popular.” (Kyouka)
“The very fact that we are doing public performances is the problem!!” (Mirack)
There’s no way Sis Kyouka doesn’t understand.
“Humans are currently facing an unprecedented danger! The Demon Lords are leading powerful monsters, and the war that has our existence at stake might begin as soon as tomorrow! In such a precarious time, there’s no time to be playing around!” (Mirack)
Normally, shouldn’t we be shutting ourselves in the Fire Church and be devoting ourselves all day in training?
Shouldn’t we be concentrating in preparing ourselves for battle?!
“…It is exactly because of that.” (Kyouka)
Sis Kyouka leaves the finished cup on top of the table.
“It is true that danger is approaching this world. That’s exactly why you have to take action as a hero.” (Kyouka)
“That’s right. That’s why…!” (Mirack)
This is not the time to be playing around!
“But the action you have to take for that sake is not to train yourself to become stronger.” (Kyouka)
“Eh?!” (Mirack)
“Weren’t you the one that taught me that, Mirack? At that heroes match before, you taught me that rather than strength you get from training, the strength that comes from connecting with others is stronger than anything and more precious.” (Kyouka)
- 259: Around the open-air fire.
“Being blinded by power and putting your all in training was your past style, Mirack.” (Kyouka)
Sis Kyouka pointed this out and I ended up being dumbfounded.
Why is such a quiet atmosphere going around this dressing room where we have just finished a public performance?
“You said that when you became stronger on your own this way, you got stronger in exchange of forgetting many things. You said that it was your comrades that made you remember those things.” (Kyouka)