Novice Reincarnator

“Why is the Legendary Hero visiting another Legendary? Surely you are not proposing an alliance of some sorts.”

The sarcasm in Byleth’s voice spoke volumes about how well she thought that idea would go. The Upper Realm was divided into 7 territories and most of those territories were ruled by a Legendary level figure.

As the daughter of the Demon King who ruled the Demon territory, she was understandably wary of other Legendary’s joining forces and upsetting the balance of power in the Upper Realm.

Not all territories had a Legendary behind them. In fact, the Angel territory and Human territory currently had no such figures leading them. The Human territory had not had one since Leah’s father disappeared and the Angel territory lost theirs when Cecilia took up full time residence in the Free territory located in the center of the Upper Realm.

“Don’t worry, Miss Byleth. I came here today for a much simpler matter. I want to see Ash.”

I barely stopped myself from flinching when I heard that name come out of Leah’s mouth.

“Oh?”

Byleth’s eyes were full of laughter. She glanced at me before she turned her attention back to Leah and Elizabeth. Sensing that neither Cecilia or Byleth appeared interested in saying more, Elizabeth broke the silence.

“We wish for her cooperation in an investigation. I recently received a report that someone had tampered with one of the explorers licenses I handed out. I have reason to believe that Ash’s explorer license was the one tampered with.”

I suddenly realized the terrible mistake I had made by choosing to listen in on this conversation. Both Leah and Elizabeth were good at reading others emotions off of their body language. If it wasn’t for the fact that I was wearing a maid uniform, they wouldn’t have disregarded my agitation nearly as easily.

“Cooperation? That is funny. I read the same report. It is clear that Ash shared everything she knew. There is no nothing more to gain from talking to her. You should leave if that is all you wanted.”

Byleth became the most dependable existence in the room as she tried to chase out the hero party duo.

“Wait. That isn’t the only reason we want to see Ash.”

Leah cut in. Her body straightened and her prince aura radiated on full blast. Her eyes took on a glint that always told Asta Ashford that his friend was about to do something reckless. Elizabeth seemed to realize that as well, but she was unable to stop Leah.

“Ash is my best friend. Bring her to me.”

Leah Maxwell’s unmistakable charisma and charm filled her voice. Everyone that heard her speak naturally wanted to bend their knee and listen. Unfortunately, she ran into a girl who was her equal.

“No.”

For the first time, Cecilia spoke up. All of the momentum Leah had built up immediately collapsed. I was hardly in any position to act like a spectator. The certainty in Leah’s voice told me that she had figured out Ash’s previous identity. All of my blood drained from my face. If Byleth hadn’t spoken up to distract them, I would have certainly been revealed.

“Hohoho. I remember the big ruckus you made when you first arrived in the Upper Realm. If I recall correctly, you said that your best friend was a man. One look at Ash’s breasts and you would know that she is a girl.”

“Ash came to the Upper Realm on the same day that my best friend did. Additionally, she broadcasted her dungeon dives as a ‘TS Demon Delivery.’ That is proof that Ash is my best friend.”

The sheer hope and wishful thinking in my best friend's voice made me feel guilty. All of my plans to first become an intermediate explorer suddenly seemed like excuses. If I wanted to stop running away, then I needed to speak up here.

I opened my mouth. Byleth silenced me by tightly gripping my hand at an angle that neither Elizabeth or Leah could see.

“You expect us to bother Ash to verify this wild supposition of yours?”

“I just need to appraise her and I will instantly know the truth. Please, it will only take a moment.”

“Looking into a girl’s secrets? You may be a hero, but you are the worst.”

Byleth easily blocked all of Leah’s attempts to meet Ash. Eventually, the young hero realized that Byleth had no intention of granting her request.

“Why are you getting in my way? I just want to meet her.”

“Everyone knows that you want to make your best friend your lover. I’m sorry, but Papa and Cecilia have already claimed her. If you want her, you will have to get through us.”

“You!”

Leah slammed her hands against the table in anger and the ornate table immediately broke. The refreshments and silverware all scattered to the ground in a noisy mess. The master of the mansion finally spoke up.

“Helen, see our guests out.”

With Cecilia’s words, I saw the final hope in Leah’s eyes die. My best friend stood up. Her eyes were full of rebellion.

“I let someone important to me slip away from me once. Never again. I never want to experience that feeling of helplessness ever again. I will be back and next time, you will not be able to stop me from meeting her.”

Without waiting for Helen’s guidance, Leah stormed out of the room. Elizabeth sighed at her hero’s behavior.

“I am sorry things turned out this way. Thank you for taking the time to see us today.”

Elizabeth made her way to the entrance to the drawing room. She stopped at the last moment as if she suddenly remembered something.

“That is right. Please forgive me for saying the most important things last. Cecilia, it was an angel that tampered with Ash’s explorers license.”

I didn’t even have time to consider Elizabeth’s words to Cecilia. She spoke up again before I got the chance.

“Asta, it was nice to see you too. As I thought, you look good as a girl.”

A stunned silence filled the drawing room after Elizabeth left. My mind was a mess. Elizabeth knew I was Asta. Even so, she hadn’t said anything to Leo about me. Like usual, I couldn’t understand what she was thinking.

Cecilia was also deep in thought about Elizabeth’s parting words. Byleth’s laughter broke up the somber mood.

“Ha. That poor hero needs to get her eyes checked. How can she say she likes you if she didn’t even recognize you? Even Elizabeth recognized you!”

“Ugh. Don’t remind me, Byleth. I even flirted with Leah as Ash. Now that she knows it is me, I want to kill myself.”

What was I thinking in the bath back then? I should have held my frustration in instead of trying to teach Leah a lesson. My best friend needed to be more aware of her budding feelings towards Elizabeth.

Cecilia’s violet eyes fell on me. She didn’t speak up, but I felt like she had something she wanted to say. Byleth’s mirthful voice never gave her a chance.

“I would have liked to see your attempt at flirting.”

“Attempt!?”

“Compared to me, your flirting could only be called an attempt.”

Just like that, my heavy mood from Leah’s declaration was wiped away as Byleth and I bantered with each other. Once I calmed down, I finally managed to say the words I wanted to say.

“I should have lost all value to you and your dad now that I am no longer a Demon. Even so, you spoke up for me. Thank you.”

Byleth waved her hands in a shooing motion as if to chase away my words of gratitude.

“Think nothing of it. If you aren’t a Demon, then you should marry who you like. I have had that belief since I was a child. Marrying who I liked was a silly dream that was forever out of my reach.”

“Eh, then you…”

Byleth quickly corrected my misunderstanding.

“I got lucky. I fell in love with someone Papa approved of. Most of my siblings weren’t nearly as fortunate.”

“Demons have it tough too.”

I wasn’t the only one with love related troubles. That made me feel a sense of kinship with Byleth. Somehow, both of us had ended up taking refuge under Cecilia’s wings.