The Second Strongest Has Returned

Chapter 76

Saint

Ariasphil felt a strong sense of discomfort.

It was because her Leonardo and that person, whether a Saint or Saintess, had been sticking together for 32 minutes and 34 seconds.

‘…Could it be…’

Despite her age, Ariasphil had a cold and objective personality, which made her not only an exceptional warrior but also an outstanding hero.

However, there was something both Leonardo and she herself had overlooked…

‘…Could it be… an affair…’

Her obsession and lust regressed all forms of causal thinking, including male-female relationships.

Right now, in Ariasphil’s mind, a ridiculous and absurd drama was playing out.

In her imagination, Lumine was using all sorts of healing techniques to treat Leonardo’s various pains and scars.

“Sir Leo, are you okay? You must have been in a lot of pain. Who in the world could have caused such barbaric injuries? I absolutely cannot forgive them. You can’t move your body well, right? It’s fine. Rest comfortably on my lap.”

“Thank you, Priestess Lumine. As expected, having a kind Saint healing me like this is much better than that violent Miss Arias who only swings around the Holy Sword. If it’s not too much to ask, could you pray for me every day?”

“Oh, that almost sounds like a proposal. I love it. I’ve always liked men with abs as solid as yours, Sir Knight. How many children should we have? Would a boy be better, or perhaps a girl?”

“Well, let’s decide after we set the wedding date. Don’t worry. I won’t let a single drop of water touch your hands, my dear Lumine. Right now, we should focus on sharing our love, shouldn’t we?”

“Oh my, you’re such a tease, Sir Knight.”

“Hahaha!”

…It was a nonsensical and unrealistic fantasy that even a three-year-old would scoff at. Yet, it was proof that Ariasphil’s intelligence had declined enough to entertain such bizarre thoughts.

‘…No, that can’t be it. Leonardo has far more integrity than that…’

Just as she was shaking her head, the two of them emerged from the hospital room.

“Hahaha, I hope we can meet more often like this.”

“I’ve never met anyone I could converse with so easily.”

They had clearly become disturbingly close.

Grit

Why was Ariasphil grinding her teeth?

Why did it feel like the sound of Leonardo’s life being ground away?

The answer was something only Ariasphil knew.

* * *

[Today… we’ll end it here… If I were 10 years younger… I’d pluck every single hair from him and hang him upside down…!]

The Sage, reduced to a mere shadowy, formless mass, barely managed to speak as he attempted to provoke his opponent. Watching him stirred a sense of relief, as if a decade’s worth of frustration had been lifted all at once.

{You…! You should be grateful for maintaining that corrupted soul of yours…!!}

The angel, who had been battered like a chicken about to be slaughtered instead of a dog on the day of sacrifice, flapped his wings—now resembling someone suffering from hair loss—and made an empty, futile threat.

Was it just an illusion that Lumine’s smile felt refreshing that day? Considering her current emotions, it was likely no illusion at all.

“Hahaha, it would be nice if we could meet occasionally.”

Wouldn’t it be too disappointing to end such a spectacle after just one round? It would be quite the entertaining sight to see again during holidays or special occasions.

{Brother Lumine, please tell the Sage’s disciple to stop spouting nonsense.}

Despite the Saintess’s sharp words, now an angel, the expressions of those who had emerged from the hospital room were filled with joy.

“This is also the first time I’ve met someone I could converse with so easily.”

Lumine, seemingly in full agreement with Leonardo, expressed her consent with a radiant smile.

[Tell that successor of the pigeon to shut up.]

In any case, the ones suffering weren’t themselves, but the wretched phantoms that should’ve disappeared into history’s abyss. So, what did it matter? Frankly speaking, both Leonardo and Lumine felt immense joy in having found a way to inflict pain on that corrupt angel and the senile evil spirit without harming themselves in the slightest.

“Are you alright, Leo?”

Chris looked into Leonardo’s eyes, concerned.

“Thanks to Priestess Lumine. Even the aftereffects have been completely cured.”

“That’s good. I’m glad to hear that. Your complexion looks much better.”

It wasn’t just physical fatigue that had been lifted, but also the stress caused by a certain being who had suffered a severe blow.

‘…Your complexion looks better…?’

Now that she thought about it, his smile was particularly refreshing today. Unlike usual, his expression was especially bright.

This was largely due to the constant presence of the Sage, who frequently pestered Leonardo, but Ariasphil had no way of knowing this.

“Are you alright, Lumine?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

Even the Holy Knight who had accompanied them as a bodyguard seemed surprised. The smile Lumine wore now was not the false pretense of hypocrisy they had seen before.

But this smile, so genuinely fresh and relieved, was now deeply engraved in Ariasphil’s mind.

“…You seem quite close, considering it’s only been 30 minutes.”

Ariasphil, perhaps feeling her discomfort intensify, crossed her arms and asked in a slightly rebellious tone.

“Well, yes. It was an honor to catch a glimpse of the Priestess’s ethics and philosophy.”

{Judging by how well you can wag that three-inch tongue, you certainly are the Sage’s disciple.}

There’s no need for such a remark; the Sage is actually not very good at speaking.

“I was also glad to hear even a fragment of the Knight’s bravery and wisdom.”

[Oh, give me a break. If you really know bravery and wisdom, then that woman or whatever she is should just go away and take care of the divine errands.]

Even if he wanted to, they weren’t the type of people to listen. In fact, they weren’t even human anymore at this point.

{You wretched old man!!}

[You vile wench…!!]

The second round was about to begin, and it was a shame that there were too many people around to closely observe the chaotic battle. However, both seemed exhausted, as it didn’t even last 30 seconds.

“I see. So, you two had such a pleasant conversation. I really didn’t notice.”

Ariasphil barely managed to suppress her anger, hiding her displeasure behind a forced smile of pretense and hypocrisy. She felt twisted inside, watching Leonardo show such expressions so easily to someone he had just met, while he rarely displayed such warmth in front of her.

“Shall we now talk about something truly important…?”

Despite the situation, Ariasphil didn’t want to show her true feelings in front of her knight, so she tried her best to relax her expression.

“Sorry, but Leonardo, you’ll have to leave. This is a revelation that only the Reinhardt bloodline is allowed to hear.”

[How strict.]

Leonardo had no real objections. No matter how great his contributions had been, he wasn’t entitled to hear revelations meant for the Hero. That was an entirely separate matter. Even in his past life, he hadn’t heard the Hero’s revelation directly.

“I understand…”

“That’s not right.”

As Leonardo was about to leave, Ariasphil grabbed his sleeve, objecting. She gripped his sleeve so tightly it felt like she was pulling his entire arm.

“Doesn’t Leo have the right to hear this too?”

“…Excuse me?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events, Leonardo looked momentarily flustered. Seizing the opportunity, Ariasphil pulled him into a hug, wrapping her arms around his body.

“We’re practically family, aren’t we, Leo?”

At the same time, she shot a smug look at Lumine. It was clear she thought she had asserted her dominance as a woman, but in reality, Lumine wasn’t even female.

{Hmm~ It seems the Hero of this era is rather adorable.}

The angel commented with a disturbingly amused gaze, as though fully understanding the situation. It was so unpleasant that if Ariasphil had a spirit of vengeance, she would have wanted to crush that smug face immediately.

“You can’t seriously be treating a revelation like some kind of childish game…”

“No, Ariasphil makes a valid point.”

Chris, who had been listening nearby, supported Ariasphil’s argument.

“When the Holy Sword chose Ariasphil, it happened during her duel with Leonardo. That might suggest the revelation is related, don’t you think?”

It was a surprisingly logical argument coming from Chris. Even Leonardo, who had been flustered by Ariasphil’s actions, found it convincing.

“…What do you think, Priestess?”

“I think it’s fine. If it’s Sir Leonardo, there’s little risk of him revealing anything.”

With that, Leonardo sat down, not feeling too awkward about staying. In fact, he even thought that if the revelation had some connection to his memories after his return, it might prove helpful.

“Um… miss…?”

The only thing that made him feel awkward was Ariasphil clinging to his arm too tightly. At that moment, two of the family’s heads were present.

Family Head Gladio’s gaze was icy and sharp, and for some reason, Marquen was already checking the blade of his sword.

[Hey, want to hear something scary?]

{What is it?}

[They’re not even dating.]

{…They’re just like you.}

[Don’t compare me to that fool who doesn’t realize how lucky he is.]

Honestly, Leonardo wished both of them would just go away, whether it be to their coffins or the afterlife.

“Uh… miss…”

“Leo.”

Ariasphil’s hardened smile turned toward her knight, Leonardo.

“You seem to have gotten quite close with the Priestess. You’re on familiar terms with her now, huh?”

“…Excuse me?”

Amidst the overlapping conversations between the living and the dead, Ariasphil began to express some of her displeasure that had been building up.

“You’re already calling each other by nicknames?”

“…Nicknames?”

Now that she thought about it, maybe she had been. She had shortened his name to just “Leo,” but if one were to call that a nickname, it wouldn’t be entirely wrong.

“Well, it’s just easier to say.”

Clench

Without even the chance to question whether she had done something wrong, Ariasphil tightened her grip on Leo’s arm even more.

“Is that so? It’s just because it’s easier to say?”

“…Uh… well…”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

There was no need to add the unspoken thought that followed: You’re mine anyway. Given the circumstances, Ariasphil pushed aside her childish feelings and focused on listening to the important revelation from the esteemed Saint.

“…Then, I will now reveal the message.”

As the situation calmed down, Lumine began to convey the divine revelation she had received.

“Ariasphil Reinhardt, from this moment on, from the moment you drew the Holy Sword, you have been appointed as the Hero.”

As if resonating with the words of the divine message, the Holy Sword began to emit a faint light. It carried the same holy power that had left a wound on her chest.

“From now on, until you receive a direct revelation from the temple, you must undergo the training of a Hero.”

At this, Ariasphil’s expression hardened slightly, as though she was gripped by a growing sense of unease.

“Although your title as Hero cannot be publicly announced until then, both I, Lumine Angelus, as a candidate for sainthood, and the current Pope will serve as witnesses of the light and devote ourselves to aiding you.”

Hearing this, the members of the Reinhardt family all adopted serious expressions in their own ways.

“What exactly does the Hero’s training entail?” Gladio asked.

To clarify, Lumine explained concisely.

“You will learn to pray and use divine power as both a priest and a holy knight. You will also study the history and records of previous Heroes.”

“And… when will she be able to return?” Rios asked.

Lumine responded with a somewhat heavy expression.

“Until you receive the revelation through your training… you cannot return.”

“…Then how long will this training last?”

“…That… I cannot give a specific timeframe. According to the records of past priests and holy knights, it will take a minimum of 7 to 8 years.”

At this, Ariasphil’s face completely stiffened.

“…Is there any concept of visitation or communication?”

“There is no such thing. Are the descendants of Reinhardt taking the weight of being a Hero so lightly?”

The reprimand from the Holy Knight radiated such an oppressive aura that the entire Reinhardt family felt it—Leonardo included.

“Calm down, Charlian.”

“…My apologies, Priestess Lumine.”

Lumine, speaking in a tone full of gentle consideration, quickly eased the tension in the room. Even the overbearing aura from the Reinhardt heirs subsided.

“…It was unexpected for the temple as well. The Holy Sword was drawn before the revelation arrived, and due to the delay in receiving the message, we weren’t fully prepared ourselves.”

Lumine could somewhat understand the situation due to the presence of Leo, who had also returned, but when the revelation suddenly came, it had taken her by surprise. She had only managed to maintain her composure because of her position as a candidate for sainthood.

“But once a revelation has come, we cannot defy it. When the duty of a hero is bestowed, the only choice is to accept it…”

“…I don’t want to.”

Ariasphil stood up and spoke.

“I… don’t want that…!!”

“Wa…wait! Ari…!!”

With those words, Ariasphil ran out of the room. Everyone was shocked and immediately chased after her, but Leonardo remained seated calmly in his chair.

[Aren’t you going after her?]

When he thought back, it was always Leonardo who had found Arias whenever she disappeared, including during Silica’s birthday.

[So, you already knew, huh?]

At that time, she had already reached an age close to sainthood, received the Holy Sword through the proper procedures, and had taken on the title of Hero, so the symptoms were less severe. But for her younger self now, it would understandably be an overwhelming and heavy burden to accept.

[Are you going to convince her?]

<…I don’t know. Honestly, I’m not sure what’s best for Arias.>

In the future, when she became the Hero after obtaining the Holy Sword, Arias had died. However, if she abandoned the sword and fled, the world would inevitably face a crisis.

No one knew which path was truly the best.

That was the very reason he had returned.

* * *

Ariasphil was now in the stable behind the outer garden. The others probably mistook her as riding the horse that had run off, startled by the spirits, which would buy her some time.

“Sigh…”

“You made quite a scene, didn’t you?”

Startled, Ariasphil hastily wrapped herself in the straw like a blanket.

“…How did you…”

At her question, Leonardo let out a small laugh.

“…This reminds me of the past. It was the same on Lady Silica’s birthday, wasn’t it?”

“You mean the day you asked me to dance in a tuxedo, and it ended up turning into a sword fight?”

Was that how Ariasphil remembered that day? It wasn’t entirely wrong, so Leonardo chuckled.

“After that sword dance… it’s already been two years. Time flies quickly, doesn’t it?”

Though they were reminiscing, Arias’ feelings remained stifled and uncomfortable.

“…Are you here to convince me? To become a Hero and spend years aimlessly training with that saint woman in the temple?”

Leonardo scratched his head, a troubled expression on his face. Seeing him like this, Ariasphil’s frustration grew. She realized that even Leo was no different.

It wasn’t just because the training had no clear end, nor solely because of the burden of the Hero’s duty.

It was because the duel she fought to keep Leo by her side had instead driven her farther away from him, that her heart filled with frustration.

Even if it was the will of a god, this was too much.

“Where should I start explaining…”

Leo paused to gather his thoughts before finally speaking.

“First of all, Priest Lumine, who is a candidate for sainthood, is actually a man. He may have a misleading appearance, but he seems to dislike it when people make that assumption, so I’d suggest avoiding such misunderstandings.”

Arias was momentarily dumbfounded. She was so shocked that her mind went blank.

So all the jealousy, fantasies, and wariness she’d felt so far had been her own delusions. As her embarrassment overwhelmed her, her face flushed, making her forget her anger.

“And… to be honest, I’m not someone who can persuade you to take on the role of the Hero.”

Leonardo then revealed his own approach.

“So, if you really don’t want to become the Hero…”

What he took out resembled an old mirror, as if reflecting the past.

“…then let’s run away together. With me.”

The difference was that this escape wasn’t just a brief day of rebellion. It was a lifetime of fleeing together.