POV: Karina

 

“Jeez, Father and Sister are being tricked!”

How many times have I told them?

Yet my words don’t seem to have reached anyone--and now, those vulgar ruffians are strutting around the castle like they own it.

One day, when I was avoiding that pretend ‘hero’ and his group, I felt like something was calling to me. I’ve strayed to an old, old collapsed building in the back corner of the Bailey, hidden deep in the little forest.

It’s an old building that has been in this castle since before the destruction 20 years ago.

My mother, sister and I arrived in this city around 16 years ago, we’ve never left even once since then. The times when uncle Toruma came to play during my childhood was my favourite times, times when I wasn’t bored.

There is a small forest and a pond inside the Bailey, maybe to show the power of the previous owner, but anyway I don’t really feel locked up.

I’ve searched all through the castle and the bailey, but this is the first time that I have come here. Usually a maid will not let me inside, saying that it’s dangerous.

I wonder if it’s because I’ve entered an unfamiliar place, but I think that the floating dust which is lit by the sunlight is beautiful, and I feel pleasant. It seems that I would be coughing violently if I didn’t cover my mouth with a handkerchief before entering.

There’s a throne in this room, I wonder if it was an audience hall of the previous Marquis. The way that the light spills into the room through the crumbling roof creates the illusion that this room is a sacred place.

And then, in this room--I meet my destiny.

***

<O girl, do you desire power?>

“Yes.” I instinctively answered the words that suddenly came from the direction of the throne.

Even though it wasn’t a conscious response, I don’t have any regrets for the rash decision that I’ve made this time.

<Very well! Then, I will give it to you!>

Silver light that originates from the throne, wraps around me. It feels like it smoothly coils around my hair and body; feeling the strange light moving around my body tickled--

Elegant bracelets, that appear similar to knitted silver thread, appeared on my wrists. When I feel something odd on my ankles, I look down I see that similar anklets have appeared as well.

<O girl, the contract has been established. Wisdom, bravery, and power are yours to take.>

“Where are you? In addition, would you kindly tell me what these accessories are?” Even though I can hear him close by, I can’t see him. I desperately try to keep myself calm and talk to the invisible gentleman.

<There is a large mirror behind that curtain. You should see there.>

I follow the voice’s instructions and go to the mirror. A tiara has appeared on my head, I can’t feel it though. It seems so natural, like it’s a part of me.

<The accessories on your head, wrists and feet are all me. I ran alongside my master to a battleground, with a desire for the power to take down my enemy. The wish was granted, but at the cost of me gaining this body in return--my master left me here with the mission to ‘help a person who wishes to crush unreasonable power.’>

“Oh my, how wonderful. What a noble person.” I wonder who the master of this tiara was. Beside from fairy tales, I have never seen a talking Magic Tool.

“Tiara, is it fine to call you that?”

<My previous master called me Raka. It was a name associated with a lesser-known god of wind that appeared in some mythologies where master came from. If you don’t have any name you want to particularly use, I’d prefer if you called me ‘Raka’.>

“I understand, Raka. My name is Karina.” I paused, “Then, Raka. I want to borrow your power.”

<It is inevitable. I will assist you whether the opponent is a hero or a Demon Lord.>

“Oh my, how reliable. The opponent is a hero.”

When Raka talks, the tiara glows blue. But the blue glow has stopped, is he at a loss for words?

“Is there anything wrong?”

<No, it’s just that, I’m just thinking that my master this time if firm--it’s excellent. Particularly, master>

“It’s Karina.” I interrupt him, I would prefer it if he calls me by name.

<Mhm, Karina?>

“Yes?”

<Since the opponent is a hero, do you have any experience with Magic or swordsmanship?>

“No, I’m good at embroidery and poems, but I leave the fighting to the knights.”

<Mhm, is that how it is? My previous master was a Hero.>

“What’s their name?!”

Oops, I have done something shameful--I involuntarily stumbled and bumped against the mirror. This is something that I got from father, a fascination with heroes. He’s been talking about heroes almost obsessively since I was small, so I also gained an interest in heroes.

<I’m sorry, I cannot remember trivial things like their name or appearance. Wielding a Holy Sword, they cut down thousands of Demons, they had incredible swordsmanship skills. Even though they couldn’t use Magic, they could cut right through the Demon Lord’s Magic and subjugate it. They were an absurd existence.>

“That’s right, heroes have to be like that!” I clench my fists. A hero has to be strong beyond common sense, if not, he’s not a hero.

That self-proclaimed hero who has gained both father and sister’s favour could only barely win against a weak knight, he’s just a small fry.

As proof of his weakness, he always avoids fighting against the strongest knight in the castle, sir Zotor.

<Karina, it’s painful to say, but I can only reinforce power that you already have. I, myself, have the power to read minds and use simple Magic Arts. But, I need to use my master’s Magic Power to do so.>

“Then, do I have to remain unable to do anything?”

<Right, you’ll be able to win against average knights, and I can increase your physical capabilities to the point where you can jump across roofs. If the opponents are the like of thieves, then you can obliterate them as long as you have the Magic Power.>

“Oh my, that’s wonderful.”

It’s wonderful--like the chivalrous phantom thief, Sharu.

<However, that’s if the opponent is normal.>

Hearing Raka’s following words, my heart dropped.

“Is it no good?”

<Even if I could increase my master’s power by one hundredfold, if my master’s power is 1, it would only reach 100. It’s appropriate to call the existence known as a ‘hero’ highly unreasonable.>

“Didn’t your previous master fight against that unreasonable power?”

Raka’s blue light is flickering, and then he speaks as though he just had a breakthrough, <It is so. To be admonished by a baby, this is a good day.>

“My, I’m an adult.” I feel a bit shocked by my words.

***

“That man is the hero.”

<Hmm, are you sure?>

“Yes.” I somehow feel the blue light emitted by Raka start flashing.

His next words make shock shoot through me.

<That is an impostor.>

Even though I was insisting it, I might have had doubts somewhere in my heart. Then, why does his sword let out a blue light, like a Holy Sword?

I was just about to leave my hiding place to convict him, but Raka’s next words stopped me.

<Wait, Karina, who is the man beside that fake hero?>

“Are you talking about the Consul?”

<That man is a Demon. He’s most likely many times stronger than the fake hero--we cannot win.>

N-No way!

I was shocked to learn that the self-proclaimed hero is an impostor--but it’s even more terrible to hear that a Demon has been acting as the Consul.

Demons are existences that have to be attacked by an entire army--only a handful of individuals can win against a Demon, one of which is the real hero.

“R-Raka. W-What should we do?”

<Please calm down, Karina. If my last memory is correct, this is the territory of Marquis Muno, right?>

“Today it’s Baron, but yes, you’re right.”

<Then, there should be a community of Wood Giants in the depths of the nearby forest. If you’re with me, we could get their assistance. However, I can’t approve of a woman going deep into the forest alone.>

I haven’t left the castle, and the thought makes me nervous--but a real hero wouldn’t hesitate.

“Could the Giants win against the Demon?”

<Hmm, they’re not as strong as the hero, but they shouldn’t lag too far behind a common Demon.>

“Then, let’s go!”

<It’s reassuring to see you make such a prompt decision. You could very well be a great supporter of the hero.>

I tried to remain as calm as possible, even though my heart is jumping in joy from Raka’s words--I head towards the forest.