Lucas, who had stayed perfectly composed the entire fight, finally faltered.
His mouth fell open. A stunned "Huh…?" slipped out.
He stared at the fading magical residue scattered across the wasteland like he genuinely couldn't comprehend what just happened.
What I did was simple.
I read every single one of his spells the moment he cast them, copied the exact formula—same type, same power—and fired it right back.
That's all.
"…What did you do, D-rank?"
Lucas's voice shook slightly as he glanced at the dissipating mana in the air, then locked eyes with me. Murderous intent radiated from him.
"I just countered with the same magic you used," I said flatly.
"That's obvious when you see it."
He clenched his jaw. "I've heard rumors you could match someone's spells without limit on simultaneous casting. But this…?"
"No rumors. I can do exactly the same thing."
I shrugged. "I memorized every spell you just threw. I trained hard for simultaneous deployment too."
It's true.
Back when I was grinding my magic skills, I focused heavily on versatility. I can use almost every type of magic out there. The few I'm bad at… well, I can still force them if I have to.
Why did I grind magic so hard?
Simple.
It lets me fight without moving my body much.
Swordsmanship? Martial arts? Too much effort. If I can solve everything by standing still and throwing spells, I'm happy. Honestly, my dream is to make money while napping.
"…You're not even a hero," Lucas growled. "Just a D-rank nobody. There's no way you should have that kind of power."
"It's fine. I worked really hard too."
I gave him a lazy grin. "Weight training and stuff."
"Are you mocking me?"
Blue veins bulged on his forehead. His glare could've killed a lesser man.
"I'm completely serious."
I sighed. "Anyway, this is pointless. Can you just give up already? I'm tired from moving my body so much."
Seriously.
I've been exhausted since morning.
Dragged here against my will, chased around by bunny-hopping idiots, played endless hellish tag with Magikos Mia… I've been running nonstop. My mental battery is at zero.
All I want is to collapse into bed for the next seventy years.
Maybe Lucas sensed my genuine exhaustion.
He slowly drew his holy sword again… wait, drew it?
"…Fine. Let's end this."
His form warped and vanished.
I sighed.
Again?
I poured Magical power which surged into my legs making my body move.
"Huh?!"
"I told you—it's useless."
In one step I closed the distance and slammed my fist into the empty space behind him—right into his real back.
Lucas flew forward, crashing hard into the dirt. He coughed violently, clearly stunned.
I explained anyway, because why not.
"Counter to "Real and False Illusion" is simple. Hit the caster before they can swap illusion and reality."
Lucas scrambled up and tried again—swapping instantly.
"Same thing works even after the swap."
I appeared beside the new position and drove my knee into his stomach.
"Punch the real body that just switched in. And look at that. Illusions vanish."
He soared into the air, clutching his gut.
That one definitely hit the solar plexus.
He's using body strengthening, sure—but I poured even more magic into that punch. It's probably doing direct internal damage.
In other words: that hurt like hell.
He bounced across the ground five times before managing to catch himself on all fours, coughing blood.
"How…?" he rasped. "How do you distinguish the real one among countless illusions…?"
"Easy. Keep "Detection" running constantly over the entire area. Track the mana flow. The difference between illusion and real body is tiny, but it's there. Pinpoint the real one."
It's tedious to maintain, yeah.
Nerve-wracking too.
But doable.
Lucas said nothing.
Instead, he raised the holy sword toward me.
The crimson blade shimmered… then changed.
The flames vanished. The long sword shrank, silver light replacing red, until it became a sleek dagger.
Eclipse Dagger—Kaldopia.
…Okay. I'm starting to see the pattern.
When he used the base "Real and False Illusion", the sword stayed in its original form.
That means there are conditions—steps—for drawing out each hero's power.
And he can't use multiple abilities at once. He hasn't tried yet, probably because he can't.
In that case…
He's got openings.
I released the magical power I'd been kneading in my right hand.
A pulse of silver light shot forward and erased the aura surrounding him.
The Eclipse effect vanished instantly.
"…How do you know how to counter Kaldopia?"
Lucas asked, voice low and calm.
I shrugged. "Doesn't matter."
Without waiting, he cycled through abilities—Sound, Control, Strength…
Each time, I countered before he could finish.
All of them.
Lucas's face twisted into pure bitterness.
"…Why? Why doesn't my power work against a D-rank who doesn't even have a hero's blessing?"
"It's not your power," I said simply. "And sorry, but no matter what you pull out, I won't lose to you."
He can draw on the power of past holy swords, sure.
But every holy sword has its own will.
It's not something you can just borrow and wield perfectly.
The copies he makes?
Imitations.
Weaker than the originals. Still strong… but nowhere near the real thing.
And me?
I once dreamed of becoming a hero myself.
I read the Holy Seal Encyclopedia until the pages tore.
I snuck into the Magic Library and devoured classified records (without permission, obviously).
I know every past hero's abilities inside out. Why, you might ask? Well, what if the demon lord could imitate and siphon abilities? I had to be ready for anything.
A holy sword's power changes slightly with each new owner, sure.
Even the same "Illusion" ability might work differently depending on who holds it.
The current hero's powers are still a mystery.
But past heroes?
I've got counters memorized for every single one.
No way I lose.
"Fuuuah…"
I yawned hugely. "Anyway, I win. If you don't want to lose a humiliating defeat, surrender already."
I stretched.
"I'm tired. After this I'm going back to the inn for at least fifty hours of sleep. Alone. Separate from Rafine and the others."
Lucas finally stopped moving.
He lifted his head and glared at me with something like resentment.
"…Tell me. Why are you content staying a D-rank? You have the power to become anything. Yet you choose to stay at the bottom."
Reason…?
Why is he asking that now?
"Not a big reason," I said, scratching my head. "I just didn't feel like climbing the ranks. Too much hassle. And besides, I can't become 'anything.' Case in point—I never became a hero."
Honestly?
I'm glad I didn't.
Back during training, I used to stand in empty fields every day, smiling like an idiot and whispering to the sky:
"It's okay. Come to me. I'll be the kindest hero ever. Come on, holy sword… come to me…"
I seriously thought the moment the holy seal appeared, I'd be set for life.
Now?
I'm relieved it never came.
If it ever does show up in the future, I'll spend the rest of my life destroying it. No exceptions.
"…Then what is the point of your power?" Lucas asked coldly.
"What's the point?"
I tilted my head. "Hmm…"
I got it to become a hero.
But that dream died a long time ago.
I never really thought about any other reason.
"…For myself, I guess."
The moment the words left my mouth, the air froze.
After a long silence, Lucas started laughing—low, bitter chuckles.
"…I see. What a ridiculous answer. Very fitting for a D-rank adventurer with no mission, no role."
He stopped laughing. His eyes turned ice-cold.
"For yourself? How nice. Living completely free, doing whatever you want, no one allowed to complain. Must be fun." He continued.
"Yeah, you'd think so."
I shrugged. "But lately it's falling apart. Mostly because of the people around me."
Mainly Reti. Eve. Rafine. Rafine. And, uh… if I didn't mention her yet, Rafine.
Lucas snorted. "That's irony for you. The strong have an obligation to protect the weak. You simply abandoned that duty."
"…Huh?"
What is this guy even talking about?
"I use my power for myself. What's wrong with that? It's my life. I do what I want. No one gets to complain. I move how I want. I choose my own path."
Why should I be lectured about "obligation" and "duty" by this guy?
I hate those words.
I'm just a normal adventurer who loves freedom and equality.
Anyone who gets in my way—strong, weak, man, woman—gets punched equally.
Lucas sniffed in disdain.
"…I surrender, D-rank."
He raised both hands.
The "Battlefield" dissolved. The wasteland faded. We were back in the real arena.
"I'll tell the officials to grant you entry permission," Lucas said. "You don't have to stick with the black-haired woman or the white mage. Go wherever you want—Reconstruction Zone, Special Zone, doesn't matter."
He turned to leave.
"Hey—wait."
I called after him.
"You said you'd tell me. I still haven't heard."
I fought this whole time for one answer.
What did you do to Reti?
"Ah… right."
Lucas stopped like he'd genuinely forgotten.
He turned back.
I focused magic into my eyes, reading the flow of mana around his body.
If he lies—even slightly—the mana will waver. I'll know instantly.
And if he lies… I'll beat him senseless.
But what came out of his mouth was the complete opposite of what I expected.
"I never harmed her. Not once."
"…What?"
No fluctuation.
He wasn't lying.
…Then why is Reti so terrified of him? None of this makes sense.
"I've met her several times—hero summons and such. But I've never laid a hand on her. I simply can't stand her attitude, her ideology, her personality. That's all."
"Then why the hell is she scared of you?!"
"No idea. Ask her yourself."
Lucas brushed me off, then touched his chin thoughtfully.
"…Although… perhaps she doesn't want that fact known. Especially not to you. It would be inconvenient."
"Huh?"
Inconvenient for me to know?
Reti, who hides nothing?
"What's that supposed to mean? Tell me."
"Classified. Only a handful of heroes know. If you want answers, ask her directly. Or the Hero Church. Though I doubt the Church will tell you."
I pressed.
He wouldn't budge.
"Why do you care so much?" he asked. "She's not family. Why does it matter?"
"She doesn't matter. I'm just… curious."
Truthfully?
I was the one dragged into this mess against my will.
Reti's past, her secrets—none of it should concern me.
But it's bugging me. Badly.
Lucas made a thoughtful sound.
After a moment, he looked away and started walking toward the arena exit.
I tried to follow.
"Hey—come on, just tell me a little—"
He didn't even glance back.
Then, as he passed me, he stopped.
"…One piece of advice."
He didn't turn around.
His voice was flat, emotionless.
"I don't know how you feel about Reti. I don't care why you're so fixated. It's none of my business."
A pause.
"But if you actually care about her…"
His next words were ice.
"Make her quit being a hero. Right now."