第１３２掘：彼女にとっての勇者 (Part1)
**Dungeon 132: The Hero for Her**
Side: Ria
Perhaps this is what people call fate.
The reason why I, broken by the war, still continue to exist.
I think I have finally found the answer.
The legendary Hero who will lead the world to peace.
I have met such a person.
A man of rare character who is kind to someone like me—who can barely even speak—striving to save so many, and now even attempting to save the Demon Lord.
Yet, he is no mere fool; he is constantly thinking of ways to minimize the suffering of others.
For some reason, his wives call that Hero a "Dungeon Master."
But I think otherwise.
The essence of that man is surely that of a Hero.
He always wears a different mask for the sake of someone else.
Yes, he is different from those fly-by-night heroes.
He is the true Hero.
I wish there were a day when I could hear his name.
Never since the day I was broken have I regretted so much that his name has faded from my memory.
"There."
"Gah!?"
With a high-pitched ring, my sword falls from my hand.
"Ria, you were lost in thought, weren't you?"
"I'm... sorry."
"Well, it has only been a few days. I understand wanting to try various things, but you must not let your thoughts slow your movements during combat. Especially when facing a superior opponent."
"Yes."
I am currently practicing swordsmanship with Seraria-sama.
Naturally, I have heard her name before.
The War Goddess of Roschur, and now the Queen of Weed and his primary wife.
I am envious.
But she possesses the beauty, strength, and will to match that, making her a woman truly worthy of standing by his side.
"…I know you are trying hard, Ria. However, I also think it is too soon. As my husband said, perhaps I should remove you from the front lines."
I froze at Seraria-sama’s casual remark.
"No!! I am his attendant!!"
That’s right.
He is my light.
No, he is the hope for everyone living in this land.
He must not be harmed, not even by a fraction.
If he were to be killed, even by a one-in-a-billion chance, the world would surely collapse.
I pick up my fallen sword and take my stance again.
Seeing this, Seraria-sama’s eyes widen in surprise; then, she smiles happily and raises her own sword once more.
"I admire that spirit. But, Ria, what is it you see in my husband? To be honest, the figure he shows you is mostly pathetic. He is just a stubborn man who refuses to act on his own. Where is the reason for you to work so hard?"
As Seraria-sama says this, she unleashes a sharp, flowing sequence of strikes.
I desperately parry them.
"He is…! Certainly…! A normal person!! But!!"
That is exactly why it has meaning.
Because he fell to the status of a slave, because he is a normal person, he understands down to his bones how precious this time is.
It is not that you, a noble, are bad.
But there is a clear difference between him and you.
"…Do you have it?"
"Have what?"
My voice is buried beneath the intensity of our clashing blades.
"Seraria-sama, have you ever looked at things from the same perspective as the other person—no, from a perspective even lower than theirs!!"
"Ria, your tone—!?"
Seraria-sama is surprised, but I have no leisure to heed that.
All my nerves are focused on pushing back her assault.
I simply let the words spill out as they come.
"At school, he bends his knees to speak at the same eye level as the students!! At work, he brings coffee to the staff's desks and talks about work while drinking with them!! Can you do that!!"
"Gah!?"
Yes, no matter how you look at him, he is just a normal person.
An ordinary man.
This was the warmth I had felt ever since I met him.
He is no different from me.
No, he is the form I had before I was broken.
And he maintains that while holding his current position.
I cannot even imagine how much hardship that entails.
"You must have told him that too, didn't you? That it wasn't the way a noble should behave, that it wasn't how someone in a position of power should act!!"
Seraria-sama’s eyes waver in shock.
"That way is fine just as it is!! Because no one else can imitate that way of life, he reached that point while remaining just a normal person!! That is why he is a Hero!! No matter what anyone says, he is a Hero of the common people, no different from anyone else!!"
With those words, I unleash a strike that sends Seraria-sama’s sword flying.
"Haa… haa…"
This is bad; I’m out of breath from talking too much.
While I catch my breath, Seraria-sama picks up her sword and turns to me with a happy expression.
"I see. He is certainly worthy of being called a Hero. But it isn't because of a legendary sword, or skills, or strength. Yet, there are many who adore him. Myself included."
Seraria-sama gazes at her own sword.
Though it is for training, the blade is polished until it shines like a mirror.
"That's right. I fell for him precisely because he is who he is. Even though he has no air of royalty, he walks far ahead of us. The root of that, as you say, Ria, is likely because he is an ordinary person. Ah, I see. You mentioned it before, didn't you? That nobles, if you trace their origins, were just ordinary people. That is why it was a place we, who have never known the life of a commoner, could never reach."
Seraria-sama speaks of her memories with him as if reminiscing.
It’s infuriating.
"I must thank you, Ria. Now I can love my husband even more. But…"
Suddenly, Seraria-sama appears right in front of me.
I instinctively raise my sword, but I am blown away regardless.
"It is a bit vexing to have a young girl teach me the good points of my husband."
What is this? You blew me away for a reason like that!?
"Come to think of it, I believe we haven't shared a bath together recently!!"
*Clang!* With a loud sound, my body is sent flying again.
"That’s right!! I am his attendant!! I am with him all the time!! And besides, you—even when I’m huddled under my blankets, desperately covering my ears and pretending not to hear, you two are far too energetic every single night!!"
I regain my footing and vent my recent frustrations at Seraria-sama.
"Oh my, we are a married couple. Isn't that natural?"
"Ughhh!! Do you have any idea what it’s like for me to have to endure that!!"
Saying this, our blades lock in a fierce struggle.