I Am Not the Heroine

[Hey, Rui, what are you up to?]

I’m studying magic.

[Hmm… with whose mana?]

Of course, with my master’s mana… uh-oh.

[I told you not to rely on my mana too much. What will you do when you finally become independent?]

Well, maybe I won’t become independent… hehehe.

[Hey! Don’t say such nonsense. This place is a harsh environment for you to live in. So, you must leave here someday.]

………..

[So, until then, let’s find a way to supplement your naturally lacking mana.]

Yes, my master.

…

One day, I recalled a conversation I had with my master.

She found me exhausted, struggling through a mountain with snowstorms and took me to her home.

I asked her to become my magic teacher, but she refused.

Because I, or rather, this body, was born with far too little mana to use magic.

But I pouted, and eventually, I became her disciple.

…

[Rui, what are you doing today? You look a mess.]

Ugh, haha. I’m just trying to solve the assignment my master gave me.

[What about that book…? I distinctly remember locking it in a vault.]

I, um, borrowed it. Ow.

[You little rascal. Why did you need that book?]

I was looking into the types of mana. If there are multiple types, maybe I can grasp one.

[Hmm, interesting hypothesis. So where did you get to with your research?]

Right here, I was looking into the mana of the moon next, after elemental mana.

[Most of the moon’s mana is used by witches. You probably won’t be able to accept it, considering you don’t even know how to.]

But I could be a witch!

[…You have a face that suits a girl, but not a witch.]

Just you wait.

[Alright.]

…

My master helped me, someone who wanted to learn magic, and as a result, I found one type of mana.

Star mana.

Mana that might be the purest, flying from the other side of the universe.

Though I couldn’t fill my body with it, the possibility was there.

…

[Rui. Star mana is truly rare.]

Rarer than moon mana or sun mana?

[Yes. Most of it melts down from high in the sky. So, star mana reaching the ground is almost like a handful.]

Hmm. Then, how about gathering mana from the sky?

[Uh…?]

First, I send a magical tool up using the star mana on the ground, and then I have it powered by the mana in the sky.

[Wow, that’s a thought I’ve never entertained.]

Of course, it’s inspired by satellites.

[Satellites…? Anyway, if you execute that plan, remember one thing. You won’t be able to use regular magic.]

Regular magic?

[The magic commonly used by battle mages. Just like how overly pure water can’t nurture plants.]

That’s quite an unusual example. But I understand. That’s fine.

[Is that so? Then let’s make it together. I don’t want to see my pupil whining about not being able to cast magic.]

I never whined…

…

In the end, I successfully launched a pseudo-satellite into the sky, named the Ultimate Star-spear.

It was my largest project since possessed, so it’s only natural I collapsed for a few days.

Originally, I had planned to design it solely to store star mana and send it to me, but I added offensive capabilities at my master’s suggestion.

However, because the mana used by the spear had to be refilled, I couldn’t unleash it recklessly.

Anyway, thanks to the spear, I was able to dive into magical research more seriously, and soon it was time for me to leave my master’s “nest.”

…

[So it’s the day you go.]

Yes. Master.

[When I first saw you, you were a stubborn little brat, but you seem a bit calmer now that you’ve learned magic. I’m relieved.]

That’s right. I might even be calmer than you, Master.

[Forget that statement, you rascal.]

………

[…Rui, take this.]

What is it?

[It’s the project you should aim for and the last gift from your master to her departing disciple.]

It’s a robe. Thank you.

[Yes. And… if you ever want to come over, feel free to visit. You’re always welcome.]

Yes. Thank you.

…

“…Master.”

Slowly, I opened my eyes. A strange yet familiar ceiling came into view.

It was the ceiling of the room in Count Alfareth’s household where I had stayed.

‘Clearly…’

The last thing I remember is the fifty fortresses soaring up into the sky.

What happened afterward?

‘…But I must have won, right?’

If not, I wouldn’t be able to lie here so peacefully.

My body feels heavy, suggesting I exhausted all my mana and experienced a state of collapse.

“I need to call someone… huh?”

The moment I slowly attempted to get up and head outside, I realized something was holding my right hand.

Turning my head naturally to the right, I noticed someone was sitting in a chair, sleeping with their head down.

“…Hero?”

It was the Hero.

*

Could it be that he was taking care of me?

Upon closer inspection, it didn’t seem like it.

The neatly folded wet towel was undoubtedly the handiwork of the maid assigned to me.

So that meant he must have just come to visit for a short while.

‘But why?’

He had fallen asleep here, holding my hand, right?

For fear of waking him, I didn’t pull my hand away.

After a series of battles, he must be quite exhausted as well.

Otherwise, there’s no way he’d fall asleep in such an uncomfortable position.

‘…Warm.’

Or was it cool?

Whatever it was, his hands didn’t feel rough, characteristic of someone who wielded a sword.

They were slightly soft and wouldn’t feel uncomfortable even if held for a while.

In fact, I had no idea when exactly the Hero had started holding my hand, but if he fell asleep without letting go, it must have been a while.

‘…Oh right, I entrusted the spear to the Hero while I launched it.’

The Ultimate Star-spear was something I hadn’t revealed to any magic-related group within the Empire.

So, considering the confusion and heavy firepower I was about to face, I asked the Hero to take care of it.

And consuming all the star mana contained in the Ultimate Star-spear, he brought down the fortress.

As the mana connecting me to the spear swiftly vanished, I too collapsed from mana exhaustion.

‘We did it.’

In truth, I wouldn’t have wanted to use the spear’s bombardment feature if I could help it.

Because doing so would cause me to faint, and I wouldn’t be able to use magic until I had sufficiently recovered.

Yet, I made use of it due to a plot point not present in the original story.

‘The Fortress of Twilight wasn’t the end.’

In the original, the event proceeded with Baal, unable to accept death, engulfing the area in a lake of blood.

But this time, instead of withdrawing, I focused my power on summoning other fortresses that have existed in the Demon Realm for a few hours prior.

‘So that’s why the second blood vessel seemed to be missing.’

Feeling a touch muddled, I ultimately gave up on thinking.

After all, the matter of victory belonged solely to us.

‘And if all those fortresses have been obliterated, it would’ve dealt a tremendous blow.’

The Demon King crossing over this world, contrasting with the time when the Hero party crossed over to the Demon Realm.

Vampires appeared in both those incidents.

But now, they could be considered non-existent.

All thanks to the Hero party believing in me.

Rustle.

Leaning over, I gently touched the Hero’s hair.

Was his hair always curly, or did it just seem that way right now?

The softness of his hair tickled my fingers.

Sounds of the mansion’s servants were coming from beyond the window, while there was no noise at the door.

Just me and the Hero in this quiet room.

I quietly observed the sleeping Hero.

Thump.

“…?”

Is there a side effect of arrhythmia due to mana exhaustion?

Hmm, I can’t seem to remember anything like that from the research material I’ve seen.

If that’s the case, it could mean I’ve discovered a new symptom worth reporting to academia.

Thump.

Imagining the new fame I could gain, my heart began to race again.

‘Forgive me for the three of you…’

If I’ve obliterated all the fortresses, can’t I indulge myself just a little bit?

I returned my gaze to the Hero, and finally, a few minutes later, he awakened.

“Ugh… Rui…?”

“Yes, Hero.”

“Uh? You’re awake? Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Oh, good. Um, if there’s anything you need help with or anything, just let me know. And… ”

His gaze fell downwards.

He noticed our hands clasped together and quickly tried to pull away.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“Hero.”

But I held his hand instead and looked into his eyes.

“Thank you.”

“…Huh?”

“Thank you for believing in me. And for saving me.”

“…”

“Now that I think about it, it seems a bit late to say it, but thank you for accepting me into the Hero party.”

And I expressed emotions of gratitude I had unknowingly concealed until now.

The reason I said it now was simple.

I probably wouldn’t have been able to convey it if not for this somewhat emotional state after a grand battle.

“…I’m grateful to you as well.”

The Hero replied to me with a serious expression.

I smiled lightly at him.

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