"Thank you, Lene."
"I... I worked so hard... for your sake, Lord Luka..."
Her voice trembled. Even through a vision blurred by tears, Lene was still trying to smile.
"Yeah. Thank you. Really."
I nodded as gently and kindly as I could. Then, I let out a soft breath.
"Alright. Shall we head back?"
"Eh?"
In the next instant, I scooped her up into my arms.
She was so light. Was Lene made of cotton?
"——!?"
Lene looked completely bewildered.
"L-Lord Luka!?"
It was a side-carry—no, a full-blown princess carry.
"Don't thrash around too much, okay?"
"I—I would never do such a thing!"
Thankfully, perhaps because I was brimming with magical power, strength was coursing through my body as well. It might have been partly because Lene was light, but I found myself capable of sprinting while carrying another person with ease.
Lene tightly gripped my clothes. She must have been so anxious. Honestly, it was insane for a girl her age to be fighting monsters in the first place.
My heart rate quickened. Come to think of it, I was unconsciously carrying a beautiful girl in my arms. I didn't hate it—in fact, I was quite happy about it—but the nervousness and everything else finally decided to catch up to me.
"Let's go."
With those words, I vanished into the flames once more.
The wind followed a moment later. The scenery blurred past. This felt incredible; I wished I could use this flame magic forever.
"W-What is this!?"
I tore through the swarms of magical beasts.
"Get out of the way," I muttered.
The moment the words left my lips—whoosh!
The magical beasts in my path were incinerated in an instant.
"Eh...?"
I didn't stop. Simply by moving forward, the path cleared itself. This overwhelming feeling of being peerless was the absolute best!
"Amazing..."
I was glad to hear Lene say that.
"It means I won't just be the one being protected forever."
I headed straight for the rooftops, kicking off the walls to leap through the air.
"Lord Luka..."
Whoa, her eyes are getting all watery. Lene-chwan is adorable (gross). But hey, this is my true power!
"So much..."
"It’s beautiful, isn't it? This flame."
Suddenly remembering something, I spoke up.
"Selena is at the Academy, right?"
"Eh? Y-Yes...!"
"Then it's fine."
I hadn't seen her at all while I was looking for Lene, so I’d been worried.
"The Hero Candidates are here, too, so the outside should be fine if we leave it to them."
Speaking of which, the time limit was almost up. What would happen if it ran out while I was moving at high speed? Would I just go splat?
You won't go splat... I'll overlook that part.
Thanks, Licia.
Lene narrowed her eyes slightly and tightened her grip on my arms.
"Hehe," she let out a small, soft laugh.
A few minutes later.
"I'm back."
I arrived at a corner of the Academy, right in front of the sickroom I had left earlier. I gently set her down.
"..."
A flicker of regret crossed my chest for just a moment.
"Lord Luka!"
The door swung open.
"Lene!"
Yuka and Elysia were there. Both of them were safe.
"Welcome back, Lene."
"I'm home," Lene replied calmly.
But her gaze did not leave me.
"For now, it's safe here," I said lightly.
There was a mature reliability to my voice that the usual Luka didn't possess. Elysia stared at me, wondering what that flame had been.
"The rest should be fine if we leave it to the Hero Candidates."
I wasn't straining myself. I said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Yuka and Elysia were speechless; they looked like they truly believed my words would become reality.
"Lord Luka," Lene called out softly.
"Hmm?"
I turned around, and she took a step closer.
"Thank you so much for saving me."
She bowed deeply. She seemed to hesitate for a moment before lifting her head, perhaps worried her face looked a bit too intense.
"I believed you would come."
She looked so happy it was almost surprising. Truly, she looked delighted.
"That you would come for me."
Those words fell quietly and heavily between us.
Inside the sickroom, the commotion outside felt impossibly distant. Nana wasn't there, I noticed.
"Anyway, we can take a breather here."
I was exhausted. Maybe I was out of shape?
"Lord Luka... Truly, that magic was..."
Yuka started to speak but stopped, as if she were hesitating to put her thoughts into words.
"I'll tell you about that in a bit," I said, waving my hand lightly. "Everyone is safe for now, and that's what matters, right?"
"Yes..."
She wasn't convinced, but she didn't pry. Elysia was also watching me quietly. Lene remained sitting on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on me.
"Lord Luka," she murmured.
"Yeah?"
"Will you stay here? Forever?"
It was a quiet, heavy question.
"Hmm? For now, at least."
I knew it was an ambiguous answer, but she smiled, seemingly satisfied with just that.
"Good."
Well, I guess that’s fine. Yuka watched the exchange with a somewhat complicated expression.
Now then... I turned my consciousness inward.
Licia—
What?
She responded immediately. As fast as ever.
What's with that tone? Ah, never mind. What was that earlier?
What was what?
I mean, everything. That firepower, the speed. I didn't think it was strange at the time, but isn't it incredible? Was I always able to do that?
Simply put—it's a state where your restrictions are removed.
Restrictions?
Something like the "shackles" that were placed upon you.
She said something outrageous so casually. Wait, was I the protagonist all along?
Originally, you were capable of that much.
I was? I don't remember doing that... wait, is that because those aren't all my memories?
Yes. It wasn't impossible for you. You used to do it. However—right now, you are in a "borrowed state."
Borrowed?
Yes. Her voice became slightly quieter. So, it won't last forever.
It won't? Is it up to your discretion, Licia?
Yes.
I see. Then, what happens when it runs out?
You'll go back to how you were. And I'll never lend it to you again for the rest of your life.
Whoa! By the way, is there a backlash?
There is some.
I see.
But... Her voice softened just a little. If you use it like you did just now, it won't be a problem.
I only remember using it haphazardly, though.
Even so. There was a strange nuance to her words. See for yourself.
She seemed to laugh playfully. I let out a sigh.
"Lord Luka?"
Yuka's voice brought me back.
"Hmm?"
"You look a bit pale."
"Ah, it's fine, it's fine. I was just thinking about something."
She didn't look convinced, but she didn't push the issue.
"Luka-kun, are you really alright?" Elysia asked.
"Yeah. Are you okay too, Elysia?"
"Yes, I am..."
"Then that's good. I was quite panicked."
Elysia seemed deeply relieved.
"Lord Luka," Lene called out softly.
"What is it?"
"Please don't leave me."
She looked at me with an unwavering gaze.
"Yeah. As much as I can."
Well, she was just in a life-threatening situation, so her anxiety was understandable.
"Yes," she nodded, satisfied.
In a little while, I’d have to go find Nana. Licia, you'll tell me everything then, won't you?
Yes.