Tendouin Miyabe, the Hero-role from eighty-eight generations before Kaito’s arrival... she was a woman whose life stood out as particularly tragic, even among the history of those who had filled that mantle.
Miyabe was the very first person to request immigration to Trinia, with the sole exception of the First Hero, Kujou Hikari. She was also a woman who shared a profound, unbreakable bond with Epsilon, one of the Five War Generals.
In terms of the timeline, Miyabe belonged to an era close to that of Noin—the age when Kujou Hikari lived. Technically, she belonged to the peerage—Japan’s equivalent of nobility. Or at least, she did on paper.
Miyabe was the child of a certain nobleman and his mistress. Rather than being born out of love or desire, she was a mistake of circumstance. Though she was officially recognized to preserve the family’s public image, she was treated as if she didn't exist. Her home environment was cold and barren.
The mother who gave birth to her eventually found another man and vanished, leaving Miyabe behind. From her earliest childhood, Miyabe lived with the crushing weight of being a burden.
Her only ally in that house was her grandmother, who was the only person to treat Miyabe with genuine affection. Miyabe felt a deep, abiding love for her, and it was her grandmother who taught her the naginata, martial arts, and various forms of etiquette. But when Miyabe was fifteen, her grandmother passed away, leaving her truly and utterly alone.
Living each day with a heart full of suppressed gloom, feeling as though she no longer had a place in the world, the Hero Summoning was a form of salvation for her.
Of course, she was bewildered when it first happened. She seriously wondered if she was being tricked by a fox spirit. However, as time passed, her heart settled. She accepted her role as the Hero-role and set out on her pilgrimage... and it was there that she met her destiny.
It happened during a festival in a city within the Hydra Kingdom. Miyabe, participating as the Hero-role, happened to meet Epsilon, who had come as a representative for the War King’s forces.
There was no dramatic catalyst for their friendship. They simply spoke, and as they did, Miyabe and Epsilon found they got along with a strange, natural ease.
It was as if their wavelengths matched perfectly. Simply talking to one another felt enjoyable and comfortable—a sensation Epsilon shared.
Driven by a strong interest in Miyabe, Epsilon accompanied her on the remainder of her pilgrimage, deepening their bond as they traveled to various regions. By the time of the Hero Festival, they had become so close that they considered one another irreplaceable.
"I see... So, Miyabe, you will not be returning to your original world?"
"Yes. I have no home to go back to over there. I haven't decided what I'll do here yet, but I have a certain aversion to the peerage, so I don't intend to accept a title. It seems I'll receive a lump sum of money as assistance, so I suppose I'll find a way to make a life for myself as a commoner."
"I see..."
Having no good memories of her days among the nobility, Miyabe felt a visceral rejection of the idea of becoming a noble again. She intended to live a quiet life in the city.
After hearing Miyabe’s words, Epsilon wore a thoughtful expression for a moment before speaking.
"In that case, why not come to my home?"
"Eh? To your home, Epsilon-sama?"
"Yes. I hold a reasonably high position as an executive among the subordinates of a King. I have a house that is far too large for one person to use alone."
"That is more than I could ever hope for... but are you certain it’s alright?"
"Of course. The lifespan of the Human Race is short... and I have finally encountered a friend with whom I am so compatible. I do not wish to waste any more time. This proposal is for my benefit as well."
For Epsilon, who had lived for tens of thousands of years, the human lifespan of less than a century was fleeting. If she let her guard down for even a moment, the years would slip through her fingers. Inviting Miyabe into her home was a way for Epsilon to ensure she could spend as much time as possible with her friend.
Miyabe accepted Epsilon’s proposal... and for the first time in her life, she found a place where she truly belonged.
Though she had some knowledge of martial arts and had learned magic under Epsilon’s guidance, she did not possess the strength required to join the War King’s subordinates—the most aggressive martial faction in the Demon Realm. Thus, Miyabe essentially took charge of the housework at Epsilon’s home, and the two began their life together.
The days she spent with Epsilon were filled with more happiness than she had ever known. She taught Epsilon, who had taken an interest in the naginata; she suggested Japanese-style clothing that would suit her; she cooked meals for them to share; and they enjoyed evening drinks together. Time moved so pleasantly that it felt as though the years were flying by.
And truly, time passed in the blink of an eye. Miyabe grew old... until eventually, she became bedridden, her life nearing its inevitable end.
"Ix-sama... thank you for everything. The days I spent with you... are my greatest treasure."
Miyabe had been granted permission to use Epsilon’s True Name, Ixnilva, and even call her by its nickname. Feeling the flame of her life flickering out, she whispered her final words of gratitude.
Epsilon offered her a soft, gentle smile in return.
"I am the one who should thank you. The time I spent with you was wonderful for me as well. I shall see you off into the beyond, and those memories will remain within me, never to be forgotten."
"Then... I am glad... Even if this body perishes... my soul will always be... with my beloved Ix-sama..."
With those final words, Epsilon quietly watched as Miyabe passed away. Epsilon had lived a very long time. Naturally, not all demons were ageless; in fact, those with set lifespans were the overwhelming majority.
Though they were long-lived compared to humans, the number of deaths Epsilon had witnessed was vast.
She did not normally lament the parting of death. The days spent remained in her heart as eternal memories, and so she saw them off with respect. Just as she had done so many times before, Epsilon saw Miyabe off.
At that moment, Epsilon could not have imagined what would soon happen to her.
Even after Miyabe was gone, Epsilon’s life didn't change significantly at first. The rhythm of her daily routine shifted slightly because she was alone, but that was all.
She returned to her duties as a subordinate of the War King, believing she had come to terms with the loss.
This continued until about six months after Miyabe’s death.
While in a harbor town on business, Epsilon bought some fish on a whim. She didn't actually need to eat; usually, she only ate snacks with her alcohol during banquets.
However, during the decades she had lived with Miyabe, the human woman had required meals. Since Miyabe had always made enough for Epsilon as well, it had become natural for her to eat every day.
That habit should have died with Miyabe. But seeing the fish for sale, she had thought, "Miyabe always liked grilled fish," and decided to buy some to cook at home.
"Hmph... even though it is only grilling, I cannot get it to turn the same beautiful color as hers. I suppose I truly am lacking in experience..."
Relying on her memories, she tried to mimic Miyabe’s technique, but as someone who almost never cooked, she couldn't get it quite right.
Still, it wasn't as if she had burnt it. Epsilon handled her chopsticks with practiced ease and brought a piece of the fish to her mouth.
"The taste is completely different as well... Cooking... is quite difficult."
There had been no single, dramatic realization; instead, it was as if water had been steadily filling a cup, drop by drop, until it finally overflowed. A single teardrop splashed onto her plate.
"Ah... That’s right... I... I loved her cooking."
As she murmured those words, the tears began to pour out. The house, which had no one left to welcome her home, suddenly felt impossibly vast and lonely.
In that moment, Epsilon finally realized just how much Miyabe had meant to her.
She had thought it would be the same as all the other deaths.
She had believed she could simply accept it as a memory and move on. But now that the reality was before her, the simple fact that she could never see Miyabe again made her feel as though she were sinking into a bottomless despair.
"I am... appallingly dull-witted. If she was so precious that her loss would break my heart like this... then why... why didn't I tell her while she was still alive?"
With a sensation as if a great hole had been hollowed out of her chest, regret washed over her—why hadn't she cherished their time together more? Epsilon sat alone in the empty house and wept for a long, long time.
And eventually, unable to endure the hollow days without her friend, Epsilon reached out her hand... toward the arts that were considered forbidden...
Machina: "Ah, it’s the story of My Child and Ixnilva."
???: "...Hm? You actually remember her name?"
Machina: "Oh, yes. You'll probably see why in the final part, but I had a little chat with her before My Beloved Child’s birthday party. I’d say she finally proved her worth, wouldn't you?"