I'm Not the Heroine-Chapter 83

Aswell was already aware of his feelings, but he lacked the courage to express them to her. Perhaps it was because of his nature, always thinking of others first.

Her heart, the heart of someone who could give everything for him, was incredibly important to Aswell.

That’s why, without certainty, he simply reacted sensitively to her actions and words.

Then, when she had offered to comfort him in Wintergard and brought him to the festival, he started to realize something.

‘Maybe... Louis...’

And that realization came far too late.

[If you don’t want to, turn your head away.]

At that moment, as he slowly approached, he saw her face, clearly flustered.

Even her flustered expression seemed cute, and in that instant, he realized.

She had slowly closed her eyes.

And so, Aswell was able to summon even more courage and, at last, made it happen.

His first kiss.

He had successfully kissed the person who had given him his first kiss on the cheek. He was so overjoyed that what could have been an awkward action came out naturally.

[Hmph...]

Rustle.

Her small hand slowly drew Aswell’s waist closer.

Her shy yet proactive actions brought them even closer, and they continued the kiss.

After a time that felt both short and like an eternity, their lips parted.

In that moment, seeing her height slightly reduced, he realized she must have been standing on tiptoe.

It must have been difficult for her to stand on tiptoe.

Aswell immediately became concerned about her.

[...Let’s go.]

Then she said, suggesting they return to the inn.

Although Aswell wanted to talk to her about a thousand things after that, when he saw her face flushed bright red, he gave up.

Instead, he couldn’t let go of her hand, so he firmly grabbed it.

Fortunately, she didn’t resist this time either.

They reached the inn and headed to the double room they had initially planned for. They lay down on the bed.

‘What will happen from now on?’

Thump. Thump.

His heart pounded wildly, as though he had sprinted at full speed.

Today, would it go beyond just the first kiss, stepping into even more intimate territory?

Or would they take things slow, confirming their feelings and solidifying their bond even further?

[...Good night, Aswell.]

[Yeah, Louis. You too.]

But neither of those scenarios happened.

After holding her hand with a farewell, a sudden wave of sleep overcame him.

‘...Louis.’

Aswell felt troubled that he hadn’t been able to express his gratitude or his feelings more actively, but he couldn’t fight off the sleep.

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In the end, Aswell felt his consciousness quickly being sucked into the darkness.

.

.

.

"....Huh?"

And when he woke up, he found himself in a vast plain.

***

The golden fields swayed in the wind, and the distant mountains sang as clouds clung to them. The river broke the sunlight, rushing forward with great strength, and the sea below the cliff in the distance was stained with white foam from the waves.

"This place…"

It was an unfamiliar landscape.

Over the past two years, Aswell had traveled not only across the Empire but also to other kingdoms like the Great Forest, yet he had never encountered such a scene.

It was incredibly peaceful.

Even the daily life of the anniversary festival they had just enjoyed together seemed like mere ‘rest’ in the face of this scenery.

Aswell had been gazing down at his hand, which was being tickled by reeds, when he noticed something strange.

"This isn’t my armor..."

And the sword at his waist, the Holy Sword, was also different from his own.

It was a heavier armor and a Holy Sword engraved with intricate patterns.

"Hero!!"

"What…"

At that moment, someone called him, and Aswell looked ahead. In the golden fields in the distance, five figures waved toward him.

They were not members of his party.

When Aswell realized this, his consciousness once again swam into the darkness.

Boom...

There was a sound, as if his entire consciousness was vibrating, and a new landscape appeared.

This time, it was a city.

The city’s walls and buildings were built in unfamiliar styles, ones Aswell had never seen before.

In the distance, loud cheers echoed from the city, and people were milling about along the roads.

Fireworks erupted, and flower petals fluttered in the air.

It almost felt like the anniversary festival of Count Yord.

However, the scale of this city was comparable to the Imperial Capital, and Aswell felt a sense of awe toward it.

When he looked down again, he saw the changed armor and Holy Sword.

The armor was lighter, and the sword now bore simple engravings.

"Hero…!"

This time, the voice came from behind.

Aswell turned his head and saw that the same five people were there.

Focusing his consciousness, Aswell realized they were all women.

And then, more darkness.

A short while later, another landscape appeared before him.

This time, Aswell was standing at the top of a mountain. The clouds below were so distant they looked like the earth.

Looking down, he saw armor made of what looked like animal hide and a sword resembling the teeth of some beast.

"Hero."

Hearing the voice from the right, Aswell turned his head to find the five women standing before him.

Focusing once again, he saw that each of them had different appearances.

A bow and light clothing. A staff and a nun’s habit. A sword and armor. A wide-brimmed hat and a black dress. Two daggers and a cloak.

Once more, Aswell’s consciousness delved deep within.

"Hero..."

In the middle of a vast ocean. A large triangular hat and a sword resembling those used by pirates.

Aswell realized that the five people in the previous landscape, with slightly different appearances, were all members of the 'Hero’s Party.'

A new landscape appeared again.

High in the sky, inside a massive airship powered by magic stones. A sword that seemed to combine a monocle, a staff, and a sword.

Aswell realized that each member of the party had different roles and duties, but they were all indispensable.

Another new landscape.

At the top of a massive tower, wearing winged armor made of a special material, and holding a Holy Sword that could be split into two.

Aswell realized that these indispensable party members mirrored his current party members.

‘...But, Louis isn’t here.’

Instead of her, there was a woman wearing a cloak.

It was the same in every landscape—whichever party member was present, Louis was always absent.

‘Does this mean there’s one more party member...?'

After experiencing countless landscapes, people, and states, Aswell began to sense that he was undergoing some kind of transcendental experience.

He guessed that all of these landscapes belonged to past heroes.

At that moment, darkness came again.

A new landscape appeared before him.

In a small forest, nothing particularly special stood out.

The outfit—a rough armor fit for a novice adventurer, with a clumsy leather scabbard holding the Holy Sword.

And now, somewhere, five party members would call out, "Hero."

"Hero."

The title had changed.

Turning his head, he saw no one but one person.

A small woman stood alone.

A woman with a white staff and a white robe, her face hidden.

Only her remained.

What kind of role, what kind of duty did she have?

Before he could get an answer to this question, Aswell’s consciousness began to surface.

He felt the skies breaking apart as the landscapes he had seen before faded below him, and he gradually returned to reality.

Finally, before the light of reality entered, Aswell organized the images and information he had witnessed.

‘The past heroes.’

Countless eons that even Stormblast’s dragons could not fathom, the many heroes and their parties that existed before them. Their duties, their journeys, and the memories they left behind.

Perhaps these were the 'future' of the remaining journey.

‘The first white woman.’

Who is she?

Where are the other members of the Hero’s Party she was with?

‘The last party member.’

The woman who appeared to be a thief.

He would probably meet her soon.

He realized that, in the end, only two crucial pieces of information remained in his mind. The end was approaching.

Aswell closed his eyes in the darkness.

"Aswell? Are you alright?"

"...Louis."

And with that, he opened his eyes to meet her worried gaze, completely waking up.

"Yeah, I’m fine."

And with a determined expression, he replied.

Aswell instinctively knew.

The memories of past heroes would soon lead him down the path that had been hidden from him.