History Lesson (3)

Lyuka's history classroom in the breaks between special training — today was the third session.

"After year 100, the human realm was left without Kaiser. There was some initial damage, but the chaos was less than expected.

"A major factor was that Gaius, the new S-Class number 1, handled the disorder skillfully.

"Gaius was born as Kaiser's son. He'd grown up enduring various hardships under a father who was far too great, and on top of that, when he took the number 1 spot he faced this great chaos…

"He bore that heavy role while being attacked in place of the father who'd run off as he pleased. That alone is a very fine achievement, but… because he died early afterward, he isn't counted among the Legendary Masters.

"He won the Tournament in year 104, and fell in battle against Tiari Belzebute in year 106.

"… The case of an S-Class number 1 dying in battle ended with him.

"Born a hard worker, lived as a hard worker, died as a hard worker.

"He's called 'Hard Worker Gaius.'

"By the way, he became popular in later works of fiction.

"The novel Hard Worker Gaius is a later work, with many fictional embellishments and exaggerations, but it's a good piece. If you have the time, please give it a read."

"Thanks. If I have time, I'll be sure to."

"From here, for fifty years, it's the age without a hero.

"However, the upper S-Class Masters had already obtained enough strength to fight the Demon Gods to a degree, so you could also call it an era where no special hero was needed.

"No Master capable of single-handedly opposing a Demon God appeared, but the S-Class number 1 stood by with Arianrhod in hand. Several S-Class Masters would attack en masse to weaken her first, and then the number 1 Master would drive her off with Arianrhod — by establishing that rotation, Tiari could be repelled with few sacrifices.

"It's said this method was established through Gaius's death.

"And so casualties among S-Class Masters became, if anything, the rare exception.

"S-Class and A-Class Master tenures grew longer, their children were born more easily… and the system of nobility started to form.

"Tiari's existence was a threat, but she was becoming something like a regularly occurring typhoon or earthquake.

"Around this time, a certain Master was born.

"… That was Leonhardt, the one who would later come to be called a hero.

"What shall we do? Regarding Leonhardt, would Suzanne-san like to explain?"

Lyuka tossed the topic over to Suzanne.

… Well, it was about her father after all.

"… I certainly do hold my father in deep respect from the bottom of my heart.

"But speaking about my own father is honestly too embarrassing.

"Don't mind me; just explain normally."

Suzanne wore a wry smile. Well, talking about just how heroic your own father was would be hard, I supposed.

"Then, allow me to speak of just how splendid a hero Suzanne's father is."

"… Yes."

Suzanne looked a little embarrassed. Well, of course it would be embarrassing having someone talk about your father.

"By this period, the system was much closer to its current state. There was no G-Class in the ranking, but the flow of Masters debuting at F-Class and aiming for S-Class was exactly the same as now.

"In that flow, Leonhardt was an ordinarily excellent Master who distinguished himself in ordinary ways.

"At the time of Leonhardt's birth, the noble system had only just begun to form… and Leonhardt was of commoner birth.

"Even so, he was excellent in due course and rose through the ranks in due course, eventually reaching S-Class.

"That took about twenty years. Fast, certainly, but not exceptionally so.

"For a while after his debut, Leonhardt wasn't a particularly special Master.

"The ones drawing more attention were the four other Masters known at the time as the Four Heavenly Kings.

"Hamasu, Faren, Yucas, Wallace.

"They were the Four Heavenly Kings."

"… Wallace came up."

Sooner than I'd thought! … Wait, so he was… a fairly famous Master?

"… Yes. That's right.

"Wallace was a Master two years younger than Leonhardt, but he distinguished himself earlier than Leonhardt.

"Reaching S-Class, reaching upper S-Class, and winning at S-Class — all earlier.

"There were three other strong rivals competing with him, so the count is small, but he did win the S-Class Tournament… that is, he became Garumon Master.

"However, if you ask people today their impression of Wallace, almost no one will know of the era when Wallace was rated above Leonhardt.

"'Wallace is called Leonhardt's rival, but it's only that they're of the same generation; he's nowhere near Leonhardt.

"With his many seasoned techniques, he sometimes shows the merit of age and knocks down promising youngsters.'

"… He was an S-Class Master beloved in that mode up until three years before retirement.

"Wallace's most famous late-career feat is his match against Gabriella Aqueria four tournaments ago.

"Aqueria, debuting that year, had been on a meteoric winning streak from S-Class rank 22.

"Just as it seemed she would charge all the way to the top, she was blocked by number 8 Wallace and stopped at number 9.

"In the next year's ranking match, Aqueria beat Wallace, and at the following tournament took down Leonhardt and reached number 2.

"Aside from number 1 Satoru, Wallace is the only Master who has handed Aqueria a loss.

"The other time Wallace's name came up was probably in the topic of Ursula and Sairas's match.

"The number 23 Master that Sairas defeated in the S-Class swap match was Wallace.

"Even though he was at 23, that was because he'd intentionally dropped his rank during a temporary leave for poor health; his true strength wasn't lower-S-Class level.

"It's an episode that demonstrates Sairas's strength — casually knocking him down.

"That said, since Sairas raised his rank by twenty places at the year-end S-Class Tournament, this swap match doesn't get talked about much.

"Wallace is also someone the faerie realm is indebted to.

"Around year 120, diplomatic relations were established between the faerie realm and the human realm.

"The one who worked vigorously toward that was Wallace.

"Wallace's ace was the otherworld Garumon Samurai General Tomoe, who served with him to the end of his life, but Faerie Princess Nisa, given to him by the faerie realm at that time, was also a powerful Garumon. She later became a Jonin and continued supporting Wallace alongside the others."

"Ah, now that you mention it, Meifa was an elf-eared maid of the faerie race."

So Tomoe's child was Ruria, and Nisa's child was Meifa.

… To begin with, the reason this history lecture had started was that I didn't know who Wallace was.

I see. So he'd been a great veteran S-Class Master on par with Leonhardt.

He'd left his name in the history of relations with the faerie realm, and was tied to Aqueria and Sairas too.

… By the time I knew that, the original purpose had finally been accomplished.

But there was still plenty more I wanted to know about Leonhardt, and about Silvana, who had only had her name dropped.

While we were at it, I had to hear it through to the end.

"I've advanced the clock a bit, so I'll return to 180 years ago.

"The next Master to rise as a support pillar in this hero-less era was Altair.

"Younger people probably don't know him, but if you ask older folks who Leonhardt's rival was, this name — Altair — will come up.

"Altair was twelve years younger than Leonhardt, but the moment he debuted he overtook even Leonhardt and stood at the top of S-Class.

"And so, at the summit of S-Class, the Four Heavenly Kings — Hamasu, Faren, Yucas, Wallace — sharpened their blades against each other, while Altair too stalled at fifth or sixth, aiming for the top. Within that, Leonhardt steadily climbed.

"That era went on a long while — about thirty years.

"The major incident in this period was the aforementioned establishment of relations with the faerie realm.

"As Masters' abilities rose and entering monster territory became feasible, Wallace reached the faerie realm.

"That Master, Wallace, was able to hold friendly dialogue with the people of the faerie realm, and as a result, succeeded in establishing friendly relations.

"- A trade agreement.

"- That nationals of both realms could travel between them if needed. Travel was to be reported.

"- Reporting on criminals and asylum seekers, and cooperation in handing them over.

"And so on.

"There was also a nonaggression pact… but a nonaggression pact between just two countries means nothing, so I'll skip it.

"Since there was no proactive military cooperation, we get no help against Demon God attacks.

"This cooperative relationship still continues today."

"That a nonaggression pact doesn't mean anything…"

"A nonaggression pact between two countries — if there's no intent to attack, they won't attack, and if there's intent to attack, they will. That's all there is to it.

"A nonaggression pact has to be signed by three or more countries — so that one country breaking it would turn the remaining two against them. Otherwise, I don't think it means anything."

… Well, put plainly, that was probably right.

"There's been no aggression for over 150 years, but I suppose it's just that they have no interest in each other, or don't get involved deeply enough to reach war.

"There are some trade disputes here and there, but as long as both sides are under system management, outright fraud is hard, and they've come this far without a decisive falling-out."

"I see… given Lyuka, the faerie realm is something we'll inevitably get tangled up with at some point.

"Your whereabouts are known to the faerie realm, right?"

"Yes. There was even an extradition request, treating me as an asylum seeker. Almaria-san negotiated and worked something out.

"At present, my existence is being tacitly tolerated.

"… However, since I became a Faerie Princess, it was expected there might be some further action…

"But so far there's been no contact.

"To be honest, it's eerie."

The topic of the faerie realm had come up, so things had drifted a bit.

"And now year 150 arrives.

"Leonhardt had been promoted to number 8 the previous year. He'd been growing steadily over about fifty years, certainly, but in year 148 a major change came to him.

"… Angel Mercheada became his companion.

"Mercheada was a Garumon born as a sort of mutation, beautiful to the point of radiance.

"Winning Mercheada is said to be Leonhardt's greatest stroke of luck.

"Mercheada grew steadily, and the next year became Seraph Michaela Mercheada.

"Even then, this was a rare Ultimate Job in the world.

"Leonhardt, who had lived nearly fifty years as a fairly plain Master, was suddenly in the spotlight.

"… Year 150 was that kind of period.

"It was around April. Tiari Belzebute, whose attacks had grown considerably less frequent of late, attacked the human realm anew.

"… This time, Tiari unusually came alone, without leading Demonkin.

"Thinking this was their chance to take down Tiari Belzebute, who had tormented humanity for so long, the S-Class Masters challenged her with maximum force.

"The S-Class number 1 at the time was Hamasu. Two-time S-Class Tournament winner. A real talent who would win once more later.

"Number 2 Faren, number 3 Yucas, and number 4 Wallace used the usual attrition tactics, after which Hamasu, with Hero Arianrhod in hand, finally rose to challenge Tiari.

"… But it's thought Tiari this time was attacking humanity with strong resolve. Arianrhod was defeated, and Hamasu was repelled early.

"For S-Class number 1 through 4 to fall into combat-incapacity was a pinch unseen in recent years.

"There were even concerns about a mass die-off of S-Class Masters.

"The remaining S-Class Masters had no choice but to swarm to repel her, so they re-challenged Tiari, but the up-and-coming number 5 Altair was also repelled.

"While the younger number 6 and 7 Masters flinched, the one who stood up was number 8 Leonhardt.

"It was true Tiari Belzebute was worn down. And Michaela Mercheada had a strong elemental match against Demon Gods — the Holy attribute.

"… But no one expected Leonhardt to be able to win.

"Yet Mercheada's growth far surpassed the expectations of the people — and of Tiari Belzebute.

"And so did Leonhardt's true strength.

"After a fierce battle of more than ten turns…

"At last, a strike from Mercheada accomplished what no one had managed for 140 years: the defeat of Demon God Tiari Belzebute."

"Ohh…! Mercheada amazing! Leonhardt amazing too!"

Clap, clap, clap…

As I applauded, I checked Suzanne's expression — she looked happy.

… Cute.

"From here Mercheada began to be called the world's strongest Garumon, surpassing even Arianrhod.

"… At the next S-Class Tournament, Leonhardt won. From here, Leonhardt's legend began.

"… For the time being."

Mn, there was an undercurrent in that phrasing.

"Right after Tiari Belzebute's defeat, a certain Garumon was born.

"That child, named Esta, was born already possessing a surname.

"… That is, Esta Belzebute.

"And so it became known that when a Demon God is successfully defeated, she is reborn — reincarnates — in the human realm.

"It's said the people who had been tormented by Tiari Belzebute tried to vent their anger at the young Esta.

"The one who stopped that was Leonhardt.

"What crime, after all, could there be in an infant just reborn?

"Under Leonhardt's protection, Esta grew up sturdy and strong, and in time became a fine S-Class Master.

"Esta herself never climbed above lower S-Class.

"Due to the influence of a certain incident she once rose as high as number 8, but generally her home was number 24.

"Historically she's hardly what you'd call a special Master.

"Of course, to us, she's familiar as Ursula's mother.

"An aside."

I see… Hearing the history was leading into the births of Suzanne and Ursula and… my own companions.

Maybe it was good timing that I was getting to hear about history right as I was trying to rise to S-Class.

Lyuka was probably telling me with that in mind too.

That said, Leonhardt was a fine person.

Surely Leonhardt had been just as tormented by Tiari himself.

I could understand the urge to take it out on someone, even when you knew better.

That Leonhardt had stopped that — in my eyes too, he seemed a person with much to admire.

"From here, for about fifty years, you could call it the Leonhardt hero era.

"Mercheada grew, and became history's first Legendary Job — a Goddess.

"Arianrhod, too, grew, and became the Legendary Job Great Hero.

"Leonhardt, holding two Legendary Job Garumon, was hailed by the people as the long-awaited arrival of a hero.

"… But the first setback arrived.

"The next Demon God attacked the human realm, which had seemed at peace after Tiari Belzebute's defeat.

"And it was two of them simultaneously.

"On learning that Tiari Belzebute, who had been so strong and tormented humanity, had been only one of the seventy-two Demon Gods, the people despaired.

"The only ones who could stand against these Demon Gods attacking from two directions were Great Hero Arianrhod and Goddess Mercheada.

"As a result, Leonhardt had no choice but to split his forces in two directions.

"But forcibly splitting a six-person formation meant an undeniable drop in combat strength.

"At this time, the Sub-Master system was created, allowing S-Class to hold up to twenty-four Garumon… but

"the rapid combat-strength buildup wasn't in time.

"For this reason, the Demon God attacks caused major damage to S-Class Masters for the first time in a long while.

"The greatest of these was the death of Faren, one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

"This left the people disheartened.

"Faren, Hamasu, and Yucas all had S-Class number 1 experience, were each strong, and were probably distinctive Masters, but

"in hindsight, they're lumped together as the Four Heavenly Kings, with no particularly striking individual traits… they were probably popular, beloved Masters of their time.

"Leonhardt, as number 1, seems to have felt the responsibility too.

"Leonhardt gave up on opposing two Demon Gods by himself.

"He intentionally lost at the next tournament, and entrusted Arianrhod to another Master.

"This act was praised by the people… and also called foolish.

"The one who won Arianrhod was Hamasu.

"Losing the Great Hero Arianrhod he'd carefully raised amounted to handing an asset to the enemy.

"Even though Leonhardt led the strongest Goddess Mercheada, he had a hard time winning the S-Class Tournament again for a long while.

"In particular, Leonhardt's rival Altair grew remarkably and even brought down Hamasu, monopolizing the S-Class number 1 seat.

"… But the current Leonhardt was supported by Mercheada.

"He steadily rebuilt his combat strength again, transforming a Mercheada-only one-man team into a team strong as a team.

"At the year 176 S-Class Tournament, where Altair's five-peat was on the line, he beat his rival Altair for the first time in a long while and achieved his second S-Class Tournament victory.

"At that point, he recovered Arianrhod.

"His Sub-Masters Richard and Philip had grown to where they could be relied on in Demon God battles.

"Battles on two fronts against Demon Gods became more stable.

"… However, Altair's growth was tremendous too, and at the next tournament Altair won.

"That Leonhardt, with both Arianrhod and Mercheada lined up, was defeated, shocked the people.

"For the first time, someone besides Arianrhod beat Mercheada. The level of S-Class Masters as a whole had risen.

"And so the two won alternately as rivals.

"… In other words, the strongest Great Hero Arianrhod often lost in S-Class Tournaments.

"Because her skill composition is specialized for anti-Demon God battles.

"Because she's restricted from going all out outside of anti-Demon God battles.

"Various things are said… but

"the fact that the S-Class number 1 swaps means Arianrhod lost.

"Combined with this, the assessment that the world's strongest Garumon was Mercheada became conclusive.

"… And the Leonhardt-Altair era went on like this all the way to year 200.

"Hamasu, Yucas, and Wallace couldn't keep up with the two's competition and were buried by new up-and-coming Masters.

"But that meant strong Masters were being raised in the new generation, not necessarily that the old guard themselves had weakened.

"Around year 200, many excellent Masters rose up and competed at the top of S-Class, sharpening their blades.

"Among them, Leonhardt and Altair stood far above. That's the kind of era it was.

"… Let me bring up one more of Leonhardt's exploits.

"It connects to characters from later on.

"Around year 190, incidents of Masters suddenly going missing began to occur frequently.

"When the S-Class Masters pursued the case, they discovered that deep in monster territory, there was a vampire realm.

"The vampires had been abducting Masters, drinking their blood, and enslaving them.

"Leonhardt charged into the vampire realm, and… negotiated with the vampires, getting them to stop abducting people without permission."

"Oh, he didn't take them down?"

"The fine details aren't recorded. He may have fought to have his strength recognized to some degree…

"But to defeat all of them seems unreasonable.

"All vampires are tremendously strong. One-on-one might be one thing, but in consecutive battles, even Leonhardt would have had no chance of winning."

"… Hou."

For an existence that had until now gone completely unmentioned to be that strong.

Well, that vampires were strong didn't feel out of place at all.

In fiction too, they're basically strong-character archetypes.

"The arrangement with the vampire realm is mostly the same as the faerie realm in things like trade agreements…

"The biggest difference is the slave contract.

"Each year, slave applications are put out from the vampire realm to the human realm for several to several dozen people.

"Those who apply and are accepted become absolute-obedience slaves to the vampires after having their blood drunk."

"… Eeh? Are there really applicants for that?"

"… Quite. Rather, every year it's oversubscribed by several dozen to several hundred times.

"For ineffectual G-Class Masters or G-Class NPCs, becoming the slave of a beautiful vampire — becoming immortal so long as their vampire Master doesn't die, being given dizzying pleasure — the position of vampire slave is apparently a coveted one."

"Hoeh…

"I'm interested in sex with beautiful vampires, but if I have to be drained of blood and become a slave to do it… absolutely no thanks."

"That would be the case for you, Naoto-san.

"Don't worry. Unless you submit from the bottom of your heart, even if a vampire drinks your blood, you won't become their slave.

"… Even before the treaty was concluded, Masters who were abducted to the vampire realm and adamantly refused to become a vampire slave were returned as is.

"… However, most Masters were charmed by the beautiful vampires and consented to becoming slaves.

"After the treaty, abductions were replaced by applicants only from the start.

"It saves the vampire side trouble, prevents important figures from being abducted from the human realm, and around this time, as the population grew, G-Class was newly established — it became a chance to save those who weren't getting their day in the sun. A WIN-WIN contract.

"Just not having to fight the powerful vampires was a relief to the human side.

"Already under attack by Demon Gods, having vampires nearly as strong as Demon Gods coming after them too would have been unbearable.

"… That was the contract, but… there was one eccentric vampire.

"She wanted to go to the human realm and become a Master herself.

"That eccentric vampire was Vampire Princess Silvana.

"Later called the Legendary Master, Invincible Silvana.

"Let's end today's lesson here. There's still one more session left."

What Lyuka talked about was interesting, but more than anything, watching her enjoy telling it was the cutest part.

She must really love speaking on these things.