I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [257]

Nero gazed at Megumin, her voice soft yet firm.

"I didn't choose to form a team with you, not because I think you're unworthy. Quite the opposite—perhaps it's we who aren't needed by you."

Her words left both Megumin and Yunyun puzzled.

"Perhaps the course of fate has already been set," Nero continued. "It may not be the smoothest path, but it will be one that you will cherish the most when you look back. There is no need for me to steer you in another direction."

"Believe in the destined encounter that awaits you. Your time has not yet come. So… wait, and hope."

As she finished speaking, Nero's gaze lingered on Megumin and Yunyun.

Yunyun was still dazed, while Megumin's eyes sparkled with admiration, her expression resembling that of an idol fan witnessing their hero in person.

"So cool!"

Without any attempt to conceal her thoughts, Megumin exclaimed aloud.

"What was that? How can someone say something that cool?!"

Moments ago, Megumin had been fearful of Nero, but now her eyes were filled with reverence.

"'The course of fate has already been set,' 'Your time has not yet come'… So cool! Please, say it again!"

Had her chūnibyō spirit vanquished her fear?

"Hah! I've always been cool, haven't I?" Nero responded, planting her hands on her hips confidently.

Despite the attention her words and posture drew from the crowd, Nero remained unfazed.

While Nero admired Megumin's fiery spirit, she had no intention of competing with Kazuma for her. She knew from stories that Megumin would eventually join Kazuma's team and develop a sweet relationship with him—she was even the main heroine!

So, Nero decided to let Megumin follow her destined path, joining Kazuma's notorious party of misfits.

"My name is Nero—Nero Claudius! The Rose Emperor of Rome! A traveler among the stars!"

Turning to Yunyun, Nero extended her hand in invitation.

"O maiden with eyes as lovely as roses, I invite you to be my teammate. This is a gift of grace from me, and you should accept it with gratitude."

Yunyun's heart swelled with joy, but she hesitated. She glanced at Megumin, concern evident in her eyes.

"Are you worried about your friend?" Nero asked gently. "I can assure you, your concern is unnecessary. She will find companions who suit her far better than we do."

"But…"

Yunyun looked at Megumin, meeting her gaze, only to find a look of disdain staring back at her.

"What? Someone actually wants you in their team, so just say yes already! Stop dithering, or they'll change their mind, and you'll spend the rest of your life without a teammate!"

"You! Megumin, you idiot! Here I am, worrying about you being unable to find a team and doing something reckless!"

"Do I need your pity? How dare you, Yunyun!"

Megumin glared at Yunyun, striking what she thought was a dramatic pose.

"Mark my words! I will find the best team in this world! Just as Lady Nero said, I'll meet the perfect companions someday! My team will have a noble Crusader who can endure any attack, a pure-hearted priest to heal and support us, and a leader so brilliant they can utilize all our skills to their fullest! Together, we'll defeat the Demon King and go down in history as legendary heroes for centuries to come!"

"Megumin, what nonsense are you spouting now?! Nero, please talk some sense into her!" Yunyun pleaded.

However, Nero only chuckled softly.

"In a way… she's not wrong."

"I don't get it at all!"

To anyone aware of the original story, Megumin's vision—though embellished with filters and bias—did sound suspiciously like Kazuma's team. And in the end, they really did defeat the Demon King.

"So," Nero continued, turning to Megumin, "would you mind if I borrowed your companion, my new teammate, to introduce her to her new team?"

"Please! Take her away! She's all yours—less headache for me."

"Admit it, Megumin—you'll miss me! Deep down, you're just a tsundere—ow, ow, ow! Why are you pulling my hair?!"

---

Later, Nero introduced Yunyun to Alice.

Originally, Yunyun had wanted Megumin to join her to meet her new teammates. However, Megumin had refused, likely motivated by a renewed determination to find a team that could truly accept her.

"N-My name is Yunyun! I'm an Archmage! Thank you for letting me join your team! I promise I'll do my best and never let you down!"

In front of Nero and Alice, Yunyun bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle, her sincerity clear.

"Welcome, Yunyun. My name is…"

Alice hesitated. She wasn't sure whether to reveal her real name, so she turned to her most trusted Nero for guidance.

"Her name is Alice," Nero said decisively.

She opted for honesty, feeling that withholding Alice's true name from a teammate might lead to unnecessary misunderstandings later. Yunyun, as someone deeply sensitive about friendship, could misinterpret even a small omission.

For instance, Nero recalled a story where Kazuma invited Yunyun for dinner, but the food was terrible and expensive, and everyone secretly hoped she'd leave so they wouldn't have to waste it. Adding to the confusion, Aqua kept bringing purified water instead of tea. Yunyun mistook this as a sign of hostility and left in tears, though it was merely Aqua's divine quirk of turning all liquids into purified water.

Nero didn't want Yunyun to feel similarly excluded here.

"Her name is Alice," Nero repeated, "but I ask that you call her Iris when others are around. There are… complicated reasons for this."

Yunyun blinked, puzzled, but Alice stepped forward, gently taking Yunyun's hands in hers.

Her clear blue eyes met Yunyun's, radiating warmth.

"Although this is our first meeting, if Sister Nero has deemed you trustworthy, then I will trust you completely as well. Please, do not reveal my true name to anyone outside our group."

"Forgive me for not sharing everything with you yet," Alice continued softly. "It may seem unfair to ask this of you… but please believe in me. I already see you as a true companion."

At Alice's heartfelt words, Nero noticed Yunyun's body tremble slightly. It seemed the phrase "true companion" had deeply moved her.