I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [358] [50 PS]
The [Nero Festival] lasted for three full days.
It was an overwhelming success.
Many of the festival's arrangements were entrusted to the Eris Church and the Axis Cult. The Eris Church had experience hosting the annual Eris Festival, and Aqua, self-proclaimed "Goddess of Festivals," ensured that the Axis Cult eagerly joined in.
Letting the two churches compete with each other brought even more excitement to the Nero Festival.
Naturally, the Nero Festival wasn't just any ordinary celebration—it wouldn't have been complete without traditional Roman events. Chief among them: gladiatorial combat.
In the roaring, packed coliseum, adventurers confident in their skills faced off against captured monsters, showcasing their strength in front of a cheering audience.
To construct the grand Roman-style arena in record time, Nero enlisted the help of the Crimson Demons, whose unparalleled building prowess allowed them to rebuild their village in half a day after it was destroyed.
People from across the world came to the festival to share their joy, their faces aglow with smiles as they looked forward to a future free of the Demon King's shadow.
But joyous times always fly by, vanishing before you even realize they're gone.
And so, the Nero Festival reached its final act.
Of course, the closing event was none other than Nero's personal performance—a heartfelt song to commemorate the occasion.
To ensure her voice reached as many people as possible, Nero used a peculiar magical device she had purchased from Wiz's shop. This enchanted item could transmit sound over vast distances, but with a sinister twist: those nearby had no choice but to hear it.
Unlike normal amplifiers, this device didn't merely increase volume; it directly projected the sound into the minds of everyone in the vicinity, making it impossible to block out, even by covering one's ears.
Vanir had thought he'd destroyed all of these dangerous artifacts, deeming them too hazardous to exist in the world.
But he'd underestimated Wiz.
Believing the device had potential uses, Wiz secretly stashed some away and eventually sold one to Nero, who eagerly put it to use at her festival.
After scolding Wiz thoroughly, Vanir fled back to hell, sparing himself from what came next.
The others weren't so lucky. Blissfully unaware of the device's horrifying effects, they eagerly awaited Nero's performance.
That is, until the moment Nero opened her mouth to sing.
In that instant, she achieved what even the Demon King never could: the destruction of an entire kingdom.
By the time her song ended, nearly everyone who heard it had fainted.
---
Morning.
The tranquility of the night lingered, with dewdrops clinging to leaves, ready to fall.
The three days of festivities had passed in what felt like the blink of an eye. Like a fleeting dream, they were over, and life moved on.
Step by step, Alice climbed the stairs, ascending toward the light.
At the top, she pushed open the door—
—and instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sudden sunlight. As her vision adjusted, she began to search for a familiar figure.
It wasn't hard to find.
There she was, Nero, sitting on the railing. Her crimson dress was as vivid as fire, her presence as lively as a blooming rose.
The soft glow of the morning sun draped over her like a gossamer veil, and her golden hair sparkled like sunlight on water as the breeze tousled it.
A few birds fluttered down, perching on her shoulder, her lap, and her hands.
Drawn to the light—it was a natural instinct for all living creatures. These birds must have been captivated by Nero's brilliance, just as Alice, Yunyun, and everyone else had been.
That serene, warm smile on her face… it was impossible to look away.
Time seemed to stop as Alice gazed at the breathtaking scene before her. It was so perfect, so beautiful, that she hesitated to disturb it.
The world's most exquisite painting couldn't compare to this moment.
Nero turned her head slightly, catching sight of Alice.
Her emerald eyes sparkled as she smiled radiantly, a smile as dazzling as sunlight breaking through clouds.
"You're here, Alice."
The birds around her took flight, their wings fluttering noisily in the quiet morning air.
Alice lowered her head apologetically, guilt flashing across her face.
"I'm sorry, Sister Nero…"
"Why apologize?"
Nero's expression softened, her emerald eyes half-lidded. "As royalty, isn't it only natural to exude an aura that even scares birds away? Umu!"
Her gaze lingered on Alice, who was walking toward her.
"Did you enjoy it? The Nero Festival I hosted?"
"Yes, I had so much fun! Kazuma-san opened a restaurant, and he got Megumin and Darkness to help. They served dishes I'd never seen before, all from his homeland. They were delicious!"
"It's a shame Claire and Rain couldn't join us—they were so busy managing everything for the festival. But Yunyun and I went to so many places. The arena was incredible, Nero-nee! I can't believe you built something so grand in just a few days. You're amazing!"
Alice shared story after story, and Nero listened patiently.
Nero had always been a good listener—one of her many talents.
People reminisce not because the past was necessarily better, but because those cherished moments are irreplaceable.
Memories are treasures unique to each individual, woven into the fabric of their identity. Life is a constant process of gathering and letting go of these treasures.
And no one can hold onto all of them forever.
"Sister Nero…"
Alice's voice broke Nero's train of thought.
It was tinged with unease, with fear.
"Are you… leaving?"
Nero wasn't of this world.
From the moment Alice met her, she'd known Nero was merely a traveler passing through.
That day, Nero had fallen from the sky, shining as brilliantly as a meteor cutting through the night.
She had burst into Alice's life without warning, a fleeting presence destined to depart.
No matter how much Alice tried to ignore it, the fact remained: their farewell was inevitable.
Nero wasn't surprised by the question. She'd known it would come.
But she averted her gaze slightly. Facing Alice's expectant eyes and delivering such words felt cruel.
"Yes," she said softly.
It had been decided from the start.
"…Will you come back?"
Who could say what the future held?
But as Alice looked up at her with those heartbreakingly hopeful eyes, Nero found herself answering before she could think.
"I will."
Once again, she'd made a promise.
Even without knowing where her journey would take her next, she had made another promise.
Ah… I'm really starting to lose my edge, aren't I?
Alice blinked, her head bowing. Her hair shadowed her eyes, and for a moment, Nero worried she'd upset her.
But when Alice looked up again, tears glimmered in her eyes like morning dew, and her lips curved into a smile brighter than the sun.
"I'll do my best to become someone as radiant as you, Sister Nero. I'll become a worthy member of the royal family."
"When you return, I promise I'll be someone you can be proud of."
It was a promise made to mirror Nero's.
"Then, when that time comes… I'll cheer for you with thunderous applause."
With that, Nero and Alice bid each other farewell.
Nero didn't say goodbye to Yunyun or the others—only Alice knew the truth of her origins.
To the rest, her absence would seem like a brief month-long journey.
…Assuming, of course, she didn't meet her end in another world.
This so-called "funny world" might be comical in tone, but its depths, filled with gods and demons, ran far deeper than they seemed.
As Nero gazed eastward, the sun crept over the horizon.
"So this is the sunrise I couldn't see back then, hm?"
She stood silently, lost in thought.
"Teacher… I've come so far, haven't I? Farther than anyone could ever imagine."
"Even the sunset can no longer hold me back. All that's left is the endless sky."
As birds sang and winds whispered blessings, Nero set off once more, her destination unknown.
A story's ending is always the beginning of another.
---
"Come, my wings of the phoenix. What tale shall I weave next?"
And in the distance, a goddess smiled as she watched Nero's star fade beyond the horizon.
"Thank you, brave hero, for all you've done for this world. May your next journey be filled with fortune."
Her words, carried on the wind, followed the departing star:
"Blessing! Blessing!"
---
T/N: BLESSING!!!! heh wings of the phoenix, because her og name is Fenhuan Yu (phoenix feather)
anyway konosuba arc ends! and also powerstone rewardsa re back
...
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