Chapter 21
They saw it.
A mage lowering a lifeline of salvation with the power of a Devil.
His blood was red.
Just like theirs.
Roman casually waved his hand to reassure his teammates, wiping away the blood that had flowed down with his finger.
As if it was nothing.
After Leaf quickly cleaned him with water created by summoning Undine, Roman mechanically looked for the next in line.
Number 12.
The first of the rear guard, where the end was almost in sight, was none other than Alexandra's teammate, the brown-haired Johan.
He had a contorted expression as if his own lifespan was being shaved off.
"...Number 12, Johan Blasco."
Stating the number and name had started with Amaia.
Excluding his own team, among the survivors, only Arthur, Alexandra, and Fiona had exchanged greetings and introductions with Roman.
If one included the brief companionship, Amaia and Johan would be included too.
That was why.
Unlike Amaia, who had called out her name and number half-jokingly, from number 4 onwards, they began to seriously state their numbers and names.
As if to say, remember who you've bestowed your grace upon.
As if to say, come find me when you need something to repay the grace you've received today.
Starting from number 4, then 5, 6, and so on, they introduced themselves.
Some mentioned the guild they belonged to, while others told of their school and dormitory.
There were even those who went on about their plans for what they would do once they got out.
It was because they didn't have affiliations like guilds or schools like Roman.
Johan didn't go that far.
But like those who went before him, he spoke freely about his affiliation, "I belong to the Cold Ice Department of the Alexandria School, you can find me there."
"I'll remember that."
That was all Roman said.
It was the same as before.
Even to the entrant who openly asked what Roman wanted in return for this favor, saying they would pay the price for this grace, Roman demanded nothing.
Even though that entrant, like Johan or Alexandra, was from the considerable major school, the Celsus School, and could have offered quite a lot.
He's cut from a different cloth...
Juan muttered bitterly to himself.
She must have been right.
Alexandra.
The woman Johan served.
The heir who would become the next head of the Alexandria School.
When Alexandra first showed interest in Roman, Johan had glared at him.
The thought of a lowly Devil Sorcerer daring to take Alexandra's time and mental energy...
However, now Johan acknowledged it.
Roman was worthy of Alexandra's interest!
"I acknowledge you."
Just as Johan was about to continue speaking in a lowered voice.
"Stop spouting nonsense, and hurry up and go."
Rei never held herself back.
"Don't you see people waiting?"
"...We'll talk after this is over."
With Fiona, who was equal to or greater than Alexandra, waiting, Johan couldn't drag his feet any longer.
So Johan went outside, and three people remained.
Leaf, Rei, and Fiona.
Fiona didn't waste the brief time while Roman was returning from outside.
"You two."
As Fiona parted her lips, Leaf and Rei's heads turned towards her.
The sight was like, well, meerkats all moving their necks at once.
Like baby mongooses waiting for the alpha mongoose.
Despite their appearance, Fiona's expression remained unchanged.
A calmness that wouldn't be shaken by ordinary matters.
That was the kind of person Fiona originally was.
The somewhat clumsy appearance she had shown to Roman was an exceptional case.
"Do you plan to continue teaming up with Roman?"
The answer to Fiona's question came immediately.
"...Yes."
"That's right."
Leaf showed a slightly wavering look while Rei spoke as if it was an established fact.
For Leaf, she probably wasn't sure if Roman would continue to stay with them, who were just a temporary team from the training center.
On the other hand, Rei was confident.
"So I'd appreciate it if you didn't try to poach him. One redhead is enough, you know?"
"I see."
Despite Rei's warning that bordered on intimidation, Fiona paid no mind.
She had no reason to.
I'm the Grand Duchess, you know? Third in line to succeed the ruling family of Res Limen?
However, considering that they were Roman's team and the amazing magic they had shown in the battle with the necromancer, Fiona made a proposal, "How about I just poach all three of you?"
This question didn't receive an immediate answer.
Instead, someone else responded with a question.
"Next? It's Rei's turn, right?"
§
The cavern now had only four people left, including me.
Maybe because there were so few people, it felt empty.
Somehow, the atmosphere felt even heavier than before.
I quietly asked Rei, who had come towards me for the transfer, in a low voice, "Did something happen?"
"No? Not really..."
Rei, you shouldn't lie. Your ears and tail give it away immediately.
So, something did happen.
The chances of something happening between Leaf and Rei were low, so it must be related to Fiona.
Did she receive a recruitment offer?
Rei's magic, Argentooth, was, ironically, magic that broke other magic.
From Fiona's perspective, who would probably join the city guard after finishing the training center, Rei, who was the natural enemy of mages, might be quite tempting.
What to do...
Deep down, I wanted to go down to the Abyss with this team as it was.
The balance was good, and each team member's individual abilities were high.
Both Rei and Leaf, despite their personal circumstances, personalities, or classes overshadowing them, were talents that would quickly be recognized as promising and heavily supported to become aces in any guild they joined.
With these two as teammates, it would be much easier to reach the depths of the Abyss, which was my goal.
However, the reason I couldn't bring myself to say that was because I knew it would be a better choice for their futures.
Could I support the two of them as much as a large guild could?
Would it really be right to appeal to their loyalty and ask them to follow me, leaving behind a safe and guaranteed path to success?
Probably not.
They each have their own paths.
Rei had her revenge against her uncle and the Devil Sorcerer, who killed her family and made her a slave.
I wasn’t sure about the details, but Leaf probably has issues related to her half-elf bloodline.
Former teammates. Connections who will willingly step up when help is needed. That's what I should be satisfied with.
Just like the people I saved today.
"But Roman, are you really okay?"
"If you mean my physical condition, there's nothing to worry about. You know. Lifespan isn't the price."
"You... no, forget it. You won't tell me anyway. What about the rest? Wouldn't it be better to accept some compensation for saving them? They'd gladly give you 100 gold coins each if you asked."
"Do you know how much 100 gold coins is? Only the top three would have the wealth to pay that."
"Top three? What's that? Earlier, you were talking about some Three Lowest or something."
"You don't know this? Fiona, Arthur, Alexandra."
With those three, even if I demanded 1000 gold coins instead of just 100, they'd probably consider it for a bit and then agree.
For anyone else, it wouldn't be easy.
Even for people like Johan or Amaia, it would be a burdensome amount.
And setting a price is the judgment of an amateur.
If I demanded compensation, it ended there.
From that point on, the grace disappeared, and only the result of a transaction remained.
Later, if I asked for help, I'd get responses like, “Didn't we already settle that with money back then?”
The world ultimately ran on connections.
Everything in the world revolves around connections and budget.
This was even more true in this world than in modern Earth.
Earth at least tried to put on a facade that connections weren't everything, but here, it's everyday practice to flaunt connections openly when getting things done.
I'd face many conflicts and interactions as I descended into the Abyss.
I might fight over relics.
There would be times when I'd need to join hands with others to take down powerful monsters.
What I'll need then isn't money, but connections.
They say there was nothing money couldn't do, but in the Abyss, there were definitely things money couldn't accomplish.
It wasn’t an orderly society run by laws and currency but an extremely closed environment where violence became the law.
But connections were different.
If I were Fiona's benefactor, the city guard would help me, and if I were Arthur's benefactor, the Frontier Guild would make room for me.
As long as I don't accept compensation, the sense of debt will remain in the hearts of those who received my grace.
Of course, there might be some who completely disregard it, but that was fine.
The truly important connections, at least Arthur and Fiona, wouldn't do that.
I wasn’t entirely sure about Alexandra, though.
Anyway.
I'll use them wisely. I'll milk this for all it's worth. It can't be settled with just a few coins.
"I've rested enough. Let's go now."
"...Okay."
As always, I was about to place my hand on Rei's shoulder this time too.
However, the sensation I felt on my palm wasn't that of Rei's rough cloak fabric.
"Why, what, what."
You're the one who grabbed it?
"No. Just. Well, let's go then."
After taking Rei, moving Leaf was quick.
Leaf seemed lost in thought.
Unlike Rei, who tended to burst out her thoughts on the spot, Leaf seemed to be the type to suffer silently by herself.
Leaf didn't say a word until we got outside.
And so, the last one.
"Number 15. Fiona McManus. I live in the Grand Duchy residence."
"...Grand Duchess, you don't really need to do that, do you?"
I already knew all that.
At my words, Fiona smiled faintly and said, "There's meaning to it. Probably, everyone will remember this number for the rest of their lives. Including me."
Fiona stopped in front of me and looked back.
A space with traces of destruction was still clearly visible.
Is she trying to firmly engrave this place in her memory?
To never forget the atrocities of the Abyss Worshipers, the enemies of the world who targeted her?
"There's... a lot I want to say, but this isn't the right place. It's better for Roman if we finish quickly and rest. Let's go. Outside."
"Yes, I'll escort you, Grand Duchess."
Excited at the thought that this was really the end, I clumsily imitated the etiquette I had seen over my shoulder and spoke. Fiona laughed out loud for the first time and elegantly extended her hand.
"I'll allow it. Your guidance, that is."
My hand overlapped hers.
And we left the underground behind forever.
§
[Pact-bearer.]
Yes, Lady Seir.
[You took it, did you not?]
Of course.
Looking up at the sky that had somehow turned black, I happily answered Seir's question.
The round stone in my possession.
This was the core that had been controlling the space of this underground floor.
I wasn’t sure if it was originally here or if those Abyss Worshiper bastards used it to modify the underground... but I think it was probably the latter.
I picked it up from under that necromancer's feet.
I took it at the very end, not knowing what would happen to the underground if I removed it.
I had created magic through practical experience.
I had built connections by bestowing grace.
And I had even secured the final spoils of war.
I felt like laughing at how much I had gained from this exam.
Come to think of it, I won the bet too.
Now, if this could just end like this, it would be perfect.
But this must have been the limit of my physical strength.
No, perhaps I had already exceeded my physical limits long ago.
The moment the taut string of tension, unable to hold any longer, snapped with a twang.
Ah...
My vision turned black.
The sight of the director running over with Arthur was the last scene I saw before my vision completely blacked out.
§
"What about Roman?"
"In the healing room."
"Well, now that Roman's teammates are here too, let's start talking in earnest."
Among the 16 survivors from underground.
At the gathering of 14 people, excluding the unconscious Roman and Instructor Davenport, Arthur spoke, "I think it’s best if we keep Roman’s involvement in today’s incident under wraps."