“She is the youngest Hero in recorded human history on this continent, and one of the rare individuals who has slain multiple Demon Kings—a legendary existence known as the ‘Demon King Slayer.'”
Silence.
Rosalyn spoke of the unprecedented achievements and deeds accomplished by Isis.
Her gentle, crisp voice in the corridor was like a drop of water falling onto a calm lake; beyond the ripples of the echo, it also prevented Ron’s heart from finding peace.
‘Why is Rosalyn mentioning Isis now? Could she have already arrived in Enid?’
This led Ron to consider various possibilities.
At worst, he might have to depart for the Royal Capital of Falosa with Lifa ahead of schedule.
“And then?”
Perhaps due to his experience with a tragic ending, Ron remained expressionless, waiting for Rosalyn to continue her tale.
“Heh~”
“Mr. Ron, I won’t dwell on these well-known tales.”
“But regarding Isis, I wonder if you are aware of another related legend?”
Rosalyn approached Ron, her gaze lingering on the oil paintings of the past Earls of Enid.
“Is there another legend?”
Ron also appeared focused on admiring the paintings, even softly reading the text descriptions beneath them, feigning a lack of interest in the topic.
“Mm~ Of course there is.”
“After all, when it comes to the Hero, legends are the one thing we aren’t lacking~”
Rosalyn stood on her tiptoes to straighten a slightly crooked painting.
“Before slaying the Ashen Demon King, Casalima, the Hero Isis was merely an obscure Adventurer. People hadn’t even heard stories about her prior to that.”
Rosalyn sighed softly and continued.
“Thus, there is a certain theory.”
“That the Hero Isis’s innate talent was originally quite average. The reason she attained eighth rank strength and such achievements at a young age was, in fact, due to a fortuitous encounter.”
Rosalyn’s expression turned serious, while Ron’s nerves relaxed completely.
‘Isis’s talent was anything but ordinary. Even without my help, she would have been an excellent and powerful swordswoman.’
While thinking this, he lost interest in the ‘fortuitous encounter’ Rosalyn mentioned, which was likely a later fabrication. If Isis had any fortuitous encounter, the greatest one was meeting his past self.
“I haven’t heard of that.”
On the surface, Ron still showed a look of curiosity.
“Then you should come with me first~”
Rosalyn shook her head and took Ron’s hand. Her grip was somewhat firm, as if she didn’t want him to pull away.
As for the place she mentioned, it was simply at the end of this corridor.
“We’re here~”
After pushing open the simple, ancient door, Ron saw a spacious study filled with books on all four walls and a lived-in atmosphere.
“Rosalyn, is this… your study?”
Ron looked down at the carpet made from the fur of a high-tier demonic beast. He gained a new understanding of the Enid family’s wealth.
‘What a loathsome, decadent noble life. This is the kind of script I should have had for my reincarnation in another world!’
“Yes and no. A year ago, my father spent most of his time here handling Enid’s political affairs and office work.”
Rosalyn guided Ron to sit on a sofa in the study’s reception area. She picked up the tea set engraved with a heat-preservation spell from the coffee table and poured a cup of black tea for Ron.
“However, six months ago, he was killed at the front lines between the Allied Forces and the Northern Empire. The messenger said he was assassinated by the Northern Empire’s Assassin Court.”
“I’m sorry.”
Ron lowered his head.
“It’s all right, Mr. Ron.”
Rosalyn smiled and shook her head, not minding Ron’s apology at all.
She was an intelligent and resilient girl; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to look toward higher ambitions while still in grief over her father’s death.
It mattered…
Ron remained silent. His apology wasn’t entirely a polite response. Years ago, it was he who, under a different identity, personally created the Northern Empire’s powerful intelligence agency.
Even the Assassin Court Rosalyn mentioned was merely a part of that bloodthirsty beast.
“You really are a gentle person. Since it was just an unintentional comment, you don’t need to feel guilty.”
Rosalyn was perceptive. Noticing that Ron was still bothered by it, she picked up her brewed tea and gave a self-deprecating smile.
“Besides… don’t you think…”
“That a calculating girl like me might be secretly happy in her heart to inherit the title so early~”
Was that really the case?
In Rosalyn’s apricot-colored eyes, Ron saw the sadness and reminiscence brought out by this conversation.
“Anyway, let me hear the rest of that ‘fortuitous encounter’ you were talking about.”
Ron said.
“Mm.”
Rosalyn blinked rapidly several times, her expression returning to its natural seriousness.
“Please take a look at this.”
Rosalyn took out a photograph captured by a magic recording tool.
In it, a demonic beast resembling a white tiger was devouring a high-tier demonic beast that looked far larger than itself.
Its fierce gaze was turned toward the camera, seemingly having discovered the photographer.
“President Falga was sitting right where you are, Mr. Ron, when he handed this photo to me.”
Rosalyn’s slender finger pointed first to Ron’s seat, then touched a purple octahedral crystal embedded in the white tiger’s forehead.
“An Origin Crystal!?”
Ron blurted out, his pupils dilating suddenly.
“You do recognize it.”
Rosalyn spoke with an “as expected” tone.
“That’s right. An Origin Crystal has appeared in the forest right next to us.”
Rosalyn fully understood Ron’s reaction, as her own response had been even more intense when she heard the news from Falga.
In the historical legends of the Uthis Continent, gods and the Creator have always existed.
It was as if the manifestation of magic and the unique powers of each race proved this.
The so-called Origin Crystal is said to come from the Creator or God of Creation—remnants of the materials used to construct the laws of the world of Uthis.
“That explains it. It’s perfectly logical…”
Ron muttered to himself. The mutation and sudden empowerment of nearby demonic beasts indeed corresponded to the characteristics of an Origin Crystal’s appearance.
He had been so focused on avoiding the slave girl who might come looking for him that he hadn’t even considered this. He really shouldn’t have missed it.
“As for that legend, it’s simply that Isis also happened to obtain an Origin Crystal once.”
“By using it to receive a divine blessing, she grew from a nobody to the new generation’s Hero in just a few short years.”
Rosalyn finished the hook she had set for Ron, a faint smile playing on her lips. She seemed to be anticipating Ron’s reaction and thoughts upon learning of such an opportunity.
Would he seek out this ultimate treasure for that Miss Lifa? Or would he take it for his own use or trade?
A woman’s guesses and intuition often carried terrifying accuracy.
As Ron scrutinized the photo repeatedly, it was just as Rosalyn had deduced.
Once he confirmed that the item on the demonic beast’s forehead was indeed an Origin Crystal, his mind was made up.
Since such an opportunity had crossed his path, there was absolutely no reason to avoid it or hand it over to someone else.
As a former player, Ron knew the function of Origin Crystals far more precisely than Rosalyn, who only knew of them through hearsay.
They were core materials for crafting Legend grade equipment, or…bestowing a god-given ‘Talent’ capable of changing one’s life.
“Mr. Ron… are you tempted?”
Without him realizing it, Rosalyn had brought her face close to his ear.
“If it were given to Miss Lifa, I believe it might even be possible to break the record set by the Hero, Isis…”
As if voicing Ron’s inner thoughts, Rosalyn fell silent at exactly the right moment after those two tempting remarks.
‘Mr. Ron is a smart man—’
The girl narrowed her eyes.
“Then, what is the price?”
Aside from the matter of the successor, a new deal was placed on the table.
*Click.*
Just as Ron finished his question, Rosalyn had finished her tea. A crisp sound rang out as the teacup was placed back onto the saucer.
“Hehe~”
“Rosalyn already told you~”
The girl lifted her dress and straddled Ron’s lap.
“I want you~”