Chapter: 345
“Are you saying it’s a flame that burns miasma?”
“Yeah. I think I’ve been using it unconsciously until now, but I realized how to use it in battle just recently.”
“Indeed, that explains it… The sacred remnants that were corrupted by miasma suddenly being purified must have been due to Miss Scarlet’s ability…”
After the sacred remnants of the dwarves, the Everlasting Furnace, or rather, ‘the Everlasting Flame’ regained its strength through my ability to burn miasma.
I was now explaining my abilities to the shocked onlookers who couldn’t grasp what had just happened.
“Every time I use it, it takes quite a toll on my body, so I can’t use it often.”
“Oh, really? Were you pushing yourself just now…?”
“Pfft, don’t worry. It wasn’t excessively hard on me.”
Of course, I masked the fact that using it more frequently would cause issues for my body.
If Sylvia or the others found out I had to bear that penalty for using my ability, they would undoubtedly be strongly opposed to it.
“Anyway, in situations like this where it’s absolutely necessary, it’ll definitely be a huge help.”
“…That’s true. If it weren’t for Miss Scarlet’s ability this time, the sacred remnants we found would have been meaningless, so I’ll definitely ask for your help when needed.”
That was the reason I was openly showing them how useful my ability was.
Now that they knew I had such a useful skill, if a situation arose where my power was needed, it would surely cross their minds at least once.
That would provide me with justification to use my ability.
Even if someday the penalties of my ability got exposed to others.
I wanted to avoid a situation where I couldn’t use my power when it was needed.
It was then that I had this thought.
“…By the way, it’s a relief that the sacred remnants have regained their strength.”
Jessie, who had been admiring the illusion the restored sacred remnants displayed, suddenly pointed at the flame, murmuring.
“If that flame has its own will like Miss Scarlet said… Does that mean we can’t use it the way we intended?”
“…Oh.”
And upon hearing her words, we couldn’t help but realize the blind spot we hadn’t considered.
Indeed, the sacred remnants called ‘Everlasting Flame’ right in front of us has enough will to think for itself.
In fact, it had a strong willpower to protect this forge and kingdom from miasma, exerting its power for hundreds of years.
“…This is troublesome.”
“…It really is.”
This was quite a serious problem for us.
The fact that the sacred remnants had their own will meant we couldn’t use its power as we pleased.
Especially because the way we intended to use the sacred remnants was akin to depleting them like consumables, just like how we defeated the Witch of Gluttony in the past.
While it might have been possible with a soul-less item like the Tears of the Ocean, if it had a will, that would be impossible unless the sacred remnants wanted to sacrifice themselves for us.
Taking Sylvia’s world tree as an example, which could communicate with her.
“I did get permission from the Spirit of the Stars that it’s okay to use the world tree that way if absolutely necessary. But we’re not dwarves, and this flame has no reason to do that for us…”
Of course, that was only possible because the world tree was infinitely cooperative to the elves.
Like Sylvia said, we weren’t dwarves, nor did the flame before us have any reason to sacrifice itself for us.
“Hmmm, what are we going to do…?”
Thanks to this, we found ourselves in a truly troublesome situation.
Of course, considering the situation, we might be able to find a way to exploit the sacred remnants’ powers despite its will, but…
Everyone’s expressions hinted they wanted to avoid that path, being noble heroes and all.
So, it seemed there was only one option left.
“Honestly, we have no choice but to ask straightforwardly. I’ll explain our situation and make a request.”
At my suggestion of making an honest request, Sylvia seemed doubtful it would be possible.
“…Do you think the flame will agree to sacrifice itself for us?”
“What else can we do? We don’t have an alternative option. We’ll just have to plead earnestly.”
Saying this, I turned to the flame that was dancing before me.
“Hey, could you listen to us for a moment? We’re in quite a difficult situation right now.”
As I spoke, the flame flickered as if signaling it would listen, so I poured out our story.
I talked about the impending danger of the Witch of Gluttony awakening from her seal.
I detailed how we were gathering the sacred remnants to stop such a witch.
And after finishing my tale, I bowed my head earnestly, making my request.
“If we cannot stop the Witch of Gluttony, this world will surely perish. But to prevent that, we absolutely need your help and sacrifice. I know it’s selfish, but it’s the only way we have. Please, help us.”
After hearing my plea, the flame burned quietly for a while, flickering without a significant reaction.
It felt as if it was contemplating my request.
And after an undetermined period, I heard a voice beyond the sound of the flame crackling.
It was a voice reminiscent of a young boy, innocent and carefree.
-…Hey, are you the one who drove away the being that damaged this place?
“Uh… Yeah.”
That was the voice of the Everlasting Flame.
As I blankly nodded in response, the flame murmured again, seemingly in realization.
-So it’s true. I thought it was a misunderstanding at first since you have a similar aura to the being who damaged this place, but… I see, you’re similar yet different from that being.
Perhaps it was due to the miasma radiating from me, as the flame seemed contemplative and asked.
-You said you need my help to stop that Witch of Gluttony?
“…Yeah.”
-You mean I have to sacrifice myself to stop it.
“……Yeah.”
As I communicated directly, it started to feel impolite to ask for more, and I couldn’t lift my head.
Then the voice of the flame came through.
-I understand. I will do that.
“…Huh?”
-I said I will do that.
The reply was so straightforward and clear that I couldn’t believe I heard it correctly.
“…Is that okay?”
That was indeed the answer I was hoping for.
But truthfully, I found it a bit hard to comprehend.
To willingly sacrifice itself like that.
So I asked the flame if it was truly okay, and it responded to me.
-You helped me too. You punished the being that troubled my friends. This is my repayment.
“But if you help us…”
As I said this, the flame replied playfully, almost teasingly.
-Hehe, actually, there’s another reason I agreed.
“…Another reason?”
-You said if you can’t stop the Witch of Gluttony, the world will end. Then that means the place I’ve been protecting will be taken down too. I don’t want the place I shared with my friends to be destroyed. That’s why I’ll help you.
Speaking cheerfully, the flame suddenly turned serious and said to me.
-Listen, I’ll grant your request, but I have one request of my own. If I disappear, you need to protect this place. Got it?
I nodded slowly in response to that earnest request.
“…Yeah, I will definitely do that. I won’t let anyone destroy this place.”
Having received permission from the flame, I conveyed this news to the others.
“Everyone, the Everlasting Flame has agreed to help us!”
“Really?!”
“Yeah, now we just need to take the sacred remnants back to the city.”
“Um, wait a minute. How do we move that sacred remnants? It’s just a flame, right? We can’t just detach and carry that heavy furnace…”
Sylvia frowned, glancing at the flame that danced in the furnace, pondering how to transport it.
And at that moment,
“Whaaat?!”
“Ahhh?!”
The flame erupted from the furnace, bursting out in my direction.
The people around me shrieked in surprise at the sight of me engulfed in flames, but I wasn’t startled at all.
I knew it was merely a prank by the flame to tease everyone.
The flames enveloping my body briefly blazed brightly, then gradually reduced in size and settled on my shoulder.
The flame now perched on my shoulder laughed mischievously and spoke.
-See, now there’s nothing to worry about.
“…Don’t worry about transport, huh?”
“Ah, haha… Yeah…”
The onlookers, initially startled, broke into laughter before starting to prepare to return to the city.
While I was readying myself for our return, the flame muttered softly from my shoulder.
-You know, there’s actually one more reason I decided to help you.
“…Yeah? What is it?”
I tilted my head, asking, and the flame responded.
-It’s because you’re a flame too.
“…?”
-You burn yourself to protect something, just like me. That’s why I decided to help you. Because you’re like me.
“…….”
In a small voice, the flame spoke to me.
-You see, everyone calls me the Everlasting Flame, but there is no everlasting flame in this world. You’re no exception.
“…….”
-If you keep burning yourself like that, you’ll eventually go out too.
That remark, tinged with both worry and counsel, made me smile faintly in reply.
“That’s what I hope for.”
As long as I can burn myself to protect everyone in the end.
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