Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Synergy

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I’m realizing this anew.

Gray had no interest whatsoever in how her words sounded to others.

Perhaps it was because she lived a life where she didn’t feel the need to make herself understood by others.

In that regard.

“…Miss.”

“What?”

“Would this level of cleaning be sufficient?”

“Good. Get out.”

Gray, who had been reading a book while wearing a monocle, waved her hand dismissively without even making eye contact.

I suppose it meant to hurry up and get out now that the work was done.

Carlisle, who had been in the same room as Gray all day, fulfilling her requests one by one, tilted his head and left the room.

She hadn’t made eye contact throughout the entire cleaning, and only when he reported that he had finished the work would she glance up briefly to survey the surroundings.

There was no human contact whatsoever.

“…”

Using the same room seemed to be merely an expression meaning ‘to reduce the time it takes to give orders’ at best.

Compared to that shocking first impression I had heard, this was honestly.

“It just seems like she means to have me attend to her needs 24/7, doesn’t it…?”

[That’s right.]

“…”

What kind of person expresses such a thing so terrifyingly?

Sharing the same room.

“…Is it really okay to let an outside man into her room so easily like that?”

[Think about it. Do you really think you could pose even a fingernail’s worth of threat to me?]

“…”

[Rather, isn’t that being overly self-conscious?]

She had a point.

Even if Carlisle harbored lecherous thoughts, Gray could dispose of him immediately, like wringing a chicken’s neck.

“That just means she wants to push me harder.”

[…It’s not just limited to that.]

“Excuse me?”

[ Think carefully. It’s me we’re talking about, me. The ultimate character disaster. Do you think such a person would easily let someone else into her room? ]

“…”

[This is definitely not a trivial matter.]

…That’s also true.

It was shocking to hear self-criticism coming from her mouth, but it was an even more convincing reason.

[It means she’s stopped being wary of you at all. She has completely recognized you as one of her own.]

No matter how incapable of causing harm, the fact that a woman who treats other humans like insects has no particular complaints about having someone in the same space is itself a positive sign.

The Holy Sword, having added such words, paused for a moment before sighing and adding.

[Perhaps her treating you this closely also includes her intention to take you to the Academy.]

…I already knew that well. The Academy limits the attendants one can bring for various reasons to just one or two, and if so, those one or two people are to closely assist and support their master. They need to become accustomed to providing comprehensive support in all aspects of life. Carlisle chuckled and called up a window before his eyes.

[System Message]

▶ You have successfully handled an ‘Important Event’! 

▶ Trust level increases significantly.

[ ★ Trust 5% → 40% ]

▶ Rewards are granted! 

▶ Open the Traits tab to check!

▶ Your relationship with the Hero changes greatly. 

▶ This will have a major impact on future events. 

▶ The Hero no longer regards you with wariness. 

▶ The Hero wants to take you to the ‘Academy’!

This was the window that had appeared since returning from the banquet, and I think I know what it’s referring to.

The educational institution within the Imperial Knight Order. Also known as the ‘Cradle’.

It’s an academy that has produced several peerless warriors and symbolizes the era.

Its reputation is renowned throughout the entire continent. Even nations that clash considerably with the Empire and growl at each other routinely send their talented individuals there, desperate to utilize this place somehow.

The surprising part was that no matter how great a place it was, Gray had obediently enrolled there.

“Do you have anything to learn at such a place?”

[I did.]

The fact that such words came out as an immediate response was telling in itself.

[ The current me has many more immature aspects than what meets the eye. Not just in terms of personality, but in terms of ability as well. The Cradle was the place that polished away most of those things. ]

Carlisle’s eyes widened as if surprised.

Is the Empire’s Academy really a place that is capable of that?

Enough for none other than humanity’s strongest to say she learned a lot there.

[It’s not like I only have good memories there, though.]

However, the Holy Sword then brought up such words.

[What you prevented at the banquet hall – my murder.]

“Yes.”

[I truly didn’t think it was wrong to cut down Anastasia at that time. Not until you corrected me.]

“…”

[It’s natural since I exist by having gone through the trajectory my past self went through, but… Most of the ‘experiences’ that accumulated and created the scoundrel Hero you met occurred at the Cradle.]

In other words.

It meant that most of the events that developed this person into a character-ruined sociopath happened there.

“Then I absolutely have to follow you there.”

Having corrected the act of ‘first murder’, small but noticeable changes had appeared in Gray’s behavioral patterns.

Even now, her fists still came before words when things went wrong, but at least she seemed to try to restrain herself just a little before throwing them.

Actually, it was surprising. Even if she was young, for effects to show this quickly.

[…But isn’t the end result of hitting people still the same?]

“Still, for an equalitarian like you, that’s a lot of progress.”

[Equalitarian?]

“You treated people like bastards regardless of who they were.” 

She was truly equal in meaning.

The fact that when acting like a scoundrel, she judged only whether she liked someone or not, regardless of gender, age, or social status.

For such a tiny bit of self-control to be granted to a scoundrel who was fair to everyone was truly an enormous change…

[…That’s true.]

To Gray, who readily agreed, Carlisle chuckled and added.

“Still, even if it’s just now, realizing you were wrong is something. I think you’re amazing.”

[…What?]

An incredulous voice flowed from the Holy Sword.

Given Carlisle’s usual attitude toward treating her, it was a natural reaction, but from Carlisle’s perspective, it was sincere.

“I’ve never thought differently about that point even once. You are amazing.”

Having once wielded her power himself, he understood it even better.

If one could wield such power from birth, they could have gone astray in a much worse direction. What was given to the Hero was tremendous power enough to twist a person’s fundamental nature.

But even so, one thing Carlisle had become certain of through all the cycles was.

…This person, in the end, fought to the very end against humanity’s enemies in every cycle.

Even with that shattered and twisted personality, she tried to fulfill her duty to the end.

“Thinking about it again, that was an amazing thing.”

[…]

“I don’t know exactly what kinds of events you went through in the past, yet, but you’re not the worst. I’ll vouch for that.”

[ Fix the me that’s over there now. Don’t try to seduce… Correct me at this point. ]

…Don’t seduce me.

Carlisle chuckled as he interpreted the words Gray had swallowed.

“Hero”

[What?]

“You’re being overly self-conscious.”

[…If I had a body right now, I would have kicked you once.]

“I’m only saying this because you don’t have one. Are you stupid?”

[…]

While the Holy Sword ground her teeth, Carlisle stroked his chin and fell into deep thought.

“But there might be some problems, you know?”

[What do you mean?]

“I clearly felt it last time, but when I get involved with you, no number of lifelines would be enough. I need to become stronger.”

Indeed, while the Holy Sword would tell him about whatever events they’d encounter, solving them depended entirely on Carlisle’s capabilities.

And in the first place, to stick around next to a Hero who operated on a completely different scale, his current state was nowhere near sufficient to take care of himself.

Moreover, this was also a problem.

[System Message]

▶ The ‘Gray Cardinal’ takes an interest in you. 

▶ Try adding the target to your ‘Trainer’ list!

‘…What does this lecherous person want now?’

At that banquet hall, she seemed quite impressed by Carlisle’s body contortions.

And judging by the evaluation of this person, it seemed unlikely she’d have a pleasant time when entangled with him.

For various reasons, increasing Carlisle’s combat power was inevitable.

He would definitely get caught up in dangerous situations.

[…But how is it that through all those countless regressions, you never once thought about making yourself stronger?]

“Of course I tried. Do you know how desperately hard I worked?”

I tried everything I could. Really.

Even so, the reason Carlisle eventually gave up on all of that was simple.

“No matter what I trained in, just giving you a little more support in that time was much more efficient.”

In terms of overall combat power, just giving all the good stuff to someone overflowing with talent was much more efficient than Carlisle’s growth.

“You remember, right? I gave you everything I could give.”

[…I did.]

Even in the last cycle, he had given the Hero all the precious elixirs, good equipment, and every means of growth available.

‘This time should be a little different, though.’

If Carlisle now possessed the ability to almost perfectly copy that Hero’s power, there was no reason for Carlisle himself to refuse growth.

With the confirmation that beings superior to Archduke Demons existed, he couldn’t afford to be picky about means and methods either.

“Isn’t there some way to become stronger immediately? It would be better to do it as quickly as possible in many ways.”

Currently, there are 3 Holy Sword techniques that could be added.

Not a small number. It seemed like it could create some significant changes.

[But you know, these ‘techniques’ are being added to me now.]

Suddenly, such words came from within the Holy Sword.

[I don’t know by what principle these are being added, but are you copying abilities I originally used?]

“Well, it seems like that kind of concept.”

[…Hmm.]

Upon hearing that, the Holy Sword fell into thought for a moment.

[Then try acquiring the ones I mention, if you can acquire them.]

Hearing the list that followed, Carlisle looked at the Holy Sword with incredulous eyes.

“…These? What are you trying to do?”

What the Holy Sword mentioned were skills that, in Carlisle’s view, had absolutely no synergy with each other.

To the extent that he wondered what these could possibly be used for.

However, to such doubts, the Holy Sword calmly responded.

[Keep this in mind. You’re not the only one who regressed.]

“…What are you suddenly talking about?”

[Everyone has regrets. Even I, who took on the role of humanity’s guardian, am no different.]

“Yes?”

[If I could go back to that time, I could have done better, I shouldn’t have done it that way, but this way… Those kinds of regrets. That applies to my growth as well.]

Things that only become visible after achieving them.

If it’s a Hero who has ‘already completed growth’, she would immediately see how to better utilize everything she had built up so far.

[I’ll pass on all the theories I’ve accumulated that way to you.]

“…”

Huh.

Wait.

‘…Come to think of it, that’s right?’

It’s not just him who’s starting over.

Everything that humanity’s guardian has accumulated is with him now.

Moreover, the basis of the power he now possesses is the ability of the Hero.

He learns how to use the strength of the Hero himself, the ‘complete Hero’ herself.

That means it is no different from the strongest synergy.

[Humanity’s strongest guarantees it. You will become stronger faster than anyone else.]

What followed was.

[Enough to be a milestone for ‘me’ in this timeline.]

– It was a sentence with an aura that made my spine tingle.