The sizzling heat—

Selvia's entire body was enveloped in heat that instantly evaporated every raindrop falling on her. The ground where she stood repeatedly burst into flames before dying down.

But to me, it was merely warm.

I'm not actually a fire spirit, so this must be an option attached to Selvia's Ascension. Her flames don't harm me.

The K-whatever guy stopped his attack. He seemed to be taking a defensive stance, trying to assess Selvia's Ascension. He appeared to be considering the possibility that it might counter his abilities.

"So you've awakened your Ascension."

"As you can see."

"You found a way out in a crisis situation. But do you think you can face me with a newly manifested, unrefined Ascension? Flames are my food."

K-whatever is right.

He's an accomplished Ascension user who appeared even in the later stages of the Hero Selection Tournament. There must be a huge gap between him and Selvia, who has just taken her first steps.

"Well..."

But extremes can always overturn differences in skill and experience. Selvia smiled confidently and instantly drew upon her mental power.

Flaming wings unfurled from Selvia's shoulder blades as the surrounding temperature rose at an unimaginably steep rate.

Sizzle—!!

The sound of water instantly boiling and dispersing echoed around us.

The ground within a 30-meter radius dried up completely, and the raindrops pouring from the sky couldn't penetrate past a certain boundary.

Though limited in space, she had stopped the rain. With heat alone.

I could see K-whatever's expression hardening.

With firepower so extreme that just the prelude to an attack stops rain... With this... that guy's flame snake that absorbs fire won't be able to swallow it whole!

"Burn him, Selvia!"

"I was planning to anyway. Watch carefully!"

Whoosh!

A small sun bloomed between Selvia's outstretched palms. Rough, straightforward, without any tricks... but purely hot.

This was a flame that only someone who had diligently persevered could create. The radiance emitted by the concentrated heat source filled the surroundings.

"Flame Seraph Stage 1, 'Resplendent Ripple'!"

"'Courting Flame Serpent', devour it!"

Woooong-!

The snake with its jaws wide open intersected with the small sun. The flame snake swallowed the sun and then writhed in pain, its head suddenly swelling up.

Swoooosh-!

BOOM-!!

Its head exploded.

The flame that was so hot and powerful that even a flame-absorbing snake couldn't swallow it and exploded instead!

===============================================================

Kravelin Render calmly observed his "Courting Flame Serpent" as it lost its head and collapsed. That woman's firepower was abnormal.

Having trained in fire magic, he knew how to deal with flames. Nevertheless, just the brief exposure to her heat had scorched his entire skin. If this was what happened despite blocking with the Courting Flame Serpent... a mere graze would be fatal.

The brightness was so intense he couldn't look directly at it, and even with his sleeve covering his eyes, his corneas stung.

The world is unfair. That's right.

Lifelong love sometimes goes unrequited, and talented younger mages frequently overtake you in this cruel world.

But the heavens, within their great unfairness, maintain small fairnesses. These are generally immutable laws.

First, even geniuses cannot gain experience.

"How about that? Can you still swallow this... pfft, hrut."

The Red Tower woman spat fire from her mouth while speaking, hastily closing her lips and wiping away the flames. Like someone who had drooled.

This meant she couldn't fully control her Ascension.

She was like someone who suddenly grew wings. Without sufficient practice and training, she would naturally fumble. The experience gap remained.

And second, for everything gained, something is inevitably lost.

If her firepower is this extremely powerful—

"'Fire Arrow.'"

"...Huh?!"

Whoosh, zwaaap-!

The fire arrow that Kravelin Render suddenly shot aimed at Selvia's leg and flew at high speed. The arrow 'scattered' her ankle as it passed through.

It looked like shooting an arrow at burning flames rather than a human body. At first glance, it seemed no damage was done, but Kravelin Render had insight.

"You have no defensive capability. No, you've actually become extremely vulnerable."

"......"

"You've reduced your physical durability to the point where a bucket of water could kill you. You've turned your body into a bonfire. That explains this level of firepower."

That also explained why she had put on the performance of stopping the rain. She could die if she got wet, so she deliberately wasted energy to keep the surroundings dry.

The Red Tower woman swallowed hard and faced him defiantly.

"Hmph, whether you understand or not... your snake exploded and died. I won't fall for such sneak attacks anymore!"

"How inexperienced. It's natural since you just awakened your Ascension. As a funeral oration, let me tell you... never make assumptions about your opponent's Ascension abilities."

Slither. Slither.

Wriggle.

The body of the flame snake, headless after the explosion, began to squirm. And from the cross-section of the severed head—

Puhwak-!!

Two heads sprouted up.

"...It revives too?!"

"Even the slightest attack would be fatal to you now. Block it if you can. Desperately."

"I'll just explode it again, 'Resplendent Ripple'...!"

"'Devouring Fire', 'Void Explosion'."

Woooong-!

Small suns with massive explosive power are fired repeatedly. Against this, Kravelin Render used the flame snake as a shield while jumping around, casting spells from blind spots.

At the same time, the now two-headed flame snake opened its mouth and charged forward.

BOOM-! BOOOM-!!

The world repeatedly brightens and darkens.

The snake is shot down, and its head grows back. Persistent and tenacious. Even more so because it contains Kravelin Render's affection.

The difference in experience couldn't be ignored either. Kravelin Render calmly navigated the battle and pressed hard even when taking damage.

"If the trajectory had been just a bit more inward, you would have died."

"...!"

He kept reminding her. Your Ascension's penalty is defensive vulnerability, and you're in a precarious position where one direct hit means instant death.

He had judged that by psychologically pressuring her into becoming passive, he could turn the tide in his favor, but...

It had the opposite effect.

"I've already risked my life! I can finally shine by his side... I won't hesitate-!!"

"......"

The Red Tower woman pushed herself even more fervently.

The heat rose further, and the radius of the rainless sphere widened. At the same time, her body's outline blurred and began to flicker like a flame. She had further lowered her durability.

"Flame Seraph Stage 2— 'Blazing Neighbor Star'!"

Tididididik-!

With a bizarre sound like air being fried, small stars emitting crimson light orbited around the Red Tower woman.

The ground around the Flame Seraph melted and flowed.

Kravelin Render's instinct quietly warned him. That was truly dangerous. Even the Courting Flame Serpent wouldn't be able to handle it.

He had to kill her first.

As he prepared his final spell, he spoke softly.

"Is that man so precious to you? I saw him in the Holy City. There was another woman. They looked happy enough to tell even from a distance."

"......"

"It's a love you can't obtain. To get it, you must become far more 'necessary' to him than those women."

Yes.

That's why she had decided to create a sun.

The Red Tower Master didn't spare Kravelin Render a glance. She was obsessed with her research and loved it.

So to win her heart, Kravelin Render had to become more 'necessary' than anyone else. That's why he had used any means necessary.

That's how desperate his feelings were.

The Red Tower woman mage pondered this, but then filled her eyes with determination again and answered.

"It doesn't matter if I can't have him."

"...What?"

"Of course I'll be annoyed, sad, and jealous enough to tear my stomach apart...! But. If I can just be by his side. If I can shine on him as much as he shone on me... I can accept it even while crying!"

Kravelin gritted his teeth. Unacceptable.

"In the end, that's a loser's compromise. Not yearning with thirst means your love isn't that precious..."

"You're the one who's too obsessed!"

He had stalled for enough time. The Red Tower woman had probably played along for her casting too, but Kravelin Render was one step ahead. He was definitely faster.

While the small sun was repeatedly creating blinding flashes, he sent one of the Courting Flame Serpent's heads to hide at his feet.

And then he moved stealthily underground. He had finally reached his goal. That woman, who had become an extremely fragile glass cannon due to her Ascension, would die just from being bitten by the flame snake.

He shouted.

"Devour her!"

"...!!"

Rumble, BOOM-!!

The ground exploded as the flame snake shot up. Rock dust scattered in all directions, and the Red Tower woman vanished without a trace.

The battle was over.

The result of extremely boosting her firepower was that she fell to a single dagger. A sword unprotected by a shield is this vulnerable.

Kravelin Render was about to manipulate the flame snake to finish off the Red Tower man when... his body froze.

He didn't feel like he had caught her. And the air was still hot.

A chilling voice whispered from somewhere.

"You thought I wouldn't be a threat since I lost an arm and was limping in a mess. Right, K-whatever?"

"You... what did you do?"

"Role distribution is important. If Selvia chose the spear, I should be the shield, shouldn't I? Team balance must be maintained."

"I asked what trick you pulled!"

Slither.

Suddenly appearing in mid-air, the mage was holding the burning Selvia in a princess carry. He grinned like a crow and said.

"'Pseudo-Illusion Magic: Heat Haze'... I used something like illusion magic with fire magic. Turns out it works somehow. Surprised?"

"Of course I'm surprised. How can you use another school's magic with fire magic... Are you really not human?"

"You're half not human right now too. You're something like a living flame."

"...It's not hot, is it?"

Illusion magic... with fire magic? Nonsense.

Kravelin Render had wasted his attack opportunity. Selvia had safely completed her casting. The red star orbiting around her was aimed at Kravelin.

After gathering power, the next step is release. A fatal blow was likely coming. But there was still a way to survive.

He could completely abandon the "Courting Flame Serpent." Burst all the power he had gathered at once. That would allow him to withstand it.

He would have to start accumulating flames from scratch again, but that was better than losing his life.

"Can you help me aim... Oppa?"

"Leave it to me. 0.5 clicks to the left from the origin."

That's how you start from the beginning. Gathering flames, accumulating them, creating a sun. And then going to the Red Tower Master and offering it...

Offering it. By offering it, what would change?

A sense of loss.

Kravelin Render felt a deep sense of loss.

The Red Tower woman looked so happy. As if every minute and second with her childhood friend she had dreamed of was satisfying.

Saying she could be content just basking in the sunlight, even if she couldn't make the sun her own.

A coward's and loser's way of thinking. Fake!

From the angel's hand, the red star awakened.

"Flame Seraph Stage 3— 'Nova'!"

Keeeeeng—!!

Time flows slowly.

Kravelin Render saw the pillar of scorching light flying straight toward him. As he watched, he thought.

Everyone wants to grasp love. Kravelin Render was no different. He doesn't think he was wrong.

But in a corner of his mind, doubts kept arising. Like burn marks. Thoughts he couldn't ignore.

What if...

What if instead of killing his seniors and disciples and leaving the Red Tower, he had stayed and diligently built up his magic?

What if instead of wanting to completely possess love, he had wished for his love to simply be happy?

Even if he couldn't win the Red Tower Master's heart.

Perhaps, would he have been happy just being by her side?

"......"

In the very last moment, Kravelin relaxed his hands that were forming a seal.

And the shadow of the regretful mage was covered by a light as intense as the sun.

KWAAAAA—!!

......

Not even a shadow remained where the light had passed. But in that outline, on some ashes placed on the uneven stones that had scattered and melted, remained one regret of a certain man.

Was my love... just selfishness?

===============================================================

What happened after that? Everything worked out very neatly.

We recovered the half-melted "Psychopath Module." It was there when we searched the area carefully. I successfully inserted it into my head.

My computational ability and mana capacity increased!

Kravelin Render melted cleanly away. So there wasn't a single piece of evidence that we killed him, but that was fine. Selvia had achieved her Ascension.

It's an Ascension with crazy performance, even with conditions attached. There's a demerit that she could die instantly if used incorrectly, but that's actually fine.

Because whenever Selvia activates her Ascension, I'll always be by her side.

Then I can provide cosmic defense with my fancy illusion magic handling. She's the sword and I'm the shield. Perfect role distribution, isn't it?

Also, I gained a little sister from this incident!

"Try calling me Oppa?"

"O-o..."

"Hmm? Hmmmm?"

"You'll pay for your arrogance!"

"Eek!"

A punch landed in my side.

The "Oppa" comment seemed to have come out when her emotions were unstable right after manifesting her Ascension. She was extremely embarrassed and refused to say it again.

After wrapping things up, we returned to the Red Tower.

Selvia walked with her nose in the air like someone returning in triumph. She looked like she had nothing to fear now that she had reached Ascension.

And on the day we met the Red Tower Master.

"So Selvia reached Ascension? I'm still talented as ever...?"

"Stop with the private jokes and listen to our mission report. Kravelin Render, completely erased from the world. That's all."

"Mmm, I was just preparing something. What our Selvia has been wanting so badly."

"......"

Selvia gulped repeatedly. She glanced at me as if seeking permission. I gave her a thumbs up to reassure her. Go Selvia! Use your wish to fulfill your dream!

Then, Selvia and the Red Tower Master spoke simultaneously.

"I want to know how to reverse the amnesia!"

"Your childhood friend who shares your memories is currently in the Purple Tower."

"What?"

"Huh?"

What?

What's that supposed to mean when I'm right here?

As Selvia and I stood stunned, the Red Tower Master waved her hand and brought out a crystal ball for video recording. She tapped it a few times.

With a crackle.

A familiar face was projected onto the nearby wall. It was Yuna, looking quite angry.

-So you're saying my child went there?! I-I'll be right over. Touch him and I'll destroy you, I'll destroy you! Touch him and... it's war!

-Violetiris. Your tiny barking isn't scary at all...? And I respect our darling's free will. I have no intention of forcing anything, so don't worry. But, oh my. You are...?

With the Red Tower Master's surprised voice, another person appears in the video. A young boy who looks about ten years old. He has jet-black hair and red eyes, but somehow his face looks very heroic.

"...Uwaah?!"

Selvia exclaimed with wide eyes. I almost did too. Was that expression possible with my face?

So... the shota MadMa spoke gently.

-It's been a while, Vermillion.

-There are two of my darling?

-There are circumstances. The main body that went to your side has no memories of the past. So, please refrain from old stories. Please. Understand?

-Of course. I was a bit disappointed about the memory loss, but now we can finally reminisce and laugh together. So, is your name still—

Click.

"See? Selvia, so your childhood friend... seems to have split. Fortunately, we found his whereabouts. Now, how about discarding the man beside you and finding your true love?"

"......"

Selvia's eyes spun around before her neck creaked as she turned to look at me. No, this is news to me too. I didn't have such a module in my head. I didn't create it!

"Tell me quickly that the two of you are the same person, Professor."

"...Why?"

"Otherwise I'll become a two-timer for liking both of you...?!"

"...!!"

I was shocked as if struck by lightning. Is that, is that how it works...? No, I thought they should be separated, but wait. I didn't mishear.

Did Selvia just say she likes me too, separate from her childhood friend in her memories?

Before I could organize my thoughts, the runaway train of panic that was Selvia continued updating her famous quotes.

"...Come to think of it, you already have two of yourself. So maybe I can straddle two of the same person too...?!"

"Stop, stop Selvia! If you advance your thinking any further, one of us will have our head broken...!"

Selvia and I were at a loss in this extremely confusing situation, while the Red Tower Master laughed heartily.

It was much later that we learned this was all the Red Tower Master's scheme to tease Selvia and me.

===============================================================

"Promise" answered the Red Tower Master through the crystal ball, gently but firmly.

"I am not him from the past. I'm just a module. A personality created from the main body."

"But... the man you call the 'main body' had a very different personality? The man I remember was the very embodiment of a 'hero.' Just like you."

"Actually, the main body never changed. Even now, possessed by 'that thing,' the fundamental heart remains unchanged. That is."

"That is?"

-----------------

-You guys eat. I'm fine. Yeah, I already ate.

The image of the sun-like childhood friend that Selvia remembers.

-I'm seriously starving... Maybe I should have just eaten one piece? No, nutrition is so important for growing kids...

Was somewhat of a facade.

San-jebi Village had no adults to emulate, no wisdom worth learning, no good memories. Children were only freezing in the shadow of evil customs.

So he decided to light a fire himself to shine on them. For the growing children...

-Okay, get into character. Keep your mental. I am a reliable adult. A spiritual pillar. A hero who will overturn this damn village!

Because they needed a sun.