The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
“Also, if possible, I have one more favor to ask…”
“Hmm? That’s rather bold of you… though, well, we’re not exactly strangers. Let’s hear it, at least.”
Despite his curt manner, he didn’t dismiss me outright and remained open to listening.
If Luna were here, she’d probably say, “What a tsundere.”
“Thank you. There’s one thing I’d like to ask.”
“One thing you want to ask?”
“It’s about the hero’s bloodline.”
When I once visited the village of the spirit folk…
The elder had told me, If you ever begin to question your origins, you should visit our village.
The elder must have known that my family was a branch of the hero’s lineage.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said such a thing.
I’ve already solved the mystery of my own origins…
But now, new questions have arisen.
I want to rely on the elder’s knowledge to help resolve them.
“Elder, you know something about the hero’s bloodline, don’t you?”
“Hmm, sounds like you’re certain of that. Well, there’s no point in hiding it. I do know. Or rather, it would be strange if I didn’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“Because I was there when the hero established the main and branch families.”
I widened my eyes in surprise at this unexpected revelation.
The elder continued speaking with a bitter expression.
“That was several hundred years ago. Back then, we spirit folk still lived alongside humans.”
“I see… if possible, I’d like to hear the details of that time.”
“Joining hands with humans is a stain on our history, but… very well. I did say I would speak of it when the time came.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry to ask.”
I bowed my head slightly.
It must be a difficult subject for the elder, who now keeps his distance from humans.
And yet, I was asking him to bring it all back up.
I felt guilty, but even so, this was something I needed to hear now.
“So, what do you want to know about the main and branch families?”
“There’s much I could ask about the main family, but for now, I want to know more about the branch family.”
“Hmm? Your own family?”
That too was something I was deeply interested in.
But that wasn’t the main reason I was here today.
“Have you ever heard the name Monica Eclair?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Is there a branch family called the Eclair family?”
“That… hmm? Give me a moment.”
The elder seemed to have some idea and went into the back of the house.
Perhaps he had a memory, or maybe a record of it.
I waited with growing anticipation, and after about five minutes, the elder returned.
In his hands was an old book.
“What’s that?”
“A record of the relationship between the main and branch families at the time. It doesn’t contain information about the current state, but it should describe the historical connections in detail.”
“May I take a look?”
“That’s why I brought it. Go ahead and read it.”
“Thank you.”
I accepted the book and began reading.
At the very beginning, I saw a name listed as the main family—one I’d never heard before.
“Huh?”
“What’s the matter?”
“The House of Arios… Isn’t the Orland family the main branch?”
“Orland? I’ve never heard of such a house. It must be a lineage that branched off and formed later on.”
So at some point, a branch family became the main family?
Is that even possible?
I came here to solve a mystery, but instead, I found a new one.
For now, I’ll set aside the matter of Arios’s family.
Right now, what matters is Monica… and the Eclair family.
“Ah.”
As I traced the branch families, I found a mention of the Shroud family.
It gave me a strange feeling.
And then, further along the line—an offshoot of an offshoot of an offshoot—I finally found it: a mention of the Eclair family.
“I knew it.”
This confirmed that Monica, too, was a descendant of the first hero.
Her ability to create illusions must be a unique power, just like my Taming ability.
Or perhaps it was something passed down specifically within her family, the Eclair line.
“What kind of person is this human?”
“Ah, sorry. I haven’t explained yet.”
I then began to explain about Monica.
“…And that’s how it is.”
Given Monica's complicated position—and the many things she’s done up to now—my explanation ended up being quite long.
The elder listened and then furrowed his brows grimly.
“This person, though human, is siding with the demons. Are you certain of this?”
“Almost certainly, yes.”
Just recently, through Iris’s testimony, I learned that a demon named Reez is behind all of this.
Monica is said to be Reez’s right hand.
“This… could become a serious problem.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re aware, aren’t you? Those of the hero’s bloodline possess special powers, and they have no upper limit to their growth. They can grow stronger and stronger without end. If someone like that becomes our enemy…”
“They’d be incredibly troublesome, to say the least.”
I’d already fought Monica multiple times.
She doesn’t wield overwhelming firepower, but…
Her ability to produce and control multiple illusions at will is a major threat.
I understand the danger of that power all too well.
“Still, why would a branch family of the hero side with the demons…?”
“You can’t say that no human ever falls into darkness, can you? I think you, of all people, would know that best.”
“…You’re right about that.”
I gave a bitter smile as I recalled Arios and Lin.
“But still, Arios and the others were technically heroes. They never openly became enemies of humanity. But… Monica is different. She’s clearly positioned herself in opposition to humans. What could’ve driven her to that?”
“It might have to do with her origins.”
“Her origins?”
“Many branch families were created. But only a few remain today. Am I wrong?”
“No, you’re right… I don’t know the details, but I don’t think there are that many left.”
“And do you know why? Because they were destroyed.”
“Destroyed…?”
“One branch family faded away when no heirs were born. Another… was targeted by demons and wiped out along with their entire village.”
That family… was probably mine.
So it wasn’t an accident—it was an attack…
A fierce anger welled up inside me, but I held it back for now, only clenching my fists tightly.
“And yet another branch family… was wiped out in the midst of a foolish human conflict.”
TL Note- Time to brush up hero history.....
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