Chapter 99: The Emperor’s Truth

「…Lily. 」

「Long time no see, Ferid. 」

Seeing the Hero Lily descending from the hall onto the first floor, Ferid murmured as if he understood what had happened upstairs.

「…Before I went upstairs and blocked Kyou’s way, I knew he would go far in this fight. It seems that the purpose has been achieved.」

「What do you mean? 」

「You should know it, too. The vibration that happened earlier and the light that you saw from outside the window. Perhaps that’s the awakening of the world tree. If so, then the biggest purpose here has been accomplished.」

「So your purpose is the same as the Emperor’s? 」

If Ferid, who was brave enough to be called a Hero, was lending his hand to the Emperor, knowing that the Emperor’s purpose was to awaken the world tree and evolve the world, it would make sense for him to help the Emperor.

That’s what Lily thought.

「No, my purpose is not as noble the emperor’s…I’m far from being a hero, you know.」

「…? You’re saying weird things. Of the current Seven Heroes, there’s no one that righteous as you.」

Lily unintentionally had a question mark on her head upon hearing Ferid’s words.

At the very least, it was asserted that Ferid was the one who had contributed the most to the world among the current Seven Great Heroes.

He was the only one who single-handedly defeated an SS-rank monster, and as a result became one of the Seven Great Heroes.

After all, Ferid should be the one who best embodied the evolution process to achieve growth by overthrowing the hero system, and by extension, defeating SS-ranked monsters.

「…It’s overrated. I didn’t like it when I became one of the Seven Great Heroes. Besides…I didn’t even enjoy defeating the SS-rank monster.」

After hearing more, Lily sensed a feeling of regret.

「Rather than that, it seems that you were able to completely regain your memories and return to being friends with Kyou and his companions.」

「…Did you notice it? When did you realize who I was? 」

After fighting with Ferid on the battlefield, there was no chance that the two of them had a conversation like this.

Even so, looking at Ferid’s attitude, he seemed to be aware of Lily’s true identity.

「I’m only convinced right now. On that battlefield, I could only feel it vaguely. 」

As expected of the hero who once single-handedly defeated an SS-rank monster.

Lily thought that he had easily guessed who she was, who had the same presence as his previous nemesis.

「…As expected, I was envious of you guys…The whole relationship between you and Kyou…I wish I could have formed a bond like you guys, how much I regret it now…」

「Ferid, you…」

Lily sensed regret and sadness in Ferid’s expression when he muttered those words.

「…Don’t worry, my role here is over. Above all, it’s the people who fought against me who showed me what growth truly means to the world. 」

At the place Ferid pointed to, Jack and the other monsters were lying on the floor.

Lily who rushed over to her friends, but Ferid muttered faster than that.

「Everyone is alive. In a way, I was beaten by the gentleman with a pumpkin head…I commend him for being a behind-the-scenes contributor. 」

Ferid smiled while holding down his injured dominant arm as he headed towards the entrance of the outlying castle from the first-floor hall.

「My role here is over. If we ever have the chance to meet again, then I’d like to be your companion. Please tell Kyou my words. 」

Lily quietly saw Ferid disappear as he left the castle.

—

「Rostam, I would like to ask you one thing. 」

Saying that, Fitis asked the Emperor Hero who was kneeling while we were confused.

「Do you remember the words we exchanged when we first met? 」

「…Of course. At your birthday party, I gave you a sarcastic provocation, and I saw that you were furious by proving your worth. I declared that I would be the one to marry you. 」

「…Is that so? 」

In response to Rostam’s answer, Fitis closed her eyes as if convinced of something, and eventually made a clear assertion.

「That’s the proof that you’re not Rostam. 」

「What…? 」

Fitis confronted Rostam, who frowned, with the truth.

「At that time, it wasn’t you who provoked me by saying those words. It was your brother…Zahak. 」

「…!」

At that fact, Rostam showed a startled expression for the first time, and looked at his older brother Zahak, who was also kneeling and bowing down next to him.

「At that time, you were standing next to your brother Zahak. Certainly, I was supposed to announce my engagement to you at that time, but your brother took your place. At that time, when you said that you would welcome me as your brother’s fiancé. Then, the last time I officially exchanged words with you was when it was decided that you would take the inheritance of the Empire from Zahak and become Emperor. I thought that you brothers would never change…Oh well, anyway, if you were the real Rostam, you would not make a mistake about that.」

Rostam was perplexed by Fitis’ remark, but he seemed to have acknowledged somehow, and remained silent as if to affirm it.

「…Zahak. Can you tell me what happened? Who is the Rostam who stands here, and where is the real Rostam? 」

「…Well, that’s…」

Zahak showed some hesitation in response to Fitis’ question, but on this moment a third party’s voice resounded.

「The real one is already dead. Isn’t that right, Zahak, one of the Seven Great Heroes?

In response to that voice, when I turned around, I saw a figure of a person I knew very well.

「Mother! Dad! 」

The two of them were the first to invade this castle, and after that there was no news.

Well, since it was the two of them, I thought they were safe, but why did they show up at this timing?

「…In search of my brethren’s scent, I traced a passage in the underground of this castle, and beyond that we reached a secret room. We found something there. 」

The words that my mother said next brought a further shock to everyone.

「We found a coffin. It was adorned with an honorable decoration worthy of princes and nobles. That coffin probably belongs to the real Rostam. Is that right, Zahak? 」

「…Yes, that’s right…」

Zahak honestly admitted to what my mother implied.

That meant that the real Emperor Hero was already dead.

Then, who was this Emperor Hero…?

「I was wondering. How did a Behemoth with the same SS-rank as mine get kidnapped by humans? Moreover, there’s no way you can easily create a place where you can confine an SS-rank monster. However, If you think about it this way, it makes sense. 」

My mother continued her reasoning.

「From the beginning, Behemoth crossed over to this Empire by his own free will. And then, with the humanization ability of SS-rank monsters, Behemoth changed his appearance into that particular person…」

And my mother pointed to that person…Rostam, the Emperor Hero, kneeling in front of us.

「Emperor Hero Rostam. Your true identity is the SS-Rank Behemoth. The scent of a SS-Rank that existed in this castle was drifting from you. 」

Everyone could only breathe quietly.

Originally, one of my mother’s goals was to take back the SS-rank monster Behemoth, who was also her compatriot.

However, Behemoth was the Emperor Hero. Behemoth had acted as the Emperor Hero until now.

My head was already full of what was going on.

「…I’ll talk…」

However, Zahak began to speak as if to confess everything.

「…Everything began when Rostam was chosen as the new Great Hero to be part of the Seven Great Heroes…When he was chosen, my feelings changed, and my sins began…」

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