Episode 138. Interlude – Descendant of the Iron Fist (1)

After the battle with Laktasia.

Due to the side effects of using “Extreme Flame,” I was half-unconscious and transported to Berald’s mansion.

“Ugh…”

A dull pain as if someone was hammering my entire body.

As soon as I opened my eyes, the pain hit me, and I groaned, furrowing my brows.

‘This aftermath is way worse than I thought.’

Well.

Considering the insane effects of Extreme Flame, this level of aftermath is to be expected.

‘Originally, the aftermath would have been much worse.’

But thanks to Iris’s healing magic, the aftermath of Extreme Flame was minimized.

I glanced back at Iris, who was sleeping soundly while hugging me from behind.

Seeing Iris’s sleeping face made my heart race.

“Hmm…”

Iris, perhaps awakened by my movement, opened her eyes groggily.

“Ah… You’re awake, Dale?”

“Yeah.”

“How’s your body?”

“Thanks to you, Iris, I feel much better.”

As I tried to sit up from the bed, Iris pulled me back down.

“No, you’re not okay yet.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Tsk. You’re not okay until the healer says you are.”

Iris put on a stern face but smiled brightly.

A pure white light flowed from her body, entering mine through the skin it touched.

The dull pain that felt like being hammered gradually subsided.

“How is it? The pain’s gone, right?”

“…Ahem.”

The soft sensation replacing the pain made me cough awkwardly.

“Dale’s back… is wider than I thought.”

Iris whispered in my ear, tightening her arms around my waist.

I couldn’t see her face since I was turned away, but judging by the laughter in her voice, she was probably wearing a mischievous smile.

“…Iris.”

“Dale.”

I untangled her arms from my waist and turned around.

Our gazes met.

Close enough to feel each other’s breath.

Our lips gradually getting closer━.

“…Isn’t it about time to back off?”

Then.

A cold voice interrupted.

“Y-Yuren?”

I sat up in surprise and saw Yuren standing at the door, glaring at us with a cold gaze.

Yuren walked over with a basket of fruits and sat on the chair next to the bed.

Perhaps because our private moment was interrupted.

Iris glared at Yuren with narrowed eyes and spoke.

“My, my, entering without knocking. Does the Helios Family not teach basic manners?”

“Better than a healer who clings to the patient even after the treatment is over.”

The tense atmosphere in the room.

Both were smiling, but the atmosphere felt like being in the middle of a battlefield.

‘Wait, Iris doesn’t know Yuren is a woman. Why is she acting like this?’

Just imagining how much worse the atmosphere would get if Yuren’s gender was revealed made my stomach churn.

“Dale. You must be hungry since you haven’t eaten anything?”

“Ah, yeah. I’m a bit peckish.”

“I’ll peel some fruit for you.”

Yuren took an apple from the basket and started peeling it.

‘How does she peel fruit like that?’

Exaggerating a bit, the peeled apple skin was so thin it was almost transparent.

As I marveled at Yuren’s incredible knife skills.

“Here, Dale. Ah~.”

Yuren, who had cut the apple into bite-sized pieces, speared one with a fork and brought it to my mouth.

A situation where a handsome blonde man feeds me an apple he peeled himself right after I woke up.

‘Please don’t do this.’

Even though I knew Yuren was a woman, her current appearance was that of a man, making my mind a mess.

“What’s wrong, Dale? No appetite?”

“No, it’s not that…”

As I was struggling with my inner turmoil(?),

BAM!

“Brother Dale!!!”

Berald burst into the room.

“Are, are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah. As you can see, I’m fine.”

“Whew. You scared me when you suddenly collapsed.”

Berald sighed in relief, patting his chest.

Yeah.

Seeing his face calmed my chaotic mind a bit.

“Huh? Brother Yuren. Did you peel that fruit for Brother?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Hehehe! Well, nothing beats sweet fruit for recovery!”

Berald snatched the plate of fruit from Yuren and picked up a piece with his thick fingers.

“Here, Brother, say ah~! I’ll feed you myself!”

“……”

The apple Berald fed me tasted bitter.

* * *

Gilbert Ryou’s bedroom.

Iris stood next to Gilbert, who was deeply asleep with his eyes closed.

“Then… I’ll start the treatment.”

There were three high-grade magic stones obtained from the ruins this time.

Enough to serve as ‘offerings’ for the healing.

“……”

The room was filled with tension.

Berald fidgeted nervously, shaking his legs.

I placed a hand on Berald’s shoulder and watched Iris.

“O seven gods in heaven.”

Iris began chanting an incantation with her hands clasped.

Her eyes turned into a rainbow of seven colors, and a pure white divine energy filled the room.

Iris placed one hand on the magic stone and the other on Gilbert’s forehead, continuing the incantation.

“Please look upon the wounded soul, embrace it with warm hands, and guide it so it does not lose its way.”

OOOOOOH!

As the incantation continued, the light from the magic stones dimmed one by one.

The divine energy grew stronger as the light from the stones faded.

A whirlwind of pure white light swept through the room.

And then.

“…Huh?”

Gilbert slowly opened his eyes.

He sat up in bed, looking around, and his gaze landed on Berald.

“Ah! Big bro!”

“……”

Berald’s expression darkened despite the cheerful voice.

“Ah…”

A soft sigh escaped Iris’s lips.

She bit her lip and shook her head.

“…I’m sorry.”

Even with three high-grade magic stones as offerings, the healing magic couldn’t cure Gilbert’s wounds.

“Haha, no. I told you it might fail from the start.”

“But! We can keep trying if we get more offerings, so don’t be too disappointed!”

Iris comforted Berald.

“…Other offerings.”

Suddenly, Berald’s gaze shifted to his waist.

There, the ‘Legacy of the Iron Fist’ obtained from the ruins was stored.

“Berald, you’re not thinking…”

“……”

Berald pulled out the blue gauntlet from his waist.

“Sister Iris. Didn’t you say artifacts can also be used as offerings?”

“Well, yes, but…”

Iris trailed off, looking at me.

I sighed deeply and turned to Berald.

“Berald. I understand how you feel, but don’t rush. We’ll have plenty of chances to get more offerings.”

“I know.”

Berald smiled faintly and handed me the gauntlet.

A silent request to use it as an offering.

I stared into Berald’s eyes and continued.

“Berald, this gauntlet is the legacy of the Iron Fist.”

“I know.”

“It’s a treasure countless heroes have sought for 500 years.”

“I know.”

“We might never get an artifact of this level again.”

“I know.”

Berald nodded silently.

But he didn’t take back the gauntlet he offered me.

“Berald…”

“Brother, I know everything you’re saying.”

Berald smiled faintly and continued.

“I know I’m being too hasty, that this gauntlet is a precious treasure, and that I might never get such a treasure again in my life.”

Berald stroked the gauntlet as he spoke.

“Actually, my relationship with Father wasn’t that great. I was always the lacking son, and Father didn’t like that.”

“After Mother passed away from illness, my relationship with Father grew even more distant. I can’t even remember the last time we ate together.”

“I’m not that smart, so I don’t know what the wise choice is.”

But.

Even so.

“I remember Father taking me to the mountains when I was little.”

“I remember getting scolded harshly when I stole a toy from a neighborhood kid out of childish greed.”

“I remember Father comforting me when my magic studies didn’t go well, telling me to take my time and go straight.”

So.

“I want Father to remember me too.”

Berald smiled as he said this.

“……”

I took the gauntlet from Berald.

A treasure I never found in my past life.

A powerful artifact that might greatly help change the future.

Suddenly.

I remembered the words Berald left me before he died in my past life.

-Even if I die, remember my name.

Yeah.

You were that kind of person.

In my past life. And now.

You might not remember, but I do.

Because of you.

I can be who I am now.

“Iris. Use this as an offering for the healing magic again.”

“…You know that once an artifact is used as an offering, it loses its power, right?”

“Yeah.”

I know.

“…Okay.”

Iris took the gauntlet.

OOOOOOH!

A light far more intense than before filled the room.

And then.

“Ah, uh…!”

Gilbert, clutching his head, groaned in pain.

He slowly raised his head, looking around in confusion.

“Ugh… Where is this…?”

Gilbert’s confused gaze landed on Berald.

“Berald…? When did you get so tall?”

“…Huh.”

Berald covered his face with his hand, his shoulders shaking as he nodded.

“That’s right. I’m Berald… Berald Ryou, son of Gilbert Ryou…”

Sniff, sniff.

Tears streamed down Berald’s face as he bowed his head.