I don't want to be a heroic spirit

Even if they couldn't see that dreamlike scene, they couldn't turn a blind eye to those monsters, nor could they turn a blind eye to the village that might be invaded by monsters.

However, people who are familiar with Xinmei, such as Aize, Zhi, and Haita, can see that Xinmei is still obsessed with the scenes described by the villagers of Gris.

"Even if you eliminated all the monsters nearby, you wouldn't be able to see that sight, Sinmeier."

Although the villagers had already said this, Aize wanted to repeat it to Xinmeier. "The crystal flowers are fine. As long as all the monsters are eliminated, it will only take a dozen years at most for the blooming crystal flowers to form a sea of ​​flowers again. But it will take nearly a hundred years to make the exhausted magic power form a tide again."

"A hundred years will pass. By that time, you and Haita will probably be gone, and I will probably be too old to travel again."

Aize didn't mean to pour cold water on Xinmei'er, he just wanted Xinmei'er not to have any unrealistic fantasies.

"I'm fine, Aize."

Xin Meir listened to Aize's words quietly, with a faint smile on his face.

"I'm truly sorry that I couldn't enjoy the sight so many people raved about... but it can't be helped. Regrets are inevitable on a journey, so... I intend to pass this wish on to the future Ash and Fulilian."

"If it's them, they will definitely be able to make up for my regret."

Those blue eyes seemed to be able to see far into the future, reflecting the stars like a mirror lake.

"And...we are not without gain."

"The efforts we've made these days will give people a hundred years from now the chance to witness that magnificent sight. If we can defeat the Demon King and usher in true peace, then... a time will come when everyone can witness that magnificent view."

"When they are moved by that dreamlike scene, they will surely thank us for our efforts... though they may not know who to thank at that time."

Even if they really defeat the Demon King, they will be forgotten sooner or later.

His experiences will give rise to various legends or stories, and word of mouth will give birth to various heroic characters based on them.

However, Xin Meier felt that it didn't matter even if that was the case.

"I want to be a hero, not to defeat the devil, but to make the flowers that bloom because of me, and the stars that shine because of me, bring blessings to those who are still working hard in the distant future."

"This is the most gratifying reward I could ever receive."

466

Chapter 466 Fictional legends and real history.

30 years after the death of the brave Sinmeier.

After leaving the underground space, Jian and others spent several days crossing the forest and arrived at Gris Village.

"Let's rest here before reaching the next town."

Fulilian made this decision.

Passing through the gate and into the village, walking on the rough path, Fulilian's eyes swept over the surrounding buildings.

"What's wrong? Fleuryen."

Jian walked beside Fulilian, with a smile as gentle as the warm spring sun on his face. "Is there anything here that interests you?"

"Not really, it's just... it feels really rare."

Fulilian's tone was uneven. "This place doesn't seem much different from the last time I was here. When I went to look for Xinmeier and was in Morufu, the city had changed so much that I almost got lost... And that hot spring town disappeared in just eighty years."

Eighty years is a lifetime for many ordinary people, but in Fulilian's mouth, it was described as "only".

Even though she was changed a lot by Xinmeier, some small details that were inadvertently revealed Fulilian's uniqueness as an immortal species.

Jian's lake-blue eyes blinked, and he spoke softly, "Xinmeier lives in the capital of the Central Powers. Eighty years is more than enough time for it to undergo a complete transformation. Moruf is so powerful because he has a formidable lord."

"As for the hot spring town, it's even easier to understand. It was a town that developed due to the nearby hot springs. However, the hot springs there dried up decades ago, so the hot spring town naturally couldn't survive."

"I know... Of course I know what you're talking about."

Fulilian lowered her eyes and her voice gradually faded. "I just... don't like this, that's all. It's just a careless mistake... and I can never get it back."

Looking at Fulilian like this, there seemed to be something more in Jian's smile, and tenderness like autumn water rippled slightly in his eyes.

He raised his hand and gently stroked Fulilian's head, but Fulilian slapped it away.

"Stop touching my head. I'm not a child."

"You're treating me differently. Even at Sinmeier's funeral, Haita touched your head and you didn't slap him away so hard."

“…I forgot about it then.”

Flillian, who seemed to care about nothing and take nothing seriously, as if her own time and emotions were frozen, cried at Xinmei's funeral.

It was as if, until that day, Fulilian finally understood the meaning of death, and understood the fact that "from this day on, the person in the coffin will never be able to open his eyes again, will never appear in front of me again, and I can only see him in my memories."

Ash's thoughts began to wander.

That was the night when everyone returned to the capital after the Demon King was successfully defeated.

It was also the night when the Brave Squad disbanded.

After that night, Haita will return to the church, Xinmeier plans to find a job, Aize says he wants to go back, and Fulilian will embark on a journey again in search of magic.

That night, Ash had a conversation with Xin Meir.

First, Ash congratulated Sinmel on his successful defeat of the Demon King, and Sinmel responded with a smile.

"You're here after all, Ash."

"What? Aren't you welcome?"

Jian smiled and jokingly said, "Although I didn't go to the Demon King's Castle with you, at least we traveled together for a while, right? Could it be that our feelings have faded so quickly?"

"But, you've actually been following us all along, right? You also helped us when we entered the Demon King's Castle."

“…Is it really discovered?”

Jian gave a bitter laugh. "I thought I was hiding it well enough. Even Fulilian wouldn't have found it. Why did I get exposed?"

"It's the intuition of a brave man."

“…That’s really unreasonable.”

Xin Meir lay on the railing, the stars in the sky fell into his blue eyes, shining with starlight.

Haita got drunk because he drank too much at the celebration. Aize was responsible for carrying the drunken monk back, while Fulilian went back to sleep early.

So, now only Jian stayed beside Xinmeier, looking at the stars in the night sky with him.

However, although their eyes reflect the starry sky, their hearts are reflecting every bit of the past.

Silence is like fine wine. It contains a certain complex emotion that becomes richer and more mellow with the passage of time, making people intoxicated.

"It's time to part ways. I'm really sad."

"Have you ever thought about trying to keep him?"

Jian was still gazing up at the starry sky, letting his cloak flutter in the evening breeze. "You know what I mean."

“…Oh, have we been discovered?”

"Except for Fulilian herself, there shouldn't be anyone who hasn't noticed it, right? After all, you don't seem to have any intention of covering it up."

"Hmm... I'm a little shy."

"It's okay to blush. It's dark around here anyway, so no one will see you blush."

There was another period of silence. The stars above and the lights under the railings complemented each other, creating a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.

"They really don't look alike... They're clearly all elves."

Xin Meier's words were filled with strong emotions, as if they had been suppressed for ten years. "If Fulilian were as smart as you, then it would be countless times more difficult for me to hide this."

"Why hide it?"

Jian was genuinely puzzled. "Wouldn't it be better to just say it directly?"

"If I had really been discovered, I would probably have made a completely different choice, but... since I haven't been discovered, I might as well just let things take their course as they are now."

Tenderness almost overflows from that smile.

It’s hard to imagine what it takes to have such a gentle expression and eyes.

"Compared to the lifespan of an elf, we are just a bunch of fireworks in her long years."

There was another indescribable silence.

then……

"Of course, I must be the most beautiful one."

Xin Meir lifted his hair narcissistically.

"..."

Jian was speechless for a moment.

That was a conversation known only to the two parties involved, Ash and Xin Meir.

However, now that Xin Meir has passed away, it seems that Jian is the only one who still remembers that conversation.

Suddenly, Jian came back to her senses from her reminiscence, just because someone called her name.

"Could it be... Lord Ash and Lady Fulilian?"

When they heard the sound, both Ash and Fulilian were surprised and subconsciously stopped and turned around.

Although they are both well-known as members of the brave Sinmel team, if the Throne of Heroes existed in this world, their fame and great deeds would be enough to make them Heroic Spirits.

However, after all, eighty years have passed since that time, and it is still rare to recognize the two of them at a glance. Even if ordinary people admire Xinmeier and like the Brave Team very much, they only know that there is a white-haired elf magician and a blonde elf magician in the team, but they will not recognize the identities of Ash and Fulilian.

Generally speaking, when someone is called out by name directly, it means that the other person has met Jian and others before.

"Wow! It really is Ash-sama and Fulilian-sama! I thought it was just another hallucination caused by old age."

The person who said this was an old man with a hunched back and a head full of white hair that told of the vicissitudes of life.

However, the excitement in the old man's tone was quite obvious the moment he recognized Ash and Fulilian.

"You are……?"

Fulilian tilted her head, not recognizing the person in front of her.

"Oh my, am I so old I'm unrecognizable? How sad."

The old man used his crutches to prop himself up and stood up from the chair. He looked a little less tired than before.

After looking the old man in front of him up and down, Jian touched his chin with a thoughtful look in his eyes.

"Are you... the kid who pestered me to tell you the story about Xinmeier?"

"Yes, that's right, it's me. Lord Jian, do you still remember what happened at that time?"

"Because in Gris, the person who impressed me the most was you."

With Jian's reminder, the long-buried memories in Fulilian's mind were gradually awakened.

"It turns out it's you..."

That was when I was traveling with Xinmeier.

Perhaps attracted by the sight of Sinmel defeating monsters, or perhaps because he had long heard the story of the brave Sinmel, a little boy developed admiration for Sinmel.

The little boy said that he also wanted to be a great man like Xin Meir.

Jian got along quite well with the little boy, and she would always tell him the adventure stories she had recorded.

"So you're still alive?"

"Flillian, do you understand how rude what you just said was?"

Jian knew Fulilian had no ill intentions and was simply expressing her surprise... But who would say to an old man, "So you're still alive?" upon meeting him? It was as if you wished him dead.

The old man just smiled and didn't get angry.

"When I was young, I admired Master Xinmei very much. I exercised every day and was in great shape. Thanks to Master Xinmei, I feel like I can live for a long time."

"But in fact, people who exercise regularly don't necessarily live longer than others."

As if suddenly remembering something, Jian said with a strange expression: "Haita lived more than twenty years longer than Xinmeier. Maybe Haita's mentality is better."

"Lord Haita? Indeed, he seems to be smiling every time I see him."

The old man recalled: "I probably can't be as optimistic as Lord Haita. After all, it's too embarrassing."

After seeing so many people I once knew pass away quietly, it makes me feel relieved to see those I know who are still alive.