I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

Right now, Itsuka Shidou was panicking...

He had finally gotten the chance to walk alongside her, but—

What was he supposed to do next?!

In preparation for situations like this, Shidou had been subjected to all kinds of training under Kotori and the others' "guidance" — mainly to help him overcome his nerves when talking to girls.

But the problem was...

If he couldn't even keep a conversation going, what was the point of all that training?

Come to think of it... I said some really dumb stuff earlier because I was too nervous...

Maybe he'd already left a bad impression...

"Shidou! Shidou!"

Kotori's voice crackled through his earpiece, snapping him out of his spiral.

"W-What's wrong, Kotori?"

"There's something we discovered here. I thought you should know..."

Kotori's voice held a rare note of hesitation.

What she wanted to tell him was about the abnormal favorability.

After carefully double-checking their instruments and ruling out any technical errors, the crew aboard Fraxinus had no choice but to trust the data — and passed the information on to Shidou.

Hearing it, Shidou's expression twisted into pure surprise.

"Um..."

Melusine turned her head slightly, giving Shidou a sidelong glance.

She saw him scratching his head awkwardly.

"Your name... it's Lancelot, right?"

"Yes."

"...But that's not your real name, is it?"

At that question, Melusine's steps faltered for the briefest moment.

Under the cover of night, she turned her head, her molten-gold eyes — blazing like living fire — locking onto Shidou.

Meeting her gaze, Shidou swallowed nervously and pressed on.

"Because... Lancelot is the name of a knight from the legends of King Arthur, right?"

In this world, too, myths like the Arthurian legends and Norse mythology existed.

DEM even had tactical equipment named "Pendragon" and "Mordred," and Ratatoskr itself was named after the mythological squirrel that ran along the World Tree sowing discord.

Although, Melusine thought silently, this world doesn't seem to have the concept of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life...

She answered calmly.

"You're correct. My name does indeed come from the Knight of the Lake...

And as you said, 'Lancelot' is not my true name."

"But if it's just a matter of having something to be called, then 'Lancelot' is sufficient.

For now, I have no intention of using any other name."

Her tone was light, almost dismissive — clearly, she had no desire to explain further.

"But... isn't a name something really important?"

As he said that, Shidou thought of the girl living in his home — Yatogami Tohka.

He still vividly remembered the moment he had given Tohka her name — the expression on her face, her reactions...

In the classroom bathed in sunset, she had clutched that name to her heart, murmuring it over and over, begging him to teach her how to write it — as if someone who had been blind since birth had opened her eyes for the first time to a world bursting with color.

"Because... it's a precious gift, given by someone important."

His voice was almost to himself, and by the time he realized it, his face had flushed red.

"...Sorry. I started rambling."

"I don't mind," Melusine said blandly, shaking her head. "In fact, I agree with your sentiment."

She went on, her tone becoming heavier.

"But... I cannot reveal my true name to anyone."

"The name 'Lancelot' — it's actually a shackle upon me."

"If I abandon it and take up my true name once more... it would mark the countdown to my death."

She paused.

"In exchange, though... my power would be completely unleashed."

In Melusine's burning eyes, Shidou saw a serious resolve.

She wasn't joking.

The moment she revealed her true name would be the moment death approached...

How could anyone live with that?

"You don't need to make that face."

A single finger poked Shidou lightly in the chest.

Her cool, still voice stirred the air.

"As long as I don't encounter an enemy overwhelmingly strong, I will not discard the name 'Lancelot.'"

"So, the thing you are worrying about — will not happen."

"Even restrained as I am, I am still the strongest."

"After all... I am the last dragon of this world."

"Being strong is only natural."

Under Shidou's stunned gaze, Melusine withdrew her hand.

After a brief pause, she added:

"If you ever find yourself in danger, you may call for me."

"I will come to your aid."

After all, it was rare for her to meet a male protagonist she didn't feel strong aversion toward.

If it was within her capabilities, she didn't mind helping.

"No matter what kind of danger you're facing — you can call on me."

"Because I am strong."

A silence stretched between them, before Shidou found his voice again.

"...Why?"

"Hm?"

"Why would you say something like that to me?"

His gaze was filled with doubt.

"Have we... met before?"

"Hmm..."

That question stumped Melusine for a moment.

"I suppose... you could say we've met."

She tilted her head slightly.

"But this is the first time we've properly spoken like this."

Through the fourth wall probably counts as 'meeting,' right?

"Then... why...?"

"There's no real reason."

Melusine glanced sideways at him and smiled faintly.

"If someone needs help, offering it is only natural, isn't it?"

"Of course, if it were someone I disliked, that would be a different story."

"But you... you seem like the type who'll stumble into a lot of danger and need saving."

"Ah... well..."

Shidou honestly couldn't refute that.

If he hadn't had the healing flames, he would've died during his very first date with Tohka.

Just then, Shidou noticed someone waving at them from down the street.

"Ah! Lancelot, it really is you!"

"Hayasaka-san, it's so late — why aren't you home yet?"

Melusine immediately turned her attention to the newcomer, engaging in easy conversation, leaving Shidou standing awkwardly off to the side.

The crew aboard Fraxinus tried to glean some information from the exchange — but all they caught were trivial everyday matters.

"This boy... could he be that 'Himmel' you mentioned before?"

Hayasaka-san gave Shidou a once-over and chuckled.

"He's handsome, sure... but I still think you deserve someone better."

"No, why would you— wait... Kondou-san's wife must have told you."

Melusine's expression blanked briefly, but she quickly pieced it together and sighed, tired.

"I really shouldn't have talked so much to Kondou-san's wife..."

"Also, I've already said it — Himmel has someone he loves."

"He's set on marrying her, probably for life."

The name "Himmel" immediately caught the attention of everyone aboard Fraxinus —

They sensed it might be an important clue to understanding the Spirit calling herself "Lancelot."

Of course, they would find nothing.

Not that Melusine had any obligation to warn them.

Even if she did tell them, they probably wouldn't believe her anyway.

Meanwhile, Shidou's focus was completely elsewhere.

Listening to Melusine and Hayasaka-san chatting, what Shidou felt most was...

"She's amazing..."

Listening to their conversation, Itsuka Shidou had already heard the names of at least eight different people — and from what Hayasaka-san said, it seemed all of them really liked Lancelot, all of them had been helped by her.

Among those names, Shidou even recognized one or two — people he had met before while shopping at the local shopping street.

Kotori said Lancelot's first recorded appearance was only a little over half a month ago...

Which means she managed to earn so much trust and affection in just that short time?

Shidou could hardly believe it.

After parting ways with Hayasaka-san, Melusine and Shidou continued walking and soon found themselves by the river.

"Wait a second... This isn't a residential area, is it?"

Shidou asked in confusion, "Lancelot, are you sure this is the way to your home?"

"Hm?"

Melusine furrowed her brow slightly, looking puzzled.

"I don't believe I ever said I was heading home."

"Eh?"

"I only said — if you wanted to follow me, I didn't mind."

Now that she mentioned it... that was what she had said, wasn't it?

"And besides — why would you assume I have a place to live?"

Melusine's expression remained calm as she continued.

"You should know this, right? I'm a Spirit. I don't have money or an identity."

"Who would sell a house to someone like me?"

"...You make a good point."

Thinking about it carefully... Spirits usually only stayed in this world for a short time before being returned to the neighboring world.

There was never really a need for a permanent residence.

Still—

"You sure know a lot about human society, though."

"Hm? Do I? I think it's just average."

And that was when Shidou finally realized what had been bothering him all this time.

Lancelot — Melusine — was far too familiar with human society!

Every other Spirit he had encountered — except maybe Kurumi Tokisaki — clearly lacked common knowledge about the human world, and showed obvious gaps when interacting with it.

Especially Yatogami Tohka — she had been like a newborn baby who could speak, but knew nothing of the world.

Because of that difference, Shidou had unconsciously assumed that Melusine must live like a normal person.

At that moment, Melusine shifted her direction slightly — as if spotting what she had been looking for.

Following her gaze, Shidou saw a figure sitting by the riverbank — apparently fishing?

Seeing that Melusine had started speaking with the person, and unable to hear clearly from a distance, Shidou moved closer.

Drawing near, he realized it was a balding elderly man.

The old man looked up and gave Shidou a brief glance.

"Hmm... So this is the Himmel you mentioned, Lancelot?"

"A bit younger than I expected..."

Under the night sky, Melusine's face grew a little dark.

"Takasaki-jii-san, you're usually not interested in gossip, right?"

"Aren't you supposed to care only about fishing?"

"Also... just how many people did Kondou-san's wife talk to about this? And she probably exaggerated everything too..."

"Haha, well, if it's someone Lancelot brought up, of course we'd be curious."

Melusine repeated the same explanation she'd given Hayasaka-san earlier.

Still...

Melusine stole a glance at Shidou standing beside her.

Shidou and Himmel both have blue hair... but they're pretty different otherwise.

"So, were you sent here by the old lady to drag me home again, Lancelot?"

"If you already know, then hurry up and pack up."

"Do you need my help?"

"Haha, no need, no need. I'm not that old yet."

"Seeing you laugh like that puts me at ease."

"You'll probably live a good long time."

"Mm, I'll take your blessing to heart."

After waving goodbye to Takasaki-jii-san, Melusine took a moment to explain to Shidou.

"Takasaki-jii-san loves to come here and fish."

"Once he starts fishing, he forgets the time."

"So Takasaki-baa-san often asks me to come fetch him, or he might just stay here all night."

"...You really do like helping people, huh, Lancelot?"

"You're mistaken."

Melusine spoke flatly.

"I don't particularly like helping others."

"Eh?"

Shidou stared at her in shock.

But Melusine's face remained utterly calm, giving no hint whether she was joking or not.

Tilting her head, Melusine seemed to consider for a moment, then said:

"Neither like nor dislike."

"I suppose you could say I'm indifferent."

"But..."

From Shidou's perspective, her words and actions didn't match at all.

"Hmm... You seem like you don't understand."

Melusine's voice was mild, almost bored.

"But to me — helping or not helping makes little difference."

"If anything, I'm probably a rather cold and selfish person."

"I had a good friend..."

"He was a truly great man."

"He spent his life helping others, saving countless people, changing countless lives."

"I suppose... you could say I'm one of the people he changed."

"If I had to give a reason for my actions..."

"I guess it's just habit."

"In traveling with him, I simply got used to reaching out a hand to those in suffering."

"Got used to doing what little I could along the way."

"That's all."

"Nothing special about it."

Just habit.

Nothing more.

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T/N: Himmel is truly a Hero