I Played the Role of a Hated Hero, but for Some Reason, I’m Loved by the Last Boss and Living With Her!

ion on them.

 

Therefore, I believe that this investigation will be a difficult one.

 

It is doubtful that we will get any results from the survey, especially if it is done by people without any knowledge.

 

That’s why I decided to take a break from my job as head librarian to visit this place and participate in the survey.

 

But…

 

“『 Father 』looked very disgusted…”

 

Yes, my father was opposed to my participation in this survey.

 

But even so, I managed to get his permission by explaining the difficulty of the investigation and the usefulness of my knowledge.

 

However, I wanted to hold my head in my hands when he tried to attach Martina, the Knight Commander, as an escort.

 

Of course, I politely declined.

 

The current Martina is busy with the work of the knight order.

 

I don’t think I can make her spend all her time on my behalf.

 

“Huh~ …Father, you’re too overprotective.”

 

In the beginning, there was a lot of dispute when I decided to participate in the defeat of Demiurge.

 

In the end, the people around me agreed to let me go on my journey.

 

It was a very reluctant decision.

 

“Huh~ …well, let’s just focus on the investigation for now.”

 

I let out a sigh again and resume my investigation.

 

Then I walked to the magic circle, which was probably the center of the ward, and observed it.

 

And then,

 

“Eh…?”

 

I opened my eyes unexpectedly and stared at the magic circle.

 

And I can feel the mana overflowing from it.

 

“L-Lies… wh, what’s, this…?”

 

Mana has its own nature, and each individual’s mana is different.

 

Sage like me and those who work in magic are especially sensitive to the nature of mana.

 

If you can sense the mana―――you can know who it belongs to―――if it belongs to someone you know.

 

Yes.
Mana is unique to each individual.

 

And the mana I sensed from the magic circle was something I remembered very well… 

 

“A-Ares-san…?”

 

As soon as I muttered the name, a drop fell from my eye toward my chin.

 

There was no mistaking this mana’s presence.

 

This is the same mana that traveled with me, Martina, Touka, and the others two years ago… 

 

“What?! Wh-Why?! Why is Ares-san’s mana here?!”

 

I almost fell into a panic.

 

However, I sensed the warding wavering and hurriedly calmed my mind.

 

Even so, the fact that the mana of a supposedly dead person existed right in front of me only increased my agitation.

 

“Maybe… perhaps Ares-san is alive, and……～～～～～～!”

 

At that moment, I grabbed my chest and fell to my knees on the spot.

 

Immediately, the warding of the Ignis Cube began to break down.

 

But I severed the magic circle in front of me from the ground, soil and all, and stopped the magic of the Zero Field.

 

With the interference between the magic circles cut off, the ice-covered earth remained intact, and the outflow of freezing mana in the air stopped.

 

Originally, I could have stopped the magic just by destroying the form of the letters engraved on the magic circle by wiping them off with my hand.

  

 

I couldn’t tamper with this magic circle and destroy its shape.

 

“Ah… Ares-san…”

 

I can still sense his mana, though it is faint, from the magic circle.

 

“H-He’s alive… Ares-san is alive…!”

 

With a sense of certainty, I stare at the magic circle detached from the ground.

 

My heart was beating so fast that I could feel it myself.

 

Tears are flowing down my face, and my face is a mess.

 

“I-I have to find… Ares-san!”

 

I carefully put the magic circle into the space storage, the Ignis Cube disappears, and my vision becomes clear.

 

I forgot my original purpose for coming here, and walked around the plains looking for the residue of mana I had just sensed.

 

Everywhere, anywhere… 

 

But the sun was setting, and it was time to meet up with the knights.

 

I returned to the carriage with a feeling of reluctance in my heart, but with the hope that I might be able to find some information about Ares in the town.

 

Two male knights, Jane and Theo, were already waiting for me.

 

I quickly get into the carriage and head for the town of Cid with them.

 

I hoped that there would be some traces of him there, where he might still be alive.