Sheila's wish

Well done.

　 unleashed and appeared.

''Ah.....no, I'll just say that I heard something that was on my mind during the process....haha...''

　Hmm. It doesn't look like he's being modest.

　I've been wondering how Ray came to be a part of it.

It's all the same to me.

　I touch my fingertips to Sheila's head and use .

　The origin is Sheila in the past, the girlfriend I had when I picked up Ray. There is a lot of ambiguity just from hearing that story, but no two people will be the same.

　Only her body's time can be traced back to the time she picked up Ray.

　Even if she doesn't know the lesion or the cure, most diseases can be cured by turning back time.

　The magic circle covers her and her body goes backwards in time.

　But - nothing changed.

''.....Failure, huh?''

No,

　 was successful.

　Her body should be back to what it was before she got sick, however, her magic is still weak as ever.

　What can you think of?

　Something else, something different from her body and source, something that is not here, determines whether she lives or dies.

　Can such a thing really be possible?　

　It seems impossible for a demon race, but Sheila is a half-spirit, half-demon.

　The fact that she was born with a weak body may be a characteristic of being half-spirit, half-demon.

　Alternatively, it could be that it is also related to the spirit disease.

　But even though the same half-spirit, half-demon, but Misa is still pint-sized.

　As usual, spirits are a funny thing.

''How are they able to keep this spirit disease in a lull? I guess we'll just have to find out.

　I walk towards the door.

　The unidentified demon tribe that runs this magic clinic must hold the key.

　It would be nice if they had a clue.

Anos-sama...!

　Mass calls out to me in surprise.

'What's up?'

　When she turned around, Misa was looking at the bed.

　Sheila's eyelids, which had been asleep, were fluttering open.

　When I went back to the bed, she opened her eyes completely and then looked at me.

''.....You, Anos-kun....?''

How do you know me?

　Sheila must have been asleep for a year before she passed out.

　There's no way of knowing what happened to me.

"I've been in a coma for a long time. When Ray came to see you in the hospital, he talked about you. That you'd made a friend.

　Okay. That's not too hard to believe.

"Then you know that Ray has the magic sword of the covenant stuck in his body, right?

Yeah.

If I heal you, Rey's shackles will be removed. I'll take care of the magic sword of the contract. What do you know about the Spiritual Disease?

　Sheila says, seemingly barely able to open her mouth.

'Well I heard someone talking about it when I was here. Maybe it was a doctor. Spiritual disease isn't a disease. Spirits are born from the heart...

'I know. The lore, the legends, the rumors, the desires, the fears, the hopes, the things they embody, the things they embody, are the spirits.

　Sheila nodded slightly and let out a painful breath.

''.....Spirits are born from many minds, strong wishes, and such. That's why they are adult from the beginning. But a half-spirit, half-demon is different. Half of them are demons, so when they are born, they are babies. Maybe that's why their existence as spirits is also a baby. That's what they said.

　Hmm. I'm starting to read most of it.

'So newborn rumors, weak aspirations, and faint hopes are replaced by half-spirit, half-demons.

''Yes. For a half-spirit, half-demon to grow, its newborn rumors and implied hopes need to grow.

　I hope that as the years go by, the rumors, hopes and lore will spread and grow louder among the people.

　Then, perhaps, we will be able to live a life of ease, just like the masses.

It's easy for newborn rumors to disappear. It's easy for newborn rumors to disappear. The loss of such a hope is like losing your body. That's why many half-spirits and half-demons have weak bodies.

　＜It's no wonder why the had no effect.

　The source of the spirit's magical power is in the minds of others. Even if I rewind the time of Sheila here, there's no way I can cure her because the rumors and lore that are the source of her power are weakened.

''What is the lore that became your half-body?''

''I don't know. Unlike spirits, half-spirits and half-demons don't know what rumors and lore they were born from. That's why their lifespan is apparently short.

　The rumors and lore that were half of these women are about to be crushed, so the half spirit half demon will die.

　If they spread those rumors and lore to the world, they would be able to cure the spirit disease.

　But if you don't know the rumors and lore that made you a half-spirit and half-demon, there's nothing you can do about it.

　The fact that Sheila's condition is still in a lull means that the Log North Magical Clinic knows the lore from which she was derived? They must be adjusting the lore so that it doesn't disappear completely, or perhaps it doesn't get too big.

'Didn't the doctor who was talking about the spirit disease say anything about it?

'....She said something about not being told about the lore and rumors...

　As expected, that's only taught to a handful of people?

　No, it's reasonable to assume that only that unidentified demon race knows about it.

　If that's the case, I probably won't be able to find anything even if I search the magic clinic.

　You're not stupid enough to not be prepared for an attack by me.

"How did you learn to speak?

I don't know. I got a little bit of strength back today. But I don't think it's going to last long...

　So the lore that temporarily became Sheila's source of lore has increased slightly.

　Normally, it would be the result of the magic clinic's treatment.

　It was a blunder to make her speak, but as expected, wasn't it that well adjusted?

　Or maybe something unplanned happened.

I just thought I'd let you know before that.

Me?　Not to Ray?

For you.

　Sheila looks straight at me.

'Ray, you know. He's always loved swords, and he was always out there swinging them in his spare time. I tried to get her to enjoy it more, so I enrolled her in the biggest swordsmanship dojo in town, but she quit after less than three days.

...Why is that?

　Mass, who was listening behind me, said.

You didn't get it.

'Yes. He said it would be awkward if I beat my teacher.

　That was typical of him.

'I participated in many fencing tournaments after that, but I almost never lost. Even if I lost, I had already surpassed that opponent in the next match, and I never lost again. Before I knew it, I was called the Sword Sage of Renunciation, and I was recommended by the Demon King's Academy and counted as one of the generation of chaos.

　Taking a breath, Sheila continued her story again.

'I think it's admirable and honourable. But even when I praised her, she always laughed like she was boring. One day she suddenly muttered to me. I wondered if I could have made friends with her if my sword was less skillful. She was clumsy and only interested in swordsmanship, so the only kids around her were the ones who were learning swords. But they couldn't keep up with Lei's sword talent, and there seemed to be a lot of envy and jealousy.

　Hmm. Well, that happens a lot.

'If she wanted status and fame, I suppose that would have been fine. But what she wanted was something very small. How can I make more use of this sword by myself? That's all I've been pursuing. I'm sure that if I didn't have any talent with the sword, I would have been able to have a good time, working hard with my friends who were like-minded.

　Few of us would say that we genuinely love swords and train for them.

　Longing for status and fame as a swordsman, lured by dim emotions to beat up others, or wanting to kill someone, people pick up a sword.

　The sword is an undeniable weapon.

　Just for the sake of the sword, he wields the sword.

　Few people could understand Ray's thinking.

"Since my fall, Ray has become more and more lonely. He would come to visit me and talk about the events of the day, but he always seemed to be bored. But then one day, really recently, his voice changed.

　Sheila says happily.

'She said happily that there was a great guy there. He told me that no matter how hard he swung his sword, it wouldn't budge. He said he was defeated, completely defeated. Funny, isn't it? You sound so happy about your loss. I don't think I've ever heard her say that before, but I've never heard her so happy.

　It's not surprising. You have that much talent in this era.

　I've only been reincarnated for a couple of months, but I can't help but be frustrated.

''It's you, Anos-kun. From that day onwards, that girl started to say the name Anos over and over again. I thought to myself, "Oh, I've finally found my best friend. I'm so glad he's gone to Delzogade.

　Once the words were cut off, the smile disappeared from Sheila's face.

　With a serious tone, she said.

''That girl wanted to clash with you as hard as she could at the Demon Sword Tournament. I don't know what the imperialists said to you, but I'm sure they're trying to get you to do something that's not in line with her will.''

　I nodded my head in agreement with her words.

'Please, Anos-kun. Let that girl go. Let that boy hit her as hard as he can.

Do you understand?　Even if you pull out the magic sword of Rey's contract, you'll still be dead.

'Half-spirits and half-demons don't live long by nature. I've managed to cheat and try my best, thinking that until that boy grows up to be a full-fledged person. But it's all right now. I have a friend like you who cares about me without regard for the danger.

　Sheila says with a calm look on her face.

'There's no reason for me to be dragging my kids around to stay alive.

　Mothers are a strong thing, aren't they?

　I was suddenly thinking about my mom.