Chapter 43

Mami's P.O.V.

"HUFF, HUFF, HUFF,"

"Here, it is good to be hydrated after working your body like that." Soma-san said as he gives me a bottle of water.

That is good, my throat is dry and I feel aches and pains all over. He really doesn't know restraint, can't he tell this is the first time that I can remember?

Gulping the water in hungry gulps some water goes on the wrong pipe and I start to cough.

"Hey there, don't need to be in such a hurry. The water isn't going anywhere." Soma said as he patted my back.

Getting my breathing in proper order I cough a bit more before speaking.

"Sorry, I was just a bit thirsty. It has been a while since I last sweat like that." I said before looking up and saying. "So, what do you think? Am I good at this or not?"

Soma looked at the destruction around us just as I did. We really did a number all over this place, thankfully this is inside Soma's personal world so the destruction was contained to somewhere we could go as wild as we wanted.

"Yeah, you still need some polishing but your instincts are absolutely top-notch. Honestly speaking, you only seem to need more experience in how to use your weapons and how to better use your abilities. I don't seem to need to help you in improving most things like aim or how to be efficient." he says and I nod.

I don't really remember much of my time as 'Trois', I only have the vaguest of recollections of that time, but even without that I just seem to know how to use my skills well. Even in my memories as 'Trois', as few as they are, I don't remember ever having to train, I just ever remember a few fights where I always won easily.

"I am kinda envious, actually." Soma said, making me turn my eyes to him and stop looking at the devastation around us. "I was not born with all that much talent, everything I know comes from experience and hard work, so seeing someone like you who is a genius is a bit irritating."

"A genius? I don't think I am that special though" I ask, not really feeling like I am truly that special. It must be combat techniques ingrained in my body from 'Trois' or something, I was pretty normal before all this happened.

"Trust me, you are. You are still inexperienced, that much is painfully obvious, but your instincts, adaptability, power, and speed of growth are abnormal. Honestly, have you been born in a different place and era, you might have become a famous hero due to how talented you are."

"... Then I am glad I wasn't born in this other place and era." I said with some venom in my tone. "I hate all heroes." I said with anger.

Wasn't it the 'hero faction' that made me... that? Screw them, I hate everything they represent and I hate heroes.

Soma just looks up at the sky and speaks.

"What if it is my wish to be able to call myself a hero? Would you hate me as well?"

"Huh?"

"Well, even if you hate me I won't really say anything or judge you. As long as you don't attack me or try to stop me I wouldn't mind even if you hate my guts for being a hero, everyone has their own opinion and should follow it. I don't really like forcing my will over the opinion of others that are not my enemy." Soma says and I look down at his words, the determination in them.

I envy that. I have never truly desired something that much, or had a strong dream.

My only wish was to have people to share my life with, that I could be around and be close to.

"But, why do you want to be a hero? What is so good about being a hero anyway?" I question as I try to better understand him.

I expected many answers, all sorts of platitudes and grand ambitions, empty promises or mentions of ancestors. I might not have all the memories of Trois, but I originally joined the Hero Faction willingly after Jeanne convinced me, only to betray me and...

No, I don't want to think about it.

"Well, to be honest, I don't really think there is anything fundamentally great in being a 'hero'." Soma said, making me widen my eyes at his words.

As if he did not notice my stare he continues nonchalantly.

"A hero is simply someone who had enough accomplishments, so much so that he managed to engrave his or her name in history. For me, a person who created vaccines able to save others is just as much a hero as a legendary warrior since both caused change to the world. Basically, I want to be remembered when I eventually die, even if I have no plans to let myself die so easily." Soma said and I look at him, look seriously, before.

"Heh, hehe, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" I burst into laughter.

I can't help it. I really can't, this is so absurd that I can't help but let out laughter.

After some time passes, I manage to collect myself. Seeing his confused expression I smile.

"Sorry about that. It is just, your way of thinking is refreshing. I am better now, a relief really to know that this place is really different." I said as I put my back on the ground, staring up at the sky.

It was foggy, as expected, but the place was still very illuminated regardless.

While coming over I've seen the many plants around. The fields are filled with flowers and the animals that Soma has been obtaining and putting here, all grazing and enjoying themselves in this place. This is a place done using the Dimension Lost, a weapon of that terrible person, but, in the hands of Soma, it became such a wonderful place.

It is weird. Soma-san is outwardly much cruder, direct, thuggish, and honestly a jerk to many people, but he is way nicer and 'hero-like' than those I've met in the Hero Faction.

Much nicer than Jeanne or Cao Cao.

"You know, once I too wanted to be a hero." I said, just letting my emotions out. It is probably due to the rush of battle, but I still just wanted to talk in the end and Soma felt like someone who would listen to me and not judge me regardless of what I told him.

"Really? That is interesting. What kind of hero... please don't tell me you wanted to be someone using bright spandex clothing with a huge billowing cape, you do know that capes are stupid, right? They get in the way more than help."

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. I was a bit of a dork back then." I pout at his words, seeing him actually laugh a bit at it.

See? He is totally a jerk sometimes.

"Oh, come on. No need to pout. I was just joking a bit." He said and I sigh before continuing.

"I wanted to be a hero, or, to be more precise, I wanted to be a SUPER hero. The type that is powerful and is admired everywhere, that has many friends and goes on adventures to save the day." I said sadly. "Back then I was very lonely, my parents were quite rich and raised me to act like a little lady, so making friends was hard, especially with me being clumsy and all."

"Clumsy? Are you telling me the girl who could jump backward and aim two guns at the same time while avoiding an arrow is clumsy?" Soma said and I smiled.

"That was pretty cool, right?"

"For a begginer, yeah." Soma said while releasing a 'tch'. It is almost cute how he tries to not accept that I did good back there. The surprise on his face when I did that showed it all, but he is a bit of a tsundere now when it comes to complimenting me. Cute.

I just shake my head at his antics and continued.

"Anyway, I just wanted to be able to be special, to be useful, to be 'super'. I was stupid, before all that I had a good life but I threw it all away because of the words of Jeanne who promised me all I wanted to hear. I can even remember that the first time she said she was a hero I asked her if she was being honest, and she said she had the soul of a saint so how could she be lying."

"Yeah, it is almost as if no one from the church ever did bad shit before." Soma said with a roll of his eyes. "Titles like 'saint' or 'knight' are only worth something if you actually follow them, just claiming to be one means shit. Justifying your 'honesty' with mentions of some ancestor or something is the dumbest thing out there. It is almost as if they being descendants of heroes validate their actions, which is total bullshit."

I can only give a sad chuckle at that.

"Shame I didn't know that then." I said, playing with the bottle in my hand. "... I was mesmerized, the way she spoke about the world of magic, fantasy, of how I could become great with her help and save many from the 'evil clutches' of dangerous creatures, it was tempting. I followed her willingly to their base where I met Cao Cao, he had a presence to him similar but the contrary or yours now that I think about it."

"Huh? Really?" Soma said in confusion. "Weird, from what I've heard he is an absolute self-centered jerk who believes himself above everyone else and has no real regard for the methods he uses to accomplish them."

"See, you two have your similarities." I teased, seeing him groan as he walked right into that one.

"... Fair enough, but unlike him I actually back up what I say and don't depend on ancestors to make myself as someone important. I will make my own legend with my own hands, not tell everyone that I deserve to be a hero because my ancestor didn't pull out."

I only smile at his crude remarks, my face had a sad smile as I think back to that time.

"He seemed, I don't know, like if he really WAS a chosen person. How he spoke, how he looked, what he said, all seemed to emanate that feeling of someone made to lead. It was a strong charisma, I guess. But, it was all a facade." I said and gritted my teeth at the end there.

I could feel my energy flaring up and my gear responding to my emotions, I had to calm myself as weapons were about to be formed just due to my anger over all this situation.

Soma looked at my expression and spoke softly.

"If you want to talk about it, I can listen. I may speak too much at times, but I am a good listener as well." He said simply.

"... You say as if you don't already know. Haven't Kiyoharu-chan tell you enough already about me?" I said, my anger making me speak my mind regardless of anything else.

he just nods his head.

"I have the general gist of it, yes. But, I don't know how you saw things and, even if I know it, I can still hear you out if you want to."

"You are quite an honest one, huh. I could swear you wouldn't want to tell me how you investigated me." I said and he shrugged.

"No need to lie when the truth works just as well. Besides, if I didn't know you and how you are I wouldn't trust you to work so close to me or depend on your help as I do. If not for your help I wouldn't be able to advance as well as I do since I would need to focus way more on dealings and other such matters that you help me with. But, having information about you and KNOWING you are not the same. So, would you like to tell me more about yourself?" He said and I sigh even as I blush a bit.

"Well, if you insist. But, can you tell me more about you as well? I don't really know much about your past and I would like to know more about you. And maybe could we not talk about my time with the Hero Faction after they, you know, hypnotized me? I can barely remember anything of what happened then and I would rather not think about all they made me do."

"Sure, it is not like I am that interested in 'Trois' anyway and I don't really have much to hide from those under my protection, I never told anyone about my story mostly because no one ever asked. As for me not minding the whole 'hero faction' time of your life, that was ultimately just your body being abused by some dumb dicks who are incompetent to the extreme. The one I want to know more about is the actual Mami Tomoe, my current secretary who clearly is an unfair genius at fighting. Not that being a genius means we are not gonna go right back to training after this talk."

As I feel my pain return at the mention of training I couldn't help but ask.

"... Do we really need to go back to sparing so soon? My body is hurting all over from you attacking me so mercilessly, you brute. Don't even know how to deal with a lady."

"Hey, I know how to deal with a lady well. I know how to deal with all sorts of ladies, and to a lady that tries to hit me with over thirty rifles at once with them aiming all over my body while having a grenade launcher aimed at my head, I would say what I did was justified."

"Uhu, keep telling yourself that. I just might believe it one day." I said and seeing him roll his eyes I laugh at his exaggerated reactions.

I know he is acting a bit, but it is appreciated as his antics are almost enough to make me forget, even if for just a moment, the worst thing the Hero Faction made me do in all my time as 'Trois'. The very first thing that they made me do after 'blessing' me as a hero of humanity, the one thing that despite every seal they put in my mind I can still remember, and the sin that was branded in my soul even if I wasn't the one in control when my body did it.

The sin of killing my parents with my own two hands when I was just 11 years old, all to prove my loyalty and dedication to the cause of saving humanity from evil.

Fuck, I hate those fake heroes. I can only hope that this training will help me fulfill my wish, my wish of being the one that ends Cao Cao's life once and for all.

///---///

3° Person P.O.V.

Rias was visiting the Sitri hospital in the Underworld again. Thanks to Sona's assistance Rias managed to put Issei in the best of v.i.p. conditions for treatment, something he probably wouldn't receive in the hospital otherwise seeing as the boy was merely a pawn of the heiress of the Gremory house, not a pure-blood devil or an actual noble but just a servant.

That distinction actually annoyed Rias as she saw all her servants as family, but she held it in and was just thankful for the quiet assistance of Sona. In the red-haired girl's hands were several flowers in a beautiful bouquet, normally a beauty like her with a bouquet in hand would attract plenty of attention in the Underworld, but as she walked no one turned to look.

That was a weird experience for the girl so used to turning heads, either due to her status or due to her beauty, but she couldn't blame everyone for not stopping to stare as they normally would.

For this visit, like any other, after the conditions were truly understood, she was using a long black unadorned coat that covered all her curves while her face was covered in an expressionless mask. It looked absurd, as if a badly make costume for a horror movie, but it was the only way she found that could let her come over to meet her pawn.

Knocking at the door she heard an 'enter' come from inside and opened the door.

On the bed Rias could see Issei laying there, looking out the window while he was being pumped full of drugs to lower his cognitive capacity. With how he was now, how backed up his body was as he has had no release for several days, even if left completely alone in a white room he would still agonize in pain as he couldn't stop himself from thinking perverted thoughts and get sexually excited even if only by himself.

The doctors could only drug him up enough so that he wouldn't be able to think perverted thoughts by himself. Even then, if any female got close to him he would feel pain again as his body would react automatically at the stimulus.

Rias' clothes and the mask were the necessary 'uniform' everyone needed to use when coming to meet the boy who was completely unable to leave his room now due to his condition. Even males now could not appear in front of him unless they were particularly ugly, that was just how tough his situation was.

Putting the flowers beside her pawn, Rias sat at his side and looked at him, guilt eating at her like nothing ever did in all her life until this point. If it wasn't for her wish of ending this marriage at all costs she wouldn't have forced that meaningless fight and Issei wouldn't be like this.

"It is my fault." Rias said with a trembling voice as Issei kept starring out the window as he shook his head.

"No, I wanted to do this." He said. "I wanted to fight for you, but, how can I become the Harem King when I am like this?"

As he said this Rias' emotions flared as she spoke in anger.

"Who cares about 'Harem King'? You can't even leave this room now, and it is my fault dammit. It is all my fault." She said between furious sobs.

Issei wanted to tell her everything was okay, but his mind was too foggy and, when he tried to reach out to her she sidestepped as to avoid him touching her. That was not because of herself, as she could really use the mental support, but it was because she knew that she couldn't risk him feeling pain again due to a simple moment of weakness of hers. With how backed up Issei was, if her touched her, felt her, he would likely feel pain.

As she avoided his touch for Issei's own good, Rias could see his expression get downcast and she lowered her head at her own helplessness.

What princess of destruction? What sister of Lucifer? What Gremory clan heiress?

Can any of those titles help her heal her precious servant?

No, none of those can. But Rias Gremory, the girl, can as long as she is willing to.

Taking a breath she spoke.

"Issei, I might have a way to heal you."

"R-Really? Can you really do it?" He asked in wonder and she nodded her head.

"It will not be simple and things won't come back to how they were, but there is a way to make it better... and I can make it happen. Do you trust me?" She questioned.

"Yes, with my life." Issei said without hesitation and Rias smiled. He really was like a trusting little brother to her with how he acted.

"Very well. Don't worry, by the end of the week you will be able to walk around again." She said and Issei almost jumped from the bed in excitement, but ended up tripping due to how high he was on the drugs and fell on the ground face first.

This would normally make Rias give a wry smile, but right now she couldn't as she had too much in her mind. After talking with Issei just a bit more she went out to call her brother about releasing the seals in Gasper for a bit so that Soma could meet him while also asking Sirzechs to send someone from his Peerage or someone reliable as well to make sure that Soma wouldn't be able to do anything to the damphir.

She wouldn't care what happens to her, no matter what she is forced to do she would do it with a smile if needed, but she will NEVER allow anyone to hurt her servants in front of her. No one.