Lucy POV
It had been three days since Mama told me that bedtime story.
The tale of the 'Amnesiac Hero.'
Ever since then, a nagging hunch had been clawing at the back of my mind—a suspicion so wild I could hardly believe it myself. I knew I couldn't settle this alone. I needed to talk to Rolotia to see if my intuition was actually on the mark.
Currently, I was back at Fuji Hill for another training session. However, as I stood amidst the familiar scenery, I found my grip on my magic wavering. I couldn't focus; the legend was clouding my mind like a thick fog.
I can't do this, I thought, sighing as I dropped my stance. I need answers first.
I decided to summon Rolotia.
In the past, calling upon her was a burden, but things were different now. My magic reserves had swelled to a level comparable to a Dragon's. Thanks to Rolotia's Time Freeze and those high-grade potions, I had managed to cram sixty years worth of grueling progress into a mere two-year window. Summoning her now was as easy as breathing.
"Open—Gate of Reincarnation: Rolotia!"
A brilliant yellow light erupted, bathing the hilltop in a golden hue. From the radiance, a woman emerged. She wore a striking white and blue outfit accented with gold trim, her presence radiating divinity. In her hand, she gripped a staff topped with an intricate clock face.
"Ara, Lucy?" Rolotia tilted her head, her voice melodious. "What happened? Summoning me so suddenly?"
"Well... there's something I need to ask," I muttered, looking away.
Rolotia sighed, giving me a flat look. "You do realize you can use Telepathy to talk to me, right? 😐"
I rubbed the back of my neck with a sheepish grin. "Well, it's better to ask directly. I'm still not used to talking inside my head... 😅"
"Well, whatever. So, what is it you want to know?"
I took a deep breath, my expression turning serious. "I want to ask about the Amnesiac Hero."
Rolotia's brow arched in feigned confusion. "The Amnesiac Hero?"
"Don't play dumb," I countered immediately. "I know you know something."
Rolotia stared at me for a moment before a small smile played on her lips. "Then, Lucy, why don't you describe this 'hero' to me?"
"He's the one who saved a village from a Dragon attack," I recited, recalling Mama's words. "The stories say he's a hero because, even though he fought the Dragon for his own selfish reasons, the fact remains that he saved the village."
"And do you know why the legends call him 'amnesiac'?"
"Because he had forgotten his own name."
Rolotia leaned on her staff, her eyes gleaming with interest. "Then, do you know why he fought that Dragon? It wasn't his business, and he wasn't a resident of that village."
I narrowed my eyes. This was the part that chilled me. "I suspect he fought it because he hated them. No... it was more than that. He loathed all Dragons. He wanted to destroy and kill every last one of them."
Rolotia's grin turned playful, almost cat-like. "Then, what is your guess? What was the name of this hero?"
I felt a cold sweat break out on my skin as I spoke the name aloud. "That hero was Argon... or rather, based on everything I know, it was Acnologia."
The silence lasted for only a heartbeat.
"Ding dong~!" Rolotia sang out, her expression brightening with an angelic, yet mischievous aura. "Your guess is exactly right! That hero was actually Acnologia~! 😇"
"Ehhhhhhh?!!!"
My jaw practically hit the grass. I felt like the world was spinning.
The Black Dragon? The one from the Book of Apocalypse?! Even though I had made the assumption myself, hearing it confirmed was a different kind of shock. How could a monster like that be referred to as a hero?
"Wait, wait, wait! So I was right? The 'Amnesiac Hero' is the Black Dragon of the Apocalypse?!"
"Well, you aren't wrong," Rolotia explained calmly. "In the past, Argon was indeed mentioned as a hero. However, whenever people asked for his name back then, he claimed he didn't know it. He told everyone not to pry any deeper."
"But why?" I asked, my heart racing. "Why would he forget his own name?"
Rolotia's playful demeanor softened into something more somber. "Well, it's a long story... but since you've already figured out this much, I suppose there's no use hiding it any longer."