Reincarnated As The Side Character

After a round of questioning, Sidgroth invited Maxwell to his home. With nowhere else to go in this unfamiliar place, Maxwell decided to go along. As they walked, making small talk, Maxwell learned more about Sidgroth's past. Sidgroth was a member of a legendary group known as the Victorious Ten. They were celebrated heroes from the Void War, renowned for their strength and selflessness. It was said they never lost a single battle, their reputation unmatched even years after the war.

In Sidgroth's mind, he was surprised that Maxwell seemed unaware of his reputation, the Victorious Ten, or even the infamous Void War. These events were common knowledge to nearly everyone in the region. He began to suspect that Maxwell might be suffering from amnesia, or perhaps he was from somewhere even more remote than Sidgroth could imagine.

"Gladiolus, huh? So that's the name of the creature with you." Sidgroth looked thoughtfully at Maxwell. "Well, since you remember your name and his, it sounds like you could have some kind of amnesia. Then again, it could be something else entirely—but I'm no scholar or master mage."

Maxwell nodded, "I understand. Still… Sidgroth, do you think you could help me?"

"Helping you get your memories back? I suppose I could try, but no promises," Sidgroth replied. "Just know that the safety of this town comes first—that's my priority. Your case isn't exactly at the top of my list."

"I understand completely," Maxwell replied with a respectful nod. "Thank you, Sidgroth."

Sidgroth and Maxwell walked together until they approached a grand house, standing out even among the unique buildings of Calla Lily. This home had been gifted to Sidgroth in honor of his role in the Void War. Although he often thought about visiting his old teammates, he hadn't been able to bring himself to leave. His role as protector of Calla Lily was too important, and he took that responsibility seriously.

"Maxwell, before we go inside, I need to ask—what's your 'Ornament'?" Sidgroth asked, his tone serious.

"Ornament? What in the world is that?" Maxwell looked at him, completely confused.

Sidgroth paused, surprised. He had expected Maxwell to know his own Ornament, or at the very least, understand what an Ornament was, but clearly that wasn't the case.

"All right, let me explain," Sidgroth said. "An Ornament is a unique power you're either born with, or one that can be developed later in life." He gestured to himself as he continued, "For instance, my Ornament is called Beush'd. To keep it simple, it dramatically boosts my strength, speed, and makes me more resistant to attacks. And the longer I go without activating it, the stronger its effects become."

"So, it's like a superpower, right?" Maxwell said, nodding as he tried to make sense of it. "Got it. But how do I activate it?"

Sidgroth paused, his expression thoughtful. "That's a good question, but it's not an easy one to answer. For me, it's like flipping a light switch on and off internally. But that might not be the same for you. You'll have to figure out how to activate your own Ornament."

"Then there's the matter of your pet monster," Sidgroth continued. "You see, while most animals have simpler Ornaments, they're still capable of possessing some form of power. If your monster is as powerful as it seems, then I'd wager its Ornament is equally as strong."

Maxwell listened to Sidgroth's words, but his mind was focused on attempting to activate whatever power lay within him. After a moment of deep concentration, he felt a strange sensation surge through his body. Before he knew it, a yellow aura began to radiate from him, faint at first, but growing steadily brighter.

"Sidgroth," Maxwell said, his voice filled with surprise, "I think I've done something. This… this might be my Ornament."

"Well, this confirms you at least have an Ornament," Sidgroth said, his eyes narrowing as he observed the glowing aura around Maxwell. "But we still don't know what its power is just yet." He gestured toward the house. "Let's go inside for now. We can figure it out later. I'll invite a friend of mine, someone smarter than me to take a look at you."

With that, Sidgroth turned and headed inside, Maxwell and Gladiolus following close behind.

While Sidgroth went off to make a phone call to his friend, asking her to come over, Maxwell wandered through the grand house. Looking at various decorations and trinkets, until something caught his attention.

In one of the larger rooms, he noticed a grand painting hanging prominently on the wall. It depicted the Victorious Ten, beneath the painting were their names, written in a bold script.

"Sidgroth Blackfire, The White Crusader, Vaos, Chaos Witch Dorothy, Ferocious Beast of Ninety-Nine Swords—Rintaro, Tsurugi Kuroko, Aoki Kana, Lucian Rafflesia, Anastasia Wisteria, and Lilith Kinhana." Maxwell read aloud, despite the names being well known, he couldn't shake the feeling of unfamiliarity. He had no idea who these people were, nor why their names seemed to mean so much to Sidgroth.

"Heroes, huh?" Maxwell whispered to himself, still observing the painting. "The feeling of being seen as a role model, being an inspiration... why does it feel so familiar?"

Sidgroth walked into the room as he stood beside Maxwell, his gaze fixed on the painting. "So, this is where you were. The Victorious Ten…" he muttered, a nostalgic tone in his voice. "My teammates from back then. A unique bunch, I'll tell you that much. But those times are long gone. Only four of us remain. Rintaro passed away from a disease caused by the void itself. Dorothy and Tsurugi… vanished without a trace. Lilith was killed in an ambush shortly after the war was over. And as for Lucian and Anastasia, well, it's said they betrayed the very cause they fought for during the Void War."Sidgroth let out a heavy sigh.

Maxwell stood silently for a moment, his mind racing. He looked at the names again, feeling a strange connection to their fate. "Betrayed... by someone you trust. Why does that feel so familiar?" he whispered to himself.

"Anyway, my friend should be here in about an hour," Sidgroth said as he turned to leave the room. "Make yourself comfortable, Maxwell."

Maxwell nodded, silently appreciating Sidgroth's kindness. As Sidgroth turned to leave, Maxwell's attention was drawn to a smaller painting on the opposite wall. Curious, he leaned closer to read the names beneath it. One name caught his attention, standing out from the rest.

"Soul Harvester— Hein, Wall of Justice—Glanvil, Cosmic Miracle— Victoria, and Black Knight— Aemanil..." Maxwell read aloud, his voice soft as his eyes were locked on the names beneath the painting. "Members of the White Trial, I don't know them, but why does Aemanil sound so familiar...?"

The thought echoed in his mind. Aemanil, leader of the White Trial, a group that's existed since the beginning of time, ridding the world of sinners...

As the words replayed in his mind, Maxwell's thoughts began to blur, the edges of his memories slipping just out of reach.

Maxwell's surroundings began to distort, reality warping as his body grew heavy, paralyzed. He couldn't move, he could only watch as the world around him shifted.

He saw a man, almost identical to himself if he were older—standing triumphantly over a massive demon, its body disintegrating into nothingness. But before Maxwell could fully grasp the scene, it shifted again. Now, the same man was being praised, celebrated by a crowd that hailed him as a hero for slaying the monster.

Everything around Maxwell began to blur, reality dissolving into a haze. Panic entered within him as the world faded, slipping into darkness. But just before everything consumed him, he cried out, "What's my power!?"

"Still hopelessly clinging to your old world?" a cold, familiar voice echoed, disdain in its voice. "What foolishness. I'd recommend you enjoy your new life, and the new universe, while you can."

"Please, just answer me!" Maxwell exclaimed, his body on the verge of passing out.

The voice let out a sigh. "If you must know, you have many... but it seems you've managed to transfer only one of your abilities. Luck."

Before Maxwell could process the words, the world around him snapped back into focus. He found himself back in the room, gasping for air, his heart pounding in his chest.

Gladiolus lifted Maxwell onto his back, his movements gentle yet urgent. The bond between them was undeniable, as if they had shared a lifetime together. Without hesitation, Gladiolus began to make his way toward Sidgroth.

Sidgroth immediately noticed the visible strain on Maxwell, his exhaustion clear in the way he slumped against Gladiolus. Before Sidgroth could speak, however, Maxwell struggled to gather his strength and spoke first.

Maxwell slowly climbed off Gladiolus's back, his legs unsteady as he spoke in a strained voice. "My power... is luck. The ability to influence luck..."

"A bit ironic, don't you think? Given the state you're in," Sidgroth said with a slight chuckle. "But don't worry, kid. My friend just arrived."

"You've mentioned them, but who exactly is this person?" Maxwell asked.

From behind Sidgroth, a slender, pale rabbit half-beastkin stepped forward. Her bright pink hair, tied neatly into two pigtails with a yellow ribbon, while her long pink rabbit ears stood tall on her head. Beneath her amber eyes, visible bags hinted at sleepless nights, and small glasses perched on her nose. She wore a short red shirt beneath an open scientist's coat that ended just above her midriff. Her quarter-length jeans were a shade of bright red, with green rims, fastened at her hips by a black belt.

"Meet the Director of Regione Novem, Juno..."