episode_0114

Let’s clear up the situation.

I stepped into the throne room to meet Hibana, but ended up in a different space.

It’s a dark space where you can’t see the surroundings properly.

It was unknown whether it was Hibana’s doing or the intervention of another force.

The unfortunate thing is that Scathach, Stella, and Grishuras disappeared immediately after entering this space.

And that I had forgotten who I was.

“I’m embarrassed.”

For what purpose did they send me to a place like this?

It would have been nice if there had been some clue that could be deduced, but other than the five marbles levitating right now, there was nothing.

There was really darkness everywhere.

“I have no choice but to touch the beads… … .”

I am aware that if I rashly touch something I don’t know what it is, I will be in big trouble.

But since I wasn’t sure when I would be able to get out of here, there was no other way.

I put my hand on the first of the five beads.

Then, the dark surroundings changed in an instant.

“Abel! What are you doing standing around like that?”

“Huh?”

“The enemy is coming… … oh! front! Look ahead!”

I stopped looking around and looked straight ahead.

An orc twice as big as me was holding a vicious ax and trying to hit it on my head.

I quickly struck down the ax with the sword in my right hand and stabbed the sword in my left hand into the orc’s neck.

The feeling of killing that I have experienced tens of thousands of times in my life.

It was deeply engraved in my body that the orc in front of me was not an illusion.

“That crazy guy! I thought you were losing your liver!”

“Hole hole! You can’t be called a hero if you’re just killed by an orc.”

“I’m glad you’re safe, but I need to reflect on the fact that I was thinking about other things before the battle.”

“Everyone, don’t criticize the hero too much! The warrior must have been exhausted from the long journey!”

“Lana, you are too generous to Abel. Sometimes you have to know how to scold harshly!”

“Jeez, how can I scold the hero!”

Hesare, a female warrior with scars all over her body, Kyle, an old wizard who looks dignified, Murai, a tall bowman who looks quiet, and Lana, an ascetic priest who looks young.

It was my first time seeing all of them, but for some reason, I felt familiar with them to the point where I recognized their names as soon as I saw them.

I came to accept them as colleagues who had shared hardships and hardships together for a long time.

And now I am… … .

‘Abel. A warrior chosen by the holy sword Keradin to defeat evil as the goddess’ representative… … .’

He was the first warrior known in the Western Continent.

Although he did not remember the names of the heroes after the invitation, he remembered them as well as the first warrior.

Abel’s life story was famous throughout the world and was treated as a Bible in the Holy Kingdom.

To put it mildly, everyone says that they dreamed of becoming a warrior after hearing Abel’s story at least once in their childhood.

Now I feel like I have become a character from that legend.

“If you have an excuse, tell me! Don’t stay still!”

“Ah… . I’m sorry! Like Lana said, I think I was a little tired.”

“Look! Am I right?”

“No matter what, proper rest is also important. It’s a little early, but let’s camp here today.”

“Oh, the old man should set up a barrier around him.”

“Ha… ! If you’re tired, you should have told me in advance that you were tired. What do you do when you make people worry?”

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

“No need to apologize! We are also at fault for not being able to understand the warrior’s condition!”

“Why is it our fault… … .”

“Mr. Hesare!”

“Ah, okay! I’m sorry, I poured myself into it even though I knew the position of a hero was difficult.”

All my colleagues were paying attention to me, including the female warrior who was grumbling and worried about me.

A sight that could not have been seen without the strong camaraderie.

I was so happy that I smiled.

As the legend goes, the first warrior party was made up of very considerate and wonderful people.

“The problem is that it has nothing to do with ‘me’… … .”

“Yes? What did you say?”

“It’s nothing.”

The information and memories that flowed into my head were not my memories.

The body and memories of the first warrior, Abel, came into me.

“Phew… !”

Abel, the only child of a knight’s family, lost his mother to a demon at a young age and grew up under his father.

The father raised Abel alone to be strong so that his only son could survive in this harsh world.

However, not long after, even his father was laid to rest by the devil, and Abel lived a busy life alone to raise his family.

Then one day, after receiving a revelation from the goddess in a dream, the holy sword was given to him and he became a warrior.

In order to defeat the devil, the source of all evil, Abel gathered his trustworthy companions and went on a journey to worship.

“That’s right! I’ve always wondered, why is Abel using dual swords? Isn’t the holy sword bestowed by the Black Goddess enough?”

“Holholholhol! As expected, Hesare is asking the same question.”

“Well, I guess you didn’t hear it because Abel was away at the time when he told you.”

“What is it? How come everyone seems to know this? Did you shamelessly leave me out and tell this?”

“You left the drinking party that was meant to be a social gathering, saying you would train yourself alone.”

“Ugh! Well, at that time, strangers suddenly tried to become friends with me, so I was embarrassed and ran away!”

“An opportunity once missed never comes back.”

“Where can you find such a thing? Let me know too!”

Hesare begins to go on a rampage, saying it is unfair.

It was pitiful to see my unmarried wife acting out her life in front of others.

The moment I open my mouth thinking it would be better to speak slowly.

Hesare, who had narrowed his eyebrows, suddenly became grumpy.

“ That’s okay, I guess I’ll just pick up the sword that was rolling around on the floor and use it anyway!”

“This is the sword my father used when he was alive. When I became a warrior, he passed it on to me, saying that I had grown up well.”

For me, who had lost my family, it was a sword and keepsake more precious than the Holy Sword.

Even though he put the holy sword next to him before going to bed, he treasured his father’s sword so much that he slept while holding it close to him.

It was no exaggeration to say that they were my only remaining family.

When I told that story to Hesare, she let out a sheepish laugh.

“… … Ah, aha! Looks like your father picked up the sword from the dragon’s nest! You must have been very brave!”

“Phew! Ahahahaha!”

“Holholholholhol!”

“Haha!”

“Ooh, don’t laugh! These!”

From then on, we enjoyed adventures, often enjoying the sight of Hesare with his ears stained red as a side dish.

These were precious days for me, as I had always felt lonely after losing my family.

I thought it would be nice to be able to continue adventures with my friends forever, but the end was bound to come.

Because our goal was to overthrow the devil.

“Ugh… !”

“Hero!”

“Don’t come! Because I’m fine!”

The decisive battle against the Demon King must come.

I was confronting the devil shrouded in darkness.

Blood was constantly flowing out, and there was not a single spot on my body that was healthy.

I was out of breath and my consciousness was hazy. I was barely able to hold on with my mental strength, but it wasn’t easy at all.

“Kyle… ! Hesare… ! Murai… !”

The corpses of my colleagues scattered on the floor.

My colleagues who fought with me left first.

The only surviving comrade is Lana.

However, she was also very tired and one of her arms had been cut off.

If things continue like this, I might lose her too.

When I imagined losing even Lana, anger welled up throughout my body.

Father, mother, and colleagues who have been together… … .

I gripped my sword tightly, saying that even if it meant sacrificing my life, I would suffocate the devil who was taking away precious people.

“Devil!”

Without even giving a 0.1 second gap, he swung his sword in both hands.

Even if his arm muscles were torn and he fell apart, he did his best to kill the enemy in front of him.

“Demon King! As much as you… ! Never as much as you… !”

It was the time when the holy sword raised high was brought down to deal the final blow.

Quaching-!

The blade of the Holy Sword Keradin shattered as soon as it touched the Demon King’s fingers.

Fragments of a beautiful white sword scattered in the air.

At the moment when the holy sword was shattered and all hope was lost, Lana’s figure came into my field of vision.

Pap deuk-!

Biting my lip, I grabbed the fragment of the tip of the sword with my bare hands and stabbed it into the demon king’s heart.

The final sacred power and demon energy collided, causing a huge explosion.

My body, which was at the center of the explosion, was thrown out and fell in front of Lana.

“Hero! Well, let me get treatment right now… !”

Lana’s divine power had already been depleted.

However, in order to gain divine power, he had no choice but to squeeze out his own life force.

In this situation, if the vitality is squeezed out, Lana’s life will be in danger.

I didn’t want that, so I grabbed Lana’s wrist and shook my head.

“My body is already worn out. My lower body was cut off and there was no way I could survive.”

“If I put all my effort into it… … !”

“But it’s no use. In the end, we both die in vain.”

“Hero… !”

“The holy sword has been driven into the heart of the Demon King, so he will die soon. So Lana, please survive until the end.”

“I don’t like it! Me too, with other people… ! I want to face the end with the hero!”

Lana watched me on my deathbed shedding tears like chicken shit.

My heart ached at the thought of making her cry.

I feel like I will hear something from my colleagues who left for the afterlife first.

“Lana, will you take this?”

“This is… … ?”

“The Holy Sword has already been destroyed, but my most precious sword remains. I want you to take that and tell people. We fought against the devil and died heroically.”

“How could such an ordeal be put on me…? !”

“I’m sorry. But you are the only one who can give people hope.”

“Black… !”

Lana held my sword dearly.

The sword filled with my blood and her tears began to shine like a holy sword.

Warm and beautiful light. Our end and desire was sublimating into a holy sword.

“The name of that sword is Ileina. A holy sword that announces the end of a journey with precious companions.”

From now on, please let us know the beginning of blessings… … .

***

“… … .”

Just a moment ago, I was like Abel, the first warrior, and closed my eyes as I faced a noble end.

When I opened my eyes again, I was already back in a dark space.

And the marble in my palm was already split in half.