Ch.0The Solitary Saint After the Apocalypse

It was a world of black and red.

The landscapes that should have been shining with vibrant colors had all lost their hue.

“…Lord.”

A woman was walking through this world. Her snow-white hair stood out starkly against the dust and ash-covered surroundings.

“Is this truly… Your will, Lord…?”

The white-haired woman, Eila, who had been the Saint of the Hero’s party, muttered these words.

The Hero’s party had succeeded in defeating the Demon Lord.

But they had been far too late.

The world had been destroyed, and everyone had died.

The Great Warrior had become nothing but meat while fighting monsters. His corpse was unrecognizable.

The Arch Mage had spent all his power trying to save everyone before drawing his last breath. At least his corpse remained relatively intact.

The Great Sage had stayed behind alone in the rift of space and time to help everyone escape. Not even his body could be found.

The Sword Saint had fallen countless monsters with single strikes, and in return, had crumbled into particles. The dust on the ground was all that remained to bury.

The Divine Archer had stayed behind alone to save everyone. Later, only her head was found.

The Thief had sacrificed himself at the end to block a trap. There was no opportunity to recover his body.

And the Hero, after defeating the Demon Lord, had fallen to the Demon Lord’s final, desperate attack.

Completely melted away, not even a corpse remained.

All that was left was the Saint.

And the Hero’s relic, the Holy Sword.

Eila wandered aimlessly with staggering steps. Holding the Holy Sword, she just walked. Any destination would do.

After walking for who knows how long, the Saint saw a collapsed building before her eyes.

It was the cathedral where they had summoned the Hero.

Knowing it was meaningless, she still moved forward. Clearing away debris blocking her path and avoiding obstacles, she finally reached a certain room.

A room with cracked walls and a ceiling half-collapsed.

On its floor, white lines were drawn.

The Hero Summoning Circle.

Since all their adventures had begun in this place, it seemed fitting that the end of their journey should be here too.

The Saint placed the Holy Sword in the center of the summoning circle and clasped her hands in prayer.

Being a Saint in name, it seemed right to offer a prayer to the Lord in her final moments.

And at that moment.

“Huh…? Huh? HUH?!”

A blinding light erupted from the summoning circle.

When the light subsided, nothing remained in that place.