Ch.102Cursed Journey (3)

As soon as I unfolded the scroll, I was transported to a space that looked like some kind of cave. Then a voice came from somewhere.

“If you pass through this trial to the end, the mark of a hero will be engraved upon you.”

“I can use any method I want, right?”

“Yes, try everything you can possibly do.”

I have enough strength. I’ve acquired sufficient skills. My supernatural power is decent enough too. My ability is to summon a sword that creates flames by sacrificing something of mine.

From what I’ve heard before, life span holds tremendous value.

Since it pours out all the energy that can be produced in a day at once, it absolutely cannot be weak. Though I’ve also heard that the price of life span is painfully great.

Still, I don’t care. If I can kill him, I’m willing to sacrifice my life span, no—this life itself.

And so I began the trial.

***

I’ve reached the third room. I guess I just need to smash through this room like the previous ones and pass through.

While I was thinking that, a voice came from somewhere again.

“You didn’t even solve the wisdom puzzle and just smashed the door instead. I’ve never seen someone like you before.”

“You’re the one who said it doesn’t matter what method I use.”

“Well, that’s true. Anyway, for this trial, you need to enter through that door over there. Once you come out of that world, you’ll have passed this trial.”

I’d like to smash that door and go through, but it seems beyond my current strength to destroy it.

I need to conserve my energy for the next room anyway. So this time, let’s just face the trial.

As I entered that glowing door, I heard a voice from somewhere that seemed to be mocking me. Did they pull some kind of trick again?

“Farewell. And have a good time.”

But beyond the glowing door, there was only a black world with nothing in it.

While I was trying to figure out the situation, suddenly a glowing being appeared before my eyes.

“…What kind of person are you?”

I heard a voice of astonishment, contrary to the mocking voice from earlier. This thing probably brought me here. So I pressed it sharply.

“What kind of trick are you pulling?”

Then the mysterious being complained to me as if wronged.

“How is this possible? You truly don’t have an ideal world? Then what do you live for?”

If what it’s saying is true, this place probably shows my ideal world. But what it showed was nothing.

In a way, that’s natural. After all, what I truly want can never be achieved in this fake world.

The Demon King is still alive. That bastard is still breathing in reality. So I need to kill him in reality.

This anger can’t be satisfied with mere fakery. That’s why nothing appeared.

So I pointed my sword at its neck and pressed it with killing intent.

“Step aside if you don’t want to die.”

“Fine! I’ll let you out!”

As it raised its voice, the surroundings began to crumble. And it looked at me with somewhat pitying eyes and said.

“Poor thing.”

And so I returned to reality.

***

The final trial was also simple. Even though it was the previous hero’s incarnation, it was in a critically injured state, so I could handle it easily.

Thanks to that, the trial is now over. And I felt something forming near my heart. Probably the hero’s mark.

I also obtained three other emblems. I’m not sure what they’re used for, but just in case, I kept them and unfolded the scroll again.

Then I returned to the hospital room where my master was. And my master asked me in an astonished voice.

“You’re back already?”

“Yes, and I’ll be going now.”

“Where are you going this time?”

“To fulfill my duty as a hero.”

I tried to leave for my revenge with a plausible excuse, but my master suddenly stopped me.

“Don’t you think you should at least have companions?”

“I don’t have time to gather companions.”

“Then I’ll gather companions for you instead, so wait a little.”

“I already said I don’t have time for that.”

So I left my master behind and moved on.

***

It was easy to pinpoint the Demon King’s location. That’s thanks to him openly revealing that he’s holding out in a huge castle like an idiot.

Not running away and waiting there obediently is practically the same as begging to be killed.

So I kept moving toward that castle. But as I got closer and closer, the demons I had to face were getting stronger too.

Still, thanks to the hero’s mark, I could tear them apart, though it was tough.

Struggling here is a problem. Even if I approach him, I can clearly see my chance slipping away again.

This can’t be my limit. Even if it is, I must grow somehow. Otherwise, I can’t achieve my revenge…

“Who’s there.”

I sensed something from the nearby bushes. Is it an enemy again?

While I was watching the bushes cautiously, suddenly two people jumped out. And a girl who looked about my age said.

“Um… Hello, Hero. We’ve come to support…”

“Not needed.”

I prepared to move toward the Demon King’s castle. I can’t give the chance for revenge to anyone else.

Even if I’ve reached my limit now, I can make up for it with experience. So I just need to fight much longer than I am now.

Even if that moment of being blocked comes, then it’s a problem that can be solved by sacrificing my life span. So I don’t need any help at all.

As I was about to move toward the Demon King’s castle again, a boy who looked a bit older than me said.

“How about at least hearing us out?”

“Not interested.”

“Even if I say we were sent by Basil?”

“Tell my master I don’t need any help.”

It seems my master sent people to help me, but I don’t need any of this.

So I started walking toward the Demon King’s location again. But I could feel someone following me from behind.

“Leave while I’m still asking nicely.”

“I’m confident we won’t hold you back. Right, Zoe?”

“Y-Yes! I definitely won’t hold you back, Hero!”

The boy spoke smoothly, while the girl spoke with extreme tension. I’d like to drive them away by force, but I can’t do that since they were sent by my master.

But I’ve never been told I must accept them as companions.

“Leave while I’m still asking nicely.”

“I’m certain we’ll be a great help if we’re by your side.”

“I said I’m not interested.”

“You’ve heard about the existence of a saint, right?”

That boy continued talking despite my deadly glares.

“A being chosen by the Goddess. And the newly appeared saint specializes in healing abilities. So if you have a saint by your side, things would be much easier.”

The boy brought the somewhat anxious-looking girl in front of me and said.

“This is Zoe, the new saint and my little sister.”

“So what?”

“And I’m Adrian, a holy knight belonging to the Holy Nation. My abilities are that I can bestow blessings and I’m good at holding the front line.”

“My patience is reaching its limit…”

“Then let me tell you about the operation the Pope has instructed.”

He continues to act forcefully as if my opinion doesn’t matter at all. Why did my master call only these kinds of people?

“There are beings called the Four Heavenly Kings around the Demon King. The Pope instructed us to deal with them first.”

“And if I refuse?”

“You can’t enter the Demon King’s castle without breaking the seal anyway.”

“Seal?”

“…You don’t know anything about the Four Heavenly Kings, do you?”

“No.”

He thought about something briefly and then told me a fact.

“The Four Heavenly Kings are guarding a seal. And that seal protects the castle where the Demon King is. So we need to defeat the Four Heavenly Kings first.”

“Is there no way to destroy the seal?”

“Even if you break through the seal, it regenerates quickly, so it’s faster to just deal with them one by one.”

“So you’re saying you’ll help me defeat them?”

“Exactly.”

I’m definitely starting to hit my limits. And there are four beings protecting the Demon King.

So I might as well use these people. At least until I kill all of the so-called Four Heavenly Kings.

“Fine, but I have one condition.”

“I’ll decide after hearing it.”

“I will kill the Demon King with my own hands.”

“Promise that you’ll save the world from the Demon King in return.”

“I promise.”

It’s a promise I have no intention of keeping anyway. I don’t care what happens to the world as long as I can achieve my revenge.

And just in case, let me add one more thing.

“Promise that you’ll disappear from my sight if you hold me back even a little.”

“Then promise that you’ll continue traveling with us if we prove helpful.”

“…You’re annoying.”

“So what’s your answer?”

“Fine, it’s a promise.”

“Then it’s decided. Let’s get ready to leave.”

He calmly took out a map from his backpack and showed it to me while saying.

“I heard the one on this side is the weakest. So let’s go here first.”

“Lead the way.”

“Alright, follow me.”

As I followed him, the saint spoke to me in a trembling voice.

“Um… I look forward to working with you…”

Since it’s not even worth answering, I completely ignored her. It’s just a passing relationship anyway.

And I don’t want to form any close relationships again. Such things are not needed at all for a life dedicated to revenge.

And so I continued walking to achieve my revenge.