Ch.106Cursed Journey (7)

I wanted to tear apart the enemy standing before me. But the enemy, perhaps wanting to live a little longer, started talking nonsense.

The claim that my journey here was predetermined decades ago is just absurd.

However, if there’s even the slightest clue about how the Demon King ended up like this, it might be worth listening. So I’ll let him live a little longer.

“Explain in detail.”

“Do you know what ability the Demon King, your predecessor Hero, possessed?”

“I understand it was a Supernatural Power that showed the best choices.”

I heard that the Demon King’s Supernatural Power could reveal the best option at a crossroads once per day. That ability probably helped him rise to his current position.

“So was suicide really the best choice?”

That’s why I can’t understand why he killed himself. If that was truly the best option, why start this madness in the first place?

The Demon King should have stubbornly survived until the end. And then died, torn apart by my hands.

But what was that bastard so afraid of that he ran away? What was so terrifying that he would do something so despicable and then irresponsibly choose death?

“That was the only judgment he made himself.”

“What, was he so afraid of fighting that he committed suicide?”

“It was because of guilt.”

An incomprehensible statement came from the enemy’s mouth. He felt guilt?

“Guilt? Only now? What bullshit, you fucking bastard.”

That bastard had already taken countless lives besides mine. Of course he could feel guilt.

But if so, why commit suicide only now? Seven years have already passed. Seven long years since that insane massacre began!

Just as my head was about to fill with unbearable anger, the enemy spoke in a disgusting, hypocritical voice.

“What do you think is the best choice for humanity?”

“To completely eliminate the existence of Heroes and Demon Kings.”

Why is taking someone else’s life defined as evil? Because life is precious.

Yet some powerful beings arbitrarily turned those precious lives into useless pieces of meat.

If such overwhelming power had never existed in the first place, I—we—would never have started this cursed journey.

But the enemy, drunk on power, just spouted nonsense.

“Creating an absolute ruler who controls all humans. That is the best choice for humanity.”

“How would you create such a ruler?”

“Using the energy flowing from fierce battles to artificially create an absolute ruler… no, a Demon King.”

“So this war was waged for that fucking ruler?”

“We’ve been preparing for that ruler for decades.”

“…Ha.”

It’s not worth listening anymore. Now I’ll eliminate the enemy for humanity’s sake. No, even if this were for humanity, I’d still kill him. Because I never want to see such a world.

As soon as I made my decision, I drew my sword and prepared to charge.

The enemy is before me. Don’t think about anything else. What’s before me is just an enemy.

Just as I was about to charge, the enemy spoke again, trying to extend his life a little longer.

“Do you remember the previous Hero’s ability?”

“You’re not going to spout nonsense about this being the best choice for humanity, are you?”

“At least that’s what the previous Hero’s ability indicated.”

“Then at least tell me the reason.”

“If someone could control everyone in the world, there would be no need to live under the threat of crime or war.”

“…So you started all this madness for such a trivial reason?”

Many people died in the war. And many more were left alone. All because of such an ideology.

Yet they claim to protect people from threats? When they themselves are the biggest threat to people?

Thanks to that, I’ve really reached my limit. I can no longer suppress the urge to brutally murder him.

So I let my body follow its instincts and charged at him. But I was blocked by an invisible barrier.

So I kept striking the barrier with my sword. But the barrier was more solid than I expected and wouldn’t break easily.

Still, I will definitely shatter this damn barrier. And I’ll similarly shatter his plans and future with my own hands.

As I continued striking with my sword, he spoke again in his utterly disgusting voice.

“Are you going to make the deaths of all those sacrificed so far meaningless?”

“Just shut up. I’ll kill you quickly.”

“Then are you okay with making your comrades’ deaths meaningless too?”

Suddenly, the force of my sword strikes weakened. Don’t let such sweet talk distract me, just focus on eliminating the enemy.

“I’ll ask you again. Do you think killing me now will make your comrades’ deaths meaningful?”

What’s before me is an enemy. So I shouldn’t listen to the enemy’s words.

“What do you think will happen if you defeat me and then completely dispose of the demonic energy in my body? In the end, everything will be as if it never happened.”

What’s before me is an enemy… What’s before me is an enemy… What’s before me is an enemy…

“Your journey up until now will become meaningless too. Just like your comrades’ deaths.”

My arms won’t move. Have I really fallen for the enemy’s sweet talk?

“…Is that really the best for humanity?”

“The Hero’s ability has never been wrong.”

“…Then where’s the guarantee that this plan can be implemented?”

“About 30% of the upper echelons of the Holy Nation already share our ideology. They’re just hiding it.”

He says there are traitors in the upper echelons of the Holy Nation, not some other country. And an unbelievable number at that—30%.

If the Holy Nation is in such a state, other countries must be worse. So implementing the plan should be easy enough.

“…Is that world truly peaceful?”

“At least there are no threats around.”

Living in such a world would be closer to living as livestock than as humans, that’s for sure.

But at least as livestock, we would never suffer like this.

If we live as livestock, my… our cursed journey could end as a meaningful one.

If I surrender here, their deaths will never become meaningless.

“…Fuck.”

It’s all nonsense. I know well enough that such a world is wrong.

But this time, my comrades are holding me back. The comrades who have allowed me to continue this cursed journey all this time.

No, what’s before me is an enemy. So I just need to cut him down mercilessly as I’ve done until now. End this journey with my own hands.

But my arms still won’t move.

…If I defeat him, what happens next? What remains in that world where everyone has been defeated?

Were their deaths sacrificed for something right? Or will they just become meaningless deaths?

This is why I hate enemies with ideologies. If the opponent were pure evil, I could fight without any hesitation.

In the end, depending on perspective, I could be evil, or he could be evil.

But that is absolutely not the right action. No, why is that not the right action?

No, can I even claim to be right in the first place? What belief do I hold that allows me to take someone else’s life?

Just because I’m a Hero, can I take away someone’s future just like the Demon King?

No, I never had a cause from the beginning. I only took lives for revenge.

With that in mind, do I have the right to end that ideology which at least has a cause?

“…Sigh.”

What’s before me is an enemy. I need to pull myself together. I just need to execute the traitor.

Put aside personal feelings. I’m just fulfilling my duty as a Hero.

No matter what cause they claim, they’ve already committed unforgivable acts.

And what they’re pursuing can never be called right. So throw away this damn self-justification and move already.

What’s before me is an enemy. So don’t get caught up in personal emotions.

“…”

I really hate hypocritical people.

I hate those who claim to fight to save the world, but in reality fight for dead comrades.

I hate those who cut others down mercilessly claiming to follow principles, but then mess things up because of their own comrades.

I hate those who know something is wrong but try to justify it because of different ideologies.

I hate those who claim to have hardened their resolve but still can’t let go of their comrades.

I really hate those who try to give up making choices because they’re tired.

“…How far has the plan progressed?”

“Originally, all the necessary demonic energy should have been gathered from your battle with the Demon King. But thanks to the Demon King’s suicide, we’re still a bit short.”

“Then where will you gather that demonic energy?”

“It will take some time, but we’ll solve it by collecting naturally occurring demonic energy.”

“Is there a reason for doing it that way?”

“Thanks to the Demon King’s suicide, our choices have gone awry, so we plan to act as cautiously as possible to prepare for any situation.”

“Then roughly how long will it take to gather the demonic energy?”

“At least a few decades, I think.”

I can only live for about 6 more years at most. So that plan will only proceed after I’m dead. So I sat down on the floor and said.

“Get out while I’m asking nicely.”

I’m tired. I just want to rest now.

The fate of the world or whatever is no longer my concern. I just really want to rest now.

There’s still plenty of time anyway. So during that time, someone will stop him in my place.

So this is the end for me. Finally, this cursed journey ends like this.

Anyway, there’s absolutely no chance the Demon King will appear again while I’m alive.

As I gave up everything and stared blankly at the floor, laughter burst from my throat. I don’t know the reason. Laughter just keeps coming out.

And my heart feels empty, like it’s being torn apart. That’s why I want to cry desperately, but not a single tear comes out.

No matter how much I want to cry, only laughter comes out, so I keep laughing involuntarily. Then I felt something snap.

And I manifested my third Supernatural Power.