episode_0124

The never-ending battle between humans and demons.

Regardless of the scale, if you count all the wars that have occurred between humans and demons, there are over 100.

I thought it would be well over 10,000 times if you take into account the small battles.

If you ask when the most brilliant era in blood-filled history is, everyone will give you the same answer.

The era in which the first warrior Abel lived.

They all said that this was the time when they first drove out demons from the land of humans and put a chill on the demon king.

However, if Abel enjoyed the best era, the worst era could naturally be seen as the era before Abel.

There were many heroes back then, but they only prevented the human lands from falling completely into the hands of demons.

There was a time before the birth of Abel when recapture was not even a dream.

“Do you know what the situation was like on the Western Continent before the first hero?”

“Of course I know. Half of the western continent was occupied by demons.”

The bodies and minds of countless people were broken under the pressure of the demons.

Fortunately, the people in the north were relatively decent. Because the demon territory was located in the southernmost part.

Because the demons occupied the land by moving north from the south, the damage in the north was less.

On the other hand, the southern part of the country was being destroyed by the land, people, and demons.

The people of the South desperately protested every day to stop the invasion, or were occupied and forced into slavery.

The former may have been better than the latter, but in reality, everyone was being ruined regardless.

“But didn’t we recapture all the land that was taken away with just the appearance of the first hero?”

“That’s right, Abel was able to regain the southern region by driving out the demons and beasts… … .’

The wounds engraved in my heart either remained as lifelong scars or could not heal at all.

The southwestern region closest to the demon territory suffered indescribable damage.

So the people of the southwestern region earnestly pleaded with Abel to save them.

I never want to be exploited by demons again.

I wish our suffering would end.

I want to live in a peaceful world where there is no need to worry.

People knelt before Abel and earnestly prayed for their wishes.

The scene felt as if people were worshiping and praising Abel as a god.

Although impressive, their actions were detrimental to Abel.

“Do you know that the first hero was weakened by the greed of the people in the southwestern region?”

“That’s… … This is my first time hearing this.”

Abel, who was soft-hearted, felt sorry for the people of the southwestern region.

Hoping they would no longer suffer, he took some of his strength and planted it.

The warrior’s power soon became a divine blessing, creating an area in the land that evil demons could not invade.

Regardless of whether there was a war or not, the people of the southwestern region did not have to worry about an invasion by demons.

“The first hero shared his power so that people who suffered from demons could feel at least a little more comfortable.”

“That’s stupid. It would have been better to defeat the devil, the source of evil, with all his strength.”

“You were a very complacent warrior. Still, since he is a righteous hero, I think he was able to do that. But if he was stupid… … .”

“It must be related to the reason why the story is not known to people around the world, right?”

“You’re amazingly quick with just one insight.”

People in the southwestern region were very worried that they were the only ones receiving preferential treatment.

Because besides them, many other people were harmed and suffered.

For that reason, they built a tower of comfort to conceal the fact that the power of the first warrior was implanted.

“They decided to completely conceal the fact that the hero shared his power.”

“If the first warrior was an idiot, then the people of the southwestern region were trash. It’s amazing that hundreds of years have passed and such an important fact is still not known!”

“Perhaps they were worried that the information would leak out, so they didn’t tell it to their descendants. Now, we have to assume that no one knows about that fact.”

The people of the southwestern region were busy cracking down on the warrior without even knowing how to appreciate the help they received.

It would have been nice if they had shown sincerity in honoring Abel’s sacrifice by erecting a stone statue of the first warrior, but that did not even happen.

Dirty selfishness. Lian, who deduced the ugly side of humans through Abel’s memories, became disgusted with his own people.

“I wonder if there was a reason why you wanted to head to the southwest… … .”

“To reap the power of the first hero. If we’ve used it for free for hundreds of years, shouldn’t we get it back now?”

“You are right!”

The power left behind from my past life and the great work I was unable to accomplish because of it.

In order to correct the wrong judgment of the past, Rian planned to take Abel’s power and challenge the Demon King.

If he lost power, the southwest would inevitably be invaded by demons, but it was of little importance to him.

It suffocates the Demon King and puts an end to the fight between humans and demons.

It was the pledge of a warrior who valued purpose over humanity.

“The next destination is the Tower of Comfort in the southwest. But where can I go in the tower to get my power back? Is it the top?”

“No, you don’t have to go into the tower.”

“Yes? Didn’t the southern locals hide their power in the tower?”

“The tower is a deception and the hero’s power lies beneath the ground.”

“… … It may be presumptuous, but if you let the power seep into the ground, the power will be distributed along the ley lines. Since several hundred years have passed since the past, I am concerned that even if you regain the power of the first warrior, it will be at a negligible level.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. The first warrior did not plant himself in the ground, but instead transferred his power to a living creature.”

“A living thing?”

“Yes. To Mol Turtle!”

Mole turtle

It is a turtle that lives underground, digging into the ground with its mole-like forepaws.

It lives underground to avoid predators and mainly eats centipedes and earthworms.

He was famous for moving only one day out of 365 days and sleeping for the rest.

“Turtles that live underground, rarely move, and are famous for their long lifespan… … . If it had received the power of the first warrior, it would have become a spirit creature and have a lifespan close to eternal life, so it is an optimized creature for fixing blessings on the land.”

“Even though the first hero was an idiot, his colleagues around him were smart.”

Molturtle was a method designed with knowledge gained through advice from colleagues.

In addition to swordsmanship, Lian also acquired the knowledge and training methods of the warrior’s companions.

“Didn’t the colleagues around him try to dissuade the hero?”

“I stopped you. But the hero foolishly dismissed his colleagues’ opinions. How can you stay silent when people are suffering?”

“I didn’t know that the world-famous first warrior also had such a frustrating side.”

“So they say there is no perfect person in the world.”

With a bitter smile, Lian fiercely criticized his past life self.

Abel deserved everyone’s respect, but he was also foolish.

He devoted himself to the people of the South, whom he was not even close to, but received no reward in return.

On the contrary, because he lost some of his strength, he was unable to protect his precious colleagues.

Isn’t that really stupid?

“I regretted it a lot right before I died… … .”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing.”

Rian quietly closed his eyes and thought of his colleagues in the warrior party.

People who were so precious to me that I remember them clearly even though they happened in the distant past.

The guilt of not being able to protect them instilled awareness in Rian to avoid making wrong choices.

Bitter failure was a rare experience and milestone.

‘At least I shouldn’t repeat the same mistake.’

Lian leaned back against the challenge and looked around the deck.

Stella and Grishuras are still happily fishing.

Hibana tilts her head, staring at herself.

And Scathach sleeping quietly on his belt.

From the arrogant Ilaina to the unstoppable Eckles and Lips.

For the current Lian, these relationships were just as precious as his colleagues in the warrior party.

‘It feels strange that it’s all a sword, but anyway… … .’

In this life, we will achieve happiness and peace without losing anyone or making any sacrifices.

Lian clenched his fists as he looked at the continent getting closer.

***

Knights and soldiers were dispatched from various countries to devour the Margal Kingdom, which had lost its owner.

The troops of each country gathered in this way naturally formed an alliance.

The alliance, which adjusted each other’s shares, surrounded the walls of the Margal Kingdom.

It was a time when pressure was being put on the kingdom, threatening to invade at any time.

“Breaking news! Demons are appearing among the troops one after another! I think we need to pay attention to the rear first!”

“General, His Majesty has trusted you and entrusted you with this mission! A demon has appeared, but for now just look ahead! If not for this opportunity, you will never have a chance to obtain the Margal Kingdom!”

“General! You shouldn’t listen to that guy! If you go ahead with the operation, you will be left behind!”

“Yeah, you guy! You know who I am and you say such nonsense… Huh!”

The prime minister, who had received the king’s order and came to the battlefield with the general, suddenly clutched his chest.

“Oh, stop! Get out of my head! Wow!”

No one spoke, but the Prime Minister shouted into the air as if he could hear the two people.

However, the Prime Minister’s seizure showed no signs of ending and he eventually tore off his own body along with his chest.

Dark red skin exposed between torn skin.

Everyone in the barracks was shocked. Because demons had infiltrated the leadership as well.

“There are demons everywhere! I think we should postpone the invasion of Margal Kingdom for a while and respond first to the demons!”

“Pfft! Inform all troops! Wipe out all the demons hiding among your allies!”

“Eradicate the demons!”

“Damn… ! There is a change in plans, annihilate the humans!”

Soldiers from a foreign country come to fight against the Brothers bandits who have taken over the kingdom.

Ironically, they began to fight against the demonic spies hiding among them.

Eckle and Lips, who were watching the scene, had expressions of confusion.

“Lips, why are they fighting in Eckle’s front yard?”

“Well. I’m embarrassed because this is my first time experiencing something like this.”

“Are they idiots?”

“Maybe.”

The twins were so busy watching the fight between humans and demons that they didn’t notice at all.

A forest not far from the capital. The fact that there is a tower standing tall there that does not match the scenery.