Chapter 551: Heroism

The distance from Fort Medraut to the Olyn Plains was two full days.

However, that was only if the army was marching. If horses were galloping at full speed, then it would only take about half a day. There were slight ups and downs along the way, but no major incidents.

That’s why it was already visible from the hills near the fort.

…The form of the giant Bastion Beast, Zebrililith.

It seemed to be swaying slightly. The fact that a structure so much larger than a fortress was still alive made one question its sanity.

Even Richard, who prided himself on having more extraordinary experiences than most, couldn’t help but smile wryly at the mighty sight.

It was all the more stranger that one of his own students had gone to kill it, of all people out there. It was simply not something a human being should face.

But the fact remained that they would fall if they didn’t succeed. The New Kingdom would collapse if they couldn’t kill Zebrililith.

It was fair to say that Lugis was a man who was always on the brink of ruin.

One wrong step, one move missing, a moment lost. Everyone would’ve been lost.

He was always walking on thin ice.

Some might say that he was a hero because he had the talent to overcome those hardships, but Richard certainly didn’t think that way. He wasn’t the kind of person who could solve things through talent.

Richard was well aware of the level of his student’s ability.

Lugis had no talent for wielding a sword. When Richard first met him, he thought that Lugis was a really clumsy guy. He wasn’t very talented. He was just a bit quick-witted and had enough stubbornness to not give up easily.

It would be foolish to see him as first-rate, and it was unclear whether he could even reach second-rate. That was what Richard saw in Lugis.

「But now, he holds my life in his hands. I can almost feel it’s fate, you know. 」

Richard calmed his horse, and then, sat down on the hill. Then, he turned around. The ale bottle still hanging from his left arm swayed gently.

「…You’re crazy, you villain. I can’t believe someone like you is still destined to be alive. 」

He turned around and there she was. She pulled the reins of her horse and jumped off the stirrup to follow Richard.

Valerie Brightness didn’t seem particularly upset even though it was an unintended secret rendezvous.

Valerie’s magical armor gleamed as she spoke calmly.

「…Dore is my confidant. You could even say she’s my other half. Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to hold the position of general. She asked me to come. In truth, I had no intention of coming. 」

「I know that very well. 」

Richard responded to Valerie’s sudden monologue with a matter-of-fact tone. Because she knew who called her here and who arranged this secret rendezvous.

Richard guided her to this place.

Valerie’s loyalty was unblemished and genuine. That’s why Richard couldn’t do anything that would shake Valerie’s honor.

Therefore, Richard made Dore act for Valerie’s honor, even if it went against Valerie’s wishes.

「I’m a little angry at what you’ve done to me. You betrayed me. And you deceived that half of me. You’re not going to ask me to endure it for a third time, are you? 」

Her voice was emotionless. But it was sharp. It even gave the impression that she could cut through someone’s skin with just the tip of her sword.

「Don’t be silly. I didn’t deceive you. That’s one of your strengths and weaknesses. Nobody can betray you for what you believe. I was just leading you. That’s all. 」

「You’re still good at making excuses, my lord. 」

Valerie sat down next to Richard after saying this. She realized there was something to discuss as she accepted the bottle of ale.

Of course there was. Between defensive and offensive generals in a war, there were plenty of negotiations, schemes, and plots.

Valerie knew that what they were discussing here wasn’t about surrendering. If it were, Richard wouldn’t have called her to a place like this.

「It’s about that bastard Zebrililith. Valerie, you…」

「…No, I refuse. 」

So Valerie dismissed that idea with a single word. Temporary alliance, or peace? In any case, she had no intention of hearing anything other than surrender.

Besides, Valerie knew Richard better than Dore. She knew that he wasn’t someone she should let talk about however he wanted.

So she spoke first.

「Right now, I’m deeply disappointed in you. Trying to negotiate means siding with that great evil. 」

That was true. If Richard really wanted to side with Valerie, then he should’ve told her after handing over Fort Medraut. The fact that they were still holding secret meetings with the fort tightly closed meant that Richard had no intention of siding with Valerie.

Valerie couldn’t bear it. She could only wonder why he would betray her, her comrade-in-arms.

「…Why do you side with that man? Maybe you could say he killed a magical devilish being, or a Great Demon, but I don’t think he’s worthy of your support. I’ve met him once, but the next time I see him, I’ll kill him. I promise. 」

Valerie spat out her raw emotions.

The great evil Lugis was nothing less than a hateful enemy. An enemy of her country, and one who had hurt Richard. She couldn’t understand in her heart why he was siding with such a man. And, of all things, after destroying his own arm.

Unconsciously, her words became more and more violent.

「I’ll be frank with you. Do you think that man is more worthy of your support than me…the great Valerie? I don’t even want to talk to you unless I hear a response! 」

Her voice seemed to push everything away from her. Valerie stood up and shouted, and Richard was taken aback. Valerie’s sharp eyes stared piercingly at him.

Richard would be lying if he said he didn’t have some thoughts about her words.

At the beginning of the fall of the capital. If Valerie, or her master, Roymetz Formor, had beheaded the previous king and proclaimed himself king, then Richard would’ve sided with them. There were plenty of future possibilities for him to become Lugis’ enemy.

…But that didn’t happen.

「…Valerie. 」

Richard stood up, furrowing his eyebrows, and met her gaze. Valerie could neither retreat nor move forward until she at least settled this question.

That’s just the kind of person she was. That’s why Richard wanted to talk to her.

「Do you believe in heroes? 」

「…What are you talking about? Don’t try to deceive me. 」

「Listen. I believed in them. Ever since I was a brat. 」

This time, Valerie was taken aback by Richard’s unexpected words. The strong emotions that had been welled up in her heart lost their outlet, and her expression became clouded.

「My hometown was a poor village, even among those in the Gharast Kingdom. But we were doing pretty well. We couldn’t afford luxury, and we could only eat meat a few times a year. We had simple happiness here and there. My father was a respectable fisherman, and my mother was a hard-working person. But we were plagued by the monsters. I had an older brother, so I didn’t need to take over the family business, and I wanted to help my father, so I became an adventurer. The poor village couldn’t afford to hire adventurers to hunt monsters. But becoming an adventurer elsewhere would reduce my parent’s living expenses, and if I were successful, I could even earn money. 」

And if Richard could find fellow adventurers, then he’d be able to get lots of jobs.

Fortunately, Richard had talent. His sword skills were natural. His movements were unmatched.

No beast, demon, fellow warrior, or even knight could match his blade. Whenever he slayed a large monster, bards would compose songs in his praise.

「It’s a masterpiece. I always thought I’d become a hero. I thought I had the strength and talent to do so. 」

「You are…」

A hero…Valerie swallowed those words. Richard’s eyes were so dark. They seemed to express no desire to look at anything at all.

「…It didn’t happen, Valerie. Let me tell you. The hometown of that fool who ran around here and there in pursuit of becoming a hero was destroyed a year after I left. While I was intoxicated with my so-called talent. It was only six months later that I realized I had stopped receiving letters from home. The village had become a den of magical beasts. Nothing remained of my father, mother, brother or anything else. 」

Richard took a step forward. Valerie instinctively took a step back.

It wasn’t that she was intimidated. But what should she say to him now? Valerie had no idea what to do or what to say.

She didn’t understand why Richard was bringing this up now. They had never talked like this, even when they were together as adventurers in the past.

Leaving a confused Valerie behind, Richard continued his story.

「Valerie, if we compare your talents to Lugis’, then I’d say you’re far superior. You undoubtedly have natural talent, while Lugis lacks it. No matter how far he goes, he may only be able to crawl forward on his hands and knees. 」

But…he said, placing his left arm on the sheath, and opened his mouth.

「…That doesn’t matter. Second-rate or third-rate, only those who accomplish something are heroes! I’m not a hero if I don’t achieve my goals! 」

To Richard, that was the truth.

Complaints, dissatisfaction and misfortune were all natural in life. Even among royalty and nobility, there were plenty who complained about their lives.

It was natural for those without talent or status to suffer misfortune. Experiencing humiliation and scorn was part of everyday life.

For the vast majority of people, living meant accepting all of it.

But what if one could no longer live by compromising or accepting that misfortune?

Even if taking a step would be seen as reckless or foolish. Even if one must overcome resignation and achieve revenge.

It was a reckless, foolhardy path that was impossible to traverse. But what if there was someone who managed to achieve it?

「…I call him a hero, and therefore, I decided to bet everything on him. He’s the only person I know who can do such thing. Valerie, you cannot even insult him. 」

And with that, Richard drew the black sword from its sheath.

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