Chapter 554: The Hero’s Name

「Affection, mercy, pity. Let’s start again…」

Giluel said with a smile that contained everything.

Richard, still holding the black sword in his hand, intensified his gaze.

「Don’t say another word. 」

He raised his sword and brought it down. He put strength into his pinky finger.

It was natural that an enraged stance would assume form, but it was different for Richard. It was one of the perfect stances, one that had endured hundreds of sword fights.

What Richard felt in his heart was neither murderous nor hostile. It was a feeling of danger.

…Don’t listen to what she says too much. Her tongue drives people mad. She knows what it means to drive someone mad.

He remembered Valerie’s words. At first, he frowned in disbelief, but then he finally realized they were true.

「Why not, Richard? After all, you have regrets, right? Surely you feel frustrated, too. So it’s only natural to want to start over from the beginning…Ah, listen to me! Even the Human King, Medic was like that. So what you feel is nothing to be ashamed of. You have the right to be happy! 」

The first Human King, Medic.

If it was the great hero Altia who paved the way for humanity, then it was undoubtedly the Human King Medic who began human history.

Humanity lacked nations, civilizations, and even villages. The rulers of the continent were demons. Back then, it was an era when humanity was nothing more than animals with a modicum of intelligence.

He was born into such an era. He was the first king to unite people into a single group and create the concept of a nation.

…It was said that he died after committing a gruesome suicide.

So you want me to pray to God and start over? That’s good, wonderful, the best, the ideal. If I could start my life over again, then I’d make everything go the way I wanted.

These were Richard’s true thoughts, from the bottom of his heart.

There was no way he wouldn’t think like that. That day, at that time. If only he hadn’t made that mistake. If only he hadn’t been consumed by talent and devoted himself to saving his hometown. He could’ve been able to save his roots even if he couldn’t save everything else.

He would forever live with regret about that day. No matter how hard he struggled, no matter how great a feat he accomplished. That fact would never fade.

「Yes. That’s right, Richard. There are people who have actually repainted paintings. I have no right to speak their names. In other words, the world has forgiven them. Listen, why can’t you repaint as well when there were other people who could do it? I hate injustice, you know. 」

The village girl’s expression was innocent. Giluel spread her arms with eyes that wished for happiness from the bottom of her heart.

The past continued to flow across the canvas, and the surrounding white shone ever more brilliantly. It was as if this was a place of revelation.

…I don’t understand your goals. I can’t trust people like you. You are you exactly?

「Ah right, Richard. My apologies. Let me answer. I am an apostle of the one and only god, Altius. Our god has only one purpose: the salvation and happiness of all humanity! Is there anything greater than that? For that, I need your soul. Three beings who can serve humanity. The human king and the great saint are already there. All that’s left is you, the hero. 」

If you can’t take God’s hand now, that’s fine.

You can just try again. If you do, there’s no problem.

「Richard, are you really okay with things the way they are now? Even after you’ve suppressed the First Demonic Beast Disaster and became a hero, even after fighting the war against the great demon, your heart is still not satisfied. You’ve been blaming yourself all this time. Wasn’t your vow to make your country great just a reflection of that regret? 」

Words could easily open wounds. Far easier than physical interference. People couldn’t turn a blind eye to their own hearts.

Moreover, this spiritual world was connected to Giluel’s Original Text. Sharing the world with others and healing their wounds was what she excelled at. Of course, she also trampled on them.

「…I have something to ask. 」

Richard’s voice didn’t hide his age. Not a trace of fighting spirit could be detected. Giluel accepted with a smile.

「What are those people who have repainted their lives doing now? 」

「…They’re living the ideal life. With no regrets, no bitter feelings. They’re living life the way they want, happily. 」

A seductive voice. A sensation that stimulated the brain, a sweet tingling sensation.

「I see…I understand. 」

「Then, here you go. Give me your hand. You can redo everything to your satisfaction. 」

Giluel held out her hand. With a gesture like a god scooping up an undeserved worshipper.

Richard slowly lowered his black sword.

「I understand. 」

In an instant.

Richard swung his black sword, pointing the tip downward, in a semicircle. His body slack, the sharp line split the air, causing blood to spurt from Giluel’s neck.

For a moment, Giluel’s blue eyes widened. It would’ve been a fatal blow.

And yet, Giluel still looked at Richard. Her eyes were pure, but a single drop of demonic aura was spilling out.

「You should stop negotiating with people. You’re not cut out for it. In life, misfortune is inevitable. Despair is inevitable. Humiliation, resentment, pain, frustration, and even regret are all inevitable. Saying there’s nothing is what a con man would say. You don’t understand people at all… Perhaps. Those people who tried again. They’re probably bleeding and struggling right now. 」

Richard said this for no particular reason, thinking just of someone in particular.

Giluel looked at Richard, undeterred by the blood flowing endlessly from her neck.

「So.. So you don’t want to try again? You don’t mind carrying regrets? 」

「Not at all. Listen, I don’t want to live with regrets. I don’t want to do the same thing again. Of course not. 」

With a nonchalant, elusive demeanor, Richard once again readied his black sword.

「But that’s why I’m not getting on board. He said he’d leave it to me. And I bet everything on him. If I go along with you now, then I’ll regret it forever. 」

Richard thought to himself, laughing. If Giluel’s words were true, then he would be abandoning his current family, whom he could’ve saved, to stay stuck in the past.

He didn’t know who was right and who was wrong. If he had no regrets about the present, then he would’ve easily taken her hand.

But that wasn’t to be.

Richard had placed his hopes in this place. If he were to abandon them, then he would surely regret it one day.

And besides.

…He didn’t want to take the hand of someone who was trying to negotiate by holding his family hostage.

「Do you understand why I’m called the hero, Giluel? No matter what tricks you use, I’m not going to give in to your demonic nature, so that’s why I was called by that name. If I lose here, that bastard Lugis will be doomed. Let me show you the pinnacle of my power. 」

He gripped the black sword again with his hand. The black sword was beginning to regain its luster for the first time in a long time. In the spiritual world, physical aging was meaningless.

A clear, lightning-like aurora surrounded it. The inscription on the scraped-off blade read “Glory”.

Richard determined that this world was Giluel’s home base. In the real world, there was little notable about her.

Drawing people into this ideal spiritual world and destroying them. There was no doubt that this was her main power.

「…Let’s not do this, Richard. As you can see, you can’t kill me. There’s no point in trying to do this. I could even destroy your mind here. I’m omnipotent in this place. 」

「I guess so. But it seems like you have a lot of limitations for an omnipotent person. 」

Beloved and recognized by humanity, and also the hope of humanity, the hero proudly swung his sword before the demon.

—

Vestaline Geluah’s condition was far from good.

She lay in the treatment tent, breathing feverishly. Even moving and speaking must have been difficult, but she continued to speak.

「I’m sorry… Commander. I failed my duty. Please… 」

「No, you fulfilled your duty. You discovered the enemy’s true identity and returned alive. That’s more than I can ask. 」

Apart from a blush on her cheeks, there were no visible injuries on Vestaline’s body. However, she still showed no signs of being able to stand.

Filaret said that the magical energy inside her was continually damaging her body.

The true nature of Baronuis’ magic seemed to be the ability to unleash magical energy in any location in front of her gaze. All living things possess magical energy from within their bodies. It flowed throughout their bodies like blood. Apparently, Baronuis could make it rampage at will. Just by looking. It was a cruel trick.

What was even more disgusting was that it was persistent.

The demon beast Baronuis’ death magic continued to target anyone who caught its gaze, including Vestaline. Even those like Doha Surah, who was of the same kind, had not been able to fully resist it.

Everyone would eventually die if we continued to ignore it.

「…Commander. Are you sure? 」

「There’s no need to ask for permission. What’s wrong? 」

Vestaline lay there, with her fingertips trembling. Her faint voice showed that she was far from the usual Steel Princess.

She spoke after carefully choosing her words.

「…Soldiers will die in front of that threat. Before they can see. Before they can fight…」

She stumbled, but I could read her intentions.

It was like a trick, killing someone just by looking at them. Fear couldn’t be suppressed no matter how experienced the soldiers were. They were holding on for now, but as time passed and the losses continued to mount, they’d eventually collapse.

And that would mean they wouldn’t even be able to fight the hordes of monsters.

So retreating was probably the only option.

「I know, but even if we keep running, we’ll eventually be caught up. So we should hold out here. Don’t worry, Vestaline. I’ll finish this while you’re still lying here. 」

I wanted her to rest right now.

But even so, Vestaline looked at me with very, very sad eyes.

「…Commander…I think it’s fine if we run away. 」

Vestaline said quietly, in a voice only I could hear. After apologizing, she continued, gasping for breath.

「You… won’t run away, I know that. But…please…it’s… 」

「…It’s reckless, and it’s foolish, I know. 」

The enemy was a powerful demon beast. It wasn’t something humans could truly defeat, and even running away from it wouldn’t be easy. The height of evil and immorality.

Perhaps it was because she was the master of mercenaries and accustomed to leading others that she felt this even more. Leading an entire army to confront it would be hopelessly difficult. My options were slim.

I could easily die even if I didn’t make a mistake.

Vestaline was about to open her mouth again when someone else spoke.

「…That’s not what she meant. I think Vestaline is trying to say: you’ll die if you fight that devil. Humans are just not compatible with that threat. 」

From behind, Filaret spoke as if a matter of fact. Vestaline nodded, breathing heavily.

「Indeed. Well, I have something to say to you, Lugis. 」

Filaret said, clutching the parchment with an ominous sparkle in her eyes.

Previous | Next

😉

—————–

Support us on Patreon and get access to early chapters