Interlude: The New Hero Yuris ①
I will kill the Demon Race.
I will kill the Demon Race.
I will kill the Demon Race.
I will trample the demons that attack the villages.
I will slaughter the demons that kill humans.
I will eradicate the demons that commit evil.
They are enemies, not beings that can be left alive. Therefore, I will kill them all, leaving not a single one behind.
With countless harms and not a single benefit, I will ensure their complete extinction without leaving even a remnant.
Neither I nor they are just; we are evil. That is why I will burn my soul to continue fulfilling this evil.
Like that person,
Like that esteemed one.
To live in a way that does not bring shame to that back, which was so vivid, fierce, cruel, and cold, yet filled with far more goodness and righteousness than I could ever possess.
While dreaming of that figure, who lived a life so beautiful and splendid, incomparable to my own.
While endlessly ruminating on that voice, which, though not gentle, showed me the courage to keep moving forward.
I cast away the self that was a mere shell, and I burn the remaining life and soul in the boiling desire of a purgatory-like thirst, stepping forward into an irreparably broken desire to dedicate my life.
As a living being, I am broken; as a madman, I still possess my ego; and to call it a mindset of ruin would be too much will to live.
I cannot become a hero for all.
I cannot become a symbol of hope.
But I have become a hero.
I chose to become a hero.
I have taken the title of hero from my predecessor.
That is why I am a hero.
I cannot become a hero who can give someone the courage to live like that person.
I cannot become a hero who fights with courage while prepared for death like that person.
I cannot become a hero who can break through everything and save the world like that person.
But I am a hero.
I must be one who gives courage.
I must be one who shows courage.
I must be one who saves the world.
That is why I will fulfill my role as a hero.
That is my mission, Yuris.
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“Yuris, let’s call it a day for now.”
“I’m still good to go.”
“No, you can’t. If you push yourself, you won’t be able to fulfill your duties.”
“…Understood.”
Following the words of Ron, the Spirit of Light, who had been perched on a branch watching me, I sheathed the Holy Sword, which continued to emit an unusually bright light. I then untied the gloves that were attached to the sheath and put them on, extending my right hand toward Ron.
As I did, Ron took flight, landing on my outstretched hand, hopping up my arm until he settled on my right shoulder, rubbing against my face with his entire body.
“Are we done? Well then, it’s a bit early, but let’s prepare dinner. After that, we will wait until nightfall and launch an attack on the demons that have taken over the mountain village we scouted earlier. Azul has already gone ahead to gather intel.”
“Understood.”
“Got it.”
I began practicing with the Holy Sword, as Ron had instructed me to do. As I finished and turned around, I saw Exe, one of my companions, wiping blood from his gauntlet with a black handkerchief.
Beside him lay the corpse of a decapitated boar, along with several dismembered demons, their bodies sprawled out like broken dolls.
Exe, who was once a judge, now referred to himself as a villain, claiming he would eventually be killed one day and was merely waiting for that day to come.
Because of my inadequacies, two of our companions had fallen, and to avenge them, we had resumed our journey to kill the demons. Exe had kindly decided to accompany us.
He had lost faith in the concept of goodness, believing that laws and regulations had failed to save the innocent, while individual will had. He continued to declare himself as evil because he had begun to doubt the righteousness of the law.
Azul is a wolf. A noble and thoughtful blue-haired wolf that had been guarding the already deceased body of Ron at the forest spring where I first met him.
Upon seeing my Holy Mark and Holy Sword, he understood I was a hero and led me to Ron, deciding to join me on my journey.
According to Ron, Azul is a descendant of the first hero, who had rescued Ron, and he is said to possess a bloodline closely related to the Apostle of God, making him incredibly strong.
“This seems to be it. Now, shall we eat quickly?”
“Yes.”
“Still as simple as ever.”
“At least we have salt and pepper. They say that when pushed to the brink, humans can eat even dirt like it’s the finest steak.”
“Isn’t eating dirt like steak more of a monster’s behavior?”
“No, no, he was a proper human. Though he did stray a bit from the typical human way of life.”
“Oh, it’s rare to hear you say that.”
“He was special.”
Listening to the conversation between Ron and Exe, I seasoned the grilled boar meat with salt and pepper and brought it to my mouth, tearing into it.
The meat still bore the scent of the beast and the smell of blood, and the exterior was charred from cooking. It was a meal devoid of any cultural essence, yet I chewed and swallowed it.
I could probably eat fine cuisine, which might satisfy me in various ways, but I didn’t need that time, and I could continue living just fine on this meal. So, this was enough for me.
“Oh? …Hmm, I see.”
“What’s wrong? And what is that letter?”
“It just arrived. It seems to be magical mail. Given the circumstances, it took a while to reach me… but I have understood the contents.”
“I see. I didn’t know you had someone who would send you letters.”
“The sender is my savior. It seems they are sending a batch of letters to acquaintances. I will respond, so please continue eating.”
“Okay.”
“You usually tell Azul to focus on his meal.”
“My savior’s matters take precedence above all else.”
“Oh, so if your savior calls for you, would you leave?”
“If my savior commands it, then yes. This time, however, the message is more of a request to come if I can, so I will send an apology and inform them that I will visit another day.”
I continued my meal while watching Exe read the letter that had somehow slipped into his hands and begin to write a response.
My savior, the one Exe refers to, must be that person.
The one who wished for me to become a hero, and because I accepted that role, took the title of hero along with the Holy Mark and Holy Sword from me.
My predecessor, the one whose name everyone would mention when asked who the hero is in this world, a great and noble person.
Ferno Desire.
He stood alone against an invading army of over a thousand demons and a horde of more than ten thousand monsters. At the moment when the townsfolk had knelt in despair, resigned to die here today, he charged in, cutting down the demons and monsters, halting the invasion single-handedly.
In a time when no one could rise, no one could assist, and no one could even speak, he fought and fought, ensuring not a single demon or monster escaped, demonstrating courage atop a mountain of blood and corpses.
“Hey! I’ve wiped out the threat! Now it’s your turn to pull yourselves together! Get to work fixing the damage!”
To us, who could not comprehend reality, who had begun to think we were dreaming, he called out to us, awakening us to the reality of our salvation, and even assisted in the reconstruction of our devastated town.
Despite being bloodied and battered, he never showed a pained expression, instead smiling as he rejoiced in our safety, watching us recover with satisfaction before resuming his journey to save others who were suffering.
As I continued my meal, I recalled the figure of that person etched in my memory.
“…Are you thinking about our predecessor again?”
“Of course.”
“Well, I understand he’s an incredible figure and far more talented than you, but do you really need to chase after someone from the past?”
“Ron, I’m not chasing after him.”
“Then why do you keep reminiscing?”
“I’m not foolish enough to chase after something I can’t catch. I discarded my past self because I couldn’t forgive the shell of a person who had been saved twice yet repaid that kindness with betrayal.”
“Then why don’t you remember your childhood friends or your teacher?”
“I’m just not in the mood to dig up forgotten things. There may have been a time when we promised to marry and cared for each other, but there’s no way I can still harbor feelings for someone who continues to insult my savior. The same goes for you, Exe.”
“Hmm… You’re not planning to die, are you?”
“I’m not planning to die. My sins aren’t something that can be easily atoned for, and saying I would die to atone is nothing more than self-satisfaction. I will live. I don’t care what accusations I face or how I’m treated; it’s proof of my sins and a testament to the fact that I’m a hopeless person. I will bear all of that, and while I do, I will remove threats from this world as much as I can.”
“Well, if you don’t intend to die, that’s good. But what if the man you think you’ve wronged decides to forgive you?”
“That’s simple.”
It’s not even something to ponder.
“I’ll just remove the threats that endanger the peace of the world. This is something I discovered after casting away my former self, the one who was lost in despair. It’s what I want to achieve. I can’t save the world. I can’t bring peace to it. But I can become an arrow aimed at eliminating threats. So, I will remain that arrow; it’s not my job to paint and create a beautiful, bright future.”
“Are we done here?”
“…Exe.”
“It seems you’ve finished eating. May I ask you to take care of those things?”
“Understood.”
“Did you kill again?”
“I was merely attacked; it’s not strange that they caught the scent of blood.”
“Go wash up, honestly.”
“It’s pointless to wash; the stains are set in.”
“That’s fine. Ron, bring forth the flames.”
“…”
“You’re the only one I can rely on, please.”
“…I suppose I have no choice. You should be able to handle this level of magic by now.”
“I’m sorry?”