Chapter 1: Days Before The Catastrophe ①
◇◇◇
Holy Knight Yamada conveyed his determination to confront Hero Ryuguin, the girl he cherished most, Sena, by his side. The next day, he descended the mountain and energetically began to take action with his reliable companions.
◇◇◇
On the day Yamada came down from the mountain, the Masked Information Broker Anon was once again greeted by him with a bow, asking for assistance in the battle against the hero. Anon hurriedly urged him to raise his head and immediately promised to be of help. Noticing the change in Yamada’s expression, Anon felt a thrill in his heart at the sight of the determined man before him. Suppressing the surge of emotions within, Anon proposed an idea he had long held for Yamada. And beyond that lay───
◇◇◇
Sword Saint Eris returned the Holy Sword───Guardian Sword Rifire to her master, Yamada, as instructed by Omi, who exuded a somewhat sacred aura. It was explained that should Yamada respond to the kingdom’s summons, the Holy Sword would become his most crucial item.
Having heard tales of how it had long aided him, she felt an indescribable loneliness at parting with it. However, perhaps due to her still being inexperienced, her emotions showed on her face, and Yamada noticed her feelings. For a brief moment, she thought it was a mistake, but after closing his eyes for a moment, Yamada retrieved something from his Magic Bag.
“Here, take this instead.”
It was the white Demon Sword he had wielded───Gram Copy. Though Eris hesitated, feeling unworthy, she ultimately succumbed to Yamada’s insistence and accepted it. From that day on, she found herself gazing at Gram Copy whenever she had a moment to spare.
“Master…”
“You’re grinning, and it’s kind of creepy.”
Sena muttered with a sidelong glance at Eris, who was recuperating in the cabin.
◇◇◇
Orphelia Verite was informed by Yamada, whom she regarded as her master, that she would participate in the kingdom’s summons. During this conversation, he explained what he was about to face and what was happening.
His story was so outrageous that she realized it explained the sense of unease she had felt before. Although she hadn’t spent a long time with him, she understood that the depth of their shared experiences mattered more than their duration. She had come to respect him as much for the person he was as for his abilities. He would never tell such ridiculous lies; Orphelia knew this.
While the Hero’s abilities remained unknown, if they were based on supernatural powers like Mana, perhaps she and her Twin Swords Yin-Yang could become his strength. Orphelia felt a pang of regret for the day Yamada had shielded everyone and was swallowed by the pitch-black darkness alone. That was why she was determined to be of help to him this time.
◇◇◇
Omi, who accompanied Yamada to Bordaf, was like a carefree cat. She would act alongside Yamada, then disappear, only to reappear moments later behind him, nodding and saying, “Hmm, I see,” embodying the very essence of unpredictability. However, Yamada had come to hold her in the highest regard and trust her completely. Even when she vanished, he thought, “Ah, she must be off somewhere, but she’s working for me,” and he never pressed her for details. If she needed to, she would tell him. It might be a bit of blind trust, but he was confident in his judgment.
A few days later, he was called to a halt by Omi.
“Son-in-law, you seem ready.”
“I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“I’m all good now,” he said, flexing his muscles.
“Hmm… Is that so? Then, I have one thing for you to work on starting today.”
“What is it? You’re being cryptic.”
Omi crossed her arms.
“Well then… starting today, you will undergo training to see the unseen.”
──────
The Chapter of the Final Battle