Chapter 96: As If Awakening a Destiny

“It’s hard to say this was expected.”

Venus grumbled as he sliced through a monstrous creature that had been lunging to bite him in a single stroke.

At that, Ases asked back with her characteristic innocent smile.

“Then you think Kariel summoned those things?”

“…Can you guarantee that’s impossible?”

Though he didn’t say it aloud.

Venus had kept some of Kariel’s remarks directed at Bargo in the back of his mind.

The Demon King of Wisdom, was it?

…It was a detail that couldn’t be overlooked, but it wasn’t something to be confessed to anyone right now.

Ases emphasized once more.

“He told us to evacuate the villagers to the lower levels and prepare for any unforeseen events, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Maybe he said that because he was worried the battle above would become intense?”

Again with that….

“And there’s these things.”

Even if they were outside the village, some of the Demon King Remnants were still present.

Even if they weren’t a full army, gathering people here would act as a significant burden for them.

Besides that, well… there was the pretext of taking preemptive measures to prevent innocent casualties.

There were many reasons, but….

“Who could have expected this?”

That such monsters would pop out.

Then, as if to resolve their doubts, a voice drifted over from one side.

“There were omens.”

“Omens?”

“…….”

A demon with blue skin approached, skillfully wielding a curved blade.

A monster sliced by the blade split in half, spraying murky bodily fluids.

“A while ago, animals and beasts in the village all started fleeing or dying.”

At Ruslan’s words, Ases’s thoughts became complicated.

“So, you’re saying the appearance of those things was already foretold?”

…And we, unaware of that, ate meals and took naps with those monsters, not knowing when or where they would crawl up from underground?

“Was it a coincidence or what?”

Venus swung his sword again in irritation.

Though it looked like a light swing, those caught in its path were swept away and sliced apart.

Even though he swung it carelessly, as if pruning branches, it was absurdly superior compared to the efforts of the guarding soldiers fighting nearby—so much so that the comparison felt almost insulting.

“I don’t really know. Still… I just wanted to tell you that such signs appeared recently.”

Having finished her business, Ruslan rushed toward a precarious-looking area and began sweeping away the monsters.

“Recently, huh.”

A mischievous smile played at the corners of Venus’s eyes.

“Do you know something?”

“It’s obvious who the newcomers are, isn’t it?”

“Ah, that’s how it connects?”

Ases seemed to realize it as well and licked her lips.

Though she remained still as if slacking off, there was something about her that made even the monsters hesitate to approach.

In fact, whenever she moved, the monsters that tried to pounce would instinctively move out of her way, or even fall over, overwhelmed by her presence.

“Seriously, you crazy bitch.”

“Why are you picking a fight again? Why is everything ‘crazy’ with you?”

“If even these bastards who fear nothing are holding back, your level is obvious.”

“That just means I’m great. An intimidation? A prestige? Something felt from the instincts that can’t be distinguished by reason or emotion?”

“…That’s exactly why you’re a crazy bitch.”

The personnel who appeared to be mercenaries brought by Ases were also achieving overwhelming results.

Since they were hired, even if only temporarily, and it wasn’t for free, their professional spirit and struggle were impressive.

“Shupa! Getting paid to slice monsters, getting some real-combat training, and having fun! Why wouldn’t I do this?! Gehehehek!”

In particular, Gehven, the wolf-headed Beastman, was creating a chaotic scene with his eyes rolled back, as if he were in his own home.

Though he seemed to have completely lost his reason, the way he instinctively distinguished friend from foe and swept through the swarming monsters was less like a warrior and more like a Fighting Demon.

“How… how unrefined.”

Ases muttered softly that he had let off the leash and clicked her tongue.

Venus, glancing at her, spoke as if throwing the words out.

“I’m moving now.”

“Where are you going?”

“…Up, or to look around elsewhere. This place doesn’t seem dangerous anymore anyway.”

“That’s true.”

Perhaps those words piqued her interest.

Only then did she draw her sword and gesture with her chin for him to lead the way.

“You’re coming too?”

“There’s a monster over there waiting to play. Wouldn’t it be a shame to just let it go?”

Grrrr-rrrk!

A Monstrous Dragon, letting out an eerie cry, was situated far in the distance.

Usually, wouldn’t people think of fleeing rather than fighting upon seeing such a thing?

“Looking at you again, you really are a crazy bitch.”

“There you go again.”

Despite the words, the smile on her lips was heated with the anticipation of battle.

Looking at her appearance, she seemed far removed from combat or fighting.

But her essence was a sentinel of war, stirring up death and bloodshed.

For example, she was a Battle Demon.

The insane reason she joined the Savior Faction was that one must stand with the weak to face the strong.

She wraps herself in goodness to slaughter evil.

Wrapping herself in righteousness, she wished to struggle without limit and massacre the indiscriminately generated evil.

That was the purpose this crazy bitch had stated when she first sought to learn swordsmanship.

At a glance, her goal was similar to Venus’s own, and their paths might be the same.

…But in a decisive part, they were polar opposites, with a stark difference between them.

“By the way, where did the nun from the Church of Irenis go?”

“…There are no nuns in this village.”

“There’s a church, though?”

“It’s not a church, just a chapel or something.”

He flew and swung his sword.

Those caught in it were sent flying as if hit by a mace; those not sliced were blown away by their torsos, and those who were sliced collapsed and crumbled without even knowing what had hit them.

“You were surprisingly observant.”

“Ah, I see now, you wanted to save that lady?”

“Unlike you, I don’t stand by and watch innocent people.”

“While despising the weak.”

“…….”

“Ah~ sorry! Did that hit a nerve?”

Certainly.

With the crazy bitch accompanying him, there was no hindrance to his movement.

As if truly insane, she dealt with whatever blocked her path as if she were merely passing through, swinging her sword as if dancing.

…To think she had exhausted her body to the point of straining her muscles while facing a Legion Commander just to save that bastard; she looks perfectly fine now.

By that logic, Venus himself should have been lying down in a critical state, but for him, that level of injury was nothing after a few days of rest.

Having taken medicine and enjoyed a small Magic Effect for recovery, how could he complain?

“I don’t forget a favor. That’s the basic, right?”

“Why? Isn’t it over once you receive it? Why pay it back? Isn’t that just a loss the giver accepts?”

“…You piece of trash.”

“No, I’m right! Do you give a thank-you greeting to every single fruit you eat, like those Ear-people? Were you the kind of guy who gave meaning to every piece of bread he ate? Giving thanks to a beast you killed is just mockery, right? It’s better to act confident like a winner and the strong; then the eaten beast feels less wronged.”

“…….”

Despite being selfish to a cunning degree, why were her actions always good deeds?

She was twisted—twisted very firmly.

“But in the state this village is in, if she’s stranded, can that lady survive in that condition? She had kids with her.”

“…I don’t know about the kids, but she won’t die.”

That woman.

“She’s the woman sent to monitor whether that damn sword can be pulled out or not.”

“Was that it?”

“…Our side has been making such a fuss that the sword would be pulled today or in the near future… I thought people from that side would come.”

Luiness.

Venus judged that the reason she wasn’t visible was perhaps related to the power behind her.

The fact that he was moving now was, in a way, aimed at that.

“Now we can see just how great the people backing her are.”

“I don’t think they’ll be as attractive as that monster.”

“……If you think it’ll be that interesting, then get lost over there. Who told you to follow me?”

“You should speak clearly, Venus. You said she’s a monitor? Then at this moment, she has a reason to go over there, right?”

At this moment, if that sword is not pulled.

“I wonder when that thing will finally be pulled?”

====

At this moment.

He had seen many things.

Whether the choice was right or wrong.

It might be too late to judge now.

But.

The village had frozen solid.

Everything was frozen.

There was no one.

No one who was living and moving normally.

Only he existed.

The boy, who lost his family and neighbors overnight, had no way of knowing why this had happened to him.

There, he met a girl.

Luciri, known as the Witch of the West Wind.

And the kingdom’s investigators who came to examine the anomalies.

In that journey, the boy might have simply been swept along.

However, the boy was not merely dragged along.

He searched for ways together with the agonizing girl and was granted companionship.

He helped with the anomalies that occurred in several villages, and in the audience with the King, he did everything he could.

Even in the small crises that occurred in the kingdom, he solved the problems together with the newly joined comrades.

It might have been a small anomaly in a small country.

It was not a miracle.

However, the boy’s struggle had a clear meaning, planting inspiration and impression in the many who watched him.

In that process, the boy also grew steadily.

Thanks to a body tempered as a Forest Keeper, innate strength, and an optimistic personality, he stood his ground without backing down, even against those with strong assertions, including the perpetually gloomy Luciri and the gullible comrades.

When a crisis arrived, he bound their strengths into one.

Amidst the hardships and incidents that occurred in succession over a short period, the boy who knew nothing of the world… still knew little.

Nevertheless, the boy had changed markedly from before.

“…….”

Kariel, holding the hilt of the sword embedded diagonally in the ground while drawing Leo in, conveyed the scene he had just seen directly to the Holy Sword.

Normally, this would be impossible, but he tried it because the Demon King said it was possible.

And so.

[Why will you not leave me alone?]

Into that space.

Another guest, besides Kariel and the Holy Sword, was invited.

“You’re the one who spoke first, aren’t you? To me, or to him.”

At Kariel’s words, the Holy Sword remained silent.

“Uh, eh?”

Leo was simply blinking in bewilderment for a while, confused by the situation.

What on earth was happening?

It was a long, long time.

But to those watching the scene from the outside, it was the same process in an instant.

Finally.

Leo, who gripped the hilt after Kariel let go.

Pulled the diagonally embedded sword.

Out in a single stroke.

It was light as a feather.

The pulled sword began to radiate brilliance, as if it had never been rusty or shabby.

The Holy Sword spoke.

That the journey he had lived was the answer.

If he continued to maintain the same mindset as now.

At least until that moment.

The Holy Sword itself would help him.

At that very moment.

The solitary sword that had chosen to sleep made a declaration.

And.

Kariel, who watched the scene.

-…….

And the Demon King, each sank into different thoughts.

Long ago.

When mentioning the qualities of a hero.

The world often concluded it was immense power.

That is correct.

Above all, ‘hero’ and ‘brave’ (Yongsa) are not synonyms.

That is why people are mistaken.

Anyone can become a hero.

As long as they have power.

As long as they achieve an accomplishment.

Regardless of who they are, their personality, their righteousness, their origin, or whether they are good or evil.

They become a hero.

However, a hero is someone who can fall and degenerate at any time.

Even great sovereigns, even Great Kings, became tyrants and oppressors as time passed.

Nevertheless.

Who is it that declares they are not heroes?

However.

They are never called the ‘Brave’.

Why?

Because the qualities of the Brave are different from the qualities of a hero.

An unyielding heart.

A will that does not compromise with reality.

For example, indomitability.

Therefore, for the Brave, strong power is merely an accessory.

It’s good to have, but it doesn’t matter if it’s gone.

Because.

He will not yield under any circumstances.

Furthermore, that is hope, and it eventually brings victory.

That is why he is the Brave.

If he does not yield but is defeated, he is not the Brave.

No, he can be defeated.

But because he does not give up and does not yield until the end, he eventually creates a foothold for a reversal.

Even if he loses a hundred times, if he does not yield until the end and finally achieves victory.

Undoubtedly, that is the duty of the Brave.

And.

Their final goal is ultimately the victory of justice, the victory of good.

Evil is defeated by good.

Victory over evil as good.

Therefore.

How could the world, or God… not love such a being?

Thus, the quality of the Brave means that they are respected and loved by the world.

And they cannot help but receive the favor of God.

There were many who were outstanding from an early age.

There were many who were once heroes.

However, they eventually succumbed to the battle with themselves.

In that way.

They became villains, tyrants, bandits, and murderers.

That too was possible because they had power.

Power, in this way, carries weight.

Just possessing it presses down on the shoulders, weighs down the body, and forces a choice.

If one is swept away by it. If one yields.

In the end, even the soul is crushed.

There are countless heroes who were crushed under that weight.

But.

The one who carries that burden and advances steadfastly, achieving his convictions.

That person is the Brave.

How… noble and divine.

That is why, whether enemy or ally, everyone cannot help but respect and admire him.

Cannot help but revere him.

Therefore, if there are enemies of such a person.

They are precisely those… who hate, envy, and deny such nobility.

…Absolute evil, wretched slaves and dogs of demons who have sold their souls to evil.

“…….”

But.

Even if not absolute evil, if there is someone who sold their soul to evil.

What should they do?

As if by fate.

As if awakening to a destiny.

Luiness, who had just climbed the stairs.

Witnessed Leo, far in the distance, pulling out the sword and holding it high.

“Ah….”

Why.

Why did You make me see this sight?

Rather.

Rather.

…If only I hadn’t climbed up.

If only I had witnessed and realized this sight a little later.

……I, too, might have had a little time to hesitate.