Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Two Heroes - 4
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"Good heavens... Is this him? Is this the Hero?"
"I can hardly believe it. He looks so young."
"Age isn't what matters, is it? Welcome, Hero... Or maybe that title doesn't quite fit. What should we call you..."
"Hero is fine! That's what people will prefer anyway."
"If it's not rude, may we call you Hero?"
"That's what I've been saying."
"Don't act so childish, even here. This isn't just among us."
"Let's skip the trivial title business... and get to the important matters. So, what should we do from here?"
Meaningless words floated around. I was listening to them, but each one simply flowed into my head and shattered into pieces, sinking into the depths of my subconscious. Whether they noticed my state or not, they kept talking among themselves.
"...That method is too dangerous. Even if the Hero has come to us, acting rashly will get us all slaughtered."
"But it's also the surest way. And what's the point of dragging our feet now?"
"What do you mean by 'sure'? Sure to get us all killed?"
"Don't mock me. We didn't come here to trade barbs."
"Barbs? Hah. Just because you're older doesn't make you right..."
"What did you say?"
"Now, now. Let's calm down. We didn't gather to fight among ourselves."
"Right. And what kind of spectacle is this in front of the Hero?"
"I went too far. My apologies, Hero. But my stance hasn't changed. We..."
Someone seemed to apologize to me. But you're not the one who needs to apologize to me. That's why I didn't even hear it. Right now, I had far too much to think about.
No, actually, there's only one thing I'm thinking about.
...
She's no longer here.
What does that mean?
The thought rising in my mind right now.
The one that surfaces helplessly no matter how hard I try not to think about it. Is that its meaning?
"Doesn't that mean we give up everything? Essentially, abandon it all?"
"That's not what I meant. I just think we should take it a bit slower..."
"That damn 'slower'! Do you know what's at stake right now? Time. If we dawdle, the imperial citizens—not just this city, but the entire empire—could perish. We're the empire's last hope. If history books a few decades from now record us as the fools who squandered our final chance, there'd be no greater shame."
"So that's it. Fame. Is that what you want?"
"What?"
"Hold on. Both of you, stop. Fighting among ourselves helps no one."
"Yeah. Honestly, this is getting scary, seniors? So..."
"This isn't fighting; it's exchanging opinions! Say it again. What do I want?"
There are two possibilities. She's lost... or the seal has been broken.
Yes, just those two.
If it's the former, I'll have to set out on the road again. A long journey to find you. Maybe one where there's no answer at the end. It didn't matter. I'd prefer it that way, even.
But if it's the latter...
If Leo succeeded in breaking your seal.
And if you're by his side.
By his side...
By his side, you...
...
If that's the case.
What should I do?
"Have you said your piece? Do I look like some fame-hungry schemer to you?"
"Yes! I've said it! Why, want to hear it again? You've always been like that. Always playing leader, hero, pulling off reckless stunts! And what was left? Because of your mistakes..."
"Calm down, everyone! What is this in front of the Hero!"
"Stop it, all of you! What good does fighting among ourselves do!"
"Me, wanting to be a hero? Don't make me laugh. There's a real hero right in front of us—why would I want that?"
Hero.
Suddenly, those two words pierced my chest.
Eli always said it didn't suit me. The stench of blood and iron emanating from my body was all wrong for it.
But the world says otherwise. That I am the hero. That searching for the girl lost years ago is less important than my responsibilities.
Maybe it was all decided that day I nodded to Nadia's words and left my hometown. The moment I turned my back on where people lived and headed into demon territory, I was prepared to lose everything.
If I'd chosen differently then, would everything be different?
I tried to imagine it, but strangely, I couldn't. Because all the time piled up like sediment over that choice would have to be cleared away by hand. But it's stacked too high now—even if I plunge my hand in deep, my fingers can't reach. No matter how hard I stretch them, they can't touch it. The fragile fingers can only grasp the present.
Only this moment right now.
"Let go! Who's picking the fight here..."
"Calm down, everyone!"
"Tell that guy to calm down! I'm plenty rational!"
"Why are you all doing this! We don't have time for this! Soon..."
"Open the gates."
The moment I spoke, the noisy argument died down in an instant. Chris, struggling between the two men, tilted his head at me.
"What... do you mean?"
"Open the gates and let all the imperial citizens inside."
"That's fine, but after that..."
"I'll go meet Leo."
I shot up from my seat without hesitation. Then I looked at Rachel.
"Coming with?"
Rachel, who had been sitting quietly amid the commotion, staring at the floor, finally raised her head to meet my eyes. She let out a deep breath and said,
"A request? Or a proposal?"
"I'm asking."
"Either way, the answer's the same."
She gave a faint smile, stood to follow me, and asked,
"By the way, why the gates? Finally decided to look after the people?"
"To draw Leo's attention, we need a large crowd. Can't take the guards from the gates, though. And even Leo won't slaughter that many people outright."
"...And leaving them be would be too heartbreaking, right?"
I turned away at her playful addition. And headed for the door. Unlike the dim room, bright light still streamed in from outside.
"Well? Are you all coming too?"
Rachel's voice came from behind. But I ignored it and flung the door open.
As the door opened, light poured in before me. I walked toward it.
Clearly, when I left this path, I thought I'd walk alone for the rest of my life. With just a sword in hand, carving through demon lands, thinking only of the blood it'd stain—I was nothing but a useless rock.
But from the moment I left human territory, fate began treading on my shadow.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps following me. I turned to see Rachel watching me. She followed with the same enigmatic smile from when we first met. Seeing her expression reminded me of the question a girl asked when I left Erendel.
Please, at least tell me your name.
I have no idea what she expected from that question. I brushed her off, saying I had no name, and left the village.
Maybe that's when it started. The world began asking for my name. The same world that ignored me when I struggled to become a hero now asked who I was when I held a blade to their throats.
Come to think of it, I've walked this path called by so many names. When I wore that coachman Will's face like a mask, I was Erendel's monster. A nameless butcher, a savior who liberated the city. Since I wouldn't give my name, people made up their own.
Erendel's monster. I let out a hollow chuckle and turned to see Chris and the guards coming into view. Before I knew it, they were following me, their steps drowning out Rachel's. Some of them still didn't even know my exact name.
Thinking about it, there were those who never wondered about my name. Bella. Kate. They called me murderer. It was so accurate, no other name was needed. In the end, Bella never called me by name, using some ambiguous title instead. Daddy. Or big brother. That might have been the name I wanted most, but Kate layered "Hero" on top.
Yeah. Even that child ended up calling me Hero.
I've had so many names. Most given by others, none false—all of them mine.
Lorenheim country bumpkin.
Rock.
Monster.
Murderer big brother.
And Hero.
As always, among the names fitting on one hand, the one throbbing in the sorest finger was the last. A name I once abandoned, one that took so much from me—yet people stubbornly call me by it, demanding I give up everything left.
But I've always denied it. I'm not a hero. In front of the Demon King's castle, before the girl asking my name, even before the walls where I turned back to defeat the Four Heavenly Kings—I denied it. But the world asks: Then who are you? The one who unwittingly liberates cities, saves people, slays demons—who?
I've put off answering that question for too long. Who am I?
Now, maybe it's time to choose.
"Who goes there!!!"
A thunderous shout made me look up. Before I knew it, a massive castle loomed ahead, guarded by knights. I stopped before them.
And in that instant, thousands of footsteps halted with mine.
One stopped step caused another to stop, rippling like waves as feet stamped the ground, echoing. The earth trembled, the vibrations syncing with more echoes, until it felt like the air itself quivered through my body.
I didn't need to turn to imagine the scene behind me. People too frail to live without me, staring endlessly at one man's back. Unaware that back once only bore the weight of a single girl, they all clamored to climb atop it.
"Who are you! This is His Majesty's land! Retreat now, or we'll deem it treason and execute you!"
Another question asking my name. Now, I had to answer them.
I drew a deep breath. Truth be told, the answer was set long ago. I just hesitated to say it. As air filled my burning lungs and resolve tensed my fingertips, I opened my mouth and answered. To those asking my name. To this world.
And to you—beautiful, ugly, omnipotent, impotent—still watching me.
"My name is Luca!"
The voice of a Lorenheim youth no one had cared about boomed out. Steady without a tremor, it soared toward the skies, toward wherever you might be.
"Youth of the mint flower village, swordsman who slew the Four Heavenly Kings twice, member of the expedition sent at the Emperor's call to assassinate the Demon King!"
People puzzled by my name began realizing who I was as the words continued. I met the knights' wavering eyes and shouted,
"Today, in the Emperor's stead, I come to punish the false hero!"
I gazed past the knights' shoulders, now gripped by fear, to the distant, towering imperial palace. Soon, a distinct figure emerged. Though our eyes hadn't met, I knew who he was—and sensed he recognized my face. I called out the name of the one I'd longed to see, in a different sense.
"Leo!"
"...!"
Even from afar, his flustered expression was clear. Now, it was time to end it all.
"Come. I've come to take everything from you."