The Hero Awakens
Aaron was still confused.
His memories hadn't fully returned, and his body felt heavy.
But he could intuitively sense it.
'My level is...'
《Lv.1》
His level had dropped to 1.
Clearly, Aaron himself had been level 200.
The greatest hero, an existence capable of sealing the Demon King.
But now, everything was gone.
Aaron took a deep breath.
He tried to calm his mind, but his heart was pounding.
Of course.
How could anyone lightly accept that the once-strong self was now merely level 1?
“It's because of the curse.”
Arte said quietly.
“When the Demon King was sealed, he didn't leave you alone.”
She looked at Aaron and added.
“The Demon King's final curse. That power sealed you in ice and took away all your abilities.”
Aaron clenched his fist.
His fingertips trembled slightly.
But he soon composed himself.
“We can start over.”
A strong light appeared in Aaron's eyes.
“Even at level 1, if I can fight again.”
That was the path of the hero.
Even if he lost everything, as long as he could take one step at a time.
“You are.”
Arte smiled faintly.
And, as if recalling something, she said.
“Ah, right! Aaron, there's someone who gave you a huge help in saving you...
Arte tried to point to Rumiel.
But at that moment.
“Eh...?”
The cave shook.
The cold ice wall vibrated slightly.
And, the darkness covered the entrance.
Suspicious black shadows slowly appeared.
They fell from the ceiling one after another.
Lv.? Suspicious Outsider
Cloaked beings.
They slowly entered the cave.
“Are they the Demon King's subordinates...?”
Arte's voice lowered.
She quickly organized the situation.
“While Aaron was freed from the seal, the barrier guarding the cave weakened! Taking advantage of that...
“They're coming in.”
Aaron muttered lowly.
And instinctively searched for the sword.
Just before, in front of the ice crystal where he was sealed, there was a greatsword placed there.
Aaron slowly reached out with his hand to the sword.
A weapon that had accompanied him for a long time.
“Long time no see.”
The moment his fingertips grasped the sword's handle.
Blue light spread across the sword.
“Uh, long time no see.”
In the light, Arte melted into the sword.
Aaron narrowed his eyes.
His gaze naturally turned to Rumiel.
Rumiel was quietly shaking her ahoge.
An impressive girl with a blank, stupid expression as if no thoughts.
Aaron looked at such Rumiel, tilted his head, then quickly composed himself.
The suspicious outsiders were approaching Rumiel.
Aaron's eyes flashed.
“...”
Although not sure, he could intuitively know.
This small girl was the one who saved him.
And, protecting her was what he, as a hero at this moment, had to do.
Aaron picked up the sword.
And stepped forward.
“Even level 1.”
His red eyes shone strongly.
“If it's to protect someone, I'll fight.”
At the same time, one of the suspicious outsiders gave a low command.
“...”
“Surround.”
Their movements were quiet and precise.
Cutting through the cold air of the cave, the black shadows slowly approached Rumiel.
And at that moment, brilliant blue light started from Aaron's body and spread along the blade.
As if the sword itself was alive, the energy surged like gentle waves, enveloping the space.
From inside the sword, a familiar voice echoed.
“Babo master.”
With the light coming out of the sword, a transparent blue figure slightly appeared.
“Could you have forgotten even how to handle me?”
It was Arte.
The spirit of the greatsword and his long-time companion.
A being who roamed the battlefield with the hero, sharing countless battles.
“Show me your swordsmanship...”
Aaron's red eyes were filled with light.
His fingers gripped the sword hilt more firmly.
A heavy but familiar sensation.
The fighting sense forgotten for a long time slowly revived.
Level 1.
He had lost all abilities.
But the sword was still in his hand.
“...It hasn't rusted yet.”
At that moment, Aaron's presence changed.
The hands of the suspicious outsiders twitched and stopped.
Some naturally took a step back.
Aaron was still just level 1.
But what they felt was the aura of the hero.
The spirit of a real battlefield veteran.
He slowly raised the greatsword.
The sharp blade flashed, cutting through the cold air.
Then, the outsiders all moved at once.
“...Get rid of that guy first!”
From their hands, daggers sprang out.
A sharp metallic clashing sound shook the cave.
*Clang!*
Aaron took a step and swung the sword.
His movement was too natural.
One, two, the outsiders rolled on the floor.
“Hey, you brat!”
The remaining outsiders attacked more fiercely.
They swung their daggers at Aaron all at once.
But,
*Thud!*
Aaron's foot kicked off the ice floor and jumped up.
The outsiders' attacks slashed through the air.
Aaron, who changed direction instantly in the air, dove behind the enemies' backs.
His greatsword swung gently.
The strike cut through the cold air, leaving a clear blue trail.
Soon, all the outsiders fell to the floor.
The daggers they held fell uselessly.
The fight was instant.
The outsiders fell to the floor and no longer moved.
Aaron's greatsword flew up last, cutting through the air.
After the blade with light left a blue trail,
The suspicious outsiders fell powerlessly onto the cold ice floor.
The battle ended.
Aaron took a deep breath.
Unpleasant air.
Perhaps it wasn't just the cold air of the cave.
He swung the sword to shake it off.
As the residual energy flowing along the blade disappeared,
The greatsword gradually took on a calm, gentle light.
At that moment,
*Clap, clap, clap-*
A weak applause sound began to be heard.
Aaron reflexively turned his head.
There, Rumiel was standing with a blank face.
With half-closed eyes, she was clapping formally as if it was bothersome.
“...”
Staring at that appearance blankly, Arte soon came out of the sword and gestured towards Aaron.
“This person is the babo master.”
“...”
“Eh?”
“The one who helped you regain consciousness.”
“Ah.”
Aaron looked at Rumiel once more.
Rumiel was also quietly shaking her ahoge, staring fixedly at Aaron.
In her eyes, there was some complex emotion mixed in.
But he couldn't exactly tell what that emotion was.
For a moment, their gazes met.
And, Rumiel's ahoge drooped.
The girl in front of him made a subtle expression, turned her body without a word.
Then, quietly started leaving the cave.
Without giving Aaron a chance to say thanks, Rumiel was leaving the cave with indifferent steps.
“...”
“...”
Aaron and Arte looked at each other.
A moment later, Arte tilted her head.
She looked at Rumiel's back, then looked at Aaron and said.
“Should we follow?”
“Seems so.”
Aaron muttered with a troubled face.
Rumiel wasn't looking back.
She was just moving her feet.
But strangely.
As he looked at the direction the girl was going, he felt like he had to follow for some reason.
“...Let's go for now.”
Aaron concluded.
Although he didn't know the reason, it seemed he had to do so now.
So, Aaron and Arte followed Rumiel out of the ice cave.
“Oh, outside!”
“...”
“Is this place, the snowy plains...?”
And what unfolded before their eyes was a snow-covered snowy plain.
And,
“...”
There was also the figure of a small penguin sleeping peacefully on a sled.
It was Popo.
Popo was lying on his back on the sled floor, with his mouth open peacefully.
“...”
Rumiel quietly looked down at Popo.
His beak opening and closing.
His chubby belly was also going up and down.
*Tap.*
Rumiel's hand, after a moment of thought, grabbed Popo's beak.
“...”
Aaron and Arte stopped for a moment.
At that moment,
“Kyaaahhhhh!!”
Popo's eyes popped open wide.
He shook his whole body and hurriedly stood up.
“W-what! My beak, my beak is stuck! Save me! Kyu kyuu!”
Aaron stared at Popo with a dumbfounded face.
What kind of situation is this.
On the other hand, Rumiel was looking at Popo with a calm face, shaking her ahoge as if nothing happened.
“Woke up?”
“K, kyu...! What are you doing suddenly! You startled me!”
“Sorry, you were sleeping too soundly.”
“Don't do that next time...”
“But I didn't touch your belly.”
“Y, you shouldn't touch other people's bellies!”
Popo hurriedly stood up.
The guy, still having some sleepiness, looked around and woke up.
“Eh... ? But who are you guys?”
Popo's round eyes looked at Aaron and Arte.
A moment later, Popo's round eyes grew even bigger.
“...”
Popo carefully lifted his trembling wings.
“T-that person, isn't it...”
His gaze fixed on Aaron's red eyes.
“H, Hero-nim!?!?!?”