Winter Falling on Steel

Winter falling on steel. ──The sky splits open. Beyond it, the landscape of another world, a land blackened by pollution. At its center stands a mighty being. And a lone warrior standing tall. Clutching the Bopal Weapon, the warrior cleaves through the god.

With nothing but that single sword, overcoming trials and calamities, transcending time to even slice through death itself, standing firm on his own. The darkness fades, and light pours in through the parting thunderclouds.

"Hero──this is your victory!! You who have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stolen it all, live on...! I shall plummet to the depths of hell...! That is the loser's parting words! But this is not the end!!"

The darkness wails in agony, thrashing wildly. Black flames crash like waves, black holes that devour light suck in space itself, but the hero silently swings his sword once more, slashing the god's body diagonally.

"Even if you've felled me alone, it won't end here. There are no eternals in this world, hero! I will return...no matter how much time it takes.... Until then, engrave fear and terror deep, never forget. No matter how strong you are alone! The darkness will never vanish! You who won through battle! Bear the price of your deeds, haha hahaha!!"

"The guy who couldn't win alone, dragged in the Four Heavenly Kings and still got wrecked talks a lot."

Thrusting the Bopal Weapon into the ground, the hero exhaled deeply. The Mashin, no, the Maou was retreating, dying with wounds all over. The Maou was a cunning existence beyond measure. Opening a rift in the astral plane with yin magic power, fleeing in a near-dead state.

Hundreds of swords embedded in his body, a massive blade in his heart. Hundreds of potion bottles scattered around, countless corpses strewn about.

"Upper manly special trait, no complaints even fighting solo."

With those words, the blood-vomiting hero finally dropped to one knee, leaning on his greatsword.

──Soon, his vision darkened.

What appeared was a world of utter chaos. Humans granted power by gods, without any foundation. They were heroes summoned from somewhere like him, saints ready to sacrifice anything to save the world, each harboring unyielding convictions and stubborn faiths.

Pandemics that stole lives, grotesque monsters, dragons soaring through the skies, giants walking the seas, elves laying the continent to waste and the horrific lifeforms they created, the Maou army's infinite horde swallowing the horizon led by the Maou himself, and those rising as kings, flipping eras without cooperation, clashing in power struggles.

The Chronicle Continent was a maelstrom of darkness and chaos. Respect for humanity and human rights were worth less than moldy bread in that era. From the barren lands rose five heroes who united their strength against those countless foes.

Each staked their lives to protect world peace, bringing tranquility to the continent through desperate struggle. Was this dream-memory shown to me by the Bopal Weapon I possess, of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time with that hero?

Endless sorrow and nostalgia flooded my heart, leaving my emotions in turmoil.

.....

"What became of the Maou afterward is unknown. Even gods cannot know everything, for forces that shatter balance disrupt the tuning."

Floating aimlessly in cosmic space, I gazed at the upside-down goddess drifting before me. Around her floated shattered, cracked stone statues sculpted in the likeness of humans and monsters.

"This is the astral plane. Also called the ether... it has many names. But it is also the graveyard of gods. Even seemingly eternal gods face death."

Gods without names, unknown deities who ignore the lower realms and exist in solitude──gods who gain power from "faith" born of "belief" directed at them, expanding their influence──gods who simply reach out because they love the lower realm's lifeforms.

This world holds countless gods beyond number..... But Pansinjeon is where gods who have received help from heroes, and those who chose to aid heroes, gather, the goddess explained.

"Faith born of belief gives gods hope.... But evil gods and some others exist through opposing phenomena... And like the Maou, some ascend to godhood on their own. Gods are ultimately bound by rules among themselves; excessive interference in the lower realms is impossible.... And there are gods who lost much to summon heroes."

If the scales of fate tip out of balance, gods can intervene, but always at a cost. The goddess smiled benevolently, saying there are gods who love the lower realm's lives that much.

"She possesses the Maou's power. 'Yin magic power' is dangerous, corrupting the user's mind and soul like darkness itself.... But wielding it doesn't necessarily make one evil. I always respect your choices, hero."

How many are called "Maou candidates" is unknown, but properly handling "yin magic power" is difficult, the goddess said. It's not a power innate to demons at birth; originally, a "deviant force" that shouldn't exist in this world. A power exclusive to the Maou.

Those born with it live on. Did they tip fate's scales? Were they cuts that would engulf the world in chaos?

"I will always watch over you... hero...."

"Goddess."

"Words alone are meaningless, right? I've prepared rank-up tickets x5 and a guaranteed rank-up ticket x1 as encouragement. You've accumulated karma from saving the Default Kingdom!"

"Our goddess is the best!"

The beaming goddess apologized for not being able to give more, worried that I didn't need to chase other heroes. They built everything from nothing, facing resentment, hatred, countless grudges, achieving the impossible──but now, I was the only hero left in this world.

With words of cheer not to lose my way following their footsteps, but to forge my own path──

──My vision darkened once more.

The Default Kingdom terror incident was resolved by the return of the legendary hero. The giant knight made from an evil god as material was silenced by the kingdom's guardian deity, the giant knight that had stood silent for centuries after losing its master hero long ago.

Having slumbered in the museum, the giant knight carried a new hero into an impossible trial with no chance of victory, defending the kingdom once more.... fulfilling its long vigil and falling completely silent.

The museum buzzed with crowds. Artificial humans were clearing the collapsed entrance and shattered road debris, but everyone wore joyful expressions. They worked tirelessly, chattering nonstop about the giant knight and hero, excitedly gazing at exhibits from eras now only in records, unable to return to the museum.

The blazing giant knight should have been sent to the king's side as the kingdom wished; it was decided to bury it at the tomb of hero Park Chun-sik. Though his body... had been cremated at Captain Eagle's request, leaving nothing behind. The dwarves believed his soul and heart remained here, forming long lines of pilgrims visiting the holy site once more.

"Hoo..."

As the price for overusing Small Polymorph, I was in a state needing at least two months' rest. Mortis said she'd hear the explanation later... Hyacinth was hospitalized in serious condition after cushioning ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Larirure on the fall. Larirure, learning her friend wielded the Maou's power etched in history, wore a face deep in anguish, silent.

The Maou's assault on the Default Kingdom and the hero's return had the kingdom in uproar. Even with Leona and Riko supporting me on crutches to the museum, it took over an hour. Sitting on a bench overlooking the giant knight's spot, an elderly dwarf guard spotted me, glanced around cautiously, and approached to sit.

"Lots of people; I won't take your time, right, old-timer?"

"When the hero himself graces us, this old dwarf must make way."

"....Sorry. Talos got wrecked."

"Talos? ....Is that the giant knight's name?"

The old man, long-time museum worker, seemed deeply moved hearing the giant's name absent even from history books. His wrinkled eyes, gazing at the giant knight, sparkled like a young dwarf hearing hero tales for the first time, full of dreams.

Murmuring "Talos..." softly, he soon expressed his gratitude.

"Thank you. It was my lifelong wish. Heart ripped out, just lingering in the museum──seeing Talos move. Hearing it was made by the hero, I thought my dream fulfilled... but never imagined seeing Talos in action... I've known it longer than my wife; unbecoming for this old coot, but my heart raced, and I yelled."

Wiping tears from cheering like a kid, unworthy of his age.

"The hero, our king... as history says, was kind and merciful. Against swarming dragons, earth-shaking giants, even evil gods. With Talos, facing calamities, penning countless feats and glorious records. To us dwarves, his existence is pride and honor itself. That's why we aspire to his technological heights."

"....."

"Hating lives lost, pushing golems and war machines, yet when easy wins beckoned, he took losses to save more. From airships to trains... this old dwarf could talk all day. Even losing his beloved, he wept in sorrow, striving not to let more blood spill than necessary──our noble former king."

"I see."

"Yet we didn't even know our guardian deity's name. But I understand. It was his masterpiece, felled countless foes alongside him... to the king, surely family. Should've sent it sooner. Our fulfilled guardian deserved burial by its hero's side."

"....."

"Thank you, truly. The king would rejoice. His partner helped a young hero save the kingdom. Surely. So no guilt. You let no one there die."

In this terror, the kingdom suffered most casualties. Adventurers and knights responded fast during the evil god's rampage; thanks to Talos's efforts, only injuries. The guardian, fulfilling its final duty, returned to its hero's embrace after eons of waiting.

"Why didn't the hero tell anyone?"

"A secret between hero and Talos. Some precious things stay unknown unless shared in life. They grow dearer with age."

Don't feel sorry, be proud and joyful; he laughed, stroking his beard, saying he'd erased museum camera footage since it seemed intentionally hidden. He'd cherish it as his own treasure, sticking out his tongue playfully.

....Seeing the old man lightened my heart a bit.

"...I know a dwarf... she's down about something. What should I do?"

"Hm? A girl?"

"Yeah, we're seriously considering each other."

"Ho ho, then this old dwarf gives a treasure. She'll love it."

Rummaging his breast pocket, he placed a ring with a red ruby in my hand. As reward for defending the kingdom and honorably sending off Talos, representing dwarves, he forced my fist closed, insisting I take it.

.....Pushed too hard to refuse; I nodded thanks.

"...If the first king was Park Chun-sik... why already seventh generation?"

"Many short-lived from experimental mishaps."

"Aha..."

Curious indeed. Spotting Leona and Riko approaching, I grabbed my crutches. Before leaving, asking his name... and per goddess's advice, handing him a written note, he laughed like a child with a toy, delighted.

Time to part.... Not sure if we'd meet again. But I'd remain a good memory for him.

"Ah, I see."

"?"

"Welcome to this world, young hero."

"Glad to meet you, old-timer."

"An honor!"

Though brief, I left the old man behind, supported by Riko and Leona, departing the museum. Our light vacation ended thus, and I glimpsed fragments of my goals.

....No rush; take it slow. This world, even without me straining as hero, had many inheriting heroes' will and path, admiring them.

Though gone, their traces lingered everywhere. Drawing the Bopal Weapon, I gazed at its blade in sunlight.

"Did you have a calling name too?"

But I won't ask.... Surely, irreplaceable memories for this sword too.

......

....

After the Default Kingdom assault ended, as museum repairs ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠neared completion, amid fervor over the white Levitfoot hero and giant knight unquenched──a long-time dwarf guard donated an item.

Envy arose as it bore his name.... but with holy power infused paper, divinely authenticated, displayed beside giant knight Talos's spot.

Elegant script, the hero's signature. Praise for the city, warmth defying winter's chill. Visitor surge covered repair costs handsomely.

Winter Falling on Steel ──End