Chapter 321
Chapter 321
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The True Hero
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"What is that?"
A usual night stroll.
The city's guardian, overlooking the Bondalles region from the lofty sky unreachable even by the gaze of earthly animals, muttered to himself.
"First, I should tell Rishir."
The Age of Light.
Many called the current era by that name.
Even as darkness stirred across the continent.
The thicker the darkness, the more brilliantly the light that drove it away seemed to shine.
And—
In that Age of Light, there were those who believed themselves to be at the center of its flow.
Foremost among them—
The Followers of the Blessing.
They had subjugated the ancient god of Parok, the city of beastmen known as the cornerstone of calamity.
A great feat that liberated all beastmen bound by fate.
The fame of the Blessing spread widely from Parok, drawing in many things.
Thus, they drove away the attracted darkness and absorbed the light.
Countless people were saved, and countless darknesses were thwarted.
In this way, fame begat more fame—
And at some point, the Followers of the Blessing had truly become a force symbolizing the continent.
Their momentum seemed to pierce the heavens.
"The Blessing Hero is the true successor to the Hero!!!"
Thus, a Follower of the Blessing shouted with pride.
It was a drunken revelry in the dead of night.
An incident at the border where the two groups met.
The bold Follower of the Blessing—
Advanced Knight Rotna downed a full glass of liquor in one gulp.
Gulp.
Gulp.
Gulp.
Soon after, she raised the glass high and poured it over her head.
Not a single drop fell from the completely emptied glass.
It was a ritual repeated several times already.
The Followers' spirits were as heated as Rotna's flushed face from the alcohol.
"""Uwaaaaaah!!!"""
The Followers of the Blessing cheered at the valiant display(?) from their representative, Rotna.
As if her victory in the drinking contest meant victory for the Blessing itself!
"No!!!"
Someone stepped in to check their momentum.
"The Indomitable Hero is the true successor to the Hero!!!"
It was a bold woman exuding the same hearty vibe as Rotna.
The difference was—
Unlike Rotna, who carried herself with the neat air of a knight, this woman's body was covered in marks of lawlessness.
Well-maintained leather armor scarred with sword nicks everywhere.
Hair tightly braided, exposing her scalp.
Thus, the contrasting appearances of the two women representing their camps—
Seemed to perfectly reflect the atmospheres of their groups.
"Hey, bring it here!!!"
Follower of the Indomitable, advanced adventurer Borsa.
She roughly slammed the received glass on the table.
Thud!
One.
Thud!
And another.
"Uwaaaaaah!!!"
"As expected of Lady Borsa, so bold!!!"
"Borsa! Borsa!!!"
Thus, as she lifted two glasses at once, the Followers of the Indomitable rose in unison.
Even the Followers of the Blessing looked overwhelmed, showing signs of dismay.
"Urk—"
Rotna even unwittingly covered her mouth and dry-heaved.
It couldn't be helped.
They had already poured so much liquor into their stomachs that their guts were sloshing.
Even if it were water, it wouldn't be strange if it came back up right away.
Yet, not just one more glass, but two?
"Wh-what are you doing!? From now on, let's do two glasses each!?"
Rotna unwittingly demanded.
"Then, since I drank first— I'd have to drink two more than you!?"
She knew her own pettiness even as she said it, but she couldn't help it.
As the saying goes, the more scared the dog, the louder it barks.
Thus, the adventurer loading two glasses with eyes gleaming fiercely was intimidating.
"Can't be helped, right?"
At that moment, Borsa said with a bold smile.
"Our Hero carries two holy swords, so as his follower, I must set an example too, don't you think!?!?"
She declared to her Followers of the Indomitable, raising the two glasses.
Gulp!
Gulp!
Gulp!
Thud!
Gulp!
Gulp!
Gulp—
Crack!
"Graaaaaah!"
Borsa, having emptied two glasses in succession, slammed them down on the table nearly shattering them.
"""Aaaaaaaaah!!!!"""
The Followers of the Indomitable nearly roared after Borsa.
Unlike the Blessing Followers, their rough momentum stood out even more, making the place rumble as if lightning had struck.
"..."
The momentum of Rotna and her followers visibly waned.
It wasn't just because Borsa had boldly downed two glasses in a row.
"Co-come on!!! Don't mind me, you guys keep downing one each!!!"
Another force claiming to be at the center of the light's flow.
The Followers of the Indomitable.
Unlike the natural gathering nature of the Blessing Followers, they resembled a massive mercenary band.
This was influenced by the temperament of their central Hero as well.
The Indomitable Hero.
He had rallied the continent's darkness with domineering momentum and gathered the light.
Known as the master of two holy swords.
And also known as—
A battle maniac.
Advanced adventurer Borsa, true to her followed figure, flashed a bold smile.
A jagged smile like a chipped blade.
"Unlike Kuzan, your Hero has only one holy sword. Right?"
"..."
Rotna's expression twisted.
Borsa's tone, implying the number of holy swords proved a Hero's worth, had irked her.
Fueled by spite, she tried to down two glasses herself.
But—
"One sword or two!!! It doesn't change the fact that he's a Hero!!!"
"Is that so!?"
"In history, Heroes who possessed multiple holy swords number only the first Hero and Kuzan— just two!!!"
"Moreover, Kuzan was chosen by the Star of Fierce Assault— Kudilak!!!"
"A Hero acknowledged by the first Hero's companion!!! Kuzan is special among holy sword masters! No, the only one!!! Kuzan is the one true Hero!!!"
"Huh, wait. Didn't something just fly across the sky? Enormous reptilian wings— could it be a dragon!?"
"Kuhahaha! Look at that drunk fool talking nonsense. As expected of friends gathered with light hearts, they've got a cute side?"
"What? Light hearts? You bastard, what did you just say!? Filthy thieves like you!"
"What!?"
Voices erupting from all over gradually turned emotional.
Soon, the Followers of the Indomitable openly belittled the Blessing Followers.
Their inherently belligerent nature, like a mercenary band, was amplified by the alcohol and atmosphere.
Before long, a heavy, unpleasant air weighed down on them.
The mood for cheerful drinking contests was utterly gone.
"What, is it over already? So, you're admitting defeat?"
"...What defeat?"
"What defeat? The defeat of the Blessing Hero."
"How is this our Hero's defeat?"
"Haha! Why so serious again? Calm down. This is just a game, right? Or what—"
At least outwardly jovial, but Borsa's eyes sharpened.
"Want to try it for real?"
"..."
Rotna glared back without yielding.
"..."
The Followers of the Indomitable stepped forward behind Borsa.
The Blessing Followers, not to be outdone, guarded Rotna's back.
The tension escalated.
"Ro-Rotna!!!"
It was a youthful voice that broke the tension.
Beastgirl Hamun came running, panting.
"Hamun? What is it—"
"Black Star! A Black Star is approaching— a massive, dark star...!"
"...!"
Whoosh!
Steam rose from Rotna's body.
She had expelled the alcohol all at once through blue breathing.
"Black Star? What the hell does that mean?"
Borsa also sobered up, speaking with clearer eyes.
Rotna was already standing, gearing up.
She spoke to Borsa with a grim air.
"It means a heretic force is approaching us."
"Ha! Heretics? Right here, right now?"
Right here—the camp was held by two Heroes and their followers.
Any ordinary heretic group would be crushed upon approach.
"Not an ordinary heretic group."
"Then?"
Black Star.
Rotna muttered the word and looked at the beastgirl.
Then, Hamun, who had reached the realm of Grand Shaman at a young age, spoke.
"A Black Star moving this fast... I've never seen one. This might be— different from the heretic groups we've seen before."
"Different from the heretic groups we've seen before, how?"
"High Priest..."
"...!"
"Perhaps— it could have the demon's limbs."
Even several.
At Hamun's quiet addition, the triumphant glee on Borsa's face vanished instantly.
The others were the same.
"Hamun, what of Lady Roera!?"
"Where is Kuzan!?"
They immediately grew serious and set out to find their Heroes.
At the very hour the followers were engrossed in their drinking bets.
A similar scene was unfolding where the Heroes gathered.
However.
There was a subtle difference in the dynamic.
"By the way— I must say it again, but it's truly an honor. I never imagined meeting you in a place like this."
A neatly handsome man politely offered his glass.
Indomitable Hero Kuzan.
As his opponent indifferently clinked glasses, he continued.
"Outer Sword, Rodan."
To the one-eyed man.
Rodan set down the clinked glass and spoke.
"You must know the atmosphere around here— the Bondalles region is in an uproar."
"I've heard heretic movements are being reported everywhere—"
"Right. Some worry about you all because of that, and I'm here acting on their behalf."
"So, you're a so-called guardian?"
"Something like that. Thanks to it, I had to detour before even reaching Bondalles—... Sigh."
"Intriguing."
Kuzan glanced at Rodan's placed glass, then downed his own.
"For someone of your caliber to follow someone's 'orders.' Unimaginable."
"..."
The Outer Sword's eyes flicked briefly to the upper right.
This Indomitable Hero had been subtly prodding him for a while.
'I saw it when he asked for a duel right off the bat— as rumored, quite the guy.'
The Outer Sword suddenly chuckled.
To show patience as a virtue before such a man.
He'd changed a lot himself— that's what he thought.
"Well, I owe that side a debt."
"A debt?"
"Yeah. Something like settling past mistakes?"
"Must be quite the fearsome figure if you care about such things?"
"..."
Once more, as Kuzan provoked him and his brow twitched.
"Hey, cut it out."
From a distance, arms crossed.
Thus, the cynical-faced woman keeping watch— neither fully joining nor leaving— spoke curtly.
Blessing Hero Roera.
"If you're so itchy, scratch your back with that holy sword or something."
"Quite sharp-tongued."
To Roera's sarcasm, the Indomitable Hero smiled wryly.
"Please forgive me. Opportunities to seek wisdom from heroes of your caliber aren't common. I hope you'll kindly overlook my rudeness in seeking teachings even if it's presumptuous—"
"..."
"..."
Roera and Rodan felt something odd from such Kuzan.
As he said.
No malicious intent could be sensed from his duel-craving actions.
He genuinely, purely desired a spar.
Battle maniac.
They could guess the origin of that widely known title, matching his master of two holy swords.
'Cynic and battle maniac. All these holy sword masters are—'
The Outer Sword fidgeted as if itchy, then spoke lowly.
"So. Why are you Heroes heading to Bondalles like this? You know the region's atmosphere is quite complicated now?"
"An oracle came down."
"Oracle?"
Kuzan answered immediately, as if waiting.
He gazed at his Indomitable holy sword, still sheathed.
"An oracle that the true Hero will be born in Bondalles."
"Hoo. Then, you— Blessing Hero— for the same reason?"
Shrug.
That was all of Blessing Hero Roera's response.
She glanced at the Outer Sword with raised eyebrow, then turned away again.
"Lady Roera seems to hold oracles in low regard, unlike me."
Whether Roera replied or not, Kuzan eagerly continued.
"I understand. In fact, at this point, that true Hero is practically decided."
"Practically decided?"
"Yes, Outer Sword. Because—"
Kuzan drew another sword.
The Holy Sword of Valor.
"I am convinced that I am the one qualified to be his successor. So—"
Kuzan addressed Roera.
"Blessing Hero. If you don't mind, would you yield your holy sword to me?"
Roera didn't even glance at him, let alone reply.
As if unworthy of response.
"Haha!!! Of course! Well, fine."
Kuzan looked at his holy swords.
With eyes steadfast as if thorns wouldn't budge them.
"Fate will place everything in its rightful place."
Tsk.
Can't stand being around this guy.
As Roera finally stood to leave, unable to bear it.
"Lady Roera!!"
"Everyone...! What is it!?"
Shaman Hamun. Advanced Knight Rotna. Crimson Tower Master Gelrad.
Roera's party members burst into the scene urgently.
"Kuzan!!"
"Borsa?"
And Kuzan's party members too.
"Heretic raid—... no, what even to call this— anyway, heretics are swarming in droves!"
The Outer Sword sighed and stood.
"Damn, as expected—"
His lament cut short midway.
"Kuzan!!!"
"Got it! Let's go now!!!"
Indomitable Hero.
He leaped up with flashing eyes.
"Ha, haha!!! Yes! Let's go!"
Borsa and the followers followed his heightened momentum.
"What the—"
"Are those really Heroes and their parties!?"
"Exactly! Gelrad— that's no Hero party! Just a pack of battle maniacs!"
As Gelrad and Rotna complained, and Hamun fidgeted anxiously—
"Hey, Blessing's master. See that guy's eyes just now?"
"..."
The Outer Sword and Roera exchanged glances.
Their faces already weary with fatigue.
"We'll have to keep a tight leash on them to prevent trouble, huh?"
Sigh.
Roera expressed full agreement with a deep sigh.
They followed after the battle maniacs.
"What the damn hell—"
The words burst from the Outer Sword's mouth upon arrival.
"What the hell happened!?"
As the Outer Sword urgently asked, a nearby follower answered.
"The heretic leader was talking to the Indomitable Hero, then suddenly combat broke out!!!"
The two expeditions and the heretic group were already in standoff at the site.
And in the middle—
The battle maniac was in the midst of fighting the heretic leader.
"Yes, High Priest of Hunger!!! This is the negotiation we ought to have!!! The loser of this duel follows the winner's demands!!!"
"Just what I wanted!!! The Hunger covets you—"
In the fierce clash even the Outer Sword and Blessing Hero couldn't casually interrupt, the two madmen gleamed with battle lust.
The battle maniac and heretic High Priest.
"Lady Roera! Big trouble! According to those heretics just now— this area is thick with their forces deployed. If we stay like this, their reinforcements will swarm soon!"
Roera's gaze turned to the distant field.
There, heretics cloaked in night's darkness stood in ranks.
"Thin their numbers as much as possible before reinforcements arrive."
"...Yes! Understood!"
The air at the site tautened in an instant.
"No matter how much I cut, it won't die— is this the authority of that Hunger bastard!?"
"Kuhahaha!!! Hero! Try harder!!! This won't sate His hunger fully!!!"
Thus.
Centered on the two madmen, a vortex of madness that wouldn't stop until one side was annihilated was about to rage—
Flap!
The atmosphere trembled.
From massive wingbeats originating in the sky.
"High Priest! Look there!!!"
"Hero, over there...!"
All eyes turned skyward at once.
Flap!
Majestic presence.
Wings vast enough to blanket the sky flapped, shoving the air aside.
That instant.
Night flipped.
A thick pillar of light shot up like a thunderbolt crashing down, and something plummeted to the ground.
"What...!?"
"Kuh...!!!"
Even the two madmen lost in trance-like combat recoiled in shock.
Thus—
A massive impact struck where the two madmen had stood moments before.
Boom!
Thick dust billowed.
The ensuing gale swept the dust away—
Revealing a man crudely gripping two swords each in his hands.
Blood streamed profusely from his face.
Without pause, he regarded the High Priest and spoke.
-You're the last.
"Ah, aaa...!!!"
Heretic High Priest.
The madman's rampage, which only a demon's voice might halt, stopped.
He began staggering backward as if fleeing.
Afterward.
Unilateral domination began.
Sword auras whirled with the gale.
Massive trees erupted from the ground, scattering divinity to neutralize the heretics' power and bind them.
As the streams of blood from the man's face grew fiercer—
Boom!
Night flipped once more.
Where the man had stood, the Knight of Chaos now was.
"..."
Kuzan.
The battle maniac, who seemed he wouldn't stop until pouring out all his boiling will to fight, stood quietly in place with a gentle expression.