Chapter 11
Chapter 11
The cave could no longer withstand the continuous impact and began to collapse, forcing the two of us, Reeve and me, to rush outside.
We lay on the ground, catching our breath.
“….”
Reeve spoke.
“Hey… are you alright?”
“….”
But I couldn’t answer him.
『Siwoo…』
Then Momos voice reached me.
“Momo… what was that… exactly?”
『Probably… what I called a “impurity.”』
“Impurity…”
Impurities were things Momos once told me about. When a hero is summoned, something like a flaw in the summoning magic or formation sometimes causes random beings to slip through.
“That thing… it really was an impurity… right?”
If that guy was really the hero… and I was the impurity…
Then I…
『There is a way to distinguish it.』
That single sentence felt like a beam of light in the dark.
“Really! T-then what is it?”
『The Holy Sword. Only the true hero can wield it.』
“Holy Sword…”
The hero and the Holy Sword. A pair that always seemed to come together. That became my only hope.
“Then where is it? Where’s the Holy Sword?”
『Far north. At the peak of the tallest mountain in the world.』
“Far north…”
I didn’t know exactly where that was, but I could tell instantly it was impossibly far.
“Hey.”
A voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
“…Reeve.”
“You seem like you’ve recovered from your nonsense.”
Reeve sat across from me.
“…Thanks. For getting me out of that bandit camp.”
“Don’t mention it. We couldn’t have escaped if either of us was missing.”
He stood up and began gathering branches.
“You didn’t have to help me. We only made it out because you suggested it.”
I got up as well and helped him. Reeve quickly and efficiently lit a small campfire.
“Is it really okay to light a fire here?”
“It’s fine. The bandit base has been destroyed, and those unknown guys were heading toward the exit. This place is far enough away to be safe.”
“I meant… it’s a forest…”
Reeve’s way of thinking was still impossible to follow.
“…As long as neither you nor I carry the fire away, there’s no reason the forest should burn.”
“That’s one way to put it…”
Silence settled between us again.
“You said hero… right.”
“….”
Ah. He meant what I said back during the fight with the bandit boss.
“And you were talking about Holy Swords and all kinds of strange things…”
“That’s…”
Would he even believe Momo? Even Jilde accepted her easily…
“Everything you’re saying doesn’t make much sense.”
“…Yeah, I figured.”
Honestly, I couldn’t blame him. I wouldn’t believe it either.
“The next Demon King hasn’t even been chosen yet… and there are no signs of a disaster. And most of all, it’s only been ten years since the last hero was summoned.”
Right. Momo said she was the second-generation hero. So heroes really do get summoned across generations?
“So heroes… keep getting summoned?”
“Haa… your reaction really does make you look like an outsider from another world.”
Reeve sighed.
“To explain it simply, heroes are summoned every hundred years. The last one was the ninth. If you’re really a hero… you’d be the tenth.”
“Tenth…”
Then the first hero would’ve been summoned about eight hundred years ago. Maybe even more than nine hundred by now.
No wonder things felt unreal. No one could clearly remember someone from seven hundred years ago.
“So I don’t fully believe it. That the summoning rule that lasted centuries was suddenly broken…”
“Is that really so strange? Rules break all the time.”
“Maybe… but this one lasted over nine hundred years. It’s strange precisely because it broke.”
Only now did I understand his hesitation. I looked like someone who clearly didn’t belong in this world, but because the last hero had only been summoned ten years ago, I probably just looked like a madman.
“…But I believe you.”
“…What?”
Reeve said something I couldn’t understand.
“No, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a hero or not. I’ll just go along with your plan.”
“What do you mean?”
“You seem to be heading north to find the Holy Sword with that… thing of yours.”
“Momo said the Holy Sword is at the far north.”
Reeve glanced at Momo with a complicated expression. Even though he said he would go along with me, his eyes clearly showed he found her hard to accept.
“Then I’ll help you. In exchange, help me. Simple.”
“A deal?”
Reeve nodded seriously.
“My name is Madirev de Irasrev. Son of Madirev of Solaphtina, and one of the candidates for the Demon King successor.”
“…Demon King candidate?”
That was a lot to process all at once.
『Demon King candidate…? They have things like that now?』
Even Momo sounded shocked at how much time had passed.
“I am currently in the Central Continent for certain circumstances. To become the Demon King, I need influence.”
“So… you want me to help you build your base in exchange for helping me?”
“Correct.”
Wait. If Reeve becomes the Demon King…
“Is it even okay for a hero to help a Demon King candidate?”
“The order is wrong.”
“Huh?”
“The fact that I may become the Demon King and the fact that you are a hero are unrelated.”
He continued.
“The Demon King and the hero are destined to oppose each other. But I am still only a candidate.”
“…So?”
“It’s not forbidden for a hero to assist a candidate before he becomes the Demon King.”
“That’s technically true, but…”
Morally, wasn’t that still weird?
“If you’re really a hero, it’s beneficial for you as well. You get to learn everything about a future Demon King candidate.”
“Ugh…”
“Don’t think too deeply. There are many candidates. And many stronger than me.”
“So becoming Demon King is hard for you?”
“Hard is one way to put it…”
He cleared his throat.
“…I am currently ranked 107th out of 110 candidates.”
“…How many are there total?”
“110.”
“So you’re basically last!”
That’s not even a rank anymore.
“Even so, I don’t intend to give up…”
“Why are you talking like a motivational poster character from a game!”
My head started spinning.
‘Now that I think about it, there’s no way a Demon King candidate would get captured by a shabby bandit group like that without any escorts.’
Reeve’s situation was becoming clearer. He was basically alone, having lost any backing and ended up in this remote region where demons were likely unwelcome.
“My head hurts…”
“Hmm. That sword technique you used earlier was impressive.”
“Dojungsul.”
“Dojungsul? Never heard of it.”
“It’s a sword style from the eastern part of the Central Continent… and the Eastern Continent.”
“Eastern Continent… where is that?”
Reeve began explaining, as if shifting the topic.
“Since we’re already here, I’ll explain the continents.”
He drew circles on the ground with a branch.
“First, the Central Continent. We’re currently here, in the center.”
Then he drew one to the west.
“My homeland, the Western Continent. Also called the Demon Realm. Mostly demons live there.”
Next, above the center.
“The Northern Continent. Cold. And technically under Central control.”
Then to the east.
“The Eastern Continent… not much is known. It’s far and extremely closed off.”
Finally, the south.
“The Southern Continent, also called the Great Jungle. Most continents are currently eyeing it, except the north.”
Five continents in total.
“It sounds complicated…”
“There are five. But the north is practically an extension of the central continent.”
Once simplified, it wasn’t that hard to understand.
“So our goal is the Northern Continent.”
And the tallest mountain at its edge…
I sighed.
“We’ll rest here tonight and move tomorrow.”
Reeve was already building a sleeping spot out of leaves.
“Hey, Reeve—”
“It’s Irasrev.”
“That’s too long…”
“It is Irasrev.”
“…Fine, Irasrev.”
“No, that entire thing is my name!”
We lay down side by side after finishing the shelter.
“So Irasrev… your name is confusing.”
“You’re the one who’s the problem…”
He turned away, clearly annoyed.
“By the way, Ishiwoo.”
“….”
“Hey, you asleep already?”
No answer came.
“….”
I closed my eyes as well.
Everything had happened too fast. Momo. Jilde. Reeve. This world.
Am I really a hero?
Or just an impurity that got thrown in by mistake?
If that’s true… why the hell am I here suffering like this?
Because of that stupid saint’s mistake?
Why me?
Why?
Why?
Why?!
『Siwoo… even if you’re not the hero… I’m always on your side.』
With Momo’s final words echoing in my mind, I fell asleep.