Stars Beneath the Desert Sky
The desert night was truly fortunate. Before the darkness could fully claim the sands, we discovered a cave where we could shelter our bodies. A rocky cavern right in the heart of the desert. It looked like someone had used it before us; the charred remnants of a campfire lay scattered in a pile of cold ash.
Slurp.....It's delicious. No matter how many times I eat it, I never get tired of it.
Once again, I swallowed the special stew Villon had prepared. The deep, savory umami, the perfectly balanced seasoning, and the ingredients cut to just the right size created a harmony that made it the ultimate stew. This was something I'd remember even after I left. I stared down at the richly colored broth for a moment before lifting another spoonful to my lips.
The cold night made the warm meal feel like pure bliss. The mercenaries chatted and joked while devouring the stew, their laughter cutting through the chill that had them shivering moments before. It was a good sight. A truly good sight.
"...Commander."
"Hm? What is it, Hans?"
"......"
I had been watching the men when Hans approached me. His expression carried clear hesitation and unease.
"Commander. That body of yours... what exactly is happening to it?"
"......"
"Are you really okay? No, of course you're not! How can someone who's fine start coughing up blood?!"
"...Keep your voice down, Hans. The nice atmosphere is going to disappear."
"....Yes, sir."
Hans glanced at the laughing mercenaries, then quietly sat down beside me, his energy subdued.
Hoo... I never thought the day I'd have to tell him would come this quickly.
I let out a small sigh and continued, looking at him.
"Hans. This request... will likely be my last one."
"....What? What do you mean..."
"...I'm telling you because you're the most reliable. It's not that I don't trust the other members. But among them, you stand out the most for your sense of responsibility and good character. Not to mention your skill and effort."
"......Why are you telling me this... Ah."
Hans froze in place as he grasped the meaning hidden behind my words.
"...No, right? Commander... please tell me it's not..."
"...Hans. When I am gone, I want you to become the commander of the Ska Mercenary Group."
".............."
No matter how I looked at it, Hans was the perfect choice to succeed me as the next commander of the Ska Mercenary Group. With his friendly personality and character, he could get close to anyone in no time. Yet he never lacked ability or talent, and his unbreakable will and dedication were truly admirable. Cerise could not become commander because of her father's last wishes, and she had agreed to follow that decision. So I made the request quietly, ensuring no one else could hear.
"Hic... ugh... I can't, Commander..."
"...I'm sorry. For placing this heavy burden on you."
"........"
Hans curled into himself and wept quietly. Since we were moving faster than expected and would likely reach our destination tomorrow, I had to tell him now.
Name: Venice
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Condition: Terminal
Unique Ability (Magic Eye): Eyes that can see magic power. You can perceive the trajectories of mana and utilize it more smoothly.
Unique Ability (Talent Grasp): You can analyze the opponent's talent. You can instantly perceive unique abilities and potential.
Unique Ability (Superior Body): Your body is superior, as if forged by the gods themselves! Stamina, strength, situational judgment... every physical ability is greatly enhanced!
Body Overload: Your clone body has exceeded its sustainable limits. Your physical form will perish in 3 days, 8 hours, and 13 minutes.
Every time I used mana, the intervals at which I coughed up blood grew shorter. The weight pressing down on my body increased day by day. I knew that each time I channeled mana, the death of this clone body drew closer.
It should have been five days left, but...
...Only three days remain.
The battle with the Sand Worm and the constant focus of mana needed to maintain this body's condition had shortened my lifespan faster than anticipated.
"I trust you, Hans. If it's you... you'll be able to lead the mercenary group far better than I ever could."
"I'm sorry... for not noticing sooner... for not being able to help..."
"...I'm sorry."
I patted Hans on the shoulder, then rose and walked over to where the other mercenaries were chatting.
".....Everyone resting comfortably?"
"...Commander? Ah, yes! We're resting very well!"
"This is all thanks to you, Commander!"
"It's quite atmospheric~"
Following Villon's words, the other mercenaries smiled and answered.
"...Can you see those stars beyond us?"
I pointed at the stars that seemed to pour down from the heavens toward the men who had been talking only among themselves.
"...The stars? Where... Oh."
"...Whoa."
"We weren't even looking at this."
"I want to show this to my family too."
The mercenaries gazed up at the night sky, so densely packed with stars that no empty space remained, and could not hide their awe. Everyone seemed enchanted by the breathtakingly beautiful and harmoniously colorful scene.
"...Do you see those twinkling stars? Those stars... are all of you."
"Us... you say?"
"Yes. You all... will shine brightly in this world, just like the stars lighting up the night sky. I am certain of it."
"Haha, where is this coming from? Commander, you're being unusually poetic today?!"
The mercenaries laughed. Yes... you will definitely shine. Like those stars that illuminate the world even within this darkness.
"And Cerise, Vice-Commander."
".........!"
"You... are like the entire universe that embraces all those stars. You will become a legend that remains in history for all time."
Though we had not yet reconciled, I cherished her more than anyone else. Cerise. No matter what anyone says... no matter what hardships or adversities come your way... you will become a galaxy that shines brighter than anyone.
"I believe in all of you. No matter what anyone says... you are members of the Ska Mercenary Group."
""............""
"...That was rather long-winded. Rest well. I'll... go get some sleep now."
...I've grown quite attached.
I left the stunned members behind without another word and sought sleep.
"This seems to be the right path, Commander!"
"...Mm. I agree."
We rose early the next morning and immediately set off toward our destination. As we walked across the sand, we soon discovered a staircase leading down to our goal.
...Who could have made these stairs?
They were precisely carved steps capable of descending into an incredibly deep canyon. They looked almost magically crafted, perfectly smooth and angled for easy movement. It must have been made with magic. Since magic existed in this world, after all. I'd heard that while some people like us could infuse mana into swords and bodies, there were also methods that released mana in countless forms to create spells.
"Let's head down. Don't let your guard down for a second."
We began our descent down the long staircase. Given the immense height, it took quite a long time to reach the bottom. After even Cerise, who had been following at the very rear, finally arrived, we looked around.
The sandy cliff we had just stood upon was so high it was difficult to see its top even when looking up. The canyon where we now stood was incredibly wide from side to side, wide enough that a village could easily be built here.
We marveled at the canyon, something none of us had ever seen before, but only for a moment before we continued toward our destination. According to the map attached to the request form, we simply needed to follow this path. So we advanced slowly, never dropping our vigilance in case a Sand Worm burst from beneath our feet or some other monster appeared. After all, I'd heard this place called Death's Canyon earned its name because dangerous events occurred here as routinely as the sunrise.
It was strange. We hadn't seen a single monster, not even a shadow of one. We were almost at the location where the monster was said to have appeared, yet no threats had come at all.
...Something feels off about this.
Someone might say that was a good thing, but when nothing happened to this degree, it only made me more anxious.
"....This is..."
As we drew near our destination, we finally found the monsters. Or more precisely, we discovered the corpses of dozens of Sand Worms. Every one of them looked as if they had been torn apart, slaughtered one-sidedly.
...Most of them were 3-star or 4-star creatures. To be overwhelmed so completely... Was this the difference between a 5-star monster and everything below it?
"...Let's move forward. From here on... be extremely careful. A single small mistake could lead to total annihilation."
Gulp.
The sound of someone swallowing hard could be heard, and the mercenaries shook off their fear once more as they steeled their resolve.
After walking a little further, an enormously vast space opened before us. A massive cave could be seen in the distance, and the cavern itself was so grand that an entire small city could fit inside. Nothing existed within the silent space, yet it overflowed with tension like the calm before a storm.
"...Why is there nothing here?"
"Yeah... why is... Hic..!"
Throb!
Thump. Thump. Thump.
As we looked around, we sensed a horrifying killing intent flowing from the cave, along with mana that could not even be compared to the monsters we'd faced before. We lowered our stances at once. Our hearts pounded madly, and the chills racing down our spines refused to fade.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Something was walking out from within the cave. Even though it was still far away, its footsteps echoed through the empty canyon.
"...It's coming."
The more the being revealed its form, the more immeasurable mana and killing intent poured forth. Enough to make an ordinary person faint the moment they faced its presence.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
"...Crazy, what the hell is that..!"
"I've never even heard of anything like that.."
"That... isn't that a dragon from the legends?"
KRRRRAAAAAAAAGH—!
The monster spread its torn wings wide and let out a roar so massive it echoed across the entire canyon and even reached the desert beyond.
....Insane. A dragon?
In every form of media, it was depicted as the pinnacle of power or an existence comparable to the gods. A superior and stronger being than any other life form, appearing even in legends. A dragon.
Its vertically slit pupils gleamed as they searched for prey. At the same time, the monster roared at us and began charging with insane speed.
"....Fight with the resolve to die—!"
".....Who cares if it's a dragon! I'm not afraid...!"
"Let's gooooo!"
And so, we stared at the oncoming dragon and began charging forward together.
Today. We slay a legend. By cutting down that being said to rival the gods, we ourselves will become legend.