I Was Not Wrong
She was not wrong. Elise Nocturne, the Hero. An existence showered with the praise of countless people, the savior of the world. Yet at this very moment, in the heart of a lavish banquet, the emotion Elise felt was neither the joy of victory nor the pride of having saved the world. The representatives of the allied races chattered among themselves in delight. Nobles indulged in drink and food while raising boisterous voices. Her companions laughed along, currying favor with them. Watching these scenes amid the deafening clamor, Elise felt only a heavy discomfort.
“Then… I shall take my leave.”
“Hm? You’re returning already, Hero?”
“Stay a little longer. The guest of honor can’t just disappear from the banquet, can she?”
People tried to stop her as she rose from her seat, but she quietly refused.
“I’m sorry. I’m rather tired… It seems I overexerted myself during this expedition.”
“Hmm… If that’s the case, there’s no helping it…”
“A pity. Let us share more stories the next time we have the chance.”
Thus the Hero rose and vanished from the hall. Watching her departure, some expressed concern while others muttered quiet complaints that a commoner like her lacked proper decorum. Another person spoke in a voice too low for others to hear.
“She’s gone outside. Begin.”
*
Elise had left the banquet hall, committing a breach of etiquette. Yet even after escaping the place that had filled her with discomfort, the agonizing emotion in her heart refused to fade.
‘Was it all for something like this? For this, I…’
The banquet hall had seemed filled with nothing but brilliant light and happiness. But Elise knew the truth. That dazzling gathering was nothing more than an illusion, pleasant only to the eye. What lay behind it was nothing but hypocrisy so repulsive it turned the stomach. And beneath the name of justice, only the most hideous acts.
Until the so-called era of “peace” arrived, a great joy had resided in Elise’s heart. The long war that had dragged on for years—she had ended it with her own hands. That fact, together with the title of continental hero, had filled her with pride and fulfillment. Though the process had never been clean, and though it had ultimately meant slaying the Demon King—Arcadia Armageddon, the noble existence for whom she had secretly harbored affection—through filthy betrayal, Elise had felt no regret. No matter how good a person he might have been, he was still the Demon King. She had never been able to completely erase the thought that he possessed immense power and could turn at any moment.
In that situation, the two people who had guided her ever since she became the Hero—the Emperor of the Utopia Empire and the Pope of the Elf Holy Kingdom—had issued their command. Kill the Demon King. No matter how much he pretended to be good, his true nature was vile darkness, an existence that must be eradicated according to God’s will. Following the order that had always come down, she had fulfilled her duty. It was only natural for the Hero to slay the Demon King; she had merely carried out justice according to divine will. Rationalizing her actions in this way, Elise had driven the Holy Sword into his heart. Convinced that peace would come with this. Believing that a happy world filled with justice and light would dawn.
Yet over the past few months, the pride and justification she had carried began to lose their light. Immediately after the Demon King’s death, the allied races had destroyed the Demon Kingdom as if they had been waiting for the chance. Up to that point, Elise could understand to some degree. Just as the Demon King had been her enemy, the Demon Kingdom had been the enemy of the allied races. It was only natural to strike when the enemy was weakened. But what followed went far beyond mere national interest—acts no one who claimed to pursue justice should ever commit.
After the Demon Kingdom’s fall, the demons’ circumstances became so wretched it was unbearable to witness. Demons subjected to plunder, arson, and becoming targets of the hunt. Those who lost everything and were captured met a horrific end, worked to death as slaves or tools. Under the banner of eradicating evil, the allied races committed even greater evils. Their actions dealt a tremendous shock to Elise’s heart, which had expected justice and righteousness.
Moreover, what tormented her was not only the matter of the demons. The representatives of the allied races had been laughing amicably at the banquet just moments ago. But Elise already knew those smiles were nothing more than masks. Only a few short months had passed since the common enemy—the Demon King and his kingdom—had vanished. In that brief time, cracks had already begun to form within the allied races. The Utopia Empire, a human nation, was already preparing for a new war, and in response, the elves, dwarves, and other free races were showing suspicious movements of their own. The so-called “forces of justice” had begun to splinter for their own gain the moment the common enemy disappeared.
In this situation, the Emperor had personally asked Elise to once again wield her sword for humanity in the coming war. Though it would be painful, he asked her to step forward once more as the Hero to uphold so-called “justice.” And after much deliberation, Elise had accepted the Emperor’s request. She knew full well what it meant. It meant pointing her blade at her companions who had fought “evil” alongside her, who were even now laughing and chatting inside the banquet hall. There would be no more honor in it, and the ending would likely be far filthier than what had occurred in the Demon Kingdom.
‘But even so… I can’t turn back now. I… I… was not wrong.’
Even if she had strayed from her original noble ideals, she was still the Hero. The one chosen by God. The one who wielded the Holy Sword to execute justice. What she did was justice itself, and the Holy Sword, which always shone brilliantly, proved it.
‘Yes… Even if it looks distorted right now… In the end, I will be right. What I have done… was never wrong.’
Doing her best to steady her emotions, Elise began walking toward her home, weighed down by crushing fatigue. At that moment—
“Tch.”
The next instant, she sensed an ominous presence. Elise clicked her tongue briefly and slowly drew her sword.
“What are you people? Reveal yourselves!”
“…”
A group of figures emerged from the shadows. Completely concealing their identities with black cloth, they silently drew their weapons and approached Elise.
‘What in the world are these people? How could they attack here, of all places…’
Though darkness had fallen, this was Constin, the capital of the Empire. Powerful magical barriers lined the walls, and the gates were heavily guarded. It was a place where even demons and other clumsy external forces could not set foot. That intruders had entered meant they had connections inside, but she could not yet determine exactly what those were.
‘Well, fine… I’ll find out once I beat it out of them.’
Attackers appearing when her mood was already foul. Thinking she might as well give them a proper thrashing, Elise gripped the Holy Sword and assumed a combat stance. Then—
“!”
—Clang!
The next moment, a dagger flew toward her. Elise swiftly deflected it with her sword, and at the same time, the enemies launched their full assault.
‘These guys… they’re fast.’
Their movements were incredibly swift. Moreover, they executed precise coordinated attacks, leveraging their numerical advantage. Individually, none would have been a match for her, but their relentless movements kept breaking the flow of her attacks.
‘There shouldn’t be many on the continent with this level of skill… Just who…’
Realizing the situation was more serious than expected, Elise was forced to make a decision amid her growing doubts.
‘No choice… I didn’t want to use it in the middle of the capital, but…’
The moment she resolved herself, she acted. Immediately after, the Holy Sword in her hand began to be enveloped in light.
“!”
“It’s coming… Be careful.”
As she channeled holy power, the Holy Sword emitted a force on an entirely different level from before. Its blade length nearly doubled, and the holy power wrapping around her body formed a barrier capable of ignoring most attacks. It was the immense power that had even felled the Demon King. Tension was clear on the attackers’ faces, yet they showed no sign of retreating, preparing their next attack as if they had anticipated this.
But then—
“Huh?”
“!”
The next moment, a bewildered voice escaped Elise’s lips. At the same time, the attackers watching also felt sudden confusion.
“What… what is this? Why all of a sudden…”
The Holy Sword that had been illuminating the area just moments ago. But now, that brilliant light that had been cutting through the darkness vanished in an instant, like a candle snuffed out. An incomprehensible situation that had never occurred before. Elise was seized by deep shock… and in that moment, the attackers’ offensive, which had briefly hesitated, resumed.