Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Developing - 3
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An immense silence descended upon the territory.
But it lasted only a moment.
"That's right!"
"Maide is the true hero."
"Unyielding Sword Emperor!"
"Hero and fellow heroes."
"Thank you so much. Truly, thank you!"
Finally, it felt like everything had fallen back into place.
My party members approached me.
Opense asked urgently.
"Maide. What about Idria? You clearly pierced her heart."
"Yeah. I felt it at my fingertips. The Demon King's core must have shattered without a doubt."
Thud.
At those words, Adwin collapsed to the ground.
Tears were streaming down his face before he knew it.
"D-Does that mean Father is back now too?"
"Adwin."
"Brother. Our fight just ended, right? Can we go back home... to Father?"
The boy, who had always been remarkably mature, was now sniffling like any kid his age.
The others were the same.
"What about Ophelia? Where's Ophelia's real body?"
"Did that Highren guy vanish too? Now that the Demon King's dead."
"I want to see Lord Grade."
"I'll have to go check on my parents first."
It was the first time I'd seen my party members express their emotions so openly.
My chest swelled for no reason, and I turned to Neril.
"Don't you have anything to say?"
"It's weird."
"Yeah, yeah. It's weird. ...What is?"
She frowned as she replied.
"Kaild's gone."
At her words, everyone jumped to their feet.
They scanned the surroundings.
Sure enough, Kaild—who had been sitting there moments ago with the face of someone who'd given up everything, like some saint—was nowhere to be seen.
Serein said.
"He didn't bolt, did he? That guy's got a bit of a cockroach vibe."
"If he's like a cockroach, that means he's tough."
"Uh... I meant dirty, but yeah, that fits too."
"Don't let your guard down until we've completely caught Kaild. Dealing with him is what puts the final period on this."
Everyone composed themselves at my words.
Jenia said.
"Sorry. I got too carried away. Experience really can't be ignored."
"Wanna die?"
"Thanks, Neril."
Neril snorted.
No. I'm truly grateful too.
What a disgrace for a hero.
Opense scratched his head and spoke.
"But Maide. Why'd you give that speech about building fame just now?"
"Huh?"
"The Demon King's already dead. Our journey's almost at its end. Seemed kinda unnecessary."
"Now that you mention it, yeah. Must be occupational habit."
Everyone chuckled.
But one didn't laugh.
It was Trail.
[...No. Good job. You need to keep gathering fame.]
'What are you talking about.'
[I'm still alive.]
'That's random.'
[I'm an existence that lives solely to kill Idria. The Heavenly God bound my soul that way.]
A chill ran down my spine.
'What do you mean.'
[The moment I kill Idria, my life in this world ends too.]
'W-What?'
[I've already lived through eons like that. Even with everything that's happened this lifetime, I doubt it's changed.]
'Wait. Hold on a sec.'
What the hell is he saying?
If that's true...
'The moment I kill Idria, you die too?'
[Yeah.]
'Why didn't you tell me something that important!'
[Why scream like it's a big deal.]
'Trail. You're my comrade, just like these six here. Killing Idria almost meant killing my comrade!'
Trail let out an awkward sound.
[Thanks for saying that.]
'I mean it.'
[Anyway, listen. I'm still alive.]
'......'
[Which means Idria isn't dead. Didn't you just graze the core at the last second?]
No way.
My senses couldn't have been wrong.
What happened?
'I need to check the secrets.'
[Idria's or whose?]
'Who knows...'
After that, I paused time for a moment and examined secrets that could reveal Idria's survival.
But I couldn't see Consumus's secret, or Sabak's, or even the other fingers'.
At least, no secrets related to 'Idria's life or death'.
[No clue at all.]
'......'
[Maide?]
'Trail. Don't get mad at what I'm about to say.'
[I'll judge after hearing.]
I smirked slightly.
'I ended up thinking it's a relief that bastard's alive.'
[What? What do you mean.]
'Idria's end needs more investigation. I don't want to lose you by killing him.'
[Hey.]
'No, not like I'm letting the Demon King live scot-free. Killing him comes after you're free from that binding.'
Trail said nothing.
No, he couldn't.
Though I couldn't see him, I was sure he was desperately swallowing a surge of emotions.
'Hey. You crying?'
[Shut up and look at this.]
'Huh?'
[Look at this while I compose myself.]
Tap.
A screen appeared.
[Ding! Obtained 15,000 Fame Points.]
[Fame Points needed for next level: 295,900/500,000]
[Your name will echo throughout Gavril Territory henceforth.]
[Total Fame Points to be acquired from this incident: 18,000]
[Your name is echoing in Drucker Territory. (All points collected!)]
[Your name is echoing in Quelk Territory. (All points collected!)]
[Your name is echoing in Rior Territory. (All points collected!)]
[Your name is echoing in Avis Territory. (All points collected!)]
[Your name is echoing in Reynus Territory. (All points collected!)]
[Your name is echoing in Tetra Territory. (All points collected!)]
[Your name is echoing in the Capital. (All points collected!)]
[Your name is echoing in Hasfil Territory. (All points collected!)]
[Your name is echoing in Dronor Territory. (All points collected!)]
[Your name is echoing in Atrium Territory. (All points collected!)]
[Neril Slaine and 5 others think of you as the 'Hero Who Killed the Demon King'.]
Good.
......
No. Not good.
My comrades think of me as the 'Hero Who Killed the Demon King'.
Tough to say in this atmosphere.
"Everyone, listen up for a sec."
"Yeah."
"Yup!"
"Uh... this is embarrassing, but I can't not say it."
"What's with the suspense?"
I scratched my head.
"The Demon King isn't dead yet."
"......"
"Trail vouches for it, so it's gotta be true. Um. So..."
"......"
"Let's stick together a bit longer."
That was when.
A new line appeared on the screen.
[Neril Slaine and 5 others think of you as the 'Hero Who Almost Killed the Demon King'.]
Ah.
That's better.
Then Neril spoke.
"Too bad we didn't kill Idria... but we got plenty from this territory anyway."
"Huh?"
"My Apent View is still active."
"Oh! Right."
"I thought just showing Padania's true face would be a win, but we even captured the Demon King personally saving him? Let's spread this video everywhere from now on."
My mouth stretched to my ears.
Sure, Gavril's people could testify.
That Padania was Idria's minion, and Kaild—who traveled with him as a party member—was the same.
But that alone felt insufficient.
To humanity, a hero's name is absolute.
Would many believe 'the previous hero is the Demon King's lackey' based on word of mouth?
But seeing the scene with their own eyes? Totally different story.
"Perfect. Show me now."
"Huh? Right here?"
"Wanna see if my face looks good."
"Pfft. You. Fine, hang on."
Neril lightly formed hand seals.
Soon, the video we'd just saved appeared before us.
It was truly... truly awesome...
A brief silence fell.
Adwin cautiously asked.
"Sis Neril. You haven't canceled the magic yet, right?"
"......"
"Sis?"
"N-No way. The magic definitely worked properly."
Neril's voice trembled.
I checked the video unfolding before my eyes again.
It contained 'nothing'.
Just a white background.
"Did the magic fail?"
"No. Impossible. There's no way I'd make such a stupid mistake..."
"Yeah. Not your fault."
"Maide?"
"Someone tampered with it. Definitely."
I clearly shattered the Demon King's core just now.
But Trail said Idria's still alive.
I didn't mess up my technique. Never.
"Someone must've had the Demon King's back."
"......! W-Wait, the Heavenly God? That bastard agreed with the Demon King's plans."
"No. Impellium said he can't use power outside the starting line."
"Then who?"
Yeah.
Who could it be.
Idria was dying.
Her core had undoubtedly shattered.
Truth be told, it wasn't the first time her core had been shattered.
Bion Kunze had pierced this heart several times.
"Cough."
But this time was different.
She sensed it.
She could never revive again.
"Ah, my children. At least these children."
If she died, the Fingers of Lies would vanish.
Consumus, whose body was now completely gone.
Sabak, who couldn't heal from last time's damage.
All the other fingers would disappear.
Their annihilation terrified her more than her own looming death.
But reality was harsh.
Her body grew colder, her vision blurred into the distance, and her consciousness faded.
That was when.
"You've suffered greatly, Idria."
A voice she'd never heard before rang out.
Who could come to this cave?
She desperately opened her eyes and looked toward the voice.
There stood a man with radiant golden hair and a somewhat delicate face.
If not in a place like this, you'd think he was a young scholar.
"Who... are you."
"Must have hurt. Must have been sad."
"......"
"I pity you, forced to revive endlessly, as if born only to die, slain countless times by Bion."
"Sh-Shut up. I asked who you are."
"Forgive me for appearing so late. Can't say I'm a substitute, but I brought a gift."
Clatter.
The man tossed something.
There lay Kaild, knocked out.
Clang.
Something fell beside Kaild.
The true Hero's sword.
"Kaild? Hero's sword? How in the world..."
"Soon as Gavril was done, he bolted without looking back. Not prying, but didn't you pick the wrong card?"
"I asked who you are. Third time now."
"By the way, I simply fixed the video storage magic from Maide's party mage. I'll handle any more like it, so no worries."
He doesn't listen at all.
She mustered her remaining strength for one last question.
Who are you.
But she didn't need such a final word.
"You... Huh?"
Her body was healing!
Her shattered heart mended on its own, cracked skin knitted back together.
Lost blood refilled, strength returned to her limbs.
It was all a miracle from the man merely 'pointing at' Idria.
"The lies you lost to Maide can't be restored. Had to share mine."
Idria sprang to her feet.
She had fully regained her power.
But wariness outpaced gratitude toward her miracle-worker.
"What do you mean? Your lies?"
"You've gathered quite the impressive lies over the ages, but still not up to me."
"......"
"No need to be embarrassed. It's natural. The time and scale are worlds apart."
"Hah. Talking like you're the Demon King of Lies yourself."
Then.
The man nodded.
As if it were the most obvious thing.
"Demon King... not sure, but something like that."
"Wh-What? Nonsense. I'm a being born from the beginning! Impossible to gather lies longer than me."
"Your 'beginning' is so shallow."
He plopped down across from her.
"I get where you're coming from, but you need some humility."
"......!"
"Oh, not lecturing, of course. Sorry if it came off that way."
Idria didn't like his tone, like he was looking down from above.
Didn't like it... but it felt strangely off too.
His voice was so kind, so warm.
She'd never heard anything like it.
"One more time. Who are you."
"Hard to sum up in one word. Hm... How about 'Father'?"
"Hah."
"I'm serious. 'Senior' isn't bad, but 'Father' feels right."
"Is that so. Then, 'Father'. What's your name?"
He smiled brightly and answered.
"Velosian."