The Cursed One (1)
A man shrouded in a tattered black hood, hiding his face as best he could. But that ragged hood made him look anything but a normal human.
The moment I laid eyes on him, I had a pretty good idea who he was.
"Dragon Priestess... you haven't changed a bit. So, are you the Hero?"
"That's me... And who might you be?"
But the Hero, who had been casually peeling fruit with a small knife, didn't catch on to his identity. Well, that's no surprise. In the Hero's decades-long career, this guy had only crossed paths with him for a single day—and even that was over in a flash. Remembering him would be the real shocker.
Without a word in response, the man drew the sword from his belt. A metallic blade with a dark crimson hue. No ordinary sword, that much was clear.
The Hero grumbled softly as the man pointed it at him.
"Why are all these youngsters so rude these days? They don't even chat first—just straight to drawing steel... Tch. Sheesh."
The Hero sounded just like some cranky old geezer. The man ignored him completely, gripping his sword and charging.
"It's been ages since I retired, but why do so many still lust after the Hero title? What a pain. Aren't you thinking of picking a new one yet?"
"Not while you're still breathing, so don't worry your head."
"Wasn't really worried."
The Hero kept up the casual banter even as he sidestepped the swinging blade with light footwork, deflecting it effortlessly.
"Pretty fast speed. Threatening, even."
His body might have weakened with age, but the Hero never skimped on sword practice. His technique had evolved beyond mere skill into something akin to art.
He parried the crimson blade this way and that with his fruit knife, appraising the attack like a critic.
"But the trajectory's way too simple. Makes it easy to dodge. Wouldn't threaten anyone at your speed."
"Sh-shut up!"
The man pressed with rapid strikes, trying to overwhelm him. But the Hero jabbed the knife tip into the sword's core motion, twisting it completely off-course. Nullifying a powerful assault with the tiniest force—it was the mark of a true sword master.
The man kept pushing, but the Hero fluidly deflected every blow with his knife. After dozens of exchanges...
"Alright, that's enough. You were the strongest of the recent challengers."
"Guh... ngh..."
The man's wrist sliced by the knife, he dropped his sword.
"Doesn't look like systematically trained swordsmanship. More like a mercenary's style, honed for survival. But there's something oddly refined about the basics... Hm. Properly taught fundamentals, maybe?"
The Hero flicked off the knife and wiped it on his sleeve.
"Oops. Sis told me not to fight with this thing, and now I'll get an earful. Sis, can you keep it secret?"
"You need a good scolding."
Lately, the Hero only touched his sword for training. Sure, his blade was too strong and dangerous for opponents, but a Hero without his sword? Felt off somehow.
And then.
"Ngh!"
The man with the sliced wrist groaned faintly, and the tip of the crimson blade morphed, shooting toward the Hero like liquid metal. Crimson mercury, maybe?
Sure enough. The thin, reshaped blade hurtled at the Hero's back.
"Whoa there."
The Hero shifted sideways and swung his knife, perfectly batting away the sneak attack from behind.
"Neat trick. World's full of wonders."
"M-monster...!"
"Monster? Nah, just the fruits of hard training."
A normal human couldn't block a blade flying at their back with a knife. But the Hero's senses were near-superhuman.
"I've wandered the world and done plenty, but never anything to make humans want me dead."
Praise? Sure. Targeted for assassination? Never.
Except this guy was different.
"Enough of that."
I approached the black-hooded man. His sliced wrist had already healed. Not human recovery speed. And the location-tracking mark was reacting too.
"Long time no see."
I pulled back his hood, revealing the face beneath.
"You pathetic prince who ruined a kingdom."
Unlike decades ago, his face was a mess of beard and grime.
I looked down at the pitiful man and said,
"So, what brings your sorry face here? You, once the second prince of the Acad Empire."
"......"
He didn't answer. If he wanted forgiveness, I'd tell him to head to the Life Temple and repent sincerely. Why come at the Hero with a blade? A blade, of all things. The Hero was already grumbling about his back hurting—what a worry.
Tch. And with that weird sword to boot. How'd he even make something like that?
I picked up the sword rolling at my feet. It looked ordinary enough, except for the edge. I'd thought it was crimson metal, but...
No, something coated the blade, giving it that dark red glow.
"Hm. You've picked up something interesting."
That filmy coating was blood. Blood perfectly controlled through life force.
I knew he'd been through hell, looking all ragged, but crafting something this unique? Impressive, in a way.
"Ngh... Kill me...!"
That's a line for a captured beauty knight begging a hero. Not for a ragged wreck like you.
I tossed the examined sword back to him and said,
"That wasn't my question. You had zero reason to come here."
I gazed down at the man slumped on the ground. His body should've healed by now, but he didn't move an inch.
"...Give it."
The man.
"Kill me..."
Muttered in a voice thick with resentment.
"Kill you? You?"
"Yes... You—the stand-in for the goddess who cursed me—you could do it...?"
He glared up at me, bloodshot eyes leaking bloody tears, veins burst.
"I don't want to live anymore. Kill me. End this torment called life..."
To him, I spat curtly,
"Why should I?"
"Grrgh... Why! Why won't you just kill me?! I'd beg for death!!! I don't want this pain anymore! I don't want to watch others die helplessly!!! Give me death's peace!!!"
Hm. Death's peace, huh. Well, his life had been worse than death, tormented by the gods. Word of what he did to me must've spread, earning him curses that wrecked any normal life.
Without immortality, he'd have died hundreds, thousands of times over.
But.
"No peace for you until you sincerely repent and beg forgiveness."
I'd already told him every way to lift the curse. Why was this fool acting up here? He could've gone to the Life Temple, prayed earnestly, and been freed ages ago.
"No matter what...?"
"No matter what."
So go to the Life Temple already. Fastest way.
Hm. No way. Did he forget the solutions? Can't remember them?? Nah, I'd drilled them in from the start. Unless he tuned it all out...
"Even this?"
He snatched up the sword before him and aimed at my throat. Life force gathered on the crimson blade—reversed to steal life. Weirder the more I saw.
"Lift my curse now. Or I'll kill you."
"Oh?"
Threats now? Gone full rogue, huh? Think I'd lift it for that? Nope! No dice! Only official methods count—no exploits!
"If you can, try it."
"Sis!"
The Hero yelped in surprise. Why freak over a little knife? You know who I am—no need to worry.
"Over there! Daughter and that worthless son-in-law are coming with the grandkid! Wrap it up quick!"
Figured as much. You worrying about me? Doesn't add up. Can't trouble his daughter and family, though.
"Kneel."
I said in a low voice, and
"Grahk!"
The man collapsed to the ground like a puppet with cut strings.