21 – Brave Canary
I gave all the remaining star candies as a gift to Rosa.
I wrapped the candies in a handkerchief before giving it to her, worrying that they might melt and become sticky. I wonder whether I should ask for the handkerchief back… Although, I didn’t mind much whether she kept it or discarded it.
After using this magic after so much time, the memories came flooding back.
Since I mastered this magic, I never starved due to lack of money. Though I didn’t fill my belly with star candies, I sometimes sold them and used the funds sparingly. The fact that sugar was not a luxury in this world was fortuitous. If it was a valuable commodity, it would have been challenging to trade, considering I was a child of the poor district.
Nonetheless, I rarely sold the star candies made by magic. Considering this magic utilised almost all of the magic and mana left in me, it was tiring. Moreover, I mostly ate the candies myself or shared them with my close friends from the impoverished district.
Even though the kids from the poor district seemed harsh and abrasive, a sense of camaraderie – ‘we look after our own’ – existed among us.
Despite our differences, none of them discriminated against me merely for being a half-kin. Not that we didn’t discriminate against each other for a myriad of other reasons.
Anyhow, even among those who pestered me for star candies or pretended to be friends, it seemed like there was one kid who especially brightened up at the sight of star candies. This kid was different from others; they neither ate it immediately nor held onto it for long before having it snatched by others.
So, I secretly gave them a few more.
When asked why they did what they did, they replied that they found the star candies attractive and cute. Setting aside their rather unusual sense of aesthetics, the fact that they pursued beauty in front a food while starving made them not your average kid.
Maybe they grew up to be a designer or something? I really can’t tell.
Since I’ve been forced to join the organization, natural encounters ceased to exist.
“Ugh, just thinking about that old geezer still makes me grind my teeth.”
O gallant hero, what are you doing? Quickly slay the Demon Lord. Only then will I get a chance to kick that old geezer’s behind.
Of course, there is a high chance that I wouldn’t actually be able to do it. Those shadowy figures protecting the old geezer would strangle every attempt. Or they might just slit my throat outright.
Either outcome would be a drastic loss for me. It bugs me that I can’t get back at the old geezer, but since there will be no business with him after I retire, there’s no real need to take the risk.
After retiring, it might be good to live comfortably while tending a small garden in the countryside. It might also be nice to write occasionally, just like the old days. With the money I’ve saved and my pension, I could even self-publish without needing a sponsor. Maybe opening a bookstore wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.
*Heh, it’s all just a pipe dream for now.*
In the end, all this is possible only if the hero triumphs over the Demon Lord.
I have supported the hero in various ways, but honestly, it will take at least another year for him to grow strong enough to face the Demon Lord. Until then, I’m bound to remain with the organization.
Even now, working at the academy under a false identity, it’s practically like loafing around… but there are still some constraints. Only when I’m free from every principle and rule of the organization can I truly say I’m free.
So, brave hero,
Good luck!
*
The sword sliced through the air, severing the beast’s head. It was an ordinary strike, devoid of the hero’s strength, but its swift light-ray speed rendered it as sharp and deadly as anything imbued with the hero’s power.
The demon’s head was clipped off so effortlessly it seemed pointless, its body belatedly falling and spraying blood. With that, all the beasts in this dungeon had been slain.
It hadn’t even taken half a day to conquer this dungeon.
I felt stronger, but…
It wasn’t enough.
‘That entity known as the demon… was much more formidable.’
Clavis Aurea. The golden key that melts all locks.
The demon, who introduced himself with that name, did just as it suggested – he unlocked and loosened the seals binding other demons.
I recalled the curse the demon had cast with his dying breath.
– All locks have melted away! All of my oppressed brethren will awaken! No matter how desperately the oppressor’s minions struggle, it is futile -!
Those weren’t merely the desperate words of a dying being. Though Clavis Aurea was dead, other demons would soon awaken.
Instinctively, I knew that not much time remained. The blessing bestowed upon me by the goddess whispered of the impending trials.
Even while slaying a weakened Clavis Aurea, my strength proved insufficient, and it was only atop a sacrifice that I could bring about an end.
Then, what if other demons were resurrected?
If I missed the moment and that demon regained his full power…
Could I, with my current strength, truly face a fully revived demon?
The answer was simple.
Impossible.
With my current strength, I could not possibly kill a demon that had been fully revived. Therefore, I had to become stronger.
I had to overcome trials, shatter adversities, and grow beyond my present self.
I would not sacrifice anyone due to my own shortcomings anymore.
“Woocheon…”
In the end, the things taught to me by Woocheon have become useless.
Fighting all day long, I’ve had no use for the cooking Woocheon taught me as I’ve been haphazardly getting by with ready-made meals.
Negotiating with merchants as well. It’s no longer necessary. Fighting doesn’t require much money, after all.
Woocheon did teach me many other things… but maybe my head is too muddled from fighting, I can’t quite remember now.
Woocheon would probably say I’m being too impatient if he saw me now.
With his characteristic polite tone, he’d likely say that not only fighting but also having leisure is important for growth. Although we haven’t been together for a very long time… his words were always consistent.
I’m sorry for not keeping my promise.
But then, Woocheon lied to me too, right? Even though the outcome might have been no different… a lie is still a lie. A liar.
…I’m sorry for sometimes tormenting you with the hero’s power. Even when Woocheon was in pain, he told me it was fine, and I liked that his reassurance seemed genuinely sincere.
How can a person be so foolish?
It’s not okay to be in pain. Normally, you would think it’s not okay. Did Woocheon behave so devotedly because I’m the hero?
I doubt it. Since his claim that he’d die for me was a lie.
Was Woocheon just that kind of person?
Or if not…
Could it be, during our journey, he came to have feelings for me?
And that his feelings changed, so much so that he thought it would be fine to die for me, unlike before?
If that were the case…
I’m not sure.
Would feeling a bit happy about that be too selfish of me?
Would feeling unbearable sorrow about that… why would that be?
Well, I still think it’s unlikely.
It’s hard to imagine Woocheon falling for someone… He’s too kind to everyone, it seems like he’d make a lover jealous.
Now that I think of it, I don’t know much about Woocheon. Although our time together was short, he taught me many things.
Why didn’t he teach me anything about himself?
“…Woocheon said he was dispatched at the request of the holy kingdom.”
What if I return to the Holy Kingdom now, take a moment to research about Woocheun?
Would it be too extravagant of me? In an urgent situation of facing the devil’s resurrection, wasting time for such a minor reason… yet, it still feels self-indulgent.
For some reason, I simply can’t resist the urge to know.
Didn’t Woocheun also say that occasional respite is necessary?
Just for a moment.
I’ll only be going to the Holy Kingdom for a moment.
I won’t be wasting much time. Probably.
You see, I’m quick on my feet.
“Oh Goddess, the ladder of transportation connecting the distant and the near.”
.
.
.
“…did something like this happen to you, hero?”
“Yes! I thought the archbishop might know since I came at the request of the Holy Kingdom. For some reason, the servants and army priests are unaware.”
“Hmm, it would be okay to tell you, hero.”
The bishop’s explanation was quite lengthy.
A super-national secret society exists, conducting ‘dark deeds’ secretly. It was said that they were resolving ‘difficult to disclose externally’ issues on behalf of various countries in return for obtaining convenience.
He explained a lot, but to be honest, it wasn’t easy to understand. All I thought was, ‘oh, there’s something like that.’
The bishop also didn’t know about Woocheun. It was a little disappointing to hear that the entire internal composition of the ‘organization’ was unknown from the outside.
And then.
When the bishop showed the ‘symbol’ of the organization,
My thoughts halted for a moment, shocked by an unexpected truth.
“This is… “
Occasionally, when I fell into unexpected crises due to the traps of demons,
And when I overcame those trials solely with the help of fortune,
There were a few noticeable traces of magic. I thought it was some kind of symbol used by the demonic army since it was visible every time there was a trap.
However, the shape left by that magic trace,
Was the same as the ‘symbol’ of the organization that the bishop showed.
Only then did I recall several incidents that I simply thought were ‘luck’. Those moments of luck that saved me in moments of despair when I could only think, ‘I’m going to die’.
Actually, if it wasn’t for those ‘luck.’
If someone had been helping me.
If that person, in fact, had been protecting me long before I discovered them.
And even until the last moment, if they sacrificed themselves for me.
Just how…
How great must a favour have I received from this person…?
I came to realize a fact that I dared not even imagine.
My mind briefly became hazy.
From Noble mtl dot com
What am I doing right now?
How foolish it was for me to think that I understood even a little bit of cosmic law.
Even having experienced such things, having received a favor I dared not repay.
If that person died ‘for me’, the part of me that thought it might be slightly happy, that felt sorrow, was utterly repellent.
I dare not even shed tears.
I dare not even smile.
Despite imposing such a sacrifice on a single individual, I could not afford such complacence.
“Sir knight…? Are you okay? Your expression….”
“hahahaha! Of course, I’m okay. What are you talking about, Archbishop?”
“…My apologies.”
I had to slay the demons.
I had to kill the villains.
I had to extinguish the devils.
It was not a matter of longing, but of vengeance. I had to drive myself, kill all demons, pulverize all enemies.
That was the sole atonement allowed to me.
My tribute and lament to those who sacrificed themselves for me.
“Thank you, Archbishop.”
“…We are grateful for your dedication to this transition.”
“hahahaha! Dedication?”
I drew my sacred sword.
I called upon divine power to bless my body. I felt faster, lighter, freer.
“Is there any value in this belated dedication?”
I did not wait for the Archbishop’s response. It was not a question I made in hopes for an answer.
I headed towards the end of the world.
I didn’t bother sheathing my sacred sword. There would be a lot to cut from now on.
I ran without stopping, feeling the wind brush against my cheek.
My aim was until I reach the end of the world.
No.
Until all enemies were shattered.