112. The Legend of the Warrior
After Arcel heard Alfred’s story, only one question remained.
Why didn’t the Devil destroy humanity?
“It’s really strange when I think about it, even though you and the previous warriors managed to defeat the Demon King. “All the previous heroes failed and died, right?”
There were warriors even before Arcel.
There were warriors before the warrior.
Just as there were many demon kings over a long period of time, there were also a lot of warriors, but none of them except two were able to defeat the demon king.
Despite this, humanity did not perish.
The hero, their only hope, failed, but humanity continued to live on.
There were occasional reasons for countries to disappear or perish, but they never led to a crisis of human extinction.
In particular, countries located at the center of humanity, such as the Kingdom of Hermod, have never been invaded except for Alfred’s case.
Isn’t it strange the more you think about it?
It must be the devil who wants to destroy humanity and rule the world, right?
“…Alfred, can you return to your castle for a moment?”
“Huh? What if you’re tired of festivals? I’ve already prepared a spell so I can go back at any time. “There is still a teleportation magic used by the Demon King in the past in my castle.”
“It’s not that I’m tired of it. Instead, there is something we need to check.”
As requested, Alfred held Arcel’s hand and returned straight to his castle.
After arriving at the castle, Arcel went straight to his room and started looking for something on the bookshelf.
From Noble mtl dot com
“What are you looking for so much?”
“…Alfred, I trust you. I know you are not on the side of humans… But I also know that you are not on the side of the demons either. So, I hope that even after seeing this, you will continue to stay like this.”
Arsel hesitates a little, but soon makes up her mind.
Arsel took out an old book from the bookshelf.
A history book of the demons previously purchased at Clen’s territory bookstore.
“Is that a history book? “I had a rough guess that you were interested in the history of demons, but this is so outdated.”
It was like an important relic containing the history of the very distant beginnings of the demon race.
“But what is this? It’s written in human language. “If you couldn’t read, shouldn’t you have asked me?”
“…I didn’t want to accept your help. I thought I should find out as much as possible. But as expected, the ancient characters of the demon race were difficult.”
“Of course, even old people as old as Grandma Clen don’t use these characters anymore.”
Alfred looked through the book and found several notes.
This is the content that Arcel has interpreted the demons’ ancient script little by little whenever he has time.
“But you worked really hard, huh. “Because I’m a genius, I can recognize all these things…”
Then Alfred paused for a moment and began to look at the book with concentration.
After checking the contents of Arcel’s notes and the contents of the book, he finally opened his mouth.
“But was it really necessary to do this? You humans also have plenty of history books. “There were very few people among the demons who wrote books, so there would have been almost no records left.”
The first hero and the first demon king.
Arsel seemed to be trying to find out when those two first appeared through the demon history book.
“If it’s a human history book, you already know this. Long ago, the first demon king led the demons and started plundering humans. “Humanity created a being called a hero to counter him.”
“Yes, it’s a very common story that you don’t have to force yourself to memorize.”
“Then Alfred, what is written in that book? The existence of a hero and a demon king. What stories are left about those two in the distant past? “I can’t interpret the demons’ ancient script, so I haven’t confirmed it yet.”
“Let’s see, a very, very long time ago, demons lived in a tribal society. The chiefs of each tribe were protecting each other’s territory and enjoying a fight for land…”
Alfred was slowly reading the story of the book.
The past of the demons was not much different from the present.
Vampires and other demons lived around the head of each family or tribe.
They went to war with each other and joined hands when necessary.
“But one day, something catastrophic happened, and that was the appearance of a warrior.”
But one day, someone who called himself a hero appeared.
The warrior was strong, and there was no demon that could dare stand against him.
The hero mercilessly massacred the demons, and the demons ran away to avoid the hero, but the hero seemed to pursue them until the end and try to exterminate the demons.
“But there was someone who defeated such a monstrous hero and reigned as the ruler of the demons, and that was the first demon king…? “What is this book?”
Alfred reacted in confusion when a story came out that was different from what he knew.
“As expected…”
But Arcel was not like that.
It was as if he had suspected this from the beginning, and only his fingers trembled at the fact that he could now be sure.
“That’s strange? Obviously, according to the records I know, the Demon King should appear before the hero, but why did the hero appear first? And the demons were massacred by the hero?”
Demons are born with a strength that is incomparable to that of humans.
However, it makes no sense to say that they were massacred by just one hero, that is, a single human being.
Moreover, wasn’t it said that the first hero was so weak that he died before even meeting the Demon King?
“I think this book is wrong, especially since among the demons, those who call themselves artists are all druggies. “I think the guy who wrote this probably wrote the novel while under the influence of drugs.”
I was shaking my head and trying to throw the book into the trash can, but Arcel stopped me and said,
“It would be good if the book was wrong. But keep reading it, and count how many warriors there are now and to date.”
Alfred had no choice but to start reading the book more closely once again.
“Oh, now that I think about it, this is a magic book. “It’s not a handwritten book.”
Then, I was able to confirm something I had not noticed.
This history book was not written artificially by someone.
I simply recorded the important history that occurred in the world, events related to demon kings and heroes, using magic engraved in books.
“Let’s see… One, two, three heroes…?”
Anyway, as Arcel said, I counted the number of heroes recorded in the book, and Alfred shook his head.
“It’s strange. Why are there 18 heroes and only 1 hero?”
The book ended with the story about Arcel.
The first warrior to defeat the Demon King and return alive.
The first hero to defeat the Demon King was the 17th hero, so it was originally correct that there were a total of 18 warriors in history, starting with Arcel.
However, there are a total of 19 warriors in this book.
If you count the number up to Arcel, you should definitely end up with 18, but there was one more hero.
“I couldn’t interpret everything in the book. However, I was able to find out what the word ‘warrior’ in the demons’ ancient script refers to. And after looking up that word, I came to the conclusion that I was the 19th warrior, not the 18th.”
“You, the 18th person in human history, would be the last…”
The other hero is the one who massacred the demons that appeared in the very first chapter of the book.
He was an unidentified warrior who is not recorded in any history books except this book.
“But why is this? In the end, what changes other than the fact that there were 19 heroes instead of 18?”
However, as Alfred said, it did not reveal anything particularly important.
Anyway, a historical book must have characters and someone who writes it, and the book must be preserved and not lost in order to be passed down to the future.
Maybe there was a record of this in human history.
“I don’t know that either. But this-“
Arsel seemed frustrated because it was difficult to explain what he was feeling.
An inexplicable feeling of discomfort.
It made me feel like a history that was completely opposite to what I knew was slowly being strangled.
I felt like I could think of something, but I couldn’t.
When you feel like your heart is being clogged with such frustration.
“Originally, heroes were created to stop the Demon King, but why were heroes recorded before the Demon King? Isn’t that the case? “The chosen warrior, baby.”
“And you?”
“Huh? “Grandma, what’s going on in my castle?”
Suddenly, I heard Zion’s voice from the window.
When Arcel turned her head, she saw Zion sitting by the window and looking at her.
I guess I heard the story a little while ago.
“Yes, that’s it! Clearly, the hero was created to save the world from the devil, and according to prophecy, he was chosen to defeat the devil with the holy sword. But according to the contents of this book, that is wrong…!”
Thanks to you, I was able to relieve my frustration.
“I guess I finally figured it out.”
She understood what she said well, and Shion smiled broadly.
Arcel listened to Zion’s words and she was able to realize what he wanted to say.
A hero is a being chosen to protect peace from the Demon King, but why does this book not only show the hero appearing before the Demon King was created, but also massacre the Demons?
Of course, the demons only fought large and small civil wars among themselves, and did not specifically plunder or invade humans like in the era of the demon king.
I still had questions, but I felt like I was one step closer to an answer.
If I continued like this, one day I would be able to find the answers to all these questions.
Of course, the process of finding the answer will never be easy.
“Grandma, by now you should be in the middle of creating a new land for demons with the demons. Is it okay to mess around like this? “He would have become the new supreme elder.”
Alfred said, glaring at Shion.
Alfred didn’t seem to like this situation very much.
Especially about Shion showing up and giving Arcel her hint.
“Don’t criticize me too much, because this is also about returning the favor. Anyway, thanks to that baby, the elves were able to reach a new future.”
Shion came down from her window with a sly smile on his face.
“Besides, it was definitely a vacation. “It’s not like our grandchildren have lunch breaks that are longer than their working hours.”
“You know I’m not saying that.”
Alfred’s eyes frowned.
“Hey… Why are you doing this all of a sudden, Alfred? “Why did your maternal grandmother…”
Somehow, there was a slightly bitter atmosphere between the two people.
Arsel didn’t understand the situation, so he grabbed Alfred’s sleeve and asked.
“Oh, it’s no big deal. Normally, when you encounter difficulties or feel frustrated, it is my role to solve the problem, but her grandmother suddenly appears and takes that role away. “She got the timing right and tried to say things at dramatic moments.”
However, Alfred showed bright, clear eyes again.
The look in his eyes that was trying to devour Shion just a moment ago has disappeared as if it had never happened.
“…What on earth is that?”
When I heard the reason, it was very Alfred-like.
“You probably already know, but doesn’t our grandson have a mischievous side? So there are times when I intentionally don’t tell you the answer right away even though I know it. But I hit first.”
Shion smiles even after finishing speaking.
Alfred’s mouth was sticking out as if he didn’t like Shion like that.
“Isn’t it a bit harsh to send someone out to live like that?”
“Specifically? I learned these things from my mother, and my mother didn’t learn these things from her grandmother, right?”
“Is there some kind of family history?”
At first, he thought there was something important he didn’t know, but when he heard the story, he was completely lost.
Arsel let out a sigh of relief and settled down on the sofa.
“Oh, grandma, it’s been a long time coming. Would you like to use the new firewood you bought? For elves, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. “It’s a pyre made from the branches of the World Tree.”
Moreover, as usual, Alfred confidently brought out the stake and planned to hang Sion whenever he got the chance.
“Why don’t we speak straight to our grandson? “It’s not a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it’s something you can only do once in your lifetime.”
Shion did a great job avoiding Alfred.
If you think about it carefully, there may be no need to worry even if you show signs of life.
Alfred and Sion were like that originally.
Honestly, they are a grandson and a grandmother. Who would think of them as a grandson and a grandmother?
The appearance of the two people and their relationship did not appear to be that of a grandchild or grandmother at all.
It still seems surprising to think about it that way now.
“Oh, and the reason I came here is because I have something to say.”
Then Zion appeared in front of Arcel and said.
Alfred put a leash on Sion and hung him on the stake. As they talked, he seemed to be waiting for them.
“Yes? “What do you mean by that?”
“Originally, I wasn’t going to care or care, but didn’t I say that earlier? This is returning the favor. “That child also tried to open the future for elves…”
Shion had a bitter expression as he spoke.
Just looking at it, it didn’t seem like a very good thing.
Besides, if Shion said it was that kid, he knew right away who it was.
“…Are you talking about Stella?”
Arsel asked with anxious eyes.