117 – The choice to be a hero
Years ago, when the invasion of the Demon King’s army was active.
All races living on the continent gathered together around the Marcos Empire, the largest country on the continent, to fight against the Demon King’s army, but even if they defeated them, it was difficult to deal with the monsters increasing at a phenomenal rate.
Numerous soldiers and citizens suffered damage.
Everyone fell into despair, saying it was the end, the era of the devil had come.
Naturally, the Marcos Empire, a nation at the center of all nations, felt a great sense of responsibility.
As the suzerain of the continent and the representative nation against the Demon King’s army, the emperor of the empire, Breed III, was troubled by the continuing unfavorable war situation.
…Of course, it wasn’t that there was no way.
But in a way, it is a method that is close to gambling.
But if things continued like this, there was no future for the continent.
In the end, Breed III made a decision.
“…Please contact representatives of all countries, religious denominations, and the Three Magic Towers.”
“Your Majesty… Your Majesty…! No way?!”
Not only the heads of the country, but also the religious order, and the magic tower.
It means one thing.
“I will summon a hero from the other world.”
Ritual of summoning a hero.
A ritual that invites beings living in another world, not this world.
It is said that those who are summoned gain great strength and abilities.
Of course, it is not a very convenient ritual.
If that were the case, there would have been no reason for the emperor to hesitate in performing the ceremony in the first place.
The ritual of summoning a hero requires an enormous amount of magical power.
To some extent, it is enough magical power to maintain a barrier surrounding the entire empire for more than 10 years.
In other words, if this ritual is performed, the barrier that protected the people of the empire will disappear.
The people must be protected for 10 years without relying on the barrier at all.
“Evacuate all citizens living in weakly defended areas and increase the number of troops guarding the border.”
“Your Majesty… No matter how much it is, it is difficult to use all the magical power of the empire’s territory. It is difficult to ask for help from other countries…”
“They are powerless to protect their land without magical power. It is right that this burden falls on our empire, which can afford to do so.”
Of course, after summoning the hero, we plan to ask each country to cooperate with the hero.
That is why the heads of all countries were also convened.
“…I don’t know how long it will take. In the meantime, strengthen your defenses.”
I don’t know how long it will take.
This did not mean that the ceremony would take long.
You shouldn’t just summon it.
First, you must contact beings from other worlds and obtain their consent.
Of course, they could be forcibly summoned without consent, but in that case, I didn’t know whether they would cooperate properly.
Therefore, he should have contacted a qualified person and offered compensation or tried to appease him.
…The problem is that even making contact consumes a lot of magical energy.
If the opponent does not respond to the proposal, only magical power may be consumed.
If you do it wrong, it’s a gamble that may result in all your magic being lost and no results.
Imperial Emperor Breed III tried to take that gamble.
A place where the heads of each country, the head of the Yggdrasil Church, the predecessor of the World Tree Church, and the three magic towers that exist on the continent, the lords of the magic towers, gathered in one place.
On the spot, King Breed III announced that he would summon a warrior.
A request from King Breed III to spare no effort in cooperating with the summoned hero in exchange for the empire bearing all the magical energy required for it.
Of course, the heads of each country had no reason to refuse.
On the contrary, there were some who lowered their heads as if they were slightly embarrassed at the idea that the imperial emperor would bear all the burden.
The religious leaders and magic tower owners all rushed to agree.
Rather, they were showing great interest in being able to summon the existence of a hero.
And then, in the imperial capital of the empire, the center of magic flowing underground, a ceremony was held with everyone’s cooperation.
The ritual continued for three days and three nights.
Of course, contacting beings from other worlds required not only magical power but also time, and no one gets it right the first time.
Of course.
Who would want to go because they are dragged into a dangerous situation and they don’t know how long it will take?
The emperor, who was in contact with a person from another world, shook his head, and the magic tower lords stopped the ceremony.
“Is it another failure?”
“…They seemed quite promising, but they seemed to be scared because it was war.”
Hearing the words of the Black Magic Tower’s magic tower lord, the emperor spoke helplessly.
I have already been rejected ten times.
“How about just forcing it?”
“It’s something you’ll have to do on the battlefield. What will they think if you’re forced to do it?”
To them, detailed reasons and appropriate compensation had to be proposed and accepted.
As long as he was standing on the battlefield, the emperor thought that was right.
“Your Majesty, your complexion is not good.”
The magic tower lord of the red magic tower spoke as if he was worried.
Of course, his complexion was not good when he said that.
The expressions of the emperor and the tower lords, who had already been unable to sleep and had continued the ritual for three days and nights, were dark.
A considerable amount of magical power has already been consumed.
“…Let’s do it just a little bit more.”
Seeing them, the religious leader, who was waiting to step forward if the other person accepted, wiped away tears.
Ah, world tree. Please embrace them.
The religious leader who prays so softly.
The emperor and the magic tower lords found the next candidate and raised their magic power again.
…And then, a few hours after starting the ritual.
Three young people came down to the land of the empire.
King Breed III sat on the throne in his throne room, trying to hide his tired complexion.
In front of him, there were three awkwardly polite young people.
‘They are still young children…’
Breed III muttered that to himself.
He contacted them, asked them, and brought them with acceptance, but they were still young.
At most, I would have been in my mid-teens.
I belatedly felt a sense of guilt when I heard that such children had to be put on the battlefield.
‘But…But I can’t help it. For everyone who lives on this continent…’
I had to make up my mind. And didn’t he get permission?
King Breed III justified himself like that and poisoned his mind.
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One boy and two girls.
Like a person from another world, he had an exotic appearance and unusual clothes.
“…I’ll greet you again. I am Brid III, the emperor of the Marcos Empire.”
He said that, but the summoned warriors just stared at him blankly.
“Your Majesty, they…”
“Oh, I forgot.”
That’s right.
When we used magic to contact other worlds, we communicated because it was a conversation between consciousnesses.
However, because the language actually spoken was different, the words did not make sense.
“Your Majesty, this way.”
“Hmm.”
A magic tool that interprets languages.
I don’t know if this will translate into words from other worlds, but it was worth a try.
After giving it to the warriors, he wore it himself.
“Hmmm…Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Ah…!”
At the emperor’s words, the boy standing in the middle opened his eyes wide.
“Yes…Yes! I understand!”
“I see, I’m really glad that the magic tool worked.”
Of course, the interpreter’s magic tool must be filled with magical energy to use, so it cannot be worn continuously.
They may need to learn some of the language of this world at some point, but for now, they will be able to communicate to some extent with magic tools.
“As I introduced you before I summoned you, I am the Emperor of the Marcos Empire, Brid III.”
“Um…My name is Yoo Si-hyeon.”
“Seon…Hmm? The translation is not working properly.”
It seemed like the magic tool was not working properly as it was the name of a different world.
Breed III looked slightly embarrassed at the unfamiliar pronunciation.
“I am Lee Chae-eun.”
“It’s Seo Eri.”
The two girls behind them also introduced themselves, but again their names were not translated properly.
But since communication was not possible at all, Breed III decided to think about names later.
“Hmm…Please take care of me.”
Clearing his throat lightly, King Breed III opened his mouth.
“I already explained this before calling you in, but now all the countries on this continent, including our empire, are in danger.”
“Yes, it’s definitely because of the invasion of the Demon King’s army…”
“That’s right, that’s why I’m calling you here and hoping to defeat them.”
When the emperor raised one hand, a figure appeared next to him who clearly looked like he was a wizard.
“It is said that heroes summoned from other worlds are awakened to power by receiving enormous magical energy in their bodies when they are called to this world. To the point where they have no shortage of power to fight against demons.”
What kind of power one will gain depends on the person’s talent, but it has been passed down that everyone without exception receives strong power.
Some training will be necessary, but it will be easier than teaching ordinary soldiers to send them into battle.
But…But.
“…It may be strange to say this after already asking for it, but is it really okay?”
“If you ask me if it’s okay…”
When the black-haired girl, whose name was Chae-eun, said that, King Breed III lowered his head and said.
“The place you will go is a battlefield. A place where monsters and soldiers kill and kill each other. Honestly, I don’t feel comfortable sending young children like you there.”
Breed III’s words, in the center… The boy whose name was Sihyeon nodded and said.
“It’s okay! They say there are people who are having a hard time. How can I ignore that?”
Those words the boy shouted with confidence.
The girl named Eri was looking at the boy with her eyes sparkling, and Chae-eun held her head and sighed heavily.
The girl, Chae-eun, said as she saw her vision.
“Do you really know? This is a real war? You can’t accept it with such a light attitude…”
“Then Chae-eun, did you leave? In the end, you came along too, so why do you keep bugging me?”
At Chae-eun’s words, her Eri glared at her and criticized her sharply.
“It’s not that kind of problem, is it something that involves people dying? I’m saying we shouldn’t take it lightly…”
“Then why did you accept and follow along? Shouldn’t you have left already?”
“After hearing this story, how can I end up alone in a situation where you guys are willing to go?!”
When the two girls started fighting, the boy, Sihyeon, stopped them.
“Stop it, both of you! We’re not supposed to fight here, right?”
“……”
“……”
I forgot for a moment because the atmosphere was so heated, but this is the throne room where the emperor is.
The two girls bowed their heads.
Due to the delicate atmosphere between the three, the emperor felt as if he should not ask, but he eventually opened his mouth.
“…But what kind of relationship are these three people?”
“Ah, Eri here is my childhood friend…And Chaeun is my girlfriend.”
“…Sigh, I wonder what it’s like to be caught up in this with a guy I’ve been dating for less than a month.”
Her Chae-eun heard her grumbling and her Eri glared at her.
…I don’t know the details, but it looks like Bried III has a very complicated relationship.
“…Let’s take a break for now. We’ll talk more about it later.”
“Thank you…Thank you!”
After the emperor finished speaking, the servants waiting behind them guided them.
Seeing them leaving the throne room following the servants, the emperor sighed.
Although they are a little uneasy, they were brought in by sacrificing the empire’s enormous magical power.
The emperor prayed to the World Tree that they would save the continent…And the world.