NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 78
“Out of the blue, you want me to be the Hero?”
At first, it sounds like a completely nonsensical request, but I understand the real meaning behind her words.
“…Isn’t Lady Liriez already a hero?”
I need to make an excuse first. I want to avoid getting involved in any troublesome matters.
However…
“The Sorceress of Crimson Lotus. The Great Sorcerer of the ‘Holy Sword Party’ that faced the Great Demon Lord Bel Phegor 500 years ago.”
“…….”
Someone might have thrown out a hint, but I never expected the Water Hero to take the bait.
“Where did you learn that?”
“The Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess’ Holy Knight has considerable access to confidential matters. Although you’ve been erased from history…”
“Erased from history, you say?”
I had a vague idea already.
Surely, the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus I faced was more than just humanity’s strongest Great Sorcerer, but discovering that there was absolutely nothing about her in the Normans left me lamenting.
History is ultimately the record of those who survive.
Depending on what gets chosen, some records remain while others disappear.
Just like how it was said that the Great Demon Lord Belphegor “tried to absorb humans into the Demon Race.”
In a way, the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus had every reason to be erased from history too.
“Five hundred years ago, the Human Alliance didn’t even know of the existence of special forces, nor did they trust it. However, the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus made a bold declaration to the leaders of the Human Alliance, proclaiming that she would defeat the Demon Lord alongside the Hero.”
“…It’s just an old story.”
I heard that much.
– “Those bald-headed bastards! All they did was sip wine and slice steak while saying, ‘Know the difference between bravado and recklessness’ instead of helping when I said I would fight. I should have burned that king’s beard.”
I heard it directly from the person involved.
“But I failed. I was defeated in the fight against the Demon Lord.”
“However, I know the hero you appointed defeated the Demon Lord.”
“…Yes, that was the case.”
They captured the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus.
The Hero wielding the Holy Wind Sword stormed in.
The Sorceress of Crimson Lotus died, and the Demon Lord was pierced through the heart by the Hero’s sword.
“Shit.”
Whenever I try to elaborate on it, my heart aches again, and I can’t find the words.
But that’s just my problem.
I need to face Liriez as the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus.
“Liriez. If you’re asking me to appoint you as a hero just because my chosen hero defeated the Demon Lord, that’s a grave mistake. That-”
“I don’t like beating around the bush. Sorceress of Crimson Lotus.”
Liriez presented the Holy Water Sword to me, holding it with both hands.
The elegant rapier-shaped holy sword had a handle that resembled waves.
“The Sorceress of Crimson Lotus knows the ‘Activation Word’ of the holy sword, does she not?”
“…….”
“I do. That you’re an ancient being.”
“It’s rather surprising how suddenly you reveal someone else’s identity.”
It’s astonishing.
I didn’t even know myself.
“Weren’t you just a Great Sorcerer?”
Sorceress of Crimson Lotus Bel.
Just a sorceress who was good at handling flames, nothing more.
“Sorceress. I’ve met Bearnes in the Normans. She seemed to be unaware, but the holy sword she possessed had undergone a second awakening. Are you not the sorceress?”
“If I say I’m not, you’ll keep insisting. Fine. Let me say the conclusion you like so much.”
I placed my hand on her holy sword.
“Your holy sword is just one step away from its final awakening. And I possess a clue regarding its liberation.”
Half of it is a lie.
In fact, I know the final activation word, and I could awaken the Holy Water Sword right here and now.
“But you cannot become my hero.”
“Why not?”
“My hero is Lucius.”
“Is it because the Holy Wind Sword is stronger than the Holy Water Sword?”
“Not exactly.”
The absolute power of the holy sword ranks liberation first, attributes second, and the user of the holy sword comes third.
“If you were to compare you to Lucius right now, of course, you are stronger.”
Lucius is now at level one, and thanks to me awakening her, Bearnes has reached level two.
In contrast, Liriez is at level three.
With just one more step to open the final door, she could truly reach the realm of a ‘demi-god.’
Therefore, it can’t be done.
“But if you’re going to argue about who is more reliable, I would choose Lucius.”
“Is it because he’s a man?”
“Gender doesn’t matter. What’s important is the person.”
“Does that mean I lack qualifications as a hero?”
“It’s not that… Sigh.”
How should I put this?
Lucius is so naive and easy to handle, while Liriez is sharp and clever, making me worry that my identity might be exposed.
“…For now, I cannot trust you.”
“The Hero of the Holy Sword.”
“The Hero of the Holy Sword is still human. Do you honestly think there’s never been a case where a Hero has betrayed humanity and sided with the Demon Lord?”
“…I can’t definitively say no, but at least I am not like that.”
“Anyone can say words. Even swearing by the goddess is meaningless. What significance does it have for someone who has decided to side with the Demon Lord to swear an oath to the goddess?”
“…….”
Liriez was left speechless.
“I understand you’re desperate. But who knows what you might do after the power of the holy sword has awakened to its fullest?”
“What about Lucius?”
“That’s why I’m watching him closely. To see if he truly is a hero, a champion, or…”
I slowly placed my hand on the Holy Water Sword.
“Can you wield such immense power for justice?”
“Justice….”
“Not for personal glory, nor for revenge or hatred toward someone, nor as a means to prove faith. The holy sword is powerful in itself, and no one should handle it recklessly. What about you, Liriez? What is your justice?”
“……I…”
“Shh.”
I reached out to Liriez, pressing my fingertip against her lips.
“Words are just empty. If you truly wish to prove yourself as a hero, then show it through your actions. Then, I will believe you too.”
“What should I do?”
“First, let’s protect this town.”
The way to prove oneself is exceptionally simple.
“Let’s help the people first and then think about it.”
The crisis isn’t over yet.
“It seems like another guest is visiting.”
The barrier is currently ablaze.
*
“Ugh! What on earth is that?!”
Shouldn’t it be called a poison bug?
These monsters, their exoskeletons made not of chitin but of steel, crawled out from the ground to surround the barrier.
“Damn it, first we had poison bugs, and now we have these grotesque monsters showing up!”
“Hey, what kind of monstrosity is that?”
“I-I have no idea! I’ve never heard of such a thing!”
A monster that doesn’t even exist in the bestiary.
In the first place, the concept of a monster clad in steel armor was something hard to believe.
And now, with countless monsters swarming right before their eyes, people were on the brink of losing their sanity.
And in the end, what they sought was…
“Hero! Where are you, Hero!!”
People were looking for the hero.
There was no other surefire method to overcome this immediate danger than the hero, and it was only natural to think of the hero if they were present.
“Where is the Hero?! Has he gone somewhere far away?!”
“Damn it, if only the Hero would just move the holy sword, we could deal with them all at once…!”
“Please, Hero! Come quickly and wipe out all those hideous things!!”
“…….”
Lucius fidgeted with his fingers while bowing his head.
Now, I slightly understood why the master kept telling me not to step forward.
“Honestly searching for a hero without thinking… ”
Even Rosmas was dismayed by the villagers’ behavior.
The panicking townspeople.
If there was anyone to calm the chaos, it would be the highborn ‘Knight’ Rapid.
“Everyone! Calm down! For now, the enemies can’t cross the barrier! Gather around me!”
As Rapid said, the poison bugs could not cross the barrier.
“Lucius! Rosmas! Hurry and bring the Hero with Lord Black Lotus!”
No matter how much Rapid tried to reassure them, in the end, he couldn’t think of anything other than the hero’s assistance.
“The Hero is….”
“I’ll be right there.”
Just as Black Lotus was about to say something, Lucius dashed toward the place where the witch and hero had disappeared.
Black Lotus and Rosmas followed closely behind.
And then…
“You don’t need to run. I’m back.”
The witch returned to the town square alongside the hero.
The townsfolk rushed toward the witch and the hero, and the hero frowned at the countless poison bugs outside the barrier.
“…It might be a bit difficult to sweep them away with the Holy Water Sword.”
“You might be right.”
Clack, clack.
The poison bugs embedded their pincers into the ground.
The airborne poison bugs were swept away by the water spray, but the poison bugs that had grounded themselves were a bit too strong to be washed away by the rapid current.
“What should we do?”
“There are plenty of methods….”
Whirring, clack, clack.
It seemed like a mechanism was moving from somewhere.
At the same time, something heavy thudded with a loud bang.
“…What the hell is that?”
Behind the poison bugs.
A massive bug, the size of a four-story building, was walking toward them.
Its immense size shook the ground with each step, resembling more of a giant than an actual bug or something like a golem.
“That must be the command entity controlling the bugs.”
“Is the barrier still holding?”
“Whether the barrier holds or not, we’ll have to wait and see how the enemy attacks it.”
How indeed would the bugs attack the barrier?
In a moment where even the witch couldn’t carelessly say anything.
Clack, clack.
The shells of the poison bugs opened one by one, revealing something elongated emerging from them.
Thicker and sturdier than antennae, it resembled a ‘muzzle.’
“……A rifle?”
Bang—!!
The bugs began to fire bullets toward the barrier all at once.