Episode 0 – Thus, the Hero Died

Thus, the Hero Died

The final battleground.

Two men stood, swords crossed. The scattered signs of a brutal struggle suggested that this fight was a battle that would decide the fate of the world.

A black-haired boy stared at his opponent with pitch-black eyes. Despite his struggle to stand while coughing up blood, his sword never left his hand.

-Clang!

With each clash, the hero was pushed back. He had the upper hand at first, but perhaps he had hit the limits of his humanity. Eventually, completely drained of energy, he found himself cornered against the wall.

“Ugh…”

His hand trembled violently. His muscles, pushed to their limit, screamed as if they were being torn apart. Barely holding onto his consciousness, he glared at the Demon King with his battered eyes.

His gaze still held a fierce determination.

He was sure to lose if things continued this way. But if there was a slight opening, a moment that could reverse the situation, he could turn the tide.

To not miss that moment, the hero never took his eyes off the Demon King.

With his purple hair and large horns, the Demon King maintained a relaxed expression throughout. He seemed unfazed, even amused, despite having lost an arm.

“Such a human. Flailing like a fly.”

The Demon King was confident of his victory.

He was sure to win if things continued this way. There was no need to push against a hero who had reached his limit.

And sure enough, before long, the hero spat out a chunk of blood.

The Demon King seized the moment, kicking the hero’s face hard and pinning him against the wall.

“This is the end.”

Assured of his victory, the Demon King raised his sword, which had reaped countless lives and stained the surroundings blood-red.

That momentary opening.

Under normal circumstances, resistance would be impossible, but the hero had a trump card left. He didn’t miss this opportunity.

His secret weapon, the power of the goddess he had saved until the end, was unleashed. He sank into the Demon King’s grasp, and drove his sword, glowing with a white light, into his heart.

-Clang.

Through the thick armor.

-Whoosh.

The blade that penetrated the breastplate pierced through his back.

Before he could swing his raised arm, the Demon King’s heart burst.

“How do you still have strength… could it be you…”

The Demon King collapsed to the ground without finishing his sentence. Thus, the era of the Demon King came to an end.

A happy ending.

The hero was now free. He could return to his original world. He could live in this world with the relationships he had formed. He had every right to do so.

But something was off.

There was no happiness on the hero’s face. Half-closed eyes staring at his own sword, muttering to himself. His demeanor was far from what one would expect of a hero who had slain the Demon King. In a way, he looked relieved.

When did the hero start to break down?

When he was humiliated by the princess, whom he thought as his lover? When he was betrayed by the knight he trusted like a sister? When he was abandoned by his only mentor?

Or was it when everyone in the hero’s party ignored him?

No matter what, the hero’s decision does not change.

He pulls out the sword deeply embedded in the Demon King’s torso. And he brings it to his own neck.

The porter, who was watching the scene from among the pile of corpses, tried desperately to stop the hero.

“Hey, wait. What are you doing…”

“…Farewell.”

It was too late to stop the hero who had already brought the blade to his neck.

He plunged the sword, still wet with the Demon King’s blood, into his own neck. Blood gushed from his throat before anyone could react.

And so, the hero died.

* * *

The hero’s death.

I, who had been watching the whole situation, could do nothing.

The one who witnessed the hero’s end was not a member of the hero’s party gathered from all over the world, but a mere porter from the same world as the hero.

I was momentarily unable to do anything in the confusing situation. But soon I regained my senses and carefully collected his body.

After securing the unknown paper carefully stored in the hero’s possession, I left the space of the fierce battle. Despite being stained with blood, not a single speck of dust marred the paper—it must be a will.

Since there is nothing I can do now, let’s just go back. I walked endlessly, repeating those words over and over again.

As I passed the enormous main gate, I saw the comrades who had regained consciousness and were waiting for the Demon King’s death. If they were the girls I knew, they would definitely be happy about this tragic news. It would be a luxury to hope that the girls who hated the hero from the beginning would be shaken even a little.

“The hero is dead. To be precise, he ended his life by suicide. You guys… no, there’s no point in saying more. It will only make my mouth sore. I’ll handle the body, so let’s go back.”

Words spat out like everyday conversation in a dry tone. I could pour it out without hesitation, thinking that they wouldn’t care even if the words were a bit resentful.

“……?”

The girls stared at me silently with a strange expression. Do they not believe it, or do they not care about such a thing? If I had to choose, it would probably be the latter.

“We don’t know when the remaining monsters will come. Let’s return quickly.”

“…What?”

I carefully laid down the hero I had been carrying. The women who had been looking at the hero who died miserably were trembling all over their bodies. They must be holding back laughter. Seeing them like that, I felt like even the last bit of sympathy I had was disappearing.

Such an attitude towards a person who worked like a dog and died.

Fuck this world. I need to leave soon.