The scene shifted to a room with pale yellowish-white walls, where I sat on a soft bed, staring at the hero's sword.
That blue blade, with its round hilt carved with six small symbols—each representing one of the six chosen ones—pulled my mind back to the events of yesterday.
*******
Yesterday
"Y–Your Majesty, there must be some mistake! It's impossible that I'm one of the chosen!"
"Hah... that's enough, Mary. You've already been chosen."
"But... what about my family?"
Alexander descended from his throne, walking down to Mary's level and placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I'll take care of them personally, so don't worry."
"If that's the case... then I'll accept your request, Your Majesty."
"Think carefully, Mary. This journey is a chance to save billions of lives... and you are one of the keys."
Alexander's words took root inside Mary like a principle she'd been waiting for.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
*******
Present time
I opened the door and wandered through the castle aimlessly.
My bones still ached and burned, but I couldn't bring myself to ask for treatment. The kindness of the king and the servants was already too much—I'd feel ashamed to ask for more.
"Hero, hello!"
Lecia appeared before me, her golden hair shining under her sun hat, surrounded by a group of girls whose faces showed wealth and nobility.
I waved. "Hey, what are you doing?"
"I was going out for a walk with my friends. What about you?"
"I was just walking around... I've never seen the city outside before."
"Why don't you go with Ronald or Raphael then?"
"... I prefer going alone."
She laughed softly, covering her mouth. "You're pathetic."
I ignored her words and left the castle, passing through the courtyard and then the great metal gate.
Before long, I reached the city—its crowded streets styled like old Europe, filled with the scent of roasted meat drifting from nearby restaurants.
As I walked deeper into the city through the crowds, I caught sight of a group of children.
They had dropped their ball into the river running through town, and the current was carrying it away.
I watched for a moment, then kept walking.
Suddenly, the water rose and flung the ball back into the air, the children staring in surprise.
"Are you using your power just to help some kids from afar?"
My body froze when I heard Mary's voice. Her head peeked out from a restaurant window.
"Ah—h-hey, Mary."
"Who's that, sister?" A waiter appeared behind her. When he saw me, a smile instantly formed on his face.
He stepped outside and offered his hand. "Hero, it's an honor to meet you. I'm Karim, Mary's older brother."
"Ah... nice to meet you."
His loud voice drew attention. People began whispering, some moving away, others watching in admiration.
Mary appeared from behind him. "Let's talk somewhere else. Karim, get back to work before the manager gets mad."
"Got it..."
He looked at me again. "I wish we could talk more, but duty calls. Take care of my little sister."
"I'm not a child anymore! I can take care of myself."
Mary grabbed my collar and pulled me away from the crowd—and her brother.
"It feels like you're the older one, not him."
She released me with a sigh. "He worries too much, even over the smallest things."
"That's how a brother's heart is... you'll understand when you have a younger one yourself."
"I already have little brothers, but I worry about them because they're still kids."
"Even when they grow up, that worry won't disappear."
"Wait—you have a brother?"
A faint smile appeared on my lips, though a dark shadow filled my eyes. "... Yeah, I do."
Mary looked puzzled but didn't pry further. "My mother asked me to buy a few things. Could you help me?"
"Of course."
We walked through the market together, buying ordinary things—vegetables, fruits, meat.
"Hey, Hero, look over there."
I followed her finger and saw a young man in a wheelchair, being pushed by a girl his age.
"That's Adam, one of the victims of the training-ground accident. Because of it, he lost his future—he can't go anywhere without his fiancée."
"..."
"You know they're human, right?"
"…"
"Adam always dreamed of becoming a knight—strong and respected. He had a dream... that you destroyed."
Silence fell between us. I wanted to apologize, to beg for forgiveness... but that would be hypocrisy.
Adam, his fiancée, Karim—everyone... they would all become my victims sooner or later.
We continued shopping, knowing that Mary's words couldn't bring back what Adam—or anyone else—had lost.
She led me to her home—a small, lovely house with wooden walls and a red-tiled roof.
"Is this your house?"
"Yes. I know it's not as grand as the castle you're used to."
"No, actually, I like it. It feels warm... this place alone is worth a thousand castles."
"Sis, we've been waiting for you!"
Several children ran up and clung to her.
"Irene, Amanda, Elinor, Noor—I missed you too!"
The moment the door opened, a group of kids rushed toward her, and Mary opened her arms for a big embrace.
One of them looked at me. "Sister, who's that?"
"Oh, that's the Hero."
The children ran over and grabbed my legs, their smiles pure and bright. "Hello, Hero!"
"Hey, don't bother our guest—he must be tired." The voice came from an elderly woman, well into her nineties.
"Good morning, Mother."
"Good morning, Mary." She turned her gaze to me.
"So, you're the Hero? You look much kinder than I expected. Come with me—we'll talk and have some tea."
I followed her into a small room and sat across the wooden table.
"Mary, dear, could you make us some tea?"
"Of course, Mother."
As she went to the kitchen, the old woman spoke again.
"It's unpleasant, isn't it... having blood on your hands?"
"... Huh?"
"Don't forget that feeling, or you'll lose your humanity—and become nothing but a monster. Do you understand?"
"I carry their pain... their dreams... their sorrow—as my punishment. Isn't that enough?"
"Do you truly think so?"
The room began to glow crimson. The woman's face distorted and tore apart as the children gathered around me, spider-like limbs sprouting from their bodies.
"You've gone far beyond the point of forgiveness. So just stop resisting... and die."
Tentacles burst from the woman's back, cracking bones as they reached for me.
I couldn't move. My body was trapped, and her huge mouth opened to swallow my head whole—
"Hey! Are you alright?"
The vision shattered at her voice. The crimson faded, replaced by the trembling sweat on my face and my pale reflection in her eyes.
*******
Two hours later, it was time to leave.
"Thank you for having me." I stood at the doorway, turning back.
Irene grabbed my hand. "Hero, will my sister Mary be safe?"
Mary smiled and patted his head. "Are you worried about me, Irene?"
"... Don't worry, Irene. I'll do everything I can to keep her safe."
Mary added, "And you, Irene—focus on your training. Become a great knight someday."
"What a beautiful dream. I'm sure you'll become the greatest knight of all... but remember, brains matter more than muscles."
Joy filled the boy's face. "Yes, Hero! I'll make you proud!"
As we rode back, Mary spoke softly. "Thanks for encouraging Irene. It means a lot."
"I didn't do anything. I just told him the truth."
"Deputy Commander Mary!"
A soldier ran toward us, pale and gasping for breath. "T–There's an attack! A horde of monsters—the king ordered all troops to take positions!"
"Calm down and catch your breath... how many are there?"
"Hundreds of thousands—but they're divided."
"Divided?"
"Six waves from six different directions. The king is taking the north, Ronald the northeast, Reinhard the northwest—you'll handle the east. The west is Karl's unit, and the southwest is Harold's."
"I'll take the southwest."
"Understood, Hero, but—"
"Tell every soldier to evacuate and reinforce the west. I don't want a repeat of that incident."
"Don't worry, the soldiers there are strong—they're not rookies."
"Even so, I'll feel safer alone."
"... As you wish."
After parting ways with Mary, I rode toward the battlefield. Within twenty minutes, I could already see it.
The camp was mostly empty—except for one soldier. I grabbed his collar.
"What are you doing here? I told everyone to retreat!"
"I'm here just in case, to support you if you run out of mana."
A sigh escaped my mouth, hot as fire. "Protect yourself well... and give me your sword."
"What? Don't you already have the Hero's sword?"
"The Hero's sword isn't made for this kind of battle."
I took his sword and activated Lightning Form—but the monster's stench already filled my nose. My body moved on instinct, dodging its bite. I grabbed its neck and snapped it instantly.
Then, without warning, my ability—Past Reading—activated on its own.
It showed me the life... of what I had thought was a monster.
"Y–You... you were... human?"
I stood frozen. I should've known they were sentient... No, I did know—from the very start.
But my body refused to move. My eyes stared as they tore and devoured my flesh.
"Hero!" someone shouted behind me, but I didn't respond. I just stood there, staring at what they had become.
A whisper escaped my lips—so faint it was barely sound. "I'm... I'm sorry."
The ground began to quake, shattering apart. Every transformed human around me vanished in an instant.
The land flattened—a barren wasteland stretching endlessly. I sat in the middle, exhausted.
"... Call the commanders."
*******
Meanwhile, on the western front
Mary slashed through endless waves of monsters, burning them with her crimson flames.
Suddenly, a blinding light engulfed the battlefield.
Alexander—the man known as the Embodiment of the Sun—had arrived.
With a single swing of his sword, he scorched everything before him with flames like the sun itself.
"Is everyone alright?"
"Y–Yes, thank you for saving us, Your Majesty!"
"We've repelled all five waves. What about Harold's front?"
"Harold's team joined Karl's unit."
"What? Why?"
"The Hero went there alone."
"My king, the sixth wave has been repelled, but..."
Ronald appeared on horseback—with me beside him.
"Your Majesty, that attack was just a diversion—to measure Altherion's military strength."
I took a deep breath before continuing. "The truth is... Arkantia intends to unite the lands of men by force—starting with this kingdom."
"We'll discuss the details in the castle. This isn't the place."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I'll tell you everything—from the human experiments to the secret weapon."
*******
A week later
"Alright, let's go."
"Understood, former Deputy Commander."
I glanced at the king and the princes. As usual, Ryan wasn't there.
"Thank you for everything... farewell."
I drew the Hero's sword, and a faint thread of light appeared before my eyes, showing the path ahead.
"Wait... was this gem always here?"
Just as Mary said, one of the six holes in the hilt had been filled—with a shining, beautiful jewel.
"Maybe the holes fill up each time we recruit a new chosen one—and this gem represents them."
Each of us mounted our horses and set off, marking the true beginning of our journey.