Beyond the Hero’s Death – 03 | Sousaku – 創作

Episode 3: The Hero Takes His Own Life (3) – The Beginning of the Downfall

Sometime after the hero's death was treated as a "beautiful tragedy," I received the letter that Alberic had sent to me before his death. The letter, which was intended to take some time between dispatch and delivery, contained several things that he had been told as a prophecy from the goddess, as well as many events that would occur after his death.

To begin with, the resurrection of the Demon King was only one of the crises in the world. Several other crises threatened the survival of mankind in this world, and even if the Demon King died, the next disaster would only strike mankind.
It seemed that one day while living in the royal capital, he was suddenly informed of this as an omen.
The date of the letter shows that it was sent a few days before I was ordered to assassinate him, which made me even sadder to think that he had no intention of saving the world at the time he wrote this letter and was already thinking of taking his own life.

……Is this what Alberic wanted me to see beyond?
Now I don't know what that guy's intentions were.
But if taking his own life was Alberic's way of revenge――― I vowed to see the whole thing through, as far as what was written in the will. For that, I will bow down to the foolish king and live even if I have to sip mud. I will be the one to see to it that the scumbags in this country are destroyed.

In the meantime, many visitors came to the country to mourn the death of the Hero. There was still no news from Roger, but a letter arrived from Irene, in which she apologized for not being able to move because of the various circumstances surrounding her. "Is there something shady going on? Is there anything I can do? " As the letter was to the effect that she was worried for me, I wrote back to her and told her not to worry. I'm sure it was partly because we were investigating the vilification of the hero together, but Irene has a strange intuition when lust is not filing up her mind, so maybe she realized that Alberic's death was the result of a conspiracy and that I was a part of it.
But I can't involve Irene in this, this revenge is mine to take.

Then Falty's sister, Luqur, another princess from the land of the elves, visited the royal city to mourn the hero. Unlike Falty, who was still very young, Luqur, who had grown into a woman and appeared to be serene at all times, caught people's attention as an immensely beautiful woman. Her long golden hair, which radiated in the sunlight, resembled silken threads one by one, and her eyes, which were slightly downcast in a tender manner, gave her the air of a caring mother. Even a man like me, who did not care much about the appearance of the opposite sex, thought she was beautiful.
Luqur came to visit me at my house after completing her duties as the acting representative of the Elven King.

"It has been a long time, Raoul-sama."

As Luqur looked up at me, standing close up, I felt that she was more beautiful ...... much more than when I had seen her in the past.
I remember the first time I met Luqur was when I rescued her from being kidnapped by the Demon King's army.
We'll figure out the details after we go help! Said the hero half-angrily as he ran into the enemy lines. I now think of those as fond memories.
After cutting through to the main camp, I remember running with Luqur, whom I had rescued, and breaking through the Demon King's army back home, led by Alberic, who was continuously firing his holy sword.
Looking back, I think I was reckless, but Alberic was a tough guy because he was pretty rash and also hard-headed when it came to helping someone....... Yeah, he was dangerous and couldn't be left alone, but he was a good guy.

That was the first time we met, and Luqur and I have been exchanging letters ever since that trip by having a bird carry the letters. Pen pals……I guess you could call it. So from my point of view, she was always as pleasant to be around as my traveling companions.

I welcomed Luqur into my home with a wry smile, remembering a few pleasant memories from the journey. The soldiers escorting her should have come in with her, but they were waiting outside and around the house. Letting a princess of a country enter the house of a man who lives alone…… Is that a good idea? I wonder if I should take it as a sign of trust.

Luqur brewed some tea that she had brought with her, and over a cup of it, we talked about what was going on with each other, reassuring her that I was okay and that there was nothing she needed to worry about. Falty seemed to have cried and shut herself away, but she was attracted to Alberic, so it was understandable. When there was a break in such talk, Luqur made a proposal to me, as if she had made up her mind.

"――――Would you like to come to the land of the elves? "

With a pleading, wistful, almost tearful gaze, she looked at me. Did she sense something in my atmosphere? Such an attitude was surprising to me because I know her well enough to know that she does not assert her wishes very strongly.
……But now I have to complete Alberic's last request, so I can't leave at this moment.

"Sorry. I still have things to do in this country."

I quietly told her, keeping my eyes down. Luqur quietly turned down her head at my words and intentions. However, this girl holds no small place in my heart. After this country is destroyed――― I'm also obligated to take Falty's condemnation, which means I have to go to the elven country one way or another. With this in mind, I continued with my words.

"When I'm done with my unfinished business in this country, I'll be sure to come see you. I promise."

"……Yes, I'll be waiting."

I felt a little warmth in my chest as Luqur looked up and stared at me, then smiled gently with a little droplet of tears in the corner of her eye.

About another year had passed since Luqur and company had returned to the land of the elves, when a message flew out from the Black Miasma Mountains not far from the kingdom that a heaven-shattering roar had been heard, followed a few moments later by a hasty horseback report that contact had been lost with the fortress at the base of the Black Miasma Mountains. ……On the straight line connecting the royal capital and the Black Miasma Mountains, there were several relay stations and villages, including the village where Alberic was born and raised. I see, the fort has already fallen.

――――The destruction of the world has begun.

Looking up at the cloudy sky, I laughed quietly as I thought about what was about to happen.