Chapter 5: Echoes of Fallen Heroes

The western continent. The port city of Lisboa.

The Demon King, vanquished.

The Undertaker, missing.

The remaining four heroes, possibly pregnant with the Demon King’s offspring.

It had been about a month since then.

“Hey, nothing’s going to happen again, right?”

Three pieces of news had spread across the continent.

“I mean, it’s a relief that the Demon King is dead, but so many died in the process, right?”

“Almost all of the summoned heroes from this other world are dead, except for five. And those were just the heroes. What about the party that participated in the final battle? Everyone died except for the Undertaker, right?”

“The Sword Emperor, the Mercenary King, the Mage King, the Elf Prince… None of them returned, except for the Saintess, who couldn’t leave the church. The Undertaker testified that all four of them, along with the final warriors who fought the Demon King, were dead.”

Many heroes had perished.

“Damn it, the ones who survived are all the ones I can’t stand.”

“It’s as if all the heroes died, and only the villains and cowards are left.”

The survivors were those who had either hidden away or fled.

“Did you hear what the Lord of Lisboa said? He came back from the southern island the other day and started boasting, ‘Survival is victory!’”

“Yeah, seriously. Spit! Surviving has become power now.”

People were scared of what the survivors might do.

“Are the heroes from the other world going to return home?”

At the same time, the remaining heroes began to draw attention.

Even though many heroes had died, they had fought the Demon King to the end, holding onto humanity’s hope.

“Other than the Undertaker, the rest of them are just fools, aren’t they?”

“Shh! Watch your mouth! If someone reports you, you’ll be in trouble!”

“Am I wrong, though? Everyone knows how far away the Demon King’s castle was. And the final battle there didn’t even last an hour. Are we supposed to believe that the four who had locked themselves away suddenly rushed over to fight? What a load of crap.”

“I get why you’re upset. There’s even a rumor going around that one of the heroes was having tea at a high-society event when she suddenly disappeared in a flash of light, and she showed up at the Demon King’s castle. We may not know the exact time, but they say the time she vanished during the royal party and the time the Demon King died match up.”

“You’re saying what’s on your mind too.”

Since the fate of the continent and humanity’s survival were at stake, it was only natural for people to be curious.

“Do you think they’re all going back? Weren’t most of them just regular academics in their original world? Without the Goddess’s blessing, they’re just ordinary people like us.”

“Who knows? Even that ‘Femme Fatale’ woman—does she really need to go back? She’s got the Emperor, the Tower Master, and the head of the Assassins’ Guild all wrapped around her finger.”

“That’s true. She might have even bigger people under her thumb in the other world. If it were me, I wouldn’t go back. With the Goddess’s blessing, she’s immortal unless it’s the Demon King’s power. Why go back?”

The heroes had been blessed by the Goddess.

No ordinary human could harm them. Only weapons infused with the Demon King’s energy could injure them.

“…Imagine, 200 years from now, ‘Femme Fatale’ still ruling the Empire without aging, like the grandmother of the Emperor’s grandmother.”

“That’s insane. She’d hold out here until the world ends. If women like her ruled and controlled the Empire… Ugh, just the thought of it is terrifying.”

“I’d be fine if the Undertaker took charge. At least if he ruled, he’d probably be the one to personally dig my grave when I died.”

“I don’t know if he’s good at politics, but he was the most heroic of the heroes. He fought as one of the last members of the party.”

Public opinion about the heroes wasn’t very positive. Except for one.

“The thing I’m most curious about is what the Goddess’s church said.”

“…You mean whether those female heroes carry the ‘Demon King’s seed’?”

“Yeah. If that’s true, then those female heroes would have to be killed.”

Malicious rumors about the four surviving heroes also spread across the continent.

“From what I’ve heard, the Saintess is the one spreading those lies to screw them over.”

“Who knows? We don’t know if the heroes are telling the truth or if the Saintess is.”

“Ugh, this is driving me crazy. I don’t care anymore, as long as the Demon King doesn’t resurrect.”

For ordinary citizens, they were simply thankful for the sacrifices of the heroes.

“We’ve barely regained peace, and I’d rather not lose my family or friends again.”

The worst outcome would be the Demon King’s return.

The second worst was the remaining heroes abusing their powers in this world.

“Ugh, we just need to live our own lives. But still…”

As long as that didn’t happen, ordinary people would just continue to live their lives, trying their best.

“I just hope the person who suffered the most gets to be happy. Not the ones who sat in the back reaping the rewards.”

Wishing for happiness.

Seagulls flocked together and flew through the sky above the port city of Lisboa.

At the westernmost edge of the continent, in what was probably the least interesting place to most people, I had arrived.

On the main street of this typical medieval port city, carriages and people passed by. I walked quietly, covered in a brown traveler’s robe with the hood pulled low.

All I had left were my last teleportation scroll and a few gold coins.

Honestly, I didn’t even need the money.

Even without eating or drinking, this body doesn’t die.

Thanks to the goddess’s blessing.

It neither dies nor gets wounded unless it’s harmed by the demonic power, magi, that can counteract the divine blessing of the goddess.

Sss, haah.

The salty smell of the sea stings my nose.

These small sensations constantly remind me that I am still alive and that I need to return home.

“…The mana here is strong.”

The sea scent here is different from Earth’s sea scent.

Unlike the usual salty breeze, there’s a peculiar smell here that’s heavily tinged with the scent of mana, which fills this world.

Wherever I go, it always feels like an overpowering indoor air freshener.

Once I got used to it, it wasn’t that bad. But since I have to travel to many places as a hero, adjusting to each new scent became a constant struggle.

“…This place used to reek of blood.”

There was a time when one of the four generals of the Demon King’s army attacked this place.

Two of the goddess’s heroes died.

One had their heart pierced by the general’s spear, and the other was torn in half by the claws of a transformed giant monster while evacuating civilians.

It’s been nearly half a year, or eight months now, since we buried them. I can’t even keep track of time anymore.

From the moment we first landed in this world until we killed the Demon King… it took—

“…Two years.”

A long time if you consider it that way, but also a short time.

If the assault team hadn’t fought with their lives on the line, it might’ve taken three or four years—or even longer.

Humanity could’ve been wiped out by the Demon King altogether.

He was disgustingly strong.

He even killed all of my comrades.

When I think about it, we couldn’t even recover their remains.

They were obliterated, leaving not even ashes behind. No keepsakes remain.

“Rest in peace.”

They, who fought for humanity and for us until their last moments, are the real heroes.

“To the heroes who saved humanity—the five warriors of the goddess!!”

“Aah, yes! Thanks to the great Femme Fatale, the consort of His Imperial Majesty, the Demon King was defeated! The peace of the continent was brought by Femme Fatale and the other heroes!!”

In the distance, imperial propagandists shout that those they call “heroes” are the saviors.

But the real heroes are the ones who died and had their souls erased forever.

“…Scum.”

I want to scream out that they’re wrong, but doing so would reveal my location.

Right now, I must hide my identity, my whereabouts, my position.

If I don’t…

“We must give thanks to the heroes! The Empire will bestow the title of Duke to the hero known as ‘Undertaker,’ who disappeared alone! Aah, great hero! Please reveal yourself and become the eternal sword of our empire!”

“To the one who finds the Undertaker, His Imperial Majesty will personally bestow great riches and the title of Baron! Any small bit of information will be handsomely rewarded!”

If they find me, they will hunt me down.

Their reasons are many.

The Emperor of the Empire is like a fish trapped in the net of Femme Fatale, that manipulative woman.

‘Is he afraid I’ll take another woman and leave for Earth?’

The Emperor fears me.

He’s scared that I’ll take the woman he loves and leave for Earth.

Or perhaps that Femme Fatale, bored of him, will ask me to take her away.

It’s not Chae Yuri.

There’s a much more infamous woman in our department, someone who could make Chae Yuri seem almost virtuous by comparison.

“…‘Yeouido.’”

It’s a slang term.

Guys used to call her that. Even in this world, she hasn’t changed.

She switched guys like transferring buses at Yeouido Transfer Center.

–Hey, my sister wants to have a go with you. Your girlfriend’s right there, but you wanna have a go with me? Hmm? What do I mean by ‘go’? Of course…

“Excuse me.”

A man’s voice called out from behind me.

“Are you, by any chance, the Undertaker?”

“…It’s been a while.”

A familiar voice.

“Commander Arhan of the Knights.”

I met with the former holy knight of the goddess’s order, a man with one eye and one leg missing.

“Why are you hiding your identity?”

“I have a question for you.”

This man.

“Do you still love Femme Fatale?”

We used to call him “Buffalo.”