Chapter 10: Before becoming a hero(5)

Here’s the revised translation, keeping the dialogue within a single line:

“They are truly beings of disaster. The moment they appear, they can easily destroy an entire country.”

“Yes, just like you said. But what’s even scarier about the Three Great Calamities is that no matter how many times you kill them, they will eventually reappear.”

The Three Great Calamities were indeed beings of disaster.

However, there had always been heroes who could subdue even such calamities. And yet, the Three Great Calamities continued to reappear to this day.

No one knew why. Even if they were killed, they would eventually resurrect and appear again.

That’s why they were called the Three Great Calamities, and why people both feared and revered them.

“Behemoth appeared 60 years ago and was defeated by the leader of the Holy Knights at the time.”

“That’s what I had heard as well, but the truth is different.”

Behemoth, who appeared 60 years ago, wasn’t defeated. It was sealed.

The Holy Knights, who didn’t want to pass this disaster onto the next generation, had sealed it. Cain let out a sigh as he spoke.

“Since it’s sealed, Behemoth will never reappear. After all, it’s not dead yet.”

“Even if it’s just a single piece of flesh?”

“That’s what Yulis said.”

Even though Behemoth was sealed, it was still alive. So, there was no reason for Behemoth to reappear in this land. Zeke, now fully understanding, opened his mouth.

“Is Behemoth’s seal connected to what’s happening now?”

“Behemoth may be sealed, but if it stirs, the seal could break. That’s why a sacrifice must be offered to make sure Behemoth is satisfied and goes back to sleep.”

“No way…”

“That sacrifice is Yulina.”

With a face that showed he wanted to deny reality, Cain finally spoke the truth he had been trying to avoid.

Zeke was horrified. Sacrificing a person to maintain the seal?

“Do you really think something like that can be allowed?! Sacrificing people to maintain peace…!!”

“Then what do you plan to do about it?”

“…?”

“Even in its sealed state, Behemoth has been gathering strength. I hear the seal is on the verge of breaking with just a little more movement.”

Of course, to Zeke, this was an incomprehensible story.

Could peace gained by sacrificing people truly be considered peace? But all he received in return was Cain’s sneering sarcasm.

“What do you think is the reason that you, me, and that so-called hero behind you are still alive?”

“That’s…”

“Was it just luck? Well, you’re not wrong. That damn Three Great Calamities hasn’t awakened yet, after all!”

A disaster large enough to destroy an entire country. If it were to open its eyes and move its body again, who could confidently claim they’d survive?

“What if the calamity awakens because the sacrifice wasn’t offered? Countless people will die. Are you ready to take that responsibility?”

Though Cain was clearly looking at Zeke, the one he was truly seeing wasn’t Zeke at all.

A few hours ago, Cain had been furious with Yulis just like Zeke was now. Sacrificing people? That’s insane!!

[Are you out of your mind?! You’re going to offer your daughter to a monster?! And you call yourself her father?!]

[I’m not the one choosing the sacrifice.]

[?]

[It’s that cursed monster that decides. Isn’t it ridiculous? In order to seal the monster, we have to appease the very same monster.]

But the moment Cain locked eyes with Yulis, he could no longer argue with him. The dead look in his eyes spoke volumes about the suffering he had endured up until now.

[Isn’t there another way…]

[Of course, there is another way.]

[Then what is it…!!]

[The lives of the people living in this territory.]

Behemoth was as cunning as a serpent.

It lured humans into this place by gifting them land filled with abundant resources and guaranteed bountiful harvests, like a carnivorous plant attracting its prey.

800 lives.

Just one life.

A choice between the worst and the lesser evil.

And Yulis chose the lesser evil. As the lord of the territory, he had a duty to protect his people.

As a Holy Knight, he had the responsibility to seal the calamity. And Yulina nodded at his decision.

[I understand.]

[Yulina, you…!!]

[I’m sure Father has done everything he could to save my life.]

What Yulina said was true. Yulis had tried everything he could to avoid this situation.

He had contacted the higher-ups and reported that Behemoth seemed to be growing stronger, even requesting help.

But no one had listened to him. All he received in response were heartless orders to offer a sacrifice. The answer was simple. Sallen was lining their pockets.

“I… I can’t possibly take on that responsibility… So…”

[How can you…]

Zeke couldn’t comprehend how someone could accept their death so easily.

Nothing made sense to him. But the feeling of helplessness, of being unable to do anything, pressed down on him.

He couldn’t do anything.

“I just ran away… right then and there!!”

Loving someone means wishing they won’t die. But how many people in this world could throw away hundreds, if not thousands, of lives like they were nothing, for the sake of their loved one?

If Cain had been just a little more selfish, if he had thought only about himself, he wouldn’t have struggled with these thoughts. Who could laugh at Cain’s choice?

“So, you abandoned the one you loved? For the sake of the world?”

“Aren’t you just a grand hero.”

“Shut up, what do you know…!!”

However, only one person, Isaac, sneered at Cain’s choice. Cain felt something snap in his mind. Who are you to mock my—our—decision?

“Before you become some noble hero!!”

Just before he gave himself over to his blinding rage, Isaac’s sharp words brought Cain back to his senses.

At that moment, Cain saw it—the look in Isaac’s eyes, staring directly at him.

“First, be a man.”

Yes, at least,

Be a man who can protect the ones he loves.