The Hero

“Huff… huff… huff…”

Luna ran hurriedly along the ink-dark path.

The scene was like a disaster.

The surrounding walls had been devoured by that mass of flesh, leaving only broken remnants—some tall, some short—like the jagged teeth of a monstrous beast in the night.

Under the moonlight, they emitted a faint, eerie glow.

The street, once like capillaries running through the town, had now dried up.

Black marks remained—corrosive traces left by blood that had burned the walls and bricks into dark stains.

Now that the blood had dried, it was as if a layer of black lacquer covered the ground.

As Luna stepped on the path, it felt like walking on beach sand—soft, fragile, and crumbly beneath her feet.

“Huff… huff…”

As a Saint, her physical strength far exceeded that of ordinary people.

But this time… it was different.

She was carrying someone on her back—

Allen, who had fainted from overwhelming grief.

She lay quietly against Luna’s back.

Luna could feel something dripping onto her shoulder.

It seeped through her clothes, giving the sensation of being soaked in water.

She didn’t understand why Allen was so sorrowful.

Yes, the massive corpse guards and the suffocating stench of blood could make anyone feel heavy and depressed—

But not to the point of complete emotional collapse.

Yet when Allen saw that strange magic crystal, her emotions plummeted instantly.

She broke down and cried.

Luna guessed part of the truth—

Allen must have known the person connected to it.

That was why she was so devastated.

All Luna could do was comfort her.

After all, the dead could not return.

And she still had people to save.

She knew that not far away, in the town square, an utterly unfair battle was taking place.

Savage had already reached the level of a Saint—

A Law Saint.

While Eugene, by his own admission, was only a High Mage.

This was no longer a matter of fighting above one’s level—

This was the difference between quality and quantity.

She even feared—

Eugene might not have survived even the first strike.

He could have been reduced to ashes instantly…

And yet—

She believed in him.

Eugene was not someone who acted without a plan.

Even in a revenge duel, he would never throw his life away meaninglessly.

Though saddened by Allen’s state, Luna had no time to dwell on it.

Every extra minute wasted increased the chance of Eugene’s death.

She had seen it before—

When she fought Savage last time.

Even on the brink of death, Savage recovered instantly and escaped using a teleportation scroll.

That was the effect of Life Drain.

And those eerie red orbs—

Though she didn’t know how they were made—

She knew one thing:

Each of them was forged from life itself.

This was knowledge of black magic—

Something she, as a martial artist, did not understand.

She gently stroked Allen’s head as she sobbed.

Though Luna felt sorrow, she could not truly share that pain.

She carefully lifted Allen and carried her along, heading toward the center of town.

Eugene… was still waiting for them.

What happened next confused Luna even more.

As she moved through the charred streets, clearing remaining corpse guards—

Allen nearly lost her sanity upon seeing a hairpin in one of their hands.

Luna couldn’t understand.

What connection did Allen have with those magic crystals?

She only knew that when she and Eugene had gone out to gather supplies,

Allen had gone off alone for a while…

Allen never explained anything.

To her, Savage was just like Luna—

A familiar stranger who had saved her.

She carried many secrets.

And that… was normal.

There would be time to ask later.

But now—

Allen had fainted.

So there was no way to ask.

Luna’s priority was clear:

Return quickly—

And help Eugene defeat Savage.

Allen lay on her back, soft like a little rabbit.

Her already light body now felt even more fragile.

Afraid of waking her, Luna moved gently, minimizing every motion.

She could clearly smell the faint scent of lavender from Allen—

Soothing… peaceful…

She hoped Allen could have a good dream.

Because just moments ago—

In that mad, broken laughter—

Luna had felt it clearly.

Allen had completely collapsed.

For three years, Allen had lived peacefully in the Demon Castle.

Those were comfortable years—free from hardship or wandering.

Luna had watched her change.

From a suspicious, tense child—

Into one who smiled often.

She had even begun to like the Demon Castle.

Though she still spoke in the name of a hero—

Still defended the Church and humanity—

Her attitude had quietly changed.

In truth, because of the Church’s teachings—

That the Demon King was the embodiment of sin—

Allen had always been wary.

But when she truly lived alongside the Demon King—

She realized something shocking.

The Demon King… was human.

The Demon King couldn’t even cook.

When that symbol of ultimate evil revealed a human side—

She understood.

The Demon King was not pure evil.

She had thoughts, emotions, things she loved, hated, and protected.

Allen realized—

Her previous beliefs were wrong.

In her mind, the Demon King had once been a monster—

Eating human flesh, drinking human blood.

Just like in children’s stories.

She didn’t know when her perspective changed.

Perhaps… from the very first meeting—

When that rapier pierced mithril armor in a single strike—

And her helmet was lifted.

The Demon King…

Was just a title.

She was human.

But by the time Allen understood this—

It was already too late.

She didn’t have long left to live.

In truth, Allen’s attitude was contradictory.

She still clung to being a “hero.”

Even while staying in the Demon Castle, she insisted she remained human—

Remained a hero.

A stubborn denial.

The Church’s influence made it impossible for her to admit

That the Demon King could be good.

At least—

For someone like Lilith,

She was still frightening to Allen.

Who knew when she might play another cruel joke?

Calling her “Master”…

It made her deeply uncomfortable—

Like being enslaved.

And yet—

Allen forgot.

She forgot everything.

Compared to those days—

The outside world was far too cruel.

Without power—

There was no dignity.

From the day she left the Demon Castle—

She realized the truth.

She had never received even a trace of love outside.

In the end, she became nothing more than a tool—

A disposable pawn sent to fight the Demon King.

Even her few friends—

Were torn apart into pieces before her eyes.

That should have broken her.

But she felt nothing.

As if they weren’t human—

Just wooden blocks.

That numbness—

Was forged through years of vengeance.

Even she didn’t understand herself.

Why she would still step forward—

To shield others.

She was a contradiction.

Compared to that cruel world—

The Demon Castle felt like a warm greenhouse.

No schemes.

No hatred.

Even as she claimed to be a hero—

She had begun to hate the world outside.

The moment Lilith sent her away—

She realized how warm that place had been.

Her identity as a “hero”…

Felt like a joke.

Her world lost its color.

And when she was captured by slavers—

Her dignity crushed—

Begging for food—

She understood.

It was over.

That pocket watch—

A bond between her and Lilith—

When it was taken—

Everything disappeared.

She forgot it all.

Luna felt the person on her back trembling—

Crying even in sleep.

In Allen’s left hand—

She tightly clutched two magic crystals like treasures.

Even unconscious—

She was still crying.

Her clenched fist pressed against Luna’s back.

All Luna felt…

Was pain in her heart.

A hero carries responsibility—

But who knows?

A hero…

Is just a child.

A foolish child starved of love.

This world—

Was simply too cruel for her.

Some things…

Can never be forced.

Just hours ago,

This town had been peaceful and joyful.

Everyone celebrating happily.

And because of one person—

It became hell.

A living hell.

There was no place more terrifying than this.

Luna ran swiftly through the streets—

Crossing one after another—

Finally reaching the square.

This sprint—

Took only three minutes.

She crossed three districts—

Moving as if flying—

Arriving at the town’s center.

In the distance—

A charred black figure—like burnt coal—

Was praying over someone lying on the ground.

Two scorched tails rose behind it—

Like black scythes—

Forming the shape of a cross.

And on the ground—

Someone lay in a pool of blood.

In the end…

Was she too late…?