<h4>Chapter 288: Confronting the Hero (Yuusha) (1/3)</h4>


    After defeating the human in front of me, I heaved a sigh of relief. While the cheers of the goblins resounded from behind, I let go of my great sword. To be honest, I didn’t think he’d be able to push me this far. The difference in our abilities should have been clear.


    Yet he still managed to persist for so long. I can’t despise him. Our rtionship goes back long enough for him to be called an arch-enemy, but he’s not the kind of enemy I can despise. He’s an enemy that ought to be respected and properly buried.


    I turned to the silent enemy forces and red at them.


    Gund Rifenin was their trump card, but now, they’ve lost even him. I thought they would cause amotion, but apparently, I was wrong. They’re so emotionless they look like they’re wearing a mask.


    It’s strange.


    To be more precise, it’s ominous. But while I was puzzled by that strange feeling, I didn’t think it mattered, so I looked around me. Now that I’ve defeated a warrior from the enemy camp that’s said to be a match of a thousand warriors, victory shouldn’t be long.


    A chance to attack…


    But then, I saw that thing.


    “…What…?”


    A shock grave enough to still my breath assaulted me.


    It was enough to even make me forget that I was in a battlefield. That face──


    A memory shed through me.


    A memory that should have already been forgotten; no, why did I even forget it in the first ce? I swore never to forget that memory, and yet…


    In an empty white room sat an old man cross-legged.


    『Oh, so you came?』


    “Why? I should be… In a shrine.”


    A pair of eyes looked down at me, as though they were appraising me, as though they wished to ascertain my capabilities, that pair of inorganic eyes that exuded no warmth looked down at me. Without even standing up, he beckoned me before him; his wrinkled face and fingers came to view.


    『You died. Well, it’s a normal thing.』


    A terrifying smile that may or may not be a smile surfaced on the old man’s lips, a smile just like that of a ravenous beast eyeing its prey, though perhaps with a bit more grace.


    『But you’re in luck. Don’t you want to live again?』


    The old man’s voice was incredibly hard on the ears, as though he didn’t even consider he might be refused. He spread out his arms, and arrogantly dered that, and yet, was I supposed to believe in him?


    『I’ll give you what you want?』


    “What I want?”


    I recall it, that horrifying voice, and the anger I felt. There was no way he could grant my wish.


    Because what I wanted, the person I wanted to save, was already dead.


    『So──』


    “Burn you!”


    The old man had approached me before I knew it, but I shook his hand away.


    It’s not funny.


    The person I loved was dead. She won’te back again!


    『──There is nothing impossible for a god.』


    A god?


    This wilted man was a god?


    『That’s right, I am a god. The god of humans. Ativ, the Ancestral God that rules over the prosperity of humans.』


    Hah, which god is that supposed to be? Never heard of him!


    『Whether you believe or not is up to you. But you have gone too far toe back.』


    Can’t go back? I’m dead?


    『That’s right, you’re dead. But I can give you an opportunity. A chance to get back the person you love.』


    To say that I didn’t even hesitate for a moment would be a lie.


    That was how much I loved her.


    But, but… She’s already dead, and…


    『Now, offer to this god—』


    In that moment of hesitation, the old man reached out his arm and pierced my chest.


    “A-GAH!?”


    Eyes glistening with desire. Lips raised up. Yes, this old man isn’t a god… He’s──


    『—Yourself.』


    I red at that hideous smile, swearing that I would never forget it.


    『…No, it’s not yours anymore.』


    With my fingers unable to move, my consciousness grew distant.


    『Oh… Your soul would just get in the way, so I’ll give that to you.』


    Those words, that voice, how could I forget them.


    That was the voice of the god that brought me to this world.


    That was the voice of the enemy I hated the most, the enemy I swore vengeance upon.


    “Ah… Ah, ahh…. AHHHhhHHH!!”


    I found you. I found you!


    Before I knew it, I had already kicked myself off the ground, scattering away all the emotionless soldiers that blocked the way and drawing my great sword from my waist to brush them aside.


    “My Life Is Like a Cloud of Dust(el)!”


    I don’t give a damn if I get hit.


    With the air, I broke through the wall of humans, and appeared before that thing, then with my great sword raised up, I swung it straight down at him.


    “Hmm?”


    But the man before me easily received that. That was a blow I’d put all my strength into, and yet he received it so easily. With a long sword, just like that. But I don’t care. I don’t care one bit at all.


    This guy, this little──


    “DieeEEEeEEEEE!”


    With all my strength, I attacked him again and again.


    But he stopped them all as though my attacks were nothing more than the gentle breeze of the air.


    “GURUURUUuuUOOAAAAAA!!”


    Wrath dyed my eyes red, ck mes burst out from my de, and with Third Impact (The Third Chant), I wrung out even more ether, and once again, I swung down with my great sword, gritting down on my mrs with enough strength to crush them. Even if my throat were to go hoarse, even if my arms were to be whittled away, I won’tin.


    As long as my sword can reach him, no price is too great──。


    “Just who in the hell are you!?”


    “Hmm? I’m the hero (yuusha), and you must be the demon king.”


    He’s the hero? The hero?


    “Don’t make meugh! That’s my body(????)!!”


    “Kuhhahaha! You say some strange things. My body, the body of a hero, is yours?”


    The hero’s lips twisted.


    Until now, the hero’s expression had been mute, but suddenly, it was filled with color, making him look just like that old man, ugly eyes glistening with desire. The way his lips lifted up was just like that lowly human too.


    “Don’t tell me… Fu fu fu… Are you that man from back then?”


    I smashed my sword into him again for a reply.


    “Ku ku ku… Aha, ahahahahahaha!! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!”


    The manughed so hard his stomach twisted. With dted pupils and lips lifted, he looked just like a mad man.


    No, he’s that wilted old man that named himself Ativ!!


    “What’s so funny!!”


    “You’re asking me what? How could I notugh? I don’t know if the soul I abandoned then created a body for itself or it took over an empty shell, but either way, what a disaster! You actually turned into a goblin! Ugly, lowly, the worst creature that could possibly exist! A goblin! How could I notugh? Hey, were you nning to make meugh to the death?”


    “Enough! Do not talk with my face, do not talk with my voice— Shut up!!”


    I swung my great sword with all of my strength and attacked him twice, but the hero blocked it easily again.


    “What’s more, you even prepared such a wonderful stage to make me look good. You’re the best! The best clown ever! Ahahahahahaha!!!”