1.
Balkin Gardner.
Currently leading the vanguard of the勇者party, he is the finest shield knight of the Western Continent.
Could it be because the Hero Asha Mirabel, who deserves the most accolades, was so cold and distant?
-It’s the勇者party!!
-Oh, the Guardian is coming!!
-Lord Balkin is here!!
-What are you doing!! Go get something!!
People always preferred Balkin, who was ever cheerful and kind, over the aloof Asha.
The adult with a shield,
The gentle guardian,
An unyielding smile.
Just the epithets before Balkin’s name make it clear how good of a person he is.
But, precisely because of that…
“Say that again.”
“I apologize, Prince Balkin. Even with ten mouths, there’s nothing I can say.”
“Then stop making excuses and say it… Say it again.”
“…Yes, I’ll report again.”
But he cherished his family even more deeply than the strangers who respected him.
“Eight days ago, a mysterious group called the Black Wolf attacked this place. And… Lady Hestia was murdered.”
“Ah…!!!”
“Mi, Master!!”
Balkin faced the sorrow, for the first time in his life, a grief too immense for him to handle.
.
.
.
As time passed into the next night,
Balkin, who had spent the day shedding tears, murmured while polishing his brown shield.
“Hestia, I guess I can never be as clever as you.”
…Swoosh.
Along with the elegant crest on the shield, long-forgotten memories began to stir.
A knight must wield a sword, they said, and so I wildly swung my sword like a naked hermit.
Which is why I secretly attempted a duel with a high-level demon, and as a result:
-My Lord!! What are you doing here!!
-No matter what, I have to get in!!
-Ah… I was wrong.
I was destined to die that day at the hands of the high-level demon.
But then, you quietly decoded the barrier and entered.
Without the power of the house,
Without mana or aura,
Without any equipment whatsoever.
-Brother!!
-Hestia?! How did you…!! No, why did you come in!!
You, who were delicate yet brilliant in contrast to me,
-It’s dangerous!!
-…Huh?
Crrrrkk!
-He, Hestia!!!
-It’s undone!! Save my Lord first!!
-No!! Save Hestia first, I said!!
You jumped in to save me, wearing only a pure white nightgown.
-There’s no way you can walk anymore. The only hope is that you haven’t yet awakened the power of the house… But because of the magical influence, it’s now impossible.
You were incapacitated for life by the high-level demon’s special magic.
That’s how you lost your dream.
The dream of becoming a hero, which you only whispered to me,
The dream to stand by my side someday,
The dream of waiting with a sound body for the day when the awakening might come.
“…Because of me, you lost everything.”
Still, you smiled at me.
-Brother… look…
-…Huh?
-Haven’t I told you many times? A shield suits you much better than a sword.
A smile as clear as the purest sky.
How long did I hesitate, lacking the courage to apologize after committing a fault so grave?
However, Hestia would always console me when I visited.
-It was an impossible dream for me anyway. So please don’t feel sorry.
Even more than that,
-And if you feel that guilty, you can fulfill my dream instead.
-Me?
-Yes. Become a hero in my place and help those who are suffering.
You charted the path forward for me.
-Uphold the misguided code of chivalry, and listen to the stories of even those called villains. Become a kind… protector.
And so, I took up the shield.
-Everyone behind me!!
-Lord Balkin!!
To protect the righteous from all kinds of villains, just as you wished.
And,
-Calling yourself a hero and dedicating yourself only to the royal family. Just kill us.
-Let’s at least talk a bit.
-…What? You’re not going to kill us?
-As you see, I have no weapons.
To listen to the stories of those villains, as you wanted.
-Turns out, the thieves’ children were on the verge of starvation.
-What did you do?
-What could I do! Their crime is still a crime, but I gave them a legal reprieve!
-…Considering the circumstances, Brother. You did well. Right now, Brother, you are the hero I imagined. You are my ideal hero.
-Eh, uh, thank you…
And that’s how I became your hero.
-…I’ll properly apologize when our journey ends.
-Huh?
-Uh, y-yeah? No, never mind!
Even though I couldn’t properly apologize to you, Hestia, you still managed to make the hero who was the smartest one yours.
-Remember, Brother. If you have the time, listen to the stories of the villains too.
-Yep, I will.
-It’s a must! Definitely!
Because my hero is you, Hestia, always.
Because I, who am merely strong in body, must follow the words of you, the smartest.
…However,
…However, Hestia, my dear sister.
“This time, I cannot follow your words.”
Clack.
The fists that had only protected people until now now brimmed with the power to destroy.
“Until now, following your words, I learned that some villains are like virtuous people and some virtuous people are like villains. But…”
…Some villains,
“Are pure evil to the core and must be killed.”
And to this fool of a brother, those so-called <Black Wolf> seemed…
“No different really.”
Whoosh!
The moment the muttering ended, a fist full of destructive aura fell onto the mythic artifact, the <Shield of Gaia>.
Immediately following,
KWAHAHAHANG!!!!
A tremendous roar that shook the entire mansion.
Amid falling debris and rising dust, Balkin’s deep brown eyes, resembling Hestia’s, darkly gleamed.
Similarly bright, the split shield now resembled two sharp pieces.
“So I must break our promise for a moment. Until I rip apart the members of the Black Wolf and all villains related to your death.”
Damaging the mansion,
Breaking the mythic shield,
And ultimately, breaking even Hestia’s promise, but it was inevitable.
To this fool, there is no longer,
“…Hestia.”
The brilliant you.
Crack. KWAH.
As Balkin held sharp shield fragments resembling buckles in each hand, shedding tears of blood, sounds of commotion came from the broken window.
“H, Black Wolf!! It’s the Black Wolf!!”
“The Black Wolf has attacked the mansion!! There are four confirmed enemies!! Three with appearances similar to those from the <Central Plaza Incident> and one Black Wolf themselves, making a total of four!!”
“Warriors of Gardner!! Cut off their heads as a tribute to our Lady!!”
The Black Wolf. That foul name reached Balkin’s ears.
KWAT.
KWAHAHANG!!
In the spot where Balkin was sitting, there was nothing left behind.
2.
The Gardner Viscount’s residence.
Due to the nature of the area where warriors often visit, it had more dormitory-style rooms than other nobles’ estates, making it significantly larger.
The main house in the center, with quarters for the warriors on the left and the servants on the right.
The walls are low for the warriors’ convenience, and there are plenty of training fields and physical fitness facilities instead of water fountains and gardens.
Because of this, people who’ve seen the Gardner Viscount’s mansion often say:
“A thief who breaks into the Gardner Viscount’s mansion should be pitied, shouldn’t they?”
The numerous eyes of the warriors watching, and the moment they’re spotted, the soldiers and mercenaries who act as guards, ensuring no sane person would dare to trespass.
Nevertheless, right here and now.
Above the bright blue roof higher than the 5th floor of the main house of the Gardner Viscount’s mansion,
“Where’s Ruby and Dalan?”
“Securing the escape routes.”
“According to plan.”
There are four crazy people.
The leader of these crazies, Nahan, looked down at the gathering warriors and ordered.
“The White Sword Demon scout the Heavenly Protection Barrier.”
“Understood, Captain.”
“Persona and Tal follow my movements.”
“Understood, Captain.”
“Understood, Captain!”
A faint black aura,
Frightening black eyes,
A deep voice.
Because the <Black Wolf> stage 2 and <Black Curtain> were already activated through acting, fear was evident in the warriors’ eyes looking up from below.
Nahan analyzed the warriors’ gazes from afar.
The fear from before is visible, but they don’t look like they’re going to retreat.
“…”
If I increase the output of <Black Curtain> any further, it will cause significant fatigue since
“Mana and aura might not be consumed, but it uses life force as collateral.”
Well, there’s no such thing as free lunch, is there?
“…”
Nahan smirked slightly, turned their head, and both Luna and Hanlyang smiled.
“Still, Captain! I might get a little tired without lifting my restrictions, but it looks like for Captain, these grunts are just laughable!”
“Of course… Captain.”
Not at all funny.
When Hanlyang and Luna, who were overly excited, were glared at, Nahan recalled the plan once again.
“Once we wait here, when Asha and Gardner arrive, I’ll lift Hanlyang and Luna’s limitations.”
While observing the battle and waiting, after the bad ending – <6. The Hero's Return> is over, I’ll take out Hestia from the pocket dimension and use her as a hostage.
“Afterward, we’ll abandon Lac Tea and escape.”
We’ll escape through Ruby, and Lac Tea through Dalan, and that’s it.
Blocking the bad ending while following the original flow, this is a truly genius method.
“…Hey, Nahan. Are you good at studying?”
“I’ve never paid attention, Big Brother.”
“Hmm? …This guy, his brain works strangely well during fights.”
Am I just standing here watching the battle?
While setting various poses and looking down at the knights below with such doubts.
Guuuum…!!
Suddenly, the mansion shook.
“Sh, man.”
Nahan barely kept their balance and avoided falling, but since Luna and Hanlyang weren’t even wobbling,
“Too boring, I fell asleep.”
While they were about to say a ridiculous excuse like that, a voice unfamiliar to them came from behind.
“Relying on a lucky escape once, yet you dare to utter arrogant words.”
Escape?
…What?
When they turned their body following the voice, they saw two sharply torn pieces of shield in their eyes.
Had it not been for the tremor causing them to stagger, the shield fragments would have pierced through their brain.
“…Of course, Captain. I wouldn’t have been able to dodge it.”
“This is true… Captain. I couldn’t have followed it with my eyes.”
Me too.
While Luna and Hanlyang were in admiration, the man growled and warned them.
“I’ll tear you apart to honor Hes.”
“I didn’t kill her.”
“…? Don’t interrupt me. I’ll tear all of you apart to honor Hes-tia’s spirit.”
“Hestia is alive.”
Really.
