Episode 59. Midterm Evaluation (4)

It’s already been 8 years since my brother died.

But I think about it every day.

I regret it every time.

How much better would it have been if I had died instead of my brother?

If that had happened.

I wouldn’t have to live every day crushed by guilt.

But wishes are just wishes.

All I could do was gnaw on the irreversible days and carve away at my heart.

I had to get stronger.

To a higher place.

To a more distant place.

Until I become the sun shining high in the sky.

Until I can take the place of the name ‘Yuren Helios.’

I couldn’t stop.

I couldn’t back down.

Because this was… the ‘price’ for the sin I committed.

That’s why.

Every day, I swung my sword until blood seeped from my palms.

Every time, I trained until I vomited and collapsed.

No matter how painful, difficult, or agonizing it was.

I didn’t give up.

Perhaps the heavens recognized my efforts.

My swordsmanship improved at a steep rate, changing day by day.

I dreamed of hope with my growing skills.

If I could become ‘Yuren Helios’ instead of ‘Yurina Helios.’

I believed my mother would love me again like she used to.

– Amazing! At just 15 years old, you defeated formidable heroes and took second place in the Imperial Swordsmanship Tournament. Truly, the skills worthy of the successor of the ‘Sun’s Sword’!

The fruits of my labor came after 3 years.

In a swordsmanship tournament where even active heroes participated, I, who hadn’t even entered the Hero School yet, took second place.

With this, my mother will surely acknowledge me.

I returned to the mansion with a spring in my step.

Inside the spacious mansion.

My mother opened her mouth with a cold, icy voice as I entered the room, filled with anticipation.

– You took second place?

– Yes! I lost by a hair’s breadth at the end, but still…

– Are you making a fuss over just second place now?

With eyes filled with disappointment, my mother clicked her tongue.

– Yuren would have won.

My mother stroked my brother’s photo and sighed with a distant voice.

– Sigh. If only that child were still alive…

At the faint murmur, I flinched and shuddered.

Clenching my trembling fist, I bit my lip.

– I’m… sorry.

– No need to apologize. I never had any expectations of you from the start.

– ……

– What can you do, born of the Helios Family but without even the ‘Holy Mark of the Sun God’?

Every word from my mother’s mouth was like a sharp dagger piercing my chest.

– If you’re done talking, get out.

Bang.

The door slammed shut.

I collapsed in front of the firmly closed door and begged for forgiveness with a broken voice.

I’m sorry.

I’ll do better next time.

I’ll work harder, harder, and harder.

I’ll take first place.

I won’t lose to anyone.

So, Mom.

Please… please… me…

“Kyaaaah!”

“Ugh…!”

My mind, lost in thought, was awakened by the horrific voice of the monster.

I looked at the One-Horned Beast, snorting excitedly as it charged towards me, and my eyes sparkled.

‘This is my chance!’

Like drawing a bowstring, I pulled back my sword-wielding arm and concentrated my magic power at the tip of the sword.

A golden light gathered at the tip of the sword.

Sun Sword 6th Form, White Light.

A technique that shoots condensed sword energy far away, it was the highest level and most powerful ‘Form’ of the Sun Sword I could currently use.

Whoooosh!

The golden light gathered at the tip of the sword tore through the air and shot out at a terrifying speed.

Just as the golden light was about to pierce the bell around the One-Horned Beast’s neck.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Dale, who had been chasing the One-Horned Beast, deflected the golden sword energy.

Kaaang!

“Ugh…!”

Dale swallowed a groan and was pushed back.

Perhaps it was because the magic power contained within the golden sword energy was so overwhelming.

It felt like he had been struck by a massive iron block, and the flesh of his palm was torn.

Dale clicked his tongue as he looked down at his palm, dripping with blood.

“Kid, your magic power is ridiculously strong.”

Normally, he would have finely adjusted his magic power to disperse the impact, but he had been in such a rush that he didn’t have the luxury to do so.

“Dale…!”

“I told you. It wouldn’t be easy.”

I roughly wiped the blood from my palm on my pants and pointed my sword.

“Move, Dale.”

“What if I don’t?”

“……”

Yuren glared at me fiercely, his mouth tightly shut.

“…If you don’t, then I have no choice.”

A golden magic storm swirled around Yuren’s body.

Even though we were quite a distance apart, the magic storm was so powerful that it made my skin tingle.

‘Is this even stronger than when we sparred?’

I thought his magic power was already ridiculous back then, but who knew he could draw out even more.

As I let out a hollow laugh, Yuren opened his mouth quietly.

“I won’t care if you get hurt.”

Yuren stepped forward roughly and swung his sword.

Rumble! Crash!!

A deafening roar like thunder.

With each swing of the sword wrapped in golden aura, deep craters formed, and the ground shook as if an earthquake had struck.

Trees dozens of meters tall were uprooted and rolled on the ground, and rocks larger than a person were shattered into gravel.

“Kyaaaah!”

Even the One-Horned Beast, which had been charging at Yuren with fierce snorts, hurriedly distanced itself from the spectacle of destruction, as if a giant from myth was running amok.

Rumble! Crash! Boom!

Who would think that someone was swinging a ‘sword’ when they saw this?

The surrounding land was overturned, and dust rose thickly.

“Ugh!”

I used ‘Wind Step’ to dodge Yuren’s sword strikes and frowned.

‘I knew he had ridiculous magic power from the start.’

But there’s a limit to everything. At this point, it’s almost like he’s causing a natural disaster with his sword.

‘But something…’

I dodged the golden sword energy pouring from all sides and narrowed my eyes.

‘He’s too impatient.’

It’s powerful, but that’s all.

Yuren’s sword was filled with impatience, as if he were being chased by a ghost.

The elegance that once elicited gasps was nowhere to be found, and the finesse that skillfully exploited openings was buried under brute force.

‘In fact, it’s easier to deal with him now.’

I didn’t know what was making Yuren so impatient.

But dealing with Yuren now wasn’t that difficult.

“Haah, haah! Ugh… damn it!”

Perhaps it was annoying to see me dodging his attacks like a fly.

Yuren panted and spat out rough curses.

“How long are you going to keep running away?!”

“Until you come to your senses.”

“…Are you saying I’m not in my right mind?”

“Anyone would think so if they saw you now.”

“That’s…”

Yuren trailed off, as if struck in a sore spot.

“…I have no choice.”

Yuren hung his head and muttered in a small voice.

Right.

There was no way he could keep his sanity.

‘I can’t lose first place.’

He clenched the hilt of his sword tighter and bit his lip.

This was the first time he had felt so anxious during an exam.

Since entering the Hero School as the top student, ‘first place’ had been a given for him.

In the past two years, there had been no candidate who could compete with him for the top spot.

But.

‘If it’s Dale…’

Twice a week.

While learning swordsmanship from Dale, I realized that he wasn’t just skilled in ‘swordsmanship.’

A level of experience that made it hard to believe he was just a candidate.

A boldness as if he had multiple lives.

Quick judgment and execution.

It was a mystery how he had hidden his strength until now, but ‘Dale’ was an existence with an astonishing level of skill.

‘The only thing I have over Dale is my magic power.’

That’s why.

When Dale said he was aiming for ‘first place’ this time, my heart sank.

If this continues, I’ll lose the top spot.

Nervousness turned into anxiety, and anxiety turned into fear.

‘If I lose first place even once…’

A nightmare came to mind.

That day, 8 years ago.

The day the sun named ‘Yuren Helios’ fell.

– If only… if only you weren’t here! If only youuuuuu!!!

A scream that felt like it would tear apart.

The sound of a flowerpot breaking.

My mother’s hands choking my neck.

The pain of not being able to breathe.

The bloodshot eyes, eyes, eyes staring down at me.

“…No.”

Yuren cried out as if screaming.

“I… I can’t lose!”

Not a single defeat is allowed.

Not a single mistake is forgiven.

That’s what it means to be the sun shining high in the sky, ‘Yuren Helios.’

Boooooom!

The surrounding land shook from the swirling magic storm.

The only thing I have over Dale is my magic power.

‘Then.’

I have no choice but to overwhelm him with sheer magic power.

“Haaaaah!”

With a fierce shout, I swung my sword.

Sun Sword 6th Form Variant, White Light – Wave.

The golden sword energy condensed at the tip of the sword became a massive wave and swept across the land.

“…Yuren.”

Dale, who had been watching Yuren with deep eyes, frowned as if in thought as he looked at the terrifying golden wave approaching.

“Sigh.”

A soft sigh escaped Dale’s lips as he continued to ponder.

Dale stepped forward to avoid the approaching golden wave.

The place he moved to was right behind the One-Horned Beast.

Just like him, the One-Horned Beast tried to move to avoid the golden wave, but Dale cut off its legs and used the beast as a shield to block the golden sword energy.

“Kyaaaah!”

The One-Horned Beast let out a pitiful scream as its entire body was torn apart by the golden sword energy’s wave.

And.

Crack!

The bell around the One-Horned Beast’s neck shattered.

-Ding!

[Candidate ‘Yuren Helios’ has successfully achieved the bonus objective.]

[Candidates who successfully achieve the bonus objective will take first place in the midterm evaluation regardless of their score.]

“Ah.”

Yuren’s eyes widened as he saw the message appear on the Hero Watch.

“…Thank goodness.”

Perhaps it was because he had used too much magic power, or maybe because the tension had finally been released.

Yuren collapsed on the spot.

“Mom… I… did it…”

Yuren, lying on the ground, struggled to speak before his eyes slowly closed.

“……”

Dale slowly approached the unconscious Yuren.

After lifting Yuren and laying him on a nearby rock, Dale clicked his tongue.

“…Yuren.”

I thought I knew Yuren better than anyone.

He was a precious comrade and an irreplaceable friend.

That’s why.

I thought Yuren would be fine.

I expected him to laugh it off even if he lost the top spot.

I believed it would be a good stimulus and help him grow.

“I knew nothing.”

I judged on my own.

I decided on my own.

I acted like I knew everything, even though I knew nothing.

“…You weren’t shining on your own. You were struggling to shine.”

As if having a terrible nightmare.

I let out a deep sigh as I looked down at my friend, muttering in a faint, almost breaking voice, ‘I can’t lose.’