“…Ugh.”
I opened my eyes involuntarily to the warm sunlight.
What is this? I was surely unconscious because of the explosion earlier…
My head throbbed as fragmented memories floated up.
But why does the back of my head feel so soft?
“Are you awake?”
“…Huh?”
When I opened my eyes, what I saw was an academy uniform partially covering my view…
And beyond that, Estroja’s face.
It felt like a typical ‘lap pillow’.
Is this a dream, perhaps?
“Es…troja?”
“Please, if you’re awake, get up.”
“Uh….”
“Hurry up!”
Startled, Sion sat up.
Something soft brushed against his hair in the process, but… he decided to ignore it.
But where is this place?
“Sion, you really made it back alive!”
“Patrick…?”
“Ha ha ha! I thought my heart was going to drop!”
“Geivolg is here too.”
As he lifted his upper body, Patrick and Geivolg welcomed him.
Boryan, who was visible after them, looked the same.
But her complexion seemed a bit off.
Was her eyes slightly red just a feeling?
“Sion, what the heck happened? Did you take care of that strange skeleton you mentioned? Why did the dungeon explode…? Are you… alright?”
“…Ask me one thing at a time. I’ll explain slowly.”
“Uh, okay.”
Sion began to recount what had happened inside the dungeon.
Right after exiting onto the stairs, he started fighting again.
Summoning the Death Knight and somehow managing to defeat the talking skeleton, he made it to the top floor.
And then… the documents he saw on that top floor, and the mysterious voice that flowed from the core of the dungeon.
“…And then, the dungeon’s core exploded.”
“A voice came out of the core of the dungeon? And it exploded… I’ve never heard of that before.”
“The magic of the core itself was unusual. It felt artificial, like it was made by someone.”
“…I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Boryan stroked her chin with a serious expression.
According to her, she was an experienced player who had tackled several dungeons before.
They hoped Boryan might know something, but it seemed that she was encountering a first-time experience too.
“Now isn’t the time to dawdle; we should return to the Adventurer Guild! It’s a rule to report to the higher-ups when unusual occurrences happen!”
Snap!
Geivolg raised his index finger and spoke.
His principle-driven words were correct.
In a situation where the dungeon’s core and clear anomalous phenomena were observed.
It was best to return to the Adventurer Guild and report the details.
“But when did you summon the Death Knight? It’s a B-rank monster, right? And why isn’t it here?”
“Well, it just happened that… it protected me from the explosion and got unsummoned afterward.”
The Death Knight had enveloped Sion with its whole body just before the explosion.
Due to the hastily made shield shattering, the Death Knight had no choice but to take the blast directly.
It was summoned back due to insufficient health.
‘If it weren’t for the Death Knight… I probably wouldn’t be in this good condition.’
Sion looked down at his palm.
The slight trembling he felt when he made a fist.
Had the Death Knight not shielded him, he would have been hit by the backlash after the shield broke.
If he summoned it again later, he would have to express his gratitude then.
“Wait a minute, Sion. I have a question.”
“Uh…?”
At that moment, Estroja approached Sion.
“Can I see the Recall Scroll you showed me when you were messing up in the dungeon… can I see it again?”
“…….”
Sion froze.
The Recall Scroll he had shown them in the dungeon.
It was, in fact, not a Recall Scroll.
“Please show it to me quickly.”
“…Alright.”
Under Estroja’s desperate gaze, Sion eventually searched his inner pocket.
What came out was a rolled-up piece of parchment.
Naturally, its color was a faded yellow.
Estroja looked at Sion with an expression of disbelief.
“This isn’t a scroll, is it…?”
“Right, it’s the map Boryan was looking at.”
“Why… why did you lie like that?”
Sion scratched his cheek and averted his gaze.
“That’s….”
“It’s only natural that if we’re here, we should fight while protecting us.”
Patrick interrupted Sion’s words with a playful tone.
But his face was more crumpled than anyone else’s.
“…Having us around will only be a hindrance to you, right? Estroja knows that, too.”
“…….”
“I know too. That’s why… I fled saying I was just lucky to survive.”
He bent over.
Patrick bowed to Sion at a 90-degree angle.
“I’m sorry. I left you behind. With trashy thoughts… I…”
“No, there’s no need for that.… It’s just that it’s easier for me to fight alone, as you said.”
Sion didn’t send them away with the noble thought of sacrificing himself for his friends.
‘It’s just that… it’s so much less to worry about when fighting alone.’
Sion wasn’t skilled in fighting while protecting others yet.
What if the skeleton that charged at Sion had gone after Estroja or Boryan instead?
Just imagining it sent chills down his spine.
“I’m sorry for lying.”
“Why are you apologizing, Sion? It was me who… just held your ankle.”
“Estroja. It seems like you should stop with the self-blame at this point.”
Geivolg interjected between Sion and Estroja.
“…I’m sorry.”
She bowed her head, holding back tears.
“Come on, let’s go. If we’re delayed any longer, the sun will set!”
Geivolg took the lead, and the others followed him slowly.
Estroja’s shoulders drooped with no sign of lifting.
‘…It’s understandable that she’s shocked.’
Even if she said she had a fear of the undead.
She hadn’t been able to help at all in the group project.
She herself knew that the best.
‘It’s better to leave her be.’
If Sion offered her comfort here.
It would only result in a bigger scratch on her pride.
For now, let her be alone.
At that moment, Boryan whispered beside her.
“Sion.”
“…Huh?”
“I’m going to get stronger.”
With a determined fist, Boryan showed her will.
Her eyes seemed to be blazing with fire.
“I realized during this experience. I’m still lacking. Compared to you, I’m just insignificant.”
“There’s no need to think that much….”
“So I’m going to get stronger. So I can stand beside you, Sion… no, so I can protect you from the front! So please!”
Thunk.
Boryan playfully punched Sion’s chest.
Even after hitting, Boryan seemed surprised and pulled back her fist.
Embarrassed, her voice turned a little quiet.
“…So, it’s okay to expect it. I’m going to get really strong…”
“Yeah, I’ll look forward to it.”
“…Ugh.”
Sion smiled at Boryan.
Boryan turned her head abruptly, making a noise in response.
Sion found her adorable.
‘I hope Estroja will get back on her feet just like Boryan.’
Boryan was a strong girl.
She had the strength to get back up just as many times as she fell.
But what about Estroja?
‘How many hopes of others are piled on those shoulders?’
The expectations placed on her shoulders weigh her down.
Because of that, she couldn’t afford to fall.
She couldn’t bear the disappointment of her family when she fell, nor the gaze of the employed.
‘…I hope she gets through this well.’
Step by step.
There was nothing Sion could do.
He could only wish for her to get through this.
In the quiet atmosphere, unlike when they came.
Sion and his party could return to the Adventurer Guild just like that.
*
On the third floor of the Adventurer Guild.
A space inaccessible to regular adventurers.
The Guild Master’s office.
There, Sion and the Guild Master were seated.
“…Such an event occurred.”
“Hmmm, I see.”
The Guild Master stroked his beard that descended to his chest.
He was an old man with a head full of white hair, but his muscles were incomparable.
His muscles bulged like a bodybuilder, making the term ‘old man’ not fit him at all.
His name was Chojin Raikan.
He was the Guild Master of the Academy branch of the Adventurer Guild.
“Can you show me the documents you saw in the dungeon?”
“…Most of them were incinerated due to the explosion, but I have a little left. I carried it with me.”
“Oh? Let me see.”
Sion pulled out the half-burned documents he had in his possession.
A pile of documents that the Death Knight handed to Sion.
Though he had hidden them in his pocket before the explosion, he couldn’t avoid all the effects.
The Guild Master casually rifled through the papers, but suddenly his movement jolted to a stop.
“…What is this?”
His wrinkled finger pointed to a certain symbol.
A strange circular structure with a star inside an outer circle, and another star inside the inner circle.
His brow furrowed.
“Do you know what this symbol is?”
“…No, this is the first time I’ve seen it.”
“Well, for someone of your age, it’s not surprising. This is… the emblem of the Demon King’s army.”
“The Demon King’s army?”
“Yes, it’s a symbol used during the Human-Demon War. However, it is now used with a different meaning.”
Raikan continued his explanation.
Apostolos.
It means ‘apostle’ in the religious sense and is said to be a clandestine group dedicated to the resurrection of the Demon King.
It was the first time Sion had heard of this in his life, leaving him speechless.
“So… it’s a group aiming for the resurrection of the Demon King?”
“Precisely. It’s a group mostly composed of demons. They’re fools who believe wholeheartedly in the prophecy of the Demon King.”
“…As for the prophecy of the Demon King, is it the one about his resurrection in 100 years?”
“Exactly. You know that much.”
The Guild Master added to his explanation.
The history of the war between humans and demons… the Human-Demon War ended 120 years ago with the death of the Demon King.
However, just before dying, the Demon King prophesied that he would return in 100 years.
Now, twenty years past the point when the Demon King was supposed to be resurrected, there has yet to be news of his return.
“When the Demon King returns, the hero will also appear again.”
“Is that how it works?”
“Yes. That is one of the main doctrines of the Bonestia Church.”
“…This is all quite difficult to understand.”
“Just remember this.”
The Demon King and the hero. It was a traditional story, but it made Sion’s head spin.
What kind of religion is the Bonestia Church?
Just as Sion’s head was spinning.
The Guild Master held up three fingers.
“First, those who belong to the Apostolos are all madmen. They’ll do anything for the sake of the Demon King’s resurrection, so it’s best not to get involved with them.”
“…….”
“Second, the prophecy of the Demon King should have come true twenty years ago. But it didn’t happen. So they are merely throwing a tantrum. And third.”
He smiled kindly and patted Sion’s head.
“Even if the Demon King were to resurrect, a hero from the Bonestia Church would defeat him. So you, as an academy student, have no need to worry.”
“…I understand.”
“Good to hear that you catch on quickly. I appreciate your report today. You’re free to go.”
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
Sion respectfully bowed to the Guild Master and then left his office.
The office was left deserted.
“…Apostolos, huh.”
The Guild Master muttered as he gently stroked the ominous symbol with his hand.
Recently, these guys had begun to act more fervently.
If they were to move so directly like this…
‘Is the resurrection of the Demon King truly near?’
He stroked his beard again, feeling a sense of foreboding.
Perhaps in a few years… no, maybe in a few months.
He contemplated as he thought that the worst war in history, the Human-Demon War, might ignite once more.
