Episode 84. The Moon Swallowed by the Sun (6)

“Wait, hold on!”

Rozanna urgently blocked my path.

She glared at me with a mix of panic and anger in her eyes and spoke.

“You… what are you, really?”

“I already introduced myself yesterday, didn’t I? Has your memory gone bad with age, lady?”

“You…!”

Rozanna’s expression twisted fiercely.

“How did you break through the Sun Gate?”

“How did I break through? You were listening, weren’t you?”

I smirked as I looked at her Hero Watch, which was powered on.

“I just smashed my way through.”

There was no time for cunning schemes or elaborate plans.

The moment I found out that Yuren… no, Yurina’s Holy Mark had been forcibly changed by someone, I rushed to the Helios Family and smashed the front gate without a second thought.

‘It would be a lie to say I didn’t have any concerns.’

If there was one thing holding me back, it was the ‘change in the future.’

‘In my past life, the Yurina I knew had the Holy Mark of the Sun God.’

But if I interfere here and prevent her Holy Mark from changing, she will live with the Holy Mark of the Moon God instead of the Sun God.

If that happens.

‘She might not reach the same level as Yurina did before.’

Of course, the Holy Mark doesn’t directly affect one’s level.

Just as I, who possess the Holy Mark of the Forest God, briefly reached the ‘peak’ of the Sun Sword, even if she has the Holy Mark of the Moon God, it doesn’t mean she can’t reach the same level as before.

‘But no one can predict how the future will change.’

If I stay still, Yurina can become humanity’s strongest swordsman.

What I’m about to do might be like tearing up a winning lottery ticket with my own hands.

Ignoring that hesitation, the moment I entered the basement.

I realized.

“Da… Dale?”

Such worries were utterly useless.

“H-how…?”

A trembling voice.

Her quickened breath and shaking eyes turned towards me.

Like a lost child finding their parents, her eyes were filled with undeniable joy.

“……”

I learned a lot from Yuren.

How to wield a sword, how to lead a party, how to face fear with courage.

That’s why.

I was mistaken.

Thinking that Yuren was always like that.

Never feeling fear, never considering difficulties.

Like the radiant sun high in the sky.

A person who shone brightly from the moment they were born.

I thought selfishly.

Without considering what kind of life Yurina, swallowed by the sun that is Yuren, had lived, or what kind of life she had wished for.

“You’ve endured well until now.”

The words she must have longed to hear.

A wish that had never been fulfilled.

“It’s okay if you don’t shine anymore.”

What does it matter if the future changes?

What does it matter if she doesn’t become humanity’s strongest swordsman?

Yurina has received too much until now.

She has only received.

If she can’t become the sun, I will become the sun.

If she can’t become humanity’s strongest swordsman, I will become humanity’s strongest swordsman.

If the burden she must bear is too heavy, I will share it.

The day I returned through time.

Didn’t I decide to live like that?

“Ah…”

Yurina’s eyes widened.

Tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped from her chin.

“Ah, uh.”

As if pouring out the emotions she had held back, Yurina sobbed, wrapping her arms around herself.

As I was about to approach her.

“You Republic mongrel, how dare you…!”

Rozanna’s face twisted fiercely.

She drew a sword from a corner of the basement.

Golden magic power wrapped around her body and fiercely surged through the basement.

“Who do you think you are to spout such nonsense?!”

Rozanna, gripping her sword, stomped the ground violently.

Approaching at a terrifying speed, not befitting her dress attire.

Sun Sword 6th Form, White Light (白光)-Extreme (極).

Rozanna’s ultimate technique, the skill that earned her the nickname ‘Flash’ during her active hero days.

A technique that condenses the light of White Light into a single point and shoots it like a drill, requiring extremely precise magic control.

“Hah!”

A golden flash shot out.

I smirked as I watched the golden flash approaching at a terrifying speed.

Right.

Certainly, ‘White Light-Extreme’ is a high-level technique that requires precise magic control.

‘But when it comes to precise magic control, even Yuren in my past life couldn’t match me, lady.’

I swung my sword towards the approaching flash.

Sun Sword 6th Form, White Light (白光)-Extreme (極).

The technique she had spent her life honing and perfecting unfolded through my sword.

There are two differences: one is that the aura shot from my sword is a dull gray instead of a brilliant gold.

And the other is.

Kaaang!

The ‘White Light-Extreme’ I unleashed had a far higher level of completion than hers.

“Kyaak!”

Clang!

With a piercing scream, the sword in Rozanna’s hand shattered into pieces.

Rozanna, holding only the hilt, opened her mouth in shock.

“H-how…?”

It wasn’t because I used the ‘Sun Sword.’

My current Sun Sword is so different from the Helios Family’s that it’s practically a different swordsmanship, even if it shares the same name.

The reason she was so shocked was that the ultimate technique she had spent her life perfecting was effortlessly blocked.

And by an attack in her most confident area, ‘concentrating magic into a single point.’

“Y-you… what kind of trick did you use?!”

How would it feel to have your lifelong ultimate technique shattered by a mere candidate without even a formal hero license?

Unable to accept the reality before her, Rozanna threw the hilt and charged at me.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue as I looked at Rozanna.

“You’re really pathetic, lady.”

Grabbing her by the collar, I lifted her with all my strength.

Berald Martial Arts.

Sky Flip.

Kuuung!

Rozanna’s body flipped in the air and crashed onto the floor on her back.

“Keuh!”

Rozanna, spitting out saliva, passed out with her eyes rolled back.

Leaving the unconscious Rozanna behind, I turned towards the operating table.

“Sigh. This is really… the situation has gotten complicated.”

Beside the operating table, a young man with white hair and golden monocle glasses sighed and shook his head.

‘Is that the guy who changed Yurina’s Holy Mark in my past life?’

Recalling my past life memories, it was a ‘new’ face.

‘Well, I’ll figure out who he is after beating him up.’

Before freeing Yurina, I turned towards the main culprit of this incident.

“Well, there’s no choice. I’ll have to change the plan a bit.”

Snap.

As the white-haired young man flicked his fingers, the magic circle patterns engraved throughout the basement began to crawl across the floor, converging in one spot.

Grrrrr!

As the magic circles converged, a terrifying wave of magic power swept through the surroundings.

“Kuh…!”

As I frowned at the surging magic wave.

Zzzzt!

The air split, and a black crack appeared.

“Ah, uh. Ah.”

From the crack in the air, a grotesque figure clad in black armor walked out.

No, should I even call it a ‘figure’?

The flesh visible through the armor was rotting, and the eerie blue light shining through the helmet was far from human.

“That’s…”

It didn’t look like it.

‘But it’s human.’

A hero who awakened a Holy Mark with the blessing of a god.

Only after seeing the black-armored figure did I realize the identity of the white-haired young man.

‘A Mine who corrupts heroes and uses them as puppets.’

The Archbishop of Corruption, Mephisto.

A Mine who suddenly disappeared without a trace during the war with the Six Archbishops as the seal of the Devil God weakened.

‘I’ve only heard of him, but this is the first time I’ve seen him.’

There was little known about Mephisto other than that he corrupts heroes and uses them as puppets, so I didn’t recognize him immediately.

“Well then, let’s meet again next time.”

With those words, Mephisto threw himself into the black crack without a moment’s delay.

“…Damn it.”

Having missed Mephisto right before my eyes, I clicked my tongue and gripped my sword.

I wanted to follow Mephisto into that black crack, but I couldn’t leave Yurina here.

I pointed my sword at the black-armored figure.

“Ah, uh, aaaaah!!”

The black-armored figure let out a grotesque roar and swung its greatsword.

Kakang!

Blocking the greatsword, a dizzying recoil traveled up my arm.

‘Strong.’

In terms of pure strength, it was on par with Professor Lucas.

‘To think he turned such a hero into a puppet.’

I frowned and thrust my fist towards the black-armored figure.

Berald Martial Arts.

Mountain Crusher.

Kwaaaang!

“Uoooh!”

With a rough explosion, the black-armored figure was flung back and crashed into the wall.

“Ah, uh.”

Despite the impact being strong enough to collapse part of the wall, the black-armored figure staggered to its feet as if feeling no pain.

“Tsk.”

Thinking this battle wouldn’t be easy, I was about to use ‘Ignition’ when.

“Dale.”

Yurina, bound by the magic circle, approached me.

“I’ll fight.”

“…Yurina?”

Yurina, who came closer, held my hand with a relieved expression.

“Thank you, Dale.”

Pulling my hand to her chest.

“For being my friend.”

“For praising me for doing well.”

“For coming all the way here to save me.”

“For telling me… it’s okay if I don’t shine anymore.”

Her gaze, fixed on me, no longer held any fear.

“That talk can wait…”

Yurina pulled my arm and rested her head on my chest.

Her shimmering silver hair.

A soft touch and a fragrant scent tickled my nose.

“Now, you are my sun.”

She smiled brightly as she said that.

“Can I borrow your sword for a moment?”

Yurina took my sword and walked towards the black-armored figure.