Gentle sunlight licked across the plain of Sarnio. The shadows of the two horsemen facing each other in the center of the plain stretched slightly. The tall grass and trees shivered.

"You know better than anyone that heroes only exist in stories, Lugis.

　Old Richard touched his fingers to his white beard and said in a light tone. I let his voice penetrate my ears, my expression tightening. There are no heroes, no heroes," he repeated, letting the wind carry him away.

　Why, now? It's obvious. It's obvious.

　There is no such thing as a hero who can save the world and there is no such thing as a hero who can change the course of history. Babies abandoned by their parents will cry out for no help, women persecuted and stoned will be comforted for no help by the saints.

When you were starving to death in the favelas, did anyone help you or give you a hand?
"Hey, how many of your peers are still alive?

　Disgusting, really disgusting old man. I wonder if most of my peers, the ones I ate with at the orphanage, are still alive. Even if they are, they don't have long to live.

　If you're lucky, you'll become an adventurer or a mercenary and die by the sword. If you are unlucky, you will become a slave apprentice and be beaten to death by your master, or starve to death after escaping. If you're a woman, you'll be a rich man's plaything if you're good, otherwise you'll end up in the whorehouse.

　No one has a long life ahead of them. Most of them don't even have a reason to hang on to this world for long. If they can die quickly and comfortably, so much the better.

　After all, there is certainly salvation and happiness in this world, but they are not so abundant that they can be shared by the poor.

　There are no heroes chosen by fate, no heroes favored by the gods in this world, and the poor die without being able to let out a word of vindication. That's what this place is. Everyone understands this deep down. That's why we cling to heroes in our stories.

　So what Richard's old man says is not wrong. It's brutally true. I want to clap my hands in admiration.

　I lifted my gaze from the ground and saw a pair of eyes looking straight at me. The eyes are lit with a fire more sincere than I have ever seen.

"Lugis, let's stop playing hero. The only thing that awaits those who call themselves heroes is a ruinous end at best.

　The voice of invitation naturally seeped into my ears. I blinked my eyelids a few times and took two deep breaths.

　Then, with my strangely dry lips wavering, I spoke back to the old man. I realized that the voice that escaped from my throat was very clear.

　The shadows on the Sarnio Plains are shaking uncontrollably.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　I'm sure you'll be able to understand what I mean.

"Sorry, old man. I've already revealed my cards. I've already revealed my hand. I can't just walk away from the game now.

　The words of his former student were something that Richard had expected. But still, it was somewhat surprising.

　Richard knows very well that his student Lugis has a definite aversion to sunlight and a natural avoidance of the public stage. Whether this is something that he was born with or something that his environment created, I cannot say.

　But at least, when Richard recognized Lugis, he had already become such a person. That's why this offer was meaningful, even if it was rejected.

　The invitation, which sounded very tempting to his ears, could sway Lugis' mind in some way. To be able to put a stray thought into the heart of an opponent who was no longer the standard bearer of the enemy army would be a great gain in itself.

　Besides, Richard thought, sincerely. Lugis was not suited to be a hero in name only, or a hero who could not save anything. The same position as yourself suits his nature.

　That's why Lugis's reply is still surprising. I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more information on this in the future.

　However, the current Lugis has no hesitation in his eyes or speech.

　He wondered why that was. It caught Richard's attention slightly. As silly as it sounded, perhaps Richard was a little concerned about someone who looked like him.

　Richard said, as if trying to figure out what was going on in Lugis' mind.

I'm sure you're not the only one. Did you have a lover?

　Lugis cowered and raised his eyebrows at the remark. It was as if he wanted to give me a break.

I don't think so. And it's not like I'm obsessed with it. I don't think I'm cut out to lead people, and I don't think I'd be worthy of being honored. After all, I was born in a ghetto and raised in a ditch.

　That was a very typical way of speaking and speaking. It was the same old Lugis. The way he was, he should be no different from the way he used to be.

　But there was something in Richard's skin that felt like a twinge. Lugis' words pierced his ears again.

The only thing is, there were people who called me a hero, people who even tried to back out of it.

　As he said that. Lugis said briefly. The sunlight slowly floats up into the sky and casts shadows on the plain.

Then I must become one.



　At the same time, the sun was just rising behind Lugis, leaking light to shine on him. The scene of the morning dew illuminating him was strangely fantastic.

　It was as if the sunlight itself was celebrating the birth of something.

　It's ridiculous. Richard's cunning eyes narrowed involuntarily in the glare of the sunlight.

There's no such thing as heroes in this world. There are no saviors to reach out to, no heroes to change the world - then there's no one to complain about me becoming one.

　Richard muttered, in his mind.

　That's not good. Now, in the back of Richard's ears, he heard a sound of a shell breaking. And it was coming from a very undesirable direction.

...... Sad. It's sad to see a former student jump out of your hands. I thought I had taught you a lot of things.

　I thought I had taught you a lot. A wan smile creased Richard's cheeks. It was the same frivolous smile he always wore. It was the kind of laugh that makes fun of something.

　Sunlight glinted in the corner of his eyes. I saw Lugis' cheeks crumple as well.

"Yes, that's right. The lessons you gave me have kept me alive to this day. I'm grateful and have no regrets. I still believe it was the best thing I ever did.

　So," continued Lugis in a calm voice.

"So, old man, I came here today to say goodbye to you. I came here to get over you and kill the man I once was.

　Richard spontaneously raised his right hand in the air. Richard raised his right hand lightly, knowing that Lugis' words were not just a game, but words that came from deep within his heart.

　Richard and Rougis. Richard and Lugis... Both of their faces had lost any hint of the light-hearted smiles they once wore. Both of their expressions hardened, as if they were in a tense atmosphere.

"I see.

　Richard replies, briefly. The eyes that had not lost their light over the years twisted. In the short time it took him to say that, Richard had made up his mind deep inside.

　--I'll have to kill this guy right here.

　He knew he had the potential. He had the talent and the resources. But that's why I'll kill him now. If we don't, Richard's brain told him, he'd be in trouble for life.

　Richard raises his right hand lightly, but then drops it straight down. That's the signal for everything. It was the sound of a trigger that had been predetermined all along.

　--Whoosh!

　Instantly, there was a sound that pierced the wind. It was sharp, the sound of a bow and arrow shot, familiar on the battlefield.

　There are many tall wildflowers in the Sarnio Plain. There are plenty of wildflowers, just the right amount to keep a bow and arrow in place. These wildflowers shot iron weapons at Rougis, as if they had spat them out themselves.

　As he listened to the sound of the arrowhead tearing through the air, Richard had a smile on the corner of his mouth. It was not a cheap smile because his intentions had worked.

　It was not a cheap smile because his plan had worked, but because he had heard what Lugis had just said.

"I'm getting a little wiser, old man. I can rely on others a little more.

　The moment his words shook the wind.

　The sky around them neighed, and a whirlwind of magical power and a silver flash appeared.