Linda's POV
My body felt light, as if every part of it was wrapped in something damp and coarse at the same time. I couldn't see anything at first. Slowly, I opened my eyes but shut them again as the brightness overwhelmed me. Gradually, I opened them bit by bit until I could take in my surroundings fully. The ceiling arched in a dome, and I found myself in an incredibly long hall filled with beds.
I was lying on a damp bed, covered with a blue shawl. The air was warm, and the atmosphere was peaceful except for the occasional chirping of birds. I reached out with my hands from under the shawl, noticing they were wrapped in white bandages. Ah! We survived the battle… We made it!
"How are you feeling, Miss?" asked a woman in nun-like robes, her face kind and serene.
"I'm doing fine now," I replied, scanning the room around me.
"You've finally woken up," came a voice from farther away.
I sat up slowly and took in more of the scene. There were numerous beds, many of them occupied. I spotted Susan, Stephanie, and even Sebastian's slave, all bandaged and lying on their beds with nurses attending to them.
"What happened after the battle?" I asked, focusing on Susan, who was awake.
"We've been awake for a while but don't know what happened either," Susan replied.
"We didn't fight well..." murmured the fox-eared slave.
"What do you mean? We gave it our all! We even managed to deal Zabus severe injuries!" I said, my voice slightly raised.
"You shouldn't have let anyone interfere. You're heroes! You should've defeated him with ease! Only my dear Sebastian fought fiercely among you," she retorted, her voice growing louder.
"Runari, what are you saying? He was the leader of the demon forces! There was no way we could've defeated him with our current experience," Susan interjected.
Oh, my gods, this fool is insufferable. She irritates me to no end—her and her wretched owner. Looking around, I noticed Stephanie seemed to be doing fine but wasn't speaking. I hoped nothing terrible had happened to her. Gods, it had been such a grueling battle.
"How are you, Stephanie?" I asked.
"I'm... fine," she replied, looking directly into my eyes.
"Wait, what about the others?" I asked, glancing around again.
"They're being treated in the men's ward," one of the nurses answered.
I couldn't deny it—we had beaten that demon down. I could only hope Arthur had finished him off. Yet, I felt no joy whatsoever. Even knowing I had survived, a heavy cloud seemed to press down on my chest. I was frustrated, as though I had scored second place on a history exam instead of first. Wait, what about my stats after that battle?
"Stats," I muttered.
As the word left my mouth, a magical screen appeared, displaying everything. Oh gods! My level had risen by four, and I had gained a new ability, along with increases in my other stats. The battle had been worth it after all. For the first time, I felt a flicker of happiness. It seemed that the way to find joy in this world was through leveling up! After playing Genshin Impact so many times, I doubted I'd have any trouble grinding for levels.
Suddenly, I sensed a powerful aura approaching the hall's entrance. I turned my head to see a woman with long black hair and a pure white robe adorned with gold embroidery—a nun's attire, no doubt. She walked in slowly, and as she did, all the nurses bowed. She was clearly someone important.
"Greetings, heroes. I am Kaily, daughter of the Blessed Priest August. I've been sent by the king to cast a powerful healing spell to restore you all to full health," the nun said as she approached.
The nurses moved toward us and began removing our clothes. Soon, we were completely bare. So that's why there were no men here. Kaily raised her hands and started chanting a spell, causing green light to radiate from her. With a smooth motion, she directed the light toward us, and a wave of soothing warmth enveloped us. It wasn't an uncomfortable heat; it was comforting, like being in a hot bath.
It felt like warm winds rising from below, erasing the pain and healing every wound with each gust. The process continued for a long while before the spell ended, leaving me pain-free. Kaily collapsed afterward, and the nurses rushed to her side, giving her potions to restore her energy.
"Thank you, Lady Kaily," I said.
"I should be thanking you, heroes. Now, get dressed and gather your weapons. Follow me to the king's palace; a grand banquet awaits," Kaily said with a smile.
We dressed as instructed, prepared ourselves, and left the hall. The outdoors were pristine and brimming with life. Even squirrels were playing among the royal gardens' stunning trees and blooming flowers. The sun shone brightly, and the air was fresh. I loved this scenery, but despite the beauty surrounding me… I still felt… I don't know what it is! It's as if someone dear to me has died. Wait! Is this a sign from another world? Have my parents passed away? Gods, I'm so anxious!
We left the garden and made our way toward the palace, where guards bowed in respect as we passed. The interior was bustling with people. Suddenly, that fox-eared slave ran ahead. It became clear why when we saw that the others had already arrived before us. She ran into Sebastian's arms, and he hugged her tightly, saying loudly:
"I was so worried!"
"Are you all okay?" Malin asked.
"Yes, we're fine," Susan replied.
"The blessed priest treated us, but we heard that his daughter was going to treat you, so we were worried about the idea that she might be a novice and wouldn't heal you properly," Kevin said, his expression changing when he noticed Kaily, making it clear he hadn't expected her to be present.
"Ahem, ahem, what do you mean by novice?" Kaily retorted with a frightening expression.
"Welcome back, heroes," a rough voice echoed.
Adalos appeared with his wife and the old priest. He sat on his throne, with August and Vinea standing on either side. We approached him and knelt on one knee. Then Adalos said, "Please, stand."
"This day will be immortalized in the history of the kingdom. On this day, we liberated an area that was under demonic rule, erasing all traces of demonic forms... At last, I can declare that the coast of Myria has been fully liberated!" Adalos added in a loud voice.
"Now, let the coronation ceremony begin," Vinea announced.
Several guards approached us, placing golden medals around our necks one by one. The crowd burst into applause, and poets began playing harps. The atmosphere was both grand and serene. At this moment, I felt like an important and invaluable figure in society. Then, Adalos stood and declared:
"I, King Adalos, hereby bestow upon the eight heroes royal medals of the highest order. From this day forth, these eight heroes shall be recognized as symbols of resistance against colonization!"
The applause grew louder, with countless servants tossing flowers into the air as melodies soared. Despite all this, I didn't feel happy. That's when I realized something was wrong with this world—yes, something was broken. There was a flaw in the emotions circulating in the kingdom's air. Yet, when I looked around, everyone appeared joyful—or were they just pretending to be happy, like me?
"Thank you, heroes. You've brought us great joy," the queen said with a radiant smile.
"It's our duty as heroes, Your Majesty!" John replied nobly.
"Now, let us welcome the Knight of Knights, the Demon Slayer, the Sword of Adalos, and the White Paladin—Arthur Pendragon!" Adalos proclaimed.
Arthur stepped forward in his imposing armor, with his golden hair and handsome face. Holding his magnificent sword, he walked slowly until he finally stood before the king's throne and knelt on one knee. Yes, it was Arthur, the same person who saved us. But... was he the one who killed Zabus?
"While the heroes fought valiantly on the battlefield, I cannot overlook the achievements of Arthur—the knight who slew the demon leader responsible for occupying the coast of Myria," Adalos declared, rising from his throne and approaching Arthur.
Adalos took a ceremonial sword from the guards, gently placing its blade on Arthur's right shoulder and then his left. He announced:
"In the name of the Kingdom of Yarum, and in my name, Yarum Adalos IV, I grant Arthur Pendragon the title of Sword Saint."
Suddenly, the crowd erupted with thunderous cheers, and flowers filled the air. The title "Sword Saint"? It was clear that it carried immense weight. Still, Arthur deserved it—he saved our lives. Without him, we wouldn't have survived that battle. Yet, a sharp pain pierced my chest as memories of the battle returned. That horrifying experience... it was unbearable!
"Now, let the feast begin!" Adalos shouted.
◆ ◆ ◆
On a vast, quiet balcony far from the party's noise, a group of young people stood. Judging by their varied attire and equipment, they were clearly the heroes. They stood together, eating and drinking while gazing out at the view from the palace's large balcony. The moon shone brightly, its light covering the kingdom under the night sky.
"The battle isn't over yet. There are still other areas under occupation," Kevin said.
"I can't keep going," Susan murmured, staring into the distance.
"Yeah! That battle was awful. I've felt so gloomy since I woke up!" Stephanie exclaimed.
"Come on, you're overreacting. It's just natural shock," Sebastian said, hugging Runari.
"She's right! We're just teenagers who are good at using phones and eating ice cream. We've never been used to fighting like this! Magic? Demons? Do you think we'll ever adapt and live happily? Never!" Linda shouted.
"It seems things have become clear. I used to think life here was like video games, but I suffered terribly. I'm still suffering now... It's not just me—I think we're all going through trauma! But we just haven't realized it yet!" Tom added.
That battle made them witness things they'd never seen before. They realized truths they hadn't understood before. Some of them even matured—or no, perhaps all of them did. After all, these were just humans from another world, who only heard about wars and battles in the news. A battle like this had, and would continue to, leave a profound impact on them.
"Even so... even so, there's no way back," Malin said.
"That's why we must fight," Sebastian replied.
"By the way, we lost the battle because of you, Sebas! You and that fox girl were nothing but obstacles in our way!" Kevin yelled.
"What did you just say, you bastard?!" Sebastian shouted, gripping his staff.
Runari suddenly stepped forward with an angry expression toward Kevin. Kevin pushed her back, causing her to stumble. She pulled out her daggers and leaped at him, but Kevin dodged her attack and delivered a powerful punch to her stomach. He drew his swords as well. While Runari clutched her stomach and Kevin stood directly in front of her, Kevin was suddenly flung backward, landing on the ground. It became clear that Sebastian had struck him with a magical attack.
"You bastard! How dare you?!" Sebastian yelled.
"Hey! We're on the palace balcony! Stop this!" Susan screamed.
The noise of the party drowned out the sounds of their fight. Kevin got up and charged toward Sebastian with his swords. Sebastian quickly cast a magical shield to block his attack, but Kevin swept his legs, making Sebastian fall. Runari, her daggers now imbued with fire magic, moved toward Kevin.
Kevin stepped back slightly as if surrendering, but Runari's furious expression didn't change. She leaped at him again, and behind her, a dark magic spell soared toward Kevin, putting him in a pincer attack. Suddenly, John appeared, blocking Runari's attack with his greatsword, while Linda stopped Sebastian's spell with a magical shield.
"You idiots! How dare you fight on the balcony?!" Susan shouted.
"Remember this!" Sebastian growled as he left the balcony with Runari, who angrily swished her orange tail. The two departed, leaving the others behind to sit in silence on the balcony, trying to process these extraordinary and chaotic events since their arrival in this world. Yes, if there was one problem the heroes all faced, it was "adapting."
◆ ◆ ◆
Far from the heroes' balcony, in a luxurious palace, inside a grand room filled with servants, a woman lay resting on her large bed with her eyes closed. Her long brown hair flowed over the pillows, and her youthful face showed only faint traces of wrinkles. Without opening her eyes, she asked one of the servants to bring her some honey.
"Arthur!" the woman called, still keeping her eyes shut.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. One of the servants moved to open it, revealing none other than Arthur, the Saint of the Sword. He entered the room and walked over to the woman. A servant quickly brought him a chair, and Arthur sat down next to the bed, taking her hand gently.
"Mother... I'm back!" he said softly.
"Yes! Yes, you're back! I'm so happy!" the woman—his mother—replied in a delicate voice.
"Mother, I have wonderful news! I've become the Saint of the Sword!"
"Arthur! Is this a joke?" his mother asked, turning her face toward the wall instead of her son.
"No, I swear! Here... this is the medal. Touch it, Mother!" Arthur said, his voice trembling slightly.
Suddenly, tears began streaming from her eyes as she touched the medal. She then tossed it aside and embraced her son tightly, her sobs shaking her body.
"You've avenged your father, haven't you? Haven't you, Arthur?" she asked through her tears.
"Yes! Yes!... I killed Zabus, Mother!" Arthur replied, his voice filled with emotion.
"Oh, God, how I wish I could see the face of my beloved son," his mother whispered, tears still flowing.
"Mother! Mother!" Arthur exclaimed, clutching her tightly as a rare smile crossed his face. Soon, his own tears joined hers.
The servants in the room began clapping at the touching scene. Some even shed tears themselves, and in unison, they said:
"Congratulations to you both!"
"Uther, your son has avenged you! Can you hear me, my dear Uther?" his mother cried out.
"Yes! I've done it, Father!" Arthur added.
Thus ended Arthur Pendragon's day, with a warm embrace from his mother. But to Arthur, this embrace was more than just a mother's love for her son; it was the reward for his vengeance. At that moment, Arthur felt a joy he had never known before—a joy he hadn't even dared to imagine. Yes, this was Arthur's reward. This was his long-awaited revenge, five years in the making. Finally... he had avenged.
"Thank you, Elaine."
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STATS :
Linda
Lvl: 12
Class: Hero
Weapon: Poleaxe/Spear
Armor: Valkyrie's Gear
Attack: 2033
Defense: 1501
Strength: 604
Magic: 476
Agility: 404
Skills: Valkyria Slash + Golden Caster + Sky Wings
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Sebastian
Lvl: 10
Class: Mage
Weapon: Staff
Armor: Wisdom Cloak
Attack: 1884
Defense: 2040
Strength: 266
Magic: 677
Agility: 198
Skills: Black Wave + Dark Ball + Night Shield + Crows Wave
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Kevin
Lvl: 9
Class: Assassin
Weapon: Two Short Swords
Armor: Light Armor
Attack: 1341
Defense: 630
Strength: 399
Magic: 315
Agility: 894
Skills: Daggers Storm + Dark Nightmare
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Tom
Lvl: 9
Class: Knight
Weapon: Blade
Armor: Silver Armor
Attack: 1251
Defense: 1260
Strength: 639
Magic: 108
Agility: 495
Skills: Slash + Cutter + Blades
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John
Lvl: 9
Class: Warrior
Weapon: Great Sword
Armor: Heavy Armor
Attack: 1080
Defense: 1494
Strength: 511
Magic: 72
Agility: 225
Skills: Crusher + Rage
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Susan
Lvl: 7
Class: Lancer
Weapon: Spear
Armor: Silver Armor
Attack: 895
Defense: 702
Strength: 300
Magic: 210
Agility: 413
Skills: Fire Stabs + Tornado
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Malin
Lvl: 8
Class: Archer
Weapon: Bow and Arrow
Armor: Leather Armor
Attack: 936
Defense: 598
Strength: 278
Magic: 200
Agility: 452
Skills: Wind Arrow + Storm
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Stephanie
Lvl: 5
Class: Priest
Weapon: -
Armor: Blessed Robe
Attack: 250
Defense: 243
Strength: 98
Magic: 451
Agility: 99
Skills: Heal + Light Shield