I sat in my room, staring at the Hero's Sword, lost in thought about the Chosen Ones.
*******
Yesterday
"Your Majesty, there must be some mistake. I can't possibly be a Chosen One," Mary said in a flustered voice.
"That's enough, Mary. You have already been chosen," the king replied firmly.
"But…"
"I'm sorry, but this is how it must be. There's no other choice."
"Forgive me, Your Majesty," I said respectfully, "but I don't think I should take her if she truly doesn't want to go."
"But she is the Chosen One. We cannot gather all the Chosen without the First."
"…Then let's give her some time to think about it."
"Alright… I suppose you're right."
*******
Present Time
I left my room and wandered aimlessly through the palace until I saw Lysia.
"Hero! Hello!" she said, waving at me.
I waved back. "Hello. What are you up to?"
"I was planning to go out and buy something. What about you?"
"I was just walking around. By the way, I haven't seen the city outside yet."
"Then why don't you come with me?"
"I prefer walking alone."
"You're such a downer," she said as she left the palace.
I followed shortly after and headed toward the city.
After a while, I reached it. The streets were crowded and decorated in an old European style. There were typical sights: restaurants, shops, children playing, and people shopping — just like any other city.
As I walked, I caught sight of a group of children out of the corner of my eye. Their ball had fallen into the river that flowed through the city, and the current was quickly carrying it away.
I watched their attempts to retrieve it for a moment, then, realizing they couldn't manage on their own, I intervened.
Using my ability, I raised the water, lifting the ball out of the river.
The children turned in surprise, looking around in confusion, while I quietly continued on my way.
Suddenly, I spotted Mary standing with a young man who looked remarkably like her.
Mary noticed me and stepped forward.
"Hello," I said, approaching them.
"Hello," both Mary and the young man replied.
The young man turned to Mary and asked, "Who's this?"
"This is the Hero."
He smiled warmly and extended his hand for a handshake.
"So you're the Hero! It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Kareem, Mary's older brother."
"Nice to meet you," I replied, shaking his hand.
Suddenly, I felt the gazes of people around us. They started whispering, some distancing themselves, while others looked at me with admiration.
Mary spoke up, "Let's talk somewhere else. We've drawn too much attention."
"Alright. I should head back to work anyway. Goodbye," Kareem said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Thank you. Thanks to the time you've given us, we'll at least be able to say a proper farewell."
I smiled. "There's no need to thank me. It's simply something that had to be done."
His smile faded a little, and sadness filled his eyes.
"The world outside is dangerous. I worry about her."
I couldn't find any words to comfort him, so I remained silent.
"Ah, Mary, Mother asked me to get these things," Karim said, handing her a shopping list.
"Alright," Mary replied.
We wandered through the market, buying the items on the list: vegetables, some fruits, meat — ordinary things for any household.
Suddenly, Mary said, "Hero, look over there!"
I turned to where she was pointing.
I saw a young man about 26 years old in a wheelchair, being pushed by a woman his age.
Mary continued, "That's Adam, one of the victims of the Training Square incident. He lost the ability to walk because of it. Now, he's unemployed and can't go anywhere without his fiancée's help."
I stared at him, expression unreadable.
"You didn't think of them as just numbers, right? You didn't think their existence didn't matter?"
"Of course not. But…"
"Adam always dreamed of becoming a respected and strong knight. He had a dream… and it was shattered because of you."
Silence fell between us.
I wanted to apologize. I wanted to ask for his forgiveness.
But… that would be hypocrisy.
I'm the one who will end his life eventually.
I don't deserve forgiveness.
We finished our shopping, and Mary led me to her home.
It was a modest house — neither luxurious nor old — simple, but beautiful.
"Is this your home?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Yes. I know it's not as grand as the palaces you're used to."
"No, actually, I really like it," I said.
Mary looked at me, surprised, then we entered.
"My sister Mary! We've been waiting for you!" several children cried, clinging to her as soon as we stepped in.
"Irene, Amanda, Elinor, and Noor — I missed you too," Mary said warmly, hugging her younger siblings.
I stood at the doorway, silently watching the heartwarming scene.
One of the children looked up at me. "Sister, who's that?"
"That's the Hero," Mary replied.
The children instinctively stepped back, afraid, except for Irene, who stared at me with admiration.
A voice from behind them spoke, "Greet the guest properly. Don't be rude."
An elderly woman, likely in her nineties, appeared.
"Good morning, Mother," Mary said.
"Good morning, Mary," the old woman replied, turning her gaze toward me.
"H-Hello," I stuttered awkwardly.
"So you're the Hero," she said. "You don't look like the stories say."
She walked into another room and beckoned me to follow.
I followed her into a small room. She gestured for me to sit across from her at a table.
Then she said, "Mary, would you prepare us some tea?"
"Of course," Mary replied.
As she moved toward the kitchen, the old woman looked back at me.
"Having blood on your hands… it's unpleasant, isn't it?"
I looked down at the floor. "Yes."
"You must never forget that feeling. Otherwise, you'll lose your humanity and become just another monster.
How are you dealing with it now?"
"I carry their pain, their dreams, and their bitterness as my punishment."
"And is that enough? Will your suffering bring them back or earn their forgiveness?"
"I've long passed the point where forgiveness is even possible. There's nothing I can do about it anymore."
I paused, then added,
"I won't be able to protect Mary completely. The outside world is too dangerous. But I promise… she won't die."
Mary interrupted us, bringing a tray with the tea.
"Here you go."
*******
Two Hours Later
Mary and I stood at the doorway.
"Thank you for having me," I said, about to turn and leave.
But then...
Irene grabbed my hand and asked, "Big Brother, can I be strong like you?"
Surprised, I knelt and asked, "Why do you want to become strong?"
"I want to become a knight and help Mary and Karim so they don't have to work every day," he said.
His words struck me like a bolt of lightning.
I patted his head and said,
"Try to become smarter first — strength will follow."
I turned to leave, then stopped and added,
"Irene, I believe you'll become the greatest knight ever."
As Mary and I walked back to the palace, she spoke up.
"Thank you for encouraging Irene. It means a lot to me."
"I didn't do anything special.
Everything I said… I truly believe it."
"Vice Commander Mary!" a knight screamed in terror, his face pale as he ran toward us. He continued, "There's an attack from a horde of monsters! The king has ordered the troops to move to their positions!"
"How many of them?" Mary asked.
"Thousands."
"Where should I head to? There are six waves coming from six different directions. The king is stationed in the north, Ronald in the northeast, Reinhard in the northwest. You are assigned to the east. Carl is leading the west, and Harold the southwest."
Suddenly, I spoke, "I'll go to the southwest."
"Alright, Hero, but—"
"Order all the soldiers to evacuate and go support the west. I have no intention of holding back."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
I said my farewell to Mary and rushed toward the southwest at full speed. Even though the distance was far, I closed it quickly.
When I reached the camp, I found that all the soldiers had already evacuated—except for one. I landed and grabbed him by the collar.
"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell everyone to leave?"
"I'm here just as backup, in case you run out of mana."
I sighed. "Fine. Just stay back and give me your sword."
"But don't you already have the Hero's sword?"
"The Hero's sword isn't suited for this kind of battle."
I took his sword and activated my Lightning Transformation. As I prepared to attack, one of the creatures lunged at me. I dodged swiftly, grabbed its neck, and snapped it effortlessly.
Suddenly, the power to read the past activated on its own, and I relived the life of what I thought was just a monster.
I looked at the creatures and whispered, "Y-You... you're human?"
I stood there, stunned. I should've realized they were sentient from the way they moved in formation. I couldn't move as they tore into my flesh.
"Hero!" the man called out to me, but I didn't even glance at him.
I remained there, staring at the beings they had become, and muttered,
"I'm... I'm sorry."
I unleashed an earthquake that shattered the ground, obliterating everything around me, wiping out all the humans in a massive, flat wasteland.
I sat there, staring blankly at the devastated land, haunted by what I had done.
*******
Meanwhile, in the West—
Mary was stabbing the seemingly endless waves of monsters, burning them with red flames—the same flames as Sinister's ability.
Suddenly, a blinding light engulfed the battlefield. Alexander—the man known as the Embodiment of the Sun—had arrived. With a single strike of his sword, he scorched everything in front of him with fire as fierce as the sun.
"Is everyone alright?" the king asked Mary.
"Yes, thank you for saving us," she replied.
"We've repelled all five waves. But what about Harold's side?"
"Harold's team joined Kyle's team."
"What? Why?"
"The Hero went there... and said he wouldn't hold back."
Suddenly, Ronald spoke up, "Father, the sixth wave has been repelled, but I believe there's a problem with the Hero."
Ronald, Alexander, Mary, and Reinhard all headed to the area the Hero was assigned to defend.
The boy on guard noticed them approaching and walked over. "Your Majesty, the Hero has been like this since he wiped out the monsters," he said, pointing at me.
Ronald approached and sat beside me. "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"
I was silent for a moment before answering, "They weren't monsters."
"What do you mean?"
"They were humans manipulated by Arcanthia."
"What?!" Everyone looked at me, shocked.
"Do you remember what I tried to tell you last night before Reinhard interrupted us?"
"Was this it?"
"No, actually. Arcanthia has a secret weapon, and it's..."
*******
One Week Later—
"Shall we head off now?" I asked Mary.
She replied, "Alright."
I turned to the king and the princes. "Thank you for everything. Farewell."
I determined the destination through the Hero's Sword.
Mary suddenly noticed something. "Wait, was this gem here before?"
The Hero's Sword, with its distinct circular design and sky-blue color, had six slots—one of which was already filled with a gem, while the rest remained empty.
"Yeah, I guess this gem appeared. When the other heroes are assembled, their slots will probably fill too."
I looked at Mary and asked, "Aren't you worried about your mother and siblings?"
"I am... but I also left them under the King's protection, so I'm confident they'll be safe. Thank you for telling the King about my family."
"No need to thank me. It's my duty to ensure the safety of my companions and their families."
We continued our path, marking the true beginning of our journey.