Aldric frowned, his brows tightly drawn.
"Limitless power…?"
The confusion in his eyes was unmistakable.
"And tell me… what kind of power is that?"
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"You can turn your techniques into skills that will never fade."
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......
Silence fell.
Aldric narrowed his eyes, trying to grasp the true meaning behind those words.
"Skills…? I've never heard of such a thing."
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"They are abilities you have honed over time…
refined to the point they become instinct—
something your body performs without thought."
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…
"And how does that help me defeat the Goblin Emperor?" Aldric asked, his voice steady—almost cold.
...
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"That depends on you.
It is merely a small gift…
—but still far better than relying on reckless resolve alone."
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"Hah…"
Aldric exhaled slowly.
In his mind—
the image of the goblin army invading his village flashed once more.
"In that case…"
He lowered his gaze slightly.
"What price must I pay?"
His tone turned firm. No hesitation this time.
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"Hmph… you truly are rational.
You will be tasked with eradicating the monster threats that continue to emerge—
until Ou-sama awakens."
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...…
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"And one more thing—
your body will cease to age.
You will continue to live…
watching farewell after farewell,
as those dear to you fade away."
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...
Silence.
Heavy. Suffocating.
...…
Memories surged—without mercy.
Screams.
Flames consuming everything.
And the silhouettes of monsters…
that stole it all away.
His family.
His home.
His past.
...…
Aldric's expression changed.
The hesitation in his eyes—gone.
In its place… something far sharper.
A quiet madness.
"…Heh."
A faint laugh escaped his lips.
Then—
"Hahahah…!"
It grew louder.
"If it's for the sake of wiping out those creatures…"
His voice dropped—low, heavy, burning with conviction.
"Even without the power of a Hero…"
He slowly lifted his head.
"I would have done it anyway."
His eyes burned.
Not with anger alone—
but with something deeper.
Resolve.
"I won't allow it."
His voice sharpened.
"I won't let another child… suffer what I did."
A breath.
Deep.
Final.
Then—
without hesitation.
"Alright."
"I accept."
His voice no longer wavered.
"I will take on this duty—"
"…gladly."