....
"Hahhhhh, it's finally over. Thank you for your help, Daichiya-san."
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You're welcome. So, how is the Hero's ability? Was it helpful?
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"Yeah… very much."
...
After the goblin emperor was beheaded, the goblin forces should have fallen into chaos.
....
However—
...
Aldric noticed something strange.
"W-Wait a second."
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What is it, Owl-kun?
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"This morning, there was a massive fire explosion… but I didn't find a single mage here—"
"Don't tell me…"
In an instant, Aldric dashed toward the village.
"That was careless of me…"
.....
...
The entire village was burned to the ground…
Buildings destroyed…
Dead goblins… scattered everywhere.
Yet, not a single human corpse.
Memories of the past began to haunt Aldric.
"Master!!! Where are you?!"
Aldric searched frantically,
until he reached the village chief's house.
Goblin corpses were strewn about, their bodies marked with sword slashes.
"Master!!" Aldric shouted as he burst the door open.
The panic in his voice was unmistakable.
All the villagers had gathered inside the large house.
The village guards were gravely injured, unconscious…
But—
Aldric couldn't see his master…
"Your master… lured the goblins… away… He headed… toward the lake…" said a guard lying there, severely wounded.
Aldric's expression turned pale with panic.
He ran toward the lake.
"Master!!"
"Where are you?!"
"Master!!"
His heart pounded as fragments of his past resurfaced.
He searched along the lakeshore…
Until he arrived at a tree.
Beside it was a sword, impaled into the body of a goblin mage.
"N-no…"
....
Aldric could no longer hold back his tears.
...
The one who saved his life…
The one who taught him how to fight…
The one who became his family…
The one standing before him—
was no longer in the same world.
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. .. .
"Please don't go, Master… You said you wanted to eradicate all monsters."
Aldric was completely broken.
One minute…
Ten minutes…
Fifty minutes…
Until—
.....
"Calm down, Owl-kun." The voice was familiar.
Aldric slowly turned.
"That voice… is that you… Daichiya-san?"
Before him stood a woman about his age, with an intelligent, gentle, and caring appearance.
"That's right… Didn't I tell you? I am the Hero's assistant," she said softly.
"But more importantly—"
Her smile faded, her expression turning serious.
"You must calm down, Aldric Owlblade. Your master is gone. How long will you stay here?"
Aldric looked down, filled with sorrow.
"Why would you say that…? He… he's the one who gave me everything.
I haven't even repaid him for anything…"
The woman let out a soft sigh… then smiled again.
"That's enough… Once you accept the role of the Hero, you must get used to all of this."
Her words felt warm to Aldric.
"Your journey is still long… I'll stay by your side, so you won't be alone."
She then pointed to a sentence carved into the tree.
Aldric read it—and stopped crying.
"Hhh… you're right."
He gripped his sword,
and smiled.
Then—
....
"I,
Aldric Owlblade,
will take on the role of the Hero,
and I will ensure that all monsters disappear from this world."
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The sentence read:
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"You careless brat, repay me by making your name famous enough to reach me."