Chapter 170 The Battle To Protect 'Now'
On the night I received the antidote, I got a call from Lukas and the others.
When I rushed to the meeting spot, I was greeted by Lukas's smiling face reflected on the water's surface. Even without a report, seeing that expression made me feel relieved.
After I sat down in the chair in front of the device, Lukas gave me a report.
'We made it out of the forest safely. Thanks.'
I had expected those words from seeing my childhood friend's gentle smile, and the tension in my body began to dissipate.
Not just Lukas, but the faces of our companions behind him also looked relieved. Although they were tired from facing the monster, none of them seemed to be poisoned or injured.
"Good! Is everyone okay?"
'Thanks to the healing potion, we're fine.'
Lukas smiled brightly. Behind him, Marta raised her voice, saying, "It was tough, I tell ya!"
She told us how they had lured the monster near the entrance using the Naraka fruit's scent, and how the intelligent monster had persistently targeted their antidote masks. Just when they were about to deliver the final blow, the monster escaped into the depths of the forest. Amidst the hesitant companions, Lukas and Vake chased after the monster and successfully defeated it. And with that, the forest's poisonous fog cleared.
The others were amused by Marta's dramatic storytelling, but I was captivated. She might just make a great traveling performer, I thought.
――When Marta finished her story, I asked a question that had been on my mind for a while.
"Are you getting close, then?"
My vague question was somehow accurately understood by Diona.
'Yes. If we go a bit further, there's a large city. We'll prepare for the final battle there and head towards the demon king's lair.'
It seems the hero's journey is nearing its climax.
From now on, Lukas and the others are headed towards the last city. If this were a game, a warning message would pop up saying "Once you proceed, you can't turn back." Some players would charge forward without hesitation, while others would turn back to collect sub-events and the like.
"Almost there, huh?"
'Yeah, we've come this far, so we'll just have to push through.'
Lukas nodded with a resolute smile. Marta quickly agreed with a "Yeah, yeah".
'Let's crash into it with a bang and shatter it!'
'That's not gonna work.'
'Ugh, Julius is always so full of hot air!'
Julius's sarcastic remark earned a tsukkomi from Marta, who puffed out her cheeks. "You're way too full of yourself," she sighed, but only Julius seemed to notice. The others just laughed at the lighthearted exchange between the 2.
――There are parts where they're trying to be serious, but the atmosphere is still pretty relaxed and good.
As the laughter died down, Vake turned to me with a serious face.
'Young lady should know that the demon king's final battle is approaching. Things might get chaotic around you too. Be careful.
"Yes, I'll let everyone know."
I think the demon king is gathering all its forces in preparation for the final battle, but that doesn't mean we can let our guard down. I tightened my expression and nodded.
The air was tense, but Elvira's voice broke through it.
'We'll definitely defeat the demon king!'
"Elvira."
'Laura will be waiting for us, so don't worry.'
She smiled reassuringly, and I felt my clenched fist relax.
"Yeah, I'll be praying for everyone's safety from afar."
Elvira nodded happily.
Vake patted her head, and then smiled wryly.
'We still have the city to get through, and then there's the demon king's place too. Don't think it's the final stretch just yet.'
'Geez, I know that already!'
Elvira, like a rebellious daughter, bites into Vake. It's a nostalgic scene. There were times when these 2 looked like father and daughter, even in "Last Brave".
The atmosphere relaxes again, and Marta opens her mouth without hesitation.
'Does the demon king's place have a labyrinth or something?'
Marta's murmur brings back memories. It's not unique to "Last Brave", but a common aspect of RPGs ―― the last dungeon is often intricately designed.
"...it's likely, yeah."
'Seriously? That's annoying. Can't they just make it so we can reach the demon king's room right away?'
Marta lets out a deep sigh, and I force a bitter smile.
It seems everyone is thinking the same thing, and the atmosphere in the room becomes heavier. Amidst this, Vake is the only one who calmly begins to analyze the situation.
'Considering our actions so far, I think the demon king is quite cunning. He'll create labyrinths or whatever to wear us down.'
I nod in agreement with his words.
The demon king in this world is indeed clever, often using clever tactics. It would be better if he just used a simple labyrinth.
"He has been trying to get ahead of us, targeting the spirit's dwelling, and even taking over Arnold's body..."
'The demon king has fought against Heroes many times before. He must be predicting our moves based on past experiences.'
Diona makes a conjecture from the perspective of Rustu's people. I think what she's saying is correct.
Heroes are passed down, and each one is a different person. However, the demon king is the same existence. Thinking about it that way, the demon king might have more "know-how" against Heroes. Of course, the Heroes' side also accumulates knowledge based on the records of past battles, mainly through Rustu's people.
Still, why does the demon king keep reviving? Can't he be erased instead of sealed?
"Is it difficult to completely seal the demon king this time as well?"
'The Demon King has become an existence like a lump of resentment. As long as people live, it will never be destroyed.'
According to Diona, the thing that became the Demon King has already been destroyed, and the resentment is creating its body. If that's the case, as long as people with emotions that become the source of resentment live, it will never be destroyed.
'I don't want to be stuck with this forever... it's so annoying.'
Elvira speaks in a straightforward, childlike tone. Everyone nods in agreement with her words, which are also those of a direct victim of the Demon King's harm.
Elvira is probably worried about Self-Destruction Disease as well. In reality, even though we managed to treat it successfully this time, there's no guarantee that we can do so next time. This time, we were just lucky with the timing, but if a patient with Self-Destruction Disease appears in an era without a Hero, the same tragedy could repeat itself.
However, from now on, maybe our distant descendants will... Maybe the faith passed down from parent to child, the techniques passed down from mentor to disciple, will solve everything.
It's an extremely optimistic thought. But for now, I'm holding onto hope for the future.
'Even if the Demon King is completely destroyed, I feel like something else will take its place.'
Julius mutters quietly. What he wants to say is probably, "Even if you defeat me, a second, third Demon King will..."
There's always someone harboring evil in their heart, no matter the era. Even if the Demon King disappears, it's only a matter of time before a new power takes its place. It's sad, but that's reality.
Lukas, who had been silent until now, shakes his head slightly. Then, with a strong, unwavering gaze, he declares:
'We don't know what will happen hundreds of years from now. We're here to protect the present.'
In the end, it's possible that we're just repeating the same thing for thousands, tens of thousands of years in an eternity. From God's perspective, that would be incredibly foolish. However, no matter how foolish it may be, we have to live in the "now" and protect the "future" that's connected to it.
The strong words from Lukas shone a light in the eyes of his companions. It seems that their anxiety and dissatisfaction about the future have been cleared, and their hearts have become one.
The figure guiding his companions with just one word was, without a doubt, a Hero.
''Arnold is greatly reducing his power. Demon king is probably got no spare energy left.'
――The final battle is near.
The Heroes headed towards the last city to protect the "now".
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