58 – Was I a Human? (2)
‘···I’ve heard all sorts of offers in my life.’
When I heard the offer to join the Demon Army, naturally, the first thing I felt was confusion.
I never dreamed of making such an offer to a hero.
I’ve played over 900 rounds, but this is the first time I’ve seen something like this.
Well, considering how few things have changed since I fell here, it’s possible for something like this to happen. They’re not supporting characters made up of 0s and 1s, but real living beings.
Of course, I tried to refuse.
It was an unnecessary offer. Nonsense. I tried to brush it off like that and shake my head.
“······.”
However, unexpectedly, the words were not easy to let slip from my lips.
Then suddenly, an unpleasant question arose in my mind.
···Why am I going through all this trouble, listening to these criticisms?
-Damn, that bastard.
-Why was someone like that chosen as a hero?
-It seems like the fate of the continent is already over.
If I still listen carefully, I can hear the faint whispers of criticisms in my mind.
These were not made-up words, but phrases that I had heard at least once before.
This was my situation, my position. Yet, I was swinging my sword for those who cursed me.
“When you enter the Demon King’s army, you won’t have to worry about curses like that. Since it’s a curse related to the goddess, it doesn’t have much power against us who are hostile to her. Even if there is an effect, I will explain it well by your side.”
Amidst that, the words he spoke could only be sweet.
At least, if I joined the Demon King’s army.
I wouldn’t have to stress over useless things anymore. I could overturn this rotten world as I pleased.
It was a clear fact that at the very least, I would be treated better than I am now.
But after contemplating for a long time, I could only shake my head.
“···I refuse.”
“What?”
When I refused, his head tilted in surprise.
When I saw his face, it was an expression that I didn’t expect him to refuse.
“I can’t understand. Why on earth would you let go of such a good opportunity?”
Yeah, why did he refuse? Although I didn’t really know the reason myself, I still gave an answer.
“I’m human. I don’t want to get caught up in the midst of monsters.”
“Hah, is that the only reason? Then, if you stay on the side of humanity, can you have a proper conversation with them?”
“······.”
“In my eyes, humans and monsters are not much different. In our Demon Lord’s army, there are plenty of people who can communicate with them, and even if that’s not the case, we won’t just blindly be hostile towards them. Are you worried about appearance? Don’t worry. In our Demon Lord’s army, there are plenty of humanoid monsters too. We can take care of your entertainment, like a succubus.”
“··· You really talk too much.”
I raised my holy sword.
“I am a hero. You are a member of the Demon Lord’s army. Do we need any more reasons to be enemies? So, shut up and come at me, you bastard.”
“··· You will regret that choice.”
Did he finally think about fighting? The guy who had closed his mouth started drawing a magic circle again.
It was a black magic circle similar to before. This time, he wanted to use a corpse as a sacrificial offering.
“We can’t let that happen.”
Of course, I wasn’t just going to stand there and watch.
I could see blood splattered on the ground. It was a mixture of my blood and the blood of the monsters.
I immediately infused magic power into that place and activated a spell.
Blood Transfusion.
What I wanted was fire.
Whoosh!
The surroundings, once filled with fatigue, transformed into a sea of fire in an instant.
The flickering flames began to consume the corpses on the ground. It was a way to dispose of the materials for the offering in advance.
With this, there would be no more antics like the offering.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Hmm…”
As if expressing discomfort, he let out a groan.
The subsequent battles were conducted in the same manner. The monsters kept charging, and I kept blocking them.
The occasional dark magic attacks were bothersome, but still manageable.
Perhaps it was because I prevented the offering. He also needed time to cast powerful magic.
“Haa… Haa…”
I continued like that for a while.
Suddenly, the underground sewer was filled with rough breaths. It was all my own breathing.
Despite the endless slashing, there was no sign of the monster horde diminishing.
“Where on earth can I find a refill…”
There really isn’t anything easy.
The voices in my head continued to play, causing my head to throb.
The shortness of breath was not solely due to my stamina issue.
The curse of exhaustion.
It was largely due to the curse he had added.
I glared at him.
“Indeed, you’re quite annoying.”
If I didn’t deal with that guy first, I would have been in big trouble. The problem is how to handle it…
As I mentioned earlier, the guy is surrounded by numerous monsters. In other words, to reach him, I have to break through this mob first.
I already feel the tension building up, and the profanities are starting to flow, but… I have to break through, right? Is there a way?
With that in mind, I rushed towards the guy.
That’s when it happened.
[WARNING! WARNING!]
[A variable has occurred in the scenario!]
The system alarm rang, and a warning message appeared in front of me. That damn warning sound that always comes when things go wrong. And it happened again this time.
I couldn’t help but panic.
Damn it, in this situation?
When my head is already throbbing?
Suddenly, I noticed that black “mist” was flowing out of the guy’s body. An effect that only exists in this world. In other words, the power of the Demon King.
“I didn’t expect you to already know how to use the power given by the Master. I admire your abilities.”
As I stared at the guy with a serious face, he began to manifest magic. Sinister energy emanated from his hands. It was even more ominous than when he gained magic through sacrifice.
Finally, the guy completed his spell and attacked me.
I tried to block it, but once again, I couldn’t stop the curse-based magic.
Immediately afterward.
“aaahhh!!”
A terrible pain crushed my mind.
It’s so loud, as if my head is going to explode!
The noise that had been ringing incessantly had increased by dozens of times compared to before!!
“Do you know? This curse is a curse that overlaps. If you’re going to make someone listen to an unpleasant sound, wouldn’t it be more effective to repeat it hundreds or thousands of times? In the old days, it drove several people crazy.”
He laughs mockingly.
But that wasn’t all.
“In addition, I’ve added a little gift to make you more honest. A friend called the Whisper of Desire.”
It was just as he said.
Amidst countless gossip, voices like mine could be heard.
– I want to stop.
– I’m tired.
– Does it even matter?
At some point, I had thought about these sentences subconsciously. They were so clear, even in the shattered state of my mind.
Snap!
Even in the midst of that, the monster continued to rush in, as if going insane.
“A truly dark situation. Are you exhausted because of the curse?”
As I suffered for a long time, he opened his mouth again. Apparently, it seemed that the voice inside me wasn’t only heard by me.
“All of you are so dark and filled with negative emotions. It’s pitiful.”
“Shut up… Please.”
“Do you know the most malicious aspect of the curse related to resentment?”
He looks at me.
“That it often leads to conflict and inability to cooperate? That misunderstandings pile up? No. Those are just additional problems. Ultimately, the biggest problem is feeling unjust and f*cked up.”
Continuing the conversation,
“It’s stress. It may seem trivial, but it’s an incredibly effective tool for driving people to their deaths. Too many people underestimate the power of this weapon. In reality, the stress kills just as many as the Demon Army does.”
Suddenly, a sense of pity filled the guy’s eyes.
It felt as if he was looking at a child on the street rather than an enemy.
“Let me advise you one last time. Join the Demon Army. This is not for us, but for you. If you join, we won’t let those noisy voices ringing in your head bother you.”
The second offer of persuasion came.
However, this time, it was incomparably sweeter than before.
Setting aside everything else, if I just accept, I can get rid of these damn voices.
And as he said…
I was already exhausted.
The whole world is an enemy.
Everywhere I go, there are enemies and adversaries, and I can’t even think about building relationships with people.
Sometimes, very rarely, when I vividly feel that everyone hates me.
Regardless of my sanity, my nose tingles and my throat tightens.
Maybe, as he said, giving up would make things easier.
But strangely, different words came out of my mouth.
“No, um…”
Why?
I don’t even know the reason. Why am I refusing?
Am I holding onto this crumbling mind and continuing to fight? I don’t know either.
It seemed that the guy didn’t understand either.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
I raised the Holy Sword.
Monsters appeared in front of me. My approach remained the same. Pierce through the monsters, defeat the guy.
Meanwhile, the guy’s words continued.
“Is there any value in going there? No, there isn’t. Why do you insist on walking that thorny path?”
Strangely, my vision became blurry. In other words, I was crying.
I couldn’t distinguish whether it was because of the pain or because I sympathized with what the guy was saying.
“There is no glory on the path you’re taking.”
I know.
“There will be no honor either.”
I know.
“Even if, by some chance, you manage to defeat the Demon King, the predetermined future afterwards is obvious. You will die lonely. No one may recognize your efforts. In the end, there is only emptiness.”
“I know.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. It was a fact that I was aware of.
Even if the goddess were to save me. The achievements of the warrior ‘Luke’ may still be belittled and disappear.
From the start, it was uncertain whether I could even reach the Demon King.
Rationally, my choices may be foolish.
But.
“But f*ck… First of all, it’s not something people have to save.”
Someone has to overturn the filth.
That’s me.
Unjust and f*cking sh*tty as it may be, there was no one to take responsibility if I ran away like this.
Even if they tore me apart with harsh words.
There was a landscape I wanted to protect too.
The voices of children arguing that you can hear while walking down the street. The smiles of people blossoming brightly on the streets.
Various cheerful words that had spread vigorously in places where I wasn’t present. Happiness blooms everywhere, even in a rotten world.
Even if I couldn’t experience it myself. It was worth protecting.
So, I’ll go.
Slash! Slash!
I cut and stabbed the approaching monsters, step by step.
He murmured with an admiring voice.
“As expected of a strong man. In various ways…”
“It’s just foolish, you retard.”
For a while.
I slowly felt that the time had come.
The pain accumulated inside me is hoping to be released little by little.
I extended my right hand forward.
And then, I used the magic that I am most confident in.
I use ‘Painful Memory’!
In an instant, everything in front of me vanished.
