NOVEL WEB Chapter 26
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“Hehehe, it’s finally time to bring an end to this world…”
“Is that really how you express a conclusion?”
“No, I just wanted to give it a shot. I got a bit hyped up since the last volume is out.”
“The author is… how should I put it… unique?”
“That’s one way to put it.”
But thinking back on the things that happened while I was serializing Support Disbandment, it’s honestly understandable.
I got kidnapped, and the Dark Mages even toppled dungeons after reading my novel.
Moreover, once this final volume in my hands reaches the Publishing House, the Dark Mages will start gathering, so there’s still work to be done.
‘Well, I’m not exactly in a situation where I’m needed, so I’ll just stay here.’
And once the Dark Mages are dealt with, I’ll head straight back home.
“Then… I should start preparing too.”
“Are you really okay with this?”
LaTe, being a Hero, decided to participate in the hunt for the Dark Mages, but honestly, I was pretty anxious since her memories were still unstable.
‘What if she suddenly forgets how to fight during the battle?’
For some reason, LaTe, who now hardly forgets anything about me, still shows a birdlike demeanor towards others.
“Don’t worry. While I’ve been with you, your condition has been improving little by little. I know what you’re worried about, but it won’t come to that.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. You might not know, but I often go out to train at night and come back.”
“Really?”
“Well, of course, you wouldn’t know. I made sure to leave quietly so you wouldn’t wake up.”
I seriously had no idea.
Is this what being a Hero feels like?
With a blank expression, LaTe smiled and placed a hand on my head.
“So don’t worry. I’ve only gotten lost on my way back a couple of times.”
“Wow, that statement just made your trust rating plummet.”
Thinking of LaTe getting lost on her way back after training without me, I suddenly felt really uneasy.
“I-I’ll definitely come back without causing any problems, so just know that!”
“Well, if you insist…”
What can I say? If the Hero says so.
“D-Don’t get hurt, Hero.”
All I can do is cheer her on, so aside from this, I have nothing else to offer.
“Hehe, I get it. Don’t worry, Author.”
“You’ll really be relieved thinking about what to do on your vacation, right?”
“Don’t worry. Let’s enjoy our vacation when you come back.”
And so, two days passed.
***
“Support Disbandment’s final volume! This doesn’t make any sense!”
“Has it really been that long… Wow, when a book comes out quickly, these kinds of issues arise…”
“Since it’s the day of the finale for Support Disbandment, I might as well stay home and binge-read it again.”
“Marcus, please be happy…”
“Today is going to be a sad day…”
It was the day Volume 10 of Support Disbandment was released.
Knowing that today was the last day of Support Disbandment, people maintained a slightly downcast mood compared to usual.
“Riaaiaiaiaiaia! Riaaiaiaia!”
“Wow! Woohoo! Yay! Yay!”
“Wooo! Books!”
There were indeed some cheerful folks mixed in, but most were in a gloomy state.
As it’s the final volume, the Publishing House released a larger quantity than usual, allowing most people in line to leave with Volume 10 of Support Disbandment.
“Please, Marcus needs to be happy…”
As the books were being opened, the next day arrived.
“Support Disbandment Volume 11 exists, right?”
“Aah… what a beautiful ending…”
“Damn, I know this is the best way to end it, but I still want to see more…”
“How could I forget the Betrayer Hero…”
“You haven’t forgotten, have you?”
“Uuhhuuh… Boohoo!”
“Wooo… books…”
Countless people in the streets were showing various reactions.
But before the aftertaste of Support Disbandment faded, people were greeted with an astonishing sight.
“The Imperial Knight Brigade!”
“Golden armor…!”
“Hero! Kill those wicked Dark Mages!”
“For Marcus!”
“Look, the Two-Handed Sword Party is with them too!”
“The novel is becoming a reality!”
The Imperial Knight Brigade marched in golden armor.
Right in the center, the recently revealed Hero, LaTe, confidently advanced, accompanied by the Two-Handed Sword Party, known as Marcus’s party in reality.
“That name…”
“It’s Mas, Hero.”
“Right, I remember now. Thank you for participating in the hunt for the Dark Mages, Sir Mas.”
“No need to mention it. We have quite a grudge against the Dark Mages ourselves.”
At Mas’s words, his comrades glared angrily.
“Right, Hero. I was trapped in a dungeon for days because of those damn Dark Mages. I’ll kill every last one of them.”
“Is that so.”
The Hero slightly lifted the corners of her mouth, looking at them with confidence.
“In fact, we don’t need this many people gathered for this. It’s going to be an easy task.”
“Huh?”
To Mas, who expressed confusion, LaTe covered her mouth with a laugh before explaining.
“I don’t know how you’ve perceived me, but a Hero must achieve victory alone against unreasonable enemies.”
Remembering her brilliant past, LaTe’s eyes sparkled.
Watching her smile while shining with determination, Mas suddenly understood why she was called a Hero.
“Just once.”
Her expression bore both the confidence of someone who would never lose and the will to fight for someone else.
“One time is enough.”
Zech had never seen LaTe in such a heroic light.
***
“I see their figures in the distance.”
“I see them too.”
As the Knight in the front spotted the Dark Mages, LaTe grinned and moved ahead among the knights.
Thus, standing right in front, LaTe said, “Wouldn’t it have been better to put me at the front from the start? There was no need to come up here in an uncomfortable manner.”
After saying that, LaTe drew the sword gifted by the Imperial Family.
-Srrt.
The sword was made of a material considered to be the toughest in the world, orichalcum, and the one who forged it was an artisan among the Dwarves.
The name of the sword symbolizes atonement: ‘Expiate.’
“It’s not a holy sword, but let’s see how well I do.”
After relaying her expectations to the sword, she took her stance.
“Hhh.. Hoo…”
In the long-awaited actual battle, she took a short breath and immediately swung her sword.
-Woosh.
As she swiftly swung, the sound of slicing through the wind filled the air.
At that moment, everything in front of them was ‘erased.’
Countless trees, enormous rocks, and the Dark Mages vanished as well.
With just one swing, all that was once before her was gone.
-Thud. Thud.
The only indication that something had been there were the ‘legs’ of the collapsing Dark Mages.
For a moment, everyone was speechless, mouths agape in disbelief.
-Clink.
LaTe, the one responsible for the scene before them, sheathes Expiate.
“Hoo, I’ve gotten a bit weaker since it’s been a while.”
Just as Rain was about to respond to her ridiculous statement.
“Y-You insane monster!!”
Suddenly, a cloaked Dark Mage came crashing down from the sky at a rapid pace right in front of LaTe.
“…You’re still alive?”
“You crazy monster! What have you done!? My, my countless fellow countrymen!”
“I cut them.”
“W-What?”
LaTe answered the repeating question nonchalantly.
“I cut them. That’s all.”
“This is nonsense! You must be the Hero! But you lost both your holy sword and armor, it’s clear you’ve weakened—”
“It’s simple.”
LaTe interrupted the Dark Mage’s words and revealed the answer to him.
“Just because I’ve weakened doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve gotten stronger.”
“…You monster!!”
In a fit of rage, the Dark Mage charges at her.
LaTe met him with…
-Smack!
A simple flick of her finger.
Yet to the Dark Mage, that simple flick was anything but simple.
“Crch, agh…”
The Dark Mage fell to the ground, foaming at the mouth.
“You know, I think I should keep at least one of them alive for questioning. Since I’m not very familiar with that line of work, I may have to ask for your help?”
“A-Ah, yes!”
At LaTe’s polite request, the members of the Imperial Knight Brigade quickly approached the Dark Mage to restrain him.
“That’s a problem solved. The author never knows what to think of me.”
Seeing her smile as if it were amusing, Mas thought to himself.
‘Author, who on earth are you living with…?’
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