The Hero Disciple Is Back

EP.27 – 26. The disciple knows

… Strange.

“I’ve been sleeping too much lately… .”

The chronic disease that mercenaries get the most was the problem of sleep. You won’t be able to fall asleep deeply. Night is an opportunity for allies, but it is also an opportunity for enemies. A surprise attack aimed at the night could be carried out by an ally or by an enemy. That’s why experienced mercenaries are wary of the night. In other words, it was natural to not be able to sleep deeply. That’s why even after I retired, I still couldn’t sleep deeply. In addition, it was natural that I could not sleep as deeply as I am not alone and have a child to take care of.

But these days, I’ve been sleeping so much that it’s strange. It was as if I had been subjected to magic. However, if magic forced them to fall into a state of sleep, they were forced to do so, so it was normal for fatigue to build up, not to be relieved. Well, it’s possible if a wizard of an extremely high level uses magic with great care, but… . No matter how much I thought about it, it was a story that was so unrealistic that I had no choice but to shake my head.

“By the way, you seem to be getting more shiny as the days go by?”

For some reason, every time I wake up, it seems to shine more and more. Is it because you’re growing up?

I’m trying to find out as much as possible, but since nothing about dragon eggs has been left to this day, there was no choice but to be limited.

The last conversation I had with the spirit of the last Dragon Lord came to mind.

– Since dragon eggs are perfect beings, you can take care of them with sincerity by your side. Well, it would be nice if you could play with magic. You can take care of it with affection and play with magic in moderation.

That look with a refreshing smile, with the feeling of ‘really easy?’… .

It was to the point of wanting to punch it if possible.

It wasn’t strange.

isn’t that a dragon?

Since he was a perfect being who could use magic just by doing breathing exercises, he would have solved everything with just magic. So it was only natural that even if he wanted to tell humans how to care for dragon eggs, he couldn’t. But anyway, who would think that’s a parenting method? If I wrote that as a parenting diary and showed it, it would be fortunate if the parenting diary didn’t fit my face as it was, saying ‘You don’t deserve to be a parent!’

“Eh. I have to take care of it diligently today.”

Today, I am at a loss, but I am determined to do something for that little child.

♧♧♧

“Welcome to.”

“Didn’t you rest?”

“it’s okay.”

Archmage William, who was waiting for Sera, who spent time with the dragon egg without Jade’s knowledge and returned with space movement magic, greeted her today. Riel fell asleep with William’s daughter, Ellie, and Leo fell asleep as soon as he lay down on the bed due to the fatigue accumulated from training beyond his limits.

“Are the dragon eggs okay?”

“Yes, good boy.”

William was relieved internally. Fortunately, the dragon egg seemed to please the master. William couldn’t help but feel relieved that he was really fortunate to be able to end without seeing blood. But after being relieved, a new worry arose.

“But will it really be okay?”

“what?”

“Anyway, isn’t it a dragon?”

the most perfect being in this world

It was because it was clear that it was not easy for humans to take care of the strongest race known to have dared not touch even the demons who said they would do anything if they could drive this world to ruin. It wasn’t a joke, it wouldn’t be strange if a person died from the magic Hatchling threw as a joke. Considering the strong presence Archmage William felt from the dragon egg, it was really no joke.

“I think so, so don’t worry, I’ve trained you in advance.”

“… … .”

William immediately remembered Leo’s training course… . It was Sera who very determinedly rolled the child over and over again and called it training. Saying that such a Sarah is teaching… . Isn’t it inevitable that there is no trust at all? William believed that it was a natural and unavoidable consequence of not trusting even himself in this matter, despite being a lord to whom he had sworn allegiance. But even so, he did not dare to say anything to his master.

‘It’s a matter of Master’s safety… . The lord will care the most.’

I don’t know anything else, but if it’s about Master, I can trust him. I don’t know how to educate them, but at least there’s no way they’re going to harm Master. You can be sure of that and you can trust it. I decided to think that that would be enough.

‘In the first place, dragon training… . It’s a problem that even I, the archmage, can’t help.’

No matter what anyone says, the opponent is the strongest race. And the stronger the power, the higher the self-esteem. Except for Jade, who was recognized by the last dragon lord, there would be no human other than the master who could take a step forward in educating dragons. Because the master was incredibly strong and was also a ‘very special existence’.

It wasn’t just because she was a warrior.

If his thoughts are correct, the lord… .

“William”

“Yes, lord.”

“Don’t bother using magic like erasing memories. You won’t be able to hide it from the demons unless you completely annihilate your ego.”

If William noticed Sarah’s truth, then Sarah also noticed William’s approach to the truth.

“… If so, I will.”

William knew Sarah was going to regress. How powerful a weapon it was, William knew best as an archmage. If the existence of that powerful weapon could be found out by the demon lord and the information passed on to him, William thought that he should be willing to annihilate his ego. The Sera he saw was the strongest being in the world. If even such an existence was defeated and returned… . There was no doubt that the existence of the Demon King was an existence comparable to God. What if you knew the possibility of returning to such an existence? It would be nice if nothing happened… .

How likely is that? Even the archmage herself knows the existence of regression and asks, ‘Is it possible? perhaps?’ Then, I thought of various options. Then what about the demon king? What about the demons? What are the chances that they will really learn about the existence of regression and not try to exploit it? William was sure it would be very low, and the chances of finding a way to use it at worst were not low at all.

It wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t happened at all, but it wouldn’t be strange if it happened twice as long as it had already happened once.

If so, William rationally judged that the top priority was not to pass the possibility of regression to the enemies.

“… … .”

“Isn’t it not good if the truth goes to the demons, or more precisely to the demon king? That’s why you kept it a secret even from Master. If so… .”

“William”

“… Yes, lord.”

“If it was ‘the old me’, I might have said yes. Maybe I tried to see your blood with my hands. I could have made a lot of wrong choices just for the sake of protecting the world.”

How many lives were sacrificed to save the world? At first, it was not an easy choice. It was a very difficult and painful choice. But after doing it, I got used to it. The coward who trembled at the sacrifice of one person suddenly became 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000, even 100,000… . Later, no matter how many people died, the weight of those lives was only felt as a number. It’s a law that feels light when you adapt, and it’s a law that won’t be remembered later.

When he came to his senses, he was sacrificing people by considering efficiency. As a result, no matter how many lives are sacrificed, it is broken to the point where you can think that it is okay if you can efficiently reach the goal you want. Sarah realized too late that another name for adaptation is collapse. And even after doing so, he couldn’t kill the demon king in the end. Couldn’t save the world. In order to save the world, the most important goal was not achieved on the subject that made a lot of blood shed. On such a subject, he doesn’t even remember the people he made his scapegoats for.

so he knows

You might think that saving 10,000 people by sacrificing 100 would be great, but… . It is a terrible trap. It’s because people get used to sacrificing those 100 people. And if you adapt to it and repeat it several times, the number of victims easily exceeds 10,000. I can confirm it because I have seen the end of the road. That humans are crazy beings who can adapt even to such crazy things.

“William, no one follows those who don’t want to shoulder it.”

“… … .”

“The moment I make you my scapegoat for comfort, I lose my qualifications as a hero.”

A warrior is someone who leads people

Although he walks in the front, it is not to defeat the demon king alone. To make a path for people to walk on. That’s why a hero must lead people while defeating the demon lord. If you want to fight alone, if you want to kill the enemy alone, if you want to stand alone like that, then you are not a warrior, but a demon king. That’s why it’s not the warrior’s path.

that obvious fact

Sarah was oblivious.

It was forgotten while wandering in the infinite recurrence.

What made me think of that obvious fact

It was possible because I met Jade.

Without him, she would still have forgotten that obvious fact and wandered around.

However, she met Jade, and through Jade, she was able to recall a very obvious fact. That’s why she couldn’t use William as a scapegoat. should not have been Above all, Sarah herself did not want to do that.

“Because it is the role of the demon king to take away the father from the daughter, not the role of the hero.”

he is a warrior

It is an existence to be protected, not an existence that makes sacrifices and leads to death.

That’s why she doesn’t kill William. Don’t make him a scapegoat. don’t abandon him

The danger posed by William’s arrival at the truth? bears even that. That’s a natural choice as a warrior.

“More than anything… .”

It is neither soft nor greedy.

simply

“I am strong.”

He is strong enough to carry and protect anything. Fighting alongside Jade’s Aura Heart, he is by no means weak. He is stronger than anyone else. The pillars of such confidence and determination are supporting her soul.

William bowed his head.

Although he is his master who really makes you feel various thoughts and emotions… . The only person in this world who best suits the name of a warrior is the master.

“I will do my best to help you by your side.”

“That’s fine.”

Sarah moved on without hesitation, and William followed.

That back was the most perfect warrior’s back, no matter what anyone said.