Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

"W-wait...! Right now, am I the only one who doesn't understand what we're talking about?" Hero of Sealing Shelloa's imagination had reached its limits. Thanks to her connection with Risir, she had succeeded in linking the two topics of heroes and magic swords- But beyond that was the problem. "Three magic swords? Purifying them? Could it be-.... Some kind of metaphor? Or a future plan?" The other heroes' reactions made Shelloa even more confused. Why? Why are they looking at me with those expressions? Why am I the only one confused in this situation? "Sealing. First, calm down. I'll need to explain about Risir first. This is going to be a very long story." "No, no! Knowledge! I know too! I know about Advancement as well! I also have a connection with Advancement-" "I understand your feelings, Sealing." It was then that the clear-eyed man intervened. "I too feel no small amount of confusion and doubt, just like you." The Unyielding Hero Kuzan. He maintained his usual clear eyes. 'This atmosphere... if it continues like this-' However, inside he was suffering from great anxiety. Until now- The atmosphere of the place had been tightly maintained among the heroes, while subtly leaning toward himself. From the equal position of all being heroes, only he possessed two sacred swords, so it was a natural flow. If he just followed that flow, the person who would occupy a unique position among the heroes would be himself- the Unyielding. However. When Advancement appeared, that natural flow completely lost its balance. The appearance of heroes who absolutely wanted to carry out their ideals and beliefs vanished without a trace. Now they were acting as if they would gladly hand over their sacred swords if Advancement extended his hand. Even- 'Purifying magic swords with sacred swords, what on earth-... Ah, no! Get a grip! This isn't the time to worry about such things-' Even he himself was tormented by the urge to lend his sacred sword to Advancement. But how much more so would the other heroes, who were friendly to Advancement from the start? Kuzan thought. If he wanted to reverse the flow, now was the last chance. The moment he resolved this, temptation followed. 'Hero of Advancement...' Kuzan, like the other heroes, already understood. The fact that Advancement was a person who had reached a realm he could not approach. The level and achievements he had already accomplished. Far from daring to stand shoulder to shoulder, it was so distant that even looking up was overwhelming. However. Kuzan had faith. That if it was only about qualifications as a hero, he would not lose to him. "First, Advancement. May I ask you one thing?" "Ah. Yes. If it's something I can answer, I'll respond with all sincerity. Please, feel free to ask." "Then accepting your kindness- You're late." Kuzan seemed to organize his thoughts then suddenly blurted out. A question without hostility but blatantly direct. The heroes looked at him with immoderate gazes. The Unyielding didn't care. Because he thought it was a sufficiently reasonable question. "Surely yesterday, without exception, you received notice. That there would be an important gathering where all heroes would meet in one place. The purpose was to discuss that divine oracle. It's the most serious matter there could be for a hero. Yet, you- were late to such a meeting. Even though the meeting place is your residence..." A hero must always be present at the place and time when they are needed. This was Kuzan's conviction. He asked politely. "Was there perhaps a good reason for this?" "Ah, well, I felt a slight headache-" "A headache? Just for such a reason, to make other heroes wait-" "I dealt with a demon and came back." "?" Kuzan, who had been interrogating Risir with great momentum, was left speechless. He talked as if demon slaying was some kind of headache medicine, so it was inevitable. "Headache? Ah, is it perhaps that thing from yesterday?" "Hm? Ah, right. Roera. That thing yesterday. The headache lasted quite a while, so I looked into it and found cold energy drifting around me." "And then?" "Dangaleon gave me a hint. A demon called Embracing Bitter Cold seemed to have cursed me. So I tried to take action- but they said it had already poured everything into the curse and died?" "...What, so then. The demon self-destructed while trying to curse you, and you just shook off that curse?" "Right?" "How did you shake off the demon's curse?" "Uh... like this?" Risir swung both arms in the air with a sloppy posture. As if swatting away flies buzzing around. It was quite a ridiculous sight- But if the result of that action was demon slaying, the story changes. "Embracing Bitter Cold...?" "Hm? Felix, is it a name you know?" And it wasn't just any demon, but a high-ranking demon. "...Ah, I see. Then the headache is gone now?" "Yeah. I'm fine now." "Then that's settled. Huh? Wait. What were we originally talking about?" "..." Kuzan's clear eyes, having witnessed this series of events, were trembling. He was late to a meeting discussing the most serious matter for a hero. But the reason was slaying a high-ranking demon. In that case. Was he lacking in qualifications as a hero, or- "Ma, magic sword...!" Kuzan, whose heart had become urgent, suddenly shouted. "It's been coming up in conversation- no, it's something I've been curious about from the beginning! Advancement! Don't tell me you're accepting the power of magic swords!? Someone who calls himself a hero!?" "No. The magic swords are accepting my power." "?" At this point, Kuzan's clear eyes were shaking mercilessly like a carriage on a rough road. "The magic swords accepting your power, what does that-" "More precisely, you could say the magic swords bear the overload I should be carrying instead." "Overload...!?" At this unexpected application of magic swords, Kuzan's eyes widened greatly. He forgot his original purpose and revealed pure curiosity. "Isn't that too- too dangerous!? If something goes wrong and the magic swords don't accept your overload, what happens then!" "It would be terrible." Advancement's expression became serious. Kuzan also became serious and listened carefully to his answer. "Then I'd have to rest well for about a day." "...Ah-" "Is there anything else you're curious about?" Of course there was. There was still much more he wanted to question. "That purifying magic swords through sacred swords- how does that process work?" He decided to set it aside. Because he felt doubt about what meaning there was in discussing heroic qualifications before someone who slayed high-ranking demons due to headaches and had to rest well for a day if something terrible happened due to overload. Kuzan's clear eyes, which had been looking straight ahead, lowered. *** The heroes couldn't help but anticipate, though it was unseemly. Risir. The moment they would hand over their sacred swords to him. More precisely, the moment multiple sacred swords would be held in his hands. Sacred swords and magic swords harmonizing to generate wondrous energy capable of turning the night sky upside down. A purification ritual performed through that. That story, more fantastical than an immature child's delusion, made the heroes' hearts race. They thought. If such a phenomenon truly existed, they too would need to experience it at least once. "...Damn. If Pochena had been awake, she would have been excited and caused a commotion." "Right. Elisia- she'll be okay, right?" Knowledge and Ideal looked at their sacred swords with bitter expressions. "No, think positively." "Shelloa?" To those two, Sealing offered meaningful words of comfort. "Think positively? What do you mean by that?" "Think about it. If the sacred swords were awake and obediently went into Risir's hands-" Sealing looked down at her sacred sword and recalled memories of the past. "Furthermore, if they showed signs of being even more- joyful than when they were in their own hands-" "...That far-" They imagined it. Knowledge and Ideal, being sufficiently realistic, forcibly stopped that terrifying imagination. They too recalled memories of the past, remembering that Risir's demonic charm had a particularly strong effect on sacred swords. "The problem is from now on. Sacred swords that recognize only one person as their master... will the other heroes' sacred swords really obediently go into Lord Risir's hands?" Meanwhile, the Unyielding was serious for a different reason alone. The seniors(?) looked at Kuzan steadily. "Ah, everyone- do you have any strategies that come to mind?" "Believe firmly." "Pardon? Believe? Felix, what should I believe?" "That our sacred swords are in a state of unconsciousness, so they'll obediently go into Risir's hands." "...?" Then. The closed door opened. "Shall we get going?" It was Risir, who had returned after scouting for a location to conduct the so-called Sacred Magic Sword Show. "I asked Mr. Gus, and he gladly offered the space. The mansion's courtyard- there's a spacious open area where outdoor events are usually held, I think we can proceed there." The heroes began moving, following Risir at the front. "Is there a need to do it outdoors? From what I heard, it seems like quite a noisy affair." There was someone who broke away from the group to take a position beside Risir. Hero of Blessing Roera tapped his arm and asked. "I'd like to do that if possible too- just in case, you know." "Just in case? What don't you know?" "Well, it's noisy, but too noisy, you know." Risir muttered while looking into the distance. "When conducting the ritual with six swords, I can't guarantee what will happen-" Only then did the heroes harbor another thought beyond expectation. Now that they heard it. What would actually happen? If multiple sacred swords and magic swords were held in his hands- "...Ah! Come to think of it, a thought suddenly occurs-" "Jane?" "Risir, how are you planning to hold six swords at once? Let's say you hold one in each hand- one in your mouth, two under your armpits, and the remaining one between your legs?" "...I pray it won't be that kind of appearance, at least." Eventually. They arrived at the aforementioned courtyard. "Huh?" The guests who had already taken their places welcomed Risir. Karoer and other core members of the expedition. Furthermore, there were Frozen Breath Palag and Talent Scout Dray. An unexpected gathering of colleagues. Risir felt reassured and broke into a smile. "Everyone, how did you know to come here-" "I heard the story from Gus, Risir." "Lord Palag...! You don't need to go to such trouble to help...!" "Help?" "Hm?" "How could we possibly help with that extraordinary ritual?" "...Then?" They were spectators. News that the Sacred Magic Sword Show would resume had already spread. "Since you and the heroes were having a gathering, I was keeping watch just in case- thanks to that, I get to have this rare experience. Come on. That rumored ritual. Let me see it too!" "..." "...Ah! Still, if there's anything you need help with, just say so! I'll help with all sincerity within my capabilities-" They belatedly observed Risir's mood. While skillfully taking their seats. "Yes, if I need help... I'll let you know then." When the conversation ended, the other heroes gathered around Risir. Their actions left Risir flustered. Because they suddenly placed their sacred swords in front of him. "Everyone, this is-" His confusion was brief. Risir realized the meaning behind the heroes' actions. They hadn't just followed along to cooperate with Risir's magic sword purification ritual. At this very moment. The unified opinion of the heroes was being expressed. Jane stepped forward and spoke to Risir. "If it's you, Risir, that person will surely acknowledge you too." "That person-" "Yes." Jane looked at Risir. Then looked at the swords gathered before him. One hero. And seven sacred swords. "To the first hero Lindal." The other heroes also stepped forward, following him. Following Jane, Felix spoke up. "Whatever path you take, we'll follow behind you. Hero of Advancement Risi-... no." True Hero Risir. Then, Felix spoke to Risir with an awkward smile. "So, Risir. How do you feel?" Felix looked at the sacred swords gathered on the ground. After the divine oracle. The sacred swords that had fallen asleep were in such a weakened state that their former appearance was hard to recognize. On the other hand- Risir's sacred sword. That sword hidden beneath the gray cloak was emanating such clear energy that one could tell it was a sacred sword without even lifting the cloak. Should it truly be called the sacred sword of a true hero? Felix continued speaking with deep emotion. "How does it feel to gather all sacred swords in one place for the second time in history?" "All sacred swords? Ah, everyone, that's-...!" A look of bewilderment suddenly appeared on Risir's face. The heroes never got to ask what that meant. "Oh, that's...!" The spectators(?) who were standing far away shouted. "Big brother!?!" Followed by Roera's panicked cry. "This is-" Light bloomed from where the sacred swords had gathered. It gradually expanded and began to engulf the surroundings. *** A moment later. Risir found himself alone in a space of light, having left the previous location. "...!" Risir hurriedly looked around. The vast world of light vibrated, and its resonance reached his inner self as well. Suddenly. His head turned upward. -...descendant. Risir hastily stepped back. Right above him, a mass of light in human form was speaking to him. -You have received recognition from all sacred swords. "...!" Risir's eyes widened greatly. That voice, spoken calmly, seemed to fill the entire vast world of light and more, completely filling his inner self. -And so, there is now a truth you must know. "P-please wait a moment...!" -No. There is no reason to hesitate. No reason to waver either. You are already prepared. The figure of light alternately pointed at the sacred swords piled on the ground and Risir's waist. -The seven sacred swords with you prove that fact. "No, that's-" The figure of light had no intention of waiting for Risir's continued words. Whatever he might feel, all the pieces had already gathered, and the wheel of fate had begun to turn. The hero desperately trying to draw his sacred sword. The figure of light turned away from him and opened its mouth. -You are- "This!" Risir lifted his cloak. He held up the sword that had been hanging at his waist. That thing, which emanated more sacred energy than most sacred swords- "This isn't a sacred sword, it's a magic sword!!! Jallak isn't here right now! We haven't gathered them all yet!!!" It was the magic sword, Beast. -... The figure of light. Its mouth, which had been open, slowly closed. Silence came to the vast world of light.