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I Got a New Skill Every Time I Was Exiled, and After 100 Different Worlds, I Was Unmatched (Web Novel) - Chapter 391: The Tragedy of Hero Schwartz: Part One
Chapter 391: The Tragedy of Hero Schwartz: Part One
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
3rd Person POVIt was the day after Hero Schwarz welcomed a new companion and set off for the next town along the clear road. Suddenly, a man stood in front of the Hero’s group, blocking their path.
“Ho ho, are you the Hero?”
“Well, indeed, I am Hero Schwarz, but… who are you?”
Silver armor granted by the Holy King, and with shining golden hair likened to the sun. With eyes as green as the deep forest, it’s rare for anyone to mistake Schwarz. So, when a somewhat dejected young man appeared before him, Schwarz remained vigilant as he inquired.
However, in response to the hero, the black-haired man before him let out a strained laughter and cast a scornful glance.
“Ho? The Hero asks who I am! Then allow me to answer. I am End. The Great Demon King, End!”
“…The Great Demon King?”
Upon hearing the grandiose declaration from the man who spread his arms wide, Schwarz frowned. A man who was not much different in height, slightly thinner than himself, and probably younger. He wore no armor, and the only weapon he had was a cheap-looking sword hanging from his waist.
To be frank, he didn’t look very strong. But the Hero’s intuition warned him not to underestimate this man.
“What’s this guy? Yuusha-sama, leave this to me!”
“No, but…”
“It’s all right! Hey you! I don’t know what your purpose is, but since you made such a grand introduction, you must be prepared, right? As the Hero’s top companion, I, Gand-sama, will beat you to a pulp!”
“Hey, wait!?”
Before Schwarz could stop him, the warrior clad in heavy armor rushed forward. Despite wearing full metal armor, his speed was only as fast as an average adult’s run. His raised axe sliced through the air and struck the suspicious man’s skull directly, but…
“A-Ah!? W-What—!?”
“Pathetic.”
“Ugh!”
Indeed, the axe that hit directly didn’t even manage to graze the suspicious man, let alone stagger him. Instead, as soon as the man’s hand touched him gently, Gand’s massive body was sent flying nearly two meters.
“Don’t you understand? Did you really think that such an attack would be effective against me, The Great Demon King?”
“Wha!? Be careful, he’s strong!”
“Why are you surprised now? It’s natural for me to be strong, isn’t it?”
“Burn! [Burning Lance]!”
From behind the hero, a scorching spear shot out towards the man with an insolent grin. However, the blow that should have melted through steel armor dissipated into mist the moment it touched the man.
“Wha!? Was the magic canceled!?”
“Inexperienced. And… careless!”
“Ugh!?”
Despite watching closely, the man disappeared from in front of the hero’s eyes. At the same time, a groaning voice was heard from behind, and when the hero turned around in a hurry… there lay the collapsed figure of the mage clutching his stomach.
“You… how dare you…!”
“Hmph. It’s because you didn’t know your place. Now, only you remain, right?”
“Don’t underestimate me! I am Hero Schwarz!”
“So what?”
The man caught the gleaming sword swung by the hero with a cheap blade. Despite repeated strikes, the difference in their abilities was clear as day..
“Why can you block my sword with such a cheap blade!? …Even if it’s not the Holy Sword, this is a sword of renowned craftsmanship bestowed by His Majesty the Holy King!”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? There’s a gap between your power and mine.”
“How could that be!?”
Even after five or six exchanges of blows, the situation remained unchanged. The man maintained his composure, while a bead of sweat formed on the hero’s forehead.
Nevertheless, the hero didn’t give up. Desperately swinging his sword until his companions stood up again… when the sparks from the clash of steel reached their thirtieth flicker, the situation finally shifted.
“Huh?”
“Huff, huff… Did you see that!”
The blade in the man’s hand snapped in two. Choosing to regulate his own breathing rather than launching a counterattack, the hero backed away quickly from the man. His companions stood beside him, but the man cast a bored gaze at the hero’s group.
“Isn’t this… a bit anticlimactic? Are you really so pleased about breaking a measly sword? Is it really that reassuring to have your companions, who were helplessly lying on the ground, next to you?”
“Don’t make excuses! In reality, you’re the one who lost your only weapon, and my companions have stood up again!”
“Yeah! I won’t make the same mistake twice! I’ll knock you out this time!”
“You can’t possibly cancel out magic so recklessly. Can you afford to divert your attention to our magic while fighting against the Yuusha-sama?”
“……”
“Give up! Whether you’re truly the Demon King or not, since you claimed to be one, it ends here! This Hero Schwarz will…”
“Fufufufu…”
“…What’s so funny?”
Schwarz directed a puzzled gaze at the man who suddenly burst into laughter. Despite the supposed advantage they had gained, cold sweat ran down his back incessantly.
“No, no, it’s the end. The end… never thought the Hero would declare an end to me…”
“…If you surrender, I’ll hear you out?”
“Yuusha-sama!? But he—”
“It’s fine. Even if they’re the enemy… even if I must kill them, there’s no reason not to listen. Now, Demon King End, is there anything you want to say before the end…!?”
The man… Demon King End slowly waved his right hand in front of Schwarz. A black wind swept through the area, and an indescribable chill ran down the hero’s spine.
“Hiiiieee!?”
“Uwaaaah!?”
“What’s wrong with you two!?”
At the same time, screams from Schwarz’s companions could be heard from beside him. Reluctantly shifting his gaze, Schwarz saw the terrifying sight of his two friends contorting their faces in fear, rolling on the ground and crying out like infants.
“What in the world did you do!?”
“Oh, just a little touch… that’s all. You felt it too, didn’t you?”
“That’s…!”
“That’s ‘the end.’ The real end.”
Smoothly, the Great Demon King took a step toward the hero. In response, Hero Schwarz, instead of stepping forward, took a step back… and inwardly marveled at himself for retreating.
(How foolish!? As a hero, I retreated in fear!? Could it be… Is this man really… the Demon King!?)
“What’s wrong, hero? Weren’t you supposed to end me?”
“…! That’s right! I am Hero Schwarz! Bearing the hopes of the people, I am the one who will defeat the Demon King! Demon King End, you will see that I—”
“In that case, let me reiterate. I am the Great Demon King End! I am the one who will collect the fragments of my power spilled into this world and bring an end to the era of heroes and demon kings!”
“Will you end the world!? This world… I will protect it!”
“…Wait, did you listen to what I said? I am merely bringing an end to the era of heroes and demon kings, not necessarily the end of this world—”
“I stake everything on this one stroke! Take this!”
“Enough! Why won’t heroes listen to reason!?”
As the sword, charged with the hero’s power to its limit, faced off against him, the Great Demon King End drew a sword from the black vortex. The beautiful sword imbued with the dawn clashed with the hero’s sword… and when the tiny sun fell to the ground, robbed of its light, standing there was the Great Demon King.
“It seems it wasn’t enough… I’m sorry, everyone…”
“Haa… What should we do now…”
In the midst of using up all his strength and fading consciousness, the last thing Hero Schwarz heard was the troubled voice of the Great Demon King.
