Here it is~ Please let me know of any grammatical errors and the like! :cool:

Chapter 20.5: Hero's Departure

I still remember, the meaning of absolute despair.

At that moment, where my friends are being slaughtered left and right, and I could do nothing but drown myself in terror— “He” appeared.

“PREPARE TO TASTE THE MIGHT OF THE DARK FLAM—eerrr HOLY SWORD!”

Just like a raging thunderstorm, the young man clad in black clothing released a ray of light. He clashed with the demons who marched in our front gates, trying to invade the capital city, Regulus.

Unable to move due to astonishment, a voice resounded in my head.

“Old man! Why do you wield that sword?!”

From his question, I immediately felt my heart ache. It made me want to curse myself. To curse myself for relying on someone as young as he is. Yet at the same time, his words made my blood boil in excitement.

I flashed my sword in the air with a newfound resolve.

“You’re not too bad old man! For the sake of that cute princess, let’s drive these demons away!”

His swordsmanship was crude, but you could see the passion in his eyes.

While riding on his overflowing light, we, the soldiers protecting the capital, were able to maintain our symbol of peace.

It was my first time witnessing a “miracle”.

For the first time in a few years, we drove the demons away.

Surprisingly, ever since that young man arrived, our broken morale had climbed to new heights. He was known as our “Savior”, and many worshiped his heroic acts.

However, my pride as a knight wouldn’t allow me to rely on such a feeble looking kid.

This savior of ours, was no greater than your average joe. His looks were abnormally plain and his eyes would threw you off in such an uninteresting loop, staring at him once would drain you of energy.

That’s how I felt whenever I see him.

Many soldiers debated, that without his magic, the Hero would be a useless man. He’s only blessed by the Gods, none of the overwhelming strength he currently possess came from his own endeavor.

How I would like to think the same, but after catching a glimpse of his morning training, where nobody can see him, it made me realize how much we underestimated this boy.

While firmly holding a wooden sword, he swung repeatedly, almost endlessly, until he had sweated buckets. But even though he tries so hard, I couldn’t help but think that it’s imperfect, like his swordsmanship was copied by a child.

“Yo~ Mr. Hero! What are we doing?”

Watching his swordplay irk my being and it made me call out to him.

“Old man, ahhh? What was it again? Googon? Gisu?”

“It’s Gordon!”

I slapped him on his back and he fell on his knees.

“Dammit old man! What do you want?”

“I’m here to teach you proper swordplay.”

Although I was reluctant to teach him, it gave me an incredible amount of pleasure seeing him grow. He was passionate to learn swordsmanship, for a reason that I couldn’t properly describe myself.

Like his lifelong dream was fulfilled.

For a full month, we would always meet at the same place. There were times that we would argue over the simplest thing, but every second that I spent with that kid was damn worth it.

At the same time, he would teach me about the various stances in his world, and soon he incorporated my teachings into his own style, creating his very own.

In a span of single month, I could no longer best his swordplay alone.

“Tomorrow’s the day, huh?”

“Yep, live or die, it’s but a simple thing.”

“The demons, what do they really want?”

We both looked at the moon. The blue moon.

That was probably the last time I've had a good conversation with that kid. He was too busy killing, retaking our lost lands, and by the time I realized it, he was already gone.

The heart wrenching news about the death of the Hero echoed in all of Agriasen.

And yet, nobody grieved for him.

Not even the Royal Family who used him to the very end did. Everybody else were too busy clouding their thoughts with fear. Too busy thinking when the demons will finally conquer all of the central continent.

And as if we had forgotten that a certain man existed for the sole purpose of protecting us, eight years of terror swept through us like a gust of wind, and our long sought peace arrived like a distant dream.

I, who swore my undying allegiance to the Royal family, decided to distance myself away from all of the fighting.

Eventually, I found myself in a newly built trade town to the south, where revealing my past as a soldier wasn’t needed to start a new life.

I took a hammer and started my life as a blacksmith.

There I am, hammering away, in front of the burning furnace.

I was too busy fighting steel, that despite my old age, it did not stop me from enjoying this type of work. But whenever I stopped, my heart would feel empty.

At the sacrifice of a single boy, no, a single man, we attained peace. That’s what I’ve always believed. That we could only enjoy leisure in our life because of him.

But one day, “He” appeared in front of me again, all grown up, yet there was that lingering childishness in his stare. At that point, without a doubt, I knew it was him.

“Old man, have you made—”

“Kid, I already told you, its Gordon.”

“Ehhhh!! Gordon?! What are you doing out here so far from the capital?!”

We reminisced like old friends and that conversation between us was able to mend the residing guilt in my heart. Seeing that grown up kid in front of me, it made me curve my mouth to a wry smile.

Why did you suddenly disappear?

Where have you been all this time?

What have you been doing all this time?

I have so many questions for him, but he only answered one.

“Up there.”

He raised a finger and pointed upward.

Confused at he meant, I showed a clarifying face, but before I could even move my tongue to ask, he handed me something, as if he’s already guessed what I have in mind.

“If by the time that I survived all of these and we happened to meet again, I want you to return that to me, and remind me that I’m still human.”

His actions mystified me, but for the sake of our old time friendship, I simply nodded my head.

Deep in my heart, I just know that he’s still fighting. Whoever his enemies are or who he’s fighting for, I do not know.

“—Servant! Hurry up!”

At the sound of a little girl’s voice, he tilted his head to look back.

“I’m sorry Gordon. May we meet again.”

I simply watched his back disappear, never to be seen again.

Ever since that day, I found a new purpose in life. Meeting him again motivated me.

When he returns, I want to give him a sword; a sword that will make him dropped his jaw in surprise. A sword that will bewilder that curious boy.

For twenty long years, I studied many different techniques, travel to different regions to search for ores, and after finally creating my masterpiece, "he" appeared before me again.

In such a nostalgic form too.

That was the face of the boy whom I met thirty four years ago. The boy who saved my life. It was too scary, as if I’ve seen a ghost.

“Nothing in particular sir, the three of us are here because of the request you posted in the guild.”

That’s what he said.

It made me wonder; Is he really the same boy?

Immediately, I devised a plan in my mind. I tricked him into believing my story, and like the naive kid that I thought he was, he bought it.

When I presented him my unnamed masterpiece, he gave me the reaction that I expected to see.

Gratifying.

My heart was filled with joy as I watched that kid solemnly reached for the sword I created just for him. That sword, which is a product of my hard earned years of research, finally met its destined wielder.

He named it, “Fairy’s Tear”. Taking it after the request I posted in the guild.

With “her” help, I sealed that “thing” that he left me behind in that place.

And now its owner must reclaim it once more.

Whatever fate has in store for him, I can only hope that my actions would be able to help him restore this “humanity”.

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