“Wow, this’s really something…”

After discovering the ruin, the heroes started investigating the ruin.

After estimating how big the ruin was, they decided to split and search around individually. Of course some still went in group because of the possible danger of being attack by monster.

Huke who saw the horrible state of the ruin let out his opinion to Hans who accompanied him.

“Well, it is a ruin.”

“Hey, look at this painting. Doesn’t this look expensive? I wonder how much can be earn if I sell this?”

“Hmn? Let’s see…… I don’t know how the price works in this world but, if it was sold in our world it should be around a price of a car.”

“Seriously!?”

“Yup. However it is a shame that it was damaged. If it like this then its worthy won’t be bigger than a used laptop.”

Huke dropped his shoulder in disappointment.

“Well, it can’t be help. The painting aside, even the frame is like that. It was plenty when you considered it state.”

“I guess you are right. If only the painting wasn’t damaged, I might be able to look at cute girl in the painting.”

“That’s what you disappointed about?!”

“Of course! Like I understand art other than about the cute painting of a girl!”

Both of them laughed.

“However I curious on what this place was. Is some rich guy lived here before?”

“That might be true. From the thing scattered around here, all of it looked like a high-class items to me.”

Hearing the word high-class items both of them looked at each other.

“Then…”

“Yup.”

“”Let’s compete on who can bring the most expensive looking thing!!””

Like an idiot both them ran around the ruin with full of energy.

“What the hell are they doing……”

From another place in the ruin Selia said that as she saw Hans and Huke racing again each other.

Selia was not interested in the ruin, and just strolling around without destination. She from time to times looked around to search for possible clue but, she didn’t expect anything.

She had her own reason for thinking like that. In the previous place she was already content with Feral’s fate. After all she failed to find any clue; instead she became certain of his death.

If the location of his arm was found at that place, then Selia was certain that Feral had already gone inside the grey wolves’ stomach.

She didn’t focus on why the blood was also above but, she focused on the fact that there was no sign of blood moving away from that spot.

If Feral was still alive despite that injury then he must tried to move from that spot. Because he was injured it wasn’t strange if there was dripping blood that fell to the ground. However in that place there was none.

If he had companion that can use healing magic, Selia might reach toward a different conclusion. But Feral was alone when he left the village. He declined Yuu, and Mary from coming with him.

That sealed his fate.

Selia who was certain of the death of her enemy felt happy and regret, because she wasn’t the one that did it.

“?”

While Selia was aimlessly wandering in the ruin, she felt something strange on her feet.

“What is this?”

She rubbed her shoes to the ground. She thought that she stepped into something but, she was wrong. She realized that when she looked down because the strange sensation didn’t go away.

“Charcoal? No. What is this?”

She didn’t make a mistake. It was a charcoal.

However unlike the charcoal that left for hundred years deep in the ground, this charcoal was forcedly made and blended with the soil. It had a weird sensation when stepped on.

“And this…… Burn mark?”

Right next to her, she also noticed the large black area that still gave out a red line along the crack. Then all of it went right into in her mind.

“Burn mark… No blood trail… Black ground…!”

Selia was too focused on finding clues when the most important clue had already there from the beginning.

She thought it was impossible. However all of it fit into the requirement and solved the mystery.

Why there was a burn mark on Feral’s arm. Why there wasn’t any blood trail. And what happened to this place. All of it directed toward a single woman.

“Damn! To think I let it slipped right in front of my eyes!”

Selia cursed herself from letting someone who just met him to take him from her.

*Bam*

“!!”

Suddenly from a certain direction she can hear a loud explosive sound. Even from her current location she can felt the heat wave.

“Damn!”

She kicked the ground and ran toward the direction of the sound.

Few minutes before the explosion Yuu and the other four were also investigating the ruin.

While the other three were investigating along the side of the ruin, they investigate the middle part of the ruin.

Unlike the other part of the ruin, the middle part didn’t have many expensive looking item or burn mark. Instead there was almost nothing except the gaudy looking chair in the middle and an organized broken wall that surround it.

Yuu and the other four went to check on the chair.

“This’s a normal chair. But this design sure is something.”

Rather than the design, Yuu was more impressed on how the area around the chair felt different from the other. While the area more than five meters away gave the image of destruction, the area around the chair felt exclusive.

Clean? Organized? No. Rather than that kind of feeling that can be change easily. It was more into majestic-like feeling.

“What’s this place...”

“It used to be a mansion.”

“!”

When Yuu muttered that someone answered him from behind. However it wasn’t the voice of someone he knew. Yuu turned around and saw a man.

The man was leaning again the wall near the chair. They didn’t know since when he had been there.

The man looked in his thirty. His long wavy red hair resembled dancing flame. But despite its length it didn’t gave feminine image. Instead it gave out a wild image to him.

He wore a black cloth that reveals his study chest, and on his lower half he wore a tight pant.

He gave out an image of a dandy man from the nineties.

“Who?”

“Don’t be that wary. I’m just a passerby.”

To Yuu’s question, the man lightly answered.

Hearing that, Yuu frowned.

He was clearly suspicious. However he felt that he must make a hasty action. Without waiting for Yuu to reply back, the man continued talking.

“A rich man used to live in this place. He was blessed with both status and money. To him, life was nothing more than a meaningless time.”

The man slowly approached them by walking around them.

“Fortunate or not. He was over talented. He was able to master everything he tried in the short time of a month. Art, sports, etiquette, knowledge. Nothing satisfied the man’s hunger. Until he met a certain thing…”

The man said that with a slightly soft voice as if he was reminiscing of the past.

“That time there was a certain monster that troubled the kingdom he was in. With a skin that harder than steel, wing that can make a small tornado, claw that can cut through most metal, and scorching breath that melts everything. It brought the kingdom to the brink of extinction. Thought now it’s already extinct.”

“!”

When they saw the man’s happy look, Yuu and the other felt a Goosebumps. All of them were frozen on their spot. The one that wasn’t completely frozen was Mary who was shaking nonstop.

“It was a wonderful fight. The man used everything he had to win again that monster, and won. For the first time he felt joy in life when he fought again that monster. He awoke to the joy of fighting again strong foes, and starting from there, he begins seeking for more enemies.”

The man’s face already made a full smile that gave an inhuman feeling. Whoever saw that expression would shiver in fear, regardless of their age or race. Adults, children, human, elves, dwarfs, demon, monster. Without exception.

The only being that can resist it was a being that equal or above him. Not that there was many that fit that criteria.

Nevertheless the current heroes didn’t enter that category. Even Feral, will feel the unbelievable amount of fear down to his bone.

Then with a slightly refreshed he said.

“I heard that Asche was in your care. Then why don’t we play a bit?”

“!! EVERYONE, RUN!!!!”

They felt a jolt in their body, and the adrenaline rush made them regain themselves.

Yuu immediately ordered the other to run. Everyone there did not question him and ran without looking back. No one even think about fighting him.

They just run, and run. Leaving useless thought that might slow them down. They didn’t have time to see how the other was doing.

“Hey, hey. Isn’t running away from a fight is a bit rude? Look like you need to be punish a little.”

The man reached out his hand toward Yuu and the other direction. He clenched his hand once and opened it. In his hand a ball of fire with five diameters appeared.

“Extender.”

The ball of flame was shot toward them. It went toward them with a speed that equal to a bullet. However instead in a bullet shape, it became a cylinder and burns everything in it way. It was like the horizontal version of Asche’s favorite attack.

The horizontal pillar of flame went toward Mary, and then…

”GRYAAAAA!!!!!”

“HYODOU!!”

Hyodou who was near her took the attack from her. Unlike the other, his sense of duty as a man made him overcome his fear when he saw Mary was about to be hit by the flame pillar.

As a man he felt that it was man duty to protect woman. To him there wasn’t any excuse to forgive someone who broke that.

That was why he jumped in it way, and took the attack regardless of the danger.

When the flame hit Hyodou it changed direction and rose toward the sky. Hyodou who was hit, disappeared inside the flame.

“H- hyodou…!”

Yuu and the other were speechless. In the place where Hyodou was, there wasn’t any trace of him left. Not even a dust was left at that place. It was as if he never stood there in that place.

Logically thinking about it. Normal heat can’t burn human body into nothing. Burning skin or flesh might be possible if there enough time. However bone and teeth were different.

Because of the component it was made, it needs high temperature heat to burn them to ashes. Just by that alone the minimum temperature was already one thousand degree. Moreover to make it disappeared in an instant.

Seeing that, Yuu suddenly remembered the documentary film about the Hiroshima bombing in the world war two.

At that time, it was the first time human use nuclear weapon in the war. The result was just as we know now. However in the process thousands of people died, and some near the detonate point became dust in an instant.

To be able to connected the two things. The heat already passed the word dangerous, and entered the realm on absurd.

“Hoo, to protect someone despite being afraid yourself, I appraise that action. Not that he can hear it now.”

His word reaches no one.

“H-hyoudou…”

Mary who was protected by Hyodou fell to the ground. From the guilt of being saved in exchange for someone else, her legs gave in.

“MARY!”

Julie turned back and held Mary.

“Stand up Mary! HURRY!”

“S-Sorry. My legs already…”

Even when Mary was already on the ground, one can see the unstoppable trembling. She was no longer able to run.

“At least you……”

“Like I can leave you behind!”

Julie shouted.

She looked brave and dependable. However even she can’t resist the unstoppable shaking on her body.

“The act of not leaving behind a friend is beautiful. But I wonder how much you can stay like that?”

The man made another ball of fire.

“……”

Before Yuu knew it, He was standing with sword in his hand. He had stopped his feet, and stood in front of Mary and Julie.

He knew that there was nothing he can do. Even the sword in his hand was no more than a wooden stick in front of the man. The best he can do was being a human shield.

Regardless of that, He stood there. There wasn’t any clear reason why he did that. Duty, friendship, love, responsibility. It wasn’t because any of that.

He was just moving without any will on his own. He might just move because he wanted to do good thing before he die.

“Extend……”

Yuu already braced himself. The ball of fire let out a bright light.

“!”

An arrow went toward his head. He moved his hand toward the arrow, and the ball of fire engulfed the arrow.

The man looked past the arrow and saw Huke who was above a half broken wall, with a rare serious look.

“So the other finally gathered…”

The man said that in a low voice. Only Yuu who was near him, heard it.

Huke who was much farther than Yuu shouted with a loud voice.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING? HURRY UP AND GET AWAY FROM THERE WHILE I HOLD HIM BACK!!”

“Hoo, you’re planning to hold me back? Then let me see how you do that.”

The man made an amused face.

Huke himself knew that he was unable to do that. To be frank he almost wet his pant just by standing there. The reason he was there was simple.

One and four. It was a simple math. Huke knew which was more important.

Of course he didn’t come there with the intention of dying. He was afraid of dying. Everyone does.

That was why he prefers to use bow, and assist the other from behind.

The distance between them was quite far, and Huke was in higher ground. This was for Huke to be able to dodge the bullet like fire.

Huke released his arrow. The man shot his ball of fire.

Without seeing what happened to his arrow, Huke immediately jumped down. Few seconds later his arrow and the place he had standing was burned into nothing.

Huke kept his distance and fired another arrow. The man made another ball of fire and burned the arrow that was coming at him.

In the meantime Yuu went over and lent his shoulder to Mary. He was about to lend it to Julie but, she said she was fine. Instead Yuu supported Mike who voicelessly went limp not far from there.

Huke and the man exchanged attack that neither reaches other. Then just when Huke thought he had a chance.

“This starting to become a nuisance. Then shall we end this.”

With the ball of fire still on his hand, the man swung his hand in the air. Several balls of fire appeared in the space where he swung his hand. The total of the fire in the air was five. Combined with the one on his hand were six balls of fire.

(Shit!)

Huke perceived the incoming danger.

“Burn all direction, Agni!”

Five balls of fire let out a bright light, and five fierce pillar of fire were shot. It burned the air, and eradicated everything on its way,

“!!!”

Huke was standing still as five pillar of fire went pass him from all direction. Rumbling noise of five blazing flame entered his ear like how the sound check in cinema. He let out cold sweat every times the pillar went passed him but, it dried instantly because of the heat.

The fire had gone away, leaving a slightly blackened body. Due to the intense heat, Huke had passed tan and entered black.

“Ha…hahaha……”

Huke can’t help but let out a dry laugh. And at that moment the sixth ball of fire was shot, and Huke disappeared inside the pillar of fire.

What was left in the area was a large amount of dust.

“I guess that was a bit too much as a prank.”

The man lightly thought that was childish of him. He then turned around and faced toward a certain direction that was blocked by dust.

“……Don’t you think so?”

From the dust a shadow appeared, and a blue light cut through the dust apart.

*Clang*

A sound of metal colliding. A sword had appeared from the dust and the man stopped it with his hand.

“……It’s not Asche?”

“Sorry that I wasn’t her.”

The man swung his hand toward Selia.

Selia took a step back, and readied her stance again. The man looked into his palm, and rubbed the thin red liquid that appeared on his hand.

“That’s a dangerous thing you’re holding there. Even if it’s a fragment of the pure water stone, it still doesn’t change the powerful water element in it. To think I was injured again…… That sword skill is impressive!”

“I don’t care about your compliment. Did a beast-like man come here?”

“Beast-like man? Now, my memory seems to have a little problem because of my age. I think a little stimulant might help be remember about it…”

The man made a meaningful smile.

Selia who saw that unintentionally made a scowl, because that attitude overlapped with the person she hated.

“Fine then. I will help you cure that senile brain of yours!”

“Hahahaha! That’s the way! Then let me match up with your preference. Laevatein.”

Red ball of fire came out from his hand. It stretched out one and half meters toward the ground, making a flat cylinder shaped. And at the head part it slightly bulged into a rod shaped that look comfortable for hand.

With a swing, the rough corner that covered with flame extinguished, showing a solid red sword.

Selia didn’t know. That the fierce red sword in front of her was the sword that had easily burn forest and carved a black road near the village.

When Asche used that, Selia had already lost conscious. That was why she didn’t know. Yuu who was still in the vicinity was pale when he heard that.

“A sword that burned all extinction. Or that was what the human called this sword. It’s not like they are wrong. But this one is the weakest version of that. It won’t be fun if I use that, right?”

He swung around the sword few times in the air to check on its condition.

“Is that so? Not like I care. If you’re done……”

*Clang*

Their sword clashed. Unlike the time with Asche, the sword didn’t break. This was prove that it was indeed weaker compared to that one.

“Don’t be that hasty. Isn’t it a proper manner to name yourself before a duel? What’s your name, brave hero?”

“……Selia”

“Selia is it? I will remember that name. Then my turn……”

The man revealed his identity. The red hair that was like a dancing flame started flustering and changed it color into deep red. No. It changed into flame itself.

The red flame ate the air, and danced in the air. It let out a small light, and small fire that disappeared within seconds.

“My name is Vergaser W Lybryolnyes. Human recognizes me as Demon Lord of fire.”

The man, Vergaser, broke into smile, and restarted the fight with several balls of fire in the air.

“!!”

Selia knew that she was at disadvantage because of the ball of fire. She immediately broke the stalemate and slashed the balls.

“Flash!”

Blue light cut through the entire ball in the air. Without giving it chances to be shot. all of it split into two and disappeared with a bang.

Multiple small explosion occurred with Vergaser in it center. Selia who barely escaped the explosion took a step forward and slashed through the middle of the explosion.

*Clang*

Before it slashed through the explosion something already stopped her sword. Vergaser blocked Selia’s attack with his sword. He blocked it only by twisting his hand to his side.

“Nice, nice! It should be this way! More! Show me more of your skill!!”

Just like a madman Vergaser began to laugh. He repeatedly bashed his sword toward Selia.

*Clang*Clang*Clang*

Their sword exchanged blows. Instead of sparks, steam was made the moment their sword met. Because of leidenfrost effect the water coiling around the sword surface before turning into a steam.

Neither of the swords was inferior to each other. Both of them kept reducing each other every times they met, just like how water and fire never get along.

However once again, that was only for the sword.

Another set of balls of fire appeared in the air. And Selia had no choice but to take care of them.

“Flash!”

The balls of fire disappeared again. However it fulfilled its role.

“An opening!”

It made an opening on Selia after she took care of them. Thus Vergaser used this and attacked her.

“Tch!!”

Selia abandoned her sword and took the sheath that was on her waist. She blocked the incoming attack with her sword’s sheath. This was the same move she had used again Feral.

The sheath spins in the air for few seconds before it finally fell into the ground far from there.

“Hoo. To use the sheath like that…”

While Vergaser was impressed by her move, Selia already took her sword again. Without hesitation she slashed him using her strongest technique.

“Southern cross- style, 5st strike technique, Vela!”

Four blue lights connected with each other on Vergaser’s limps, and the last blue light made a single line toward Vergaser’s chest.

It was a direct hit. After took all of the four slash and one stab Vergaser lost all of his limps and a sword was impaled into his chest. Or that was what supposed to happen.

“What?”

It wasn’t Vergaser that had leaked out that voice but, it was Selia.

Her attack without a doubt connected. However that was only until his skin. Even with the sharpness, and Selia’s strength she can’t push farther than there.

This was strange. Previously she had seen how her sword injured his palm. It was strange if she was unable to do it again.

The one who provided her with the answer was Vergaser himself.

“K, kukuku…HAHAHAHAHA!!! That was fun! That was really fun Selia!”

Vergaser put out his sword, and walked away to pick up Selia’s sheath.

Selia still confused until he gave her the sheath back.

“If I’m a human then I would definitely be dead right now.”

He wasn’t a human. Selia completely forgot about that because he didn’t feel much different than human. She lacked the experience on facing monster in human skin.

Even if the shape was human, the inside was completely different. Just like this even the impossible can happen.

“Good thing I abandon that weak disguise while ago. Even I don’t like dying because of that.”

“…Monster!”

“You just noticed it now? No wonder I didn’t feel any fear from you. I haven’t been doing Demon lord for nothing here!”

Vergaser lightly laughed at her. On the other hand Selia finally felt fear, although it was too late.

“Although I feel that your movement somewhat rusty, I guess it’s fine. Now the price for the winner……”

Vergaser whispered something into Selia’s ear.

“I fought him, and when he tried to retreat I shot him down. His remain should be somewhere in the forest or inside wolf’s stomach.”

“Y……!”

*Bang*

Before Selia can say anything, pillar of fire had exploded beneath her. Selia, who didn’t notice that, was engulfed inside it and disappeared without a trace.

“Didn’t her parent ever tell her not to trust adult? Because they are dirty and sly. So what about you? ”

He turned around and shot his ball of fire. In that direction a shadow came out, and it threw several thin needles.

The thin needles faintly let out a blue light. It disappeared in the flame, while some pierced through the fire. Most failed to reach Vergaser but, one did headed toward him.

Vergaser grabbed the incoming needle, and snapped it into two.

There was several seconds silent. Vergaser can felt that the shadow was no longer there.

“So he decided to run away. Chasing after him is easy but, I don’t really fond of fighting again someone like that.”

Vergaser thought about it for a while. It only took around five seconds before he reached his decision.

“Well, it’s not like it will interfere with the plan anyway. Time to clean up the rest!”

By the rest he meant Yuu and the other that fled while back. He leisurely followed the way they took while holding some expectation for the rest four.

“It is good if there is someone like two of them there……”

Vergaser said that with a smile as he slowly walked to Yuu and the other. While burning everything he steps on, Vergaser went into the forest. The nearby trees started to burn as if announcing his direction.

“Ha…hah…hah……”

Yuu fell into the ground with heavy breath.

“Y-Yuu!”

Mary worriedly called out to him.

Yuu had carried two people one kilometer away from the ruin out of fear. When he thought that it was safe, strength left his body.

Mary, who was worried about how rough his breath was, offered him some water. Seeing how tired he was, Mary poured the water directed into his mouth.

“Please drink it slowly.”

“Ah… I’m… thankful.”

Fatigue clearly showed itself on Yuu. Pool of sweat poured down from his face, wetting the collar of his shirt. Unable to stand any longer, he had laid down on the ground without sign of able to stand again for a short period of time.

“…Are we safe now?”

“…least…..for now…”

Toward Julie’s question, Yuu barely able to answered.

“Sorry for being a burden… I shouldn’t have come.”

Mike was depressed. All this time he was shaking his boots, and was unable to do anything. When the other was fighting and trying to run away, he just froze there as Yuu carried him.

He himself thought it was pathetic. Julie who was a female was fine but, he who was a man was like that. The person himself realized how weak and common he was. However He was still deeply depressed by that fact.

“No. It’s not your fault for being scared.”

Julie was right. That was the right reaction when someone encountered a Demon Lord in this world.

Unlike the protagonist in novel or game. Most people in this world would have the same reaction as Mike. Stopped moving in fear and wait as death approach them. Even if hundred people were placed in that situation, only one out of fifty would choose to fight.

That shows how unusual their action was.

That was why Yuu and the other didn’t blame him.

“But I……”

“Why don’t you stop at there? Arguing about it won’t get us anywhere. We should convert our strength in case something happen.”

Mike became silent on Julie’s word.

“……?”

“W-what’s wrong? Are you already fine?”

Yuu who felt something focused his hearing.

“……Don’t you smell something burns?”

“? Now that you said it……”

*Creak*Creak*

Shortly after creaking sound can be heard, together with the burning smell from afar it gave out an unpleasant feeling for the Heroes.

Even without confirming it they knew what was coming toward them. They started panicking.

“W- What should we do?”

“He’s quite close. How did he cover that distance in this short time?”

“I-It’s over……”

“Calm down!”

While the other were panicking because of the incoming sign doesn’t only meant their end but, also the conclusion of the fight between Selia. Yuu was oddly calm.

“You guys continue run away from here. If I remember right, you should be able to return to the village if you keep heading that way. When you reach there alert the villager and the teacher about the danger.”

From the ways he talks, the other perceived what he was trying to say.

“W-What about you?!”

Yuu shook his head.

“I no longer have the stamina to run. Don’t mind me and let me buy you some time.”

Yuu forced his tired body to stand up. He might want to show that he still had the energy to buy them some time. But it backfired because he lost his leg power the moment he stood up straight.

Mary supported him from falling.

“Sorry about that. You can let go of me now. I can stand on my own………Mary?”

Mary didn’t let go of her hand. She tightly held his arm with no intention of letting it go.

“Mary, if you don’t let go of me I can’t buy you some time.”

“IT’S FINE IF YOU DON’T!”

Yuu was flinched by Mary’s sudden outburst. It wasn’t only him. Julie and Mike were also surprised because Mary never raised her voices before.

“M-Mary?”

Yuu didn’t noticed it immediately because she looked down. A thin transparent line was made on her cheeks. Mary’s round eyes were wet from the tears. The already feeble looking Mary looked feebler with those eyes.

She gave the impression that even the weakest breeze can push her down. However her hand gave out the opposite impression.

“You don’t need to sacrifice yourself. We could just try to run away but, why? Where’s the need for you to die? Please……don’t go.”

Her voices were on the verge of disappearing. If Yuu didn’t focus his attention because she raised her voice before, he might miss her last next words.

“……I love you.”

“!”

“Please don’t leave me behind……”

It was as if lighting had struck him.

In this situation it was the least thing that entered his mind.

Mary who was born with weak constitution often spent her time in hospital’s bed.

As far she can remember, her childhood was filled with unchanging white room, bitter medicine, and needle with small bag that dropped droplet with every fixed interval into her body.

Every times the season changed to winter she would admitted to hospital because of her weakened body. Because of that Mary missed a year at school, and grew timid because her lack of interaction with someone on her age.

Mary was supposed to be one year below Yuu, who was a third year.

Because she was timid and often absent from school, her friend was few. Never mind opposite gender acquaintance. So it can’t be help for her to fell for Yuu, who was her first close opposite gender friend.

Not only he was dependable, he also occasionally supported her when she needs it. The once small feelings evolved into attraction, and finally love.

“Mary……”

Yuu who didn’t notice her change of feeling in this one month, was troubled on how he should handle her.

While Yuu had seen few women crying when he turned them down but, theirs and Mary’s felt different to him.

When he saw their tears he felt bad about it but, that was it. There was nothing more than that.

However when he saw Mary’s, his chest felt tight and hard to breath. For an instant he thought that he was about to had a heart attack because his pulse passed the maximum amount from the fear and heavy exercise. But that wasn’t it.

Yuu wasn’t an idiot. He knew what had caused the tightness in his chest even though the action was same. It was the reason for the tears.

The woman in his memory cried because their feeling was unfulfilled, it was because of their personal feeling. On the other hand Mary was the opposite. She cried because Yuu decided to sacrifice himself to buy them some time.

Some of her personal feelings did mix up in it but, the overall was because she didn’t want Yuu to force himself.

Yuu who realized that calmed himself. A natural smile surfaced on his face as he looked the kind girl in front of him.

With a gentle touch that unsuited for their situation, Yuu held her hand. Mary who felt a warm sensation of her hand looked up. Although she had stopped crying, the leftover tears still left on her round eyes.

“I’m happy about your feeling. But in this situation someone has to do it. Don’t worry about me. I don’t plan on dying just yet. That’s I want you to believe me that I can meet up with you and the other again.”

Mary seems unconvinced with him. But because of the word “believe” she was forced to convinced herself.

She half-heartedly loosened her grip of her hand, letting go of Yuu’s arm.

“Thank you. I promise you that the moment you open your eyes next morning, I will be there to give my answer to you. So leave this place to me and go!”

Following Yuu’s order, they ran away from there.

“I will be waiting.”

“Sorry.”

“……Thanks.”

Leaving behind those words behind, they didn’t looked back anymore.

Yuu saw theirs back as it slowly shrinking until his eyes unable to saw them anymore.

“This’s the right thing, right?”

Yuu shook his head to disperse his hesitation.

“No, this is fine.”

Yuu convinced himself that it was fine. He thought that he himself had much value. Even if he was gone there will be other who replaced him.

In the world around him he just can’t found anything that put him as someone special. He can lead people; everyone also can if they tried. He had handsome face, so does his friend and relative. He was slightly popular in his school; the other schools also have people like him.

Among the seven billion human in the world, he was nothing. He realized that fairly early in his life.

Yuu wasn’t someone special. He realized that because there was someone who was special near him. Feral.

Among the peaceful world where war almost extinct, and everything was organized by law and order.

In that world with perfect system that was moved with billions cogs.

Living his life as he trying to went to the other direction of the current; he alone stands out among other people.

At first he thought that he was an oddball. But with more age and knowledge, Yuu saw that he was different.

He was sane, and intelligent. However He chosen to become like that with the conscious of the causes.

It was not a thing Yuu could do. Most people also unable to do it. That was why he was special.

Compared to him, Yuu was just a slightly better version of mass product human. Yuu who had thought like that can’t help but think that his value was small. Mary who was a healer on the other hand, had more value than him.

However he was wrong. Even if there were billions of cogs, there were cogs that need each other to spin. At first glance there were common but, when one was lost there will be change in the other cogs.

Just like how Mary didn’t want him to go. Just like how he thought Feral was special.

Being special wasn’t decided by the person themselves but, by the others.

“It was thanks to her. I realize something this easy.”

That was why he promised her to return alive.

Of course Yuu planned to keep his promise. Although it was quite a gamble he chose to gamble it with his possibility known as title. That was his only chance to go back alive.

He sorted the information he had about additional title and closed his eyes.

“Power.”

He wished for something he wanted.

“To protect.”

He imagined himself protecting everyone.

There actually another condition, action, but because he already did that he skipped it.

When he did that he felt power coming to him. He felt like when he entered a bath after a hard work. It was a warm and comforting sensation.

That sensation enveloped his whole body. Power kept accumulating inside of his body, and then……

*Boom*

An explosion occurred.

Of course Yuu didn’t explode. The explosion came from behind him.

Yuu immediately opened his eyes, and turned around.

“Wha…!”

In the direction the three ran to, a dome shaped explosion can be seen. It passed the trees height, and the view changed from green to red.

“Aah, I messed up with my power adjustment.”

Together with crackling from both sides, Vergaser appeared from the forest.

He leisurely walked closer to Yuu to saw the result of the explosion. The area five meters around it was replaced with black earth.

“This will result some problem. Well, I think she can handle that much. If not I’m troubled.”

Yuu had no idea what was he talking about. What was on his mind was the despair of losing his entire friend, and the image of Mary calling out to him before disappeared in the flame.

“A…A…A….AAAAaaaaaaaa!!!!!”

His mind went blank. No. From the sudden event his thought process had stopped. What were left were only his body, and the dark emotion that raging out from his chest.

His body followed his dark emotion. With sword in his hand, he ran toward Vergaser.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!”

He swung his sword. He swung, and swung without thinking about anything. He just clashed out the dark emotion to him.

“So you turned into an animal. But this intense attack isn’t bad.”

Vergaser complimented him. But by the way he easily blocked his attacks using one hand, it didn’t look convincing.

Without minding that Yuu continued his rapid attack. Five, ten, twenty, he swung his sword without sign of stopping. All of it was blocked by Vergaser.

“The intensity was good. However…”

Vergaser kept blocking Yuu’s attack and in the midst of it he sneaked a headbutt.

“Kaha!!”

“It’s too predictable.”

Receiving a headbutt with monstrous strength, Yuu’s conscious passed out for few seconds. He tried to regain his balance but, it was too late.

An iron claw tightly grabbed his head.

“AAAAaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!”

Unable to endure the steel breaking grip, Yuu desperately tried to break free. However the grip instead became tighter.

“AAAAaaaaaAaAaA!!!!”

“I guess this is it. So only one that has the potential, huh.”

His hand was cladded with flame. It slowly crawled from Yuu’s head and went down toward his neck, body, until it covered Yuu whole.

Yuu was helpless in this situation. No power, no help, no possibility.

“AAAAAAAaaaaaaaaa!!!!!”

Yuu just shouted as the flame enveloped him.

And, leaving behind a scream and regret, Yuu was……

Finally done! This's the last chapter of the beginning part. After this i planned to add an epilogue and edit the other chapter because many thought that many Mc make it confusing. Most likely i will made Yuu into the Mc. Or perhaps i should choose other?

You might think that the character seems different than usual. This chapter slightly shows the characters true personality. In front of a life threatening situation human shows their true self, or so i heard.

Another people told me about the title...... Yes i know it's wrong if you see it from the grammar but, try reading it. Hero of the Collapsing World sounds better than Heroes of the Collapsing World right? Still changed it thought......

Thanks for reading. If there's some mistake please tell me about it.