CHAPTER 22

The Monster Hero

After arriving at Uno’s residence, Seiya immediately heads to his room to replenish his mana. I tell Rosalie to wait at the spacious entrance while I go talk to Uno and Due.

“Hey, um… We brought a woman back with us from the warped world. Is that okay?”

After telling them about Rosalie, Uno looks over at her brother as if she doesn’t know how to respond, and he gently smiles.

“If she’s a friend of Seiya’s, she’s a friend of ours.”

“Really? Thank goodness!”

“Allow us to prepare a room for her as well. After all, we want to do everything we can to help you all save those warped worlds.”

After thanking them, I take Rosalie to her room on the second floor, where I tell her to get some rest tonight, and she reverently bows. Now that Seiya and Rosalie are in their rooms resting, I decide to head to mine, but when I’m walking through the living room, Uno and Due suddenly stop me to talk. We chat while having some tea until Uno asks:

“Rosalie must be pretty special, seeing that Seiya brought her back with him to the underworld, yes?”

“Hmm… While she is way stronger than the average person, that isn’t really why Seiya brought her back.”

I tell them everything that has happened along with telling them what has been bothering me.

“…And Seiya’s been treating the people of this warped world like their lives don’t matter. He even told Rosalie that she was nothing more than a sacrificial pawn to him. Like, is it really okay for the Hero to act this way?”

Uno places her cup of tea on the table and kindly looks back at me just like her brother.

“Our Lord said that everyone in Warped Gaeabrande would return to normal once you remove whatever is causing the distortion. It would be like nothing ever happened, so I wouldn’t get too attached to the people there if I were you.”

“I—I guess you’re right. But…”

After calming down and actually thinking about it, I start to feel that Seiya isn’t the least bit wrong. But even then, I can’t bear to see anyone get hurt when I’m in Warped Gaeabrande. Due nods a few times while looking at me.

“The reason you cannot look the other way when people of that world get hurt is because you are an extremely compassionate individual.”

“Yes, you even express empathy toward illusions. You possess a wonderful heart, which is perhaps why you are a goddess, Ristarte.”

“O-oh, come on! Quit it! You’re making me blush!”

The sudden compliments make my cheeks burn, but the siblings’ smiling expressions suddenly grow tense.

“Nevertheless, Seiya is doing the right thing. While it may seem cruel at first glance, he is doing everything he can to defeat the Dragon Lord and remove the distortion from that world. He is avoiding unnecessary battles and not worrying about the phantoms of that world in order to return it to normal and save the inhabitants of the true Gaeabrande.”

“Mmm…”

I find myself at a loss for words. Due makes it sound like I’m being self-righteous, unlike Seiya, who is focused on the big picture. He didn’t directly say that, but that’s actually what’s going on here. Anyone can see that Seiya is right. I unconsciously sigh.

Sigh… I’m supposed to be the deity here, yet it sometimes feels like our roles are reversed.

It’s Cerceus who surprisingly clears the gloomy air and brightens the mood when he gleefully walks in with shortcake on a tray.

“Yo! I baked a cake to thank you for letting us stay here! I hope you enjoy!”

Cerceus then places three pieces of cake on the table, one for each of us. Uno’s face lights up with joy the moment she sees the colorful, fruit-topped cakes.

“I had no idea you were such an amazing baker, Cerceus!”

“It is my job, after all!”

“Your job is being the God of Swords…”

“Potato, potahto. Anyway, Rista, dig in.”

“Oh… I’m good. Give my piece to Rosalie or Seiya.”

“I’ve already given them theirs. Well, technically Seiya just hit me on the head a few times and told me to go away because I was disturbing his sleep, but…”

“He hit you?!”

“Yep! But Rosalie was thrilled when I gave her a piece!”

While Cerceus is smiling, I can’t help but notice a massive lump on his head. “Seiya just hit me on the head a few times.” Despite how awful that sounds, Cerceus’s smile is as carefree as can be, since Seiya usually does even worse things to him. It’s terrifying what you can get used to…!

“Anyway, this looks delicious! Thank you!”

But the moment Uno takes the first bite, she immediately vomits blood.

“Bleeehhh! It tastes even better than it looks!”

Due vomits up blood as well while stuffing his cheeks full of Cerceus’s cake.

“Blargh! This is good! Uweh!”

Taken aback, Cerceus shouts:

“Are you sure you like it?! Because you’re making it look like I poisoned you!”

“C-come on, give them a break. They vomit blood like we would sneeze…”

And yet, the sight of fresh blood makes me have even less of an appetite, so I get up and head to my room.

The next morning, I get up surprisingly early, only to find Rosalie and Seiya already in the living room chatting about something.

“What happened to the Demon Lord’s hometown?”

“You mean Nakashi Village? There’s almost nothing left of it, so…”

“That’s fine. There’s something I want to try there. Anyway, I want you to tell me everything you know about the Dragon Lord and those closest to him.”

“I will tell you everything I know.”

Seiya is stone-faced as he asks Rosalie about the Dragon Lord. I feel like I shouldn’t bother them, so I prick up my ears to listen instead.

“The power of the holy sword Igzasion was how he was able to defeat not only the Demon Lord but the seemingly invincible Crossed Thanatos as well. Those who are cut by the blade cannot heal from the wound naturally, nor with magic.”

“What the…?! An ability that prevents his opponents from healing?! Does that mean my healing magic won’t work, either?!” I instinctively shout, taken aback by what I just heard. By the time I realize what I did, Seiya is already glaring at me with a cold gaze.

“It’s not like your magic has ever proved useful anyway.”

“Hey?! My magic has come in handy plenty of times!”

“At any rate, if what you’re saying is true, then Igzasion is an extremely dangerous weapon. If I got injured before defeating him, it would greatly lower my chances of saving other warped worlds and defeating Mersais. I have to make sure I defeat him with certainty and perfection but also safely and with ease,” mutters Seiya with a serious expression and his arms crossed.

Igzasion’s healing-prevention ability is terrifying. It’s a huge threat. But I am hit with a sense of relief when I see Seiya committed to finding a way to defeat the Dragon Lord. After almost another full hour of discussion, Seiya finally stands up from his seat and looks down at Rosalie.

“All right. Let’s get started with your training.”

“R-really?! What an honor!”

Rosalie lowers her head to Seiya. But…Seiya usually prioritizes his own training, right? Which means he’s going to leave her training to Cerceus like he always does.

…Or so I thought.

“Come outside. I’ll teach you some swordsmanship.”

“Whaaaaaat?!”

She’s going to train directly under Seiya?! I—I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this before!

Feelings of concern and excitement battle inside me. Rosalie and Seiya face each other with wooden swords in Uno’s spacious backyard. They have already removed their armor, since it’s only practice.

“Unleash your demonic powers.”

“B-but this power is…”

Rosalie is hesitant. Being controlled by Eraser and tearing up the human-demon agreement with her own two hands is still fresh in her memory. She probably never wanted to have to rely on those demonic powers ever again. Nevertheless, Seiya argues:

“That power is one of your advantages. You won’t be put under anyone’s control as long as there are no demons around you. Even if someone were to take control of you, I’d take care of things. So unleash that power.”

“…Okay.”

Rosalie unseals her power, appearing to be relieved by what Seiya said. As her arm turns dark red, I approach Seiya and whisper:

“Hey, Seiya? What exactly did you mean by you’d ‘take care of things’?”

“I’ll cut off her arm or something.”

“What?! You’re kidding, right?!”

But Seiya’s expression doesn’t change as he continues to face Rosalie. I don’t think he was joking! He scares me sometimes…

“Now let us begin. Come.”

“Here I come!”

They cross blades at lightning speed just like in the movies…or at least that’s how I thought it was going to play out. In reality, however, Seiya effortlessly dodges Rosalie’s attack, then powerfully thrusts his wooden sword into her gut.

“Gwah…!”

Rosalie immediately crumples, vomiting violently onto the ground. And yet, Seiya raises his sword into the air to strike her once more. Unable to watch, I rush over and spread my arms out in front of her.

“Wait, wait, wait! She’s a woman, you know?! Hold back a little!”

“Rosalie is going to be my shield until I fight the Dragon Lord, so I can’t go easy on her. She has to get stronger if she’s going to wear down the Dragon Lord and his minions as much as possible for me.”

“Your shield?! Excuse me?!”

“I—I don’t mind…”

Rosalie struggles back to her feet while using her wooden sword for support.

“This is what I wanted…! Keep going!”

She is hit with a wooden sword until her arms and legs are swollen and red. She then takes another merciless blow to the head, causing fresh blood to stain her white hair. Seiya used to excessively beat Cerceus during their training, and Cerceus once had his revenge and pulverized Seiya, but it was never this brutal.

Right as I realize I can’t watch this anymore, I suddenly hear a small, trembling voice by my side.

“Whoa! What is he doing?! Is he torturing her…?”

Before I even realize it, Cerceus is standing by my side with a face as pale as can be.

“You think so, too, right?!”

“He’s treating her much worse than he ever treated me. I get that she’s just an illusion, but I can’t believe he could do something so cruel to a woman. What a monster.”

“Y-yeah, or a Demon Lord or something… Wait. Cerceus, what’s that in your hands?”

Cerceus is carrying a large barrel filled to the brim with water.

“Seiya told me to fetch him a barrel of water. Training’s going to make him thirsty, you know?”

“He’s not a horse. Is he really going to drink all that?”

Seiya looks down at Rosalie as she groans in agony before passing out. Her body couldn’t take any more. Seiya then marches over to Cerceus, snatches the barrel from him, and dumps the water on Rosalie’s head.

“Wake up. There’s no time to sleep.”

Eek?! So that’s what the water was for?! What kind of training is this?!

I rush over to Rosalie to stop the abuse, but the soaked princess’s face is brimming with motivation.

“I appreciate it! I am fully conscious now! Ah, there’s nothing like a cold drink of water to liven you up! That really hit the spot!”

“You ‘appreciate’ it?! You didn’t even drink any, so I’m pretty sure it didn’t hit any ‘spots’!”

“Let’s…keep going!”

She ends up getting knocked unconscious for a third time, and this time she is completely out. No amount of water gets her to even budge.

“Seiya! You’ve gone too far this time!”

“How many times do I have to repeat myself? She’s just an illusion. Don’t worry about her.”

“But she’s out cold! She can’t take any more!”

“Hmph. Then use your healing magic and fix her. We can start training again when she’s awake.”

Seiya then briskly walks off somewhere. I lay Rosalie’s head in my lap and cast a healing spell on her. The merciless attacks have left countless bruises on her face and body.

“Did he really have to go this far?”

“What he’s doing makes sense, though. Seiya’s planning on using Rosalie as a shield while he fights, right? He probably made her take off her armor so he could raise her Defense through giving her body a good beating.”

“He still went too far.”

I chat with Cerceus while healing Rosalie until she eventually opens her good eye.

“You need not worry about me. Nothing would make me happier than to be a part of the Dragon Lord’s demise, no matter what the cost. Besides, this training is saving me from mental anguish. Only during our training can I forget about the foolish actions I took.”

Rosalie sacrificed her own townspeople to a demon for over a decade, and it’s clear she considers this an unforgivable sin.

“The Hero is a thoughtful man. I wouldn’t be surprised if he even knew how I was feeling.”

“I—I don’t know about that.”

I just think Seiya doesn’t view her as a person. Regardless, Rosalie is very optimistic about her training with him.

All of a sudden, I notice that Rosalie’s eyepatch has slid off her eye, exposing an old scar. A single slash, perhaps from a sword.

“Hey, Rosalie? I think I can heal that eye for you if you want.”

“I appreciate the thought, but it isn’t possible. Not even the highest-level healers could fix it.”

“…! W-wait. Does that mean your eye was—?!”

“Yes, the Dragon Lord robbed me of this eye.”

She sends a piercing gaze into the sky as she fixes her eyepatch.

“The Dragon Lord likes to torture his victims before killing them. After slicing through this eye with Igzasion, he immediately tortured my father, the emperor, to death…laughing all the while.”

“M-Mash laughed while…?!”

I can’t even finish my sentence. Rosalie slowly continues her story with a serious tone:

“I understand that you all have come from another world, and I somewhat understand what’s going on now, so let me just say this: The Dragon Lord, Mash Dragonight, is a ruthless monster. You should probably think of him as a completely different person rather than the boy you once knew,” suggests Rosalie while she sits up and tries to get back to her feet.

“I must make it through the Hero’s training and become an unbreakable shield so we can defeat that monster!”

“Rosalie! Your wounds still haven’t completely healed yet! You should rest a—”

“No, I’m fine. I would rather continue training.”

“What?! You seriously want to keep doing that?!”

“I am fine with whatever the Hero wishes to do with me. Simply being by his side warms my heart. Yes… I must have—”

All of a sudden, Seiya comes walking over, cutting Rosalie off midsentence.

“You’re awake. Very well. Let’s continue.”

“Okay!”

And just like that, they begin their rigorous training once again. Despite how brutal it may seem, Rosalie almost appears as if she is enjoying herself. Every time she is hit and bruised, her cheeks turn pink.

“More! Give me that long sword of yours! Yes! Yesss! Ahhhnnn!”

“Is it just me, or is this getting weird?!”

The Hero continues his harsh training while Rosalie gazes at him with rapture, and I begin to grow very worried for more reasons than one.