Fragment 5: Carlos
 

 
When was it that I first said, “I want to be a hero”?
 
I don’t remember the exact moment. Only that it was sometime in my childhood.
 
Like any other child, I had learned about heroes and admired them purely—nothing more than a naive, fleeting wish. A common tale, just childish babble.
 
But in my case, people took it seriously.
 
Perhaps it was because, from a young age, I showed talent in both swordplay and magic.
 
That said, it wasn’t unusual for royalty to possess great power. Most royal lineages could trace their bloodline back to … Read the rest

The Hero of Ludonia
 

[Wind!]
 
Elliott noticed the wind blade magic that Ares had unleashed just in the nick of time.
 
He twisted his body to avoid a direct hit, but Elliott sustained a large wound on his cheek. Though a considerable amount of blood was flowing, it wasn’t a deep injury.
 
Having missed his last-ditch strike, Ares’s disadvantageous situation continued. Carlos, who had shouted Elliott’s name, was still far away.
 
As if cutting through his hesitation, Elliott raised his sword once more.
 
“This is the end.”
 
His voice carried a tone of … Read the rest

Fragment 4: Elliot
 

I was afraid to sleep at night. Because I never knew when that dream would come.
 
Tentatively, I would slip into bed and pray for sleep.
 
Yet from the depths of slumber, it was always the same—that day’s scene.
 
A hundred knights rode their horses in haste across the wasteland.
 
In the distance, the Demon King’s army was attacking Ludonia’s fortress.
 
Glancing sidelong at the battle, we spurred our horses onward. Eventually, we arrived at our destination—a narrow path enclosed by rocky mountains. Yet the battle between the Demon King’s forces and Ludonia’s defenders still raged … Read the rest

Carlos
 

 
Before I knew it, Elliot had vanished. No one in the castle knew his whereabouts. My cousin Elliot was like a younger brother to me—ever since we were children, he had always looked up to me.
 
“Lord Carlos, you will surely become the Hero!”
 
He used to say that with sparkling eyes.
 
When had he become so emotionless?
 
Was it when he officially became a knight? When he trembled as he stepped onto the battlefield?
 
—Or was it when the knights who died that day saved his life?
 
A bad feeling gnawed at me. No, if I were … Read the rest

Night Forest
 

Leon’s horse-drawn carriage ran smoothly along the highway.
 
“Isn’t it a bit slow?”
 
Solon complained, but the speed of a carriage is pretty much the same no matter who’s driving it, and it’s not much different from walking.
 
That night we decided to camp outdoors, so in an open area within the forest, we gathered around a campfire for the first time in a while.
 
“We didn’t make many good memories in Ludonia, but the beds there were absolutely the best,”
 
Solon grumbled, having become completely accustomed to high-quality beds.
 
“Oh my, was there actually a place … Read the rest

Fragment 3: The Prophet
 

 
My power as a Prophet is not limited to rewriting the world repeatedly through [World Revision].
 
As a Prophet, I can manifest my form—an illusion—as someone’s shadow companion. Conversely, I cannot become the shadow of anything other than a human. Thus, in hopes of aiding Ares and the others even slightly, I attempted to attach my illusions to those under suspicion. By doing so, I believed I could discern who among them was a shapeshifter.
 
Yet, in the end, I never discovered who the shapeshifter was.
 
I was able to inhabit the shadows of everyone … Read the rest

Departure
 

 
“What fools…”
 
Prince Carlos, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, muttered sorrowfully as he surveyed the devastation.
 
The sky had already begun to lighten, signaling the end of the long night.
 
Beside the prince, Elliot stood with his eyes downcast. Perhaps he was reflecting on the deaths of his former comrades.
 
“I told them to surrender, but… no one listened…”
 
Unsure of what else to say, I offered words that sounded more like an excuse.
 
“They were all stubborn bastards. Not the type to listen to reason. Even if I’d said something, the outcome would’ve been … Read the rest

True Identity
 

 
“Why, Felip? Why do you hate me so much?”
 
Drawing my sword and keeping the surrounding knights at bay, I confronted Felip.
 
“There is only one true Hero—Prince Carlos. No other Hero is necessary.”
 
Though Felip spoke with conviction, his pale face betrayed a lack of true belief in his own words.
 
“That’s not true! All that matters is that someone defeats the Demon King! Whoever slays him will become the true Hero—it doesn’t have to be me!”
 
“It’s precisely because everyone thinks ‘someone else will do it’ that His Highness was never able to become the … Read the rest

Fragment 2: Felip
 

—To make Carlos-sama the Hero—
 
I know. I know it’s our own obsession.
 
But back then, the knights who saved my life died believing that Carlos-sama was the Hero—the one who would save the world. There’s no turning back now.
 
Even before we took to the battlefield, the true enemy of the Ludonian army was not the Demon King’s forces—it was our own allies behind us.
 
“Never pursue too deeply.”
“Focus solely on defense.”
“Do not take the initiative to attack.”
 
These were the kinds of orders issued in the king’s name.
 
Against human opponents, such … Read the rest

Ambush
 

 
After the battle at the border, the Ludonian Knights held a triumphant return parade in the royal capital.
 
According to Prince Carlos, this was also an important matter.
 
“The Ludonian army is strong.”
“We are safe.”
“The nation’s actions are just.”

If these sentiments were not made clear, the people could easily waver in their faith.
 
The crowd welcomed us enthusiastically as we rode toward the castle on horseback. The streets were packed with people chanting the names of Ludonia and Prince Carlos.
 
It was heartwarming, but the truth was, many soldiers were … Read the rest