Chapter 54 : The Book of the Dead Hero
After eliminating the headless monster, the oppressive feeling that had pervaded the underground space seemed to have diminished greatly.
After collecting some parts, Elucia didn't linger here long, but pulled the iron chain on Lonis's Collar and walked up step by step.
Pushing open the door, the vast night sky came into view... it seemed that the heavy rain that had lasted for days had stopped, and Lonis's underground journey had also taken most of the day.
Old Hu was slumped on a nearby stone stool. Seeing the girls come out, he struggled to sit up and said:
"Is... is it you? Has the curse been lifted?"
"Unfortunately, not yet."
"What?"
"More accurately, it's half completed... you were hit by something crystalline just now, right?"
Elucia looked around as if searching for something.
"Ah, it seemed like it! I felt a bright light from the passage and thought it was you coming out, but then I got hit."
"Hmph, as expected~"
Elucia snorted coldly without much explanation: "Come with me. You're also involved in this, so you should understand the truth of the matter."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Just come with me and you'll know."
...
...
So Lonis and Old Hu both followed behind Elucia, not knowing what this black-haired girl was planning.
Was she going to stop the crystal head from harming the villagers?
But this pace was too slow... Elucia's steps were leisurely, and her expression didn't reveal the slightest tension.
Moreover, this road didn't lead to the village.
The surroundings were dense forests, occasionally with insect sounds. Lonis didn't recognize where Elucia was going, but Old Hu's expression became extremely surprised.
He opened his mouth slightly, as if he had questions to ask Elucia, but ultimately was too shocked to speak.
(What's going on?)
Although full of questions, as a maid, Lonis didn't dare ask more. She just followed Elucia to the destination...
And the scene before her eyes also stunned her.
Here was the small wooden hut that had been burned to ashes, and that crystal head that had escaped from the underground ruins was floating in mid-air.
Only it was surrounded by pale blue light, and under the light's illumination, a figure seemed to be gradually walking toward it.
...
...
『I'm sorry, Suna. I never thought things would turn out this way...』
『No, this is my matter. I was too hasty, wanting to possess your power.』
...
The phantom gradually became clear, condensing into the shape of a girl.
...
『Regardless, it's my fault. It was my power that hurt you, making you into what you are now.』
『Hero, at this point, none of that matters anymore... Did you come here to bring me relief?』
...
The girl cupped her hands toward the crystal head, as if wanting to lift it up.
But she was just a ghost. No matter how she touched, what she could grasp was only air.
...
『No, I came here to end the regret from seven years ago.』
『Hero, what are you saying?』
『I should have died long ago, and you shouldn't be like this. This is my last power. Use it well to fulfill our promise.』
『No, such a thing is absolutely not allowed!』
...
The phantom girl seemed to understand what the crystal head wanted to do.
She wanted to stop it, she wanted to resist, but the power from the crystal head was so immense that she couldn't break free at all.
"Suna!"
Seeing this scene, Old Hu instinctively wanted to rush forward and stop it all.
However, Elucia extended her arm and blocked him.
"Old Hu, you can't stop this."
"Eh..."
"Because this was decided seven years ago."
Before everyone's eyes, the crystal head emitted incomparable brilliance.
And Suna's soul was also completely absorbed into it.
...
...
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
This is my redemption as a fallen hero.
Seven years ago, while immersed in the underground world, I first felt a plea from the outside world.
『Please help me save my hometown! It's been occupied by undead creatures, and everyone is living in incomparable suffering.』
I didn't know what I could do, but I knew I couldn't turn a blind eye to any call for help.
So I responded to her voice.
...
"Who are you, and how can I help you?"
"My name is Suna, and you are a heroic spirit from the ancient world that exists to this day. I know you possess very powerful strength."
...
This was the beginning of everything, and the source of tragedy.
Having been silent for so long, I no longer knew what my body had become.
And Suna firmly believed that I could overcome all difficulties... as long as we worked together, everything could be saved.
But we both underestimated the Trickster Demon Lord's malice. That evil from darkness had already bewitched the villagers, completely imprisoning Suna when she returned to the village for supplies.
The ritual wasn't completed. Everything failed.
Suna couldn't complete the self-sacrifice and was brutally killed by the priest.
And I was overwhelmed by inner rage and despair. To kill those few lust-driven villagers... but the evil power spread from there, affecting innocent villagers as well.
Not only did everyone become monsters parasitized by Night-walking Puppet Worms, but I also completely became a fallen hero.
How shameful.
Is this what you accomplished as a hero?
Letting the pleading girl die in despair.
Corrupting all the villagers into monsters.
Unable to live, unable to die, like a walking corpse, continuously spreading despair to this world.
Ha, haha...
I know this was the Trickster Demon Lord's plan. He wanted me to despair, to become one of his pawns.
But…
Even in despair, even knowing I was beyond redemption.
I firmly believe there must be a new possibility in this world.
This possibility will carry the flames of revenge from the Flame Abyss,
This possibility will carry the hero's heart from the past,
She will burn all darkness in this world to ashes,
She will eliminate all evil in this world,
She will carry that wish I never fulfilled together...
To cry out, to burst forth with incomparably powerful strength, to rewrite all imperfect endings in this world!
Only,
Unfortunately...
I won't live to see that day.
So, Suna.
Please use my last bit of body, my last bit of power.
To witness that future bathed in sunlight.
Under the blue light's illumination, Suna's soul flowed into the head, and the hero's soul also departed from this world forever.