* * *
* * *
tweet.
I opened my eyes to the sound of birdsong.
I think I slept on the sofa, but I woke up in the bed in my room. As a bonus, I looked out the window and the sun was just rising. I checked my watch and it was six in the morning.
···Wait a minute, six in the morning?
I blinked blankly.
I struck the watch a couple of times to see if it was broken, but I failed to control the force and the watch shattered with a cheerful ‘knocking’ sound.
“······.”
I looked alternately at the smashed clock and out the window.
weird. I feel like I took a nap when the sun rose in the sky, but why is it 6 in the morning? How many hours of sleep did you have?
My first thought was that it was a waste of time.
My next thought was that I was hungry.
After sitting on the bed in a daze, I stood up from the bed with a long yawn. When I opened the door and went outside, I saw Master reading a newspaper and sipping coffee.
“Are you awake?”
Master let out a chuckle.
“He was sleeping so well that even if someone carried him, you wouldn’t notice him. He wouldn’t wake up so much that we moved him to the bed, but seeing as he didn’t wake up even then, he must have been quite tired.”
“Did you?”
“That’s right.”
I don’t think I was that tired.
I smiled shyly and sat down on the chair across from Master. As soon as I sat down, Master lightly snapped his fingers.
Crank.
The dishes were placed one after another, and the kitchen utensils began to move on their own, making a clicking sound. As a master well-versed in life magic, breakfast was ready in an instant.
“Eat. You must be hungry.”
“thank you.”
Sandwiches and coffee.
I chatted with Master while enjoying a warm breakfast made with freshly baked bread rather than cold food. Stories about acquaintances, thoughts about what to do in the future, other miscellaneous personal affairs, etc.
After eating breakfast, I went into my room and sat down.
With the rising morning sun shining its languid rays, I sat on a chair and brushed my hair. A new day has begun. The speech is in a few days, so there wasn’t anything special to do today either. Should I go see Destel act? Or should I go make fun of Kalt’s work?
I’m in the middle of thinking about what to do today.
Suddenly, something came into the corner of my vision.
One book. The moment the book made of woven manuscripts came into view, the hand that was combing my hair stopped. The light breathing became a little heavier. Yes, you were there. I smiled bitterly and stretched out my hand.
『The life of a hero.』
『Author: Galahal.』
The book I picked up was heavy.
There was a time when I stayed away from this book because it was heavy. There was a time when I couldn’t even open the book because every time I saw Galahal’s name, I had questions about my own life.
Galahal, the most heroic warrior.
The person who taught me and helped me move forward, but then moved on, leaving me behind. I looked at the book in my hand, thinking about the guy who had gone to a place I couldn’t catch.
Sarah.
I gently brushed off the dust that had accumulated on the book.
I let out a bitter smile while holding the book. Still, I mourn Galahal’s death. Even though Galahal himself was satisfied with his life, what those left behind felt was a longing for the one who had left.
Sarah.
I carefully opened the book.
There was a time when I had a hard time even opening this book, but not anymore. After taking a long breath, I started reading the book Galahal left behind once again.
Past the stories of countless heroes.
I faced that sentence again.
『My story ends here.』
『I hope you will fill in the rest from now on.』
As I faced that sentence, I lowered my gaze.
The very next page had a page with my name on it. There was nothing written on that page except my name, so this book that Galahal left behind was unfinished.
A pure white page with my name written on it.
The blank space, the pure white paper left behind, seemed to be asking me a question. How do you plan to live your life from now on? And, I had an obligation to answer that question.
Because I cannot leave this book unfinished forever.
He sighs and laughs.
I grabbed my quill.
And then he started writing on the pure white paper. To engrave the word ‘complete’ into a novel he left behind.
『Humans are not perfect.』
『That’s why humans lean on each other and move forward. Because it’s too lonely to walk alone.』
“Today is the day of the retirement ceremony.”
“Yes, this is my last task as a hero.”
“Come here. I’ll help you dress up.”
Master straightened his warrior’s uniform and trimmed his collar, smiling.
“I’ll watch from the front row. Have a good speech.”
“Yes, Master.”
After being seen off by Master, I left the mansion.
Today, the last day of the festival, I officially retire from my position as a warrior. I walked forward to complete my final task as a warrior.
『No matter how excellent it is, it is not much different. For example, heroes are like that.』
When I went outside the mansion, they were waiting for me. Kyle, who was dressed in a warrior’s uniform for the first time in a while, Stel, who was dressed neatly and squarely today, and Chloe, who was standing awkwardly between the two, waved their hands at me.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
『A being who must be an example to others, stand upright in front of everyone, and always be right. That’s what a hero should be.』
『A hero must always be perfect.』
『They are also human. We are mere human beings who cannot be perfect on our own. An ordinary human being who is sometimes shaken, sometimes wants to rest, and sometimes hesitates.』
We boarded the carriage prepared by the imperial castle and headed to the street where the festival was in full swing. We got off the carriage that stopped in the middle of the street and marched amidst the cheers of people.
『It’s the same for me too.』
The march that lasted for a long time stopped and I went up to the stage. The warriors walked behind me. There was no magic tool for loudspeaker placed on the podium. Because there was no particular need.
I covered my voice with mana.
“Ah,” I said, and when I opened my mouth, silence fell around the noisy surroundings. I smiled while facing countless eyes looking at me and countless people listening to my voice.
“I am Rania Van Trias, warrior.”
『I am Rania Van Trias, human.』
“I’m meeting you for the first time, but you’re meeting me now. You’ve probably seen me through various newspaper articles. Is there anyone who doesn’t know my face? Probably not.”
Laughter spread throughout the square.
I continued speaking in a light atmosphere.
“The reason I am standing here is because I have a story to tell you as a warrior who represents humanity.”
『The reason I am writing this is because there is a story I want to tell to you who are reading this.』
I let out a long breath.
“There are probably many people who know that the star has disappeared. There are probably many people who are confused. What you are concerned about is probably true.”
The star has disappeared.
“The moment the Demon King was subdued, the Star disappeared beyond the night sky. He set off on a long journey, leaving behind the words that he would no longer be needed by mankind. Although he left behind a trace, even that will soon disappear.”
A murmur spread.
Many people gasped at the fact that the star had disappeared, and many were confused when they realized that the rumors were true. There were too many, but I kept talking.
“Because the star finally accepted it.”
what?
“The fact that humanity’s childhood is over.”
The end of humanity’s long childhood.
I talked about why the stars disappeared and how the world would change from now on. The chatter didn’t stop, but the more people listened to me, the more they slowly nodded.
Although the world changes.
Because it won’t change that much.
It is okay to live the same life as yesterday, even if you live a life that has changed to fit the changed world, and no matter how you live your life. Because there is no right answer. If each person lives his or her own life diligently, everything will be correct.
“I am.”
But to those who are still lost.
I slowly opened my mouth for those who couldn’t figure out what to do.
“I’d like to talk about myself for a moment.”
『I would like to tell you about my life.』
“Everyone knows that I am a perfect hero, a superhuman, and an iron man. They will think of me as such. I have worked hard so that everyone can rely on me.”
『I lived while being chased』
『On duty, responsibility, symbol, mission.』
『I thought about what a hero should be, and sacrificed my own life to repay those who shed their blood for me. That’s how he lived.』
『One day, when I looked back at my life, I could only sigh. I lived a very harsh life. How can people live like this? Is this how people live? That’s what I thought. That’s when I realized.』
“I tried so hard to look perfect.”
『Ah, I am also human after all.』
『No matter how much you try to become a symbol, no matter how much you try to be a perfect being, you are just a human being who cannot be perfect.』
“I’m actually not that perfect person.”
I said with a bitter smile.
“To be honest, I hate battlefields too. How can I like a place that is bloody, full of screams, and makes me suffocate every time I breathe?”
I smiled and spoke the truth.
“I also like drinking coffee and eating desserts. Do you know about the shop called ‘Allen’s Coffee Shop’ in Aplia Academy? I really want to drink coffee there, so I often order my subordinates to get it on the battlefield, but it doesn’t taste that good. Unfortunately.”
I told about my life.
“I also like reading newspaper articles about my achievements. Wow, reporters these days are really good at writing. I also have a collection of newspapers. I was always grateful. It was fun to look at them on the battlefield.”
『I felt comfortable after admitting it』
“Relying on those things, I survived.”
or.
“You could say I endured it. No matter what anyone says, the battlefield is a difficult place.”
『Once I realized that perfection couldn’t be achieved, I looked around me. I reached out to those around me. If you can’t be perfect on your own, you have to lend a hand.』
“Besides, the support I send to the battlefield, the people who greet me with cheers every time I return to the capital, the comrades who fought on the same battlefield as me, the knights who protected the places I couldn’t reach, the countless others. Thanks to everyone…”
『Get help.』
『Lending a hand.』
『Relying on countless people.』
“I think I was able to come this far.”
『I survived the day.』
『Day after day, day after day, I finally reached this point. Looking back, if it’s long, it’s long, and if it’s short, it’s short. Still, it was very long for me.』
“It’s not as big as I thought? It’s trivial? After living it, I realized that’s what living is all about.”
I chuckled.
“Even if the stars disappear or the world changes… what you and I do will not change much.”
That’s the way it is in the end.
“If work is difficult, you can have a drink with a colleague to shake it off. If you feel like you can’t do it alone, call a friend and try to do it together. If even that doesn’t work, ask others for help… That’s how you live, relying on each other.”
I said with a smile.
“Because that’s what people are like.”
I spread my arms wide.
“They say the stars have disappeared, but if you’re still having a hard time, it’s okay to pray to the sky. They may be listening to your voice from far away. However, it’s okay to look around.”
I looked behind me, to the side, and in front of me.
There were people there who supported my life. Colleagues, students, teachers, and friends.
“People are people because they live with other people.”
I smiled at those who looked at me.
“Thank you, for everything.”
I am here because of you.
“Now we want to retire.”
『Now I’m thinking of ending my long life as a hero.』
This is the last part of the speech.
Kyle, Destel, and Chloe stood right next to me.
“Because the changed world will no longer need representatives of humanity. We now want to lay down the heavy burden of being heroes and live a normal life among you.”
That’s how I ended my speech.
Empress Ayla rose to the stage amidst cheers, and the warrior’s retirement ceremony came to an end with the awarding of medals and her short speech.
He has completed his last task as a warrior.
After coming down from the podium, we changed our clothes and parted ways for a while, saying we would meet at a bar.
『I would like to end my life as a hero and live as an ordinary human being. A human being who does not need to act perfect. A human being who no longer has to be chased by something.』
Returning home, I took off my warrior’s uniform.
『Not a symbol or anything else.』
Untie the hair that was tied up.
Take off your gloves and throw them away.
Take off your military boots and choose comfortable walking shoes.
『An ordinary person.』
『I just want to live as Rania. Because there is still a lot of time left to live. A lot.』
I put down everything that symbolized me as a warrior and stood in front of the mirror in light clothes. Not bad. It was the moment when I was about to go outside the mansion.
“So, I’m thinking of retiring.”
Suddenly, I looked at the book open on the desk in my room. This is a novel I wrote right before attending my retirement ceremony. Actually, it was closer to a memoir than a novel, but whatever.
Still, I have to finish it.
With a light heart, I sat down on the chair.
The novel had only the last sentence left, and I sat down at my desk and picked up a quill to erase the word “unfinished” from the unfinished novel that Galahal had left behind.
『To put it a little more lightly.』
I thought about it while giving the speech, but as expected, the last sentence was nothing like this. I moved my quill pen and engraved the sentence that would end the novel.
『The hero’s party is being kicked out.』
Completed.
fantasy,
