Clarifications:
-"Person Talking"-
-(Person Thinking)-
-
[Skills or Magic]
(JC: Author's Notes)
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Let's start
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-(Was this a dream?)-
My mother's hand, cold.
Her eyes, just as cold, staring at me.
A warm smile… And a pile of pure white ashes.
All those memories did nothing but torment me. I didn't want to remember them… But that was the path I walked.
If I hadn't crossed paths with the Hero, I doubt my soul would have been saved. But I was too clumsy, too inexperienced… And it ended like this. With so many people trusting me, too… That was all it was…
Several years had passed since I retired from the life of an Adventurer. Now I was a full-fledged teacher, guiding the next generation of our craft while helping society through my work.
The Adventurers' Society, an organization that crossed borders and grew beyond the control of any government, had established its headquarters in the kingdom of Englesia. I was no longer an Adventurer, but if there was something I could help with, I wanted to do it. After all, that society had given me a home when I had nowhere to go.
There, I had the opportunity to teach several talented students. A young man with eyes that shone with absolute purity. A girl whose gaze was tinged with despair. I assumed both came from other worlds, like me.
They were polar opposites. Yuuki was a bright and optimistic boy, while Hinata was reserved and somber, as if she carried all the darkness of the world within her.
She had been attacked by bandits when she arrived here. At that moment, I thought that, over time, she would cheer up and heal. The bandits met their end at the hands of another assailant, saving Hinata's life… But I was sure that incident had left its mark on her.
After all, I saw a little of myself in that girl. I felt an affinity for her… Although, apparently, it was one-sided.
-"Thank you for everything you've taught me,"- She said. -"There's nothing more I can learn from you. I doubt we'll meet again."-
Then she turned and left.
I thought about chasing her, but I couldn't leave the city. The society was implementing a new shared-assistance program with Englesia, an organizational structure originally proposed by Yuuki. As a former Hero, I was assigned to represent the guild in the negotiations. It was something I wanted to see succeed, as it would define the society's future direction.
So, in the end, the only thing I could do was see her off. -"If you ever get lost,"- I told her. -"I want you to trust me."-
After debating it, I decided to support Yuuki over Hinata. The girl had walked a path similar to mine, but she had always been much stronger. I wanted to believe in her iron will, that she could dispel the darkness from her soul and become a great woman.
It was no surprise to learn, a few years later, that she had risen to an important position within the Church. I felt a bit proud, a bit lonely… and a bit anxious.
-(Hinata doesn't feel alone, does she? Is she doing well?)-
The questions overwhelmed me, but I knew I had no right to ask them. I had had the chance to take her hand once… and I let it go.
All I could do was pray for her safety.
Yuuki, on the other hand, was much more dynamic.
He was the one who built the current system of the Adventurers' Society, now renamed the Free Guild. Thanks to him, the guild achieved a successful cooperative relationship with nations across the world. He forged treaties with governments, gaining representation in their most important councils. His efforts turned the organization into a force more powerful than ever.
I shouldn't have expected less. Until then, all nations had focused solely on protecting their own borders. When the Free Guild began handling Monster extermination missions, it relieved the burden of all the other governments worldwide. And that wasn't all. Adventurers, travelers who roamed the world without owing loyalty to any country, were required to submit reports on their expeditions. The Free Guild compiled those reports to understand how monsters were distributed globally. In this way, danger levels were assigned to each region, allowing people to travel with relative safety.
The system had another important effect. Knowing where and when to expect the appearance of Monsters allowed anomalies to be detected quickly. This made it easier to discover and report unknown creatures or eliminate hordes before they grew too numerous. Whenever an out-of-place monster suddenly threatened a nearby city, the Guild would send an expeditionary force to investigate the cause. By addressing the problem at its root, the Guild and local governments could organize response units with efficiency never seen before.
Thanks to this type of organization, people's lives became safer and more comfortable. Humanity began to expand its cities, and the population grew rapidly in recent years. The institution of assigned Monster ranks also considerably reduced the number of deaths.
For someone in charge of training new recruits, nothing could have made me happier. Thanks to Yuuki, the Free Guild had become an indispensable organization for both nations and their people.
Yuuki, for his part, just laughed.
-"I was simply imitating what I saw in a video game I played,"- He said, smiling. -"Although, of course, in a game you can do whatever you want… even recruit Monsters to your party!"-
He had always been a joker. -(Monsters that become your friends? That kind of thing can only happen in your dreams…)-
The world I was born in had been devastated by war. Could it have recovered enough to create people like him, so carefree, so fearless?
He explained that these "video games" were toys for children that allowed them to live a story themselves. If Japan had recovered enough to give its children the dreams to play with, it must have become a wonderful place.
I listened to Yuuki's stories and thought of a home I could no longer return to.
I continued supporting Yuuki from the shadows, advising him without ever appearing in the foreground. The Free Guild continued to grow until it became an entity used by almost everyone. Its philosophy of rescuing the weak and being accessible to all had spread like a flame.
Over time, Yuuki, my own student, became the Grand Master of the Guild, the highest position, responsible for organizing and supervising the Masters of each branch. Given everything he had accomplished, it was only natural. His efforts had become the catalyst that finally allowed humanity to live in peace. He had fulfilled his duty. I felt the satisfaction of a job well done.
So I decided to leave. To embark on a journey… one that would allow me to confront the regrets that still weighed on my heart.
I continued having dreams of the past, when I was still Born of Magic. Containing Ifrit's will was becoming difficult; perhaps I was approaching the end of my natural life. My Magical Resistance Mask still worked perfectly, so the reason was clear.
When I understood that, I knew I had to leave the city as soon as possible. I couldn't predict when Ifrit would lose control, nor how my death would affect his own existence.
Moreover, I wanted to face my Demon Lord, even if only once, to express what I truly felt.
And so, I decided to depart.
When I told Yuuki my plans, he just nodded silently. He said nothing… but his gaze said it all. He hoped I could forgive this final act of selfishness.
-(Perhaps)- I thought. -(That's how the Hero felt too)-
My first destination was Blumund. Heinz had already retired, and his son, Fuze, had taken over the position of Guild Master. We met and talked for a long time about the old days. It was a comforting encounter.
Surprisingly, he told me that Veldora had disappeared. The Guild was conducting a frantic investigation to discover the cause.
-"I don't know too many details,"- Heinz said with a chuckle. -"They don't tell much to an old retiree like me. But I can tell you it worries my son."-
I had to fully trust Fuze to speak of him that way. I remembered the boy from the monster hunting operations, where he had been an excellent support. Now, outside the front lines, he followed his father's administrative footsteps. He had inherited all his natural talent.
-"Thank you,"- I said. -"You've been very kind to me."-
-(I shouldn't interfere with their path)-
After my polite response, I stood up.
-(Was Veldora's disappearance some kind of divine message for us?)- Either way, I would head toward the forest.
-"Stay safe too, Shizu! I think there's an expedition group leaving tomorrow,"- Heinz murmured, almost to himself. -"If you go to the forest, you might join them for a while."-
He didn't try to stop me. He had always been a peculiar man, and that was his way of showing kindness.
-"Ah, Heinz, I wouldn't expect anything less from you. I suppose I owe you one until the very end, then."-
-"You don't owe me anything, Shizu. And don't talk about the 'end' just yet! I'd like to see you again sometime."-
I could feel the sincere warmth behind his words.
-"Right. I'll come back."-
I bowed gently and departed.
The next day, I managed to meet the expedition group that Heinz had mentioned. They were three adventurers, a bright and welcoming trio, just as he had said. It was comforting to meet such kind people for my last journey, though their carelessness worried me.
Still, we encountered more than one problem as we moved through the Jura Forest. I was impressed they had reached Rank B, even if it was purely by luck. Their combat technique was good, yes, but if I had to describe their group in one word, it would be "reckless."
Our journey continued… until one of them had the brilliant idea of plunging his sword into a massive Giant Ant nest. I was horrified. It had only been a moment since I warned them not to. I never in my life imagined they would attempt something like that.
My flames could have reduced those Ants to ashes in an instant, I knew. But my control over my fire was no longer the same. I could feel my body beginning to deteriorate; it remained youthful only thanks to Ifrit's presence, but as my mastery over him weakened, my body aged rapidly… or rather, reverted to the age it truly should have.
-(Will Ifrit be freed when my body fails? Or will he collapse with me?)- I wouldn't know until the moment came. That was precisely the reason for my journey.
And the reason I hesitated to unleash my flames.
We were lucky. A passing patrol rescued us just in time, preventing a greater disaster. But it was, without a doubt, one of the strangest things I had ever witnessed.
-(Being saved… by Monsters? This has never happened to me before)-
They were Hobgoblins riding Magical Wolves. And these were no mere tamed beasts: they spoke clearly, intelligently, and had domesticated creatures that were clearly high-level. It was exactly the kind of "suspicious event" that the trio of adventurers had been sent to investigate, I thought.
My destination, meanwhile, was the castle of the Demon Lord Leon. His domain lay beyond the forest. I should have said goodbye to them there… but I didn't. I don't know, maybe I just wanted to see, along with those adventurers, the kind of home these Monsters had built.
And what I saw exceeded any expectation.
That "city" was neither a damp lair nor an improvised shelter. It was a genuine urban settlement, built with effort and purpose.
The awe I felt was indescribable. It wasn't a hole in the mountain or a glorified hut; it was a planned and living city.
It was still under construction, of course. Materials were arranged by sections, ready to be transformed into houses. There were no buildings yet; the monsters lived in rows of perfectly ordered tents. But they had already started with the underground infrastructure… a level of sophistication I had never imagined seeing in this world.
It was a strange settlement, yes, but brimming with energy. The inhabitants, despite being Monsters, worked with genuine enthusiasm. Most were Hobgoblins, though they shared their lands with Black Fang Wolves, somewhat different from the ones I knew… And no, it wasn't my imagination.
The leader of the Hobgoblins spoke to me with surprising fluency. I could tell he was the most intelligent among them. He even prepared food for us. However, to my astonishment, I discovered that he wasn't the leader at all.
Instead, a boy appeared.
A human boy.
He sat on a roughly carved wooden throne, raised slightly above the ground, acting as if he were the King of the World… though his discomfort was obvious.
That boy was, without a doubt, the most puzzling of all. His eyepatch, that strange arm, his bearing… and, in my opinion, his handsome face. But what struck me most was that he—a mere human—was the leader of all those Monsters.
I couldn't help but laugh inwardly at the irony.
As we talked, I almost spat out my drink in surprise when I heard him casually say, -"Hajimemashite."- A Japanese greeting. Undeniably, a cultural phrase from my own world. At that moment, I began to wonder if it was just a coincidence… or something more.
Even so, there was something about the atmosphere he created—a familiar warmth that enveloped me without warning. The space around him radiated such a nostalgic feeling that for a moment… I felt at home. My heart filled with a serenity I hadn't felt in years.
For the first time in a long while, I was glad I had strayed from my planned path.
-(This meeting)- I thought. -(It must be fate)-
But that peace shattered as quickly as it came.
The hours we shared vanished in an instant when I felt my time running out. My body was failing. I hadn't reached my destination, nor fulfilled my purpose… and yet, the end was near.
Ifrit had been waiting for this moment. I could feel his will devouring mine—a burning pressure consuming my entire being.
It's happening…
I'm going to ruin everything again…
-(If only, just one last time, I could simply…)-
The Fire Titan manifested, almost laughing at my foolishness. And with that final thought, my consciousness faded into darkness.
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I went to see how she was. She didn't have much time left. In fact, she would never regain consciousness again. Even so, I wanted to stay with her until the end… this human companion from another world.
The wounded adventurers had managed to get up, fortunately, though they kept whining about how close they had been to being incinerated.
-"Hey, what's going on with this?"- Elen asked, inspecting her skin. -"I don't see any burn scars or anything… My skin is as soft and smooth as a baby's!"-
-"Damn it"- Kabal groaned, stretching his arms. -"And to think I thought I wouldn't be able to move for another week"-
-"Yeah, tell me about it"- Gido added with an incredulous smile. -"That potion she gave us was a damn miracle!"-
They were right. That potion had left them all as good as new.
-"Although, you know…"- Elen murmured. -"This probably means they'll refuse our hazard pay request, right?"-
-"Yup"- Kabal replied resignedly. -"No one's going to believe us…"-
-"Yeah, I figure"- Gido shrugged. -"But hey, that beats being out of commission!"-
It didn't take long for them to start bickering again, throwing complaints and selfish jokes around as if nothing had happened. I wondered if they ever really thought of anyone else. At least they didn't seem to hold any prejudice against monsters.
-"You know"- I suggested calmly. -"Once all this settles down a bit, maybe I could visit your city"-
-"Oh, if that's the case, I can give a message to the Guild Master for you!"-
Kabal exclaimed enthusiastically.
Exactly what I wanted to hear. That comment made my day. I had always admired adventurers a bit. Sure, I didn't have identification papers and doubted they would accept just anyone into the registry, but… it could be fun.
Kabal promised me that simply saying the name "Yukimaru" would ensure the Guild Master would hear about it soon. He was so excited that I decided to give them a small farewell gift: some newly forged equipment from the Dwarf brothers. They were prototype models made from materials they had gathered themselves, but the quality was remarkable.
Spider Robe: a pure white robe, woven from spider silk.
Scale Mail: heavy armor made from a lizard's shell, much lighter than it appeared.
Hard Leather Armor: crafted from local monster hides, with magical resistance included.
I also added some food and ten Recovery Potions, just to be safe.
-"Ooh! Look at this robe! It's so light, and I can't believe how strong it is! And beautiful too!"-
-"Whoa! I've always wanted real scale mail! Wait… the Master Garm made this!? This will be a family treasure!"-
-"Are you sure we can keep this? This is almost too good for people like us… Real Blackfang Wolf skin?!"-
For a moment, the atmosphere turned into a little celebration. They deserved it. After all, their equipment had been reduced to ashes, and I doubted their pay would cover replacements. It wasn't entirely my fault, but at least I could do something for them.
They were only prototypes, yes, but more than decent in quality.
-(Also… Look how happy they are)-
I was sure they would keep their promise and deliver my name.
They called me "boss" with pride… just like the rest of them.
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-(Yes, yes… whatever you say, Ddraig)-
The three still had their doubts about what happened with Shizu, but not enough to delay their departure. After three days of rest, they set off for their next destination. They had to submit a report and meet a looming deadline.
In reality, three days was more than generous for worrying about a woman who had practically inserted herself into their travel group without invitation.
Even so, I promised them I would take care of her, and that was enough to ease their minds.
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A week passed before Shizu woke up again.
-"Is this...? Oh... I apologize"-
Despite her transformation, she still retained all her memories.
-"I was dreaming," She told me. "Dreaming of the past. The city where I lived... a place I can never return to."-
-(Japan, perhaps?)-
-"Tell me, young one. Where are you from?"-
-"From the Forest of Jura, ma'am."-
Shizu closed her eyes, reflecting. -"Could you, perhaps, tell me where you're really from?"-
She must have known all along. I hesitated for a moment before speaking.
-"Hmph... It's not much use in this world anyway. I'll tell you. It's Earth; I lived in several countries, but in the end, I settled in Japan."-
-"Ah... From my land, are you? I thought you might be. I felt it from you,"- She murmured softly, her tone nostalgic. She stayed silent for a few seconds before continuing. -"I also heard from my students. Is the city much better now? Prettier? The last time I was there... there was nothing but fire around me."-
-"Yes. I could show you, if you want."-
I used [Telepathic Communication] to share a vision with her. A very useful ability in moments like this... and honestly, I liked doing it.
-"Ahh..."- The image brought a tear to her eye. -"Listen, young one... or should I say Yukimaru. I have a request for you. Would you mind hearing it?"-
-"What kind of request?"-
Nothing particularly feasible, I was sure. But I had promised to take care of her until the end. She deserved to be heard.
-"I want you to eat me..."-
-(What... What did she say?)-
-
-"You consumed the curse that was placed upon me, didn't you...? I'm so glad to be rid of it..."- Her voice grew soft. -"I wish I had the chance... I doubt I ever did, but I would have liked to face the person who placed it on me one last time. So I have only one request for you: would you let me sleep inside you?"-
Something in her eyes, that determination that refused to fade, stopped me. It was absurd, even cruel... but genuine.
-"I have to tell you... I have nothing but resentment for this world. But I didn't dare to hate it, not yet. It's the same feeling I have for that man... Maybe I just can't help but think of him whenever I look around. That's why I... don't want to be buried here. So please... I was hoping you could eat me instead..."-
-(Hmm... Well, that's rather simple)-
Fulfilling her wish would undoubtedly bind me to her and burden me with her curse. I would take her despair and hatred as my own.
But if I wanted her to rest in peace... the answer was obvious.
-"Very well. I'll be glad to take on your feelings. And what was the name of that man... the one who hurt you?"-
At the question, Shizu opened her eyes, her scarred face tightening as she shed more tears.
-"Leon Cromwell,"- She said in a trembling voice. -"One of the strongest Demon Lords."-
I stared at her. Her eyes begged me to fulfill that promise.
-"I promise!"- I exclaimed. -"By my name as Yukimaru Tempest and as the current Sekiryuutei, or whatever works best for you, I swear that Leon Cromwell will know what you made you feel! I'll make him regret every second of his life!"-
-(Isn't that right, Ddraig!?)-
-
-"Thank you..."-
Shizu whispered, then closed her eyes. Her breathing grew weak, calm... almost peaceful.
<
-(...Then, I hope you find some peace within me)-
-([YES])-
I thought silently, like a prayer for her... hoping that in her eternal rest, she could dream happily. No more nightmares. No more pain.
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Tap, tap, tap, tap...
She lifted her gaze, her face showing the innocence of youth. Relief spread through her as a smile appeared on her lips.
-(Well, there you are! Don't leave me alone like that again, okay?)-
But the figure shook its head before pointing to something far away. The girl turned toward it, her expression suddenly clouded with uncertain sadness.
There, she found...
-"!!Mom!!"-
A surge of happiness ran through her entire body as she ran toward her mother. The figure watched her trot for a moment, then vanished, as if nothing had occupied that space at all. Perhaps it was just an illusion created by the girl's memories.
Thus, the girl reunited with her mother.
This marked the end of what had been a long, long journey.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!
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Author's Notes
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Please note that this story is mostly centered around Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken and another novel that you may recognize. Please also note that Rimuru is completely replaced by my own character (Yukimaru). You are warned.
Disclaimers:
The character or story mentioned from an anime, or novel, does not belong to me. Instead, it belongs to Ichiei Ishibumi (High School DxD), Fuse, Mitz Vah (Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken) and Patora Fuyuhara (Isekai wa Smartphone to Tomo ni)
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Upcoming chapters (Spoilers):
Special Short Film No. 1- Memories of the Past
Chapter 19- The Beginning of the Maker of Chaos
Chapter 20- The Ogres