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Chapter 453. The Holy Curse

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By the time I became aware of my surroundings, I was already swinging around a wooden sword.

“Listen, this is how you swing a sword!”

“Got it! Haah!”

“Whoa! Nice job, that’s impressive! You’re a bundle of talent!”

It was my young uncle who always played along with the sword-fighting games of my younger self.

Looking back, that was all part of my training. He taught me the basics of swordsmanship through play.

With my father and grandfather often away on the battlefield or on expeditions, my uncle took care of me, becoming both a father figure and an elder brother to me.

“I want to be a cool hero like you when I grow up, Uncle!”

“Hahaha, that makes me very happy to hear!”

“Can I really, Uncle?”

I loved my father and grandfather dearly, but my strong, handsome, and kind uncle was also someone I admired greatly.

I always thought I wanted to become like him—

“Of course, you can! There’s no need to worry!”

My uncle smiled and ruffled my hair—

“You will become a splendid hero, Arthur.”

†††

I was different from ordinary people.

When did I realize it? Compared to children my age, I clearly grew faster. No matter how much I ran around, I hardly got tired. I was strong and had a great memory.

I was born with silver light in my left eye.

The Holy Relic Eye.

That’s why I was named Arthur.

I would become a hero. That was obvious and natural.

Having inherited overwhelming power, one of the true essences of the Holy Attribute from my ancestors—I had to contribute to humanity.

I had to fulfill my life as a hero.

“I will become a splendid hero!”

There was no room for doubt there.

I worked hard. I trained tirelessly. My body, which was resistant to fatigue, and my strong magical power fully demonstrated their worth in training. I started being able to take hits from my admired father and uncle. I learned healing magic and various spells.

A little while after completing the coming-of-age ceremony, I heard stories about the operation to assault the Demon Lord’s Castle. I couldn’t help but feel regret, thinking that if I had been born a few years earlier, I could have participated. At the same time, I felt respect for the warriors who had fallen far from home at the Demon Lord’s Castle.

To not waste their sacrifices—I too one day would face the Demon Lord!

Once my body matured and I reached manhood, I was immediately married off… to several dozen women. My friends and acquaintances were envious, but honestly, it was quite a challenge. Some of the candidates would cry when they weren’t chosen. I still can’t forget that awkwardness.

Once many of my wives became pregnant, I was finally thrown into real combat. I marched across battlefields alongside my father, uncle, and the Hilburn Family heroes. It was my first battle, where I killed dark beasts. I told myself not to be afraid. I was the one who would dispel the darkness of the night. I defended countless castles and repelled the Demon Lord’s Army—

It was only when I encountered a powerful superior demon that I used my true trump card.

The Absolute Annihilation Sword. I had overcome a great enemy with it.

But now—

This demon standing before me—

Demon Lord’s Prince No. 7 Zilbagias was stronger than any demon I had fought before.

(—I’m lacking)

With my current power, it isn’t enough to defeat Zilbagias!

“This body is the sword of the innocent!”

Ancestors.

Please lend me your strength.

“The Hilburn Family hero stands here!!”

From my right hand holding the Holy Sword, I drew forth the power of extermination.

“—Ooooooooohhh!!”

A sense of omnipotence overwhelmed the world around me. My very existence, my status, began to swell. The overwhelming ‘power’ flowed from Excalibur—

But at the same time, I felt a chilling, cold sensation creep into my core.

“Foolish… Stop it!!”

The Demon Prince raised a frightened voice.

“I’m going to die… I’ll perish!”

…What is the Demon Prince saying? We are already in a life-or-death battle. Unbothered, I closed the distance and slammed Excalibur down.

“Ugh— Don’t you realize!? You’re aging! Just a moment ago you were youthful, and now you’re already…!”

The Demon Prince struggled to deflect my strike while gasping in pain.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Awareness? Of course, he would be aware.

—He was aging at a terrifying rate.

“I knew that was a possibility…!”

As I swung Excalibur, shining ever brightly, I stated it as if it were nothing.

Drawing on the power of my ancestors to strengthen myself has a somewhat similar effect to that of the Holy Relic Eye, granting me the stamina of multiple ordinary people, but it does not age me.

Simply put, Excalibur’s benefits and backlash were on a completely different level. It was madness to host the power of hundreds of heroes at once. A mortal body couldn’t withstand it; the more it was used, the more it deteriorated.

So far, I had drawn Excalibur many times. Most enemies fell with a single swing. I rarely battled more than two or three times.

Each time, it seldom lasted over a few seconds or ten at most.

—That’s why my physical age had remained in the mid-twenties.

But Zilbagias was terrifyingly strong. Not only could he not go down in one swing, but he could also easily behead me. I, clad in high-grade equipment, supported by knights and the likes of Bishop Lexar from the Holy Church, and even receiving aid from the Sword Saint, was matched equally with him!

A monster. A true monster.

—I had no choice but to take him down here.

Even if it meant sacrificing this body, this life!

“You are the hero of humanity, aren’t you?!”

The Demon Prince seemed flustered.

“You shouldn’t die in such a trifling battlefield! You should fight and perish in a more glorious place!”

“There’s no such thing as trifling in battle!”

As I swung Excalibur, those words slipped out involuntarily.

“It’s a fight to the death! I will defeat you! I do not seek honor or glory, my mission is to exterminate the enemy of humanity!”

“I am the 7th Demon Prince! I have siblings strong enough to be considered nobles among demons, let alone my father, who is far stronger than I! If you fall here, who will battle the Demon Lord Kingdom!? Where else could a hero be found but with you?!”

“Grateful that you’re so concerned about me.”

With a toothy grin, I laughed at Zilbagias. Deepening the lines on my face—

“Then hurry up and die!”

Before I further aged.

The Demon Prince choked back words, sealing his lips behind his mask. Spouting nonsense as he was, would he really just go down quietly? Absurd.

“You should not die here!”

“How delightful of you, to keep looking down on me!”

Arthur launched an unseeable series of attacks, indeed pushing back the Demon Prince. I had cast aside all hesitation in drawing on the power of my ancestors.

“Even if I were to perish here—”

There are still many demons that must be eliminated, enemies of humanity left alive.

“My descendants will become the next Arthur and kill you all!”

No matter how many generations it takes.

“Because I do not fear death!!”

Even if it means taking Zilbagias down with me.

That is the way I should be as “Arthur”…!

“U—Ooooooohhh!”

While clashing swords with Zilbagias, I was gradually struck with the sensation that time was accelerating.

My life up until now flashed vividly before me. Celebrated at birth, playing with my uncle, learning magic, diving into training, spending day after day in training, facing my first battle, fighting the Demon Lord’s Army, battling, battling—

…Ah. I had fun. This vacation was great.

I had hardly had any vacations before. Most of the time was spent with family, and during travel, I acted as a ship protector while fulfilling my role as a hero.

I hardly ever had time to myself—

In the city of Saveh, I had infiltrated the back streets for the first time. I found a dark gambling den that a clean-cut hero would certainly avoid. Excusing it as “for investigation,” I partook in gambling out of mere curiosity.

That was so much fun. I should have wagered my usual Holy Sword too. I discovered that people lived their lives drinking and gambling during the day, feeling that atmosphere firsthand—

…If I hadn’t been born a Hilburn Family member, as “Arthur”—

What kind of life would I have lived? If I were the son of a baker? Or the heir of a craftsman? Or a fisherman?

At the very least, I would never have faced superior demons and fought with my life aflame…

I couldn’t even imagine a normal life. I only know how to live as a hero.

—Only how to die as a hero.

(I am not ordinary)

Sometimes I would quarrel with my family, rejoice or sulk over gambling, take leisurely trips, or sweat on fishing trips.

—Such “normality” was not part of my life.

It belonged to those ordinary people.

I am in a position to protect them.

I was born as “Arthur.” That is everything.

…I have no regrets. My children are growing. Even if I end it here after defeating the Demon Prince, I can hold my head high, having fulfilled my mission.

There’s no way I could falter or hesitate here; that would be a disgraceful act for a hero—

Because my ancestors, the generations of “Arthur” before me, are watching over me through this sword.

As a Hilburn Family hero, I cannot show disgrace…!

To protect the innocent people… I would…

“This life— I would throw it away!”

As I shouted with a voice becoming more hoarse,

“It’s not something to regret!!”

Arthur swung his sword frantically.

Receiving a forceful blow, yet astonishingly swift—

“Ugh… You bastard!!”

The Demon Prince, crying out in pain, was blown away and tumbled to the ground.

 

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