Chapter 92 \nLucas-sama who was carrying Eva asked Eiri-san to take care of the house as we joined Fegnis-san, who was waiting outside the barrier, and the four knights.\n
Â
âUsato, where should I go now?â
âThe curse is near the throne. So letâs move closer. Fegnis-san, can I ask you to lead the way? Actually⊠my memories of getting to the throne are still a little foggyâŠâ
ââŠâŠI understandâ
Â
After asking Fegnis-san who came up to me and Lucas-sama, he gave instructions to the knights behind him, and started to walk towards the palace.
From the garden where the barrier exists, we enter the palace and walk along the passage illuminated by the lights of magical items.
Â
âUsato, itâs hard to ask now but⊠What does a curse look like? I heard from Eiri, but itâs too abstract to understand.â
âHow do I phrase itâŠâŠâ
Â
Lucas-sama asked, which reminded me of last night after looking at Eva from the side.
The appearance of those skeletons⊠In short, the skeleton with only an upper body, with a collar fitted around its neck and a chain extending from it.
Â
âA merciful soul connected by a chainâŠ.?â
âA chain, or is it a curse cast by the magician?â
âMaybe so. They want the living flesh of EvaâsâŠthe royal family of Samaria. Their selfish reasons and grudges for being self-deprived are so strong and at the same time they have been kept in these soils for hundreds of years. I too also want to free Eva from the curse that binds her to this land. It can be said that Eva is in this state now because the two wishes have become muddy.â
Â
When I said it, Eva had a sad expression.
Â
âThatâs rather sad, isnât it?â
ââŠâŠYeahâ
Â
I said the same thing to Neah, but in the case of this child, the poor people are at risk of life, so the meaning does differ.
Despite that, it is probably the kindness of this child that makes me merciful.
Â
âOne more last thing. This is what I found out when I was fighting them, they wanted a hero. If they could catch a hero, then they would free her soul and themselves.â
âIs it really the case?â
âI donât know, but because of that, Iâm mistaken as a hero, and Iâm more likely to be tied up by them, which has a high possibility of making Eva disappear as well.â
ââŠâ
Â
Lucas distorted his expression as he didnât want to imagine while holding onto Eva.
Â
âHmm, wait a minute, youâre not a hero even with those extraordinary powers. Why did the curse react?â
âThat isâŠâŠâ
Â
Is it okay to say when âheâsâ there.
Neah told me not to make things worse until she goes there to destroy the curseâŠwait no, this is the other way around. I have to say it here.
I decided to show Lucas the small sword attached to my belt.
Â
âThe reason is this.â
âUsato, why do you have this?â
ââŠâ
Â
Lucas-sama has an amazed look.
After seeing his reaction, I call out to Fegnis-sanâs back who is walking in front.
Â
âFegnis-san, you said before right? That this sword doesnât look like itâs from this world.â
ââŠYes, I did.â
âHahaha, oi oi Fegnis. Did you seriously give it back to him? No matter how much of an important guest Usato is, he is not from this country. Moreover, it is unheard of to return weapons inside the palace?â
Â
Lucas-sama laughs and talks to Fegnis-san, but he still does not turn around.
I turn to Lucas-sama again.
Â
âLucas-sama, let me confirm once more. Did you authorize the sword to be given back?â
âNo, I donât think soâŠ?â
âSo, can this be returned without permission?â
âEven though I trust you, youâre near Eva. So obviously I wonât give it back without permission.â
Â
In other words, it was Fegnis-sanâs permission.
âŠâŠI should be vigilant. The knights around me canât be trusted either.
Â
âLucus-sama, please stop.â
âWhat happened?â
ââŠâ
Â
I stopped Lucas-sama with my hands.
Fegnis-sama who stopped just like us gazed at me.
 \nâUsato, arenât we going to destroy the curse now? What on earthâŠâ
âThe situation has changed. Please hold Eva firmly as it may be a disaster.â
Â
While being vigilant, I slowly move away from Fegnis-san and the knights.
The knights seem to be upset, but itâs hard to tell if itâs from my actions or if itâs from another.
Â
âDonât approach us either. If you do, Iâll hit you with no questions.â
Â
I threaten only with words.
The knights still have no hostility. Only Fegnis-san, who is still turning his back, is doubting my actions.
Â
âUsato-san, are you all rightâŠ?â
Â
Eva behind is talking to me anxiously.
I reply as gently as possible without looking back.
Â
âYeah, donât worry. Lucas-sama and you will be protected no matter what happens.â
Â
In fact, if itâs a misunderstanding of Neah, then everythingâs fine.
However, if Fegnis-san was doing what Neah was saying, I would never be able to leave this person behind.
Thatâs why we can now determine whether he is an ally or an enemy.
Â
âThe suspicions I have now may just be a mistake. I hope it is⊠But Iâm doubtful of you from Lucas-samaâs earlier statement.â
Â
Why did you return the sword without permission?
It was abnormal when I thought about it. No matter how much I could be recognized as a reliable person, it wouldnât be normal to hand swords in the palace.
Especially if I was near the princess Eva.
Â
âWhy did you return this sword to me?â
ââŠâ
âMaybe you knew that the curse was related to the wicked dragon and the hero.
ââŠâ
ââŠKnowing that, and assuming youâve returned it to meâŠare you okay for Eva to be in danger?â
ââŠâ
Â
He was silent in all of my questions.
Lucas-sama and Eva, who have been lowered behind, seem to have finally grasped the situation, and are breathing while muttering what theyâre listening to.
Â
âDid you give it to me on your own, or was it really out of kindness? I have to make it clear here nowââI canât trust you.â
Â
I closed my eyes and said so.
Then Fegnis-san held his eyes with his hands.
Â
âMay I ask you one question before that?â
ââŠâŠWhat is it?â
âIs it ârealâ?â
ââŠâ
Â
This confirms it. Those are not words to prove oneâs innocence, but wanting to know the true nature of this sword and thus have the reason and value to ask it.
I thrust the sword in my hand forward and open my mouth.
Â
âThis is a sword used by a genuine hero.â
ââŠ! âŠ..Ku, kukuku.â
Â
Fegnis-sanâs shoulder with his back trembled greatly.
Â
âKu, Hahahahaha! I see, I see now! So, I was not wrong after all!â
Â
Unlike the calm and polite appearance that I was used to, I was shaken to see him laughing with a joyful voice.
Â
âAt first, it was only a speculation. But the sword is the genuine deal! I never thought that I could find it in this way for hundreds of years without knowing its whereaboutsâŠ!â
âUsato⊠Am I dreaming?â
Â
Lucas-sama is shocked to see Fegnis-san who has changed suddenly.
Even though I was only looking at it, it seemed that there was a solid relationship of trust between Lucas-sama and Fegnis-san. The scene in which Fegnis-san, who trusts, makes a laughter that lacks his calmness, must seem strange to Lucas.
Â
âNo, Lucas-sama. This is not a dream.â
Â
Fegnis-san now has a negative side that even Lucas did not know.\nNow that his figure has been revealedââ,
Â
âFegnis deliberately directed me to activate curseâŠ.He is our enemy.â
Â
 Grabbing my fist and gazing at him, he was still laughing.
He shook with joy and did not seem to care about our upset.
Â
âItâs amazingâŠ! The wishes of our family finally came true! It also means that a person who has the same hometown as the hero will be selected! And itâs in my generation! Such a stroke of luck!â
âYour familyâŠâ
Â
Heâs not the king who tried to bind the hero to the countryâŠ
Then there is only one answer.
Â
âAre you a descendant of the magician who tried to use magic on the hero?â
âYes, thatâs the correct answer. As expected, you are a man who should be a hero. You have such great eyes.â
Â
A magician who was executed after the activation of magic.
In Lucas-samaâs story, he mentioned that only the king at the time had been fascinated by the heroes, but there was no ordinary reason for the magician to activate the magic with sacrifices.
Another person was fascinated by the power of the hero.
Â
âWait⊠no way⊠youâŠâ
âI didnât fool anyone. I didnât just learn magic because I was a descendant⊠if I had to say it, my father used to tell me how wonderful a hero was when I was a child.â
Â
Fegnis who said so surprised Lucas-sama back here.
His face had wide open eyes and a smile with bare teeth, which was unimaginable from his usual calmness.
Â
âWe, the clan, respect the heroes, and because of that, we want Samariaâs hope. For that hope, we kept the curse. And you have appeared.â
Â
Fegnis pointed at me. â„
Â
âUsato, you are the one needed for this kingdom. You have the sword of a hero and you behave against the curse. You are a man with the rights of having the name of a hero.â
ââŠI am not a hero.â
âBut you have the qualities. Itâs certainly your sword that the curse responded to, but it was your power that overwhelmed the curse and pulled even that away from the princess.â
Â
Did you see the curse fight?
I hope that he wasnât aware of my conversations with Neah?
Â
âAnd the curse admittedly recognized you as a hero⊠If you were an ordinary person who would be easily trapped, I would have waited until the next hero appeared, but you have a fighting spirit. I showed you the way and you fought! To save the princess! What else can you say without calling it virtue!? I was convinced! That you are an absolutely necessary person for this kingdom!â
Â
I ââfelt an unpleasant sweat listening to him as his voice gradually increased.
A maniac. He seeks only his own purpose without considering the damage of others.
So this is his true nature. Seriously, I canât deny that Neah said Iâm easily fooled. It would be nice if it was just a bad guy.
However, this person does not think he is evil. Thatâs even worse.
Â
âWhyâŠWhyâŠFegnisâ
Â
Lucas-sama, who was upset, asked Fegnis, with his shaking voice.
Listening to the words, Fegnis calms his screaming voice as he smiled and said.
Â
âO king. I have done nothing wrong. He is necessary for Samaria. I have decided that for this country that I should curse him.â
âThatâs not something for you to judge!â
Â
Lucas-sama screamed and shouted at Fegnis.
He was shocked that Fegnis, who he trusted, betrayed him.
I canât blame him for not staying calm.
Â
âDid you know about the curse?â
âYes, because it is our familyâs duty to protect the curse.â
ââŠWh-â
Â
Lucas-sama showed a little hesitation and then continued to ask questions.
Â
âDid you save Eliza? You knew the curse that even the royal family didnât know⊠did you know how to get rid of that curse?â
Â
Fegnis did not dispute that word, but just made a sad expression.
Â
âI was deeply sad about Eliza.â
Â
âŠâŠWhat is that?
Itâs as if the death of Evaâs mother was necessary.\n\nâDonât let me say it again. Usato, letâs do it. I, the King, shall allow it. When we get rid of this disturbing guy, Iâll go and destroy the curse.â
Â
Lucas-sama had a disappointing look on his face, as he slowly went back.
No, I have no intention of letting Lucas-sama fight, so itâs okay. â„
Â
âEven though⊠breaking the curse is impossible. Even if Usato-sama has mastered magic, the magic here is special.â
âI donât know unless I try it.â
Â
When I say that with my arms crossed, Fegnis looks at me with the eyes of a merciful person.
Â
âSure, you can do most of the things alone. You have the power and will to do it, but it doesnât help anymore â youâre the only one.â
Â
Fegnis raised his hand up, and the knights around him silently pulled out their swords.
After all, they were the knights who had followed Fegnis.
Well, I knew somehow when I was listening to the story of Fegnis.
Â
âNo matter how powerful you may be, there are limits to what you can do by yourself.â
âHa, ha ha haâŠâ
Â
 Oh, I see. Does this person think Iâm alone against the curse?
No wonder he was acting all high and mighty since just now.
After all, he has likely concluded that I could not destroy the curse, so from now on, he was convinced that I would focus on Lucas-sama and Eva and showed me a chance.
Â
âHa ha ha haâŠâ
âU, Usato-san?â
âUsato, have you become too angry that you went crazy?â
âNo, I didnât, but seriously, what a blunder he has madeâŠâ
Â
I waved my hands lightly to Lucas-sama and Eva who were confused and worried for me.
Certainly, I canât do anything alone. When Iâm about to lose, Iâll need someone elseâs help.
The same goes for the curse this time.
I was alone with the curse with Eva at that time.
But not this time, because I have friends.
Â
âWhatâs wrong?â
âWhatâs wrong you say? After your boring story is over, isnât it time to exercise force? But what a big cult you have there, congrats on defending a vicious curse all this time. Itâs all because of Samaria that you wanted to make your wish come true, isnât this something you canât laugh at?â
ââŠ!â
Â
What bullshit hero.
What mission.
What because of Samaria.
For that reason, you are trying to sacrifice the most important thing.
Â
âFegnis, you may have made three mistakes.â
âWhat is it?â
âFirst, there is no such thing as a necessary sacrifice.â
Â
The sacrifice that someone grieves is not called necessary.
I am absolutely sorry for the peace that comes at the cost of sacrifice.
Â
âAnd second, Iâm not a hero.â
Â
We have a real hero, why do I have to be a hero?
The rescue squad suits me best.
Â
ââŠAnd the third?â
Â
When I tried to answer Fegnis words, a black owl jumped on my shoulder without any sound from the darkness behind.
I smiled at the owl who groaned, and I saw Fegnis again and remarked proudly.
Â
âIâm not aloneâ
Â
At the moment, a red light different from the moonlight was illuminated from the side windows of me and Fegnis.
In front of the eyes of Fegnis and the knights who opened their eyes astonishinglyââa huge bell installed in the tower of Samaria is tinged with red heat.
Looking at their frightened look, I showed a gruesome smileââ
Â
âNow, Iâve destroyed your important âhope.Can you still show a generous face?â