AN: I hope the beginning of the second chapter goes well.
âI donât want to die. I donât want to die. I donât want to die.âShe murmured softly.A girl was hugging a sword about her height, crouched on the ground while murmuring.Tears flowed from her eyes.She missed that place.
She wanted to go back, but she couldnât return.âWhy am I here?ââWhy do we have to fight?ââWhyâŚ? WhyâŚ?âHer hands, her feet, her whole body wouldnât stop trembling.Her teeth had been chattering for a while now.Her heart pounded, as if it were about to burst. Though the weather was typical of a hot summer, she felt an unbearable chill.The small girl curled up into an even smaller ball, grasping a sword tightly.She had discovered a small room in the fort.It must have been a storage room.Many instruments, which she didnât know how they were used, were haphazardly stored in the room.In that small storage classroom, she was alone in a corner.The girl was trembling.In that place, she could cry without anybody else seeing it.From the outside, she could hear peopleâs sobs, and menâs angry bellows.A peaceful village was suddenly attacked by a horde of monsters.Under the command of the Demon Lord, the demons and monsters attacked the defenseless villagers.Some of the fleeing villagers, unable to resist, had their backs shredded by sharp claws, while others lay on the ground, their lower halves eaten, and their guts spilling out.[1]Thanks to the soldiers who were sent out from the fort built near the village, some of the villagers managed to flee towards the fort.However, there were many victims as they fled to the fort.Many soldiers lost their lives while protecting the villagers.The commanding knight, in order to buy time for the last villagers to escape, fought furiously, and died in battle.With large sacrifices, they were able to take shelter in the fort, but the fort was still besieged by monsters.There were few soldiers left, and none of them were uninjured.Occasionally, sounds of a large monster ramming its body against the fortâs gate.Without the commanding knight, the soldiers could only grip their weapons, awaiting the moment when the gate would be broken down.If the monsters were truly serious about destroying the fort, monsters could fly over the gate, or magic-using demons could have broken down the gate.But for some reason, they were specifically letting a large monster ram against the gate to destroy it.
They were enjoying themselves.
Those who took shelter in the fort, feeling tiny and powerless, were gripped by dread.Everybody grieved at the fact that their loved ones would be killed.
If the monsters went all-out, the fort, the inhabitants within unable to resist, would be overrun.At that time, it wasnât unusual for cities, villages, and even forts to fall.It was a time when the Demon Lord Army brought despair.A light in those dark times was rare, but there was one at that fort.It was merely a story.[?1?]
However, each personâs sights gathered on the main tower of the fort.
There, was the existence that brought hope to the world.After having travelled for several days, they had requested a night at an inn, and happened to be there at that time.
It was the one whom the goddess Anastasia designated as the Brave.
Amidst the despair the thought of death to the approaching monsters, her existence brought a slight hope to those people.
That was why, in order to live up to their hopes, the girl was alone in the shed, trapped in a cage.
She couldnât let the others see that she was trembling from the fear of death like them.
Because she was their hopeâŚ
âLeticia?â
Her name was called from outside the room.
âLeticia, theyâre almost here.â
â⌠Ok.â
With a small nod, she wiped her tears with the back of her hands.She stood up, holding her sword.The windowless room was not bright, but light slipped through the open doorâ she realized that her hands were trembling.\n
â⌠Wait a moment.â
After replying, she chanted the magic Light with a soft, trembling voice.As the room brightened, Leticia took many deep breaths.Her quivering hands were clenched tightly around the sword.She couldnât show the shameful appearance of being terrified in front of anybody else.Because she was the Brave.A light for the people. Humanityâs last hope against the demon lordâs invasion.Because she was the Brave, Leticia, van Mavis.Howeverâ
âI wanna go back., help me⌠Onii-chanâ
She murmured with a fleeting voice.She thought of her childhood friend, who was left behind in the capital.He, who advanced straight towards his dream.The only one who brought light to her when she was engulfed in darkness.Upon thinking of him, the dread washed away from her heart, replaced by a warm, gentle feeling.Her pounding heart calmed down.She looked at both of her hands.Her hands and feet had stopped trembling.It was now alright.
She opened the door to the storage room and exited it.Leticiaâs companion, Tiara Sukiyurusu Belfa stood outside.âWe canât launch an attack before the gate is breached. Itâs a bad situation.âLeticia acknowledged Tiaraâs words with a nod, and started to walk out of the tower.Her steps reflected none of her previous panic and fear.
âWait a minute.â
However, Tiara, her beautiful elven face in a slight frown, raised her right hand to Leticiaâs face.
âWh- what?â
âLeticia⌠were you crying?â
Tiara raised her hand, and Leticiaâs cheek was bathed in a faint, warm light.
âHealing magic is not my strong point, but you shouldnât stand before everybody with that sort of face.âThe light faded.She healed her eyes, which were swollen from tears.âAre you alright?âLeticia turned away from Tiara, who was worried about Leticiaâs face, and walked towards the outside.âIâm alright. Since I am the Brave⌠But, thank you.âShe whispered words of gratitude.With her back straight and her eyes facing forward, she walked out of the tower, no trace of hesitation in her gait.âThat is soâŚ. You are the Brave, Leticia.âShe was Leticia.âPlease help us, Leticia-sama.âAll of the survivors, men, women, the elderly, even the fortâs soldiers, looked towards Leticia.Their faces showed their alarm at the inhumane warcry they heard outside, and were dyed with fatigue.Their despairing gazes all focused on Leticia.Then, from the despair in their eyes, bloomed a small hope.The one who held the title of âThe Braveâ was merely a ten-year-old girl.But she still wore a beautiful smile on her face.Upon seeing Mavis the Braveâs warm smile in this hopeless situation, their dread became replaced by a slight hope.She stood before them, and, with grace unsuited of her age, she drew her sword.
âI will lead the vanguard! Tiara will cover us with magic. Soldiers, shoot at them with arrows! I will advance!â
In the silence, Leticiaâs energetic speech caused an uproar.At her words, vigour returned to their eyes.Upon confirming this, Leticia started chanting a small spell.
âI bestow my powerâŚâShe cast a body strengthening magic.It was Leticiaâs first battle with lives at stake.She kicked off the ground and soared into the air.Her strengthened legs easily carried her light body over the castle ramparts.She stood atop the gates.Before her eyes, a large horde of monsters stood on standby.There were human-shaped devils[2], and demonic beasts. \nThe sight of the grotesque monsters clamoring instilled a primal fear in people.However, Leticia looked upon the monsters without changing her expression.
âWeâre surrounded, who knows how many monsters there are.â
Unlike Leticia, Tiara had used floating magic to fly above the gate, beside Leticia.Her long elven ears twitched slightly.Even she was unable to hide her dread at this amount of monsters.After them, the soldiers who would fight climbed onto the ramparts.
âWhat is with these numbersâŚ?ââThere is no way we can win, is there?ââNot good, I donât want to die!âDespair returned to their eyes.At that moment, Leticia took a deep breath.âListen up, you demons!âLeticiaâs call echoed through the air.At the same time, she released an intimidating presence.Unable to disregard the aura she projected, both humans and demons looked at her.Atop the ramparts, a noticeably smaller girl stood out among the weak humans.However, she gave off such an imposing presence, that unlike the rest, she was an existence which couldnât be ignored.
âMy name is Letica van Mavis. The one who slays demons! Those of you who possess intelligence, if you live to return, report this to the Demon Lord! Know the name of the one who will instill terror in you all! The name of Leticia van Mavis, the Brave!âThe numerous roars that resounded before were now not to be heard.Both the intelligent devils, and the demonic beasts with nothing other than the impulse to slaughter were taken in by the aura she emitted.Silence covered the area.Then, Leticia raised her left hand, which wasnât holding a sword, up into the air, and whispered something.âIâll turn this glimmer of hope into a big beacon.âAt the next moment, swung her hand downwards, and at the same time, a ball of light split into tens of pieces, and rained down on the monsters.Many intense explosions were heard.Then, the death cries of the monsters followed.âIâm going!âCalling out with vigor, Leticia leapt down from the ramparts.She ran straight through the dust raised by the explosions.Appearing from within the dust cloud, she stabbed at a monster with a serpentine body and a wolf-like head.The monsters once again screamed in agony as they died.Monster blood flew through the air.Smelling that, the surrounding monsters all noticed Leticia, and focused their hostilities on her.With strength beyond humans, strong magic wreaking havoc, and an innate cruelty, their battle instincts overcame her intimidation and attacked her with their fangs.The quadrupedal demonic beasts had overwhelming mobility and a primitive impulse to slaughter, and one by one, they all attacked Leticia.Yet, the intelligent humanoid devils, without minding the monsters that should have been their allies, fired magic at the crowd.It was an overwhelmingly unbalanced battle of one against many.[3]However, Leticia cut down the charging monsters, her weapon cutting through the monsters like butter.[4]Unable to dodge the spells, she used the monsters as shields.Before her eyes, she became drenched in the blood of the monsters.Incited by the smell of blood, more monsters attacked.The monsters who were much larger Leticiaâs small body and the quadrupedal demonic beasts making use of their agility, they all turned into corpses.Who knew how much time had passed since the beginning of the battle?
In order to avoid hitting her, the soldiers aimed their arrows at monsters far away from her. But now, with their arrows used up, they merely observed the battle with awe.Even Tiara. who had used powerful magic to bombard the monsters, had already used up her magic power, and was observing Leticiaâs fight while breathing heavily.Even after defeating so many of them, the seemingly endless stream of monsters gushed forward.âGuhâŚâLeticiaâs left arm was grazed by a monsterâs claw, and bled.She was extremely exhausted.Her breathing was uneven.Though her injured left arm hurt a lot, she didnât say a word.The claw must have been covered in poison.She thought that it was lucky that it only paralyzed a part of her body.
âAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!!!!!âSwinging the sword with her right hand while shouting, Leticia cut down the monster, and searched for another target.Howeverâ
When she came to her senses, there were no more monsters around her.At some point, the monsters who surrounded her had retreated from the reach of her sword.When she stepped forward, the monsters in front of her stepped back a step.The monsters who knew nothing but slaughter, were frightened.The people gathered on the ramparts looked on, mouths wide open, at the unbelievable scene. \nLeticia was snuggling up to him, acting spoiled, but thenâ
âOh, sorry.â
She sensed that Locke and Cornelia were standing there, motionlessly watching her.
The two had frozen with awkward expressions, as their friend scratched his head.
Translator notes
not sure why this doesnât have a gore warning⌠youma Which side has the upper hand, though? Iâm remembering Abelâs boast right now⌠Usual greeting when somebody comes home/returns, whether from school, or a journey to save the world, or more like they say it after an odyssey to signal a return to normalcyâŚ