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Chapter 82

ーThis is a story set in an alternate timeline where, after Lute’s death in the tutorial, there was no time rewind, and time continued to flow… a world of 「what if.「ー

「With that, I conclude the valedictory speech of Cordelia Allston, the top graduate of Altena Magic Academy. 」

With those words, my life as a student came to an end, and I embarked on the path of a full-fledged hero.
Walking down the long corridor for the last time filled me with a profound sense of emotion as I nodded slightly.

「So this is the end of life here, too.」

All that’s left is to return to the dorm, pack my bags, and move to the holy capital.
Well, even though it’s been three years at the magic academy, I’ve mostly been dealing with national-level monster extermination tasks alongside the Holy Knights and S-rank adventurers.

Thanks to that, I’ve managed to reach the level where I’m also called an S-rank, and I’ve become more than capable as a hero.

But… I can’t help but think.

No matter how strong I become, no matter how much I contribute to societal security, my heart remains unfulfilled.

「Lute…」

He’s not here next to me.
He’s not here smiling nearby.

He was swallowed by the waterfall and died.

At that time, he was almost… just a little more within reach, but it wasn’t enough.

It’s my fault.

Since then, a deeply dark shadow has always resided in my heart.
In places of foolish revelry, I’ve gotten used to reading the room, putting on a fake smile to fit in.

Even the discomfort of the muscles around my medulla oblongata when I forcibly use my facial muscles has become second nature.

Anyway… I think.

I’m a hero. So I have to become stronger and be of use to people.

But… I looked up at the sky.
Why am I… risking my life for?

I’ve been glorified as a hero, thinking that’s just how it is, carrying out missions and duties… but why…

「It’s truly pathetic.」

I know full well that as a hero, I lack a firm core in my heart.

Even when it comes to protecting people, there’s nothing I’m willing to risk my own life for.
Perhaps, when I first accepted becoming a hero… there might have been a desire to protect weaklings like Lute.

「What’s wrong, Cordelia-san? You look troubled.」

「Moses…」

「Are you thinking about Lute-san again?」

「Yeah.」

Moses bowed his head apologetically.

「It’s my fault. I couldn’t protect Lute-san when he was attacked by monsters and thrown into the river… It’s my responsibility.」

「You lost your childhood friend, too. Besides, if you’re going to say that, isn’t it also my responsibility for leading the villagers into the forest inhabited by monsters?」

「I’m sorry, Cordelia-san.」

「Anyway, dwelling on the past won’t change anything. We can’t keep looking back forever.」

「Yes, you’re right.」

「Will you be coming with me to the next assignment with the Holy Knights?」

「Yes, it’s an unofficial unit of the Holy Knights… The commander is an old acquaintance of mine.」

Ideally, as a hero, I would stand before the commoners and be utilized as an authority figure.
Well, heroes are exceptionally useful for increasing the loyalty of the common folk to the rulers and for squeezing out taxes.

Furthermore, by leading the vanguard on the battlefield, a hero can boost the morale of the entire group. In that sense, there is a role for a hero, and I was supposed to continue walking in the spotlight… or so I thought.

However, I was assigned to a unit of the unofficial Holy Knights.

I remember it being a terrible place.

It was solely to crush extremist insurgents among the heathens who attacked our religious domain, burning down entire refugee camps, and doing all sorts of awful things.
And so, one year passed, during which I was forced to participate in massacres, including civilians…

…And I don’t remember much after that.

Yes, quite literally—I really don’t remember much at all.
That’s because of my consciousness… melted away as if I were under a hypnosis spell.

In other words, one day… my consciousness became very vague.

And then, something other than myself began to control this body of mine…
When I’m strong, I move the body, and when my consciousness melts away, it moves me.

At first, I felt a clear sense of disturbance and panic.

But as days passed, I stopped feeling the urgency, and the times when it emerged became longer… I just continued to drift in the lukewarm waters of a melted sea of consciousness.

「Now, it’s finally time.」

「Huh?」

In the dreamlike state of consciousness, Moses’ words brought me back to clarity after what felt like several tens of days, maybe even years, of blurred memories and consciousness.
Anyway, I found myself on horseback, and behind me was an immense army following Moses and me.

「What… is this?」

「Oh, you seem unusually conscious. Well, it doesn’t matter. Your consciousness will soon be swallowed by the magic. Well, it’s a grand expedition.」

「A grand… expedition?」

「A holy war to reclaim the human survival area narrowed by repeated catastrophes. It’s a big event where even us reincarnates participate, led by the legendary strongest hero, Cordelia, who has slain even the Dragon King… But it’s impressive, isn’t it?」

「…Dragon King? Reincarnates? What… are you talking about?」

「However, it’s amusing.」

「…?」

「There’s no way a Dragon King could be slain by a mere hero. The beautiful princess here is a personified battle between humans and demons… She’s a person of the highest order, possessing both the power of the hero and the demon king.」

「…Moses…?」

I wonder why.
I’m incredibly sleepy. My body feels heavy, and… everything seems to matter less and less.

And then, Moses smiled gently.

「Go to sleep… Hero-sama.」

And then—

The next thing I knew, I was dancing with a sword in hand amidst the blazing imperial capital.

While scattering the approaching horde of high-ranking adventurers, including many S-ranks, like rags, I advanced straight toward the Imperial Parliament—leaving a mountain of corpses in my wake.

And behind me were about ten reincarnates.

「Huh? I… was reclaiming the human survival area… holy war… grand expedition?」

「Oh, at this point… your consciousness level has recovered? Well, well, being a hero is quite something.」

「Moses… What’s happening?」

「Don’t worry. You are hunting evil.」

「Evil?」

「First, we exterminated the demons—people from the land called the demon world—living outside the human habitat. Thus, the interim goal of this grand expedition as a world alliance is completed. Then, before triumphantly returning to the capital, we purged the vast army we ourselves led.」

「Purged?」

「In broad terms, being of the human species… is evil in itself.」

「Evil?」

In the midst of my clouded consciousness, various things I had seen and heard flashed through my mind.

「Indeed… that might be true.」

Even in my normal state, I could understand to some extent what Moses was saying.

Yes, we humans carry too much original sin.
That’s why we’ve been abandoned by the earth and burdened with catastrophes.

And then—

Again, a tremendous drowsiness overwhelmed me.
My body felt heavy, and everything seemed to matter less and less.

And Moses, once again, smiled gently.

「Now, go to sleep. And… dance on the battlefield—beautiful Valkyrie.」

After that, my consciousness never returned, but Moses’ last words echoed in my ears with nauseating goosebumps.

「And after you and I exterminate the roots of all evils nesting on this planet, we shall become Adam and Eve in the purified world.」