Volume 5 Chapter 55 Cowardly Truth
Finn stood on the terrace and raised his index finger.
"Before that, there is one mistake in your words."
"What?"
"I'm not a guardian, I'm a 'key'."
──What?
I had judged him to be a guardian because he was using Spiritual Penetration Art (Shinrei). But thinking about it, Mevia can also use Spiritual Penetration Art (Shinrei), but she is summoned as a 'key'.
If that's the case, this guy has a guardian.
"Silver, I was looking forward to this day. You, who have been praised as a hero, are actually a guerilla attacking the demon lord and demon tribe, or an assassin. What you were doing was not a war."
At the same time as Finn's words, part of the wall surrounding us began to move.
As if it had been a door from the beginning, it opened wide.
And from there, with orderly movements and the sound of military boots, they entered the square. The ground is rumbling, making it difficult to even stand.
"Listen, Silver. War is fought by superior generals and tamed beasts - the army."
What a joke.
Countless soldiers surrounded us, layer upon layer, behind us. Each one was a regular soldier wearing armor.
I can tell by their movements. They are not dummies, but well-trained warriors.
Moreover, there are soldiers with ambition scattered everywhere. Are those general?
What's going on? There should only be one guardian for the 'key', that's the rule. I had heard that new warriors would be joining, but this is clearly going too far.
Finn's voice came down from above my head.
"Did you think it was an illusion? They are the strongest army of the Sarnold Empire, the 'Dragart (Dragon Claw Knights)'. Unfortunately, I couldn't bring the entire army, but even a few of them would be too much for you."
"How did you get so many? There should only be one guardian for the key."
I asked, keeping my eyes on the army.
The answer was simple.
"You're not very perceptive. That's the power of my magic, 'Gajou (My Castle)'. Everything, including supplies and people, is stored in this castle and town, and brought to this world. That's all there is to it."
Is that a lie? What kind of cheating magic is that?
He trapped us as a secondary effect, but the essence of it is to store goods. Being able to store an entire city is nothing but cheating in a war.
A balance breaker.
This guy's magic is of that kind.
Suddenly, Finn's presence disappeared from above my head. Instead, Finn appeared on the other side of the military's reinforced wall, which was a distance that would be difficult to see without enhanced vision.
Within this space, it seems that teleportation is possible.
Even though he should be far away, Finn's voice echoed clearly.
"Well then, it's almost time to finish talking. My 'Dragart' of 10,000 soldiers will take care of you. Show me how legendary the Hero is."
At the same time as those words, the soldiers raised their voices in a shout.
The ground shook with a roar, and the heavy walls creaked.
The pressure became a physical violence that attacked.
When I turned around, Kushina-san was crouched down and Oscar-san couldn't move. It was natural since they were only a few people facing the army. It was even difficult to maintain consciousness with a normal mindset.
"..."
However, in the midst of all this, only Tsukiko was looking at me.
What was in her eyes was not fear, but something more uncertain, shaking, and suspicious.
"Yuu, suke..."
I understood what she meant.
Because I had been talking to Finn about Asteris in front of Tsukiko and the others. As a matter of course, I talked about it. Tsukiko was trembling so much that she was about to drop her spear, but she still said it.
"What are you guys talking about?"
That's right.
It might have been just right. It would be faster to show her than to talk about it.
I stepped forward to protect the three people behind me.
The voice and pressure grew stronger and tried to crush me.
As I took off the blazer I was wearing, I said to Tsukiko so that she could hear me.
"I'm sorry, Tsukiko. There are things I haven't told you either. I thought you wouldn't believe me anyway. No, that's not it, I was also scared. I was afraid of being rejected by you, who knew about my past."
"What are you saying?"
Please forgive me for not being able to speak while looking into your eyes. Still, I want you to see everything.
"I've been fighting since before Lisha told me to participate in this battle. I was summoned as a Hero to the different world of Asteris to defeat the Demon Lord."
"...?"
Tsukiko didn't answer anything.
She might think I'm saying something stupid. But that's okay.
"And I defeated the Demon Lord and came back. When I wasn't there, I pretended to have lost my memory and continued to live as if I was a spirited away person."
That's me.
The real me that I've hidden inside my cowardly heart all this time.
"Still, the past cannot be changed. The essence of me that was trained there remains unchanged here."
This is the manifestation of knowledge, a dialogue with the soul.
Jade's magic power ran through my whole body, releasing me from the trivial common sense.
"'My True Name.'"
My body was enveloped in a silver armor.
What landed in front of Tsukiko was one truth.
Even if it was 'My True Name' with high concealment ability, its effect would be lost if it was activated in front of her.
I wonder how she saw it.
"Yuusuke... Silver?"
A stunned and powerless voice and the sound of a spear hitting the ground could be heard.
It's okay, you wait there.
Even if it's just one person, even one magic won't reach you.
After this battle, I want to talk to you again. About the absurd and fantastic past that my coward kept hidden.
I drew my sword in front of a strong army.
"'Come, Sarnold. This sword is not a vague legend, engrave its weight on your body.'"
And understand.
The foolishness of what this guy is trying to do.
Who you have made your enemy.
At the same time as those words, the battle began.
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