The Heroes(3).

*Step*

Slowly, the black dragon approached the two young heroes who were in front of it.

The eyes exuded a very strong aura of attraction as if they had just discovered a new toy.

Seemingly the two heroes in front of it at this time are not even considered an opponent to this dragon.

-We'll be over.

When the words flashed inside Mila's head, a golden aura suddenly grew from the body of the man beside her at this time.

Looking at the man's face - Heilor, Mila was shocked.

Although under the extremely overwhelming pressure of intimidation from the dragon, Heilor's eyes were still full of determination and expectation, as if telling her that they still had hope even if the opponent was a dragon like this.

While Mila was still in awe-filled silence there, Heilor suddenly began to walk up to the dragon.

However, halfway through he paused briefly, leaving a word on Mila.

"Step back."

Seemingly, he intends to fight the dragon just by himself.

Seeing that, of course, Mila couldn't let her childhood friend face such a powerful creature alone.

"W-wait Heilor! It's too dangerous! That d-dragon is t-three times stronger than us!! y-you won't be able to-"

"I can."

"Huh?"

In the middle of her sentence, Heilor also interrupted Mila's words while turning his back to her.

With a trembling body and tears in her eyes, Mila looked at her childhood friend's back with worry.

"I can. Moreover... I'm a hero, 'isn't it?"

At that time, Mila finally realized again how her childhood friend was.

A man who will always uphold a sense of justice, always helping the weak, hating injustice and impossibility, a perfect human figure.

-A hero.

Mila can clearly remember how the two of them first met before.

A day that is most imprinted in her memory to this day, a day when she almost became a victim of a pedophile but was rescued by a blond boy who had stupid aspirations to become a hero.

-A meeting that most inspired her to become stronger, and pursue magic.

(You never change, huh... Heilor. It's this side of you that I like most about you...)

***

Staring determinedly at the huge black dragon in front of him at this time, Heilor also whispered.

"Yes, I am a hero..."

After that, Heilor also raised the sword in his hand.

It's just an ordinary iron sword. The sword he had been using since the two of them started to disguise themselves as Hunter.

However, even such a sword can deprive a person's life.

-A great responsibility.

Before Heilor came to this world, he never thought that he would certainly hold a dangerous tool like this.

He did occasionally fight with some people before. But they are just some perverted bast*rds who often bully the weak, and Heilor also never goes so far as to kill them.

But in this world, life is just something cheap. It may disappear at any time. Killed by monsters, or humans.

Therefore, even an ordinary young man who only upholds justice like Heilor, must hold a sword and fight in this world.

Stopping after being close enough to the dragon, Heilor also closed his eyes.

"Sigh~..."

-Swords are tools, but they also have their own will.

The words of the knight captain who taught him how to use the sword also rang inside Heilor's head at that time.

-Some are made only to kill unreasonably, but some are made to protect. Therefore...

Heilor reopened his eyes.

"... Our job as users is just to guide. Guiding this sword... To achieve the results that we want!"

Immediately after Heilor shouted, the golden aura around his body also began to grow stronger and bigger.

Setting his foot, Heilor also lunged toward the dragon.

"Aaaaa~!!!"

*Swung!*

Heilor slashed at one of the dragon's legs.

*Clink!*

"... Kuh!"

However, Heilor's attack could not even scratch the hard scales that were all over the dragon's body.

Realizing Heilor's attack, the dragon twisted its body, slamming its big tail on Heilor's body.

*BAM!*

"Ahk!"

Hit by the violent impact of the huge tail full of the dragon's hard and sharp scales, Heilor also bounced far away, spraying blood sparks into the air.

"... Grr?"

However, even though he has been hit by an attack that has enough power to kill an A-Rank monster like Wyvern, Heilor is still seen starting to rise again slowly.

With a body full of wounds and covered in blood, Heilor also supported his body using his sword.

"Huff... Huff... You're strong, huh..."

Muttering that, Heilor started to chuckle after that.

"... But well... You won't be able to beat me with just this!!"

Shout, Heilor also began to strengthen his body using his magic before running toward the dragon again and jumping into the air.

"Holy Magic, «Weapons enchant»!!"

'Weapons Enchant', is magic to strengthen any weapon. With the effect of... Strengthened the weapon's attack power by 5× fold.

And, with that magic that he cast on his sword, Heilor also gave a slash right towards the dragon's head.

However-

*Crack!!*

"... Huh?"

Instead of penetrating the dragon meat, Heilor's sword shattered instead, scattering everywhere.

At that time, Heilor could even feel as if he had just seen a smile on the dragon's face. A sadistic sly smile, which firmly humbled him.

Losing his weapon, Heilor was unable to do anything when the dragon aimed its giant claws at him, causing a huge cut on his body.

-... Hah?

Seeing the scene in front of her at this time, Mila's face was stunned in despair.

"... H-heilor...?"

-I had to save him.

Although the idea flashed inside her head at the time, Mila still couldn't move her body to help Heilor.

She could only tremble with fear there, in the face of the terror of the dragon power.

In truth, this is just an ordinary occurrence. In this world, the power of a dragon is so powerful and feared.

Strong enough, to make the whole human being incapable of even moving their fingers to fight it, just by standing before a dragon.

Moreover, the dragon that was in front of the two of them at this time was a black dragon, the dragon is known for its magic resistance that is impossible for any human to penetrate.

So even if the current Mila tries to help Heilor, it won't change anything.

However, when she was still kneeling while crying there, Mila finally realized something.

"... Wait, why is this golden aura still shining?"

That's right, the golden aura emanating from Heilor's body still fills the surroundings, even if Mila is very sure that she has seen Heilor's body torn apart by the dragon's claws before, and at this time Heilor's body is already lying on the ground with his blood pool.

"... Heilor?"

And sure enough, the golden aura from inside Heilor's body instead began to glow brighter and more intensely, although it should have been that Heilor had already suffered a huge injury.

And, just then, an unfamiliar voice was heard directly in Heilor's head.

A beautiful voice, yet it cannot be recognized whether it is a woman or man.

[The requirements have been successfully met]

[Heroes' Aura has been successfully awakened]

[Starting preparations for 'Holy sword' awarding.]

After that, Heilor's body also suddenly disappeared.

And-

"... I'm here!!"

Along with the sound of Heilor's screaming entering Mila's ears, the dragon's huge body suddenly bounced quite far back.

"Aaggrrrrhhh!!"

The dragon even looked quite painful as a result.

"... What?"

There, Mila can see Heilor's figure holding a sword with a beautiful blue blade, even though he should have only worn an ordinary iron sword before.

In addition, the wound on his body has also disappeared without a trace, as if the wound from the beginning was indeed not on his body.

-[Fentholus]

The name also flashed inside Heilor's head as he grasped the hilt of the sword.

"I see... Your name is Phentholus, yes... My holy sword!"

Smiling broadly looking at the beautiful blue sword in his right hand, Heilor also swung the sword towards the dragon again.

As a result of his slash, a powerful shock wave was created there, destroying most of the land in front of Heilor and blowing away the black dragon hundreds of meters.

Accepting an attack that a human shouldn't be able to expel, the dragon's face was wrinkled, with a mixture of anger and pain.

However, of course, it is not enough to defeat a dragon like it.

"Gggrroooaaarrr!!"

Along with the sound of the dragon's anger room, a burst of dark breath that could scorch anything slid right in the direction Heilor was in.

Staring calmly at the mass of dark flames that were aiming at him while burning and melting whatever was blocking it, Heilor also pointed the tip of his sword forward.

Only by focusing himself on the sword, Heilor can feel the sword's 'will'.

A will, which will always support and serve him towards the great figure of the hero he has always wanted.

After learning about it, Heilor also began to raise the sword towards the sky.

"... Holy sword, «Punishment strike»."

Just after Heilor took the words out of his mouth, he immediately swung his sword down.

As a result of his actions, the dragon's breath split, along with the destruction of whatever was in front of Heilor at this time, including the dragon.

22th of Grenust, the 999th of Rescue.

On the 21st day since his arrival in this world, Hero Heilor managed to kill an SS-Rank Black dragon.