Chapter 38. The Only Thing a Hero Excels At
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The collapsing earth fell like rain, and Cyd expressionlessly grabbed Moldo by the back of his collar, dragging him toward the chaotic pit.
"Is it my turn next?" Moldo sneered, "When will you come?"
"Never."
Cyd casually threw Moldo into a depression just the right size to bury him, then kicked him.
"Boom——"
A cloud of dust caused Moldo to stare blankly at Cyd. His body was gone... or rather, it had been buried.
"No matter when, I'll never be buried in the ground."
Cyd stepped around Moldo's head, pressing the soil down firmly. Then he reached into the dirt not far from Moldo's head and pulled out a handful of hair.
"Ah!!!"
With a scream, a head was yanked out, though a large chunk of hair was missing from its crown.
Cyd then stomped repeatedly next to the head.
Afterward, like pulling up moles, Cyd went around and pulled out the heads of the adventurers buried in the dirt, only to bury them even deeper.
Brushing the dust off his hands, Cyd calmly surveyed the dozens of squarely lined heads before him.
"Teacher?" Bell rubbed his eyes hard. He saw clearly now; his teacher hadn't gone anywhere but was standing right in front of him, still like a beacon guiding his way.
"You got one thing wrong," Cyd said as he kicked Moldo's forehead. "No matter what, Bell will never fall, never become like you, because..."
Cyd bent down, coldly staring into Moldo's eyes, "He has already proven that he is destined to become a hero. He'll look at you, but he'll never fall because of you. And you... you've proven with your actions that you're destined to eat dirt."
"You———"
Before Moldo could finish, Cyd lightly kicked some dirt over Moldo's mouth.
"You don't need me to do that, do you?" Cyd glanced at the remaining heads.
"No, no need!"
Cyd snorted and moved to Bell's side, poking the few unbruised spots on Bell's face with his finger.
"Does it hurt?"
"This spot doesn't hurt so much—ahhh!"
Cyd expressionlessly poked at one of Bell's bruises.
"Just a moment ago, you were acting all fearless. Look at you now," Cyd said, fumbling in his pocket and pulling out a roll of bandages. He clumsily wrapped them around Bell's head.
"Hiss... Because, without you, Teacher, I had to become someone reliable," Bell winced at Cyd's rough treatment, "But... I still failed..."
"Do you know where you went wrong?" Cyd asked, pinching Bell's nose.
"I should have..."
"I should have stayed with them," Bell looked up, his red eyes shining like gemstones. "If I hadn't hesitated, if I hadn't been afraid, if I had stayed with Welf and Lili, if I had faced things together with them, nothing would have happened. It was my fault."
Cyd's hand stiffened.
You should have dealt with it together with me...
You should have waited for me...
Because you're not ready yet...
I was so arrogant.
Bell's heart was ready to bear everything long ago, but I was the one foolishly thinking it was too early.
"Yeah, you shouldn't have backed down because heroes only retreat when..." Cyd gently stroked Bell's head, "...they decide to become ordinary people again."
"Teacher... I'm still not enough. I'm just an apprentice right now, but one day, I'll become a hero like you," Bell's eyes sparkled as he looked at Cyd, "Because... Teacher, you're the hero of the story, right?"
"Figured it out, huh?" Cyd blinked.
"Yeah, the hero sung by the Apollo Familia, the hero in my grandpa's stories, is one person. But in the version I heard, there's probably... a lot of personal interpretation," Bell scratched his head with a silly grin, "The hero sung by the Apollo Familia feels too distant."
"So what do you see?" Cyd stood up straight.
"A hero with more warmth than the one praised by the Apollo Familia, a hero gentler than the one in Grandpa's stories," Bell looked up at Cyd, who stood in the light, "The greatest teacher, the greatest hero."
"Boom——"
A transparent crystal crashed into the 18th floor, and a massive monster roared, its huge eyes scanning the entire floor before finally fixing on Cyd.
"Flo... Floor Boss!" Moldo's mouth gaped open.
"We're doomed! Why is a Goliath here!"
The adventurers panicked as they saw the unbeatable monster, but they were helpless, buried so perfectly.
"Now, a question," Cyd raised a finger, "Bell, do you think you can save everyone in this world who is unfortunate?"
"Roar———"
The Goliath roared as other monsters descended with the crystals. But they didn't scatter; instead, they gathered around the Goliath, forming an army—a legion designed to slay gods.
"I can't, but at least I want to save those who these hands can reach," Bell sat up straight, his eyes locked on Cyd, despite the Floor Boss approaching.
"Even the scum behind me?" Cyd leaned down toward Bell, "Do you think they deserve to be saved?"
"I don't know," Bell said softly, "But I don't want to doubt, to question whether those in front of me are worth saving. Because if I hesitate, maybe those I could have reached will be lost."
If he had doubted Lili then, she would still be that girl lost in betrayal and being betrayed.
If he had hesitated, Welf would still be that dejected figure, squinting at his meticulously crafted but unrecognized gear among a pile of scrap.
"And..." Bell looked at the group of people tied up not far away, with a particularly noticeable scarred face, beaten black and blue. He laughed foolishly, "I want to believe, because I think it's the right thing to do."
"That's really stupid..." Cyd flicked Bell's forehead.
"Sorry," Bell lowered his head.
"Why apologize?" Cyd spread his arms, "A hero..."
"Always does the stupidest thing in the world!"
"Whether it's saving the world, crossing endless seas, or changing the past, doing all the impossible things—that's what a hero does!"
"Whether they succeed or fail, the moment they make the decision, they're already on the path of a hero."
"Bell, do you think that monster can be defeated?" Cyd's mouth curved into a slight smile.
"It can!" Bell nodded firmly.
"You're joking, right?! That's not something an adventurer can defeat alone!" Moldo shouted, spitting out dirt.
"Bell, you've been called a fool," Cyd patted Bell's head.
"Ugh..." Bell lowered his head in disappointment.
"Then let me prove it," Cyd chuckled, "The one stupid thing a hero is best at."
"Teacher..." Bell's eyes widened.
"Welf, let me borrow your magic sword," Cyd stretched out his hand toward Welf.
"That's meant for Bell... Oh, alright," though reluctant, Welf handed over the sword wrapped in white cloth, "It's called Fire Moon."
"Good sword," Cyd's smile widened as he slung Fire Moon over his shoulder, walking slowly toward the Goliath.
The white cloth gradually slipped off, revealing the sword's beautiful, flame-like contours. The black-scaled cloak slid from Cyd's right shoulder, fluttering in the wind.
"Watch closely, you brats!"
"The only thing a hero excels at!"
Cyd raised his left hand, and the bracer engraved with thirteen glowing marks shimmered brightly.
"Challenging the impossible!"