90

"Sorry."

"..."

Dylan stared blankly at the woman who was once his lord.

She truly looked as though she was seeking forgiveness. With her head bowed solemnly, she apologized to him.

Seeing such a sight for the first time in his life, Dylan couldn't help but feel flustered.

"I only thought of you as a mere tool to get closer to Hera. And because of that, I ended up hurting you. I'm truly sorry."

"….."

"Coming here like this might seem shameless of me."

"....What happened to you?"

Her face, completely different from the last time he had seen her, made Dylan feel curious.

At Dylan's question, the woman looked up at the sky for a moment, then smiled sadly as she answered him.

"….I just had an experience that made me reflect on myself."

"An experience, you say?"

"Yes. Turns out, I was no better than a monster."

Then, the woman pulled out a small dagger from her hand. She walked up to Dylan and placed it in his hands.

Dylan looked up at her with a bewildered expression, his gaze shifting to the small dagger now in his hands.

"What's this?"

"What's the point of an apology if it's only words?"

"….."

"I can't die for you… but you can cut me down until your anger subsides. Or, is there something else you'd prefer?"

"…Lady Athena."

"Ah. Not that I think you'd try, but don't go getting any strange ideas, alright?"

For a moment, Athena's expression shifted into a chilling smile as if reminiscing about the past.

"Last time, someone tried that. It was laughable."

Leaving Dylan staring blankly at her, Athena continued speaking.

"Of course, I didn't kill him, but let's just say his life as a man was effectively over."

Athena spoke casually, smiling as she uttered such ruthless words.

She was still radiating an overwhelming aura.

Yes, her presence still bore down on those around her like an intense sun.

But it was different.

Before, it had been like a scorching sun that seemed ready to burn everything in its path.

Now, it felt like a sun that warmly embraced the life beneath it, exuding a vast and gentle warmth.

Though fundamentally the same, she had changed so much.

Seeing this new version of her, Dylan smiled faintly.

Then, he returned the dagger to her and spoke.

"It's alright, Lady Athena."

"Dylan."

"There's nothing to forgive. I don't hold any grudge against you."

"….What?"

Hearing his unexpected words, Athena's eyes widened briefly.

Dylan looked at her and shared a piece of joyful news.

"I have a son now."

"…Congratulations."

"Seeing him grow up so bright every day fills my heart with joy."

Athena didn't quite understand what he was getting at, but she patiently listened to him.

"….I've thought a lot about things since that day."

Without waiting for a response, Dylan continued speaking.

"At the time, I didn't realize it. But looking back, I see you were right."

"About what?"

"From the moment I first met you, I made assumptions on my own. I thought it was only natural that you'd live righteously. That you'd be a heroic figure who would protect us with your great power. And yet, you were just a young girl, far younger than me."

"…."

"It wasn't just me. All the citizens of the Empire thought the same."

"Yes, I know. But it's fine now."

Athena's calm acceptance of the situation caused a flicker of guilt to sprout within Dylan's expression. He quietly stepped forward and knelt before her.

"…What are you doing?"

"I, too, must apologize. I judged and burdened someone who was once my liege without truly seeing them for who they were."

Athena stared at Dylan, momentarily stunned, as he continued his words with quiet determination.

"Athena, there is something I wish to ask of you."

"Speak."

Still kneeling, Dylan drew the long sword from his waist and presented it to her with both hands.

"Will you grant me the chance to serve you again?"

"….."

"I want to serve the Athena I have come to see with my own eyes, not the image created by my foolish preconceptions."

For a moment, Athena was taken aback by Dylan's resolute words. Then, with a sigh, she took the sword he offered her.

"Do as you wish."

"Thank you."

"…Alright."

It seemed that I wouldn't be returning to the manor alone.

***

"…What?"

Back at the mansion, Dylan had gone to report his return to the knights, while I headed inside toward the office.

That was when Alina, a brown-haired maid, came rushing toward me, out of breath. Her expression was filled with visible alarm as she addressed me urgently.

"Who did you say has come?"

"The Hero, my lady. She says he's here to see you."

I felt a sudden wave of bewilderment.

The Hero of the Holy Sword, announced across the Empire about a month ago.

A prodigy who achieved the rank of Grandmaster at the youngest age in history, someone for whom the term 'genius' fell short.

She had drawn the sealed Holy Sword and earned the title of Hero, undoubtedly the most talked-about figure in the Empire.

And now, this Hero had come looking for me? I couldn't fathom why. As far as I knew, there was no connection between us.

"I've escorted him to the reception room for now."

"Alright, I'll head there immediately."

The only way to understand her purpose was to see her in person. After sending Alina off, I made my way down the corridor toward the reception room.

As I walked alone, my thoughts inevitably drifted back to her.

"Two years is too much, Hera," I murmured softly.

Hera, who had left saying she needed some time.

But cruelly enough, nearly two years had passed, and I hadn't heard a single word from her.

It seemed she occasionally exchanged letters with Alina, but why had she sent me no word at all?

"…Am I still so hateful to you?"

If so, I had nothing to say.

What I had done was a clear sin.

And yet, was there still selfishness lingering within me?

I missed her.

No, I should correct myself.

I missed her so much it felt like I was losing my mind.

Two years felt like an eternity.

This desolate place without her felt like it stripped all meaning from life.

I had borne it all, knowing it was my penance, but lately, I felt I was reaching my limit.

Each night, I dreamt of her embracing me, and each time, I stayed awake until dawn.

"If you don't come soon, Master, I might truly go insane."

Trying to calm my aching heart, I found myself standing before the audience chamber.

I pushed thoughts of Hera from my mind and instead focused on the presence awaiting me within.

The Hero.

The one wielding the holy sword imbued with the goddess's blessing and power,

The only one capable of defeating the Demon Lord, who inherited the power of the demon god.

The holy sword was sealed by the goddess, such that only a truly worthy individual could draw it.

I once tried out of curiosity, but all it accomplished was splitting the earth around me. The sword remained firmly in place.

Well, if I were the goddess, I wouldn't have entrusted the holy sword to someone like me either.

Looking back at the past heroes, every single one of them had a righteous character.

I could never be a hero, not in a million years.

I let out a dry chuckle and glanced ahead, now at the door to the audience chamber.

When I stepped inside, a girl emitting a dense, almost suffocating aura of divine energy came into view.

Her silver hair gleamed brilliantly, a stark contrast to the heavy, almost desolate air she exuded.

I recognized her immediately—someone I had encountered before.

"…You."

Her name escaped my lips in a trembling voice.

Her violet eyes turned to me, narrowing before—

BOOM!

A massive burst of energy surged toward me, forcing me to leap back.

.

.

.

.

"Really…"

Through the settling dust and debris, I dusted off my clothes and looked at her.

"…Unbelievable. To think you're Carlos's disciple."

A wry smile formed on my lips.

"And to show up as the Hero, no less."

"I'm here to take her back."

Her voice, cold and hollow, sank deep, devoid of life, as if it were drowning in a bottomless abyss.

Her eyes, dark and sunken, shone faintly with a desperate light—a harrowing hunger.

She stepped closer, gripping her sword tightly and extending it toward me.

"Where is my sister?"

Even in the face of her relentless killing intent, I couldn't help but let out a helpless laugh.

"I don't know."

"…What?"

"I said I don't know. And that's why I'm going mad too."

"…"

I tilted my head back, gazing at the empty sky, and murmured under my breath.

"…When will you come, Hera?"

CRACK!

The sound of teeth grinding echoed sharply, almost breaking apart.

The girl stared at me with a face twisted in seething anger.

"I'll make sure you die a horrible death."

Her eyes, void of any warmth, were so dark they seemed to suck the light out of the room.

— How could such a young girl bear such a cruel and desolate gaze?

The words of an old friend came back to me, piercing my heart with sharp guilt.

"…You're right. I owe you an apology more than anyone else. But for now—"

Before the words could even finish leaving my lips, a colorless blade aura shot toward my neck at a speed too fast to perceive.

But with a slight tilt of my head to the side,

the blade's strike only left a small scratch on my cheek and cut a few strands of hair.

"Looks like I need to calm you down a bit."

"Die."

As the girl released mana into the surrounding air, it sounded as though a dreadful scream, like the wail of the dead, was emanating from the mana itself.

With a sorrowful expression, she extended her hand into the empty air.

In an instant, light flared up, and a sword with a golden blade materialized in my grip.

"…I never thought I'd end up fighting a hero."

Without exchanging any more words, I rushed toward the girl.