“Kera!”
A great light engulfed the Demon Lord’s hideous body. When the light vanished, only tall trees stood around, the Demon Lord nowhere to be seen. The last Demon Lord who had tormented humanity had been sealed away.
“I… I won…”
Convinced, Melinda Gilford fell to her knees, breathing heavily. She didn’t care that her favorite purple robe was getting dirty.
“It’s over… Father, Mother. Karl, Ronar, Vincent, Lynn… it’s over.”
They were the ones who had once risked their lives to protect her and then perished. Melinda was the only one who could end this hellish era where Demon Lords roamed. Their dying wishes and feelings, a curse that had always been impressed upon her, had finally been proven not to be in vain. Not all Demon Lords had been vanquished. However, there were no more major figures she had to fight and seal herself. She was uneasy about the several she had only sealed, but it seemed unlikely she could handle anything more. Even a hero who had fought on with a sense of mission and responsibility, bringing hope to the human world, could not escape the approaching footsteps of old age. The face that had once been young and vibrant was now etched with wrinkles, and her lustrous blue hair had turned completely white. Ending the dark age had come at a great cost. Yet, she had not stopped because she could not betray those who had sacrificed their lives for her. Catching her breath, she stood up and slowly began to walk towards the edge of the forest. She had never once considered what awaited her after her journey to defeat the Demon Lords. Her life had simply been a continuous battle for the sake of the world and its people.
“What should I do now…”
For now, she should deliver the good news to the nation’s leaders who were eagerly awaiting it. She could think about what came next later. Even this seasoned hero felt like having a bit of a rest.
“Ah, my head is spinning.”
The final battle against the Great Demon Lord had lasted for three days. Her Magic Power was completely depleted, and her physical and mental strength were pushed to the brink. At this point, she might not even be able to defeat a mere Goblin. Despite being so exhausted, she was fortunate enough to encounter no one and be able to rest. The demons had all been defeated; the rabble had sensed the decisive battle and fled. Her faltering thoughts began to form such a deduction. Melinda found a patch of grass, sat down, and leaned her back and the back of her head against a tree beside her.
(If I go back like this, I’ll surely make a mistake.)
Even if the hero who succeeded in sealing the Great Demon Lord failed due to her exhaustion, the Kings would likely forgive her. But she herself did not want that. For reasons that could be classified as vanity or shame. Using her meager Magic Power, she made water to moisten her throat. Perhaps her fatigue had recovered slightly, but she wondered if it was worth the Magic Power used. It seemed better to stop somewhere and focus on recovering her strength. She happened to look up and saw the black clouds that had covered the sky slowly beginning to drift, and before she knew it, patches of blue and sunlight were breaking through. It was as if to celebrate her great achievement.
(I hope it’s a light towards the future.)
Melinda recalled the meaning of her name. She hoped she could become a human worthy of the name her parents gave her and the feelings they entrusted her with. Unfortunately, that was not for her to decide. It would be judged by future generations. At the very least, she wished to stand tall and go to her parents and former comrades in the afterlife. It was a wish she had come to hold over time.
I am starting a new series based on VR games.
Please take a look if you’d like.
http://ncode.syosetu.com/n3244dk/
