Chapter 28

Episode 28: The Hero’s Will <2>

The cafeteria of Crawford Magic Academy, now in ruins with rubble scattered everywhere, echoes with a deafening explosion that seems to announce further destruction.

“Ugh…!”

A violent shock spreads from my back, assaulting my entire body.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been slammed into the wall by the Black Annihilation Dragon.

Even though I’m barely conscious, I’ve kept getting up and swinging my sword to hold off the dragon. But now, it seems like I’ve run out of strength.

“What’s wrong? Can’t stand up anymore?” the Black Annihilation Dragon asks, sounding almost bored.

—My body hurts. It’s agonizing. I don’t want to get up anymore. I don’t want to fight anymore.

From somewhere, I hear a pitiful voice.

—Fighting is scary. I don’t want to get hurt, and I don’t want to hurt anyone. I want to run away right now.

I know that voice. It’s mine. Alphonse Fried’s voice.

That’s right, I hate fighting. I’m scared of getting hurt, and I don’t want to hurt anyone either.

When the Black Annihilation Dragon appeared, I really wanted to run away. Facing it was terrifying.

“You’re just a fake of that man. You’ll never be like him. You’re incomparably weaker. No matter how desperately you struggle, you’ll never be a hero.”

The man the dragon is talking about is probably my ancestor, the great hero Sieg Fried, who defeated the Black Annihilation Dragon 400 years ago.

“That’s right… I’m not a hero…”

I push against the ground with my hands and legs, trying to stand up.

“(I know. I’ve been told that all along.)”

My body trembles weakly, but I still manage to stand up with all my strength.

“I can’t become a hero…”

I grip the imitation sword, its blade almost completely shattered from the earlier attack.

“But even so, I…”

I channel magic into the barely remaining blade and point it at the Black Annihilation Dragon.

“I will fulfill myself…!!”

I never liked fighting.

But I kept swinging my sword with all my might.

I studied magic as hard as I could.

I’ve been disappointed by my parents, mocked by others, and gone through a lot of pain. But I still worked hard to become stronger.

It’s not about meeting my parents’ expectations or gaining glory.

Even if I can’t be a hero, I wanted to be someone who could fight for others.

I wanted to fight for those who can’t, to protect those who are unjustly hurt.

I’m not a hero. I can’t be a hero. I can’t save the world.

But even so, I want to become strong enough to protect what I can.

I’ll keep getting up until the very end.

“That’s why… I won’t let you reach them…!!”

I roar at the Black Annihilation Dragon.

Its expression twists slightly.

“Those eyes… they’re just like that man’s. Disgusting.”

The dragon, which had been calm and composed, now looks at me with eyes filled with hatred.

“I’ve grown tired of toying with a half-dead insect.”

The dragon swings its massive tail.

“Just die already.”

It brings it down with tremendous force.

This isn’t an attack meant to torment me.

It’s a clear, killing blow.

A massive shockwave erupts, scattering the surrounding rubble.

The dragon is certain it has delivered the final blow.

But…

“I can’t… die yet…”

The Black Annihilation Dragon’s eyes widen.

I’ve blocked its attack.

“I can’t die yet… not until I stop you.”

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