Chapter 25 TSH Vol. 1 Epilogue

Epilogue

Considering it had been a greater demon attack, the casualties in the capital city of Ecclesia were remarkably low. While the soldiers and knights had suffered losses in the line of duty, civilian sacrifices had been kept to a minimum. The people of the city praised High Grand-Priest Roderick for his devotion, attributing their salvation to the Sacred Guardian Barrier. Princess Cordelia’s role in supplying mana to the barrier was kept secret from the public, in accordance with her own wishes.

After the High Grand-Priest and the princess had recovered, King Leonar III visited Ecclesia and awarded Roderick the Holy Shield of Defense. As a father, the king had a great many things he wanted to say to his daughter about her reckless actions, but he knew that without her, the barrier would not have held, and the sacrifices would have been far greater. With strong appeals from the High Grand-Priest, the temple staff, and the Holy Knights, he could not bring himself to reprimand her. In truth, he also felt an immense sense of pride in his daughter’s great contribution.

In response to the attack, the king announced to all citizens that the Demon King was showing signs of revival. He kept the Hero’s birth and disappearance a secret, stating only that a Hero would eventually appear to defeat the Demon King.

Rumors about the masked man who had annihilated the demons were allowed to circulate. Sieg himself was secretly hidden deep within the Grand Temple, receiving treatment. His existence was known only to the High Grand-Priest and a handful of other priests. The information was concealed even from the king. The priests, in order to repay Sieg for his selfless act, swore to the gods that they would never reveal his secret.

It took ten days for Sieg to awaken. He had come to the brink of death multiple times; recovering in only ten days was, in itself, a miracle.

When Sieg began preparing to leave, neither the High Grand-Priest nor the other priests said a word to stop him. On the morning of his departure, he left his room to find them all kneeling in the hallway. High Grand-Priest Roderick took Sieg’s hand, pressed it to his own forehead, and closed his eyes in meditation. It was the highest pledge of fealty a clergyman could offer.

“May you return to this holy land whenever you wish. We are, and shall always be, your faithful servants.”

Sieg let out a breath that was almost a sigh and gave a small nod.

“…Understood. If I need help, I’ll rely on you. Thank you for the treatment. All of you, stay well.”

“—May fortune be with you.”

That single phrase was freighted with all of Roderick’s unspoken emotion.

As Sieg was about to leave the Ecclesia territory, he saw a familiar woman waiting by the main gate. It was Princess Cordelia. She was dressed in travel clothes, fully prepared for a journey.

Roderick had never told her who had annihilated the demons, nor who had saved her life. He had simply said that a miracle had occurred.

But Cordelia knew. She was certain that the one who had poured his life into hers on that magic circle was Sieg. In that hazy moment as her eyes had fluttered open, she had seen someone who looked just like him. And now, seeing him, she understood completely. The life force she sensed from him was the same as the one that had flowed into her.

And he was, almost certainly, the one she had admired for so long—

The princess spoke, her voice trembling.

“…Um…! Th-Thank you… for everything…”

“…What are you talking about?” Sieg replied, his voice cold.

She ignored it and continued,

“You must be… No, it doesn’t matter who you are—”

Princess Cordelia smiled at him, her eyes brimming with tears.

“You are my Hero.”

Sieg’s expression didn’t change, but he groaned internally.

This was a failure. Things may have gone differently from last time, but without the High Grand-Priest, the Holy Knights, and Cordelia, many more people would have died. Alone, I can’t even save the people I want to save. To save everyone, I… I suppose I really do need companions. But, Sieg thought, the lives I want to save… include the lives of those very companions.

Unable to meet her direct, unwavering gaze, Sieg looked away.

She—the Fifth Princess, Cordelia—had been his companion on the previous journey. And, in that journey, she had died. She had died to give him her strength.

Remembering the night he lost her, Sieg instinctively lowered his eyes—

It had been six months since they’d crossed to the continent of the Demon King’s castle. Their food had long since run out. They were all wounded, cornered. The constant demon attacks gave them no time to rest, leaving them physically and mentally exhausted.

Sieg would fight until he was a bloody wreck, then collapse into sleep. His face was perpetually pale from potion overdose, his limbs trembling from the withdrawal. To make it worse, he had hit his growth limit; his rank and stats would no longer rise.

But he couldn’t turn back. Too many people had been sacrificed to get them this far. He couldn’t go home until the Demon King was defeated. The responsibility of being the Hero, the weight of all the lives lost, pressed down on his shoulders.

Looking back, the Hero’s party was already broken.

Through it all, Princess Cordelia had supported him. She told jokes that weren’t funny, shared her own meager rations, and forced herself to be cheerful.

Sieg, in turn, would respond with false bravado, never letting his smile fade.

But she had seen him.

In the dead of night, she had seen Sieg alone, desperately choking back sobs. She had heard him consumed with regret, endlessly repeating his apologies for dragging them all into this.

Sieg, who held the title [Solitary Hero], had naively thought it would all work out and had gathered companions. Princess Cordelia was the first.

But partway through their journey, they learned the title’s true meaning.

It wasn’t the [Solitary Hero].

It was the [Hero of the Cursed Feast]—a cursed title that allowed him to gain strength by feeding on the lives of his companions. The more companions the Hero lost, the more of their power he absorbed, and the stronger he became.

—

TL Note: In Japanese, kodoku can mean two different things depending on the kanji used: 孤独 (kodoku) means ‘solitary/lonely,’ while 蠱毒 (kodoku) refers to a curse where the survivor absorbs the power of the dead. The hero’s title uses the latter meaning. For clarity, I’ve translated 蠱毒の勇者 as [Hero of the Cursed Feast]. (Guess this fantasy world should’ve invested in a writing system—would’ve saved the Hero from misunderstanding, lol!)

—

Ever since learning that, Sieg had become terrified of losing them. He would be using their deaths as fuel. He would throw himself in front of them in battle, and the burden on him only grew.

It was then that Princess Cordelia made her decision.

Sieg would hate it. But she would entrust her power to him. If one person was gone, their food rations would last longer. And if he gained her power, his burden would be that much lighter. Once her mind was made up, she didn’t hesitate. That was just the kind of person she was.

That night, she invited him to a lake deep in the forest. It was a toxic lake, but at night, it looked almost beautiful. As they looked at the water, they talked for the first time in a long time.

About when they first met. About the territories they visited to gain Blessings. About negotiating with nobles for support. About searching for allies in different kingdoms. About how lively the party became as it grew. About the townsfolk who welcomed them, the villagers who held festivals for them—

There were people they had saved, and people they hadn’t. But even so, they had made it this far, to the Demon King’s doorstep.

“We made it here because of you, Sieg. Thank you.”

Sieg shook his head, his expression pained.

“…No. It’s because I’m not strong enough that I’ve caused everyone so much trouble… I’m sorry, Cordie. I’ve put you through so much…”

“That’s not true! You’re always thinking of us…!”

Her face crumpled as if she were about to cry, but she couldn’t hold it back and threw her arms around him.

“…Cordie?”

She held him tight, her thin arms wrapped around his own gaunt frame. She pulled back, looked up at him, and gently touched his cheek. She kissed him lightly, startling him.

They had feelings for each other, but they had always avoided any physical contact. The mission to defeat the Demon King took precedence over all else.

“Hehe… you’re making a funny face.”

She pulled away, a tearful smile on her face.

Sieg looked at her, his expression a mix of shock, joy, and confusion.

“Wh-What’s wrong, Cordie? You’re acting strange tonight.”

Her face crumpled again, but she quickly forced an awkward smile. Her voice trembled.

“Please forgive me for being selfish, Sieg…”

“Hm? I mean, I don’t mind, but…”

Princess Cordelia looked down, then smiled faintly and spoke.

“You see, Sieg. I… I drank poison.”

Poison—the word made Sieg’s blood run cold.

Everyone in the Hero’s party carried it. It was to be used if they were captured, parasitized, or possessed by a demon, to quickly end their own lives before they could leak information or be used. It was a magic poison created with secret arts from the Age of the Gods, one that no antidote could cure and that even high-level [Poison Resistance] couldn’t stop.

“P-Poison!? Why would you! We have to get you the antidote—!”

Sieg started to run, but she stopped him. There was no antidote. She was already beyond saving.

Sieg’s face twisted in disbelief. She coughed, a spray of black blood, and slowly sank to the ground.

“C-Cordie! Why!? Why would you do this!?”

She smiled and reached out a hand. Sieg grasped it tightly. She spoke.

“…I knew, Sieg. I knew you were suffering, that you regretted making us your companions. I don’t want to see you make that pained face anymore. So…

She smiled, a tear rolling from the corner of her eye.

“Use my life.”

“Cordie!”

As a member of his party, her death would trigger the power of the [Hero of the Cursed Feast], transferring her abilities to him.

She looked at him, her face full of apology.

“…I’m sorry, Sieg. I have one last request…”

She looked at Sieg, who was frozen in shock.

“With your own hands… I want you… to kill me.”

“—What—”

His eyes went wide. “What are you saying!? I could never do that!”

She shook her head. “…No… I’m sure the [Hero of the Cursed Feast] is more effective if you do it yourself. That’s how it works… I want to leave my power with you in its most complete form. Please… it’s my last wish…”

“…Cordie…!”

Tears streamed down Sieg’s face, falling onto her cheeks. She smiled faintly.

“You’re surprisingly sentimental, Sieg… It’s okay. I’ll live on inside you. I’ll become your strength and support you. So please. Before the poison kills me, end my life with your own hands. So that my power… is passed to you… perfectly…”

She coughed up more blood, her smile trembling.

“My dearest, my Hero… I will be… with you… always…”

The light began to fade from her eyes. Before it could disappear completely, Sieg, weeping, drew his sword—

Sieg gritted his teeth, suppressing the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.

After that, he had inherited her ice magic swordsmanship, perfectly. The final blow that had defeated the Demon King had been her ultimate technique, [Nibelheim], a magic sword art that could freeze even time itself.

But even with her power, the demons had been relentless. His companions had died, one by one, until he was alone when he faced the Demon King. When the [Hero of the Cursed Feast] loses all companions, it unleashes his maximum power. Without it, he never could have defeated the Demon King alone.

But he would not repeat that agonizing journey. He would not steal strength from his companions ever again. That was why, this time, he had hidden his identity and refused to make allies.

Sieg composed himself, looked at the princess, and shook his head.

“Hero? I don’t know what you’re mistaken about, but I’m no Hero. I’m just—”

Princess Cordelia cut him off, her expression resolute as she asked,

“—May I… come with you?”

The words hit Sieg with the force of a physical blow. He staggered back.

…C-Cordie… You’re… you’re saying those words again…!

Those were the exact same words she had spoken to him on their previous journey. Fate had come full circle. She had appeared before him again, and she was saying the same words.

If he let her join him, she might become fodder for his cursed title again. And the more companions he had, the more the cursed power would try to activate, making him unconsciously wish for their deaths. He would have to experience that hideous part of himself all over again.

But… with companions, he could save so many more people, just as they had in this last attack. People he hadn’t been able to save before. That much was certain.

Sieg’s heart was torn by the dilemma.

He looked down, closed his eyes, and thought, until at last—he looked up. Seeing the tears welling in her eyes, he made his decision.

I have my memories from last time. Using that knowledge, I just have to become impossibly strong. I’ll become so powerful that I’ll never have to rely on the [Hero of the Cursed Feast]. That’s all there is to it!

Sieg let out a breath, started walking, and answered her gruffly.

“…Do what you want.”

Tears spilled from her eyes. Her face broke into a radiant smile.

“Yes… Yes!”

The instant Cordelia replied, a pillar of light descended from the sky, and a spirit materialized. No one else seemed to notice. Apparently, only Sieg could see it.

The spirit gave him a benevolent smile and spoke in a sing-song voice.

“A COMPANION HAS JOINED. CORDELIA IS NOW SUBJECT TO THE CURSE.”

Sieg cursed the smiling spirit under his breath, but he shook his head and steeled himself.

It’s okay… If it’s just Cordie, I can manage. No, I will manage!

The princess fell into step behind him, beaming.

“…By the way, where’s Emma?”

The princess shrugged. “She said she knew I’d be safe with you and sent me off. I was so sure she’d follow me… How strange.”

“I see…”

Emma probably realized the masked man was me. That’s why she let her go alone.

The tension had broken, and they walked through the city gate. Just as they stepped outside, Sieg’s [Danger Sense] flared.

“Get back!”

Sieg instantly threw up a [Mana Barrier]. A bolt of light struck it and deflected, bathing the area in white. The princess immediately drew her sword, assuming a battle stance.

A moment later, a carefree voice drifted down from above.

“Hoh~? So you can do that much, huh? Not bad, not bad!”

Sieg looked up. A young girl holding a staff was floating in the air.

Wha…

Sweat trickled down Sieg’s temple.

The girl grinned, her voice full of mischief.

“Heh heh heh… Found you at last! You’re the Hero, aren’t you?”

Sieg, Princess Cordelia, the guards, and the people passing by all stared in shock.

Sieg knew this girl all too well.

Her name was Liliandiris.

Liliandiris Sharion Porcelia-Isfaal Nephilia.

A High Elf, a member of a rare and ancient race, the legendary Archmage who had lived for a thousand years—

And, on top of all that—a companion from his previous journey.

Sieg gritted his teeth.

Why is Lilis here? One was manageable, but two… this is impossible! What do I do…!?

Hero Sieg’s second journey would continue.