In a secluded dark alley behind the far end of Luin, the city of hope, a lone boy woke up completely bewildered, confused, and in a daze, unsure to what was going on.
In his earliest memories, Laon recalled that he was supposed to be dead.
Dead after casting his sealing spell on the demon lord. And in exchange for his life will seal away the devil forever.
Yet here he is, alive, all in one piece, heart still beating. Does this mean he have failed? But that can’t be! Because Laon can clearly remember the feeling of his life force draining away as well as hearing the demon lord final screams.
He was confident that his spell worked!
...Though it makes no sense why he was still here.
Really now… why is he still alive…?
Oooouuuggghhhh.
The thoughts were starting giving him a headache and Laon quickly clutches at his hair, ruffling them. A habit he always does when stressed out.
「!」
This--- This feelings…!
Laon nervously swallow a lump of saliva hanging at his throat, an omnivorous feeling foreshadowing him.
W--why does his hands feel so small?
And his hair, he don’t remember it being this fluffy, smooth or silvery looking either!
No, it can’t be!
With shaky feelings, Laon looks at his hands, bringing it towards his face, then let out an unfamiliar scream.
「EEeeeeehhhhhhh???」
Why--why are they so small, pale and child like looking?! The last time Laon checked, his hands were supposed to be that of a grown man! Strong, sturdy, rough and covered with calluses not weak and frail like a girl!
And his hair! He clearly remember they being brown not silvery white with grey tints at the ends!
And not to mention his body! Why does his physique looks like a child that of about 4 years of age? He was supposed to be a grown 21 years old man!
Oh my god!
What was happening to HIM?!!
「I see you’ve woken up.」
An unfamiliar voice spoke and Laon was broken from his trance.
A silvery blond haired young beauty with white angel wings suddenly appears out of thin air and smiles at him. She held a very soft expression, with eyes like doe and lips like cherry, giving off vibes like that of a goddess. Laon was completely stunned.
「W--who are you?」
He stuttered, after finally regaining his voice.
But the young beauty did not answer, instead she brought up her hands, covering half her face and broke out into giggles. Her soft laughter echoing the premise.
「I’m sorry. Your surprised expression was just too cute that I couldn’t help it.」
The young beauty, whose golden eyes shook with small tears and whose silvery blond hair was so beautiful it could be mistaken for golden thread said as she wipes the lingering teardrops from her eyes.
「Let me properly introduce myself. My name is Aphrodite. The goddess of love and beauty. And the one responsible for your resurrection.」
「My what?!」
Laon stares back at her incredulously.
You mean to say he actually died and then came back to life? Wait, that--- is that even possible? No--- wait-- yes, it is. It is possible with Laon being the living prove and she did say she is a goddess so that must means it true!
And that--- that also means his spell worked! And he defeat the demon Lord!
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「Aha---Ahahaha--AHAHAHA!!」
Laon broke out into a sudden fit of laughter.
I--I can’t believed it!
I defeated the demon lord!
Me!
Myself!
I!
And no one else! This is insane! Completely crazy! But real.
「Y--you’re not lying are you?」
Laon turned to face Aphrodite, looking at her earnestly.
Please.
Just nod.
That’s all I need.
As if reading his thoughts, Aphrodite smiles. She nodded.
And for the second time that day, Laon let out another unmanly scream. But unlike the first which was from shock, this was from pure happiness.
He couldn’t help it but jump and screams out in joy.
「I need to hurry back to the castle then! Everyone must be tire of waiting! And--- and the King! I bet he’ll be shock to find out that I was the one who defeated the Demon Lord and not Togyo*. Kekekeee.」
(*Togyo refers to the name of the knight.)
Laon lets out yet another unrestrained laugh.
His body shaking slightly from each outtakes.
「It would be in your best interest to not do that.」
「?」
Laon turns to give Aphrodite a questionable look; he crooks his head to one side.
「What do you mean?」
Aphrodite flashed a pitiful look and let out a grimace before answering.
「It’s been over a decade since you sealed away the Demon Lord, and even though it was thanks to your spell, it was Togyo and the rest that claims all the credit. The King ruled that Togyo single handedly repel the Demon and crowned him as the new ruler of Luin while the others were given hero status equal to that of royal blood. Unfortunately not one, even mention your name. You were seen as one of the casualties, Laon.」
「Y-- you’re lying.」
Laon gave an incredulous look.
He took a few steps backward, his back his now pressed against a nearby wall for support, legs shaking as they start to fail in keeping him grounded. Confusion and shock were washing over him like a broken dam. But more than anything, Laon could feel his blood slowly boiling as fingers dig deep into his skin.
「As much as I would like to say that is a lie. It’s not. The one who claimed to slain the Demon Lord is not you, Laon, but To---」
「S--Stop Lying!」
Laon screams out in anger.
The grips of his hand becoming tighter with each passing second.
Togyo and he had known each other since birth and both have been close enough to consider each other as family. And for Aphrodite to say that Togyo betrayed him is impossible! In no way could that be true.
Because…
Because… They’re family. And Togyo would never do something like that.
Right…?
Laon shakily looks straight forward, Aphrodite’s gaze and his cross each other as the goddess sorrow were clearly shown on her eyes.
He bit his lip.
「Please… Please tell me that’s not true.」
Laon whispered, his words sounding like desperate pleads more than anything else.
「I’m sorry, Laon.」
And so he ran.
To anywhere, everywhere, and nowhere.
Laon ran.
He ran away from the truth.