Hiro sat by the fireplace in the rebel cave, his gaze blank, his mind whirling with thoughts of what had happened. Ellizabeth, such a respected figure, was now at the center of a terrible accusation.
Isolde, in a curious tone, asked Magnus, the rebel leader, "Why don't you try moving to another kingdom? Living here like this... it must be hard."
Magnus looked at Isolde with a tired expression, "We can't. The church has twisted everything. No one wants to accept us. They call us traitors, demons, and rebels. The only way we can survive is to fight back and reclaim our home."
Eleanor, who had refused to believe these accusations from the start, sat down with a pale face, "No way... Saint Ellizabeth is not like that! She is the light of this world! How could she do such a thing?!"
Her shout echoed in the cave, making everyone fall silent. Brigid, gently, tried to calm Eleanor down, but her tears continued to flow.
Hiro let out a long sigh. He knew that this truth was too hard to accept, especially for someone like Eleanor who had idolized Ellizabeth for so long. He approached Eleanor, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"I know it's hard, Eleanor. But we can't turn a blind eye. We have to find out the truth. If Ellizabeth is innocent, then we will prove it. But if she is guilty..." Hiro hung his sentence, unable to continue.
Isolde looked at Hiro with conviction, "We have to investigate this. Something is not right. Is this really a church order? Or is there something bigger behind this?"
Selene, in a serious tone, said, "In that case, let me sneak into the kingdom. As an assassin, I can seek information without attracting attention."
But Hiro shook his head, "Not now. It's too dangerous. We have to plan everything carefully. For now, we return to the kingdom of Melavonia and investigate further."
The next day, they returned to Melavonia. The city looked busy, after yesterday's big celebration. But behind the hubbub, Hiro sensed something strange
They decided to split up, seeking information from various sources. Selene, despite being banned from sneaking around, still used her ability to eavesdrop on the nobles' conversations at the night market. Isolde and Brigid seek information from the merchants, while Eleanor, although still depressed, tries to talk to some priests in a church.
Meanwhile, Hiro visits the library in the large town square. He wondered how few books there were in this library, there were only books on fairy tales and external history and other information but no history of Nevalheim, "nothing at all? Have they all been deleted? They are really fast" Hiro muttered
As night fell, they gathered back at the inn. Each of them brought the pieces of information they got, Selene reported that she heard the nobles talking about the benefits that could be gained from this kingdom as it would be the center as an innovation kingdom. Isolde and Brigid found only Saint Ellizabeth's acts of heroism and praise, Eleanor looked down and found nothing.
The next day, they returned to the guild to discuss the matter. As they sat in a circle, trying to find a solution, an adventurer approached. "Yo, dragon slayer! You look glum. What's up, huh?" Kael greeted them with a wide smile.
Hiro raised his gaze "Just thinking about how to meet Saint Ellizabeth" he said in confusion.
Kael narrowed his eyes, then with a flat expression, "What? You want to get another wife? Geez, your taste is high this time too, huh? Saint Ellizabeth is only 12 years old, you know."
Hiro shook his head quickly, his face turning red, "That's not it! I just want to meet her. There are many things I need to ask."
Kael laughed loudly, patting Hiro's shoulder, "That's easy! Your status as a dragon slayer is more than enough. Just make an official meeting request. But seriously, do you want to take more wives? I feel sorry for your five wives, really."
Eleanor, who had been yearning for a chance to meet Ellizabeth from the start, immediately got excited, "Is that true!? We can meet her!? Hiro, hurry up and write that request letter!" She shook Hiro enthusiastically, making him even more dizzy.
Hiro tried to calm Eleanor down, "But... won't it interfere with her busy schedule?"
Isolde, who was usually calm, replied thoughtfully, "That's impossible. Our status as a famous party will make Saint Ellizabeth... or Queen Ellizabeth, accept it. The problem is what excuse will we use?"
Brigid, who had been silent, finally spoke up, "Just make the excuse that we want to help with her royal duties. For a new kingdom, there must be a lot of things to do. We can offer to help."
Hiro was pensive. In his mind, the excuse sounded reasonable, and at the same time gave them a chance to find information, "Alright, let's try that."
Kael chuckled, nodding, "A unique reason, but worth a try. I'll be waiting to hear from you."
Isolde took over the task of writing the request letter. Carefully, she crafted words that were polite and convincing. Once completed, the letter was immediately sent to the Melavonian palace.
The next day, while they were relaxing in the guild, Isolde received a reply from the palace. She read the letter with wide eyes, "This... was accepted! In a day!?"
Everyone in the room was shocked. Eleanor jumped for joy, hugging Isolde while exclaiming, "We're really going to meet her! I can't believe it!"
Hiro, though excited, felt a little nervous. He knew this meeting was not just about helping the kingdom, but also finding out the truth behind all the rumors about Ellizabeth.
"Alright," Hiro said, standing up with determination, "We're getting ready to meet Saint Ellizabeth. This is our chance."
With renewed vigor, they began preparing for their journey to the palace, unaware that this meeting would bring them closer to a secret that would shake their faith.
Hiro and his harem arrived in front of the towering royal gates of Melavonia. Massive pillars and golden carvings adorn the entrance, giving the impression of power and luxury.
Freya, who had been silent, looked on in awe, "Woah! It's so big!" she exclaimed with sparkling eyes.
After presenting their invitation letter to the guards, they were allowed to enter. A palace maid guided them through the hallways which were decorated with some beautiful paintings.
When they finally arrived at the living room, they were greeted by the sight of Saint Ellizabeth, sitting casually on the sofa, drinking tea elegantly. She smiled gently, making the tense atmosphere more relaxed.
"Ah, you must be that famous party. I heard a lot about you guys. Your help is much needed. I didn't think you would offer to help," Elliz said in a friendly tone.
Elliz's friendliness and gentleness took Hiro's harem by surprise. They felt awkward, while Eleanor looked at her with admiration.
"Please have a seat," Elliz invited, inviting them to the chairs that had been prepared. Soon, the waiter brought food and drinks for them.
After they sat down, Elliz asked their names one by one until she heard Hiro's name, "Hiroshi Takumi... Hiro, huh?" she said, holding back a small smile that almost looked suspicious, "Hiro's name is quite unique, huh. Oh, and five wives? You really are a lucky man."
Hiro just smiled stiffly, feeling the atmosphere getting stranger and stranger.
Without wasting any time, Elliz made her point, "Alright, I'll get straight to the point. I want you to help capture the Nevalheim rebels."
Hiro was surprised, though he tried to hide it, "Why should they be captured?" he asked cautiously.
Elliz made a puzzled expression, as if surprised the question was asked, "What... don't you know? They are the demons who are still alive. I don't want them to harm my people. This is for the safety of Melavonia."
Hiro began to feel trapped in a dilemma. If he refused, he could be seen as supporting the rebellion. However, if he accepted, he would be betraying his own principles.
After a moment of thought, Hiro finally nodded slowly. The decision left his harem silent in confusion.
Elliz smiled widely, looking satisfied, "Thank you for accepting this mission. I'll make sure you get a big reward afterward."
Hiro tried to read the meaning behind the smile, but could not be sure what Saint Ellizabeth was really planning.
When things started to calm down, Ellizabeth looked at Eleanor with a curious gaze, "You're a priest, aren't you?" she asked softly.
Eleanor was surprised and excitedly replied, "Yes!"
Elliz chuckled softly, surprised by her enthusiasm, "You're very enthusiastic, huh. I'm so happy," she said.
Eleanor, with sparkling eyes, continued, "I idolize you so much, Saint Ellizabeth! I've always wanted to be just like you!"
Elliz smiled gently, looking touched, "ara~? Thank you. It's nice to know that someone idolizes me. Well then, how about you join the Ordo?"
Eleanor gasped in surprise. In her mind, "you mean...the Ordo Sanctis Exterminare?!"
Elliz nodded, "Right. I think you'll be a wonderful addition to us. A talented priest like you would definitely be a great help."
Eleanor, although nervous, felt excited and honored, "Can... can I really join?" she asked hopefully.
"Of course," Elliz replied, "I'd love to have the support of someone like you."
Eleanor's excitement was obvious, while Elliz smiled meaningfully, "Then, let me borrow Eleanor for a while. She looks like a lot of fun."
Hiro, though a little hesitant, nodded, "Alright, but not for too long," he said before departing with his harem except Eleanor.
Outside the palace, Isolde immediately approached Hiro, "Why did you just accept it? Shouldn't we be looking for information?" she asked in a stern tone.
Selene, who was usually quiet, spoke up, "I understand your hesitation, Isolde. But if what Saint Ellizabeth says is true, then perhaps... we should consider."
Hiro let out a long sigh, "We'll go back first and think about the next step," he said in a thoughtful tone.
Meanwhile, Eleanor walked with Elliz in the palace hallway, "Where are we going?" asked Eleanor confused.
Elliz smiled slightly, "Just for a walk. It's hard to do these tasks every day."
Eleanor looked at her with admiration, "That's really great, being able to take care of two heavy tasks at such a young age!"
Elliz smiled and nodded slowly, "Thank you for your compliments. And thank you for coming too. That way, I have an excuse to rest for a while."
They walked until they came to an orphanage. Little children ran out with cheerful faces, greeting Elliz cheerfully.
Eleanor was transfixed by the sight. In her heart, she began to doubt the story about the rebels, "Maybe... what they said about Saint Ellizabeth was wrong?" she thought.
Elliz stroked the head of one of the little children who was hugging her, "These children are cute, aren't they?" she said with a gentle smile.
Eleanor couldn't help but smile. In her mind, the image of Saint Elliz that she idolized was perfect.
Eleanor felt enthusiastic and nervous. Elliz's gentle and charismatic figure made her believe that Saint Elliz was a truly holy figure. In a private conversation, Eleanor, without thinking, revealed the location of the rebels' hideout.
"They're in East Cave, in the middle of the forest," she said excitedly.
Elliz smiled gently, her eyes sparkling as if full of gratitude, "Thank you, Eleanor. This information is invaluable. Sometimes it's hard to believe in history, but you've helped me keep the peace," she said as she gently held Eleanor's hand.
Eleanor felt her chest pounding, amazed at Elliz's friendliness, "I apologize for not telling you from the beginning," she said nervously.
Elliz shook her head slightly, "It's okay. You're a good girl. Now, it's getting late. Go back to your friends, they'll be looking for you," she said with a smile before handing Eleanor a wing necklace, "a gift from me, thank you for accompanying me on my walk," she said.
Eleanor took the necklace, looked at it happily and nodded, "thank you very much! Saint Elliza-...I mean Queen Ellizabeth!" She said and left excitedly, while Elliz stared at her retreating back. The gentle smile on her face turned cynical, "What a nice girl, huh~" she muttered in a cold tone.
East Cave
Hiro and his four harems returned to the rebel base after their meeting at the palace. However, Magnus, the rebel leader, immediately greeted them with anger.
"Get them out of here!" Magnus shouted.
"What do you mean, we're here to help!" protested Hiro.
"Our spies saw you enter the palace. Don't play dumb, you traitors!" Magnus pointed at them with an angry glare.
Hiro tried to explain, "We were just looking for information. We're not in cahoots with them." However, tensions were mounting. Magnus and the other rebels began to draw their weapons, preparing to attack.
Suddenly, a shout rang out from outside. "Catch them! Arrest all the rebels!"
Royal troops stormed the cave. The atmosphere turned into chaos. The rebels tried to escape, but many were caught. One of them, a middle-aged man, shouted to Hiro, "Traitorous bastard! Selling us for gold and good name! I will avenge you many times over!"
Hiro and his harem can only stare, confused by the suddenly changed situation.
Amidst the chaos, Elliz and Eleanor appeared with the royal army. Elliz approached Hiro with a friendly smile, "Thank you for your cooperation. Thanks to you, we were able to find this rebel."
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Hiro looked at Eleanor with shock and disbelief, "So... you told her?" he asked coldly.
Eleanor nodded firmly, "Saint Ellizabeth was not wrong. I am only doing what is right. Trust me, it's for the sake of peace," she said with conviction.
Elliz stroked Eleanor's head gently, "You are a good girl. You did the right thing. I'll give you a bonus for your efforts."
Eleanor smiled widely, feeling proud of the recognition. Meanwhile, Hiro could only stand still, his mind raging between anger and confusion.
Nighttime, Inn
Hiro sat on the bed with his head bowed, his mind filled with confusion, "Why did you tell her, Eleanor?" he asked, his voice heavy.
Eleanor, who was standing by the window, looked nervous, "Saint Ellizabeth was not wrong! The children love her, the people admire her! What's wrong with her? She is the light of this world!" she exclaimed, trying to convince Hiro.
Hiro was silent, a sense of dilemma gnawing at him. The task of the Goddess was to kill Ellizabeth, but Eleanor, one of her wifes was so convinced of Elliz's goodness.
Selene, who was sitting in the corner of the room, finally spoke up, "I'm going to sneak into the kingdom tonight. Maybe I can find something to convince us," she said calmly.
Hiro looked at Selene, doubtful, "Be careful," he said finally. Selene nodded and left silently.
The next day, the cloudy weather added to the tension in the air. Hiro and the others waited anxiously at the guild, but Selene had not returned. As the mood grew gloomier, the guild door was suddenly broken down by an adventurer.
"There will be an execution of rebels in the town square!" he shouted.
The adventurers rushed out, curious about this big event. Hiro and his party followed the crowd to the town square.
Rain began to fall as the rebels, including Magnus, were led to the execution stage. They were handcuffed, their faces scarred and exhausted.
The people cheered and threw stones and trash at them.
"The devil must Die!"
"Execute them!"
Hiro looked at Magnus who was bowed down on the stage, while Ellizabeth appeared gracefully, accompanied by Lyra and the soldiers. Ellizabeth began to speak, her voice echoing through the crowd, "Behold! We have captured the demons who wish to destroy our faith. Today, we will free the world from their sin. Oh, poor people, let us welcome a new peace!"
The people cheered, believing that Elliz was their savior. Eleanor cheered as well, her eyes filled with admiration.
Hiro, on the other hand, was feeling increasingly depressed. He didn't know what to do until Magnus saw Hiro standing there watching and shouted angrily, "Hiro, you traitorous bastard, you finally came, huh?! You're a monster, just like Melavonia!"
he crowd fell silent, all eyes fixed on Hiro and his harem. A heavy pressure enveloped them, and the rain began to fall harder.
As the executor, a large man with his face covered in black cloth, raised his axe, an arrow suddenly shot towards Elliz. However, Lyra swiftly deflected it. The attack was followed by a blazing fire and shouts from the rebels who managed to escape.
"Revenge Melavonia!" one of them shouted.
The people screamed hysterically, and the royal army immediately mobilized to counter the surprise attack. Amidst the chaos, Elliz calmly leaves with Lyra, leaving the stage.
Hiro and his harem are caught between the choice of helping the rebels or remaining silent. However, Hiro's mind is only on one thing where is Selene?
Hiro and his harem ran through the chaotic streets, the rain pouring down on them. Eleanor, who looked agitated, paused for a moment.
"Are we just going to leave the people like this?" she asked in a tone full of confusion.
Isolde gave Eleanor a sharp look, "The people will be taken care of by the guards. Selene is in danger, and we must find her first!"
Wasting no time, they continued their journey towards the palace. However, in front of the main gate, they were intercepted by a group of heavily armed guards.
"Who are you?! Are you rebels?!" one of the guards shouted.
Hiro raised his hand, trying to explain. "We're not rebels! We're just looking for our missing friend-"
However, the guards didn't give them time to speak further. "Arrest them! They must be spies!"
Forced to, Hiro and the others fought against the guards without killing them.
Isolde grumbled in between fights. "Damn it! Now we're fighting the kingdom too?!"
Shouts of "Intruders!" echoed throughout the palace, forcing them to keep running, entering hallways and rooms while fighting off guards.
In one of the great halls, they were stopped by Darius, radiating a cold and deadly aura
"So, you are intruders," Darius said in a calm yet threatening tone. "Your friend who sneaked into the palace has already been arrested. Now, you will suffer the same fate."
Hiro was taken aback. "Selene... arrested?!"
Freya, filled with rage, leapt at Darius with her beast power. However, Darius easily parried the attack, knocking Freya off her feet.
Brigid stepped forward to protect Freya, blocking Darius' attack with her shield. "Save Selene! We'll keep her here!" she shouted.
Darius smiled slightly. "Impressive ambition. Is it for a friend... or your wife?" he asks in a mocking tone before refocusing on fighting Freya and Brigid.
Hiro, Eleanor, and Isolde continue to run towards the interior of the palace, encountering guards along the way. They saw a few rebels who managed to infiltrate, but it all ended tragically.
The large door in front of them suddenly slammed, one of the rebels was thrown out and fell dead. One rebel ran away "please save me!" The rebel shouted before his body was torn apart by an attack from afar.
From within the darkness, Lyra stepped out with her bloodied sword. She stares at Hiro and Isolde with a piercing gaze.
Isolde raised her sword, signaling Eleanor to buff. "The power is unbelievable... Eleanor, hurry!"
Eleanor cast a spell, Strength Increse gave a buff to Isolde.
"I'll hold her off! Hiro, Eleanor, you go find Selene!" said Isolde, even though her body was shaking from the pressure of Lyra's aura.
Lyra saw Hiro about to run but Isolde immediately attacked without hesitation, forcing Lyra to focus on her.
"Where are you looking? I'm your opponent!" Isolde shouted, blocking Lyra's attack with difficulty.
Hiro and Eleanor seized the opportunity to escape, though their hearts were filled with anxiety.
Isolde continued to hold off Lyra's attacks, though it was clear Lyra hadn't shown her seriousness yet. A quick slash from Lyra managed to deflect Isolde's sword, sending her flying backwards.
Isolde's body tumbled a few times on the floor before she managed to plant her sword to stop the momentum. With a gasp, she stood back up, though her body was trembling. "Terrible strength..." she muttered.
Lyra moved quickly, like a shadow that was hard to catch. Before Isolde could react, Lyra was already in front of her.
"What? Since when-"
Isolde frantically cast Zephyr Wall, a wind barrier to protect herself. However, with one simple slash, Lyra destroyed the barrier.
Isolde's eyes widened. "That's impossible!"
Lyra did not give her time to think. She kicked Isolde hard in the stomach, causing her to choke and be thrown backwards into the wall. Dust scattered as Isolde's body lay on the floor.
"I never thought Saint Elizabeth would have a monster like you by her side..." Isolde muttered, trying to stand up despite the pain radiating throughout her body.
With the last of her strength, Isolde cast Radiant Resolve, a buff spell that strengthened her body's strength and defenses. Her sword now emitted a shimmering yellow aura.
"I will not retreat!" Isolde exclaimed. She rushed forward, striking with Blazing Strike, a powerful slash that shot towards Lyra.
However, Lyra calmly dodged, even blocking the attack without difficulty. As Isolde tried to attack again, Lyra activated her Sword Aura, making her sword glow with intimidating energy.
"Sword Aura?!" Isolde was stunned, taking a few steps back. "She can do that?! So all this time..."
Sword Aura was a technique that could only be achieved by those who had practiced for years and reached the level of Sword Master, different from Mana blade. However, Lyra's aura was at a much higher level.
"This level... this is no ordinary aura," Isolde thought fearfully.
Even so, she did not give up. Determined, she attacked Lyra at high speed. However, Lyra moved faster, smashing Isolde's sword with a single slash.
Isolde's eyes widened, but before she could react, her face was smashed by a hard kick from Lyra. Her body was thrown into another room, crashing into the wall with a deafening sound.
Isolde vomited blood, her body lying on the floor. She tried to get up, though the pain almost made her lose consciousness.
"I have to... hold her... until Hiro saves Selene..." Isolde thought, but her body wouldn't cooperate.
Lyra walked over to her, stomping hard on her back. Isolde coughed up blood, the excruciating pain enveloping her body.
With a final kick, Lyra made Isolde lose consciousness. Her body lay on the floor, motionless.
The Throne Room
Hiro ran until he reached the throne room, where Elliz stood elegantly in front of her throne. Around her, royal soldiers had surrounded Hiro and Eleanor.
"Surrender," Elliz said in a cold tone. "Or you'll make this worse. I can't believe you're helping the rebels."
Eleanor immediately defended herself, "I'm not helping them!"
However, Elliz just looked at her calmly. "Eleanor, step aside for a moment. This is going to get dangerous."
When the soldiers approached Eleanor to restrain her, Hiro fought back with his sword and protected Eleanor vigilantly
"Going against the kingdom means you are a rebel." Elliz said with a warning
Hiro shouted, "Where's Selene?!"
Elliz smiled slightly. "Selene? The girl who sneak to my palace last night? She's in prison. That's a fitting punishment for someone who doesn't know her manners."
Hiro's face turned annoyed however, Elliz continued, "Whatever your reason, you are now considered a rebel. Arrest them."
The guards began to attack, Hiro fought back with all his might, but the royal soldiers were too strong. Despite managing to take down a few of them, Hiro was eventually taken into custody. Eleanor, who was also captured, was pulled away from him.
"LET HER GO!" Hiro shouted angrily, but Elliz just looked at him with a cynical smile.
"Ah, Hiroshi Takumi, the hero sent by the Goddess~" Elliz said in a mocking tone, making Hiro surprised, "how does she know?" Hiro thought in confusion
"Look at the hero who will be the next victim~," Elliz added with a chuckle.
Hiro felt his world collapsing. "So... this is why the Goddess ordered me to kill her..." he thought.
Elliz approached and squatted in front of the restrained Hiro. "In the end, you're just the trash that the Goddess sent. You can't even protect what you love."
Those words pierced Hiro's heart. His mind immediately drifted to his harem. Were they all dead?
Hiro's wrath exploded. With the power and blessings of the Goddess, he threw the guards holding him down. Elliz smiled widely, looking impressed. "Great power!"
Hiro attacked with his sword, and Elliz immediately used Arcane Forge to create a mirthil sword coated with Mana Blade, to deflect the attack.
Their battle created a huge energy explosion. Hiro attacked harder, forcing Elliz to use multiple layers of Mana Shield to defend.
However, Hiro chanted Overdrive Slash, increasing his power many times over. His attack broke through Elliz's defense, leaving a scratch on her chest. Elliz vomits blood, but immediately regenerates the wound while continuing to fight.
Elliz continues to provoke Hiro with, "That girl was really noisy while being tortured, you know? She cried while shouting your name and then....~". Hiro immediately grows angry to the point of attacking, giving Elliz an opening to successfully counterattack, but not enough to fatally injure Hiro. Hiro then used Divine Fist, a powerful punch that struck Elliz in the stomach, making her vomit blood violently.
However, Elliz smiled slyly. She activated Divine Sword Aura and slashed at Hiro quickly. Although Hiro managed to partially dodge, the wound on his chest was quite deep.
Breathing heavily, Elliz used Celestial Rend an extremely fast divine slash. Hiro responds with Heavenly Reversal, striking simultaneously creating a huge clash between them.
The impact of the attacks and the sheer pressure made the guards holding Eleanor back off giving Eleanor an opening to escape from them, "I have to stop them..." Eleanor muttered trying to stand up.
As the dust settled, Elliz stood behind Hiro and lay on the floor bleeding. Hiro was also badly injured, bowed down by Elliz's last attack.
Elliz, who was still conscious, tried to stand up with a trembling body. Her sword had been shattered, but she didn't give up.
Hiro, with the last of his strength, approached to end the fight. "This is the end for you," he said coldly.
However, before he could attack, Eleanor stopped him "Stop!" She shouted.
"Eleanor! Get out of the way!" Hiro shouted.
Eleanor cried. "Please, don't kill her. The children and the people love her. Killing her will only bring destruction to them."
Hiro was conflicted. On the one hand, Elliz is an enemy that he must kill. However, he doesn't want to make Eleanor hate him.
"Don't make it worse...Hiro...we are already considered rebels so killing saint Ellizabeth will make it worse..." Eleanor said trying to convince Hiro of its impact
Silently...finally, Hiro lowered his sword and surrendered. The royal guards immediately restrained Hiro, while Eleanor could only cry, until finally she tried to heal Ellizabeth.
Underground prison cell
Hiro sat quietly in the corner of his cell, his eyes staring blankly at the cold, dust-filled floor. The sound of heavy steps approaching made him turn his head. A guard opened the cell door roughly, then threw Isolde's frail body inside. Hiro immediately got up, approaching with a face full of worry.
"Isolde! Are you okay?" he asked, his hands examining the wounds on Isolde's body.
Isolde smiled weakly. "I'm fine, Hiro... thank goodness you're safe."
Before Hiro could answer, the cell door opened again. This time, two more bodies were thrown in, Brigid and Freya.
"Brigid! Freya!" Hiro rushed to check on them, his breathing ragged. "What happened? How did you lose?"
Freya winced, holding back the pain. "That guy... he was too strong. Even Brigid was overwhelmed."
Brigid nodded, her face full of shame. "Sorry, Hiro... I failed."
Hiro took a deep breath, calming himself. "We all fail... I gave up too. Killing Elliz was useless. We're already considered rebels."
Isolde looked down, her mind filled with regret. "But... Selene? Where is she?"
Hiro closed his eyes, his voice trembling. "She... died."
The word is like a sword piercing everyone's heart. Freya clenches her fists, about to explode in anger, but Hiro holds her back.
"Don't, Freya. It won't change anything. We can only grieve."
Brigid couldn't hold back her tears, her sobs filling the small space.
Isolde raised her head, her eyes full of anxiety. "And Eleanor? What happened to her?"
Hiro looked at her with a gloomy expression. "She's with saint Ellizabeth. We were only sentenced to prison thanks to her...nothing more."
Suddenly, the guard's heavy voice broke the silence. "These three women, stand up!"
The cell door opened, and another guard entered, forcing Freya, Brigid, and Isolde to stand.
Freya tried to resist, but Darius' presence left her helpless.
"Why are you taking them? Where are you taking them?" Hiro shouted, his voice full of menace.
Darius gave him a cold look, then sighed. "Relax... it's just prison duty. They'll be back tomorrow."
Hiro was getting confused. "If something happen, I'll kill you!"
Darius just acted coldly and went to close the cell door.
The next day, light steps approached Hiro's cell. Elliz appeared at the door, smiling sarcastically.
"Yo~ don't you miss me?" she asked in a mocking tone.
Hiro snorted in disgust. "What do you want?"
"Oh, just wanted to give you a gift. You must miss your wifes, right?" Elliz snapped her fingers.
From behind the shadows, Eleanor appeared, her eyes blank.
"Eleanor! How are you? Are you okay?" Hiro asked frantically.
Eleanor looked at him emotionlessly. "You... who?"
The words crushed Hiro in confusion.
Elliz laughed, her tone cruel. "Awww~ that must have hurt, huh?"
"What did you do to her?!" Hiro shouted angrily.
Elliz smiled with satisfaction. "Oh, just brainwashed her a little. Now she's mine~ a valuable asset, you know?"
She waved a hand, and four lumps of flesh appeared behind her.
Hiro stepped back, his eyes widening in horror. "What... are these?"
Elliz pointed to them one by one. "Oh, these are Isolde, Freya, Brigid and Selene... they're your wives, right? Unfortunately, their forms are now slightly... altered."
The blob spoke in a hoarse voice. "Hiro... it hurts..."
Hiro was speechless. His tears flowed endlessly.
Elliz approached, looking at him coldly. "Men aren't supposed to cry. They'll be sad if you hate them~ Come on...hug your lovely wifes"
Hiro sank into emptiness...the harem that had been with him, loved him and even everything...was gone.
In a sudden rage a sudden burst of energy explodes from Hiro's body, shattering the cell wall. With his full strength, he floated in the air, but the attack also destroyed his wives.
Eleanor is still holding on despite her wounds trying to heal Elliz who is also full of wounds and standing sarcastically.
Hiro immediately saw that the explosion killed civilians around, there was even a child who was hit by the debris, Hiro in his mind felt like he didn't know what to do...he had just killed a child and innocent citizens, "n-no..."
Elliz with her loud laughter, "hahahaha! The prison was built right under the civilians, how does it feel to kill innocent people?! Enjoy your new status from hero to monster!" Elliz said with a sarcastic tone.
The sounds of panicked civilians and shouts of "Monster!" echoed in his ears.
Hiro fell to his knees, anger and sadness mixed within him. "What have I done..."
Soldiers and adventurers surrounded him, including Kael, his old friend.
Hiro tried to approach Kael but Kael threatened not to come any closer, Kael's expression was wary and angry not expecting this either, "Stay away, monster!" Kael shouted, his eyes full of hatred.
Hiro could only stare at them, no longer having the strength to fight back. The rifle wielding guards began to fire followed by attacks from the church troops, it continued to attack him giving him pain even though he had defended as much as possible, until Elliz used the Restraint Chain to restrain Hiro followed by other wizard who began to restrain him.
Amidst the darkness, only one thought filled his mind, "I failed... all is lost..."
The day of the execution
Hiro was pulled out of his cell by magic handcuffs that emitted a dim light. His steps were heavy, his body weak, and his eyes bereft of hope. The road to the execution stage was filled with a crowd of hateful citizens.
"Monster!"
"Because of you, my son is dead!"
"Go to hell!"
Stones and mud were thrown at him, injuring his head and body. Blood ran down his temples, but Hiro didn't react. His gaze is blank, just staring at the ground below him.
On the stage, Elliz stood majestically, her voice booming with authority and cynicism.
"Today, we will execute the adventurer Hiroshi Takumi, the Dragon Slayer!" she exclaimed. "He who was once called the greatest adventurer is now a monster who rampages through the kingdom, killing civilians and escaping from prison. Are his actions forgivable?"
The cheers of the citizens filled the air, interspersed with shouts of agreement from the adventurers, including Kael who was now looking at Hiro with deep disappointment.
Hiro looked down at the center of the stage, his head bowed. A small whisper escaped his lips, almost inaudible.
"Is this really my destiny..."
Elliz approached, a sardonic smile gracing her face. "Goodbye, hero~" she said, and began to activate her Devine Sword Aura.
Raising her sword high, In one swing, beheaded Hiro. His body fell lifelessly, and his head slammed into the ground. At the same time, Elliz absorbed his essence silently, a satisfied smile drawn on her face.
The cheers of the citizens echoed, celebrating the death of the monster. Hiro, the hero, was now a forgotten history.
Goddess Amalthea's Realm
In a grand room filled with golden light, luxurious vases fell and broke into pieces. Goddess Amalthea stood in the center, her face flushed with rage.
"Elliz, you bastard!" she shouted, her hands clenched into tight fists that shook. "How dare she! Even Hiro, no matter how useless he was, deserved to die like that!"
With quick steps, Amalthea approached the magic altar and stared at the mortal world below.
"The game is not over yet, Ellizabeth," she muttered in a hateful tone. "I'll give it my all... and I'll make sure you pay for this!"
Amalthea's gaze turned cold, determined. In the corner of the room, faint shadows began to form, preparing for a new plan that would change everything.
To be continued...