What I've learned from my experiences is that everyone's value is not the same. Our values basically come from two conditions: origin is the first condition, and talent is the second. For someone like me, a commoner with no parents—meaning the first condition is a bit lacking—you have to compensate with the second condition, talent.

I, Leoyarus Childhearth, a mere orphan of the Yormus Kingdom, became a renowned swordsman throughout the Thersyat continent, all thanks to my talent. I didn't choose the path of the sword; it kind of followed me, like destiny. I was chosen as the only sword of the hero, recognizing my value. Unlike effort, my achievements are the most correct for a man, rather than forcibly changing fate.

Well, even if a wealthy noble excels in swordsmanship, their achievements are diminished due to the dignity of the first condition. That's why I'm a genius. To surpass me, one must either have more talent or a more humble origin. However, the latter possibility is completely unthinkable because such a category fits only slaves. Yet, even the most talented slave can compete with a careless noble.

Yes, I can modestly say that I am the greatest genius in Thersyat. It's not surprising that my companions and I are celebrated as heroes throughout the continent. My team consisted of four people chosen for their value: Shana, Guts, Alice, and Elkan.

Shana, despite being a commoner, had mastered the extremely rare sixth angelic circle in the magical world. As her divine power was deemed miraculous, nobles began calling her the "Holy Maiden." If I hadn't mastered the third circle, I could have considered her an equal.

Guts, the third prince of the Royal Rayford House in the Yormus Kingdom, preferred battle amid his brothers' struggle for the throne. However, he seemed disinterested in power. Nevertheless, I believe his talent was held back by misguided determination. Hence, he has never won a duel against me.

Alice, a member of the Mures family, was an extraordinary strategist and a master of spear techniques. We crossed paths on the battlefield of the royal army. Her merciless attitude left a strong impression on me. Unfortunately, due to the narrow-mindedness inherent in her noble upbringing, our ambitions never intersected.

Her brother, Elkan, was the last member of our group. A promising young engineer, he specialized in the study of anomalies. While his talent lay in knowledge, he sometimes behaved foolishly outside the realm of science. Lacking combat skills, he contributed by creating several gadgets for our benefit.

Despite all their flaws, I consider them good companions.

"Together, my comrades!"

This was the typical hero's line I shouted loudly to inspire courage. After all, in this story, it's only natural for me to be the protagonist.

This time, there was a significant gamble. We had arrived in front of the castle of the Dark Lord Drokadan, the enemy of humanity. He was the most powerful and feared demon, and calling him the Demon Lord meant, much like in chess, that if the king falls, the game is over. Drokadan was feared for his unique ability to control the dead as combat slaves. As time passed, he had built an undead army, and the war had been raging for eight years, weakening both humans and demons.

Our group was already recognized as the greatest heroes in the Yormus Kingdom. Yet, in the grand conclusion of this chaotic era, we would undoubtedly be engraved in legend as the saviors of humanity. However, for me, this is just the beginning of my career, and there is still a lot I must accomplish. Why not become the king of my own country?

Shana, with a worried expression, tightly gripped her scepter.

"Are we certain that the Demon Lord has weakened compared to before?"

Elkan, genuinely concerned for Shana, spoke to reassure her.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you."

Alice, for no apparent reason, harshly slapped Elkan on the head.

"You're just a pervert. Shana doesn't suit you at all!"

Guts finally responded to Shana.

"According to reliable information, the Demon Lord is isolated with only a small remaining army."

Reading the atmosphere, I realized that my comrades might not be as brave as I am. It was a moment for me to say a reassuring line to comfort everyone.

"Calm down. Today is a different day from any other. Our team has been outstanding. We will undoubtedly break the evil that has been corroding Thersyat for a long time. We cannot fail, and we will not fail. It involves the peace and balance of the world."

My words resonated heavily in their hearts, and I could tell that everyone had a perfect resolve to face the danger. With proud strides, we embarked on the journey.

Upon entering the dark mansion, it became apparent that the place was not well-maintained. Spiderwebs adorned every corner of the walls, and the red carpet was worn out in places. Growls of wild animals echoed from the dimness. They were large, blood-stained white tigers.

"These are Bloodsucking Tigers, higher-level monsters. Their large fangs have the ability to spread a deadly poison that kills prey within hours," Elkan explained.

Whenever monsters appeared, Elkan had a habit of hastily showcasing his knowledge, even if it was already known information. In the hall of the dilapidated mansion, six Bloodsucking Tigers surrounded us. Typically, encountering this many of them at once, especially the alphas of their nest, was impossible. However, it didn't shake me.

"The problem is, there are too many tigers, and the numbers are against us," I pointed out.

"There are tigers upstairs too!" Aline shouted, seeing four more Bloodsucking Tigers on the staircase.

"Perfect, with 10 of them, we can each take two," I said.

"The problem won't be solved that easily..." Guts remarked.

I responded matter-of-factly, "We're a team; we need to divide the work fairly!"

"Two tigers! It's impossible for one person," Shana panicked.

"Don't worry, little one. I'll protect you," Elkan confidently patted his chest and said.

Then, Elkan, in his own clumsy choreography, tripped over his own feet and crashed to the ground. His clumsiness was nothing new, but it was still pitiful. At that moment, a tiger approached Elkan in danger, ready to bite anyone. Shana let out a long sigh and began chanting sacred words. Golden runes appeared in the air around her, and then a halo of light, fitting her nickname as the Saint, spread above her head. The fiery circle transformed into arrows of light, shooting towards the tiger in an instant. The monster was pierced and died in an instant.

In the Thersyat Continent, everyone could access divine power, but most people didn't cultivate it. However, all our members were quite adept at using that divine power. Shana's light magic was incredibly powerful, surpassing us by far. In general, there were five major types of magic—water, storm, fire, wood, and the strongest, light—each associated with nature. Our group had members with different attributes, giving us a significant technical advantage in battles. However, as a skilled swordsman, I didn't use the power of storm magic much.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Once again, Guts demonstrated his amateurishness with a sword and shouted, "Divine power is the best against these monsters!"

"Hey, you damn tigers, come at us if you can!" Alice added.

Four tigers jumped through the railing holes, joining the other five. We immediately entered combat stance. I unsheathed my legendary sword, "Walorem" the "Hero's Sword" chosen only for me, pointing it towards the demonic creatures, emitting a faint purple glow. From that point on, the victory was already assured.

After repelling the Bloodsucking Tigers, our small team cautiously ascended the stairs. Of course, I led the way. At first glance, the second floor seemed empty, and silence enveloped the entire atmosphere. A wide corridor extended in both directions.

The instinct that had never betrayed me told me to go right. I pointed in that direction to indicate the path to the other members, and everyone followed. We had a predetermined order of passage; I led, followed by Alice, Elkan, Shana, and Guts at the rear. The corridor was unusually clean compared to the rooms on the first floor, and in some places, the wallpaper on the walls shimmered.

We passed several sleeping skeleton guards. Once, these monsters were human like us. Skeletons are enemies classified with intermediate intelligence, and their difficulty depends largely on the talent they possessed during their lifetime. The only way to defeat them is to use a kind of blue flame, their "soul," that comes out of their bodies. If you don't manage that in time, the skeletons will infinitely resurrect. In the distance, a door resembling a boss room was visible. It was slightly ajar, seemingly inviting us in. A sense of solitude akin to gas emanated from within.

"Undoubtedly the Demon Lord's chamber," Guts confirmed.

"Let's end the suffering of these skeleton slaves before they awaken, and then enter through the door," I muttered.

I winked at Guts, and he understood immediately.

"I'll take care of it."

His hefty sword, capable of shattering rocks, effortlessly cleaved through the sturdy bones. Guts approached the group of skeletons slowly. At that moment, the monsters suddenly woke up, as if they had been acting all along. In that instant, Shana screamed; a massive bloodstain had spread across her abdomen. We were astonished to realize that another set of skeletons had taken advantage of the common distraction and viciously attacked our comrades from behind. Guts, Alice, and I reflexively stepped back. However, Elkan, burning with anger, desperately shot at the creatures with his revolver and was heading towards Shana.

"Accursed descendants of hell, I shall allow your existence no longer!" he shouted in despair.

Before him, the skeletal soldiers rattled their teeth in laughter, wielding their spears wildly. Beside me, the monsters barbarically assaulted, seeking to thwart my movements. Without Shana's divine power, it would have been impossible to slay the slaves of Drokadan.

Alice, furious with the third prince, confronted him, "Why didn't you watch our backs as usual?"

"I really didn't understand what was happening," Guts defended himself.

"It's not just his fault, Alice," I said to ease the tension. Besides, it was me who ordered him to move.

"Argh! How irritating these creatures are! Salzabelfon!" the warrior chanted a spell.

With those sacred words, Aline's long halberd was enveloped in white flames. With perfectly controlled movements, she pushed back the skeletons and freed herself from the tide of monsters. By my side, I too could cleave the skeletons' heads with blades born of the wind's power. Once the skeletons were swept away, it was time for me to regain control of the situation and wield it firmly.

"Alice, go to Guts' side. I'll take care of your brother," I ordered without hesitation.

Though Irine had only caught half of what I said, she complied with my command. "I'll take them down! Salzabrafon!"

With that, I ran back to where my endangered companions were. Elkan was a frail but clever man. Yet, it was almost strange how he had completely lost his rationality for the sake of his friendship with Shana. He weaved through the skeletons, embracing Shana's lifeless body against his chest, trying to protect it as much as he could.

"I'll save you, I'll save you," he repeated relentlessly.

"Elkan, snap out of it. Shana is already dead," I tried to reason with him. "We need to conserve energy to defeat the Dark Lord. You have to do it for her!"

However, Elkan didn't respond at all. His eyes seemed devoid of meaning, empty. This pseudo-scientist sometimes proved to be a hindrance to the team. If it weren't for his sister... Just then, from the depths of the corridor, a wave of skeletons surged with astonishing speed, emitting piercing screams. I quickly grabbed Elkan's hand and pulled him towards the wide-open door. I decided I would catch up with Irine and Guts after they dealt with the skeletons, separating them from their enemies. But the monsters were too fast, closing in dangerously.

"We don't have time. I'll hold them off. You three go and close the door behind," Guts said.

It meant Guts was sacrificing himself for us, a noble yet insane act for a prince, but given the dire circumstances, we reluctantly agreed. The door slammed shut with a heavy sound automatically. We arrived in a room with a giant throne lifted high by a large staircase in the center. On top of that throne, a humanoid figure with large horns was visible.

"If you know why you've come here, then it must be seeking death," a voice echoed from the throne. "I am Archdemon, Drokadan Fi Deltaroth."

We were facing the very Dark Lord himself. With two members of our group already lost, the situation was dire. The demon seated before us was the epitome of a bloodthirsty monster. With sharp fangs and a long, furry tail, the demon was unmistakable. Though Drokadan appeared remarkably young, it was a deception common among demons, who often outlived humans. He had long hair darker than the abyss and crimson eyes, wearing a helm adorned with bull horns. Archdemon rose ominously, clapping his hands in tune with the portents.

Drokadan pointed at Elkan, revealing his terrifying black claws. At the tips of his fingers, a glowing purple mass formed, taking on a spherical shape. The swirling orb of light shot towards Elkan at breakneck speed. Lost in his own thoughts, he remained unaware. In that moment, Alice leaped to intercept the attack, attempting to shield her brother once more. However, the orb of light pierced through her spear and into her body. Elkan's sister stared at us with a bewildered expression, her body trembling uncontrollably. It was undoubtedly a bad omen.

"Feels strangely hot... " Alice said, drenched in sweat.

A sinister grin spread across her face, and in the next instant, her body exploded into a fountain of blood. Her voice still echoed in my head, but her existence had turned into a large red pool. What horror! What savagery! This monster was truly demonic.

"I wasn't aiming for her, but rest assured, all of you will die," Drokadan said.

My senses tingled, detecting a new attack being prepared, and I warned Elkan. "He's preparing something. Stay close, Elkan."

However, as I reached for Elkan's hand, he leaped away in terror. Archdemon Drokadan snapped his fingers, and the air in the room filled with pink mist. The mist was so thick that visibility was reduced to barely a meter, leaving only shadows. It was unbearable, and the mist smelled like stale gas. As I searched for Elkan, still lost in the fog, a silhouette appeared before me. It was tall with pointed protrusions on its head. Undoubtedly, it was the helm of the Dark Lord.

I seized the opportunity and swung my sword, aiming to decapitate him. However, what fell to the ground wasn't Drokadan's head but Elkan's. His face still bore a mild expression of unease. The headless body collapsed into a wave of blood, staining my pristine armor with a few drops of red fluid. Then, in the next moment, the smoke and the smell completely vanished.

"Haha, fooled by mere illusions, what an amateur human," Drokadan mocked behind me.

It was all over. Even with my genius, I couldn't face Archdemon alone. Before I could react, the demon teleported in front of me, grabbing me by the collar. As a result, I was lifted off the ground by his towering two-meter stature.

"Why don't you kill me?" I asked.

Drokadan chuckled. "Hold on, let's. But I wanted you to understand first. This wasn't my doing. It was your fate."

The sensation of demonic power invading my body felt like being consumed from within by fire. Red veins covered my skin, blood streaming from my eyes. Wracked by violent spasms, I couldn't stop salivating. How pathetic it was for someone like me to meet such a miserable end. The world around me gradually turned gray, eventually enveloped in a massive fog.

"Goodbye, weak human. It's a shame you didn't succumb to despair. In your next life, try to love others more," were the Dark Lord's final words to me. Until the end, he never saw me as a worthy opponent.

Finally, I saw a light. Peace and tranquility. The gentle scent of incense washed away the fear in my heart. A beautiful goddess awaited at the end of the path. With her warm, comforting hands, she embraced me gently. She whispered words of incomprehensible meaning to me and covered me in a golden robe in the calm waters. Like a fruit hiding its core.

In the end, even if the world was ravaged by demons, it was no longer my responsibility. And my death was certainly just a part of destiny. I only hoped that a statue of me would be erected in the heart of the capital.

...

Opening my eyes, I was greeted by an unfamiliar albescent ceiling. I wasn't dead. My body felt numb, barely able to move. Rolling onto my back, I shook my head from side to side to assess the situation. I found myself surrounded by a large red wooden fence. Beyond the fence, I could see a child's room filled with toys. I was in an unfamiliar place.

A young woman, resembling a maid, slept on a chair in front of the entrance door. Her black tail trailed on the ground. She was a demon! I tried to understand why this monster was keeping me alive, but something even more intriguing caught my attention. My hands were small and chubby! I had transformed into a baby. What kind of magic was this? I was utterly bewildered.

There was an unpleasant smell, reminiscent of someone who couldn't wait to use the toilet. The demon suddenly stood up from the chair and leaned over me with a silly expression.

"Lord Oskar, it's time for a diaper change."

Huh?!!