Eight years have passed since then. This forest hasn’t changed at all. The towering trees that cover the sky and the atmosphere that vaguely conveys a sense of unease. Nothing has changed. Although the Demon King was defeated, there are still many monsters, and the road through the forest, which is deserted, is in disrepair. I searched for the place where I left Ares’ body, relying on faint memories, but I couldn’t find it. Even if I remembered the exact location, there would be nothing left, as I didn’t have the strength or energy to bury the body and just covered it with a cloak. “What are you doing, Ares? This is no time to dawdle here. We need to hurry back to the capital and report our victory over the Demon King. There are still many remnants, and our strength is needed more than ever.” Leon called out to me as I strayed from the road and entered the forest. He is in a hurry to get back. As the next head of the earldom, he has accomplished great things and wants to report to the royal palace with pride. It’s only natural. Maria and Solon are also promised positions once they return. “Leon, Maria, Solon. This is where we part ways. Please tell everyone that the hero Ares has died.” My words caused the three of them to widen their eyes in shock. “What foolishness are you spouting, Ares? We have finally defeated the Demon King, haven’t we? Let’s return together! If you do, you can marry the princess and become the king! If you become the king, I would be willing to serve you!” After pausing for a moment, Leon continued, “Are you worried about becoming the king? Even if you are a hero, some of the nobles may oppose a commoner becoming the king. But if that happens, I’ll be there to support you!”
“The Earl’s family will support us with all their might. No one will be allowed to complain,” said Leon, who used to insult me by calling me a commoner and saying things like “I’m going to be the next king as a hero!” when we first met. Compared to back then, he has changed a lot. No, his core hasn’t changed. Leon has always been a noble and chivalrous knight who thinks only of the country and has no personal greed. “That’s right, Ares. Becoming king is also a trial as a hero. It’s not like you to give up here, you know?” Maria smiled kindly. “I will take control of the church, so let’s seize power together” … The content of what she said was not gentle. “Ares, why? Tell us the reason,” Solon asked calmly. “I’m sorry, but I’m not Ares. I wasn’t really a hero,” I finally said what I had wanted to say for a long time. “What are you talking about? If you’re not Ares, then who are you?” Leon looked suspicious. “I’m Zack, my real name is Zack. I’m sorry for deceiving you all this time,” I bowed my head to the three of them. “Zack? Why did you fake your name?”
Solon continues to question, “Why did you pretend to be Ares?” From there, I began to talk about the past. A prophet appeared in my hometown and I left as Ares’s companion, but halfway on the journey, we were attacked by a demon and Ares was injured. I had to deal the final blow. Then I traveled alone to the capital and enrolled in the academy… “He defeated a demon at 14!? I can’t believe there was such a man…” Leon marvelled at Ares’s bravery. Yes, Ares was amazing. He did all of that at just 14 years old. If he had lived, he could have defeated the Demon King much earlier. “I understand Ares’s story. But why did you need to deceive others by using his name?” Solon leaned against a nearby tree. Perhaps he thought it would be a long story. “It’s because I killed the hero. That’s why I had to take on the responsibility of being the hero. It was my duty.” I had come this far to take responsibility for killing the hero. “Ares died because of the demon. It’s not your fault,” Maria said. “…No, Ares died because of me. I still feel the sensation of piercing him with my sword. And I didn’t defeat the Demon King as Zach, I did it as Ares. If I had remained as Zach, there’s no way I could have done it.” “But Ares is already dead, isn’t he?” Solon crossed his arms and tapped his arm with his finger. He must have been frustrated. “Ares’s mother…Shera, who raised me, is a very kind person. I can’t tell her that ‘Ares died because he couldn’t become a hero.’ The truth is, she didn’t want Ares to become a hero,” I explained. “So you want to take all the credit for Ares’s achievements and leave?” Solon’s words were laced with anger. “The achievements were supposed to belong to Ares in the first place.”
“Are you an idiot?!” Finally, Solon began to raise his voice. He was originally short-tempered and had a sharp tongue. “You are the hero! Ares fell on the way! That’s the truth! And I know the words of the prophet. ‘The hero who will save the world will appear from this village.’ It doesn’t necessarily mean Ares. You were the hero from the beginning!” As a sage, Solon’s points were correct. I knew that too. “I’m just an ordinary person who couldn’t use a sword or magic. I’m not fit to be a hero. And to me, the hero is Ares.” I had only been following in Ares’ shadow all this time. “Ah, you’re just an ordinary person! You were the person with the least talent in the academy! And you defeated the demon king! We know how much training you went through and how much you paid for it! We worked day and night, with no rest, even if we couldn’t get enough results, we kept moving forward. Maybe you didn’t have the qualifications to be a hero. But you saved the world! I won’t recognize anyone else as the hero but you!” Solon said, hiding his face with his hood. His tone was strong, but his voice was filled with emotion. “Thank you, Solon. Just by hearing you say that, I’m already satisfied.” My efforts that I thought would never be rewarded had finally borne fruit, and I had three friends who recognized that. That was enough. “Are you really leaving, Ares… no, Zack?” Maria had a genuine expression on her face, not the usual saintly facade. She was sincerely worried about me.
“Don’t go, Zack. I’m the one stopping you. Refusing my wish is blasphemy against God, you know?”
“Thank you, Maria.” Maria’s face, which she rarely shows, is undoubtedly the most beautiful in this world.
“If you say that, it makes me hesitate. But I have to go. If I keep moving forward, I might meet someone, and then they’ll find out that I’m still alive. That’s the one thing I want to avoid. I was planning on leaving a little earlier, but I wanted to continue traveling with you guys for as long as possible.”
It was a difficult and harsh journey, but the days I spent with my companions were good memories for me.
“Where are you going?” Leon asked.
“First, I’ll return to the village and report that Ares defeated the Demon King and return this sword to Ares’ parents. Then I’ll leave this country and go on a journey.”
I intended to meet Shera-san one last time before leaving this country. If I stayed in this country, the thing I wanted to hide might eventually be revealed.
“His Majesty the King is not yet of an age where he needs to hurry and decide on the next king. Come back anytime. I’ll be happy to welcome you.”
“Thank you, Leon. I think you’d make a splendid king.”
“Of course.” Leon laughed. “There’s no one more suited to be king than me. But I’m not so debased as to accept credit that should go to you.”
He was truly a noble man. It’s a shame he doesn’t want to become king.
“Well, I’m going then.” I turned my back to my companions.
“Wait.” Solon called out. “What are we to you, or rather, what am I to you?”
“Well…” He hesitated for a moment. “We’re best friends, aren’t we?” They had been through thick and thin together since their days at the academy. There was no other fitting way to describe their relationship.
“I see. You’re still as shameless as ever to call a genius like me your best friend. But maybe we could have become just regular friends,” Solon chuckled.
“Congratulations, Solon. You never had any friends since you were a child, did you?” Maria teased, but Solon gave her a stern look and retorted, “If you ever go missing, I’ll always find you and bring you back. That’s what friends are for.”
