The World After Leaving the Hero’s Party

You are always a hero.

Standing next to your blinding brilliance, I felt small and insignificant.

That’s why I wanted to drag you down.

I wanted to criticize, insult, and torment you—just to bring you down to my level.

But you never changed.

No amount of scorn, abuse, or blame could dim your light.

And that made it all the more unbearable.

The Sage always showed the right path and pointed the way to becoming a hero.

And that made me feel even more miserable.

I cursed you.

The more I felt grateful to you, the smaller and more insignificant I felt, and so I rejected you.

And then, in the end, you left.

I was glad.

Because the light was gone.

I was glad.

Because I no longer had to feel small.

I was glad.

Because with your enormous presence gone, I thought I could finally be a hero myself.

And then, I lost.

I lost the only lighthouse that showed me the right path in the darkness.

It was only after you disappeared that I realized.

What had I done?

It was only after your light vanished that I understood.

You too were in the darkness.

You too must have been struggling.

And yet, as a beacon of light, you led us—no, you led me.

I destroyed it.

I lost it.

I broke it.

I was the one who drove you, the great light, away.

I didn’t know.

I no longer had you to look to when I didn’t know what to do.

You were gone, and I was lost.

Not knowing what to do, not knowing what to achieve,

I was left to wander endlessly in the dark.

I searched for you.

The one I destroyed, the one I lost, the one I broke.

And even now, you still shone beautifully, saving others—but never returning to me.

Ah.

I’m scared.

Because your light is gone.

I’m tormented.

Because your warmth is gone.

I’m sad.

Because your pillar of support is gone.

And…

I loathe and despise myself, the one who drove you away.

But it’s too late now.

I’ve even lost the chance to apologize.

In the emptiness left behind, only one thing remains.

The words you said on the day you left.

“I wish you luck in fighting the monsters.”

That was all.

Only one thing remains.

To kill the monsters.

To follow the path you wished for, I kill and kill and kill again.

That’s why I stayed on the battlefield.

Fighting at the most dangerous front lines, staying behind until the very end.

Like you once did, I saved people and slew monsters.

And yet, I came to realize that I still couldn’t reach you.

You were so extraordinary. And I… I was still only this much.

But that realization no longer made me despair.

Because I had come to accept it. I had come to acknowledge the greatness that is you.

So. So…

“Sniff… Sob… Hic… Sob…”

Please.

Just once.

Even if it’s only once…

Listen to my story.

Please… Please…

—

“Excuse me, Sage. Are you okay?”

“Hm? I’m fine. Why? Does it taste strange?”

“N-no, that’s not it.”

As I busied myself with some simple cooking in the mess tent, the cook’s remark made me nod in understanding.

From outside, the sound of sobbing grew louder, but there was no reason for me to pay it any attention.

“Alright, if there’s more to chop, hand it over.”

“Uh, no, there’s nothing left. But… rather than that…”

“Then I guess it’s time to cook the rice.”

Cooking for an entire military camp required massive portions, and properly preparing such large meals yielded plenty of achievement points.

Ignoring Leventia’s sobs and cries of regret outside, I stirred the soup.

—

“Sage?”

While I was cooking enough soup to feed hundreds, General Leoden’s werewolf lieutenant appeared. She hesitated, glancing toward the sounds coming from outside the tent, and cautiously spoke.

“Lady Leventia… is it alright to leave her like that?”

“It’s not, so could you deal with her, please?”

“Uh… oh. Right.”

“I mean, who wants to eat with that kind of noise in the background?”

The other cooks in the tent were visibly uncomfortable.

With a resigned sigh, the lieutenant stepped outside, and the sobbing finally began to subside.

—

“Sage, why is Lady Leventia like that?”

“Not your concern. Pass me those carrots.”

I threw the chopped carrots into a large pot and boiled them using fire magic. Watching the simmering soup alongside the other prepared dishes, I felt quite pleased.

Opportunities to accumulate points by cooking such massive meals didn’t come often—should I make a habit of visiting the battlefield?

Anyway, the cooking was done, and the cooks carried out the food I’d prepared.

The soldiers, who had been eagerly waiting for mealtime, perked up at the sight.

“Rrrgh…”

“That delicious smell from earlier…”

“Ah… today’s going to be amazing…”

As the soldiers began lining up with their trays, one figure emerged from the crowd.

“Hyun Woo.”

Amid the soldiers and knights stood Claire, hesitating as she spoke.

“Um…”

“Hey.”

I pointed a ladle at her.

“Get in line.”

Where do you think you’re cutting in?

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