The Hero looked down at his armor in stunned silence. There was a dull, filthy stone, and the area around it was burnt.
‘…Take off the armor.’
With the cold command in his ears, he sheathed the blade and thrust one hand under the arm.
“He-hey, what, are you doing!?”
His nail hit the clasp, and with divine power, he tore it right off.
“AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!”
As the armor was torn away, the Hero screamed. And his body was exposed underneath.
Clothes made of material Sheto had never seen before. And a weak body. Well, it was only weak compared to the knight. He actually seemed to have some muscle.
However, there was nothing there to suggest that he could wield such godly strength. His thin chest was heaving up and down. There was nothing divine or heroic to look at.
“Sto-stop!”
“You…like a river crab.”
That was all he could say.
Large pincers and a hard shell. The king of the river. He recalled the old story. The crab ruled over the fish and the frogs, and was so proud that he climbed to the top of a mountain. But then he was taken by an eagle and devoured.
His mother had told him that old story.
“Who are you calling a crab! I’m a Hero!”
He shouted desperately. He sweated and cried.
“In…in the first place… This doesn’t make any sense…!”
He shouted, though it looked painful to breathe.
“What-what kind of game is this! Why…why…would I…a Hero! Lose…to the likes of a kobold…!”
“A game…”
“Yes! Ev-even if I lose, it should be to something else! Not you! Like the Demon King! …It can’t end like this… It doesn’t make sense!”
“Make sense…”
“Exactly! This isn’t fun! This game is shit! I quit!!”
Sheto raised his fist—and swung down.
“EEGYAAAH!?”
“Fun?”
“Agh, gah! Argh!”
“Really? Was it fun, when you killed, my family?”
He swung down again.
“Killed my friends. Was that, fun!”
“Arghh! Stop!”
“A game, to you! My loved ones, lives, a game!”
Down.
Down.
Down.
“Arghhh! Crap…argh… Shit…”
“You! You! You! Took! Everything! Dear! From! Me!”
His fists were bleeding. The Hero’s teeth shattered.
Still, he swung down, down, down.
“You want to quit! This is ridiculous! Unfair!”
The pale face grew red, blue, and black. The kobold shouted at it while swinging.
“I, who you took everything from! Am the least satisfieeeeeddddd!”
He felt the nose break wetly under his fist.
Still, the Hero was breathing.
‘That’s enough, Sheto.’
“Do not stop me!”
‘…What are you doing, Ganari?’
The goddess’s words drew back his maddening heart.
The kobold lowered his hand and moved away from the Hero’s chest, who he had been sitting on.
‘Are we not still on the hunt? A hunter should not be hurting its prey out of anger.’
“Ah…”
‘Can you not see? He is a child. Manipulated by sweet words, fooled by feelings of importance. He is no Hero… Just a human child.’
“…Sorry.”
Just as quickly as it had started to boil, his heart began to cool. And then his hand stretched towards the hatchet at his belt.
“I’ll end it. Is that fine?”
‘Aye.’
And so the blade was pressed against the prey’s neck.
“Stop this! Salia!”
Everything seemed like a nightmare. He could not believe it.
His protection had been broken. The Hero was covered in blood and screaming. And now…he was about to be killed by the weakest monster in the world.
“This cannot be happening! That is a Hero! If he must die, it must be with honor! Not this! Not this ugly sight!”
He would not accept it. It could not be permitted.
“In which world do such stories exist! God’s chosen warrior! Killed by a hideous monster’s tricks! It cannot happen!”
“…My brother, the beautiful and proud blade, Zephalis.”
Salia said, looking straight at him.
“This is a battle. Stories end while there is still happiness. However, this is a real battle.”
“Sa-Saliashe…”
“The Hero dies, the monster wins.”
Beyond the glass, Sheto raised his hatchet high into the air.
“And that is how this battle ends.”
“STOOOOOOOPPPP!!”
The blade swung down, drawing a pale arc through the air.
Like a crescent moon, it slashed through the Hero’s throat.
Blood sprayed like mist.
For a second, he could not see the wet kobold.
His vision was distorted, but he felt an off sensation on his neck. Not pain. It was strange how he felt more when it was his face.
Something warm was coming down over his body, spreading slowly.
Every time his lungs moved, he could hear something bubbling.
Ah, so this was death.
It was not as if he had not been warned of the possibility. Still, that god had guaranteed him protection.
However, that god had not proved to be trustworthy. Now that he thought about it, what happened to Heroes who lost a duel?
His head had hurt due to hunger and the blows, but he felt better now. His vision was almost completely gone now.
Speaking of which, his very first quest had been to crush a kobold village. They had not really done anything wrong. But monsters were vermin. He was only obeying the words of the villagers and the order of the god.
Still, he had his doubts. Because they died without even resisting.
Also…that last kobold he killed. He looked a lot like this one.
Perhaps he held a grudge. Was he happy now? Or was he sad?
Suddenly, Koji turned his head towards the monster.
“Ah…”
Indeed, the monster was looking at him.
But he could not read the emotion in his eyes.
There was no hatred or anger. But no sadness or happiness either.
He was just looking at Koji’s neck, silently.
“A…hunt…huh.”
He had kept saying that. He would hunt the Hero.
So he must be waiting. For Koji to die.
As the blood poured, the life running out. The light in the eyes fading. He would watch and wait for the prey to die.
His mistake. It had likely been the attack on his village.
Now that the pain had faded, he was starting to feel hungry again. Ridiculously so.
As his world grew dark, Koji muttered something in an almost relieved voice.
“…I want to eat…pork belly ramen…”
Those were the last words of the Hero.
He slumped heavily on his throne. In the mirror, a final bubble of blood came out of the Hero’s mouth, and then he stopped moving.
“…Yesta.”
The goddess of judgment did not answer. She looked at the clock and nodded.
“The outcome has been decided.”
“Yesta.”
“The victor of this duel is…”
“YESTAAAAAAA!!”
He shouted, but there was no strength in his body. The goddess smiled at him.
“Bring the Hero back to life right now! I don’t care if I have to sacrifice every single one of my believers in every world!”
“I cannot do that.”
“I am not asking for an answer. I am giving you an order! Me!”
“I cannot.”
Still smiling.
“The victor is Saliashe’s subordinate, Sheto the kobold.”
His world grew dark. Everything had been planned. This was a farce to knock him down. He could not allow it.
“Sa-Salia! Salia! Please! Say something too!”
“And what should I say?”
She was also smiling.
“Was this not part of the entertainment? For the ceremony! How could you do something to your betrothed!”
“Indeed.”
She was still smiling.
“But did you not make a declaration, when agreeing to this duel? That we would only be bound if you should win. And it not, then it would be treated as any other duel.”
“Ah! Ah… AHHHHHHHHH!”
This was invalid. It was a trap. He had to get out of here and explain it.
He thought this. However…
“What is this!”
“You should already know. When a god is defeated in a duel, they will become a decorative statue of defeat. Until the end of the games.”
His feet were turning into black stone. The transformation crawled up his legs and reached his waist.
“Ah! Ahh! Ahh! Salia! Salia! SALIAAAA!”
“Yes.”
“Pl-please! You can’t humiliate me in this way! Make a plea! Have this removed! If I turn into stone after losing to that kind of monster, I will never be rid of the shaaaaameee!”
“Certainly.”
Suddenly, he felt as if a mountain had been lifted from his shoulders. Zephalis whispered sweetly.
“I-I see. Then all will be good!”
“However, I also have a request.”
“What! I’ll do anything! But hurry!”
It was up to his chest now. Salia ignored it while whispering into his ear.
“Tell me the names of the gods who tarnished my world.”
“Wh-what…?”
“A certain someone told me, that there was a god who broke my world’s barrier, and invited in the demon army, while keeping the world eaters a secret.”
Salia said said. He gulped.
Her eyes were not smiling.
“I created that barrier with great care. And only a few knew of the secret method… And you were aware of it.”
“Ah…hah…ah…”
“My world was the land where the first game was held. And there are several gods who gained immense power from it. For instance…you.”
Her entire face was not smiling now. The petrification crawled up to his throat.
“If you would tell me the names of all the gods, then perhaps I could release you from this prison.”
“Wh-what will you do, if I tell you.”
“Massacre.”
“Eee…”
As if moving by her will, the stone skin went up to his jaw.
“Brother.”
“Uu…”
“Answer.”
“…For-”
Stretching his neck as much as he could, Zephalis screamed.
“FORGIVE ME! SALIASHHHHHEEEE!!”
Finally, the hall was silent.
Without even looking at the goddess of judgment, Salia called to the figure who stood beyond the mirror.
“It’s over, Sheto. My Ganari.”
‘I, see.’
“In any case, you should rest. I shall call you after I tend to some business. We have much to discuss.”
‘Alright.’
The kobold sat down with relief, and Salia stood up.
“Congratulations, Lady Saliashe.”
“There is no need for congratulations.”
She looked at the goddess coldly.
“I am sure you were listening, just now.”
“What do you mean?”
“The gods that gained power when the games began. Among them are my sworn enemies.”
Behind her, there was a statue that was the embodiment of pain and disgrace.
“Were you not one of them? Wanderer of Time?”
“…Hardly. Would you really think that I’d be involved in such a scheme?”
“Well, it will all come to light eventually. That being said, for now…”
The arbor descended to the ground, and she saw the faces of the other gods. She then sheathed her anger, and watched the crowd with her brilliant smile.
“I suppose it would be good to savor this taste of victory.”
😉