Stupid Heroes ~We Draft Candidates~ (WN): Chapter 49

 

Chapter 49: Funeral

 The battle to defeat the Anti-Hero Alliance at the monastery was coming to an end.

 The outcome had already been decided, and now it was moving to a mopping-up battle. Speaking of mopping up battles, it still sounds good, but the point is that they are killing one by one.

 For the hero candidates, who had recovered from their temporary exuberance, it was like looking at hell.

 The nuns were being dragged out of the building one after another. The power to resist has already been taken away. Even so, the madness of the battlefield shows no mercy to them.

"Stop... kill me already..."

 There were quite a few knights who tried to further hurt the girls who had been brought out inside the building.

“…………”

 There are quite a few abnormal people who cut up dead corpses with blades. In front of the main gate, the bloody corpses of nuns and priests were scattered all over the place.

 A slaughter. The scene was unfolding before their eyes, just as Ren had said in his words.

 Most of the hero candidates have their backs turned so as not to see the devastation, but the sounds and voices give a good idea of what kind of situation they are in.

"...Somebody, stop them."

"I already told them."

"It's not stopping!"

“I don't know! I told whoever was in charge! And if that doesn't stop them, I don't know what will!"

"......It's disgusting. Let's get out of here."

"I agree. The smell alone is enough to make me vomit."

 Not only one or two of the candidate's faces turned pale from the scent of human blood floating around. Some of them started to walk out, but a voice soon stopped them.

"Where are you going! The battle isn't over yet!"

"It's as good as over, isn't it?"

"We are the ones who started this battle! We have a duty to see it through to the end!"

"There it is. Takamiya is too uptight."

 The hero candidates who tried to go home showed an exasperated atmosphere at Jin's words of restraint.

"Our comrades are dead! Even irrelevant comrades!"

 This attitude makes Jin even angrier.

"Right... why is Harumoto here?"

"I don't know"

"But more importantly, what is that power?"

"I don't know!"

 When asked about Kazuki, Jin has no answer. That irritates Jin.

"Don't get mad at me. That's just taking it out on me, isn't it?"

"Don't say that. Think about how Takamiya feels."

 The other male students chided the student who seemed dissatisfied with being yelled at.

"Eh, that slut."

“…………”

 It only made Jin, speechless, angry.

"Ah, my bad..."

"Are you an idiot? Is that the kind of language you use with a dead person?"

"That's why, it's my bad... he knows something."

"Yeah, Ren."

"He seemed to know the children."

"Children... was that, after all, due to religion?"

 The boys stopped touching the angry Jin and started talking about something else.

"The Church of the Holy Heroes isn't that kind of cult, is it?"

"They betrayed it, so that means it's a different sect."

"What kind?"

"A sect that kills heroes."

"......Why do they hate us? We haven't done anything yet."

 This is the feeling of all the hero candidates. They don't understand why they are hated just for being summoned.

"That makes six people."

"The number that died?"

"That's right. It hasn't even been three years yet, and there are six."

 Three people died in the "Forest of No Entry", and three people died on this battlefield, including Kazuki.

"...Don't say that, it's getting dark."

"It's already dark enough."

"Then, let's talk about something cheerful. Wasn't the women who were with Ren ridiculously beautiful?"

"Ah, yeah, yeah. A peerless beauty and a bewitching beauty."

"Enough! People died!"

 Jin, though, shouted at the boys who started talking about Rin and Luna.

"Shut up! I will go crazy if I don't talk about this stuff!"

 He was yelled back with the same or more force.

“…………”

"I'm not kidding. What is this!? I know I've read about it in novels, but is it really like this!?"

 Many of them have knowledge of the horrors on the battlefield, but it's hard to be normal when you see it right in front of your eyes. If you can be normal, then you are abnormal.

"...That's a knight. So what's a common soldier like?"

"Are there any?"

"There is, right?"

"...Are the knights of other countries like that?"

 After going to each country as heroes, they will fight alongside the knights.

"I hope not."

"To the god of the church?"

"...To the god of our original world."

"Better"

"When will this be over?"

"When we get the ringleader, right?"

"You mean the Director of the monastery?"

"I think so."

"Where is the Director?"

"I don't know――"

 An explosion was heard coming from the building, interrupting the conversation. The spire on the top floor of the monastery building slowly crumbled. Stones of all sizes poured onto the ground, damaging the building.

"Looks like it's right over there."

"It's already on the ground now."

"Is it over?"

"It seems so."

 The battle against the Anti-Hero Alliance came together with the sacrifice of three hero candidates, twenty-eight Knights, and five Mages. Kazuki is also included in the hero candidates.

 More than 120 people died on the Anti-Hero Alliance side, including all the officials of the monastery, including the Director. There were many mutilated corpses, and the exact number is unknown.

 Even so, the Anti-Hero Alliance affair was judged to have come to an end with the death of the Director and other executives.

◇◇◇

 There are more people than usual in the churchyard. Ren and the children.

 Ren and the others are gathered in front of a gravestone. The children are tired of crying and have fallen asleep, not caring that they are on the ground. In the middle of them, Ren was staring at the gravestone.

 Then more new people gathered there.

"Ren! Where's Kazuki!?"

"The burial is complete. This is the gravestone."

 Ren showed Riko and the others the gravestone in front of him.

"...Is she really dead?"

"Yeah."

"No way..."

 Riko collapses on the spot. Manami also sheds large tears and sobs. Kou couldn't hold back his tears either. And also the other Class C hero candidates.

 For a while the cemetery was filled only with their cries.

"How did she die?"

“…………”

"Mita Akira”

 To Ren, who did not answer, the boy said his name.

"No, I know. But I thought you weren't on good terms with Kazuki."

"...I learned that Kazuki was enduring a lot of bad things because of me."

 Akira was being bullied by the Class A students.

"Oh, I see."

"Did you know about it?"

"What if I told you I knew?"

"Why... no, I'm not in a position to complain."

 It was his fault that Kazuki had been treated so badly. And Akira knows that he couldn't have done anything about it even if he had known.

"That's right."

"So why?"

"To protect these children"

 Ren pointed to the sleeping children, tired of crying.

"Who are these children?"

"Kazuki's children."

“…………”

"They're not her real children. They were orphans, and Kazuki was taking care of them."

"I see. But to protect them from what?"

"Hero candidates."

"……What do you mean?"

 The Class C hero candidates didn't know what happened at the monastery. The information has not been passed on. They learned about Kazuki's death through Ren's message.

"The monastery where the orphans were staying is one of the hideouts of the Anti-Hero Alliance. It is safe to say that the entire monastery was part of the Anti-Hero Alliance. But the church found out about it."

"A battle?"

"Yes. The children were supposed to carry self-destructive magic tools and attack the hero candidates. In fact, they killed two of them."

"You're kidding, right?"

"Because the children were innocent. If they are taught that the heroes are evil, what they are doing will become justice for the children."

"...That's right. And what about Kazuki?"

 They now know about the children, but Ren still hasn't told them why Kazuki died.

"Kazuki jumped out in the middle of the fight trying to stop the children. And when she stopped them..."

"……What happened?"

“The hero candidates attacked the children. The battle restarted, a one-sided one, not hesitating to kill the children."

"Ah"

"But Kazuki blocked the attack magic from the hero candidates and the mages."

"……How?"

 Although Kazuki is also a hero candidate, she has no talent for fighting. It is unthinkable that she can protect children from attacks.

"I don't know. I know it's defensive magic. But I don't know why Kazuki was able to use it."

"I see……"

"Magic does not last forever. Eventually, the defensive magic ceased to be effective, and the magic rained down on the children, who had no way to prevent it."

"And then?"

"Kazuki... took it with her own body."

“…………”

“The fire magic burnt her whole body, and the wind magic cut her all over. Some were water-based, but her body was so battered that I couldn't tell what kind of magic hit her. Still, she stood. Even though she died, Kazuki stood there protecting the children."

"No way..."

 The sobs flowed through the cemetery again. And apart from that, there was also the sound of Ren's cheek being slapped hard.

"……Ren"

 Riko is glaring at Ren while crying.

“…………”

“Did you just watch all that!?”

"……Yeah"

"Why? Why didn't you help Kazuki!?"

"To seriously give up your life for someone else..."

"You didn't try to save her?"

“…………”

 There was no way Ren would. He was simply respecting Kazuki's wishes. Even if he had not, it was not a situation in which he would intervene. Even Ren did not have the power to prevent the concentrated attack of the hero candidates.

"Why didn't you trust Kazuki? Kazuki... Kazuki..."

 Beyond that, Riko couldn't say anything.

"……Sorry"

"It's not something that can be forgiven by apologizing. Disappear now."

"……I see."

 Without disobeying Riko's words, Ren left the place. The children who noticed it also disappeared one by one from the front of the gravestone.

 The remaining people have no idea that there is a being watching them with a sad look on its face.

◇◇◇

 ――When the sun had completely set, Ren's figure was once again seen in the moonlight. Ren was once again in front of Kazuki's gravestone. The same as in the daytime, he was still and silent, looking at the gravestone.

"Do you hate me?"

(Nothing like that)

"Ah……"

 Suddenly, a voice flowed into his head, and Ren let out a small cry of surprise. It was definitely Kazuki's voice.

(There is no way I would have held a grudge against Ren.)

(......You've been quiet for a long time.)

(I was a little surprised. Because I should have died, but I still exists?)

(That's just the way it is.)

(You wouldn't know it the first time.)

(It would be the first time for everyone.)

(Yes. So, can you really see and talk to me?)

 Ren sees her as a spirit and hears her voice. This is also a surprise to Kazuki. Kazuki tried to talk to Riko, Manami and the others. But, of course, they didn't get the message.

(I've been saying that for a long time. Are you sure you're not angry?)

(Why would I be angry?)

(I didn't save Kazuki. At times like that, I'm supposed to throw myself there to help, right?)

(Ren, save me? I'm glad you say so, but that's not Ren. Besides, if Ren had to die for me, that would be more painful.)

(I see)

 Her feelings for Ren. That's what made Kazuki say it this way, but it was natural to Ren. It was not something special, but something that Ren could understand in a normal way. That is why Kazuki is so special to Ren.

(I didn't think I could talk to Ren like this at the end. I'm glad.)

(Does that mean you're going to ascend to heaven?)

 Kazuki said, at the end. It means that she will not stay.

(It seems so.)

(I see. You know that yourself?)

(Do you usually know?)

(That's what I hear)

 The spirit knows the moment the attachment that keeps it in this world disappears. When the attachment is gone, it will ascend to heaven.

(I somehow know that I'm going to be picked up. That's why I'm waiting for it.)

(Pick up? I've never heard of such a thing.)

(There's something that even Ren doesn't know?)

(That's right)

(...When I died, like this, I can see Ren better.)

(Because of the connection)

 Just as Ren can hear the spirit's mind, the spirit can hear Ren's mind. There is no way to hide it unless it is very deep, it connects their mind and heart.

(I can see why Ren is loved by the spirit Luna, liked by the children, and attracts spirits.)

(Really?)

(Ren is dazzling, Ren is dark. Hope and despair. Life and death. Gentle and cold. Ren seems to reject everything, but in reality, Ren accepts everything.)

(This is the first time I've been told that)

(People's hearts aren't all good. Even Ren recognizes that.)

 Ren thinks people are ugly. That's what people are. Kazuki took this as Ren's acceptance of people's ugliness.

(...It feels a little uncomfortable to be praised so much)

(But Ren is a coward, so you didn't want to admit it to yourself. That's what I understood. I've been trying to figure out how to change that even when I died.)

(...I can't change)

(Ren, please change. Anything is fine. Good or evil. Seek something)

(…………)

(If you don't like the world, destroy it. Destroy it and recreate it as you like.)

(Kazuki?)

 The heart that should be conveyed is not being conveyed. Ren doesn't know what Kazuki wants.

(I can see what Ren is trying not to see. Ren has the power to change the world.)

(I don't have that power)

(Yes, you do. Actually, I wanted to help with that too. I failed. Maybe I had a chance to get that power. But I gave up on it.)

(That is?)

 Kazuki continues to talk about things that Ren doesn't understand. It is understandable because she is Kazuki who has become a spirit.

(Ren, please. Give me one last chance to do something I couldn't do. Give me the meaning of my existence by creating an opportunity to change Ren.)

(…………)

(Ren, I love you. I will always love only you.)

(Kazuki……)

(...It seems I'm going to be picked up now.)

"Eh?"

 Several streaks of light stretched out from the sky toward Kazuki. A luminous being descending with it. Spreading its large wings on its back, it descended from above, and it was the very figure of an angel that people know.

(......Kazuki. I'm here to pick you up.)

(As I recall, you are...)

 Kazuki knew of its existence.

(Yes. I am the messenger who tried to grant you a blessing and was rejected.)

(Eh? Kazuki too?)

 Through the words of the messenger who appeared from above, Ren learned that Kazuki had refused the blessing.

(Eh? Ren?)

(I haven't received any blessings. Is Kazuki the same?)

(I... I received it.)

(A blessing that is different from the original blessing. Right now, I regret listening to Kazuki's wish. If I had granted Kazuki the original blessing, this might not have happened.)

 The angel supplements Kazuki's explanation. Kazuki refused the blessing she was supposed to receive and chose another blessing.

(But if I had done that, I wouldn't have been able to get to know Ren. That's why I'm grateful to you.)

(...As expected, you are the true saint.)

(What……?)

(Didn't Ren-dono notice that too? Right. If you knew, you wouldn't have abandoned her.)

(...Don't blame me. I'm depressed even with this.)

(I'm not blaming you. If this changes Ren-dono, I think it's Kazuki's mission, just like Kazuki says.)

(……What do you mean?)

(Have you forgotten me?)

(...Ah, you)

 Ren also knew the angel.

(Do you know each other?)

(One of the people who became a sacrifice to summon us. It remained as a spirit... I understand. So that's how it is.)

(Yes. We who are sacrificed become spirits, connect with the heavens and bestow blessings on the hero candidates. Only we who were sacrificed know.)

 This is one of the secrets of hero summoning. And those who live do not know that secret. They do not know anything, they only perform the ritual.

(Was it good for you to ascend to heaven?)

(Yes. That is not a problem. They say sometimes we remain as guardian angels, but that doesn't seem to make much sense.)

(I see.)

(I would like you to listen to my wishes as well)

(What?)

(Do you understand now? Why is it that one of my companions has not ascended to heaven and remains on the ground?)

(It's my fault.)

 Ren did not receive the blessing. The sacrificed one who was supposed to bestow a blessing on Ren has not fulfilled its role.

(That's right. It's your way of life, so I won't force you. But please don't forget him. And if possible, I want you to fulfill his wishes. That goes along with Kazuki's wish.)

(That is?)

(Well then, Kazuki. It is a pity, but let's ascend soon.)

 Without answering Ren's question, the angel called out to Kazuki.

(Understood. Ren... next time in heaven)

(Yeah)

(At that time... I won't give you to another woman. Is that intention, okay?)

(......I can't reply to that.)

(I know.)

 Kazuki's hands reached up to Ren's cheeks. It is the hand of Kazuki, who is a spirit. Ren knows he doesn't feel anything when touched.

 But even so, Ren felt warmth on his cheek. Ren certainly felt something overlapped with his own mouth.

(I love you, Ren. I love you. I always have and I always will. Believe in this feeling. Please.)

(…Yeah, I know)

 Kazuki looked straight at him and told him that she loved him. Even if Kazuki didn't tell him, he wouldn't have any doubts. Even if she doesn't put it into words, Ren understands Kazuki's feelings right now.

(Ren. I was happy to meet you. I am glad I was born. Please take care of my children.)

(I understand.)

(Ren... see you later)

(See you later, Kazuki. See you later.)

 A bright light envelops Kazuki. The angel who came to pick her up wrapped its wings. Just like that, Kazuki slowly ascends to the sky.

 Eventually, it reached an invisible height, and the light was lost among the stars shining in the sky. Even after that happened, Ren remained staring into the sky.

 Rin quietly approaches his back and calls out.

"Ren-sama, we have managed to find a place for the children to sleep."

"I see. Thank you."

 Without moving, Ren thanked her. His voice sounds like crying to Rin.

"Ren-sama..."

"...Rin. Why did Kazuki have to die?"

"That's……"

 There is no way that Rin has the answer to this question. Ren knows that too. Even if he knew, he couldn't help but ask someone.

"Kazuki was the only decent person I knew."

"Yes"

"She was someone who could hurt herself for other people's sake."

"Yes"

“She was hurt and damaged, but she was still kind to people.”

"Yes"

"Why doesn't the world need someone like that?"

“…………”

"Is it the people in this world who don't need her?"

 As if in response to Ren's question, a commotion spreads around. In this place where only she and Ren were supposed to be, Rin felt like she heard people murmuring.

"Hey, Rin. What should I do?"

"Why is Ren-sama asking me such a question?"

“Kazuki asked me to change. She told me to get whatever I wanted. But I don't know what I should do."

"I see... I can't fathom her feelings. However, I don't think there is anything that Ren-sama should do."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Ren-sama should do whatever you want."

"...So that's how it is."

 Kazuki asked him to get it. Ren thought that it didn't mean what he should do, but what Rin said, do what he wants.

"I think that's what she meant by getting something"

"...Rin."

"When you do what you want to do, you don't have to think about other people's convenience."

"Is that okay with Rin?"

“Yes. I will just follow Ren-sama. I won't think about anything else."

"...I understand. Then I will destroy this world. This filthy world is not worth existing in."

 It can no longer be a matter of imagination. Rin's ears clearly heard a roaring, groaning voice from the surroundings. It spread all over the cemetery.

"This is what I want to do"

"Then I will go along with it."

"Luna will do whatever Ren wants me to do. Luna will always be next to Ren in everything you do."

 Luna, who appears next to Rin, also vows to follow Ren. Ren nodded in response. And then, Ren's gaze turned to Kazuki's gravestone.

"So? Will the masters still be masters?"

(Kukuku! That's my disciple. I have no problem with that at all. What about you, Alexis-dono?)

 Rudolf accepted Ren with a truly happy expression.

(Are you going to pass on your madness to your disciple?)

(No way. My only wish is to pass down my magic. This is Ren-kun's will. However, his my disciple, I just want him to do something worthy of it. No matter what it is. You too. aren't you the same?)

(...I can only pass on the sword. I just want to pass down the skills I have mastered to future generations.)

(If so, even more so)

(Fine. Let's put aside all unnecessary thoughts, and I will only think about passing on the technique.)

 Alexis, who showed some hesitation, accepted Ren in the form of being single-mindedly committed to his obsession.

(Yes. That's fine.)

(Ren. I'm going to start full-scale training today. I'm going to put everything I have into you. It won't be the lenient training you've had until now. Prepare yourself.)

(Excellent)

 On this day, the calamity of this world broke its shell and gave birth. No one in the world knows that fact yet. The continent that was planned for the future will be shrouded in chaos by the existence of this calamity.