Chapter 12

It had been a year since I last saw the village chief, and he seemed much older than before.

His back was bent, his wrinkles had increased, and he had become quite emaciated.

"Where have you been all this time...?"

The village chief, with a worried look, came running over.

It seemed he had been quite worried.

"Yeah, just a bit. A lot has happened..."

I really wanted to tell him everything that had happened, but I couldn't.

If it were known that the Demon King and Dragon King, who were supposed to be dead, were still alive, it would cause a huge commotion that would affect the entire world.

Testarossa had said that if the fact that the two kings were still alive became known, the demons and dragons might even go to war to revive their own kings. If that happened, the conflict would involve humans and beastmen as well.

Neither Luisha, Testarossa, nor Rio wanted that. So, this was something Luisha had to resolve on his own.

"Well, as long as you're safe, that's good. Here, let me get you something warm to drink. Come to my house."

The village chief said this with a gentle face.

His kindness seeped into Luisha's anxious heart.

I almost wanted to lean on him, but I held back. If I got used to leaning on him, I wouldn't be able to stop. So,

"Sorry, Chief. I have to go."

"Go...? Where are you going? You can't even go to the next village by yourself."

The village chief said this with a worried look.

It was natural for him to think that, as the old Luisha had been weak.

"I'm fine. I've gotten stronger."

Saying this, I showed him a large fireball from my palm.

The village chief, who knew I couldn't even produce a small flame, was shocked and exclaimed, "What...?!"

I could use even more powerful magic, but I didn't want to risk the village chief having a heart attack, so I held back.

"Thank you for your concern. But I have a reason to go. So... I'm going on a journey. Thank you for everything."

With that, I bowed deeply... and when I raised my head, the village chief, who had been worried, was now wearing his usual calm face.

"I don't know what happened, and I won't force you to tell me. But I can see you've grown stronger. If you need to go, then that's what you need to do. Go, and know that this old man will always be waiting for you in this village."

"Chief..."

I held back the tears that threatened to spill and walked past the village chief. In his hand was a flower like the ones offered at the grave. He must have been taking care of the grave. I couldn't thank him enough.

"If you're leaving the village, be careful. There have been reports of aggressive monsters lately."

"...Yeah. Thanks."

With those words, I parted ways with the village chief.

◇

"There you are, I finally found you."

Just as I was about to leave the village, I was suddenly called out.

A familiar voice. A black history I'd rather not remember.

I didn't want to see her, but there was no choice. I turned to face the source of the voice and replied.

"It's been a while... Erena."

My worst childhood friend had grown even more beautiful since the last time we met.

...But her personality seemed as terrible as ever. She glared at me with her arms crossed in a domineering manner.

It seemed her nastiness was just as bad as before.

"I was worried when you disappeared for almost a year. But if you're back in the village, it must mean you've come to make things right with me, right? Normally, I should tear you to pieces for betraying me... But I'm kind, so I'll forgive you this time."

Her condescending and rude attitude made me angry, reminding me of the past.

In the past, I would have cowered before her, but not now. I had met people who were stronger, kinder, and more beautiful than Erena. I wouldn't go back to being a fake boyfriend.

"Forgive me? Don't joke. I've been putting up with your tyranny all this time. The thought of being in a relationship with a violent woman like you makes me shudder."

"W-What...?"

Erena was shocked by my harsh words and her mouth opened and closed like a fish.

Seeing her funny face, I couldn't help but chuckle, "Pfft."

"You weakling Luisha, defying me! I can't forgive this... You need to be punished!!"

Saying this, Erena threw a right straight punch. In the past, I wouldn't have been able to react, but not now.

I gathered qi in my left hand and caught her punch with my left palm with a "Pash!"

"Wh-What? How can Luisha block my attack!?"

"Really, Erena, you only see yourself. You never consider that others might get stronger."

"Shut up, shut up! You just need to listen to me, Luisha!!"

Enraged, Erena attacked recklessly.

Her attacks were monotonous. I could dodge them even with my eyes closed.

"What!? Why can't I hit you!?"

Erena was surprised.

It was a natural reaction, as she thought I was still the same old Luisha.

But I had changed. I had grown stronger in both body and mind, thanks to my masters.

In the past, I would have been furious when Erena mocked me, but now I only felt pity for her.

I no longer wanted to take revenge on my pitiful childhood friend, but to truly break ties with my past, I had to defeat her.

Ducking her attacks, I quickly approached her and delivered a powerful front kick to her unprotected stomach, filled with all the resentment from the past.

"Qi Technique, Offensive Form Three: 'Shiranui'!!"

The kick, known as 'Raging Fire,' was a high-speed technique taught directly by the Dragon King. It hit Erena's abdomen cleanly. The speed was so great that friction caused my foot to ignite. There was no way the arrogant Erena could defend against it.

Erena, hit by the attack, let out a soundless sob and fell to her knees, collapsing to the ground.

Even though I held back, the impact of the kick would have reached her internal organs. She wouldn't be able to move for a while.

"See you, Erena. I'm leaving, but you mustn't cause trouble for others anymore."

With that, I left the village, leaving Erena, who was on the ground glaring at me.

Reaching out to my back, Erena muttered resentfully,

"Luisha... I'll make you mine no matter what..."

But Erena's words never reached Luisha.

◇

After leaving the village, Luisha recalled a conversation he had with the Demon King Testarossa.

"Hey, what should I do first when I get out of the Infinite Prison?"

"Well, we should gather information about the hero who sealed us first. Only the hero would know how to break this seal."

"Right, but the hero is human, right? He must be dead by now. How can we find out?"

When Luisha asked this, Testarossa thought for a moment and then began to speak.

"A hero wouldn't want his bloodline to die out. So, the hero's descendants must still exist."

"Right! So, I should look for the hero's descendants first! You're so smart, Testa-sis!"

"Hehe! Well, yeah! If you have any more problems, ask me, not Rio!"

That was the conversation.

The first thing to do was to find the descendants of the hero. But Luisha, who grew up in a remote village, had no idea where the hero's descendants might be. He had to start by gathering information.

"So... I guess it's the 'Kingdom' then."

The "Exador Kingdom," about three days' travel by carriage from the village.

Luisha had never been there, but he had heard that there were many people there.

He was sure that the hero's descendants would be there, so he said, "Alright! Let's go!" and started running with determination.

Thus began the first step of Luisha Bardy's grand adventure.