Chapter 61

According to the words of the village chief, I reacted.

"Does that mean that once it is released, it will be meaningless to offer a sacrifice?"

"......Yes."

"When will it be released?"

"I don't know. However, during my lifetime, it has shortened from five years to two years—it's rapidly decreasing. It could be five, ten, or thirty years... but it won't last fifty years..."

In the not-too-distant future, the nine-headed dragon will be released.

A dragon with nine heads as large as mountains. A monster that spreads poison and kills with a mere approach—

If such a thing were to appear, the Luminous territory would be in great danger.

The seal that is already losing its effectiveness.

The voice and tears of the woman who was saved, rejoicing in her life.

If that's the case—

I spoke to the village chief with a calm resolve.

"......When will it be released?"

"Huh?"

The village chief opened his mouth in surprise.

"According to what you said, it could be fifty years from now—"

"No."

I shook my head.

"I mean, the day the nine-headed dragon will revive if we don't offer that woman as a sacrifice."

"——!"

The eyes of the village chief and Laura widened.

"Wh—What do you mean? Are you saying that the seal on the nine-headed dragon will be broken?"

"Anyway, it will be broken soon, right? It might as well be broken now."

I couldn't bring myself to tell that woman to die again.

If so, it's worth a try.

...During this journey, I learned that my Magic Arrow is strong enough to be of use to people.

"I will defeat the nine-headed dragon."

The room fell silent.

Laura spoke in a flustered voice.

"......But, Alberto! The nine-headed dragon will kill you with its poison just by getting close! How—!?"

"Have you forgotten, Laura? The range of my Magic Arrow is—"

I repeated the words I had said earlier—

"Ah, 13km! That's fine!"

"......Yes..."

Laura interrupted me.

It seems she remembered.

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"According to the legend, the seal weakens with each new moon. Therefore, the nine-headed dragon will awaken on the next new moon—in three days."

"Understood."

"......If you choose to offer a sacrifice, please make your decision by the morning of that day."

After finishing our conversation with the village chief, Laura and I moved to the vacant house provided to us.

After placing our belongings in the room and taking a breath, I spoke to Laura.

"Hey, Laura."

"What is it?"

"......Am I wrong...?"

I am about to make an incredible gamble—this much I can understand, even with my dull mind.

Although the seal's breaking time is uncertain, it is still being maintained. This will give the Luminous territory a temporary peace.

To abandon that and decide the outcome now—

"If I win, that's fine—but what if I lose?"

The nine-headed dragon will ravage this village—no, it will bring destruction to the entire Luminous territory.

I know this.

I have come to know that many people live in the Luminous territory.

—Hey, Alberto! Have a meal with us!

The villagers who said this so casually.

There are people here who live their daily lives to the fullest, filled with modest happiness.

If I lose, their lives will be shattered. They will die, and their homeland will be polluted with poison.

Do I have the right to shake their peaceful lives?

"Is offering a sacrifice the right thing to do?"

It will maintain temporary peace.

Just one—only one—woman's life.

It can't be compared to the years of peace for the many residents of Luminous.

Those in a position of authority should say it.

Die for the sake of everyone, they should say.

That is the resolve of those who govern a territory.

"But—I can't do it."

I still hear it.

The voice of the woman who was saved, rejoicing in being freed from the fear of death. Her tears.

I couldn't tell that woman to die.

I couldn't tell her to die for the sake of the Luminous residents.

I couldn't close my eyes to the feeling that saving her was the right thing to do.

So, I thought.

I will save the woman.

I will protect everyone in Luminous.

I will—

Defeat the nine-headed dragon.

However, the opponent is a creature named 'dragon.' I don't know if I can really win.

"Am I unfit to be the next head of the family—Is my judgment correct—"

I was afraid.

Thinking about the countless lives that rest on this decision.

Knowing that countless lives rest on this decision.

Laura, who was listening to my voice with a serious expression, said after a moment of thought.

"......I don't know. But..."

Laura continued.

"Tell a woman to die—that's the easy choice, I think. Just using one life to postpone the inevitable. I don't think it solves anything. The fact that the nine-headed dragon will eventually awaken remains unchanged, and many more women will be offered as sacrifices in the future."

That's right. Nothing changes.

The tragedy that has continued from the past.

The tragedy that will occur in the future.

"Didn't you think it was terrible? Didn't you want to help? Didn't you want to change it?"

That's right.

That was my initial impulse.

I wanted to tell people who accept unjust deaths as inevitable that they don't have to die.

That they don't have to cry anymore.

"Trying to help troubled residents! I want to think that such a feeling is admirable! Trying to save even one person, Alberto! Trying to make that effort, Alberto! I don't want to laugh at that feeling as foolish!"

Laura's words resonated with my heart.

They gave me courage and lifted my spirits.

"Just win! Just win! Whether it's an ancient dragon or anything else! You can win, Alberto!"

Laura continued.

"Because you always turn despair into hope!"

I have done my best. I have to try. I have to do something. Laura said this about my efforts.

Her words echoed in my ears.

—I believe you are a hero more than anyone else!

Since that day, I have continued to walk, wanting to be Laura's hero.

If Laura believes in me—

"I believe in you! In Alberto's victory! In a future where you return victorious without any problems! —And I want you to become a lord who saves not ninety-nine out of a hundred, but all one hundred!"

Laura's words ended.

Silence descended like a curtain.

My heart was clear. Each of Laura's words seeped into my heart, dispelling the clouds of anxiety.

...That's right.

If I were weak, I might hesitate, but Laura's hero wouldn't bow to such a thing.

Then, I will be like that too.

"Thank you, Laura."

If I were Laura's hero, I would say this.

"I will win. And I will save everyone."

Laura nodded with a full smile.

"Yes! You can do it, Alberto!"

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