The Frontlines of the War Against the Demon King’s Army — Fortress City Canaan.
A year had passed since Takeru was summoned to this other world as a savior, and he had been fighting against the Demon King’s army, gaining experience.
That said, he wasn't always fighting the Demon King’s army, so he spent his free time training.
His magic was taught by Edelweiss, and his sword training was conducted by General Grad, one of the kingdom’s most skilled warriors.
The general was already of advanced age, with his hair turned white.
Even so, his well-trained physique was larger than that of an average soldier, showing no signs of his age.
In the training ground, they clashed with wooden swords.
Using Physical Boost, they engaged in fierce high-speed combat.
Against Takeru's fierce attacks, which far exceeded the skills of an average knight, General Grad continued to parry with ease.
"Haahhhhhh!"
"Hehe."
"Damn it! Then—!"
Feeling that his rapid attacks were getting nowhere, Takeru gripped his wooden sword tighter and swung it back.
"If you swing that wide without breaking your opponent's stance—"
As General Grad dodged Takeru's large swing, he smiled brightly.
"This is what happens."
"Ow!"
Takeru was struck on the head and crouched down.
Seeing this, Edelweiss hurriedly cast healing magic, and General Grad let out a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! Even the savior is still quite the novice, huh?"
"Damn..."
"Don’t glare like that. When I beat you up like this, it’s a perk for Edelweiss to take care of you, isn’t it?"
With the general teasing him, both Takeru and Edelweiss continued with the healing while feeling slightly embarrassed.
In that position, Takeru and General Grad held a reflection meeting on their training.
"Hey, General. Why can’t I land a hit?"
"I’ve been fighting against the Demon King’s army for forty years! I’d like to say there’s no way I’d lose to a young lad who just came to this world a year ago, but…"
General Grad looked at Takeru with a gentle gaze, like a grandfather who was happy about his grandchild’s growth.
"You’ve already surpassed me in speed. Truly the savior, huh?"
"But I still can’t hit you."
"Hmmm…"
After the healing finished and Takeru stood up, General Grad took out a coin from his pocket and flicked it up into the air.
As Takeru's gaze was drawn to it, by the time the coin fell to the ground, a wooden sword was pointed at his throat.
"Well, this is how it goes."
"…Hey, that’s not fair, is it?"
"Is it unfair to say this on the battlefield, where lives are at stake?"
"…"
With those words, Takeru could only fall silent.
"Well, let’s put that aside for now. I’ve moved your gaze to perform the thrust with the wooden sword, but do you understand why your attacks aren’t landing?"
"Look into my opponent’s eyes and predict their attacks?"
"Hmm… well, that’s about thirty points."
"Thirty…"
He felt slightly shocked that it would usually be a failing grade.
"Well, let’s consider this your homework for tomorrow. Think it over thoroughly tonight."
"…Got it."
Then, the next day, Takeru and General Grad faced each other in the training ground again.
"So, have you figured it out?"
"Yeah…"
"Very well. Then—!?"
At that moment, an immense killing intent made both of them turn around.
There stood a black, thin humanoid monster that hadn’t been there just moments ago.
Though it was called humanoid, it only appeared to have arms and legs.
Its form seemed to have shed all biological functions, born solely to kill enemies, invoking pure terror in humans.
"Why is a monster here—?!"
The emotionless monster swayed its sword-like arm and leaped toward them in an instant.
"Kuuh?!"
Even though it was a sudden occurrence, General Grad readied his wooden sword to defend against the attack.
However, the black, sword-like arm, swung down at an unimaginable speed, sliced through the wooden sword, and severed the general's arm.
"Uwaaah?!"
With a strength that set it apart from any monster he had seen before, the general couldn’t hide his panic.
"General?!"
"Savior! You must escape!"
With his remaining arm, he drew the sword from his waist and defended against the incoming enemy's attack.
However, blood flowed from his severed arm, and as the enemy’s assault intensified, the general’s body became increasingly covered in wounds.
—We have to run.
As Takeru stepped back, his body trembled with fear.
The monster that had appeared was incomparably stronger than anything Takeru had encountered before.
If he stayed here, he would surely be killed in his current state.
Just as Takeru was about to flee, he locked eyes with General Grad, who appeared relieved.
—If I run away like this, what will happen to the general?
He understood that the general was trying to buy time for him to escape.
But what would he find if he ran?
The general would fall, other soldiers and townspeople would be attacked by that monster, and then this town would—
"Ah..."
The soldiers who always trained with him.
The townspeople living their days with smiles, even in such a dangerous city.
And Edelweiss, with whom he had spent time together.
—All of them would have their heads severed, and the town would be stained with blood.
The vivid image he had seen made Takeru’s retreating footsteps stop.
For Takeru, who had spent time in this town, the people had become those he needed to protect.
Above all, he had made a decision when he came to this other world.
To abandon the self he had hated, to start over, and to do his best—!
"Ahhhhh! Look over here!"
"—?!"
"Savior?!"
Drawing the sword at his waist and pouring all his magical power into it, Takeru lunged forward.
He swung his sword back dramatically.
"With such a wide swing—?!"
General Grad shouted.
No matter how strong an attack is, if it doesn’t break the opponent's stance, it only leaves one’s own openings, making it unlikely to land a hit.
"Gi—?!"
The monster, not expecting its attack to be blocked, let out a distorted sound.
Naturally, this left the monster with a brief opening—and an experienced General Grad wouldn’t let such an opportunity slip away.
"Ooooooh!"
"Gyaah?!"
With one arm, he stabbed the monster's abdomen.
Normally, that would be a fatal blow.
But the monster was still alive and attempted to swing its sword down to sever the general’s head.
"If you swing that wide—"
"Gii—?!"
"You’re wide open!!!"
The moment the opponent's stance broke, Takeru’s sword, swung down hard, severed the monster's head.
As the monster completely ceased moving, both Takeru and General Grad collapsed to the ground together.
As soldiers and Edelweiss, sensing something was wrong, approached, the two gazed up at the sky.
"…You’re really too reckless."
"If you say that, then it’s the same for you, General."
"I’m fine. My mission is to protect you, the savior, who weaves the future for the people."
"…Let’s skip that part."
—What score did I get for that?
When Takeru said this, General Grad momentarily looked stunned, not understanding what he meant.
But the moment he realized the meaning, he burst into laughter.
While laughing, he said, "It was a perfect score."
In front of Takeru, Gato was crying and crumbling down.
"…Damn it. If I were stronger… I should be the one protecting everyone… that guy acted as bait for us to escape…!"
—If I had run away back then, what would have happened to the general, to the townspeople...?
Gato deeply regretted having run away and now attempted to move forward, thinking it was okay to die.
Perhaps it was a reflection of what his past self could have been.
That’s why he unconsciously moved his body to avoid regret, seeing himself in Gato, who was shouting now.
"…"
Takeru quietly pulled up the hood of his hoodie and made his way straight through the crowd of onlookers.
None of the bystanders, who were focused on Gato and the others, noticed Takeru’s movement.
He softly cast a spell, ensuring that no one could hear him.
A small fireball was created from his fingertips, slowly floating into the air.
After a while, that small fireball exploded into a massive flame far above.
"—?!"
"W-What is that?! Is it... fireworks?!"
The people present were startled and looked up at the sky at that moment—
—Please wait.
"Eh...?"
Calling out to Gato, Takeru entered the gate.
No one who recognized him was present.
On a cliff overlooking a vast forest stood a girl.
The girl with horns riding on the shoulder of a giant ogre looked in one direction as if she had noticed something.
"…It seems someone else has come again."
While stroking the head of her pet ogre, her mouth naturally curled up, thinking that someone had come to play with her.
"I hope this one doesn’t break easily."
With that, the girl continued to look down at the forest from the cliff.
