"Urgh—!"
Sare let out a hoarse groan as his body slammed heavily into the ground, completely unable to rise again.
A single strike.
Just one blow, and the confident warrior Sare was instantly incapacitated.
"Sare!"
Anna cried out in horror, the color draining from her face.
Ren frowned slightly.
That demon had used nothing more than basic offensive magic, yet the casting speed was already approaching Fern's level.
"Running into a near–Greater Demon the moment we turn a corner… That's some terrible luck."
He clenched his teeth.
From what he knew, aside from the Seven Sages of Destruction, there were still many powerful demons roaming the world—Solitar being one of them.
And his instincts told him this one, even if not on Solitar's level, was dangerously close.
"What fragile creatures."
The demon woman tilted her head, her gaze shifting toward the trembling Anna.
"Very well. You're next."
She raised a finger once more.
"Damn it!"
A cool, resolute voice rang out.
Veil stepped forward, placing herself in front of Anna. She held her scripture tightly as warm light began to radiate from her body.
"Holy Barrier!"
A translucent golden shield formed instantly before them.
"Oh? Goddess magic?"
The demon sneered. "Such a feeble light."
A black beam fired from her fingertip.
Boom!
The beam collided with the barrier, both forces canceling each other out in an explosion of light.
"Now!"
Taking advantage of the opening, Ren drew both blades and lunged in from the side.
Twin arcs of steel cut through the air, aimed straight for the demon's neck.
She barely spared him a glance—merely shifting her body slightly to evade.
But the instant she saw his stance…
Her expression froze.
That posture.
That form.
The technique of that man.
The legendary warrior who had slain three of the Seven Sages and countless demons a century ago.
The hesitation lasted only a fraction of a second.
But for Ren—
That was more than enough.
Slash.
His blade passed cleanly through her neck.
Her head flew into the air, frozen in disbelief.
The headless body swayed once, then collapsed, dissolving into particles of mana.
Ren sheathed his swords smoothly.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Anna stared blankly, nearly dropping her staff.
The demon, one powerful enough to inspire despair, had been killed in a single strike.
Even Veil, normally composed, stared in shock.
Bart peeked out from behind the wagon, saw the demon gone, and collapsed to the ground in relief.
"Sare!"
Veil rushed to his side, pressing her hands over the bleeding wound and chanting a healing spell.
Warm light flowed as the bleeding slowed.
Anna quickly joined in to assist.
Ren stood quietly, gazing at his blades.
That moment of hesitation... he had seen it clearly.
Demons didn't feel fear.
So that pause hadn't been fear.
Its recognition.
Which meant…
She had seen the Hero of the South fight before.
A survivor from a hundred years ago.
Sare, now stabilized, looked at Ren with awe-filled eyes.
"Are you… alright?"
Ren asked calmly.
"I—I'm fine. Thank you… Ren."
Sare coughed weakly, then forced a grin.
"I misjudged you. I didn't think someone like you could be this strong."
"You flatter me."
Ren nodded.
Veil stepped forward, her gaze fixed on him.
"The way you moved just now… and your twin-blade stance. I've seen it described in ancient records."
Ren waited.
"That is the combat style of the Hero of the South."
Her voice was steady, but intense.
"He was the one who challenged the Seven Sages alone before Hero Himmel's time. The strongest hero of his era."
Ren said nothing.
"You're his successor, aren't you?"
"…You could say that."
He didn't deny it.
He had inherited the man's authority.
Calling himself his successor wasn't wrong.
The air changed immediately.
Sare's eyes burned with admiration.
Anna stared at him like she was seeing a legend.
Bart nearly fell to his knees.
"To think we were traveling with the heir of the South Hero…!"
Ren smiled faintly.
Veil exhaled slowly. "My hometown lies near where the Hero of the South was born. His stories are still told there."
"That explains it."
Ren nodded. "Let's move on. The demon is gone."
They resumed their journey.
The atmosphere in the wagon had completely changed.
Sare sat stiffly, glancing at Ren with reverence.
Anna bombarded him with questions.
"Ren—no, Ren-sama! What was that technique called?"
"Are you really his student?"
"Would you consider joining our party?"
Ren simply leaned back, eyes closed.
Veil gently pulled Anna back.
"Let him rest."
But Ren's thoughts were elsewhere.
That hesitation—if it hadn't happened, the fight would've been far more dangerous.
And his Future Sight was still unstable.
There was still another Hero of the South statue near the Golden Land.
And beyond that… Macht.
If he didn't grow stronger soon, he wouldn't survive what was coming.
...
Two days later.
The city of Grayat came into view.
A fortress of black stone, buried in snow.
The northern winds howled through its streets.
Bart's caravan split off to deliver goods, insisting Ren accept a heavy pouch of coin as thanks.
Two gold coins, along with silver and copper.
Ren accepted without hesitation.
Sare and the others headed for the Adventurers' Guild.
"And you?" Anna asked.
"I'll stay in town for a while."
His destination was clear.
The statue in the central plaza.
After parting ways, Ren walked alone toward the heart of the city.
Grayat awaited.
And with it—
The next fragment of Hero of the South's legacy.