3-003-Ending everyday

"130 years of St. King's life. Blue moon, 15th.

＜The land of everlasting darkness, the sacred spring.

About two months have passed since then, and I've been doing the routine work of collecting poisonous fluids in the swamp on even days and hunting monsters in the holy spring on odd days....

I'd be lying if I said that doing the same thing every day wasn't painful, but gargoyles and wyvern wings can be sold for very high prices as materials for equipment.

Since then, I've been able to maintain a life where I can stay at the inn every day, and it's just a matter of patience until Kanemitsu, the hero, defeats the demon king.

''I'm home!''

"Hello, welcome back.

So today is an odd numbered day, so it's a day to work on the hunt at the Sacred Spring.

I've been going there so much that it feels like home... or rather, Elena, the water spirit, has said something like 'welcome home'.

Oh, it's Kanata. You are already strong enough. So why can't you defeat the Demon King yet?

What's with the tone of voice...

Seeing me blurting out with zit eyes, Elena giggles.

''Haha. But I think Kanata-san is actually quite strong. You can't hit a poisonous attack with your throwing skills with an ordinary person.

Haha, it's nice to hear you say that, even though it's flattering.

"Buchou, I'm not trying to be flattering, but...

While soothing Elena, who for some reason babbled in frustration, I suddenly remembered and rummaged through my tool bag and pulled out yesterday's harvest to show her.

''Well, I got this item, do you know what it is?　My appraisal skills don't work either, and when I learned them myself, nothing happened.

In my hand was a necklace with a small rainbow colored gemstone on it.

I couldn't escape from the gold-colored demon that was chasing me at a ridiculously high speed, so I hit it with a poison bottle in desperation and luckily succeeded in defeating it and dropping it, but my item appraisal skills just couldn't identify the details.

Elena, who was handed the necklace by me, noticed something as she put it on and off, and held her hand out to me.

'Heel!'

As the glittering green light enveloped my body, the scrape on my knee that I made when I fell down trying to escape from the monster ahead of me was healed.

''Oh, so you can use recovery magic too?

''No, by nature, I cannot use any skills other than the water attribute. Apparently, equipping this item will allow you to use the holy attribute skill.''

'Oh, wow!　If there's a water spirit with a recovery skill or one in the party, it's going to be extremely useful to mooch!

''Haha. As much as I want to join Kanata-san's party, I can't get out of here.''

Elena muttered in disappointment as she reached out her hand...

[Security alert]

I have no authority to leave the Sacred Fountain.

'Restriction of action by a higher authority?　Who told you that?

It is true that I've heard about the restrictions on activities such as sealing summoned beasts and locking up criminals in prison, but I don't understand why Elena is locked up in such a remote place.

It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do with it.

''The one who sent me to this place is the Almighty God, the creator of the world.

I was blown away when he came out of the blue!

Speaking of God, he is the pinnacle of everything in this world and the source of power.

Most of the skills that exist in this world, such as my appraisal skills and the heal that Elena cast earlier, are only manifested by borrowing a part of their power from God, and if they were sent directly from such a person, it's a tremendous story.

''Could Elena be an amazingly high-powered spirit or something?''

'No, no, it's not that great a thing!　I am here to monitor their movements and report back to God if the situation requires it.

I see. And you've been doing that all by yourself?

"Right.

Elena replied with a smile, but her expression looked vaguely sad.

It is said that spirits, unlike humans, live in a near infinite amount of time.

How long has she been here?

Dozens, maybe hundreds of years...

Well, have you ever seen someone like me come in here so many times?

''Haha. As far as I know, Kanata-san is the only curious person who repeatedly comes to such an empty place. To begin with, it's in the opposite direction from the Demon King's Castle.''

Yeah.

That could only mean that Elena had been living in solitude here ever since she was created by God.

For some reason, I felt a pang in my chest when I thought about the God who put her alone in such a role.

I turned to Elena and told her my intentions, as if to break through the fogginess.

'I'll do that,'

Huh?

I said I'd give that necklace to Elena.

I was being blunt, but Elena's eyes widened in surprise at my statement and she shook her head buzzingly to the side.

''No, no, no, no, no, no!　Because no matter how you look at it, this is a rare item!

Indeed, if Elena was right, and even my appraisal skills couldn't analyze the details, then it's likely to be a ridiculously high-ranking treasure tool.

Perhaps just by selling this thing, I might be able to gain a fortune that would allow me to spend a lot of money in the city of Saihate.

........But I just didn't feel like it.

''It's fine. I've been indebted to Elena ever since I first came here, so let me repay her at least a little bit!

Return the favor?

He helped me when I was in trouble and had nowhere to go. I've been on my own ever since I was ostracized, and it's kind of nice to have someone to talk to, but it's a big help. When Elena is by my side, I feel at ease, and I want to be with her.......so I thank you for that!

I just want to express my gratitude, but I can't help but feel unused and awkward.

But I don't know if what I wanted to say was understood, Elena wet her eyes a little, and bowed deeply while squeezing the chest decoration with both hands.

''Thank you, thank you........''

Also, if I get hurt, it would help if you treated me like you did earlier.

"...yes!　Gladly!

After that, Elena was smiling all the time as she looked at the jewelry in the necklace happily, and I went back to the city, feeling a little happy.

I didn't know that after this, everything in this world would change forever....

・

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"130 years of St. King's history, blue moon, 16th day of the month, before dawn.

＜Land of the Frostian Islands.

People were fleeing from the flames that dyed the entire silver world red.

Although this city had been severely damaged by the attacks of the Four Demon Kings a few years ago, reconstruction was underway after the new wards were reestablished.

........It was supposed to be!

Oh no, the wards were destroyed in a single blow...?

The king muttered in dismay as he looked at the city that was burning as it once was.

The king quickly gathers the castle's elite and gives orders to annihilate the monsters that have attacked him.

However, assuming that they will be relying on the wards that protect the country, can these soldiers, who have minimal military strength and little experience in actual warfare, be able to fight properly?

It was clearer than the fire.

'How did this happen?　.... where did I go wrong!

No one answered the lonely king, who raised his voice in frustration.

[At the same time]

＜Jewel Continent, Holy City of Platena.

This is the world's largest city, the holy royal city of Platena.

The city before dawn, which should normally be quiet, is crowded with people watching the forest to the east.

''What the hell was that...!

From the king's vantage point from the royal castle, he saw a giant figure.

The place where the giant was standing was the holy place where humanity was born, which was discovered several years ago.

However, the area around the holy place had been destroyed by the Titans, and was covered in a terrible miasma.

And now that giant is advancing straight to the Sacred City....

''My king!''

When the king turned around at the sound of the voice calling him, he saw a knight commander, his face a grimace.

"The high priest says that's our 'savior' who will lead us to heaven...!

I'm not so sure about that.

The king's words caused the knight captain to huff and puff.

'There was once a young prophet whom the Central Church captured, wasn't there? Do you remember what that girl said to you?

"When the heroes are defeated in that land, the gates of the demon world will open and the world will be in flames.

'I am a servant of God, and for once I believe the girl was right.

What the hell!　So, what about Kanemitsu-dono, the heroic Kanemitsu-dono...?

Don't tell everyone. And even if they do, we have no choice but to fight.

....

Then the king took the sword in his hand and went into battle himself.

No, he was not the only one.

All over the world, everyone was fighting against the oncoming darkness.

But now, no one knows.

No one knows that the dawn will never come to this world again.

No one knows now that this world will never again see the dawn.

--And that this world will soon end.