It's no use!
We're doomed!
Forward!
Save my people!
I-Incredible.
This should finish it!
I see you are in good health.
Rest easy, my people.
Together, we shall leave this mine behind and you will be rewarded for your service.
Sentenced to Be a Hero
I'd given up all hope on help arriving.
Yeah, well. We had orders from the Holy Knights.
I want you all to take up arms.
King Norgalle here is a sacred seal specialist.
"King"?
Down here, with no sunlight to power them, sacred seals consume energy quickly.
As the luminescence stored in an object is finite,
the sacred seal will have a limited number of uses.
But when carved by my hand,
a seal's energy consumption is vastly lower compared to the mass-produced kind,
while its effectiveness is vastly improved.
This is testament to my status as the true king of this realm.
Xylo. How long can we keep fighting?
Good question.
What's that clasp for?
What?
Ah, my apologies. I was curious.
It gauges the amount of luminescence in my body.
The light grows dimmer as it runs out.
You have many times the luminescence of an ordinary man.
As befits one of my elite guard.
You honor me with your recognition.
But I'd say we can't last much longer.
The call to withdraw got to us too late.
It's always the workers who are the last to be informed.
Thank you for the water.
Keep it.
Thank you for everything.
Are you the only survivors?
I expected more.
There were 50 of us to start with.
Then out of nowhere, one man mentioned hearing voices.
Voices?
Yes.
While we all slept, he wandered off somewhere,
and when he returned, he'd become a monster.
So we did it together.
We had no choice.
Does everyone have a weapon?
Are you ready, my people?
Tatsuya shall lead the way.
Xylo, you—
I know.
Ensuring this retreat remains orderly will be disgustingly difficult.
I'll follow on behind and guard the rear.
Gentlemen, watch each other's backs.
I refuse to leave a single man behind.
Xylo, once we've returned safe, I shall confer upon you the title of commander-in-chief.
Honor and glory await you.
Thanks. I can't wait.
What's that?
What the...
We haven't even set off yet.
Get up!
You need to protect yourselves!
Change of plan.
We'll hold the line here.
Let's take 'em out!
Th-There's no way.
There's too many.
Damn.
Now this really feels like a punishment.
Let's decide the order of our deaths.
You'll die first, Xylo.
Glad to hear it.
I'll die next.
Then it'll be Tatsuya.
Our lives are meaningless compared to these loyal servants of the kingdom.
You're one hell of a king.
That's all. Return to your post.
Yes, ma'am.
She's been acting like that since her pacted hero left her.
She's clearly no use as a weapon.
The moment we're ready, we'll set out.
That Demon Lord will fall.
Patch up anyone who's bleeding. One sip of water each.
Look alive, people.
The moment you're ready, I want you back on your feet.
I-I can't move.
My legs hurt.
This is impossible.
I can't do this anymore.
What the hell are you doing? You want them to eat you?
Gentlemen.
You have long risked your lives tearing down walls,
serving as this kingdom's lifeblood.
Such valiant men have no need to fear.
Now, rise and fight.
If you both think we can, we'll try.
His speech worked better than mine?
That seal on your neck.
You're heroes, aren't you?
Oh. You knew the whole time?
And I guess you've heard that heroes are the world's vilest criminals.
Whatever evil deeds you've done, you still came here to save us.
You didn't write us off as expendable.
So I think it's worth seeking out a less ignoble way to die.
Screw that. You're not dying that easily.
Indeed.
Your devotion to this kingdom. Your years caked in mud and sweat.
I consider them priceless.
And I won't let them be stolen.
Damn.
If we had a probe seal, we'd at least know how many there are.
Let's do this.
I ain't dying yet.
Get ready! Here they come!
To the left! Hold them off!
Good! Keep it up!
Go, my people!
Your Majesty!
Die!
Damn.
Foreman!
Forgive my delayed arrival.
The Goddess of Swords, Teoritta...
stands before you once more.
Now, gentlemen.
Go ahead and indulge your desire to shower me with praise.
Goddess, I see you have come to bless our endeavors.
You have my utmost gratitude.
Think nothing of it, Norgalle.
Between my knight and myself, your victory is now assured.
Men, we'll make a fence.
I'll engrave the swords with sacred seals. When I'm done, plant them in the ground.
Yes, sir!
What do you think you're doing here?
What happened to the Holy Knights?
I gave them the slip.
Their watchful eyes were no match for my greatness.
Now, Xylo, praise me at once.
Hell no.
Why not? Is it because I arrived so belatedly?
That was only because you left me behind in the first place.
This treatment is unbearable. You must never—
Like I keep telling you, I don't have any plans to use you.
So then what...
What do you wish of me?
Just stop trying to die.
Don't die for other people or for some weird idea of glory.
Stay alive, even if you're useless.
Yes, it is because you say such things that you are worthy of my sacrifice.
You keep me at a distance out of concern for my well-being, yes?
Like hell I do! Piss off!
But your opinions about me are irrelevant.
Say what?
I am a goddess. I was born to be of use to others.
I crave their praise and exaltation.
Even if this desire is merely written into our nature,
I still wish to live my life gloriously.
So too bad for you, Xylo.
Even if you are my knight, you cannot stop my heart's desire.
Man your posts. Another wave is incoming.
Get inside the fence.
They can't get in from underground!
Teoritta, get back.
Xylo, if you disapprove of my bent towards self-sacrifice...
then you should simply protect me at all costs.
Oh, is that it?
Then I guess that's what I'll do!
Take this!
And this!
There's more—
Is this the voice?
My knight!
You...
Our powers of protection and healing. This should alleviate the tinnitus.
I didn't ask for your help.
My knight, you still...
I shall listen to complaints later.
It appears to have come to us.
The source of the Demon Lord Blight.
You.
Found you.
I've found you.
That's Demon Lord Lotus?
The voice... Th-The voice...
The voice!
Stay back. That Demon Lord will corrupt your soul.
But...
I-It's trying to tell me something.
Hey!
Damn it.
Hey!
Y-You'll pay.
M-My people. You seek to lead them astray.
Filthy thief.
Contemptible usurper!
Teoritta, it's not safe outside the sacred seal fence.
We'll support Tatsuya from here!
Will he be all right on his own?
He seems unaffected by the tinnitus.
Now, make more swords!
A fantastic idea.
Rely on me even more!
Been a while since I covered someone else.
Tatsuya, go!
Slay the Demon Lord!
Tatsuya! Keep going!
I need more! More swords!
Here!
Slice it in two!
A decoy? That's not the main body?
Xylo! There!
So that's the core, huh?
Damn. It ran out.
There it is! Support the goddess and the miners!
No, stay back!
What is this?
The voice...
Damn it all.
Your Majesty!
I shall protect my people!
You'll pay, you filthy usurper!
Majesty, that's it! Burn the core!
You stole my peo—
Damn it.
Go! We'll handle things here!
Xylo!
Put an end to it, my knight!
Burn to death, you bastard!
What do I do now?
You'll pay. You'll pay.
You'll pay! You'll pay!
You'll pay! You'll pay! You'll pay! You'll pay!
You'll pay!
Norgalle.
Norgalle! Stay right where you are!
I'm coming to save you!
Your Majesty!
You really are one hell of a king!
Is it over?
The heroes really...
That should stem the bleeding.
This time... Did I make it in time?
Where are my people?
Must protect...
It is done, my knight.
Yeah.
I'm so glad you're home safe.
Welcome back, Dad!
Rajit?
My! Well done, all.
Oh, no need to worry about His Majesty.
He's been sent to the repair shop.
He'll probably be getting a new leg from someone else, of course.
I hope they find a good one for him.
That mad king saved a lot of lives today.
Heroes?
No way.
Aren't they criminals?
Unbelievable.
What's going on here?
I'm sure they'll come to understand someday.
Don't worry. We're used to it.
No matter what anyone else says, you're the reason we're alive.
Because of you, we didn't die, even in a less ignoble way.
You'll have to thank His Majesty for that.
Yes. Someday, I will.
And I finally get to celebrate my daughter's birthday.
You have something for him, don't you, sweetheart?
Y-Yes.
Thank you, Mr. Hero.
Ahem.
Take heed, young one.
It is my blessing that allowed my knight to fight so valiantly.
You should first offer accolades to me, his goddess.
Goddess?
Enough. Don't make demands of your fellow children.
"Fellow children"? Are you calling me a child?
Such insolence. You should keep those thoughts to yourself—
Pipe down.
I appreciate the sentiment, but it doesn't really suit me.
Teoritta.
You have it.
A truly charming flower.
Yup, kids love flowers.
My knight! Cease describing me in that way!
They broke no shortage of regulations. I'll see they get reprimanded on our return—
Wait.
Even if they're criminals, they still saved lives.
It won't kill you to let them be praised for it.
But...
Better than someone who waves around that crest and doesn't do a minute of real fighting.
Xylo Forbartz.
Do you not think this flower suits me?
The goddess-killer hero.
It really does! Next time, my knight and I shall—
C'mon. Time to go.
What? Surely there is no hurry?
I wanna talk some more, too.
Right?