"I'll Catch Up Later, So Go On Ahead!" I Said, and Stayed Behind in the Dungeon for Five Years. When I Returned to the Royal Capital, for Some Reason, I Had Become a Great Criminal, So I Decided to Retire. But Outstanding People Keep Gathering Around Me Though... - Episode 38: The Shadow Hero
Episode 38: The Shadow Hero
“Do you have any idea how much time and effort I’ve put in to get here!? Of course *I* am the one most suited to be king!! In the end, this world is ruled by violence!!!”
As Prince Raiz poured power into his ring, a gate appeared once again. From it, monstrous beasts of the Abyss Sanctum poured forth — but I cut them all down in an instant using Arlia.
All that remained in their place were scattering particles.
“Why…! Why do you have such power…!?”
“For five years, I’ve been fighting in the Abyss Sanctum. That’s all.”
“Kh… Damn it aaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
Perhaps having lost all composure, Prince Raiz poured even more magic into the ring — but then, *crack*! The ring shattered. Unable to control the gate any longer, he was pulled toward it. Though he was barely resisting being dragged in… it was only a matter of time.
“Ugh… damn! Did I pour in too much magic!?”
“Prince Raiz. It’s over. Your dream of becoming king is finished.”
“Hero! Save me…! If you do, I’ll promise you the highest position once I become king!!”
Even now, that’s all he could say… I could only feel disappointment.
Royalty no longer matters. I slowly walked toward him as he clung to the ground. He was barely resisting the pull of the gate.
“Hurry!! HEEEROOOOOO!!!”
“I’m not interested in status.”
I gripped one of the swords of Arlia and readied it.
“H-Hey… Do you understand what you’re doing!? I’m royalty!! If you let me die… it’ll be a serious crime!!”
“A crime? You’re the one who made me a criminal in the first place. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Stop… Stop it… Stop it!! You know what you’re doing, don’t you!?”
With a cold stare, I deliberately used polite language to send him off.
“Indeed. I managed to come back. Maybe you’ll be able to return too. Now then, I wish you a safe journey—”
“GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!”
Those were the last words of Prince Raiz.
I stabbed one of my Arlia swords into his wrist and severed it. Unable to resist any longer, he was sucked into the Abyss Sanctum and vanished. At the same moment, the gate closed completely.
It was over.
All the grudges and twisted fates were cut off here.
It had been such a long journey.
I reincarnated, became a Hero, and then spent five years in the Abyss Sanctum.
It felt like an impossibly long road—but now, it was over.
“Senpai…!”
“Sensei!”
“Haru-sama!”
“Haru!!”
The four of them rushed toward me. And I welcomed them into my arms.
All of them hugged me with such strength.
“Thank you, everyone. It’s finally over—”
Thus, all the lingering threads around me… came to an end.
†
Epilogue
Prince Raiz’s many crimes were finally exposed to the public. It revealed his hidden corruption and tyranny.
Outraged, the people raised their voices. And a wave of reform swept through the royal capital.
Those who clung to power were stripped of it one after another.
Those who had been silenced began to speak out.
The silence and fear that once gripped the capital vanished. And the air began to change.
The former puppet king, whose health had been failing, passed away shortly after the situation was resolved.
Now, as if to reclaim those lost five years, the world slowly began to walk the path of justice once again.
“Long live the king!”
“Glory to a new era!”
“Blessings upon the new king!”
The new king appeared before the people.
The First Prince had been crowned and now delivered a speech.
I watched from a distance. A faint smile was on my face.
Just then, a voice spoke to me from the side.
“Haruto-sama. Thank you truly, from the bottom of my heart.”
She looked like a common town girl. But she was actually Princess Tiris, the Second Princess.
I had expected her to become the next monarch, but that hadn’t happened.
“You saved this world. You’re a hero. But… are you really okay with this?”
“Yes. I was never meant to be a hero. Nor do I want to be one. This is the best conclusion for me.”
That’s right. In the center of the royal capital now stands a statue —
A tribute to *Hero Haruto*, who saved the world.
I had requested that Hero Haruto be declared dead.
It was revealed that the reason I was branded a criminal was due to Prince Raiz’s false accusations.
Now I’m hailed as a hero.
But if I were to show myself again as Hero Haruto, I’d gain wealth and fame.
I didn’t want that.
The role of Hero Haruto—
I believed it was time to put a period on it.
“I see… If anything ever troubles you, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll help with all my strength.”
“Understood. But Tiris-sama… you didn’t want to be queen?”
“I’m not fit to be a ruler.”
She said it as if looking far into the distance.
“I couldn’t bear to see the people suffer anymore. That’s why I stood up. It took a long time, but I believe things will move in the right direction now.”
“Yes… I’m hopeful too.”
Now, I will return to my daily life.
In the truest sense, Hero Haruto no longer exists.
From now on, I will live as “Haru the baker”.
“Haruto-sama… No, I mean, Haru-sama.”
“Yes—”
Just as I was about to ask “What is it?”, I felt something on my cheek.
I instantly realized — it was her lips.
“…Eh?”
“Hehe. I’ll be waiting, anytime.”
Princess Tiris smiled sweetly.
“Aaah! Senpai! What are you doing!?”
“Haru-sama? That just now was…”
“Sensei! Explain yourself!”
“You kissed… No fair…”
The four of them came rushing up to me.
I looked toward Princess Tiris, wondering what I should do —
But she had already melted away into the crowd.
She gave a small wave and a mischievous smile.
Though we hadn’t spoken long, I felt I now understood her a little better.
“Senpai! You and Princess Tiris…!”
“Haru-sama, could you explain in detail?”
“Well, I’m not really interested, but still… Sensei, what’s your intention?”
“I’m hungry. I want Haru’s bread.”
Finally, my ordinary life had returned.
And I realized once more — this was what I had truly been seeking.
I move forward — without any more hesitation.
†
“—You pass.”
At long last, the moment came.
The boss finally gave me his approval.
“O-oh…!”
“Haru-san! You did it!”
Today’s bread had turned out perfectly. But I hadn’t expected it to meet the passing criteria.
Only after a short while did it truly sink in.
“From today on, Haru’s bread can be sold in the shop.”
“Yes! Understood!”
And so, starting today, my bread would be on display.
“Haru-san, you did it!”
“Yeah. It’s thanks to your help, Lisel.”
“No, no. I’m just happy I could help a little.”
Just then, a pair — a man and a woman — entered the shop.
I greeted them cheerfully as usual.
“Welcome!”
I recognized the man.
“Haru-san. Long time no see.”
“Leo?”
“Yes. I finally made it.”
He was Leo — a swordsman I once sparred with in the forest.
Though he called himself just a swordsman, I never believed that’s all he was.
And judging from the atmosphere… he wasn’t here just to buy bread.
“Let me introduce myself again. My real name is—*Sword Saint Leonhart*. I’ve come today to make a request to Hero Haruto.”
“Sword Saint Leonhart…?”
I had thought my peaceful life had finally returned…
But that was merely the calm before the storm.
Forgotten shadows crept silently closer.
Ghosts of the past. New ambitions.
Once again, the gears of my fate began to turn.
To protect peace—or perhaps—
Either way, I would step once more into the eye of the storm.
End of Chapter 1: The Shadow Hero
Original Author’s Comment:
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[Afterword]
That’s the end of Chapter 1. Thank you so much for reading up to this point!
Actually… this was originally planned to be the end of the story.
But thanks to the unexpected number of readers, I’m thinking of slowly working on Chapter 2 as well.
I don’t have a plot yet, so it might take a while.
Still, I hope you’ll continue to support this work!
If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a ★ rating!
(Here’s the link if you want to support the Author: https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622174310776573.)
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