The Forsaken Hero - Volume 1 Chapter 22

Change Into a Slave, and Two Demons Part 2

So cold.

This is is where am I?

Everything before I blacked outs fuzzy. At times like this, one should take it slow, think through it I arrived at Trance Labyrinth, then Mahara, Minamoto, and Yuuji all went to the Monster House Yuuji came back then Hayase collapsed!

Right, Yuujino, that man struck my neck

Hayases in trouble!!

Hayase!

Kyaah!?

When I sat up, I heard a small scream. It wasnt Hayase, but it was a nostalgic voice, one from a person I knew well.

I looked to who the voice came from.

Upon doing so, I saw the best friend Id deserted in Rigal DenI saw Shuri.

Sh-Shu ri?

Oh, youre awake, Yui.

There was no doubt about it. The girl smiling at me was unmistakably my best friend, Hamakaze Shuri.

Eh, but how?

Shuri, she but how?

She defeated all those demons?

Is this a dream?

I pinched my cheek. It hurt.

Its not a dream.

I teared up and couldnt hold them back, the irreplaceable friend I thought had died was still alive.

Shuri!

Seeing my friend so close in front of me, I reached my hands out for her.

Glancing at me like that, Shuri backed up a step. Shed refused my embrace.

Sh-Shuri! Why!? This is our touching reunion!

Sorry, but this isnt touching for me.

Her words pierced my chest like blades.

I felt like cold water splashed down onto my head. My excitement slowly receded, leaving only self-loathing.

Right. Even though Id done such a terrible thing to her, I didnt think about the way she felt at all

Shuri. That Tamaki girl woke up?

Yes, Daichi. Just now.

Eh?

What brought me back out of my negative spiral was the voice of the man that was meant to be our guard.

Yo, Tamaki. How did you like your first time being knocked out?

Upon looking up, I saw the betrayer, the wicked fiend, the corners of his mouth curved up.

Where did that gentleness of yours run off to?

Sarcasm right away is it? It was an act.

Yuuji gave it away, seemingly happy with how things played out.

Even with things how they are, I was prepared to get away the moment he let his guard down.

I didnt tell that man, but I had another Special Ability.

Incantation Omission.

I can invoke a magic just by using its name. By just saying a magics name with over fifteen hundred mana on my status, its possible to utilize the magic.

Its a Special Ability very few people in this world are said to have.

Yuuji shouldnt have a reason to think I can use it.

Youre good at tricking people. Hayase seemed to like you especially well?

That part surprised me. Its unfortunate for Hayase, though, the only one for me is Shuri.

Wha

Yuuji hugged Shuri from behind her. It sent chills down my back.

My precious friend was being played around with by a man like that. That alone was plenty enough for me to attack him.

Stop it right there! Shuri, duck!

Ill shoot a point-blank magic at him!

I jumped up and launched a magic.

Freezing Lance!

I took the lance in my hands and aimed it at his face.

However, just as I was about to hit, I was stopped by the person I never thought would do so.

Yui, what are you doing?

Gripping the tip of the lance, she looked angry. She was staring at me with clear hostility.

It was practically overawing, but I didnt back down.

I had to bring her back.

Let go, Shuri! I will help you!

Help You dare to say something like that after abandoning me back then?

That was!

Her cutting words pierced me again. Even so, nothing she said was wrong. I knew that. It was obvious.

But thats also the reason why Id lost my composure. I had to bring Shuri back to herself no matter what.

Im sorry! Ill apologize as much as it takes! But please just listen to me! That man is dangerous! Believe me, at least just for now, come here!

Daichi is dangerous?

Yeah! That guy attacked me and Hayase he mightve even done the same to Mahara and Minamoto.

If youre talking about those two, theyre dead.

He attackedeh? Dead? Eh?

It felt like I just heard something unbelievable.

Two heroes were killed?

By an ordinary adventurer?

Or maybe by Shuri?

Wh-What are you?

Its like this. Here

The one to say that wasnt Shuri, but Yuuji. He suddenly threw something round over to me, I caught it.

I felt something disgusting on my hands.

The eyes looked like theyd been crying. It was missing teeth. The nose was crooked. Some of its blonde hair was dyed red.

What I held was one of my classmates severed heads.

Uaaaaah!?

Throwing it as far as I could so that I wouldnt have to take another look at it, I wasnt able to hold back my nausea and threw up.

Oooeh! Haah haah

Hey now. Thats your classmates head, you should be more careful with it.

Yuuji looked at me like he had nothing to do with it at all. He was ridiculing me, and enjoying it.

Hes crazy!

You fiend!

Saying stuff like that, talk about playing innocent. Right, Shuri?

Yes, Daichi. Its as you say.

Shuri

She appeared to be very thoroughly brainwashed by him. She must be suffering on the inside.

The fact I cant do anything here even with that is!

What power?

What hero?

I cant even save my friend here in front of me.

You manipulated my best friend, you captured me What do you want!?

Just one thing, really.

Yuuji grabbed me, who was sitting down, by the nape of the neck and raised me up. He lifted me up easily, so far that my feet couldnt even touch the ground.

Kah ah

Being squeezed like that, I had trouble breathing.

I cant breathe

I want to get my revenge on you all. Particularly on Samejima.

Why what did, Samejima do to?

You still dont get it? Shuris been saying my name for a while now though?

Shuri?

I thought within my fading consciousness.

Its true, she hadnt been calling him Yuuji, but Daichi.

Daichi?

I dont know anyone by that na oh.

I do. One person.

Similar to Shuri, there was a boy left behind that day.

His name was Katsuragi Daichi. The class punching bag.

N-No way

He cant be alive. I saw it myself. Back then, a monster dug right into him. It ate him.

No way

Looks like you finally realized.

Ah

He suddenly dropped me, causing me to fall on my butt.

It hurt.

Im Katsuragi Daichi. I returned all the way from hell to get my revenge.

He put the sword that had been at his waist against my neck and grinned.

My disbelief quickly turned to fear. I couldnt stop my teeth from chattering either as I started to cry.

Its because I understood that the bloodlust coming from him was the real deal. Otherwise, theres no way I wouldve been frightened by someone like Katsuragi.

Hes going to retaliate for everything weve done to him until now. That thought filling my mind, all I could see for myself was death. Feeling death near me, I couldnt help but instinctively think back through my life Im scared.

Dying is scary

Now then, Tamaki. Ill give you two choices.

Wh-What?

Will you die here and lose your life forever? Or will you devote your life to being my slave?

The offer he gave me was tempting.

If you become my slave, you can be together with Shuri. Ill even promise that I wont harm you anymore.

R-Really?

However, the moment I think youre acting weird, me, the red devil over there, and Shuri will kill you, no mercy. If you still want to, Tamaki, Ill let you live.

I-Ill be your slave! Please! Ill devote my life to you! S-So please, dont kill me!

My mouth obviously clung to the bit of hope Id been given.

I could live. I didnt have to die. That alone was enough of a reason.

That so? You chose well, Tamaki. Good job.

Th-Thank you.

Seemingly satisfied with my prompt response, he re-sheathed his sword.

Released from the threes bloodlust, I could finally feel happy at being alive.

Tamaki Yui. With this, you are my provisional slave.

On that day, I went from being a hero to being Katsuragi Daichis slave.