"When the battle against the Demon Lord's army is over…I want you to make me your bride, Chrome."

That night, I had received a sudden proposal.

It came from the priest Irina, a member of the hero's party, and my lover.

She's twenty-one years old, three years younger than me.

She was a beautiful woman with long blond hair and lovely blue eyes.

We were in the courtyard of a hotel and nobody was around.

It was just the two of us under the pale moonlight.

"S, sorry, I got ahead of myself. You must be surprised by how sudden this is."

Ah, she's so cute.

"No, the feeling's mutual. Irina, let's get married once our fight is over."

Our battle is always accompanied by danger.

However, we'll definitely make it through.

Then, we'll lead a life of happiness.

Irina and I.

The next day, the hero's party began a battle against the Demon Lord army's front base.

"Die, hero and all else!"

A gigantic black dragon shouted.

That dragon is one of the top ranked among the Demon Lord's army, the "Dark Dragon."

A powerful enemy who possesses an intelligence above that of humans, leading to it possessing powerful magic, and had a tough vitality as well.

It assaulted us with its flaming dragon breath.

"'Holy Shield!'"

Irina chanted an incantation.

A shield of glittering energy emerged, repelling the breath.

It was one of the best defense magic options, unique to a priest.

"Let's go, Chrome. On my cue."

The teacher who taught me magic and a companion to our journey, the sage Valery, spoke majestically.

"'Fire Storm!'"

"'Ice Storm!'"

The Dark Dragon fell back in face of the flames and ice we both hurled together.

"Arrrgh!"

The black dragon swung its tail in anger.

"You think we'll let you do that?!"

"Your opponents are us!"

"Ooooooooough!"

A giant warrior, a swordswoman, and a middle-aged knight all lunged towards it.

They were Riotte, Farrah, and Margo, the vanguard of the hero's party.

They unleashed an axe, sword, and a spear to bisect the dragon's tail.

"Grrrraaaaaaaaaaah!"

The dragon flinched and screamed in pain.

"Now, Yuno!"

"Okay."

In response to my call, a figure flew forward in a flash.

He was a young boy with graceful looks and dazzling gold armor.

He was only one of seven "heroes" in this word, Yuno.

"Destroy the demons, holy sword 'Vice!'"

Before the dragon could readjust its posture, he swung the golden holy sword.

The blade released flashes of light, bisecting the Dark Dragon's body.

"We did it, Yuno!"

"It's all because of everyone's support, even yours, Chrome."

Yuno responded to what I had said with a clear smile.

I thought about how humble my companion seemed to be.

I would call this young man my close friend before calling him a hero.

The Demon Lord had been resurrected three years ago.

The Demon Lord invaded the entire world, leading thirteen troops.

Half a year later, half of the world had fallen into their hands.

In order to oppose such a force, a god had chosen seven heroes.

The heroes each picked their companions and began splitting up to battle against the Demon Lord's army.

I, Chrome Walker, was one of those people selected for being in the "hero's party."

We returned to an inn after defeating the Dark Dragon.

The battle against one of thirteen leaders of the Demon Lord's army, Frangulas, is close.

We've already hunted down seven of Frangulas' powerful monster subordinates, including today's Dark Dragon.

Since the enemy's forces have reduced significantly, it's about time to begin the fight.

Actually, it was Valery, the party's adviser, who decided that now was the time.

"…Oh right, I'll go see Irina's face before heading to bed."

I left my room.

Teacher Valery, Riotte, Margo, and I were staying at one floor.

Farrah, Irina, and the hero Yuno were staying at the floor upstairs.

I headed towards the above floor while the stairs creaked.

"Huh…?!"

Thereupon, I froze in shock.

"I wanted to see you…"

"Me too…"

I spotted a shadow entering Yuno's room stealthily, as if not wanting to be seen.

Could it be?

It must be a mere misunderstanding.

However, no matter how I looked at it…

I saw the figure of Irina, who supposedly vowed yesterday to be with me in the future.

"Why is Irina in Yuno's room…?"

Though puzzled, I soon shook my head.

Irina probably went to Yuno's room to take care of some business.

I'd be a fool to suspect my lover and best friend for even a moment.

"I wanted to say good night to Irina, but I guess not today. I'll sleep in preparation for what's to come tomorrow."

I turned around.

──I wanted to see you

──Me too.

Those voices from just a moment ago echoed within my head.

When I tried to go down the stairs, my legs halted.

"…I can't, it's really on my mind."

I knew it was a bad thing to do, but I retracted my steps.

I silenced my footsteps and headed towards Yuno's room

It's not like I'm suspicious.

I just want to check.

I gently pressed my ear against the door while feeling a sense of guilt.

"Irina, I love you…"

"Yeah, me too…I love you, hero…!"

The voices I heard caused me to blank out.

What's going on…?!

The next thing I heard was a faint breath.

The rustling of clothes being removed.

A sweet and flirtatious voice, the creaking of a bed.

Before long, Irina let out a cry of pleasure that not even I had heard.

What is going on…?!

I screamed internally.

Irina, didn't you say that you wanted to marry me?

Yuno, weren't we best friends?

So what's going on with those two…?

That evening, I couldn't get a wink of sleep.

"Good morning, Chrome."

Yuno gave his greetings as he descended to the dining hall on the first floor.

He had his usual clear, gentle smile.

"You look pale, you know? Is your condition okay?"

It didn't seem like his concern towards me was superficial at all.

It looked like he was genuinely worried about me.

I can't believe what happened last night.

"Are you not feeling well?"

Irina approached while also seeming worried.

The both of them displayed their usual attitudes.

It's as if what I saw yesterday was just some bad dream.

However, I definitely heard it.

I was in so much shock that nothing else registered in my mind.

As her lover, should I have entered that room?

I ended up just fleeing from the scene.

"It's…nothing."

I said that to the best of my ability.

"The time is ripe. Let's head out to subdue Frangulas soon."

Teacher Valery proposed as such.

"Indeed. He's not a threat if we all band together. Right, Chrome?"

Yuno expressed his agreement.

"Huh? Oh, um…"

"If anyone happens to fall under danger, I'll definitely protect them with my defense magic."

Irina displayed her usual courageous self.

The other three also showed their enthusiasm and talked about how "the battle will be today."

However, I could see a glimpse of anxiety within everyone's faces.

──The difference in achievements between our party and the other six parties was like night and day.

The other parties had at least taken down one of the leaders of the Demon Lord's army.

However, we were the only ones who have not yet killed any leader at all.

"Now then, let's depart. We'll definitely defeat Frangulas."

Yuno didn't have his usual clear smile, but instead held a rather stiff expression.

We traversed into a deep forest.

Eventually, we would supposedly find Frangulas' castle.

However…

"Gah…Aah…?!"

Suddenly, my entire body was attacked by a fierce numbness.

That numbness soon turned into a sharp pain that coursed throughout my entire body.

"T, this is…? Guh…uhhhh."

No longer having any strength in my knees, I fell over.

My breathing turned rough, I raised my head while I was on my hands and knees.

"Forbidden Arts 'Chains of Despair.'"

When I looked up, Teacher Valery was looking down at me with a blank expression.

"Sorry, Chrome. You're the sacrifice."

"Sacri…fice…?"

"Remember how I said that the time was ripe? Our hero needs more power in order to defeat Frangulas."

"What…are you…?"

My mind suddenly turned blank.

"So for that reason, we will begin the rites, Chrome."

Irina spoke coldly to me.

Huh, what's the meaning of this…?

Her indifferent gaze towards me had not an ounce of the affection she had when she was my supposed lover.

"Sorry, but be the sacrifice."

The other three, the warrior Riotte, the swordswoman Farrah, and the knight Margo, all looked down at me with an apathetic gaze as well.

"We call upon a curse. This curse will give birth to 'darkness,' but will also give birth to a strong 'light' at the same time."

Teacher Valery──no, Valery pointed a staff at me.

"Gaah…ahh…?!"

The intense pain amplified.

The pain was so severe that my hair began falling off.

All of the hair that fell off turned white.

Furthermore, my hands and feet withered away in the blink of an eye.

What remained of me was practically skin and bones.

It felt as if the vitality inside me was being taken away.

At this rate, it'll all be sucked out, and then I'll die…

I felt despair under the fear and hopelessness.

"The light created by your 'darkness' will strengthen the hero's power. The deeper your 'darkness,' the more anger, pain, hatred, and despair you feel, the stronger your negative emotions are, the more power the hero will gain from the 'light.' It won't be long before even the Demon Lord will fall."

I can't comprehend this.

Am I being the sacrifice for some kind of ritual…?!

Judging from the words my teacher was saying, this is to make the hero stronger…?

"Why…me…?"

Several emotions coursed through my chest.

Anger.

Chaos.

Bewilderment.

And, despair.

"Everyone decided on this."

"To strengthen the hero."

"You're the sacrifice."

"Everyone wants to survive."

Riotte and the others each spoke.

My supposed companions tore me apart with their words.

"Don't worry, she'll make me happy."

"Sorry, Chrome. I won't forget you."

Yuno and Irina embraced each other and passionately kissed right in front of my eyes, and that's when my consciousness faded.

Thus, all was lost.

And…

A "darkness" awakened within me.

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