Manga Born to Be King

　　"Warren so-and-so!"

　　Hestia, who came out from behind, also saw the person in front of her.

　　"Ah ah ah! I'm going too!"

　　Since it was not going to a dungeon where the gods were forbidden to enter, it was okay to bring Hestia, and the three of them left after breakfast.

　　----

　　Today is the day of the Harvest Festival in Adas Village.The rain has passed and the weather has cleared, and people are busy preparing.

　　Under the onlookers of adults and the booing of children, Ais was at a loss at first, but it didn't take long for her to get along with the gentle villagers.While helping with the preparation, Ais also smiled.

　　This village is really nice, and Ais saw that not long after this feeling occurred.

　　The one sits in a small, beautifully decorated stone house, with a twisted outline that looks a bit chipped.In the face of the strange dark light, Ais had goose bumps all over her body.

　　Ace was stunned.

　　Looking at that, she remained motionless, forgot to breathe, and was stunned.

　　"This is……"

　　In front of her eyes, a human-sized, pitch-black scale appeared.A hard block like smooth obsidian made Ais' heart beat faster.

　　A village name noticed Ais who was standing on the road and stared blankly here, and stepped forward and said.

　　"Lord Adventurer... This is the scale of Lord Black Dragon."

　　Ace was shocked.

　　"Black Dragon, my lord...?"

　　It was an ancient dragon called "the one-eyed dragon".

　　It is the strongest of the "ancient" monsters that invaded the ground.It was commissioned by the "Three Great Adventurers", as famous as the King of the Land and the King of the Sea, and the whole world is eager to conquer it.

　　The two great factions Zeus and Hera defeated the King of the Land and the King of the Sea, but the last "black dragon" killed the strongest adventurers in the world at that time.This has brought hell-like despair to the world, and it has also raised the "evil" forces led by the dark faction.

　　This legendary dragon still inhabits the ends of the continent.

　　It is said that once the sleeping dragon awakens - then the beginning of the end, it will pull the trigger of destruction.

　　The crusade against the "black dragon" is the "wishful wish" of the whole world, and this is the responsibility the world has given to the labyrinth city.Even Ais knew this, so it was impossible that no one knew.

　　But why does this village enshrine such a symbol of disaster?

　　"A long time ago, the Black Dragon City, which was banished from the Labyrinth City, dropped a few scales when it passed the sky above the village."

　　"..."

　　"Monsters are afraid of these scales and dare not approach. It is because of this scale that we can live and work in peace... This scale is the patron saint of this village."

　　The breath of ancient dragons is released from its scales.This is the king fluctuation standing at the top of the monster.Monsters are instinctively timid and can't get close.Thanks to this scale, the village can remain peaceful.

　　Ace was shocked.This mountain village in the depths of the "Beor Mountains" where monsters move, is so peaceful.She was already suspicious of that.

　　It turned out that it was these scales that were guarding "Adas Village".

　　"Of course, we also know that the 'Three Adventurers' Entrustment'... If we don't crusade Lord Black Dragon, the world will be destroyed sooner or later. We who benefit from the dragon's grace know this best. However, we must sacrifice, this is ours daily."

　　The villagers closed their eyes, folded their hands habitually, and offered prayers.

　　(To be protected by monsters...)

　　It is neither the adventurers nor themselves who protect them.But vicious, ugly, cruel monsters.Ais heard the cracking sound, and she felt as if her vision was distorted.

　　The monster is the enemy of man, and the monster is the absolute evil that breeds grief and tears.Ais believed so strongly, and it was precisely because of her belief that she persisted in swinging her sword to this day.

　　However, this existence that must be subjugated is actually protecting Ais' compatriots.Ace's values ​​collapsed.The absolute truth was subverted, which made her confused and disgusting.

　　——The mountain village where the belief in dragons took root.

　　This is Ace's unknown world.This is what Ace shouldn't know, the opposite of truth.

　　(Must, defeat the monster... the monster is, the monster is... "Dragon" is...)

　　The chaotic feelings are constantly churning.

　　"Monsters protect humans", Ais couldn't accept this absolute contradiction.There can never be "monsters that coexist with people".

　　If she agrees with this, Ais' reason for existence and her will to hold the sword will be shaken.Ais' sword must slaughter all monsters.The sadness sealed in my heart erupted, and the flames of hatred scorched my body and mind.

　　Ais had the illusion that "Adas Village" was burning.Like her hometown, this place was destroyed and robbed by monsters and completely turned into ruins.

　　Looking at the dragon scales that made her heart beat faster, and the fragments that symbolized the culprit, Ais felt heartbroken.

　　"Go, adventurer-sama?"

　　"!"

　　The timid voices of the villagers brought Aiz back to reality.Before she knew it, Ais was already clenching the sword of immortality in her right hand.Ais' trembling fingers creaked, and she nearly drew her sword.With all her strength, Ais finally released her fingers that were tightly gripping the hilt of the sword.

　　"...Sorry, I'm going, let's walk a little."

　　"Okay, okay..."

　　Ace said goodbye and left immediately.

　　She looked sideways at the villagers who were preparing for the festival with laughter and laughter. Along the way, she saw several dark dragon scales.Whether several fragments fell, or did the villagers chop them up by themselves? Judging from the hardness of the scales and the beliefs of the village, I am afraid it should be the former.There are many scales around Adas Village, and these scales are erected like stone tablets at the junction of the village and the forest.

　　Looking at these scales, Ais, whose body was stiff, clenched her hands.Because, she had to use her steely will to suppress her urge to draw her sword.

　　No matter how angry you are, you can't help thinking about these villagers.The Laughing Mountain Village guarded by the dragon scales, and the people living in the breath of the king of monsters, she could only watch such a contradictory scene before her eyes.Ais kept persuading herself not to worry anymore.

　　Over time, the sky stained red.The sun sank, and in the village shrouded in dusk, Ais returned to the first scale she saw just now.This scale is almost in the center of the village.

　　This beautifully decorated small stone house is the altar, and food is placed in front of the dragon scales for offering.This is part of the dragon that the villagers worship and revere.This is also the shard of calamity that could destroy the world.

　　"Ace."

　　Nangong Xiao's voice came from behind.Ais has only just noticed the breath behind her now, and it seems that she has no lingering aftertaste.Without looking back, she was silent, staring intently at the scales in front of her.

　　"It feels like God."

　　It's ironic that the black dragon who brought disaster to the world was enshrined like a god.

　　At this moment, the dark flames in Ais' heart swelled.Under the control of the passion that almost distorted her vision, she gently, denied him.

　　"This is not God."

　　His voice was so heavy, so cold, so sharp.His own voice was like a sharp sword ripping apart everything.

　　"..."

　　Ace lowered her eyes slightly.Ais finally regained a little reason, she suppressed the flame and suppressed her emotions.

　　"Let's go back."

　　Ais turned around and left the small stone house.Nangong Xiao followed silently. At this time, as long as he was not an idiot, he would not speak casually.

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　　That's it, Ace thought.I hope you don't ask anything, if you just intervene, I might explode.

　　In the mountain village shrouded in twilight, in this small world, Ais felt isolated.

　　It was difficult for Ais to calm her chaotic heart.

　　Alone, she closed her eyes and stroked "Desperate" to extinguish the fire in her heart.

　　While the preparations for the festival continued, Ais, who had sneaked out, returned to the village chief's mansion. She stood by the bed in the corridor and looked out.There are several logs piled up on the square.That must be used to light a bonfire.

　　Ais was silent, watching the scene of laughter before the festival, and the mountain village under the protection of the dragon.

　　"You, do you hate this village?"

　　"!"

　　It turned out to be the village head Kam.

　　Ais was startled. The elderly man did not follow his daughter. He came to Ais and looked out the window with her.

　　"You don't look the same as this morning."

　　"This is……"

　　Even if Ais wanted to deny it, she couldn't say it.

　　Just as Ais, who was stunned, tried her best to answer, Kam continued without caring. "This village is guarded by dragon scales. In the eyes of outsiders, it is indeed heretical, right?"

　　"I……"

　　"It's normal for you to think so. Especially for the adventurers who defeated the monsters... and the people who were taken away by the monsters."

...... 0

　　Ace opened her eyes.Cam, who seemed to know everything, said slowly, and he smiled out the window.

　　"In the beginning, I also hated this village very much."

　　"what……?"

　　Ais couldn't help but ask back, and the old human answered.

　　"It's embarrassing to say that, I was once a family member of a certain goddess... But I was very useless, and I couldn't protect that lady at all, and I lost her in the end. Mountain' wants to know itself."

　　Looking at the red-stained face of the setting sun and the sad eyes, Ais suddenly realized that this person once fell in love with the goddess.

　　"However, I ended up in this village. I was furious at the villagers who rescued me. I kept yelling at them, why not let me die."

　　"That's why you hate this place...?"

　　"Yeah. But...the villagers didn't abandon me. They held my hand tightly in loneliness..."

　　I am redeemed.Even if I despair of the world, even if I shed tears.

　　Mr. Cam said with a serene smile.

　　"The people in this village, except for the newly born children, everyone has their own 'pain'. Each of them has faded out of the world they have lived in until now, each of them has been desperate, and everyone has cried dry tears..."

　　"..."

　　"I'm thinking maybe it's just comforting each other. But I really, really appreciate them."

　　Looking at the scene in the village, the old man narrowed his eyes.

　　"Because, I'm not 'alone.'"