An ordinary profession creates the world's strongest

"A dark... cave?"

A certain scene suddenly appeared before Shia and the others.

It was as if fog had replaced a screen, with high-density magical light acting as the information medium, playing fragments of images.

Encountering this strange situation, Shia and the others were so fascinated that they even forgot to leave the room. Ling whispered:

"Somehow, it feels like Orcus..."

"Indeed, speaking of a vast cave illuminated by green stones, one is reminded of the Great Labyrinth of Orcus."

Tio confirmed Ling's speculation.

Speaking of the cave illuminated by pale green walls, it is indeed the [Orcus Great Labyrinth] built to mine the green light stone veins.

However, Ling couldn't say so definitively, because the cave in the image was different from the surface labyrinth that Ling and the others knew. The surface labyrinth still retained some of the structure of a "building", while the cave in the image showed a very pristine natural appearance.

It was a natural cave, uncarved by humans. Moreover, its width and height were far different from the Orcus that Ling and the others knew.

As Xia and the others grew increasingly confused, the video continued to play. As the video played, everyone gradually realized the truth.

——He went deeper into the dark cave, deeper into the cave.

—A huge intersection appeared.

—A rabbit-shaped monster with white fur, enlarged hind legs, and dark red lines on its body that resembled blood vessels.

At that moment, a strong emotion was conveyed to Shia and the others through the red magic.

"Is this... uneasiness? And anxiety?"

"I also feel a sense of fear... Is this image a memory?"

"I'm afraid it's the master's memory. This is the memory of the place I heard about before, the 'Abyss'."

Xia and the others' speculation was correct.

Along with the image, the magical power that filled the entire magic circle room conveyed Hajime's current emotions - the uneasiness, anxiety and fear that emerged when facing the abnormal monster he had never seen before.

Although they didn't know the reason or cause for this situation, at least Shia and the others could understand that the images they saw and the emotions they felt belonged to Hajime.

What happened in the abyss—leaving aside the part after meeting Yue—Hajime still doesn't want to talk about what happened before meeting Yue. Because that's all in the past, and Hajime doesn't have the habit of showing off his hardships or misfortunes.

Therefore, this was a good opportunity for Shia and the others to learn about Hajime's past, which they themselves hadn't. Shia and the others exchanged glances for a moment, unanimously deciding to stay. Then, they gazed intently at the image.

It was this beginning that shaped the person they loved into who they are today. Now that they have the opportunity to learn about his past, Shia, Kaori, Shizuku, and Tio can't choose to leave. Ryutaro, Suzu, and Kouki also seem quite interested and begin to focus on the images.

At that moment, someone cried out, "Ah!" The rabbit-shaped monster in the video, emitting an unusual aura, charged towards them with all its might.

"Mr. Hajime!"

"Hashi-kun!"

Shia and Kaori couldn't help but let out a warning cry.

At the same time, scenes flashed by quickly, which was dizzying. The fear and anxiety coming from the red magic gradually swelled.

Hajime was tortured by the Kicking Rabbit, his left hand shattered in the end, and he erupted in intense pain and fear. Shia and Tio gritted their teeth in disbelief, while Kaori and the others' features were contorted with grief.

“How could it be… Hajime-san actually be beaten unilaterally like this…”

"This is the Nagumo we knew before, whose combat ability is equal to Zero."

Soon, the image was cut off for a moment. This was because Hajime, facing the Kicking Rabbit before him, felt that his death was not far away, so he closed his eyes tightly.

As the fear of death that Hajime felt spread, the video played again. The figure of Kicking Rabbit, fearing something, appeared on the screen.

Following Kicking Rabbit's line of sight, a huge white-haired bear stood there.

It was obvious at a glance that the giant bear was a monster of a different level to both humans and kicking rabbits.

As if to confirm this fact, the kicking rabbit that had tortured Shi in the video at the beginning was easily cut in half by the giant bear, and was eaten tragically with blood splattering before Shi's eyes.

Claw Bear's gaze pierced through the image and pierced through Xia and the others.

Now, in the eyes of Xia and the others who like Hajime, the gaze of the Claw Bear is nothing special.

Despite this, Shia and the others still trembled unconsciously because they could sense that the eyes of the Claw Bear were looking at food instead of an enemy, and they could also sense the deep-seated fear in Hajime's heart.

What happened next was too tragic for the girls who admired Hajime.

Falling into a desperate situation, having his left hand taken away, and witnessing his left hand being chewed.

The gaze that caught my eye was still fixed on the food. The spurting blood and my hands that were gradually losing their original shape were all contributing to the cruel reality.

The screams that should have been inaudible came with the fluctuations of magic power.

A gaze unmatched by the human race—the gaze of food staring back at him, and the tangible feeling of a part of his body being devoured, a flood of horrible and painful emotions erupted.

Not caring about his image, even by a centimeter, Hajime just wanted to get as far away from the embodiment of terror as possible, and crawled desperately towards the cellar.

The video had faded to darkness. I wasn't sure if the emotions I was conveying had reached a breaking point.

Everyone only knew that Hajime was crying, and then even the sound of his crying became weaker and weaker, reminiscent of the light of life gradually going out.

“Hajime-san…”

Shia pursed her lips and tears streamed down her face; Kaori, Shizuku, and Suzu covered their mouths, trembling as if they were feeling the pain themselves; Tio, on the other hand, seemed to be desperately suppressing the excitement that was about to burst out, and had her eyes closed.

Not long after, the scene that had just dimmed reappeared.

In the video, Hajime, doubting his own rescue, walked deeper into the wall as if being pulled.

And there, they encountered mysterious crystals dripping with water—the Divine Crystal and the Divine Water.

Hajime drank the holy water, and with a broken heart, he curled up in the dark cave, begging for help...

The images that followed seemed to become fragmented due to a hazy memory, but the emotions conveyed by them became even stronger and more intense.

No matter how much I cry out for help, there's an overwhelming feeling of loneliness where no one responds.

A darkness that seemed to swallow up even one's own existence.

Almost insane hunger.

It's like phantom limb pain, like taking a file directly to the nerve.

I have been enduring torture for days.

Hajime lay there as if dead, longing for a natural death, but the sacred water he had taken would not allow him to die.

Want to live, want to die, want to live, want to die, Hajime kept murmuring like a broken radio, asking and answering himself over and over in his gradually darkening heart.

The emotions that had nowhere to vent developed into hatred for his classmates, and he began to curse the unreasonableness of the world, which eventually led to a complete mental breakdown.

Hajime's heart was broken, but it didn't end there. He shed his excess emotions, his thirst for life and his murderous intent against anything that stood in his way, transforming it into nourishment that reshaped his soul. Like steel melted in a searing furnace, it was reborn as a blade that cut through everything.

Began to move.

His vision caught sight of the sacred water pooling in a hole in the ground. Hajime crawled like a worm, sipping it like a dog. Hunger and phantom limb pain still tormented Hajime, only his vitality returned. Then, Hajime's face was reflected in the water, a face completely different from his previous one.

With a murderous glare in his eyes, Hajime left the cellar.

Hunt monsters using the only weapon that can't really be called a weapon—refined.

then……

"Hmm, this is, that kind of thing..."

"I've heard this before... but the image is too strong..."

Kouki and Ryuutarou's cheeks twitched.

Hajime gnawed on the monster's flesh, his hands and clothes were covered in blood, and probably even his face was stained with blood and flesh. His appearance was completely worthy of the name of a monster.

Everyone felt the soundless screams again.

It was impossible to even imagine the sheer amount of pain. Hajime repeatedly banged his head against the ground, writhing in agony. From the occasional frames, it was clear his body was repeatedly breaking down and regenerating.

The scene was truly bleak.

The storm of pain that spread easily exceeded the limits of human tolerance.

The viewer's sanity is taken away, and a scene that should be called hell is right before their eyes.

If Tio hadn't used soul magic to protect everyone in time, perhaps several people would have fainted from the overwhelm.

Everyone turned pale and speechless. Ryutaro couldn't help but look away, while Suzu desperately tried to suppress the urge to vomit.

Hajime's final transformation was complete, and his appearance was reflected in the pool of blood and the scattered pools of holy water.

That appearance was the same as Hajime's current one. A burning desire to kill and a fierce obsession with life, a resilient body and newfound strength. This was the appearance of the monster of the abyss now.

Thus, Hajime used the power of a forger, a common vocation for most blacksmiths, and the raw materials of gunpowder from another world. After several attempts that were dizzying just to imagine, he finally created a weapon. Then, to prove his ability to fight, he challenged the Claw Bear that had once shattered his heart.

At the end of the fierce battle, after conquering the Claw Bear, Hajime realized his own heart.

The true desire from the bottom of my heart is──

──I want to go back.

As if in response to this thought, the magical energy that filled the room began to pulse.

The violent red and gold magic energy gathered towards one point and then concentrated on Hajime and Yue.

──I want to go back.

That wish was very pure and clear as snow water.

Shia and the others clenched their hands in front of their chests, their hearts shaken.

The red magic shone relentlessly, while the golden magic clung to the side, as if supporting it. The stream of magic shimmered and gradually stabilized, before slowly swirling around the two of them.

The scene before my eyes was like looking at the mysterious sight of the Milky Way.

──I want to go back to my hometown.

A strong feeling of tranquility but no one can shake it penetrates into my heart.

In the image, Hajime looked up at the sky, then quietly closed his eyes. In his heart, he solidified his thoughts and resolve.

When I opened my eyes again, those pupils contained...

It should be called the "ultimate will".

He began to take steps, walking towards the bottom of the abyss without hesitation, into the dim, endless darkness.

The magical light from the broadcast image was attracted and joined the magical vortex swirling around Hajime and Yue.

Shia, Kaori, Tio, and Shizuku were all in tears.

Their hearts were filled with emotions that could not be expressed in words.

But a smile appeared on her face. She was proud of her lover's strength in rising from despair and climbing out of hell.

Ling and Ryuutarou were just stunned.

At the same time, he thought, "No wonder I couldn't defeat Hajime," and showed an expression of admiration.

They thought they had weathered many storms, but it was an indisputable fact that the experienced knights, represented by Meld, always provided support. Most importantly, they were surrounded by companions with cheats.

Could they truly overcome such suffering and climb out of the abyss alone? They imagined it for a moment, then shook their heads. What they had just witnessed was only the beginning. If they were truly in the same situation as Hajime, they doubted they could endure it.

As for the glory...

He seemed to have lost all his strength, his empty eyes drifting in the air. In his mind, the words he had blurted out earlier, "If I had known earlier, I would have fallen into the abyss," flashed through his mind.

Until just now, Kouki had even considered Hajime's strength despicable. Even when Shizuku said that Hajime must have had a turbulent past, it didn't ring true. So, Kouki believed from the bottom of his heart that Hajime was just a guy who had easily gained power and acted recklessly because of his fall into the abyss.

However, when he actually learned about Hajime's life trajectory, those dark thoughts in Guanghui's heart were easily swept away...

(…Do you want to go back?)

The light whispered in his heart.

Did he really want to return home so much? This question arose in Guanghui's mind.

He also felt that his own faith, which had always obeyed the expectations of others and claimed to save everyone as a hero, seemed so shallow compared to Hajime's...

(No, that's not right! I'm not wrong. I understand Nagumo's thoughts... but even so... taking everything from me...)

Thoughts of self-denial flashed through his mind, and Guanghui kept listing words in his mind, trying hard to shake off that emotion.

At the same time, changes occurred in Hajime and Yue.

As their overlapping hands opened like a blooming flower, the divine crystals and minerals wrapped in the bright red magic gradually changed shape, or rather, merged into one, absorbing the surrounding magic power - this was undoubtedly evidence of the ongoing refining.

Kaori wiped her tears with her sleeve, tilted her head slightly and said in confusion: