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“Huff, huff, huff…”
My breathing became erratic.
The smell of blood.
The smell of fat.
It clung to me, refusing to leave.
“Snow… here, take some water… it might help if you sip a little.”
“Ah, thank you, but… I’m fine.”
I didn’t accept the water flask being offered.
There was no way I could put anything in my mouth right now.
“Ugh, bleeegghhh…”
“Natsu—are you okay?”
“…Damn, this is brutal. This… it’s not just the work of monsters or beasts. Hey, kids, stay sharp.”
Death was piled up here.
It was supposed to be a simple training exercise.
The training we reincarnated heroes were given today was night patrol.
We were just supposed to walk around the village and check for any dangers.
That was it.
But now, before us, lay a mountain of corpses.
The scent of death, something I was smelling for the first time, was strangely sweet and absolutely revolting.
“Aki. Is your gift picking up anything?”
“…Nothing, Instructor. There’s nothing alive nearby.”
We are the reincarnated heroes.
That’s what they call us.
Summoned by the power of the main god, Maris, and given new lives in this world.
Our powers, called “gifts,” are also blessings from Lady Maris or the seven great gods who serve her.
Those blessed with a gift are sometimes referred to as “Gifted.”
On that day, when we reincarnated, all of us awakened as Gifted and began our training as heroes.
“…You shouldn’t push yourself too hard. Both of us still carry the common sense from our previous world.”
“Yeah… you’re right.”
“Ughh… I really can’t handle gruesome stuff like this… Haru, why are you okay with it?”
“I’m into horror, you know?”
There are two things I clearly understand in this world now.
There are people who remember their past lives, and those who don’t.
And…
“But more than that, I feel like I’m starting to forget things about my previous world. I remember everyone being my friends, but… how did we become friends again?”
Haru, unfazed by the sight of dead bodies, tilted her head in confusion.
…We’re slowly forgetting about our previous world.
The cruel realities of this world are slowly erasing those memories.
I know this.
In Japanese, you’d call it a “major dangerous pattern!”
“…These supplies are way too good for just some bandits. And there’s something off… the number of tents doesn’t match the number of corpses.”
“What do you mean, Instructor?”
The lively girl with orange hair—my friend, Haru—asked the instructor, who oversees the education of the reincarnated heroes.
The strongest knight of the Saint Maris Church.
Knight Yudar.
For him, scenes like this are probably just another day at work.
“There aren’t enough bodies. But judging by the residual magic, they didn’t escape. Everyone here was killed, and some of them were… possibly fed to summoned creatures or something.”
“Gah! Magic can do that?! That’s terrifying!”
Haru responded nonchalantly.
As expected of a top-tier idol. She’s used to being in the spotlight, she’s got nerves of steel…
“You’ll all be able to do it eventually, too. No, for the sake of the empire, you’ll need to. You are, after all, the prophesied children.”
“Yesss~. So, Instructor, what do we do now? Natsu’s already completely out of it.”
“Bleeegh… People… real people are actually dead…”
Unlike Haru, Natsu seemed to be struggling the most.
Even someone as handsome as a model has their limits…
“I had planned for this to be a lighter training exercise. What am I going to report to the church?—Wait, this is… damn, we’ve got an even bigger problem now.”
“This black robe… could it be?”
A corpse leaning against a tree. A large wound in its abdomen seemed to be the fatal blow.
“Ugh…”
I’m scared… scared of this place where death is so commonplace.
In Life Field, this would be a typical event, but in reality, it’s far more intense…
“…Snow, take a break. You look pale.”
“Aki, thank you. But I’m fine. I need to get used to this. I’m a hero, after all.”
“…It’s hard to watch. This kind of place doesn’t suit you. Here, sit down for a bit.”
“Aki.”
“…”
“I’m fine. Do you not trust my words, my knight?”
“…That’s not fair. If I judge that you really can’t take it, I’m dragging you back by force.”
“Sorry, Aki.”
I can’t afford to stumble here.
I have to grow stronger in this world.
I can’t lose the opportunity to train as a hero in this environment.
“…You’ve got guts for a young lady raised like you. Let’s put those guts to work and do a little review. Anything you notice about that body?”
“Yes, Instructor. This outfit… I remember we learned about it in class today—”
No, wait, I’ve seen this before.
It looks just like the outfit worn by a boss character in Life Field.
“It’s the Cult of the Insect… that’s the uniform of one of their leaders. At the very least, this person is an SS-rank bounty from the Empire’s Bingo Book.”
“SS-rank!? Wait, does that mean he’s stronger than you, Instructor, a top-level adventurer?”
“Don’t be stupid. I could win. But I doubt I could protect you lot if he were still alive…”
“…Could the strange ‘gift’ I sensed earlier be…?”
“It was probably the aftereffect of this guy fighting whoever killed him. That power was at least A-rank or higher. But for a battle between Gifted… this is too quiet.”
“What do you mean, Instructor?”
“Look around and at the bodies. Didn’t I teach you in class? When high-level Gifted fight, it’s not uncommon for the terrain to change completely.”
The instructor’s sharp eyes became even sharper.
The night air suddenly felt colder.
“And yet… while there are many corpses, there’s no sign of the terrain being altered, nor any major damage. What happened here wasn’t a fight—it was a hunt. An overwhelming predator hunting its prey. Whoever could hunt a leader of the Cult of the Insect might still be nearby.”
“…Instructor, that could be right… The dark spirit is… scared.”
Aki was wrapped in a black mist—his gift, taking a visible form.
“Aki, huh. I didn’t know your gift could do that. What’s the dark spirit saying?”
“…The king has come.”
Aki answered the instructor’s question, his words cold and calm.
The dark purple light floating around him trembled.
Aki’s finger trembled too, pointing deep into the camp.
At the dark, ominous entrance to a cave.
A place thick with the stench of blood and death.
He pointed, and said:
“The Cursed King has arrived.”
