The Hero's journey has finally come to an end.

But in the way he least desired.

Hero: "Why... how come...?"

The Demon King has fallen. Slain by the Holy Sword and the hands of the Hero's comrades.

It was quite a struggle, but they managed to pull it off.

He thought all that was left was for everyone to return to their respective homes and live happily ever after.

However, reality was different from a fairy tale.

Those who were once his comrades showed their true colors as soon as the Demon King fell.

Only after being attacked by his comrades did the Hero realize.

Until now, he thought he was among a flock of sheep.

But it seems he was the only sheep there.

...

???: ".̸̼͎ͭ͛.̸̺̞͕ͬ͗͛.̵̮̹͍͛ͨ̐ͪr̴͓̳͋͗̕a̷̺͇ͬ͛ͮ̌̽.̸̰͕ͮ.̸̟͎̺ͭ͛.̵̮̹͍͛ͨ̐͊g̷̻e̴̢͖ͥ͋ͬ̚.̵̯̦r̷̬̭͙ͭͩ͛ö̸̡͙̰́ͧ.̸̼͎ͭ͛.̸̺̞͕ͬ͗͛.̵"

In truth, he was just a pitiful prey belonging to a pack of wolves.

His childhood friend, the Archmage, and the brave knight.

They were all nothing more than the Hero's illusions.

The Hero's childhood friend was secretly having an affair with the party's porter. Perhaps there wasn't a single moment of truth in her whispers of love for the Hero.

The Archmage did not want a threatening existence like you to remain in the world after the Demon King's death. A dangerous being that no one in this world, save for the Goddess, could restrain. That was exactly what the Hero was.

And the knight wanted the achievement of slaying the Demon King to belong solely to her. The influence of the nobles and kings played a part as well. They did not want you to survive and win the hearts of the people. What they wanted was a Hero who died gallantly fighting the Demon King, not a survivor who threatened their power.

???: ".̸̼͎ͭ͛.̸̺̞͕ͬ͗͛.̵̮̹͍͛ͨ̐̚o̶̡̨̪͕͌̽͘r̸̡͙̰̈́ͧ͛a̷̺͇ͬ͛ͮ̌̽.̸̰͕ͮ.̸̟͎̺ͭ͛.̵̮̹͍͛ͨ̐͊r̴͓̳͋͗̕a̷̺͇ͬ͛ͮ̌̽.̸̰͕ͮ.̸̟͎̺ͭ͛.̵̮̹͍͛ͨ̐͊n̴̫̺̟͐̐͒̚a̷̺͇ͬ͛ͮ̌̽g̷̺e̴̢͖ͥ͋ͬ̚r̷̬̭͙ͭͩ͛ö̸̡͙̰́ͧ.̸̼͎ͭ͛.̸̺̞͕ͬ͗͛.̵"

...He felt as if something had whispered in his ear. With his battered body, the Hero began to move toward the basement of the Demon King's castle. He himself didn't know where he was going or what he was heading toward. His vision began to blur. Perhaps he was simply choosing his final resting place. After the Demon King fell, the castle was eerily quiet. Not even the sounds of monsters or the wind that should have been heard everywhere could be felt. He only realized that he was heading deeper into the heart of the castle. Yet, for some reason, he couldn't stop his footsteps. As if he were possessed by something.

Finally, arriving deep in the basement of the Demon King's castle, a massive door appeared before the Hero. It was a giant iron door, beyond even the word 'huge.' The door was bound by chains as thick as a great ship's anchor cables. As if something that must never come out existed beyond it... But... why? The Hero approached the door as if possessed. It was as if the door was whispering to the Hero himself. As if saying that he, and only he, could open this door.

Approaching the door, the Hero gently placed his hand upon it. Then, as if by magic, the chains winding around the door began to snap and fall away. ...It was strange. From a certain point, he could no longer feel the pain in his body or any sensations. Just as he thought the end was truly near.

???: "i̸͕̪͕ͬ̽͘r̴͓̳͋͗̕.̸̼͎ͭ͛.̸̺̞͕ͬ͗͛.̵o̷̡̨̪͕͌̽͘r̴͓̳͋͗̕a̷̺͇ͬ͛ͮ̌̽.̸̰͕ͮ.̸̟͎̺ͭ͛.̵n̴̫̺̟͐̐͒̚a̷̺͇ͬ͛ͮ̌̽g̷̺e̴̢͖ͥ͋ͬ̚r̷̬̭͙ͭͩ͛ö̸̡͙̰́ͧ.̸̼͎ͭ͛.̸̺̞͕ͬ͗͛.̵"

In the pitch-black room, an ominous, bright red magic circle was glowing on its own. Every time the magic circle flickered, the Hero's heart began to throb in sync. It had been calling for the Hero from the very beginning. Only then did everything begin to make sense. Why he kept moving even with such a body. Why he kept heading deeper into the castle instead of outside. He realized it was all due to that magic circle—no, something behind it. Yet, the Hero could not stop. When the Hero finally stood before the magic circle, a black silhouette like a human shadow emerged from its center. It looked human, but it was not. It had no features, and its arms and legs were integrated with its torso, looking like a jar. However, it was speaking directly to the Hero through some unknown means...

Guest: "I called, and so you have arrived. Are you the Hero of this generation—no, are you the failure?"

At the clearly audible voice, the Hero could not resist. It felt as if something invisible had stolen the very sense of rejection from the Hero's heart. Even at being called a failure, the Hero could not even bring himself to argue. Because it was the truth. He had failed. His beloved childhood friend had abandoned him, and his comrades had betrayed him and left him in this state. Instead of answering, the Hero nodded weakly. The moment the shadow saw the Hero's nod, it began to wriggle. It looked like a person leaning back and laughing loudly.

Guest: "Heh heh heh... Yes. You do not deny it. Not that denying it would have meant anything. First, as a reward for breaking my seal, I shall tell you of my identity. My name is..."

The moment he felt the shadow was about to say its name, the Hero fell to his knees on the floor. His head felt like it was spinning, and something invisible seemed to be snatching away his strength entirely. To think that just hearing a name could cause such an effect. The Hero could only vaguely sense that the being he had unsealed was at least far more dangerous and ancient than the Demon King. This is a being that should not exist in the human realm. If such a thing were released, a massive calamity would surely strike.

Guest: "...Is that what you're thinking? That if I am released, a great disaster will befall the human world? You are correct. My existence was once history itself, the very embodiment of human fear. I have been by your side for ages, yet I was not. I am the one with a thousand names. The echo of the faceless man, the antipode of light, the darkest existence. I make a proposal to you. Unfortunately, I currently have no body. Without a body to possess, I can do nothing. I cannot even leave this place. You... honestly. You feel your limit right now, don't you?"

...At those words, the Hero could not deny it. His body was already a wreck, and it was growing colder by the second. He even felt the unpleasant sensation of hearing a clock ticking in his ears. The Hero failed to deny it again. He only gave a small nod.

Guest: "...I like that the conversation is moving quickly. My proposal is this. Hand your body over to me. If you do, I will personally achieve your revenge for you."

The moment he heard the word revenge, the Hero's body flinched. He hadn't said anything yet. How could it know? He even thought that perhaps this being had been watching everything he suffered. He shouldn't. This kind of deal isn't right. Especially when the collateral was the Hero's own body. It was far too dangerous a deal. He had to refuse immediately...

He had to... refuse...

But...

At that moment, what the Hero recalled, cruelly enough...

Was the image of his childhood friend blushing in the arms of the porter.

When the Hero lifted his bowed head again, crimson tears of blood were streaming from his eyes.

Hero: "...Fine. I'll do it, the contract. In exchange, promise me. That you will definitely get revenge on them."

Guest: "Of course. I will help you with your revenge. In the worst way possible, the way they least desire. Since the contract is established, it must now be executed."

Finally, the Hero's body, having reached its limit, collapsed to the floor. Something hazy seemed to escape from the Hero's body. And black shadows began to cling to the Hero's body, which was now nothing but an empty shell.