A C-Rank Magic Student Who Deludes Himself into Thinking He Is SSS-Rank - Chapter 28: The Will of a Hero <2> (Alphonse PoV)

In the dining hall of Crawford Magic Academy, now unrecognizable from its former self and scattered with debris, a loud explosion resonates, signaling further destruction.

“Ugh… …ugh!”

The intense impact spreads across my back, enveloping my entire body.

This is yet another time I’ve been slammed against the wall by Schwaldius, the Black Dragon of Demise. I’ve lost count.

Now, almost unconscious, I’ve stood up repeatedly to hold back Schwaldius, swinging my sword relentlessly, but it seems I can’t muster any strength in my body anymore.

“What’s wrong? Can’t you stand anymore?” Schwaldius asks with a hint of disdain.

───My body aches. It’s painful. I hate this; I don’t want to stand. I don’t want to fight anymore.

Someone’s pathetic voice echoes from somewhere.

───Fighting is scary. I hate getting hurt, and I hate hurting others. I want to run away right now.

I know it. It’s me. The voice is my own, Alphonse Freed.

Yes, I hate fighting. The fear of getting hurt, the aversion to hurting others.

Truthfully, even when Schwaldius, the Black Dragon of Demise, appeared, I wanted to run away. Facing him was terrifying.

“You are nothing but a fake, a poor imitation of that man. You can never become like him. You are incomparably weaker than that man. No matter how desperately you struggle, you can’t become a hero.”

The person Schwaldius refers to must be my ancestor, Siegfried, the great hero who defeated Schwaldius 400 years ago.

“That’s right… I’m not a hero…”

I gather strength in my hands and feet, pressing against the ground, trying to stand.

“(I know. I’ve always been told so by those around me.)”

My body shakes slightly, weakly, but still, I muster all my strength to stand.

“I can’t become a hero…”

Clutching tightly the imitation sword, now almost completely damaged from the recent attack, I pour my magical power into the remaining few centimeters of the blade.

“Even so, I…”

Aiming the blade, now charged with magical power, at Schwaldius, the Black Dragon of Demise.

“I will fulfill myself…!!”

I always preferred fighting.

But still, I continued to swing my sword with all my might. I studied magic as hard as I could.

Disappointed by my parents and ridiculed by others, I’ve had many unpleasant experiences, but I still strived to become stronger.

It wasn’t for reasons like meeting my parents’ or others’ expectations or for honor.

Even if I couldn’t become a hero, I wanted to be someone who could fight for others.

To fight for those who couldn’t, to protect those unjustly harmed.

I’m not a hero. I can’t become a hero. I can’t save the world.

But still, I desperately became stronger to protect what I could.

To stand up until the very end.

“That’s why I won’t let you go to everyone…!!”

I roar towards Schwaldius.

Seeing this, Schwaldius’s expression is slightly distorted.

“Eyes so much like that man’s, detestable…”

Schwaldius, who until now seemed somewhat complacent, now has eyes filled with hatred.

“…I’m tired of toying with a bug that refuses to die.”

Schwaldius raises his tail high.

“You may die now.”

He brings it down with force.

This is no longer an attack meant to torment but to kill.

A strong shockwave is created with the biggest explosion of the day, blowing away the surrounding debris.

The adversary is barely alive, at their limit. Schwaldius is confident he has delivered the final blow.

But,

“I can’t die yet…”

Schwaldius’s eyes widen in disbelief.

I have caught the attack of Schwaldius.

“To stop you, I can’t die yet.”