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Light created me and didn’t even bother to give me a name.

When I opened my eyes, darkness surrounded everything, and the ground I stood on was as dark and ominous as the sky. No, I’m unsure if the distinction between sky and ground had any meaning from the beginning. That moment was the night of mythology. Everything trembled in fear, closing their eyes to escape the dark.

I must protect them. I murmured to myself as I gripped the sword embedded at my side. Knowing who I am and what I must do from the moment of creation was unpleasant. Upon detecting my existence, the shadows began revealing their enmity without hiding. They started pouring from the sky and attacked humans.

“Please save us.”

The ones I had to protect were suffering. Some turned to pain to escape oppression and fear. Some welcomed my existence, while many denied and scorned it.

“In the end, you must bear this burden.”

Skirmishes were done throughout the land. Humans summoned me and spoke those words. I had to bear it. I had to become the spark, the light, the torch, gathering people and fighting against the shadows.

“This fight should not be just yours but ours.”

“I understand.”

I raised the sword.

I wore a pure white armor.

On my head, I adorned a crown entwined with thorns, carrying the weight of my sins and responsibilities.

When I raised the sword, a blinding white light emanated, so pure that it hurt the eyes. It was a light untainted by any impurity. People gathered as if enchanted by its radiance. I found it unsettling. Like moths drawn to a bonfire, people were blindly captivated by the light from my sword.

“Proceed. Go forth and liberate this world.”

I followed those words. People called me a hero.

In truth, the memories of myth were quite faint. Perhaps I swung the sword so relentlessly that there was no room for memories to form. The body created by the gods remained intact, no matter how much I fought. I didn’t even get wounded. Since there was no mind or emotions to begin with, I didn’t tire.

“[Persist until the end…]”

When I regained consciousness, I was at the edge of the world.

I stood alone, facing the evil gods, with corpses of humans who had come this far scattered grotesquely on the ground. My breath remained steady. If I endured a little longer, the sealing ritual would begin, imprisoning them in emptiness.

“[Will we just retreat like this-!]”

The malevolent spirits, fueled by wickedness, could not overcome their hatred and screamed. Monsters overflowed. I tried to fend off the flowing shadows by swinging my sword, but the evil gods’ final act, supported by their existence, was something I couldn’t prevent.

“[Humans will suffer eternally. They will remember my trace and live, recalling this moment. And our remnants will one day awaken us again…!]”

The shadows seamlessly infiltrated the world, transforming into serpents, countless swarms of locusts, gigantic tentacled monsters, and more. However, I couldn’t leave my position to stop them. I had to exert all my strength to seal the evil gods. It slowly grew in power. I thrust the sword into the ground and accelerated the sealing process. The shadows gradually blurred, revealing the sky.

“[This world… humans… Hero, I curse you…]”

With those words, the malevolent spirits vanished into the void.

And the seal was far more unstable than I had anticipated. The rage of the evil gods could still be felt beyond the complete emptiness, and the space seemed to tremble as if it could tear apart at any moment. And then, I realized what I had to do next.

“…Is it farewell.”

There was no reception or suspicion from the people. I approached the warping space and extended my hand. As if waiting, the space began to engulf me. Without anyone to record my final moments, I slowly disappeared.

The sword stuck in the ground. The crown is on the floor. And the clanging armor as it fell.

These three were all I left behind in this world.

It was emptiness. That was the first emotion I felt in my existence. Disappearing without even sensing the aftermath of the battle or how people continued to live afterward. There was no mourning for the fallen. In that realization, emotions flooded my mind like a dam had burst.

I remembered the child who gave me flowers. The person who treated me to a meal came to mind. Those who cheered for me loudly on the streets and those who experienced life and death with me in battles.

In truth, I wanted to stay a little longer in this world.

In truth, the world and its people were slowly growing on me.

It was a regret that came too late. Releasing my last lingering attachment, I allowed the space to devour me. I felt the distant hatred of the malevolent spirits. I raised the newly formed sword again and faced the evil gods.

“[You!!]”

I confronted it head-on, raising my sword.

***

In the emptiness, time still passed. The evil gods observed everything happening in the world through the trembling space. Whenever something occurred, they mocked me.

“[Can you feel it? My firstborn has awakened.]”

They shouted about how the ‘Serpent’ killed people, how many lives it took, and how many people were sacrificed to kill it.

I fought. It didn’t matter. I swung the sword. Despite cursing my conscious self and moving a tireless body, I resisted. As much as I was abandoned in this place, they were also trapped together. So, I fought on, finding solace in that thought.

After another oppressive era passed, the second calamity awoke. This time, I could feel its presence. The world remembered the existence of the evil gods, and the seal weakened.

Despite feeling a sense of crisis, I found a strange joy in being able to perceive the world’s existence. I began to loathe myself even more. Once again, I raised the sword and confronted the endless shadows.

“[This seal won’t hold us forever.]”

If the third calamity were to awaken, the myth would repeat itself.

The evil gods spoke with a smirk. It couldn’t happen. I shouldn’t have to return to that world, and they shouldn’t be allowed to reveal themselves to the world again.

“[What will you do? This door can only open, and neither you nor we can escape. Without you, the fear among humans will constantly rise, and the voices calling us will become stronger.]”

How will you handle it?

I had an answer to that question. If I were not there, I could send someone to take my place and fulfill my role. Leave someone who would protect the world I truly loved.

Toward the faintly reachable world, I extended my power. Just as I was a being created from light, those remnants were also beings formed from light. They were no different from my particles.

The light responded. The remnants gathered, leaving only the shells. The light converged and, freed from my will, shaped itself into a new entity. My love for the world and desire to protect the people concentrated in that light, giving birth to a new existence. It was a gentle, golden light, distinct from the pure white light I possessed.

“Ah.”

As soon as the light took on its form, it recognized me. A being similar to me yet entirely different. I pondered a name for it while implanting false memories.

“Elroy.”

Yes, you are my light. The one who shines the light. I named him Elroy.

“Who are you?”

Elroy, now with a sense of self, asked me. And then I realized that I had never had a name; I was only ever called ‘Hero.’

“Isha.”

One day, I remembered a young child awkwardly pronouncing the word ‘Hero,’ I just said ‘Isha’ to make it easier for them. It would be a name that would probably be erased from memory anyway. Elroy seemed to smile happily.

“Elroy, I’m going to erase your memories. And you’ll move according to the behavior principles I’ve input to try to save the world and its people.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“You can hate me. You can resent me. I created you out of my arrogance and greed.”

“If I save many people and end up with only one resentment, it’s a good deal, right?”

Elroy said playfully, smiling.

“All right. Feel free to resent me. After creating such a sad existence, my destiny of facing destruction alone in a distant universe will be a fair punishment.”

Elroy spoke to me, looking directly into my eyes. This child, designed to love the world, was born in a way that couldn’t even hate me.

“And I’ll resent you for keeping this lonely fight a secret from everyone. If that happens, surely I’ll end up resenting myself as well. How could I forget the one who made me exist and live a normal life?”

I was probably crying at that time. The memory is hazy, so I can’t be sure. However, I do remember Elroy comforting me through our connection. I could only infer from that memory. His hands were warm, almost as if reminding me of something I had forgotten during the long, oppressive years.

“As long as you continue to fight here, I will resent you. I’ll resent the one who created the gaps in my memory and chose to fight in solitude. Even if I forget my memories, Isha, I will remember your existence like this.”

I cried. I’m sure I was crying back then. I was genuinely weeping, whether it was for the evil gods, the impending destruction, or the countless passing years. The light from my remnants, the spark I ignited, was warm.

“Your personality might get a bit twisted.”

“It’s okay. Existence is inherently twisted. There’s no perfection. That is what makes it beautiful.”

“You may have the potential, but you lack the strength to do anything.”

“I’ll try to overcome it. If it’s still insufficient, I’ll grow as much as needed.”

After hearing that, I realized I was about to cast Elroy into the world without preparation. All I could offer were talent, mindset, and an unyielding will. In this aspect, I wasn’t so different from the absolute being that created me.

“I’m sorry.”

I wiped Elroy’s cheek and said, tears flowing endlessly. He smiled.

“There’s no need for you to apologize for creating me.”

“I should apologize for leaving you alone.”

“That might be true. But…”

The time to part ways was approaching. Elroy, getting farther away, continued to smile and said to me,

“I want to hear it when we meet again.”

***

Once again, time passed in the vast emptiness.

I fought, and Elroy fought as well. However, his battles were brief. The potential I had sown, along with the gaps in memory, failed to fully bloom. Among the humans, one with incredible potential attempted to confront the monsters alongside Elroy, but their approach was flawed.

The Disaster was unleashed, and humans fought until the end but ultimately were defeated.

The world was swallowed by darkness again, and I was consumed by the fading consciousness.

And so, the world returned to its origin.

Whether it was a trick of light or a simple cycle remained unknown. However, I revived with all the memories from before, repeating the time until the creation of Elroy.

It was agonizing. I hesitated.

I didn’t know whether to create Elroy again. Even if I made him, I wasn’t sure if leaving him alone was the right choice. I repeated mistakes and recreated Elroy. I planted memories in his mind, ensuring he wouldn’t harbor empty hatred even if he didn’t remember me, all to save this world.

And this time, I separated my consciousness and embedded it in the sword.

This time, I could watch over him. I could open the path for his growth. And this time, as much as he loved the world, he could be loved by the world.

I believe I did the right thing. It felt like a genuinely acceptable choice.

The darkness persisted. I still fought endlessly, and my situation hadn’t changed. However, I could save people and Elroy. That fact sustained me. It gave me the strength to face the darkness and continue.

I… am okay.

“Really… I’m okay.”

Watching over him would have been better. I shouldn’t have talked to Elroy. I shouldn’t have appeared before him. I wouldn’t have felt this longing, sadness, and joy. That fleeting happiness both supported and shattered me. Thus, I staggered, breaking down alone, only to recover and swing the sword again.

“It’s okay.”

Really?

My legs lost strength. It’s okay. I can stand up again. I planted the sword into the ground and exerted force. No strength returned to my body. I experienced this phenomenon for the first time, bewildered and struggling.

Am I at my limit? Why now?

I gazed at the approaching darkness helplessly. I could stand up, but I couldn’t bring myself to. My body refused to get up. I grappled with the unfamiliar sensation.

Why?

I helplessly confronted the encroaching darkness. I felt powerless.

“No… I can’t.”

It’s the end.

I can’t endure it any longer. Why was I created as such an imperfect being? Unable to protect anything, crumbling away like this. Even the most precious thing to me turns into a handful of ashes along with me.

“I’m sorry.”

I whispered quietly.

“Well, I did say save the apologies for when I return.”

…Huh?

I felt a hand on my back. The hand lifted me and helped me stand. Someone was supporting my body.

“You were going to leave like this, apologizing all alone?”

“Am I only going to see you with tears in your eyes?”

I turned my head. Turquoise eyes were looking at me, smiling.

“What…what?”

It was the voice I remembered. Warm, playful yet sturdy, and kind.

“Isha.”

Elroy called my name as he embraced me.