I Became the Guild Leader in Exile

10 – Before Becoming a Hero (5)

Isaac was able to find Cain easily. After all, he already knew the entire content of the spin-off. Naturally, he knew exactly where Cain would be hiding.

Of course, from Zeke’s perspective, it seemed like Isaac was only tracking Cain’s footsteps. Unaware of Zeke’s admiration growing, Isaac looked around.

There it was, just like described in the novel – the border between the forest and the lake, shimmering like jewels under the moonlight. And right at its center, there was something visible.

A man with gray hair and a considerable build. The scarred face belonged to Cain, the man whom Isaac and Zeke had been searching for. Without turning back, Cain opened his dry mouth.

“Hasn’t your request been completed?”

“You could say that.”

“Well then, hurry up and leave. I don’t feel like dealing with you.”

“…Can you tell me what happened?”

Although Cain had lived a rough life as a wanderer, it seemed he couldn’t be harsh towards Isaac. He firmly sealed his lips. Isaac nodded.

“I can roughly guess.”

“Huh? You can guess?”

“Well, let me ask you again. How did you perceive this place?”

“Of course, as paradise…”

Inadvertently, from those words spoken, Zeke realized something strange. Paradise? Was there ever paradise in this world to begin with? Isaac nodded. He affirmed Zeke’s thoughts.

“Do you believe such a place exists, where all the resources in this world flow, and the land is as fertile as an abundant paradise through farming every year?”

“But still, Salen exists. Does that mean they acquired it through unethical means?”

“You got it right. And perhaps the cost for that is…”

“…”

“Human lives.”

Nothing comes for free in this world. To maintain these countless resources and fertile lands, human lives are sacrificed. That was the secret of Salen.

“How can that be tolerated? We have to stop it now!”

“Interesting, kid. Who do you think the opponent is for you to say such things?”

“That, that’s…”

“After considering the facts in front of us, there’s only one answer.”

Cain internally gasped at Isaac’s response. Could it be that he really figured it out? Just by combining the things in front of him? That couldn’t possibly be true. Even a great detective couldn’t do such a thing.

“It’s all a lie. I already knew everything from the beginning.”

He was such an avid fan of this novel that he even purchased the setting book and the spin-off, read them all. Naturally, he knew the villainous role of all the events from the very beginning.

“He is one of the three calamities and is called the King of the Land.”

“……!!”

“Behemoth sleeps in this land. Isn’t that right?”

“…More precisely, a fragment of Behemoth is sealed.”

Perhaps there was no change even if it was released. Cain began the story with a sigh. A few hours ago, the story he heard directly from Urius, the father of Yulina.

“What are the Three Calamities?”

“They are truly calamitous beings. The moment they appear, they are monsters that can easily destroy a whole country.”

“Yeah, that’s right. But the scariest thing about the Three Calamities is that no matter how many times you kill them, they always reappear.”

The Three Calamities were indeed beings akin to disasters. However, heroes who could bring even such disasters to their knees had always existed. Nevertheless, the Three Calamities continued to reappear.

No one knows why. Simply because, even if you kill them over and over, they inevitably resurrect and reappear. People call them the Three Calamities, and they are feared and revered.

“Behemoth appeared 60 years ago and was subdued by the leader of the Holy Knights at the time.”

“That’s what I knew too. But it turns out to be different.”

Behemoth that appeared 60 years ago was not subdued; it was sealed. Sealed by the Holy Knights who did not want to pass on the calamity to future generations. Cain sighed and said,

“Sealed, Behemoth will never appear again. Anyway, Behemoth is not dead.”

“Even if it’s just a piece of flesh?”

“That’s what Urius said.”

Although sealed, Behemoth was still alive. Therefore, Behemoth would never appear in this land again. Having fully understood, Ziek opened his mouth.

“Is Behemoth’s seal related to the recent events?”

“…Behemoth is sealed, but if Behemoth rampages, the seal might break. That’s why a sacrifice is needed for Behemoth to be satisfied and go back to sleep.”

“……….No way.”

“That sacrifice is Yulina.”

With a face that wanted to deny reality, Cain spoke the truth he wanted to turn away from. Ziek was astonished. Sacrificing a person to maintain a seal?

“Would such a thing be allowed?! Obtaining peace by sacrificing people…!!”

“Well, what else can we do?”

“Well…?”

“Even when sealed, Behemoth was gaining strength. It was said that the seal would break if it moved a little.”

Of course, from Ziek’s common sense, it was an unbelievable story. Can peace obtained by sacrificing people truly be called peace? However, what returned was Cain’s sarcastic mockery.

“Why do you think you, me, and the fancy heroes behind you were able to survive?”

“That’s…!!”

“Lucky? Yeah, that’s not entirely wrong. Because that damn Three Calamities haven’t awakened yet!”

A colossal calamity that could even destroy a nation. When assuming that it opens its eyes and moves its body again, who could confidently say they would survive?

“If we don’t offer sacrifices and awaken the three calamities, countless people will die. Can you bear that responsibility?”

Although Cain was clearly looking at Zeke, what he was actually seeing was not Zeke. A few hours ago, he had vented his anger at Ulysses, just like how Zeke did. Sacrifice people? Are you insane?!

“Are you in your right mind?! You’re going to offer your daughter to those monster bastards?! And you still call yourself a father?!”

“I don’t choose the sacrifice.”

“What?”

“It’s the monsters themselves, the ones that won’t be satisfied no matter how much they’re fed. Isn’t it ridiculous? I’m in a position where I have to cater to the whims of those monster bastards just to seal them away?

However, in the moment Cain locked eyes with Ulysses, he couldn’t argue with him any longer. His lifeless gaze spoke volumes about the pain he had endured until now.

“…There must be another way…”

“Of course, there is another way.”

“Then… what is that way…?!”

“The lives of the residents living here.”

Behemoth was as sinister and cunning as a snake. It lured humans here by gifting them abundant resources and prosperity, like a parasitic plant.

800 lives.

Only one life.

The worst and second worst choice.

The choices of hell.

And Ulysses chose the second worst. As a lord, to protect the residents. As a knight, he had the duty to seal the calamities. And Ulyna nodded in agreement.

“I understand.”

“Ulyna, you…!”

“I’m sure Father made a lot of effort as well. To save my life, by any means necessary.”

Ulyna’s words were true. Ulysses had tried everything to avoid this situation. He had contacted his superiors and reported that Behemoth seemed to be growing stronger, and he even requested help.

But no one listened to him. They just sent back vague answers, telling him to offer sacrifices. The answer was simple. Saran was setting their ships on fire.

“I…I can’t bear that responsibility… That’s why…”

“How…how can you so easily accept your own death? I don’t understand anything anymore.” But the feeling of helplessness crushed him. He couldn’t do anything.

“He just gave up and ran away from that place…!”

Everyone hopes that their loved ones won’t die. But, to save their loved ones, how many people are willing to throw away hundreds, or even thousands, of lives like tissue paper?

If Cain had been a little more selfish. If he had thought only of himself a little more. He wouldn’t even have considered such a dilemma. Who could mock Cain’s choice?

“So, you lost your loved one for the sake of the world?”

“…”

“Ah, the great hero. So that’s who you think you are.”

“Shut up! What do you know…!!”

However, just one person. Only Isaac scoffed at Cain’s choice like that. To Cain, something snapped in his mind. Who are you to mock my, our, choice?

“Before becoming that great hero!!”

On the brink of surrendering to rage intense enough to sever his rationality, Cain snapped back to his senses at Isaac’s words. In that moment, he saw it. The look in Isaac’s eyes, firmly gazing at him.

“First, become a man.”

Yes, at least that.

A man capable of unequivocally protecting the one he loves.