I Will Eventually Embark On The Path Of No Return Called A Hero

[Arc4] - 37. Setting Off Again

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He was not omnipotent. 

The despair faced by Miyu's world was something he could not resolve.

Perhaps he could defeat the gods, perhaps he could lead people forward, but he could not stop the laws of the world, especially when there was a rebellious spirit hindering him. 

Even if he were to crush that spirit to dust, the result would remain unchanged.

What couldn't be done simply couldn't be done.

Though he felt a little uneasy, he had no choice but to entrust everything to them for now.

Angelica and Beatrice were still in Lord El-Melloi II's hands. From a tactical standpoint, Darius's side should not act rashly, especially with the need to pursue them across worlds.

In any case, he now had time to search for answers.

"Are you heading out again?" Mash carefully peeked at Cyd, who was tinkering with Romani's secret fridge filled with hidden cakes.

"Yeah, this time it might take a while," Cyd replied, closing the fridge door with an apologetic tone.

"No, it's fine," Mash waved her hands energetically. "You should also do the things you want to do."

"What a good kid~" Cyd gently hugged Mash. "Next time, I'll tell you another story."

[I'll always be waiting for it!]

"Aww, what a good kid. By the way, Romani, can you stop looking at me like that?" Cyd awkwardly glanced at Romani, who had a gloomy expression.

"Because! My love for Miss Mari was beaten by how fast your hands were!" Romani groaned, clutching his head. "I'm not even in the top six anymore!"

No, you simply lost to access privileges.

Cyd leisurely tossed the bracelet in his hand. 

"Isn't this great? Once I leave, you can go back to giving her tips," Cyd said, standing on the teleportation device and stretching his shoulders.

"I... I never said you had to leave," Romani stammered as he pressed the button, "I've always saved a piece of cake for you, so... so you better come back."

"Of course," Cyd gave a thumbs-up.

They would succeed for sure. 

Whether it was El-Melloi II, Gray, Illya, Miyu, Tohsaka Rin, or Luvia—they were all dependable people.

Perhaps they would face many obstacles, but their resolve would never waver, and they would move forward with conviction.

In this world, he wasn't the only tall figure. Maybe he was the tallest, and perhaps he could support it all alone, but that didn't mean the world had to rely solely on him. When he bent down to rest for a while, there would always be someone else to hold up the world.

Come to think of it... wasn't I done being a hero?

Cyd scratched his head and sighed in defeat. 

In the end, he unconsciously shouldered the burden again.

It couldn't be helped—since he could lift his hands to support the world, why should he bow down? If only there were others to walk alongside him, to carry the load together. But those who could have done so were long gone, and those still around were not enough.

But... this time, let me rely on you all a little bit.

Cyd closed his eyes and slowly faded into the light.

To those still unripe...

"I wonder how long it will be until we meet again," Romani sighed softly.

"He's set off again?" The door opened, but the person at the entrance didn't enter, instead standing outside watching Romani.

"Yes, this time it's a true expedition," Romani turned off the machine, slid his hands into his pockets, and walked past the person at the door.

"Then Mash can continue to be our hope, right?"

In the darkness, Romani's expression stiffened, and his hands clenched inside his pockets. 

"Ah... yes. The summoning for the Pure White Hero on Mash's body can proceed again."

"That's good. The experiment on mixing spirit origins can also commence," the figure in the darkness reached out and patted Romani's shoulder. "Create Chaldea's own Pure White Hero, and Mash's life will become even more meaningful."

Romani gritted his teeth, shaking off the hand on his shoulder, and walked toward Cyd's room.

"I know you don't understand, nor do you want to, but I still hope you'll stay by Mash's side," the figure in the darkness watched Romani's retreating back with a helpless expression.

"No response?"

"Aaaahhhh! So annoying!"

The door slammed shut, and Romani plopped onto the bed, scratching his head in frustration.

He couldn't argue back because what that person said was the truth. What frustrated him most was knowing that they were right.

Mash had been born in Chaldea, never truly seen as a person from the start. Even now, she was merely an exceptionally outstanding experiment. 

If they followed that person's plan to mix spirit origins within Mash, fusing the power of the Pure White Hero with another hero's, Chaldea could create its own hope.

Mash's status in Chaldea would then rise to something akin to Cyd's standing in Greece—maybe not that extreme, but certainly better than it was now!

But Romani couldn't accept it. He refused to believe that this was the only way to earn Mash the respect she deserved.

"Forget it. I'll eat some cake to feel better," Romani muttered, pulling open the secret fridge where he stored the cakes.

"Hm?"

Staring at the fridge full of instant ramen and large bottles of mineral water, Romani fell silent.

Slam—!

Romani shut the fridge and opened it again. Still instant ramen.

But because of his movement, a note fluttered out and landed in front of him.

[Stop eating cake all the time; eat something nutritious (￣ー￣)]

"Seriously... instant ramen isn't exactly healthy either," Romani sighed, taking out the ramen and tearing open the sauce packet to pour it in. "Why is there so much sauce? Hot water... hm? Did it boil? What kind of magic is this?"

Romani stared blankly at the ramen, which started bubbling with steam, filling the room with a tantalizing aroma.

"It smells pretty good. Come to think of it, how long has it been since I last had ramen?" Romani swallowed hard, snapped apart his chopsticks, and scooped up a large portion, stuffing it into his mouth.

This flavor...

Romani's eyes narrowed sharply as visible steam rose from his head, and tiny beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Ahhh! So spicy! So spicy!" Romani clutched his mouth, dropping to his knees in agony.

Was this some high-level magic attack? 

Why was the ramen so spicy?!

"Water! Water!" Romani desperately eyed the fridge.

Ahh, that bottled water in the fridge looked so inviting~ 

Cyd, I didn't expect you to be so considerate!

Romani excitedly twisted open the bottle of mineral water.

Gulp, gulp, gulp...

So refreshing! It felt so good... that he was... losing consciousness...

Romani's vision went black, and he collapsed to the floor.

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Arc 4 Ends.