Interlude 1 ◆ The Legend of a Hunter ~Former title: Lily, Don't Go with the Hero~
The Iron-Armed Mammon. Also known as the Hero-Killer.
No one who has ever opposed this being has emerged victorious.
Even a hero would stand no chance against it.
To humanity, Mammon is the ultimate adversary.
Yet, there was one man who dared to stand against Mammon and wounded it. His name was Rudy.
This is the tale of a nameless hero who challenged Mammon alone and met his end.
◆◆◆
My name is Rudy. I was born the son of a villager in an ordinary village.
I have a childhood friend, a lovely girl I care for deeply.
Her name is Lili. She’s so adorable, far too good for someone like me.
We’ve been together since we were little, and I used to think we’d get married someday… That’s what I believed, at least, until recently.
But now, I’ve given up on the idea of marrying her.
Lili and I can never be together.
It’s been decided by fate.
On my tenth birthday, I regained memories of my past life.
In that life, I was just an ordinary middle schooler in a country called Japan, someone who loved reading novels.
And that’s when I realized—this world is the setting of a novel called The Silver Hero.
In that story, Lili is the heroine, destined to become a Saintess.
As for me, I’m fated to become a hunter, only to have Lili taken from me by the hero.
If the story unfolds as written, Lili and I will get engaged.
But then, a divine oracle will declare that a Saintess has been chosen from our village.
After that, Lili, now a Saintess, will leave on a journey with the hero who comes to fetch her.
When their journey ends, she’ll break off our engagement, betray me, and marry the hero.
Fearing the hero’s wrath, the villagers will strip me of my possessions and drive me out of the village.
When these memories returned, I couldn’t stop crying.
Even with my past life’s memories, I was pathetic enough to still love Lili.
The closer I was to her, the more I was consumed by the frustration of knowing she was beyond my reach.
“If only the hero would die.” “Could I kill him?” I don’t know how many times those thoughts crossed my mind.
But if I did that, the world would end.
I even thought about killing Lili and then myself… but I couldn’t do it.
Whenever I saw her smile, I was powerless.
So, I had no choice but to give up. Recently, I’ve finally come to accept that.
I love Lili so much it hurts. But we can never be together.
In the end, I decided to let her go.
I’d live happily with her until the day she becomes the Saintess and the hero comes for her—that’s what I told myself.
But in my past life’s memories, the heroine’s name wasn’t Lili; it was Lilia. My memories are hazy, so maybe I got it wrong.
Perhaps it’s not Lili but another woman.
So, I made a plan. If Lili is chosen as the Saintess, I’ll quietly leave the village. If not, I’ll stay and live as a villager.
Luckily, the job I was given in the story: a hunter.
Not a villager or a farmer, but a job that lets me survive anywhere.
It’s not Lili’s fault. It’s just the way this “fated story” is written.
We’re only twelve years old, so why not enjoy life until we turn fourteen?
To have a girl love me, even if only for a time, and stay by my side—
Isn’t that enough?
If I think of it that way, it’s happy… right?
When I turned twelve, Lili proposed to me.
I tried to brush it off, to dodge the question, but I couldn’t.
In the end, I gave in to her smile and accepted.
Maybe this is the story’s correction at work.
As the heroine and the one destined to be betrayed, maybe Lili and I can’t part ways until the hero takes her from me.
When we both turned fourteen, Lili grew even more beautiful.
In half a year, we’d be adults.
And then, I’d receive the hunter job, and Lili would become the Saintess.
Just six more months, and we’d part ways.
I love her so much… and right now, she loves me. But she’s destined to betray me.
To love her this much, to be loved by her, and yet face a future filled with nothing but misery—
Tomorrow is the coming-of-age ceremony, the day we receive our jobs.
Tomorrow, Lili will become the Saintess.
And I’ll become a hunter.
A week from now, Lili will leave with the hero and never return to me.
My first love came true. I was happier than I could have ever imagined.
Isn’t that enough? In this life and my past one, I’ve never known such happiness.
Tomorrow, I’ll celebrate with all my heart.
And when Lili and the hero set off on their journey, I’ll send them off with my brightest smile.
After that, maybe I’ll go on a journey of my own… Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.
I was happy.
So why can’t I stop crying?
I’m so happy, so unbelievably happy… so why?
I washed my face at the well.
Lili… thank you for the memories. Thank you… I love you.
◆◆◆
The morning of the coming-of-age ceremony arrived.
Despite my feelings, Lili was in high spirits.
I, on the other hand, was sleep-deprived.
“What’s wrong, Rudy? Couldn’t sleep?”
“Yeah, I couldn’t…”
“I hope we both get good jobs, don’t you?”
You’ll be fine… you’re getting the Saintess job.
I forced a smile, holding back my tears.
This week would be the last I’d spend with Lili.
“What job do you want, Rudy?”
“Hmm, a hunter, I guess. It’ll keep me fed and protect me.”
Hunter’s already set in stone, though.
“Really? I don’t want to be apart from you, so maybe a seamstress or a weaver would be nice.”
“Yeah, let’s hope we both get the jobs we want.”
◆◆◆
A priest from the city performed the ceremony.
As expected, my job was hunter.
“Congratulations, Rudy! You got the job you wanted!”
“Yeah, thanks…”
I have to smile… I don’t want to ruin Lili’s happiness.
“You don’t seem happy, Rudy. Oh, maybe you secretly wanted to be a knight or an adventurer?”
“Yeah, the job doesn’t really matter… as long as I can be with you, Lili.”
“Really? That’s kind of embarrassing… Thank you!”
Now it was Lili’s turn.
She lined up with five other girls from nearby villages.
They received a piece of paper from the priest and prayed in sync with his staff.
The paper would then reveal their job.
Normally, that’s all that happens, but in the novel I read, when it was Lili’s turn, an angel descended.
There it is!
An angel appeared and headed straight for Lili.
Lili, be happy…
The angel reached out and gently embraced her.
After a moment, it departed.
The crowd buzzed with excitement, but for me, it was a nightmare.
“What a miracle! Lili—nay, Lili-sama’s job is Saintess!”
“Saintess!?”
Lili stood bewildered as the priest and others surrounded her.
My first love ended here.
The next day, Lili’s parents told me they wanted to annul our engagement.
It couldn’t be helped… I’m lucky I don’t have family. I can leave whenever I want.
It’s fine. I’d already made up my mind.
A week later, the hero and his party came for Lili.
I thought they’d leave right away, but they stayed in the village for a few days.
One day, I saw Lili and the hero together in secret.
It crushed me.
Lili told me directly that we were over. “I already know,” I replied quietly, holding back tears as I walked away.
When I saw Lili kiss the hero in front of me, I nearly broke down, but… I knew this would happen.
They’ll face a grueling journey to defeat the Demon King. I have to let her go…
“But Hero Kain-sama is so cool!”
“Wow, Hero Kain! I wanna be like him when I grow up!”
The village kids chattered excitedly.
Hero Kain? That’s wrong. The hero I know from The Silver Hero is named Jake, with platinum blonde hair.
Hero Kain has brown hair. …Wait!
I remembered. I realized it. This world is set before the story of The Silver Hero.
Hero Kain, in his arrogance, fails to defeat even the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings and is killed.
If it were Hero Jake, I could entrust Lili to him. But not Kain.
I clung to Lili. I didn’t care how pathetic I looked. As long as she lived, that was enough.
“Lili, if you stay, I’ll do anything… Please don’t go!”
“Hey, Rudy, what are you saying? If the hero and I don’t fight, the world will suffer!”
“Let other heroes or knights handle the fighting! Stay here with me, please, I’m begging you!”
I pleaded desperately, bowing my head. Pride didn’t matter.
“There are no other heroes! And I love Kain… The one I love is Hero Kain, not you!”
“I don’t care if you don’t love me… Just don’t go!”
“You’re pathetic, Rudy. I’m disappointed in you. I don’t even know why I ever liked you. Get out of my sight!”
“I’ll do anything, please, don’t go!”
No matter how shameful I looked, I didn’t care, as long as Lili wouldn’t die.
Then Hero Kain appeared.
“You’re the lowest kind of man. You don’t deserve Lili. Get lost!”
He glared at me with contempt.
If you were Jake, I’d step aside quietly.
But you’re not!
“Please, don’t drag Lili into this!”
I pleaded earnestly.
But my words only enraged Kain further.
“I told you to get lost!”
Lili glared at me with clear disgust.
“You’re ruining even my memories of you. What were you trying to do? You’re such a fool! I don’t want to see your face ever again!”
I just wanted you to stay alive, Lili…
“You’re so clingy. You’re really pissing me off!”
With that, Hero Kain punched me in the stomach.
I collapsed pathetically, clutching my stomach in pain.
The two of them looked down at me with cold eyes.
“You brought this on yourself, acting like that when you’re just a hunter. Don’t talk to me again. I don’t want to see you!”
“Truly, you’re the worst kind of man… Pathetic.”
No, Lili…
“Lili… don’t go…”
My voice didn’t reach her.
After Kain’s punch, I passed out from the pain.
When I woke up, two days had passed.
The hero and Lili had already left.
The villagers, knowing I’d lost my lover, were kind to me.
That kindness only confirmed I was right.
If this were the true story, the villagers would have despised me.
This must be the tale before The Silver Hero. In other words, they’re going to die.
“Lili…”
In the story I know, Hero Kain was killed.
It was just a few lines. Maybe Lili survived.
But I was wrong.
Three months later, news reached me of Hero Kain and Lili’s deaths.
They fought Iron-Armed Mammon, one of the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings, and were killed.
Their bodies were reportedly hung on the city walls, bound in chains, in a gruesome display.
That’s why I tried to stop you.
Forget the woman who abandoned you. I told myself that countless times. But I couldn’t.
Before I knew it, I was hunting monsters relentlessly.
To grow stronger, hunt monsters. Instead of regular animals, hunting monsters makes even a hunter stronger.
I hunted monsters obsessively, without pause.
Over time, my speech shifted from “boku” to “ore.”
I lost an eye fighting a Black Bear… but I replaced it with a magical prosthetic, and now I see better than ever.
I lost a leg defeating a pack of Silver Fangs… but I paid a fortune for a mithril prosthetic, making me stronger.
What am I even doing?
I paid the guild to gather information on Iron-Armed Mammon.
I learned Mammon was planning to attack the fortress city of Gilmed.
Gilmed is famed for its high walls, powerful knights, and golem-wielding mages.
Even Mammon wouldn’t escape unscathed.
I set up camp in the forest near Gilmed.
I’m no hero, so I won’t rush in to save the city when it’s attacked.
No matter how strong Mammon is, it’ll take some damage after destroying a city. That’s when I’ll strike.
Mammon always acts alone, unlike the other Heavenly Kings who command armies.
That’s my chance.
As expected, Mammon attacked Gilmed.
Screams from the fortress city echoed through the forest.
I’ll probably die. My heart was calm.
How much time passed? Mammon emerged.
Unscathed!?
But I had no choice. If I missed this chance, I’d never face Mammon again.
“You’re Mammon, one of the Demon King’s Four Heavenly Kings! I challenge you to a duel for the one I loved!”
“Hoh, a mere human dares challenge me to a duel? Amusing. I accept.”
In that instant, I fired my hunting rifle.
The bullet, made of silver effective against demons and blessed by the Pope himself for a hefty donation, struck Mammon’s right eye.
Using my highest hunter skill, Sure Shot, I knew I could at least blind one eye, even against Mammon.
Don’t call me a coward. When a weakling challenges a titan, this is the least I can do to avoid dying in vain.
“You… Attacking before even giving your name? How cowardly. I’ll kill you cruelly!”
Mammon charged at me.
I instinctively raised my rifle to block, but Mammon grabbed it along with my right arm and tore it off.
If I hadn’t downed a potion laced with anesthetic herbs, I’d have passed out.
“You have no weapons left! All you can do is die! The price for my eye is steep. I’ll torment you before you die. Don’t expect an easy death!”
“Do it if you can, you loudmouthed demon!”
Mammon lunged to crush my head.
With my left hand, I drew the hammer at my waist and swung it at Mammon’s horn.
Horns are a demon’s symbol and source of power.
“Hahaha, did you think a demon’s horn would break so easily? Your feeble strength can’t break it!”
“Is that so? But your horn is broken. Aren’t you a demon?”
As Mammon said, a demon’s horn can’t be broken without a holy sword.
And I’m a hunter, not someone who can wield a holy sword. So I searched. I found a weapon surpassing a holy sword: this hammer, The Hammer of Holy Sword Forging.
It was used by the dwarf village elder to forge holy swords. At first, he refused to sell it, no matter the price.
But after many visits, he asked what I’d use it for. When I said, “To smash Mammon’s head,” he laughed and gave it to me.
“You… You broke my horn! My symbol of power! Unforgivable!”
“Enough talk. Come at me!”
I was out of options. Mammon easily tore off my left arm as it charged.
My left arm, hammer and all, flew through the air.
“Without both arms, you’re helpless!”
“If you think so, come at me!”
Mammon rushed forward. I used my mithril prosthetic leg to kick, timing it with Mammon’s movement.
But the mithril leg shattered, and Mammon’s hand pierced through my stomach.
Mammon stared at me for a moment, then left without a word.
This was my all. With its horn broken and an eye lost, Mammon can’t remain a Heavenly King.
That’s all.
What am I doing for a woman who didn’t even love me?
Lili, I couldn’t even avenge you… Pathetic.
You’re probably flirting with Kain in heaven, oblivious to my feelings.
What a fool I am.
“That’s harsh, Rudy… I came all this way to meet you.”
I heard a voice carried on the wind, but it must be… my imagination…
◆◆◆
A boy, hidden, witnessed his final moments.
A human who faced the absolute powerhouse Iron-Armed Mammon head-on and took its horn and eye.
In that figure, the boy saw a true hero.
And so, the boy began to dream, “I want to be as strong as him.”
That boy’s name was Jake.
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