落とし穴外伝：絶望の中で望みをかける (Part2)
As I spoke, a magical circle of immense power unfurled beneath the old man and me, enveloping us in a pillar of rising light. Yet, there was no fear to be found within it.
"W-what is this? How... how warm it is."
"Indeed. I can feel the power of a god—a god who has long since departed this realm."
Swallowed by that torrent of light, so profoundly tranquil, I understood. This was a divine revelation: summon a hero, and strike down the Demon Lord.
"He mentioned something that weighs on my mind... the 'Kingdom of Heroes.'"
"He also spoke of the true breadth of the world. Perhaps this land is not all there is."
"..."
Though stunned by the sudden weight of these truths, I steeled myself.
"For now, survival is our priority. Let us make the preparations. The location shall be the Audience Chamber."
"Understood. Shall I assemble the troops, just in case?"
"Very well. But do not allow them to draw their blades. We are in the position of supplicants; prepare the chamber as if we were welcoming the monarch of a foreign power."
"At once."
First, we had to resolve the crisis before us. If we did not survive, the affairs beyond the sea would be meaningless.
We rushed to organize the ritual of hero summoning, but the castle soldiers and generals alike cast pitying gazes upon us, whispering that we had finally lost our minds.
"I understand their feelings. If I heard someone else saying such things, I would think the same. But it must be done."
"Indeed. We shall frame it publicly as a ritual to pray for victory. Though, we must inform those gathered in the Audience Chamber of the true nature of the summoning to prevent panic."
Following the old man’s suggestion, we limited the explanation to the bare minimum of personnel, yet the sting of their skepticism remained. Still, I am the King of this nation. It is a convenient position for forcing through the unreasonable. If failure meant certain destruction anyway, the path forward was clear. Perhaps the gods chose me precisely because I could weigh such grim realities.
Hours later, the preparations were complete, and the relevant parties were gathered in the Audience Chamber.
"Listen well. The old man and I have received a revelation from the gods. Some of you may think we have gone mad. But if this succeeds, our nation will be saved. We are consuming no precious resources; simply consider this a ritual to pray for our victory."
I repeated the words the old man had advised, though in truth, the ritual required nothing more than channeling the power granted by the gods to call forth a hero. It would drain a vast amount of mana, but that was all. The front lines had not yet collapsed, and there would be time to recover. One must do everything within one's power.
I began the summoning. A pale, golden light radiated from where I stood, tracing the intricate patterns of the magic circle.
"Ohh..."
"What is that magic?"
"Are they truly attempting a summoning?"
"Was this not merely a ruse to boost morale?"
Those who had doubted us began to cry out in astonishment, but I had no time to heed them. I had to focus. There would be no second chances. This had to work on the first attempt.
"By the revelation of the gods, I command thee: Hero, appear before us! We beseech thee for salvation! Please, I beg of you—save us!"
I poured my soul into that cry. It was not a matter of whether it would reach; I simply felt I had to voice the plea.
The light of the magic circle flared, blindingly intense. I squeezed my eyes shut, and when the radiance finally subsided, there he stood.
"I have responded to the Goddess's request and arrived."
The young man standing there was clad in armor that shimmered with a faint, platinum light, wielding a sword and shield that glowed with the same ethereal brilliance. He stood with an air of absolute composure. More than anything, it was his presence—his overwhelming dignity—that held us captive. In that instant, I, and everyone else in the room, knew: the hero summoning had been a success.
When life and death hang in the balance, the turn of the year holds no meaning. Even if a ceasefire is declared, war remains war.