73) You cannot be serious?! (Patreon)

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{3rd Pov}

Ember felt like he had already gone through more than enough trouble, but he never imagined he would end up encountering this, a fucking horde of monsters charging toward the city.

‘You cannot be serious?!’ Ember cried out in his mind.

Had Athena actually used her Arcanum to curse him or something?

Why did he always end up running into life threatening disasters wherever he went?

It was just like those protagonists from novels, especially cultivation stories who somehow attracted trouble no matter where they stepped.

The moment they entered a city, some legendary sword that had supposedly fallen from the Three Realms above would suddenly appear on a random roadside stall.

A tournament that was held only once every five hundred years would just happen to begin that very day.

A secret realm that opened once every thousand years would suddenly appear right in front of them.

Some ancestor, who had been alive since the dinosaur era would awaken out of nowhere.

And of course! Monster hordes.

A lot of fucking monster hordes attacking the city at the worst possible timing.

Ember narrowed his eyes and stopped walking for a moment, rubbing his forehead.

After everything he had experienced, he felt tired...So incredibly tired.

First, there had been the Behemoth.

Then Athena trying to mind rape him.

After that, Merina had tried to kill him.

Then came the slaves he had rescued in the city, the slaughter he had carried out to protect them, and finally the moment he had been forced to tell Athena to... essentially kill herself.

He took a deep breath.

But his heart continued pounding heavily inside his chest.

It just would not calm down.

He could no longer tell what he was even feeling anymore.

He took several short breaths, trying to steady his racing heartbeat.

Right now, all he wanted was to finally relax.

He just wanted to return to Aurora's arms and forget everything for a while.

But instead, it was always this.

This same kind of shit.

The same endless trouble that kept happening to him again and again, never giving him a single moment of peace.

At this point, he was seriously beginning to consider that some God back in the Heavens had been plotting everything that had happened to him.

Or perhaps he was being forced into these situations by some unknown force that knew he did not belong to this world... or perhaps not even this universe.

‘Am I really the problem?’ he thought, his eyes gradually dimming as his previously unbreakable will began to crack beneath the crushing weight of his own guilt.

Perhaps he really was like those protagonists.

Manipulated by unseen forces like nothing more than a puppet, bringing harm to everyone around him wherever he went.

One time was understandable.

Two times? Fine.

But when the same kind of thing kept happening over and over again, it stopped being a coincidence.

It was definitely not a FUCKING COINCIDENCE.

But then again, he was helpless.

He could barely stand his ground against High-Level adventurers and even that was an exaggeration of his own abilities; much less whatever unseen force might be responsible for all of this.

Even the very source of his power, his Falna, was connected to Aurora.

If something existed that stood above even her then there was nothing he could possibly do.

‘Or perhaps I am just overthinking... and all of this is simply bad luck,’ he thought.

He wished that somehow, just somehow he could convince himself that everything was nothing more than a series of unfortunate coincidences.

But every time he tried to believe that his conviction faltered once again.

His grip around the hilt of his sword tightened.

He slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

‘Breathe in... breathe out,’ he silently reminded himself as he followed the familiar rhythm, trying to calm and comfort himself.

Ember loved his family and Aurora without a doubt.

But being alone was also his place of solace.

Whenever he was by himself, when everything around him was quiet and peaceful, he could calmly think through everything that had happened.

It gave him the chance to sort out his thoughts, gather himself, and prepare to fight once again before venturing back into this world.

‘Time to scout,’ he thought.

He swiftly leaped onto another tree, causing only a faint rustle among the branches.

Thankfully, the dense cluster of leaves concealed his figure completely.

Looking through the small gaps between the leaves, he carefully observed the approaching horde.

Then he realized something.

‘There are Level 2 monsters among them!’ he thought, his expression immediately becoming serious.

That was not good news at all.

If Level 2 monsters were already mixed into the horde, then the monster stampede would almost certainly have at least a Level 3, or perhaps even a Level 4 monster leading the rear of their formation.

While Ember had previously fought the Bloodsaurus along with a horde of monsters of similar strength back in Karuna City, his Status had still not been updated since then.

He had certainly gained better combat skills, but he was not dramatically stronger than he had been back then.

Not to mention, Karuna City had possessed a powerful force of adventurers capable of fighting alongside him.

Morten City was a completely different story.

Its militia and adventurer force were nowhere near as strong.

Heck, Ember himself had slaughtered nearly half of the city's knights and soldiers not that long ago.

That meant that even if he chose to stand and fight here, there was no way he could stop every monster from slipping past him and making its way into the city to slaughter innocent civilians.

Ember could choose the people precious to him, or the ones he personally wanted to save, over a larger group.

He was not some great hero; he was only a human- scratch that a high-elf.

But if the monsters reached the city, then all of his efforts to rescue those slaves would have been for nothing.

After thinking about it for a moment, he made his decision.

He immediately turned back toward Morten City, which was only about two miles behind him.

He would warn them about the approaching monster stampede.

As for himself, he would focus on protecting the rescued slaves.

At this point, he saw no other choice.

...

As Ember returned to the city to warn everyone about the approaching monster stampede, he suddenly heard a loud bang.

'Huh?'

He quickly jumped over the city wall.

The moment he looked toward the city, he froze in shock.

Explosions were erupting throughout the streets.

One house after another blasted apart before catching fire.

He immediately turned toward another part of the city, only to witness yet another explosion that blew an entire house to smithereens.

He quickly scanned the surroundings, trying to locate the source or figure out what was causing the destruction.

But no matter where he looked, he could not see anyone casting magic.

That only confused him even more.

Without wasting another second, he leaped down into the city and sprinted toward one of the collapsed houses that was now engulfed in flames.

The screams of terrified people echoed throughout the streets.

Some had been crushed beneath piles of rubble, while those who had been inside the house during the explosion had been blown to smithereens.

As Ember reached the rubble, he immediately shouted, “Is anyone here?!”

He quickly looked around, searching for any sign that someone might still be alive beneath the burning ruins.

Then he heard it.

“Help...”

The voice was so faint and weak that, if not for his superhuman hearing, he would have completely missed it.

Without hesitating, he grabbed the burning beams and charred pieces of wood.

The intense heat only made him feel slightly uncomfortable and caused him no real harm.

He continued digging deeper into the pile of rubble until he finally found the source of the voice.

“I am coming! Just hold on!”

“Try to keep breathing!” Ember shouted.

He grabbed the massive wooden beam, weighing nearly a ton, that had been pinning the victim beneath it and threw it aside with all his strength.

Once the person was finally freed, Ember was able to clearly see the extent of the injuries.

Everything below the victim's waist had been blown to smithereens.

There was nothing left of the lower half of their body.

He quickly knelt beside her and immediately began casting the healing magic he had learned from Jasmine.

A gentle glow enveloped the wounded body.

As the healing magic spread through her, parts of her burned skin slowly returned to normal, and the face that had been covered in ash, soot, and dust gradually became recognizable.

The moment Ember realized who she was, horror filled his eyes.

“No...”

“No! No!”

The girl slowly opened her eyes and looked at him.

Even without the mask covering his face, she immediately recognized him.

It was the man who had saved her before.

“Ruri!”

“Don't worry, I will keep healing you.”

“You can still survive,” Ember said as he immediately began chanting the healing spell once again.

However, the elf weakly shook her head, a movement that can be barely counted as shaking.

“No need...” she whispered.

Ember did not listen.

He continued chanting the healing spell.

Then she spoke again.

“All of them... are dead.”

His chanting abruptly stopped, causing the spell to break.

He instantly cursed himself for making such an obvious casting mistake.

But before he could begin again, Ruri continued speaking.

“My Lord... thank you for saving us... but...” she coughed weakly.

“All the slaves...cough, they were here...cough”

“This building... was where... cough we were staying.”

Ember's face turned pale as those words sank in.

He slowly looked toward the collapsed building, now reduced to burning rubble that was still engulfed in flames.

‘No!’

‘NO!’

‘NO!’

He screamed inside his mind.

Then he raised his voice and shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Can anyone hear me?!”

“Please!”

“If anyone is still alive... whisper!”

His voice echoed through the burning ruins.

As he waited desperately for even the faintest response, Ruri reached out with her remaining hand.

Her other arm had been burned so severely that only charred bones remained, with the little strength she had left, she gently grabbed hold of his leg.

He looked at the elf for a brief moment before making a decision.

Without another word, he started chanting the healing spell once again in an attempt to keep her alive.

“My Lord... I am grateful... for you...”

As Ember finished the chant, the healing magic once again enveloped her body, stabilizing her condition and pulling her out of immediate danger.

Though he knew it would only buy her a little more time.

Seeing that she was no longer on the verge of dying, Ember immediately rushed deeper into the burning ruins.

He desperately pushed aside one pile of rubble after another.

Finally, he spotted someone beneath the debris.

He threw away another large piece of the collapsed house.

“Wait! I am coming to help...”

His voice suddenly stopped.

The person beneath the rubble had already been dead for a long time.

If that was not enough, as more of the ruins were uncovered, the thick stench of burning flesh filled his nostrils.

Ember slowly looked at the charred bodies lying motionless beneath the debris.

None of them showed even the slightest sign of life.

He instinctively took a step back.

It was true.

Everyone had died in the explosions.

Everyone he had saved...No.

He had failed to save them. He failed to save them. He failed.

Failed.

Failed.

Failed...

“My Lord...”

A weak voice came from behind him, pulling him out of his trance.

He immediately turned back toward Ruri and hurried to her side once again.

“Ruri, I will cast the healing magic again, then I'll take you somewhere safe,” he said, trying to comfort her.

He gently reached out, intending to caress her hair.

His hand suddenly stopped.

Her scalp had long since been burned away.

Tears could not help but stream down his face.

Even so, he continued chanting the healing spell.

“Please... stop,” she begged weakly.

He did not want to.

He continued chanting anyway.

Yet Ruri gathered every last bit of strength remaining in her body and reached out once more, gently grabbing his knee.

“It hurts...” she whispered.

No tears flowed from her eyes.

“I have... cough no family left,” she said, breaking his chant once again.

“I am happy... cough that you saved me.”

‘No, I failed. I was unable to save anyone.’

“I am happy... that I am dying... beside you,” she said with a weak smile.

Then, somehow gathering enough strength to speak in a single breath, she continued.

“But please... Your Majesty...”

“Save the other people...”

“Please... grant me... cough my request.”

She looked at him with pleading eyes.

She knew that if Ember chose to stay and keep healing her, he might be able to prolong her life.

But in doing so he would ignore everyone else who was still dying throughout the city especially the people who still had a chance to be saved by him.

“Shut up!”

“Just let me heal you!” Ember shouted as he immediately began chanting the healing spell once again.

But this time before he could even finish the chant the light faded from her eyes.

She was gone... just like that.

Around him, the cries of people still echoed through the city.

The explosions had finally stopped, but the city itself continued to burn.

Buildings were collapsing one after another.

Men, women, and children were still being crushed beneath the falling rubble.

He knew what had happened.

Ruri had willingly let go of her own life.

She might have survived a little longer, enough for him to heal her further but she had chosen to die.

She had chosen to let him leave her behind... so that he could save everyone else.

“I guess... we both are selfish in the end,” he muttered.

Ember slowly stood up and looked at Ruri's lifeless body.

He wished, somehow he could undo death itself.

He wished he could turn back time, even if doing so meant enduring the greatest pain imaginable.

But in the end it was impossible.

“Very well.”

He looked at Ruri's body one last time.

“I am not a hero.”

“But for you... I will fight.”

“No matter how this ends.”

“I will try to save them regardless...”

“Even if I can only save one more person.”

After saying those words, Ember did not linger any longer.

He immediately turned around and rushed away, doing everything he could to save the people who were still alive.

...

“Lord Optos! The northern part of the city is completely on fire!”

“Lord Optos! We need to rescue the people quickly! The screams are still ringing throughout the streets!”

“Lord Optos! We do not have enough soldiers!”

Optos could only clutch his head in pain as he listened to the endless shouts from soldiers, knights, and officials coming from every direction.

Seeing his lord becoming completely overwhelmed, Addison finally roared,

“SILENCE!”

The room instantly fell quiet.

“It is not going to solve anything if we keep arguing here,” Masdura said calmly.

Optos immediately turned toward her, glaring furiously before shouting,

“How am I supposed to solve this?!”

“The entire city is burning!”

“This was a premeditated attack!”

“I believe that bastard is the one behind all of this!”

“Some sort of savior he is!”

He spat out the last words with obvious contempt, causing Masdura to flinch slightly.

Addison quickly stepped in.

“Lord Optos, please calm down.”

Hearing those words, Optos took a deep breath before slowly nodding.

Then he gave his orders.

“Focus on the areas that are not burning.”

“Evacuate the citizens from those districts.”

“Ignore the northern part.”

His plan was simple and cruel but effective.

Without wasting another moment, Addison immediately began relaying the orders to the soldiers under his command.

Once he had finished, he turned back toward Optos.

“My Lord, I will remain by your side.”

“We should evacuate to the secret chamber.”

Masdura suddenly spoke up.

“Sir Addison...”

“But if you remain with Lord Optos, then how are your men supposed to receive and carry out your orders?”

“Your Highness,” Addison replied respectfully, “first and foremost, I am Lord Optos' knight, and his safety is my highest priority.”

“Of course, I will protect you as well.”

“I have already issued the necessary orders.”

“There is a secret passage connected to the chamber below. From there, we can escape outside the city if the situation becomes even worse.”

In the end, after Akari also persuaded her, insisting that her lady's safety had to come first, Masdura reluctantly agreed.

Together, they headed toward the secret chamber beneath the castle while the city continued to burn around them.

Meanwhile a pair of eyes silently watched the white-haired elf as he ran from one place to another, rescuing the wounded and healing everyone he possibly could.

To be continued...

(A/N: I rarely see any kind of danmachi fanfic showing this reality. We had Orario's dark ages, Loki familia's members dying in huge numbers, and other people dying in side-stories. But most fanfics have Deus EX Machina Main Character who can save everyone and always good happens, like even for throne people kill can kill their siblings, adventurers in dungeon also kill others and loot their stuff, such an ugly reality is mostly never shown in fanfics.

But here are we, when I said Ember will have no cheat and will have to earn everything, this is what I meant. Also before you go shouting, Merina is definitely alive.

The city and monsters don't seem to be coincidence right? It is as if something or someone has instigated this.

Tell me what do you think the reason behind this can be? I wanna see if you can guess. I will have upload one chap for today and write some other fanfic, this way you will get time to guess what's happening.

We are approaching finale of this arc, in a few chaps it will be done.)