Althea covered her head with her cloak .

    She completely hid her face and the only skin she shows her wrinkled hands .

    「That’s nostalgic」

    「What is?」

    「You looked like this when I first me you」

    「You speak about me in the future huh . I see . I would be able to live long with this」

    Althea looked at Eleanor . She said those words as if she was asking a question .

    『You should eat some men . The actual reason why I taught Rodotos that technique is to strengthen his life force』

    I told Althea what Eleanor said .

    「Why did Rodotos do that?」

    『A woman as wise as you asks that?』

    「I might have a faint wish that you might be a good person」

    『You expect that from me in this era?』

    「Does that mean I can expect it from you now?」

    『Nope? Hikari is around after all; the reason I must show what a real Demon Sword is』

    Althea and Eleanor had a meaningful conversation .

    Well, it doesn’t have that much of deep meaning though .

    Eleanor is probably just speaking about how she gave that technique to Rodotos, so she could see more of his despair and suffering for having a single ray of hope .

    And Eleanor also said that she’s even more evil since Hikari’s around, but no matter how you look at it, she’s doting on her .

    Eleanor is definitely more amicable right now .

    While I was letting the two, Eleanor and Althea, talk through me, I felt that a dark power approaching .

    At first, it was wandering over here and there, but after it got closer to a certain distance, it went straight towards us .

    「He found us」

    「Rodotos……」

    Althea let out a voice of pity .

    「Please……please release him from everything」

    「Leave it to me……what do I need to do?」

    I asked Eleanor while nodding .

    『Slash him using me . It will be the end of him as long as the last of my powers remaining in Rodotos is removed』

    「I got it」

    I unsheathed Eleanor and took a stance .

    I could see Rodotos already . He looked very ominous and ghostly .

    The aura he releases turns the grasses in the forest wilt as he passed through them .

    An existence that was once a hero, turning into something that would only spread calamity and misfortune .

    「Let’s go」

    『Umu』

    I made a stance with Eleanor and charged .

    There was Eleanor’s shadow on the right hand of Rodotos who suddenly increased his speed .

    We intersectedーーwith a flash,

    I chopped Rodotos in half together with Eleanor’s shadow .

    *Heartbeats!*

    The next instant, I could feel powers flowing into me . It’s Eleanor’s powers .

    I took in every remaining power from Rodotos that I just chopped into two and Eleanor became slightly stronger .

    And, I was now sure . It was really the end for him .

    Rodotos who turned into an evil ghost calmed down . He became a simple ghost just like the ghost maid Tanya .

    This is the real Rodotos huh . He looks peaceful now .

    「Forgive me, Althea . I troubled you until the end」

    「……did you fulfill your wish?」

    「It was a great life」

    「I see, thank goodness」

    「Thank you……」

    Rodotos left the most peaceful voice I’ve heard and disappeared .

    「Goodbye, Rodotos . You are a hero……the Hero, Rodotos」

    Althea saw off the disappearing Rodotos .

    ☆

    After finding Althea, Mercouri’s form as a power is finally made .

    We would strengthen our army with Troize as our base, cooperate with Calamba, Siracuza, Aegina, and Comotoria, finally starting the rebellion against the empire .

    After losing the founding hero, Emperor Rodotos, the Empire was in chaos .

    Adding to that the lack of a successor, the Empire was quickly divided, then defeated one by one by the five powers, being swallowed one after the other .

    While that happened, I fought in the front lines as a pawn following Althea’s orders, and waited for the “time” .

    The time of the final fight against Demon King Eleanor who seemingly disappeared from the Empire .