Prologue

The two people were looking down at the world.

A wide inorganic and spherical airspace that was enveloped by very thin light.

The wall surfaces had countless frames and over there, the vast earth with many towns and forests was being projected like small windows.

The two men who was sitting in the observatory room of the machine that supplied all those sceneries.

One of them was a handsome faced and silver haired young man.

The other one was a rather humanoid creature with a squid-like face

The man who was wearing an elegant mantle decorated with golden embroideries, with the majestic appearance of royalty, was clad in a bloodlust similar to a drawn blade.

"I'll just ask you a question..."

"──'No way, if I say that then what will you do? Is making an idiotic introduction an occupational disease? Vilgax"

The young man turned around with a smile that was similar to mocking or ridiculing towards him.

The man with the squid face was standing still just like a shadow.

He was someone who reveals no openings, and a build slightly higher than a human.

That face was emotionless and was just silently staring at the young man.

"Why did you entrust the Divine Drag-Ride to them? Although it's for the sake of our goal, but if you were to think of the distant future, isnt it a poor decision to allow those smuts who will eventually become hostile to us?"

The man called Vilgax angrily inquired with an indifferent tone.

After laughing scornfully in response to that question, the boy silently raised his chin and struck her with his gaze.

"The existences known as a Hero, where do you think they come from? Vilgax."

"From foolishness, of course."

After slightly hesitating, the man replied as such and the young man laughed.

"Do you not have memories of reading heroic tales? Even the kind from fairytales is fine. The hero who aids the virtuous people and the princess, and defeats the evil monsters and leaders. Where would they be born from in this present world that is not a tale?"

"They are those who are foolish. An existence burdened with the role known as Hero, claiming to be justice and fighting against the enemy."

Towards Vilgax's words, the young man silently narrowed his eyes and raised the corner of his mouth.

"That's wrong, Vilgax. The thing called Hero is surely the populace."

"Hou?"

Showing a face of confusement, Vilgax just returned the question.

"That's right, Vilgax. You who were still unaware wouldn't know, but the majority of this world is like that. There is no such hero who would intentionally start fighting for the sake of a great cause. Both humans and animals, unless they were facing danger in a fight, would live by chasing after the small coins dangling in front of their eyes. Even knights, if they were to be cut off the reward from their feudal lord, they would be reduced to bandits in order to stave off subsistence. That is what's called instinct ── of a living being."

"Then..."

"Then, what they are doing is just foolishness, just like someone I know."

"..."

Only the faint sound of Vilgax catching his breath could be heard.

"What moves those guys is always self-preservation. In that case, for them who don't have anything, you should just put them under 'magic'. Bestowing upon them the powerful weapon known as Drag-Ride, informing them of the location of the ruins that are housing treasures, showing them the enemy called the Abyss, and then finally even allowing them to acquire the taste of victory, step by step, those fries will begin moving in order to protect their own interests and naturally the so called Hero would be reduced to a fool"

Cutting his words once there, the silver haired young man stood up.

While gazing at the window of the machine that projected countless sceneries, his mouth suddenly formed a smile.

"For us to open all of the ruins, Heroes are necessary. That reason alone is more than enough for giving the Divine Drag-Ride to them. From here on out the conflict between nations will intensity even further. A former warlord like you should know it, right?"

"I understand the story. But in that case, from your logic doesn't that mean that there are no such thing as a Hero in this world from the beginning?"

Towards Vilgax's question, the presence of the young man who had been revealing a forced smile up until now changed.

As those pair of ashen eyes that bordered on insanity widened, he muttered.

"Nope, that's wrong"

Just for an instant, while building up his words, the man showed a wicked smile.

"I'm the sole exception. The one. Only I ── am the true authentic hero, Vilgax. Unlike those people."

"..."

The silver haired young man started walking out the observatory room at the same time as he told so.

"It's about time to set the next step into action. Send out a messenger to that third imperial princess, Vilgax."

"Fine."

With a reluctant voice, Vilgax touched the surface of the desk with his hand and controlled the machinery of the room, Vilgax muttered.

"Do you really think so? Real Hero, Fugil Acadia."