1 One, the day I lost everything.

"When the battle with the Demon King Army is over... I want to be Crom's daughter-in-law"

That night I got a sudden reverse proposal.

The opponent is Irina, a priest who is a companion and lover of the Brave Party.

Three years younger than me, she's twenty-one.

She is a beautiful woman with long stretched golden hair and beautiful blue eyes.

This is the Inn courtyard and there is no one around.

It's just the two of us under the pale moonlight.

"Shh, I'm sorry, if I did. And all of a sudden, you're surprised, aren't you?

Oh, how pathetic.

"No, I feel the same way. Let's get married when this battle is over, Irina."

Always next to danger, our battle.

But I'll make sure he survives.

And you're going to live a happy life.

Irina and me.

The next day, our brave party set up a battle at the front base of the Demon King's Army.

"Die, brave men!

A giant black dragon screamed.

One of the most senior members of the Demon King's Army - the Dark Dragon.

He is a formidable enemy that combines more intellect than man with mighty magic and tough vitality.

A flaming dragon brace attacked us.

"'Holly Shield'!

Irina cast a spell.

Shields of glowing energy appear, bouncing back the braces.

It was a unique defensive ceremony for superior clerics.

"Let's go, Chrome. Timing it."

Sage Valerie, a master and fellow traveler who taught me magic, tells me sternly.

"'Firestorm'!

"'Ice Storm'!

The magic of flames and ice that we unleashed at the same time retracted the Dark Dragon.

"Whoa!

With anger, a black dragon waving a great tail.

"Let it!

"We're the ones!

"Whoa, whoa!

Three jumped toward it: a big male warrior, a female swordsman, and a middle-aged knight.

It's Liot, Farah and Margo, avant-garde at the Brave Party.

The axes, swords, and spears they roll out amputate the tail of the dragon.

Grrrrrrrrrrrr!

The dragon screamed bitterly and flinched.

"Now, Euno!

Got it.

One shadow poking at my voice, at a flash of speed.

Brilliant looking boy in bright golden armor.

Euno, one of the only seven 'brave men' in the world.

"Destroy the Devil, Holy Sword 'Weiss'!

A golden holy sword is waved down faster than a giant dragon rebuilds itself.

The flash emitted from the blade broke Dark Dragon's body both ways.

"You did it, Euno!

"Chromium-kun, it's because we had everyone's backup."

To my words, Euno returns a refreshing grin.

Humble, fellowship.

Before I was a brave man, I was a boy to whom I could call my best friend.

The demon king was resurrected three years ago now.

He led thirteen legions, and they invaded the whole world.

Less than six months later, half the world fell into their hands.

To counter it, God chose seven brave men from the earth.

Each of the brave men chose a companion, scattered all over the place and began to fight the Demon King's Army.

I, Chrome Walker, am one of those chosen for the Brave Party.

After the battle with the Dark Dragon, we went back to the inn.

One of the thirteen executives of the Demon King's army that controls the region - the showdown with Franjurus - is close.

His powerful monster has already hunted seven bodies, including today's Dark Dragon.

You've sharpened the enemy's power considerably, and it's time to set it up.

Valerie, the party's chief of staff, actually decides when to do it.

"... yes, let's see Irina's face before she goes to bed"

I left the room.

There are four of us staying on this floor: me and Master Valerie, Liot and Margo.

Farah and Irina, as well as the brave Yuno, are staying on the upper floor.

I walked up the stairs with my gibberish and gibberish.

"What...!?"

So I stood by surprise.

"I missed you......"

"Me too..."

I discovered a shadow walking into Euno's room, trying to sneak eyes.

That one, no way.

It's my mistake.

But I don't care what you think.

Yesterday, we were looking at Irina, our lover, who was supposed to have sworn the future together.

"Why, Irina's in Euno's room...?

I shook my neck right next to mine, even as I shrugged it.

Irina happened to have some errands and would have just visited Euno's room.

How stupid of me to doubt my lover and my best friend for a moment.

"I wanted to say goodnight to Irina, but should I stop? Let's get ready for bed tomorrow."

I turned my back.

─ ─ I missed you.

- Me, too.

The voice echoes in my head earlier.

I was about to go down the stairs, and my legs stopped.

"... no, I still care"

I walked out again, knowing I shouldn't.

Sneak your footsteps and go to Euno's room.

I don't doubt anything.

I just want to make sure.

I softly push my ear against the door as I feel guilty.

"Irina, I love you..."

"Oh me too...... dear, brave man......!

My head turned white on the voice I heard.

What the heck, this...!?

What followed was a faint breath.

Take off your clothes, the sound of clothes rubbing.

Sweet whispers and the sound of the bed squeaking.

Eventually, Irina raised a voice of pleasure that I had never heard before.

What the heck is this... Eh...!

I scream in my heart.

Irina, you told me you wanted to marry me.

Euno, aren't you my best friend?

But how could you two...

I couldn't sleep that night.

"Morning, Chrome."

When I got down to the dining room on the ground floor, Euno greeted me.

Fresh, gentle smile as usual.

"You don't look well, do you? Are you feeling all right?

An attitude that cares about me is never superficial either.

He seemed worried about me from the bottom of his heart.

I can't believe that happened last night.

"How are you feeling?

Irina also walked over worried.

We both have the same attitude.

It's like yesterday was a bad dream I had.

But I did ask.

I was so shocked, I couldn't think of anything.

As a lover, should I have gotten in the room?

I left the spot behind just to run away.

"Anything... nothing"

That was the best I could say.

"The time is ripe. Let's say it's time to go crusade Franjurus."

and suggested by Master Valerie.

"Right. Together, we're not enemies. Isn't that right, Chrome?

Euno endorsed it.

"What? Oh..."

"If you guys are going to be in danger, I'll make sure to protect you with my defensive techniques"

Healthy Irina as usual.

The other three are just saying, 'It's a showdown today,' and they're motivated.

Most of all, I saw a little rush on everyone's face.

─ ─ Our party is watered down by the track record compared to the other six brave parties.

Each of the other parties has at least a Demon King's Army executive class.

But we're not the only ones defeating the executive class.

"Then we're off. Be sure to defeat Franjurus."

Yuno wasn't usually a refreshing smile either, he had a frightened face somewhere.

We were going through the deep woods.

If we get out of here, there's got to be a castle in Flangelas.

and -,

"but... oh...!?"

A severe numbness struck my whole body.

The paralysis quickly turned into severe pain rushing all over the body.

"Ko, is this...? Guuuuu...... uuuuuu"

I can't help myself on my knees, and I collapse on the spot.

Ha, ha, ha, breathe unusually roughened and face up in a crawling position.

"Prohibition" Dark Chain ""

Looking up, Master Valerie looked down at me with no expression.

"Sorry, Chrome. Sacrifice is you."

"Don't... don't...?

"The time is ripe, I told you. Our brave men need more power to defeat Franjurus."

"What...?

My head turns bright white.

"Start the ritual for that, Chrome."

It was Irina who told me cold.

What, what do you mean...?

What she's pointing at me is not a single piece of love as a lover or anything, a cold glance.

"I'm sorry, it's a sacrifice."

The other three - Warrior Liot, Female Swordsman Farah and Knight Margot - were each looking down at me with cold eyes.

"Curse us. [Darkness], born by its curse, but at the same time also produces a strong [light]"

Master Valerie... No, Valerie points the wand at me.

"but oh... oh!?"

The severe pain intensified further.

I rubbed my hair so hard in so much pain.

The hairs that had fallen out were bright white.

In addition, both hands and feet become thinner and thinner.

Almost all I have left is bone and skin.

It feels like the life force in me keeps falling out.

Are you going to die sucking everything up like this, I...

Fear and despair darken my sight.

"The [light] created by your [darkness] strengthens the power of the brave. The deeper your [darkness] is - anger, suffering, hatred, despair, the stronger those negative emotions, the stronger the [light] that is given to the brave will also be." To defeat the Demon King. "

I don't know why.

Am I trying to make you sacrifice some kind of spell...!?

From the mouth of my master, to strengthen the brave...?

"How could you...?

A number of emotions come and go in my chest.

Anger.

Confusion.

Confused.

And... despair.

"We all made up our minds."

"To make the brave strong"

"You're the one who's gonna make the sacrifice."

"Nobody wants to die."

The Liots tell each other.

Words to slash and throw me away as a companion.

"It's okay, she'll make me happy"

"I'm sorry, Chrome. I'll never forget you."

My consciousness was interrupted when I saw Yuno and Irina hugging each other in front of me and talking enthusiastically.

Thus, I lost everything.

And...

[Darkness] in me wakes up.