Hero Creator: The Last Hero
Ch. 120 — Streets You Take (END)

Two years since the great war of Ragnarok. Although time continues to turn but sorrow never leaves. Too many soul casualties. Neither Heroes nor human warriors. They offered so many lives to pay the price of victory.

Those who manage to survive until the end of the war will be rewarded equally among them. While the names of the fallen warriors will be carved into the stone of reverence along with the statues of the Heroes.

Two years after the war, a lot has changed. To ensure no more war among men, many kingdoms were overthrown and were in one absolute leader and there was only one definite leader, Emperor Asoka Van Yurazania.

Initially there were various kinds of problems such as rebellion but all of them did not become enlarged because until now the human race is still grieving. Sometimes grief is sidetracked by a big party like the wedding between the Hero and Emperor Asoka, but in the end the wound left behind is not something that easily heals.

Standing in front of the statues made of gold, Altucray stared quietly at a statue in front of him, “It has been two years since then. I don't know what you did and what happened, the world has forgotten you.”

Implied by the profound regret indescribable by the words, only Altucray was a person who felt it because only he was allowed to remember it.

Suppose... . Her thought.

As he stared silently the footsteps came from behind him and stood right by his side. Two familiar faces, the warriors who saved the world.

“Tak feels time ends just like that. Many things have happened and still I feel a sad feeling not because I don't even know about him.”

“That's the biggest event that no one has ever experienced. As time goes by, Ragnarok will seem like a fairy tale in the peaceful world you created, Mr. Takumi.” Altucray turned his head and smiled gently at him.

The man whose body had been so thin and his skin paled, although his appearance looked bad to such an extent yet he was still strong enough to swing the spear in his hand.

Thanks to the great war the young man gave up his age and would only survive less than two years. No matter how much resources are given to him, man will not be able to increase the duration of his lifespan.

For that reason during his remaining lifetime, Takumi did not want to leave any regrets in this world.

“All statues are completed, yes? Without exception. Those who fell early such as Argo, Nanami, even Takatsumi was awakened a statue.”

“Yes, even Heroes Ray, Leo and Merial made his statue. Total fifteen Heroes statues to honor you.” Altucray, Takumi and one person in the back stared at a statue that looked unfinished but had actually finished its work.

“There's a lot of things missing thanks to the war. Not only did we lose people, but we lost something very important. No one remembers clearly, not even me. Only a few of us remember it, the presence of someone so meritorious, so important. My chest hurts every time I think about it. I don't know who you are, I hope to see you at the end of this life.” Takumi squeezed his chest as if he had been hit by thousands of needles.

Altucray understood this feeling because he who remembered it felt a very painful thing.

The only statue that was not given a head, an existence that everyone does not remember but can feel a sense of loss.

“Hero who disappeared from the world. From now on you will be known as the last Hero, The Last Hero. Whether where you are, whether you are or not, whether you are remembered or forgotten about your services, we will still respect you. From now on, tomorrow, and in the future when all the warriors who once fought with you will die swallowed by time. Wish ..” Altucray was about to deliver another sentence but again and again could not be uttered.

The statue of a hero without a head, it is because no one can remember his face, shape or name. Whether or not the figure is present, Emperor Asoka decided to build it, under the name given Takumi, The Last Hero.

Takumi immediately leaves the two men with the intention of meeting Yuri who has been breastfeeding her child.

“Are you really going to go wandering, Leo?”

The figure of Leo who was present behind him was completely different from his figure two years ago. He currently looks so messy, like a delinquent who never cleans himself. With a tattered robe covering his body, Leo stuck a Kusanagi sword in front of the tomb and instilled a special magic.

“Yes, I'll go. I don't know when my heart started to empty, losing something so painful especially when I didn't know what I was missing. I'm sure this last hero is someone who means something to me. I don't know who he is, I'm sure it's this peace he wants to reach.”

Altucray shows his sadness, “You will dedicate your whole life to protecting this peace and traveling to the corners of the world?”

Leo closed his eyes, knelt before the statue and nodded, “I will destroy the seeds left from the battle. Not only to protect the peace, but I wanted to find the presence of this Hero who might be in seclusion. Kusanagi sword I left in front of him with unbreakable magic. Only suitable people can use it.”

Leo got up and faced Altucray with a happy smile, “Either it was the son of Kak Takumi and Kak Yuri, or the son of Uncle Asoka, maybe even your grandson.”

Altucray bit his lip and forced his smile, “... Yep. He'll probably be a better fighter than you.”

“Hahaha. I look forward to the time when his name echoes to the corners. Until the moment where I give up, we'll meet later. Goodbye, Mr.” In a short time Leo disappears from his place and heads for an endless odyssey.

“If ..”

Altucray never had good words to say. Wanting to cry cannot, revealing the truth can't either. The truth about the existence of the last Hero, Amatsumi Rigel.

“If ..”

An existence that only he remembers but cannot reveal because of a shackle that binds him. Really, if there's one way to meet again, it's definitely—

“—you stood long enough to look at it.”

Finally, the sounds the world longs for, the existences that disappear, and wants to be found sound like delusions. Altucray felt a presence behind him, his voice undoubtedly his.

Altucray was about to turn around but undo his intentions. What if it was just delusions and never existed? If he turned around and realized his figure had never existed, then he would regret it for life.

Rather than having endless regret, then the best path was talking to him without turning around.

Exerting all his strength, Altucray finally managed to open his conversation with his trembling voice.

“... You are as healthy. After disappearing from everyone's memory, even the world.”

The history of him had been completely wiped out, even every note that wrote his story had completely vanished mysteriously.

“Yes. So do you. I never imagined that the one who had a grudge against me would be the last one to remember me.”

“This is indeed very ironic. What will you do after all this?”

“I'll travel.”

“Travel?”

“Yes. At the height of the war, where I received everything including curses. I saw it .. I saw the origin of the universe, its beauty, its horrors. That's when I arrived at a place called Pillar Of Creation. That's where I heard it, a figure greater than the gods and gave me Creator abilities. I refer to that figure as, Absolute Creation. The creator of a masterpiece named the universe and its contents. If it needs to be facilitated, that figure is the God of the gods.”

Altucray did not understand it, perhaps he would never understand it during his life about what the man saw with his eyes.

“So in short, Creator Hero is not something created by gods, but something created by beings that are much higher than Gods?”

“Yes. Void is just a bonus, the real power is Creator. Creator is not the power to make great weapons or powerful magic, but Creator is the power that creates the future. A future where all smiles are spread in a peaceful world.”

And he managed to do it. Altucray, without ever realizing it had been crying. Immediately he knelt down without ever turning to look at her.

“Yes! You managed to create a smile, you managed to create a peaceful world! However, is it fair that you are suffering because of it?!”

“Nothing is really fair in this world. In exchange for the guarantee that the world will be safe forever, I take on an endless task from him, Absolute Creation. As the one who visited Pillar of Creation, I have a duty to see the end of the world.”

It's destiny and a sad path to take. Traveling endless wrapped in sadness and loneliness is the most painful option.

“If ... if you could share that burden, I, would gladly relieve it! I hope I never hated you. We can together cheerfully discuss the future between you and my daughter! I'm sorry!”

Altucray was crying. Regret always comes at the end and what is called regret never ends.

“I will be immortal, you will die. Everything will die. Even if you follow me, in the end you will die and become another burden.” Walking closer and gently patting Altucray's back, Rigel delivered his farewell, “My goal is to make a tearless farewell but since you're crying it seems to be a failure.”

“What are you going to go?”

“Yes. There is an uncertain future that I hope for. We will meet again in the next life, or until the time where I walk up to heaven, we will meet again.”

Altucray immediately looked up to see him, maybe he would disappear but in fact he deliberately settled until Altucray saw him.

The man in all-white clothes was in harmony with his hair, an empty, luminous look and a handsome face full of sadness. A few seconds into seeing him, until before he finally disappeared, Altucray managed to say goodbye.

Successfully delivered it coincided with the disappearance of Rigel. Altucray then cried out again and again.

“Verily it is not this world that needs salvation, but you that need it, Rigel!”

...***...

Watch and keep watching. He will be a living witness where the peace he makes produces a smile.

“Do you not want to carry your sweet child, Ray? He would be sad if he knew his father never carried him.”

“It's bad if he hates me. But, I have feelings of guilt that cannot be explained, Tirith. I'll never see my daughter's face anyway. Maybe he hates me for being blind.”

“No problem. Even if he hates you, I will love you.”

“Ha ha ha. Well, maybe it should be like this. Lately I kept dreaming, about someone who thanked me for keeping a promise to take care of you.”

“You too? I often see dreams where someone I don't know congratulates me happily or something. Every time I get that dream, I cry.”

“Thank you for being happy, Tirith. And thank you for making it so happy, Ray.” From a faraway place that Rigel's life would never have reached, give thanks.

...***...

Watch and keep watching. He will witness all the happiness and life that his comrades produce.

“See Takumi, he's handsome like you.”

“Yes. I'm sure he'll be a brave and kind fighter like you, Yuri.”

“He will live in this beautiful world. If only, my time was more, I'd like to see him grow into an adult.”

“... Yep. If only it were.”

“You don't have to cry. Man will die someday, life forever will only make a person suffer more because they have to watch the funeral of someone they know.

“Ya!”

...***...

Watch, watch and keep watching. He would witness the path of life passed by his comrades.

“Hey, Leo! Are you going?!”

“Riri's. Yeah, I gotta go. To protect this possibly brief peace. I'll clean up the remaining seeds.”

“I'll come with you! Being alone is painful!”

“But ..”

“No problem! Dad and Mom allowed it, after all I want to be with you to death so you can't refuse me!”

“This is dangerous ..”

“More dangerous if you are lonely during your trip and go crazy!”

“... alright. Don't burden me!”

“Yeay!”

...***...

Watching, watching, watching and watching. Rigel would witness the lives of his comrades from a distant place and watch them happy and dead.

“You are careless, Yuri, your son is just like your husband, very naughty. Goodbye Takumi, I hope to meet you someday. Hey, Asoka, you can't even put diapers on your son. Then Leo, don't make Riri suffer and cry. Hazama, you don't have to keep grieving and come to eat Nadia every day, look for something else to please you. You died proudly, yes, good-bye, Aland. Although blind, deaf and paralyzed, you are still the spirit of life, I admire you, Petra. You did well Ray in taking care of your daughter and making your wife happy. Tirith, thank goodness you're happy. I see, you're too old, good-bye, Altucray. You loved Marcel so much that visiting his funeral continued Bellemere. You raised your son well Yuri, rest in peace. You finally realize that your journey is useless and choose a happy life with Riri, it's good Leo, I pray for you. Your life is full of joy despite your shortcomings, good-bye, Petra. You grieve too much and drink, Hazama, may you meet Nadia in another life. It seems that you are so happy to die surrounded by your husband, children, grandchildren and adorned with smiles, Tirith, sleep well in eternity. Ray, you're old, you don't deserve to cry. Asoka, you take good care of the territory and live well, good-bye. Merial, Natalia, Walther, I didn't think your bond was so strong that you died at the same time, good-bye. Goodbye, Ray. Dying after giving birth to a child and leaving your husband, even though you have lived happily and died peacefully, rest Riri.”

Watch and keep watching. Seeing friends live and die painted eternal happiness.

Watch, watch, and keep watching. Amatsumi Rigel will continue to watch life be born and die.

“Everything has gone and I am alone. They died happily, I'm glad. Look, I managed to reach it. Farewell without tears, they won't cry over my departure .. I won't die anyway. Impossible we'll meet again!”

“What is this, tears? Why am I crying, why is it only now that a long time has passed. This ... sad. But I'm glad they're happy, but I'm alone, even though I'm happy. It's good, right? They died full of happiness, but this hurts because I wasn't there, even so I'm happy!”

“God Requiem, a chant of the gods calling for the resurrection of the one who became the great savior, as well as sorrow. All the hopes and dreams of everyone will be realized by me, in exchange for suffering will be accommodated by me.”

All the dreams that his comrades wanted, the desire for happiness and peace would be achieved, it was certain since Rigel was resurrected with God Requiem. The power that makes dreams come true and makes a person cope with their grief and sadness.

“I am immortal, and get the task of Absolute Creation to witness the end of the world. Isn't this too much for me to handle? Hahaha, could this be what I've always wanted? Pathetic, hahaha!”

The tears kept flowing and the lips that kept smiling then laughed. In the long time that Rigel will live, he no longer knows what happened to him. Laughing and crying at the same time, then screaming loudly without anyone caring.

In the long time and endless journey, leaving a man screaming loudly in the void. The prophecy spoken by Priscilla and the others in the Hell's Labyrinth was realized. The reality of God Requiem hurts more. Eight stones of divination tell us the future Rigel is now experiencing.

He is the last to hate being born.

“I was born for this, if I could I didn't want to be born. This sorrowful and painful journey, when will it end?” Rigel said as he cried, staring at the tomb of his friends right in front of him.

The loneliness of eternity, is the friend of travel.

“Everness is not a blessing. Eternity is a curse! I'll see many people I know find her dead, leaving me alone to mourn their deaths.”

Sadness is the entertainment of the heart without the heart.

“Yes, my heart will only leave sadness. Void seizes everything, ruthlessly leaves sadness!”

Happiness is achieved when you can't achieve anything else.

“Happiness? The achievement? Do I need another achievement after getting his saddest title?”

You will regret the goal you are pursuing.

“Related come at the end, if there is a repeat opportunity, I will do it.”

Farewell without tears is a wound of sorrow.

“I expect a happy ending, and make a tearless farewell. They didn't cry for me, but I cried for them.”

He is the one who travels, seeking forgiveness.

“Forgiveness ... if I find it, could it be that I could end this eternity?”

The last hero of the world, will give birth to the Hero of the universe.

“I am the last of them, and I am the one who makes the world peaceful so that other Heroes can be born.”

Amatsumi Rigel will continue to travel through many universes. Seeking the end of his journey, the time in which the entire contents of this world vanished completely and left a void. Until his time comes, he will take his journey, lonely in eternity.