Chapter 3: The next step

After some rest-or at least, that had been the plan-we couldn't truly relax. Maybe it was because of our new situation, or perhaps simply because this place was unfamiliar. Either way, Grey and I gradually got up and began preparing ourselves for what lay ahead. The last time we met with the priestess girl, she had only shared the essential, surface-level information to calm us down because of our situation. However, this time, we knew we had to understand the full picture-every detail about the looming era of darkness she mentioned, and especially about the mysterious king of darkness. Without this deeper understanding, we just didn't feel like we could make the right choices concerning our roles here.

A whole world swarming with monsters, the demon armies terrorizing people without telling a proper reason, and atop it all, a singular true king of darkness-it all seemed so overwhelming. How could a single hero possibly hope to defeat them all, let alone protect the entire world? I knew Grey must be wrestling with these very questions too. He has always been the smarter and more level-headed one between us, likely weighing everything in his mind far more thoroughly than I was. So, we waited patiently for the priestess girl to arrive, hoping for answers.

Meanwhile, my stomach loudly reminded us of its presence, rumbling and growling like it didn't care about the looming darkness-turning the whole serious moment into a bit of a joke. Apparently, in this kingdom of doom, food still rules supreme-rest has to wait its turn.

Grey definitely heard it too.Grey shot me a look like, "Are you for real, bro?''

I scratched my head, caught between hunger and caution.

"Come on, man," he said with a mischievous grin, "If you're hungry, why don't we go hunt down some food? I'm pretty sure we can survive that little adventure."

I frowned, shaking my head. "This isn't our home. We can't afford to act recklessly. We don't know this place, and it looks huge. Considering how far we can see from the window, this place must be enormous! We could easily lose our way in this vast castle-or whatever it is."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Then why don't we at least try to call someone for help?"

"That's a good point," I admitted, a bit hopeful. "Please...?" I even pleaded softly.

He shot me a sly grin. "Why don't you do it yourself?"

"Don't be a coward. You're strong now-you even took down that scary minotaur thingy or whatever that is." There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, but his smile made it clear he was pleased-like he wanted to see me step up and improve my social skills.

I hesitated. "About that... without that sword in my hand, I'm still just me. I don't even remember the fight-I only realized what happened when you guys told me. And that girl keeps calling me 'hero'... I didn't even know why at first."

Grey raised an eyebrow. "Then how come you acted so differently? You talked to her without flinching. You're usually all nervous around strangers."

I shrugged. "Like you said, I'm just acting. Can't exactly lose my cool in front of a beauty like her. What would she think if I started freaking out and hid behind you like usual?"

Grey burst out laughing. "Man, that would be hilarious to watch."

"Don't push it, buddy," I warned. "So, tell me-if you want to stay and fight beside me, how are you going to do it? You've never fought anyone or anything before."

I quickly steered the conversation elsewhere before he could start making fun of me and laughing so hard he'd be practically crying with laughter. It was a necessary move.

Grey pondered for a moment before saying, "Why don't we try switching the holy sword between us and fight in turns?"

Just as we were talking, the girl suddenly barged into the room without a knock or warning. We both jumped to our feet, hearts pounding. Her serious expression showed she'd been waiting for the perfect moment to interrupt.

"Did you hear what we were..." I began, feeling a flush of embarrassment at being caught. But I didn't let it show on my face-I swallowed the rest of what I wanted to say.

She cut me off, her tone firm yet calm. "The sword chose you to be its wielder. It cannot be wielded by anyone else but you until your life ends. If it could, it would already be in the hands of our enemies."

I nodded slowly. "That makes sense." Then I glanced at Grey, a hint of hope in my voice. "There's still time... if you want to change your mind, Grey..." I tried to persuade him once more, watching for any sign of hesitation.

But Grey stood resolute. "No, I won't."

I took a deep breath, trying again. "It isn't safe here. Please think about it again, Grey."

He met my gaze steadily. "I've already decided, and you both accepted it. If I have to, I'll learn to fight," he said firmly.

We were speechless once more, but the girl seemed lost in thought, resting her hand gently under her chin.

"Bro, I just want to help you. I don't want you to be alone. I want us to face this together. And if it comes to that, I wouldn't hesitate to give up my life to save you."

A chill ran down my spine. I froze.

I couldn't keep the anger inside me any longer. He still wants to do the same thing, doesn't he?

I snapped, my voice sharp and showing my concern, "You intentionally ran behind my back to shield me from that light and the minotaur. You could've outrun me and escaped... but you didn't." I swallowed hard, overwhelmed by everything he'd done. My voice grew softer, almost pleading, He did all this for me... but why?

"Please, don't always do things like that. I'm already in debt to you-you've helped me so many times, and yet I feel like I haven't done nearly enough to deserve it."

He offered me a rare, gentle smile-the kind he barely ever showed. "You've done more than you realize," he reassured me quietly. I tried, but no words came out.

Just as the moment settled with Grey's rare smile, the priestess girl brightened up and chimed in with a bright idea.

"Then let me help you with that. Follow me, Sir Hero and Sir Grey."

We both stared in blank, caught off guard as the change in her tone suddenly registered. Without a word, we followed her with a silent nod-realizing there was truly no other choice.

She led us to a dimly lit storage room tucked away in the corner. Inside, rows upon rows of ancient weapons and armor stood on display, each piece telling its own story. The swords gleamed faintly, their blades etched with intricate runes and symbols that seemed to shimmer softly in the low light. Armors bore delicate engravings and battle scars, crafted with masterful skill and care that had preserved them through the ages. The air hung heavy with the weight of history and silent reverence. Our eyes grew wide with wonder and awe.

The girl's lips curled into a knowing smile as she spoke softly. "These weapons and armor were left behind by the previous heroes. They are enchanted-imbued with physical enhancements and magical properties.

They used them because the holy sword is a sacred item, but it won't have any effect against ordinary monsters, bandits, or any ordinary people who tries to misuse this place."

"Bandits?" I asked in surprise.

"Yes. Bandits often try to break into this holy land, so our heroes come to aid us from time to time."

"I know I'm not the first, but how many came before me?" I asked further.

"You are the 560th hero." She said, hesitation clear in her eyes and tone.

Are they... "What happened to all the heroes before me?"

"That's... We can talk about it another time" she replied. "Now, Sir Grey, whatever you want, choose from these. They may not be as powerful as the holy sword, but they are still decent and powerful. Look closely, and you will find something you'll like." With that, she turned to leave, adding, "I'll prepare something for you both to eat." Then she was gone, almost as if fleeing without explanation.

There was definitely more to this story-she was hiding something important. Did we have to push her to confess?

"No, Grey," I said. "If we push her, it may become complicated. Even if she isn't what we expected, pressing her won't help us now. Right now, it seems she has no intention of harming us or letting us do as we please anyway."

"Then what's the plan, Sir Hero?" Grey asked with a grin, clearly poking fun at how the girl had called me that.

"Information is our top priority. The heart of the matter will come to light if we dig deep enough, but carefully, without blowing everything open."

"When did you get so smart? I never saw this side of you before. Did the holy sword whisper some wisdom into your ears or something?" Grey asked, still teasing.

I laughed lightly. "Smart? I'm not so sure about that."

Then we began carefully examining the equipment, searching for something that would suit Grey's strengths. After some consideration, he settled on mid-range armor, a spear, and a shield. I had recommended this combination because of his solid, muscular build-a result of years spent pulling heavy carriages. The armor struck a balance between protection and mobility, allowing him to move swiftly without being weighed down. The spear offered reach and offensive versatility, while the shield provided reliable defense against incoming attacks.

Grey shifted the weight of the armor on his shoulders, testing its feel. "Not too heavy, huh? I can move in this?"

"Yeah," I nodded, trying to hide the slight tension in my voice. "You need to be able to react quickly. This'll give you enough protection without slowing you down."

He gave me a small, determined smile. "Guess I'm going to have to keep up with you then."

What made this setup ideal was its adaptability. Neither of us were professional fighters, and this was just the beginning of our training together. Drawing from my experience reading battle novels, I suggested this plan: I would wield the holy sword up close, while Grey held the frontline with his spear and shield. Our fighting styles were meant to complement each other, filling in blind spots-his defense and reach protecting what I couldn't see or reach, and my offense and speed covering what he couldn't block or strike quickly enough. It wasn't perfect, but it was our best strategy to survive and improve as a team.

Just as we finished examining the weapons and armor, the girl reentered the storage room, as if she had been waiting for this exact moment. Her eyes flicked between us, sharp and unreadable.

"Watching... or waiting?" I muttered under my breath, a cold knot forming in my stomach.

Grey met my gaze with a wary look. "Feels like more than just curiosity."

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