Epic Of Caterpillar

Davidʼs Epic had already automatically added Leonia and Kaze as part of his Legendary Party, and they were granted increased growth in all aspects.

Vastrasz seemed excited, his voice voraciously guided David towards the next prey.

”Kid, youʼre not half bad! Now defeat this Boss and eat it! I think that you may finally awaken into a Hero if you do so… this trial will be decisive to your growth” muttered Vastrasz.

”A Hero… me?” wondered David.

Since he had escaped from Athetosea, the only ʼHeroʼ that he had known as ʼthe Hero of Raging Windsʼ, a wicked man that did not even represent what the word ʼheroʼ meant.

The rest of the Champions were not different than him in several things, each one seemed like someone that would never fit into the ʼHeroʼ role. People twisted and wicked by their destinies, becoming greedy or obsessive assassins. Or people that could not find a purpose and fell to mundane pleasures.

Some were filled with revenge, others with grieve, and some even had their minds traumatized from a young age, becoming deviant individuals with strange tendencies.

David and most of the Ten Elemental Knights could have been said to be the sanest between the group of humans that protected Athetosea… but even in their group, some were already wicked and corrupted.

But David still remembers those younger than him, whose eyes were filled with determination and hopes for the future, to guide Athetosea towards the prosperity that they desired so fervently.

However, from all of them, he was the sole survivor. The one that was supposed to protect them, the one that was supposed to fall before them, their teacher, had survived.

David holds those feelings, the wills of his companions deep within his heart. The desire for the prosperity of humans in this wild and dangerous Realm.

But David could not simply risk his life for the rest of humanity, he had a family to protect and prioritize first. He could not simply become detached from them and begin his own crusade against Kireina.

About a month has gone by since he had stayed in this dungeon, and his family was still residing in the village that he had previously rescued from Orcs while being protected by his loyal servants.

However, for him it has been an eternity, David desired to see his sisters and parents more than anything now. He had understood how much he needed them in his life. If he were to choose to abandon them, he could never forgive himself.

”David-sama?” asked Blaire.

David had been immersed in his own thoughts and had lost the notion of time, Blaire, the last member of his original Legendary Party brought him back to reality.

”Blaire… I was just… thinking things” muttered David.

”David-sama, do you miss your family?” asked Kaze.

”I… I do…” answered David.

”There is nothing wrong with missing your loved ones, David-sama. After all, they are always a force that makes us strive to overcome difficulties and challenges. Holding them always within our hearts makes us stronger” said Leonia.

”Indeed. It does not mean that you are immature, David-sama. It means that you have a beautiful heart. I do miss your family as well. I have become attached to them” said Blaire.

”Everyone… I do not want… I do not want revenge. I have a large family; I cannot bring myself to abandon them to seek the destruction of a creature that may be too far from my grasp… I only want the best for us, and I must prioritize that before humanity… I may sound selfish, but this is what I believe. I do not have the drive to avenge the fallen… even my wives and master when there are several other people alive that I must still protect” said David, with a firm voice. Melancholy could be heard from within the tone of his voice.

”There is no problem, David-sama,” said Blaire, hugging David from behind.

”Blaire…?” muttered David.

Blaireʼs scarlet eyes were teary, crystalline tears began to flow from her eyes like rivers.

”David-sama… I understand your pain… I really do… And I also understand what you meant. There is no problem. No matter what you decide, I know it is for the best of all of us… So please, do not feel afraid of expressing your thoughts. We would never dare to defy you, someone who has given us so much…” said Blaire, crying. Her tears flowed through Davidʼs red-colored armor, but the intense heat of the dungeon made them quickly dry out.

”It is just as Blaire-san says. There is no issue with your decision. We shall always be at your side, David-sama” said Kaze, with a warm smile.