You've Lost Your Hero Long Time Ago

[A/N : I apologize... I forgot to upload this yesterday.]

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Upon returning home, the day unfolded without any noteworthy incidents.... Well, there was the incessant stream of apologies from Odium, which he accepted with nonchalance, and then he retreated to his room after distributing the acquired sweets to Reina and the others.

The next day.

After meandering through the bustling streets for a couple of hours, he found himself drawn toward a specific destination.

"...It's quite lively here~"

Draped in a white mask concealing half his face, Saber stood before a colossal structure. The panorama revealed a plethora of unidentified nobles mingling about, accompanied by slaves acquired, no doubt, from the local market.

This wasn't his first venture into such establishments, so the atmosphere felt familiar.

The Slave Market.

The very name echoed the purpose of this place—a marketplace where individuals could acquire their own slaves. It mattered little what type of servitude one sought; all races were on display and available for purchase.

In a city teeming with equality, one might ponder how such a market could come into existence. The answer lay in a unanimous agreement across the races, granting access to all. As Saber had mentioned, the market offered a broad spectrum, ensuring that all races found representation.

The hustle and bustle of the market were accompanied by the resonating hum of activity. Slaves were displayed for auction, and the prospective buyers scrutinized them, assessing their worth. It was a scene that evoked both discomfort and a morbid fascination.

Saber navigated through the throng, observing the transactions with an indifferent gaze. His keen perception absorbed the nuances—the exchanges of coin, the subtle expressions of desire, and the dehumanizing spectacle of lives being bartered.

Soon, a figure clad in a pristine white suit emerged to greet him. The individual, offering a formal bow of approximately ninety degrees, extended a welcome with practiced courtesy.

"Welcome to the Slave Market here in the June City. If this is your first time, I can show you around."

Saber's gaze briefly flitted toward the person in white, and with a subtle wave of his hand, he declined the offer. His voice, devoid of unnecessary inflections, conveyed a self-assured familiarity.

"No need. I'm already acquainted with the rules and layout here... However, I would like to visit the slaves that were brought in yesterday."

A moment of silence hung in the air, the unspoken understanding passing between them.

"Those people are my friends... Don't worry; I won't cause any trouble." The assurance accompanied a kind smile, concealing the true his intentions.

The man, initially accommodating, straightened his posture, and a palpable chill crept into his tone. "This ain't a place for a visit, kid... You can either purchase them or get lo—"

Before the man could conclude his sentence, Saber deftly produced a pouch brimming with gold, extending it toward him with an air of nonchalance.

"This should be enough, don't you think...? Also, please prepare a private room for me to use later~"

The transaction, though occurring within the confines of a Slave Market, people are able to use some private rooms. It was normal since nobles often get hasty to do the "stuff" to their slaves.

The man, now faced with the allure of substantial wealth, accepted the pouch with a nod.

"Right this way~"

Respectfully bowing to Saber, he conveyed silent acknowledgment before assuming the role of guide, leading Saber toward a designated private room.

...

..

.

The door to the private room swung open, revealing a space cloaked in subdued shadows. As Saber stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted.

"You can leave now," he calmly uttered to the silent attendant, who acknowledged the instruction with a respectful bow before exiting the room. With a measured motion, Saber closed the door behind the departing figure, sealing the room in temporary solitude.

The atmosphere within the chamber became an echo of silence, broken only by the muffled sounds of a bustling Slave Market seeping through the walls.

Saber's gaze shifted toward the occupants of the room, an ensemble of five figures bound by chains and confined within a small, squalid cage. Their attire, a testament to hardship, hung in tatters, accentuated by the oppressive weight of chains encircling necks and feet.

Taking a deliberate step forward, Saber's presence stirred the attention of the captives. As their eyes, bearing a hollow, defeated gaze, met his, they momentarily shifted focus to the cold floor beneath them.

In the ensuing quietude, Saber broke the silence with a measured utterance that resonated within the confined space.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?"

***

Lyra Emberheart.

It was a name that was familiar from the many. Marking her place in history as the youngest mage in two centuries, achieving the formidable feat of forming her mana core at a remarkably tender age.

However, her meteoric rise continued, breaking through the arcane barriers to attain the prestigious rank of Archimage by the age of sixteen, a mere two years ago.

Fueled by an insatiable appetite for recognition, Lyra's accomplishments had rendered her hardheaded and arrogant. Joining Junior was but another step in her relentless pursuit of accolades.

A title that could solidify her name in history.

Yet, despite her formidable reputation, there she was—in her worst state.

Saber, looking down at her, found it increasingly challenging to suppress a burgeoning amusement threatening to surface.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"...?"

Lyra lifted her head again upon hearing the familiar voice in front of her. Even in her disheveled state, she managed to recognize the figure standing before her.

"Sa...ber?"

Her voice, though faint, carried a tinge of recognition that rippled through the air, reaching the ears of those around her.

They all turned their attentions back to him; their eyes beginning to gleam.

"Can you tell me more about your situations?"

...

..

.

"After joining Maximus, most of us were forced into relentless dungeon raids.... During one of the event, he invited us all for a celebration... We didn't noticed that he planned on drugging our drinks back then, so all of us agreed. After the drug took effect, he did things me... while allowing his knights to do the same to the others."

"After that, he imprisoned us. He repeatedly did those things again, and again, and again... Until he eventually got tired and sold us to this place."

Lyra's voice, laden with the weight of painful memories, recounted the situation. Saber, uninterested, chose to shift to a different topic.

"What happened to Sylvia?" He asked out of curiosity.

Lyra took a moment before responding. away tears that flowed unabated, she answered, She... She wasn't with us at the party, thankfully. Seraphina called her, and she went with Julius... As for Aria..."

The mention of that name elicited an involuntary reaction from Saber, his lips twitching in response.

"She was with us that day, so... She..."

Lyra's voice faltered, her emotions overwhelming her, and Saber, feeling a sense of irritation, rolled his eyes impatiently.

"...Please, you have to save us! We can help you find Maximus and bring him to justice!" she implored, fixing Saber with a gaze brimming with hope.

Their eyes locked, and in that moment, Saber sensed the sincerity and unwavering resolve emanating from Lyra. She was sure that he would agree with this task as he had the undying sense of justice.

Saber's eyes sparkled as he said, "Of course! I'll help everyone of you because you're my friends!"

However—

"Just kidding~"

"...huh?"

Just when a flicker of hope began to illuminate their desperate situation, Saber chose to play a cruel jest on them.

"Mmm~ why should I?"

"...."

"Didn't you guys abandon 'him'? The Saber you once knew is already dead... You people killed him."

"...Please..." Lyra raised her hand weakly, attempting to reach forward, but Saber swiftly slapped it away in disgust before it could touch him.

"Ahh~ how the genius Archimage has fallen so low... How amusing. You used to be so prideful... Often using my head as a steppingstone whenever you pleased." Saber's tone turned icy as he mocked her, forcing her to bow her head in shame.

"After all everyone has done to me, did you truly believe I would help you? Are you an idiot...? Wait, you are! How could you think of joining a hero known to be such a HUGE BASTARD? Did you believe that just because you hold the oh-so-great class, Archimage, he wouldn't touch you?"

"Everything that happened is all because of your choices."

Though she tried to speak, no words escaped her lips. Every accusation Saber hurled at her rang true, and she couldn't deny a single one.

"...ah! I heard you made a good friend in here. Why don't I pay her a visit~?"

Saber's features twisted into a sadistic expression, his shoulders trembling as he laughed.

"You... Please! Don't touch her! She's innocent! If you want to punish someone, punish me instead!"

Desperate, Lyra clutched at Saber's thigh. In response, his expression twisted further in disgust, and he seized her disheveled hair, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"I really hate your face~"

He lifted her by the chains around her neck, dragging her frail form along the cold, unforgiving floor. Her companions witnessed this cruel scene and frantically grasped the iron bars, trapped in a futile panic..

"Aren't you supposed to be a hero?"

As Saber dragged Lyra out of her cage, he came to an abrupt stop upon hearing this sentence behind him.

Why...?

How can he show that expression?

As he slowly turned around, all of them began to shudder upon feeling the sudden cold chills crawling up from their spines.

No one had expected this from him.

'How did the most innocent, passionate, and kindest hero change like this?'

Everyone was wondering the same exact question.

"Ha... Haha... HAHAAHAHAHAH~!!"

His shoulders shuddered as he began to let out a cold and twisted laugh that reverberated throughout the whole room.

Covering half of his face with his other hand, Saber sighed deeply, peering through his fingers to glance in their direction.

"Haa...."

Suddenly, his expression turned cold. Saber lowered his hand and responded.

"You've lost YOUR hero long time ago."