Hitsugi no Maou

This step.

That was the rating Garroll kept giving himself.

To call it complete, one step, it doesn't extend.

Ever since I was a boy and my father, who was a shoemaker, so appreciated the gesture of getting rid of leather, the words have stuck to Galore's life like a curse.

If you don't have the talent to make things, Gallol lived as a 'man of the moment' even after he was put in a regiment and taken down the path of a soldier.

I'm not incompetent. Instead, some of my contemporaries had strength and guts, and I learned swordsmanship quickly.

But there was always someone better around him.

To my best score, this step, it doesn't extend.

Above the Companion, below the Best.

No matter how hard he tried, no matter how high he went, Gallor's position didn't move from there.

If you build your body and become strong, your talented buddies gain even more one-ranked strength with the same amount of time and effort.

If you put your hand on a mission, someone with a more glorious handle will surely take away your praise.

Brush up your sword arms and line up next to a sync you've never won in a sword game for your induction ceremony, even if you've been promoted (just) from one soldier to a warrior.

Success always had an ass on it. Achievement was always mixed with discomfort.

People laughed when they said it was a sign of high hopes or upliftment, but for Galore it was destined to be close to despair.

I am never incompetent. I also try harder than the crowd. But for once, I've never been in the best position.

The warrior captain at the time reprimanded him directly from the front for being so harsh on the way Galore was, not talented, and not hard enough.

Such reprimands do not fly to those who are less skilled, to those who have many similarly level companions.

Whoever is in the highest to slightly lower position is most severely blamed and bewitched.

It seems the Warrior Commander considered it an encouragement to grow Gallol, but it was the same as cursing rumors (bursaries) for Gallol, such as unscrupulous reprimands in the contents that could be told to anyone.

While sleeping, they spare no effort to continue their workouts, and even if they become stronger against the swelling, with less effort, the best rush to further heights.

Sometimes the Warrior Commander specially mowed me that the effort was wrong, but the results were the same.

Eventually, Gallor lost the credibility of the Warrior Corps Leader and was abandoned, despite being better than many of his contemporaries.

I could hardly hit a battle mission that was easy to handle, allowing me to hold spears in royal castle hallways, dining halls, and just act as a flag waver.

One step now. One breath now. The word, the curse, was eroding Galore's heart with depression.

"I made up my mind. You're the best."

- One day, Gallol will never forget the deceitful words.

That's what Lucina, the princess who jumped right into the middle of her sight, said as she bowed her head to King Lugassa, who was leaving the dining room after dinner.

Gallol, who for a moment didn't know what it meant and was pompous, said to his buddy who had a spear on the other side of the door, "Kneel!," he said, slowly lowering his spear and kneeling on the floor.

Lucina, who was only a girl at the time, continued with a bell-ringing voice, scissoring Gallo's face with both hands.

"Father says. I need to hone my princess, my talent for choosing, using, and growing people. You said you'd have to raise your men now."

"... is...?

"What's your name... uh... baron, huh?

To Lucina, who laughed more, Gallol replied with a trembling voice, turning blue with nervousness.

"I'm sorry...... it's Gallol, Princess"

"Colour..."

"Yes, no, the princess will change her name to Barron if she wishes! Go ahead, call me Baron!

"You can do it!... Hey, I just made a mistake!

Gallor lay flat like a crushed frog on Lucina, whose hands swelled away from her face.

In the gaze of the samurai and warriors watching, Lucina looks sideways at Gallol with her arms around her.

"My father said it was okay to take one of the servants in the castle.

Barol, you seem to be the closest thing to me and my age in this room, and I always work with spears all the time without gaps. Besides, it looks very strong. "

"Um, not in Barol, but in Galol..."

"Am I the strongest?

Gallol opens his mouth halfway to a dialogue without a thump and raises his face.

There was a grin back on Lucina's face. Bright blue eyes everywhere stare at Gallol without any suspicion of color.

"The strongest of warriors. I guess that's why I was honored to defend where I and my father eat every day.

I guess we're at the apex of another spear holder there and a warrior regiment member for two. Hmm? "

"... Um... it's..."

"I made up my mind for you. You are most deserving of my men. You're my direct servant from today, Barol."

Are you happy?

Behind Lucina asking that, I saw the samurai and warriors desperately pushing their laughter to death.

Gallol watched the sight for a few seconds, but eventually, he squeezed his fist into the heart-burning rage that twitched and gushed, bowing his head again to Lucina.

"It's an honor, I'm extremely impressed. Princess Lucina.

... As you can see, I am... the Warriors of the Kingdom of Coffin... in the most powerful man. "

The word became a reality within a year after that.

Gallor's body swelled up for doubled workouts, and the arms of the sword, which he had spared and brushed while sleeping until then, were elevated until he renounced the sleep itself for days.

Even when the doctor told him he was in danger of dying, Gallol didn't stop getting stronger.

Bullying through the flesh, crushing hundreds of swords, and continuing to bring down his fellow warriors in the game, making Lukina's offerings every day, eventually even the warrior captain bowed down.

When he was appointed as the new leader of the warriors of meritocracy, some people gave Lucina a promotion and said, 'Do it well, damn it'.

Gallor applied for a duel on those who spat the word, and let all his aide sword companions meet him for half his life.

Those who laughed at Lucina's judgment, who said 'best', whether by mistake or lost their minds, did not forgive even women and children.

Lucina gave Gallo a reason, a dignity, to be strong enough to exceed his original share.

A princess of one country, the king's daughter, asked Gallor for 'the strongest'. He trusted me with the "Step Now" self.

It was a reason I deserved to risk my life. The reason for this made Gallol cross the wall.

When Lucina walked with Gallol, relying on him or proudly introducing him to others, the joy filled her chest so much that every ordeal in her life until then would blow away.

Lucina became, to Gallor, equal to the goddess. I can't speak out... but I was the Lord who should have taken precedence over the patron saint Morg over King Lugassa.

Not for my life or my self-esteem.

To protect Lucina's heart and honor, Galore had to be her strongest right arm.

- That's why... hence.

Galore was once to be captured by the curse of "This Step", which he was about to shake off.