The Great Sword is not the Main Body!
Chapter 191 – The Primordial Beast

An era of peace. A vibrant spring.

A boy born as the son of a hunter inherited his parents’ calm temperament. He was methodical, thorough, and cautious.

Yet due to his family’s modest means, despite his tall stature, his frame was slender and his voice exceptionally soft.

But he lacked for nothing. In fact, when it came to hunting, he far outperformed others.

His composure became a sharp blade that pierced beasts’ skulls. His methodical nature meant he understood their ecology completely. His thoroughness kept him from becoming arrogant. The caution heaven granted him was his greatest weapon, enabling hunts without a trace of waste.

His small frame made it easy to slip through underbrush, and his voice, so light it might blow away with the wind, was nearly impossible for animals to detect.

Thanks to these qualities, the boy, who had shown remarkable skill from a young age, by his twenty-first winter, Became a young man recognized by the villagers. Became the village’s representative hunter. Built a warm home.

And became the parent of an adorable daughter.

For the first time in his life as a hunter, he felt the weight of true responsibility.

He now had something he needed to protect.

Because of this, his skills sharpened further, becoming keen enough to cut through tiger hide. He could shatter bear skulls, snatch eagles from the sky, and crack open turtle shells.

He cultivated a flower garden where his beloved wife could smile. He tamed gentle animals as companions for his child. When returning home, he made sure to thoroughly wash away the scent of blood. He expanded the village so his precious child and wife could live comfortably.

Though his daughter claimed he was too stern, never smiled or acted cute, he was happy. Though she teased his thin frame, saying she’d beat him at arm wrestling when she grew a bit more, he was happy. Though she refused to hug him, saying his hair and beard were prickly, he was happy. Though their small village was too modest for her dream of becoming a princess, he was happy.

There were no guards, imperial knights, or adventurers. Not even a stone wall surrounded their village, let alone high ramparts, but he didn’t mind.

Because theirs was a village of hunters. Small magical beasts posed no threat to them. They lived a life of pride. They enjoyed peaceful days.

They spent their days dulled by peace.

And so, They grew complacent.

When all the hunters, including the young man, were away, countless magical beasts descended upon the empty village.

They utterly shattered their peace.

The beasts that tore through prized animal hides like paper flayed the skin from ordinary villagers. They chewed intestines and hung them on doorways. They ripped off limbs from the living and tore out organs. They pillaged. They tortured. They raped. They killed.

That night, The hunters returned to a village in ruins. They despaired. They regretted. They mourned. Roaring with rage, they confronted the magical beasts.

They swung their machetes. They thrust their spears. They drew their bowstrings.

They bared the fangs of vengeance.

That was all they could do.

The machete that had cut through tiger hide shattered against troll hide. The spear that had pierced bear skulls instead skewered the hunter’s head. The arrows that had snatched eagles from the sky fell weakly to the ground, and even the hammer that had cracked turtle shells broke under the beasts’ kicks.

His talent proved no different. Before overwhelming violence, the talent of a mere human only brought greater despair.

Even so, he refused to give up.

Following the habits of a lifetime, he quickly regained his composure. He made a careful plan to find his family. He cautiously crept into the village.

Though delayed, seeing some villagers still alive gave him hope. He believed his home, located deepest in the village, might still be safe. If they had hidden in the underground cellar, they might surely be alive.

So, with unbearably heavy steps, he moved forward.

He passed the wide fence he’d built for his family’s comfort. Someone’s entrails hung draped across it.

He covered himself in beast blood to hide from the monsters. Unable to wash away the scent as usual, he reeked horribly.

He passed the small farm. The animals who had been his daughter’s friends lay torn to pieces.

He passed the once-flourishing flower garden. The flowers that had made his wife smile were soaked in thick blood.

Finally reaching his doorway, The flower crown and bouquet his daughter had made were crushed beyond recognition.

He opened the door.

Instead of the warm scent of home, the stench of magical beasts poured out.

Instead of welcoming greetings, horrific screams erupted.

Instead of his daughter’s running footsteps coming to meet him, he heard the wet sound of flesh being torn apart.

He turned his head.

There stood,

Not his wife whose beauty hadn’t faded with time, but a lowly goblin.

And beneath it,

The one who had always cared for him since childhood. The one who rushed to wipe blood from him after hunts, faster than anyone. The one who had proudly declared she would become his new family.

The one who gave her stern father loving smiles. The one who claimed he was strongest in the village despite his thin arms. The one who endured his prickly hair and beard to embrace him.

Even if he couldn’t pluck stars from the night sky for her. Even if she couldn’t become a princess.

The one who always said their family was the best. The one who always said her daddy was the best.

His everything—his wife. The one who changed his life—his daughter.

His family.

Was being mercilessly battered by the goblin’s club.

His body moved. Calmly. According to plan. Cautiously.

Just as he had always lived.

Out of habit.

He grabbed the goblin’s neck and twisted it. He clawed through the tough hide and tore it apart. He gouged out its eyes and ripped out its fangs. He twisted its arms and tore off its legs. He split its belly and stuffed its guts into its mouth. He skinned it alive.

By the time dawn broke, By the time the beasts’ corpses formed a wall around him,

Knights dispatched from the Empire arrived. Adventurers who had accepted quests arrived.

Just as they, mere hunters, had once hunted weak beasts, the newcomers skillfully dispatched the magical beasts.

In those miserable ruins, Buried beneath monster corpses, he thought:

If only he had been less composed. If only he had, like others, lost his mind and charged in.

If only he hadn’t made a plan. If only he had followed his instincts and trusted his abilities.

If only he hadn’t been so cautious. If only he had acted recklessly.

Could he have saved his family? Could they have been happier?

Even if he couldn’t bring down stars for her, might they have gazed at the Milky Way together? Even if he couldn’t make her a princess, might he have placed a handmade flower crown upon her head?

But,

That was all it was.

No matter how desperately he wanted, prayed, or begged,

They would never return. They were dreams that had slipped from his grasp, never to be reclaimed.

Regret and obsession over what had passed. Despair, grief, disillusionment, confusion, fear.

And so, The life of a young man who had been too cautious. The life of a parent with so much to protect. The past of a man who once dreamed of the future.

All became dreams that could never be redrawn.

Therefore,

The hunter.

The boy.

The young man.

The parent.

The man.

Became an adventurer.

He erased his composure. He cast aside his thoroughness. He no longer made plans. He abandoned caution.

The sternness his daughter disliked became boisterous laughter. The thin frame she teased became muscle. The hair she avoided became a bald head.

He changed everything.

He pursued an unattainable dream. He chased a past already lost.

And he wished:

To never lose again. To never break again. To never regret again.

And someday, to protect everything.

And so,

Heinzel,

Opened his eyes.

***

Thud—

A cold prosthetic hand landed on Delia’s shoulder as she prepared to die.

Her determined eyes wavered. Her outstretched arm faltered. Her resolute will bowed its head.

Her rigid neck turned.

“…Hei…nzel?”

Missing one arm. Missing one leg. Missing one eye.

She looked at Heinzel, whose body was in tatters.

Delia, who had resolved herself to die, couldn’t speak. She didn’t want to leave regrets. She didn’t want to burden him with responsibility.

“Why… why did you get up…?”

And so, she could only utter meaningless words.

“The light was blinding.”

To this, Heinzel also replied with something meaningless.

And he thought about The words his friend had once said to a little girl. The image of his friend, infinitely more impressive than himself as he crawled pathetically on the ground.

Back then, surely,

“This is enough.”

Is what he had said.

“…What?”

“Khehehe…”

Hearing the deep, grounded voice and solemn tone, Heinzel laughed bitterly, remembering his past self.

He had decided to erase it. To cast it away. To discard it.

He had vowed to change.

And so, once again.

He raised his head. He straightened his shoulders. He straightened his back. He widened his eyes. Standing firm upon the earth.

He shook off the past. He faced the present. He dreamed of the future.

And he laughed.

“BWAHAHAHAHAHA!”

And then,

At this moment, what he most desired. What he had longed for his entire life. His desperate prayer.

He gathered his worn, scattered desires.

What he most wanted: to protect everything.

Therefore,

To shatter every evil in the world that reached for him.

In that instant,

Before his eyes appeared

The back of one who had walked a long road.

One who had surpassed walls and transcended human limits.

The one-eyed,

Luchi.

The distance was vast.

Impossibly far.

The back that had sliced through Carpeng. Cut through the world. Cleaved the sun.

So distant he couldn’t even gaze upon it directly.

But now,

It felt close.

Close enough that he could touch it if he reached out.

No, perhaps close enough to stand beside him.

Close.

His hand reached out. It made contact. His footsteps fell. He stood beside him.

No.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

He moved ahead.

Heinzel didn’t look back.

He simply confirmed that he had surpassed his friend, and

Toward the friend now behind him.

Toward the beast before him.

Toward the sky.

He smiled.

He clenched his fist.

And simultaneously,

The foundation trembled. The order twisted. Concepts reversed.

On Leviathan’s face,

Deep fear emerged.