Demon Lord's Reincarnation

The ancient being also know to Ren as the fourth hero, looked at Valdel in amusement. To him looking at Valdel was like looking at himself back in the days he was hailed as a hero. The fourth hero had already taken notice of those honest eyes that could only see justice, the same eyes he had back then could now be seen in Valdel.

He then looked at the knights that were about to attack Valdel. It was obvious to the fourth hero that the hero in front of him was being played by an aristocrat of sorts. This was the usual pattern, a play that all heroes go through.

It could be because of the betrayal of a friend. It could also be because a nobleman took a liking to the hero's childhood friend. It could also be because a royal member felt threatened by the hero's power. There were many more reasons that could be said, still no matter the reason, this was an inevitable scene in the script called the hero's life.

This made the fourth hero chuckle. Even though heroes were made to fight against the cruel tidings of fate, it would seem that they were the ones who were truly bond by it. How ironic and pathetic.

"It would seem, I'm the strong wise old man in your tale, young hero." Valdel didn't understand what the fourth hero was talking about as he chuckled in front of him. While Valdel was thinking about what to do next, the fourth hero stepped forward. The knights could somehow figure out that this ancient being, was not on their side, but somehow on Valdel's side.

They wanted to attack but an invisible pressure made them unable to move. The fourth hero was coiling them with his mana, he then raised his hand enveloping all the knights in the vicinity with his mana. Then once he was done he clicked his fingers and all of them disappeared.

Valdel who saw the whole scene happen before his very eyes was shocked. Even in the face of such great power, Valdel spoke with justice filling his voice. Even though they were the enemies, and he was prepared to take down as much as he could. Valdel's hypocrisy came about, he knew he had no choice, but the being in front of him wasn't someone who would find it difficult to subdue those knights without killing them.

"What have you done with them!" Hearing the anger in Valdel's voice, for the enemies he was ready to kill in his last stand made the fourth hero chuckle some more.

'Such a flimsy justice... Is this my junior? The new hero? Justice without power turns into hypocrisy, isn't that right demon lord.' The fourth hero then remembered his friend, rival, and mortal enemy in ages past.

Seeing the fourth hero smile and chuckle in a carefree manner, made Valdel even angrier. He was about to say something more, but the fourth hero spoke first.

"Do not worry little hero. I didn't kill them if that's what you're worried about." Hearing the fourth hero's answer his query, made Valdel stand there shocked by the answer. After regaining his wits, he cautiously asked.

"Then what happened to them?"

"I transported them out of the cave and erased their memories of the past two days." When Valdel heard what the fourth hero did, he was amazed. This was the first person he had met that far surpassed Ren's abilities.

The fourth hero walked by the amazed Valdel and opened a door hidden within the walls.

"Little hero come join me in a meal."

...

Valdel followed the fourth hero inside the room. When he entered the room he was in awe of what he saw inside. Numerous treasures just dumped in a pile on one side of the room. Powerful artifacts adorned the walls, and in the middle of the room was a table with three chairs, which made up the only furniture in the room.

Also on that table was a full course meal, it was like the fourth hero was expecting Valdel, and prepared this in advance. Valdel in a state of confusion simply stood at the entrance of the room. The fourth hero who was already seated called out to Valdel.

"Little hero come in and take a seat. I want to hear some stories of your adventures." Valdel was bolted awake by the call of the fourth hero and headed towards the table.

"Sorry, and thank you esteemed one. I am sorry to ask this so late, but how may I address you?" Valdel said this as respectfully as he could.

"My name... It's been so long since anyone called me by my true name, that even I have forgotten it already. Still, there was the nickname that guy gave me, but that really wasn't such a good nickname. Also seeing as I'm no longer a hero that nickname would be inappropriate. Let's see a name..."

Valdel simply sat there while looking at the fourth hero, who suddenly started to mumble to himself. Valdel couldn't understand parts of what the fourth hero said, but he did understand that the man before him used to be a hero.

"It seems that I don't have a name to give you, but you can just call me Shin."

"I see... Then, Sir Shin, I'm Valdel, and these two are the spirits of my weapons." Zwei and Nika took their human forms and bowed in front of Shin. Seeing the bowing spirits, Shin simply nodded in response to the bowing Zwei, but when he saw Nika he was surprised.

"I see, so you survived the passage of time as well." Hearing what Shin said to her, Nika simply tilted her head in confusion. Seeing her reaction made Shin realize something as he smiled gently and whispered. "So you don't have your completed form and your memory of the past no longer exists. I guess this is better than remembering that horrible past."

Shin then got silent as if he was contemplating something. 

Valdel seeing that Shin wouldn't continue with their conversation, initiated a new topic for conversation instead.

"Sir Shin, I couldn't help but notice that you kept on saying that you were a hero in the past. I've heard of countless heroes but I don't seem to recall a hero with dragon wings."

Shin smiled a tired smile when he heard what Valdel had to say.

"Little hero, I didn't look like this in that past. Back when I was a hero, I was human in both form and spirit. At that time heroes came and go by the hundreds. There were many kinds of heroes back in my time. Chosen heroes, Summoned heroes, Prophesied heroes, and many more. Well at that time, the human race with its usual greed and biases made the pure-hearted heroes into beings that became... It doesn't matter anymore those are days long gone. Little hero how about telling me your story instead."

Valdel who was ready to listen to an epic tale of heroes from a past long forgotten was instead shocked to hear that Shin wanted to hear his story instead.

"I don't have much of a story to tell." Valdel looked a bit embarrassed to tell his tale, from such an old and powerful hero.

"Little hero, the mere fact that you're being chased around by knights is already an interesting story. So don't be embarrassed little hero, just tell me your story, and start at the very beginning. Start on the day you left your home to start your very own adventure."

Seeing that Shin was being insistent, Valdel could only sigh as he started to tell his tale.