Chapter 4: Are There Any Holidays?

I woke up because... Silence. There is no knock on the door. There was no shout of "TAKESHI WAKE UP OR I BURN YOUR DOOR" from Isamu. There was no sound of Seichii complaining like a rheumatic grandfather. Only... quiet.

I stared at the ceiling, waiting for something—anything—to explode. But nothing happened. The morning sun slipped gently through the slit of the curtain, falling onto the stone floor like a sheet of gold.

“… "Am I dead?" he whispered quietly.

There is no answer. Well, if I were really dead, my body wouldn't feel as heavy as a temple tower. So... Unfortunately, it is still alive.

I sat down slowly—and regretted it. All my muscles instantly screamed.

"Oh my gosh... Who put a brick in my flesh..." my groan, then slumped again to the pillow.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I shivered. "Oh no... Don't tell me..."

"TAKESHI~! Today we are thousand~!" Isamu's voice was as bright as a small sun's disaster.

I dragged my body like a zombie and opened the door. Isamu stood there, fresh—or at least, a "fresh" version by his definition that was broken. Her hair was combed... little. His uniform—no, it was still a mess. But his eyes shone with suspicious enthusiasm.

"Why do you look like a little kid who has just been given fireworks?" I asked suspiciously.

"Because there are no goblins today!" he exclaimed, raising his hands to the sky. "Alexander said we were 'resting'. REST. You know that word means 'sleeping until you forget your own name'?"

I blinked slowly. "I... suspicious of him. Maybe 'rest' according to Alexander means that we will be thrown into the crater of the volcano."

"Don't be cynical." Isamu grinned. "This is our chance! We can go around the city! Shop! Eating normal food that is not served with the threat of death!"

A yawning sound rang out from the corridor. Seichii appears with a lazy step, the stick is dragged like a broom. His black hair was a mess, his glasses were half sagging, his expression was blank like a curious spirit.

"Why do you... noisy... In the morning..." he muttered.

Isamu patted him on the shoulder. "My dear friend, today we are on holiday."

Seichii stared blankly for five seconds. Then blink slowly. “… I can't believe it."

"Neither do I," I said.

"Seriously!" Isamu approached dramatically. "Alexander said 'tomorrow you rest'. The exact words! I memorized! I even wrote it on the wall before going to bed!"

"You wrote on the walls of the palace?" I asked horrifiedly.

“… In my mind," Isamu admitted.

The three of us were silent for a few seconds. Seichii sighed, then said, "If it's really a holiday... I want to sleep."

"NO!" Isamu instantly pointed to his face like an anime hero. "We won't waste this time! We're going out! Enjoy the city of Valoria! Breathe air that doesn't mix with the smell of goblin blood!"

I looked at him flat. "You know, there's an 80% chance that Alexander is lurking from the shadows, and if we look happy, he'll assign us to kill the dragon."

"If there is a dragon, I will hug him," Isamu replied firmly.

“… And eaten right away," Seichii added dryly.

"But with a smile," Isamu grinned.

I rubbed my temples. My head is still throbbing, but... Maybe Isamu is right. From the moment we arrived, our lives were just: waking up—practicing—almost dying—sleeping like corpses. Repeat. Never get out of the fortress except to the arena.

A little outside air... probably won't kill us. (Hopefully.)

"Okay," I said finally. "But if we die, I'll haunt you."

"Deal!" Isamu shines like fireworks. "Hurry up and change your clothes, we'll go on an adventure!"

"Why do we have to use this again..." Gerukupu, staring at the 'noble casual' attire that the palace servant was giving.

"Because if we go out wearing goblin training uniforms, people might run away shouting 'apocalypse'," Isamu replied casually as he turned his body in front of the mirror. She wore a dark blue tunic and black leather belt pants, her hair was combed casually—which meant it still looked like a bird's nest, but now a bird's nest trying to appear polite.

Seichii sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the gray shirt neatly folded on his lap. “… I don't remember how to be an ordinary human."

"You just need not to bring a magic wand to the bakery," I said.

He looked at the wand in his hand, weighed it, and decided to carry it anyway. "What if there is a goblin disguised as bread?"

“… Yes, just bring it."

The east gate of the palace opened with the sound of heavy metal. Outside, the stone streets of Valoria stretch like marble veins, filled with people. Merchants push carts full of dried fruits and spices; children running after cats; The smell of toast and bacon hit my nose like a saving god.

"THIS IS HEAVEN!!" Isamu cheered, stretched out his arms like a sailboat, and immediately almost hit a mother carrying a basket.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" I hurriedly bowed to the mother, then dragged Isamu aside. "If you hit the locals, we could go to jail."

"If I were in prison, at least there would be no goblins," he said casually.

Seichii walked behind us like a depressed bodyguard, his eyes watching every corner. "This... crowded," he commented quietly. "Strange. The world feels too alive."

I know what that means. After our days filled with the sound of metal banging, screams, and the sand soaked in monster blood, this crowd felt... like another world again. A world that didn't know we almost died yesterday.

We passed a marble dragon-shaped fountain that gushed clear water. Children laugh playing on the edges. Isamu stopped looking at them. "Funny, yes..." he muttered. "They don't know the world is about to end."

I turned my head. "We don't know either."

He laughed a little, a little bitterly. "That's right."

Valoria's main market is like a storm of colors. Silk cloth from the southern country fluttered in the stalls; purple, blue and orange fruits shine in the sun; The voices of competing traders pierced through the air. I almost lost Isamu three times because he ran to every smell of food that passed.

"What is it?!" He pointed to a smoked meat skewer.

"Young drake meat," replied the merchant.

"Give me three!" Isamu tossed a coin into the air.

Seichii looked at the skewer of his flesh with scientific suspicion. "Drake... fire-breathing semi-breathing lizards. Not dangerous to eat?"

"If it's cooked, no," I said with a bite. My tongue immediately melted happily. "Oh god..."

Isamu almost cried. "I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I HAVE A NORMAL DIET!!"

We ate standing in the crowd, looking at the town square. The stone clock tower stood on the east side, its bells ringing softly every hour. Street singers play lutes and violins, children dance around them.

For the first time since we arrived... I feel like a normal human being again.

"Wait, are you serious?" he said flatly.

Isamu hugged a bright red wide round hat with a gold ribbon. "I'll wear it when fighting. The enemy will dazzle, and then lose."

"The enemy will laugh and kill you," Seichii said.

"Jealous," Isamu accused him. "You have to have a style, Seichii."

"My style: life," he replied coldly.

In the end, Isamu still buys the hat. He wears it proudly like a hero's crown, and I pray no important person sees it.

We spent the rest of the morning walking down the cobblestone alleys of Valoria. An old bookstore with stained glass windows; a magic tool shop that smells of ozone and dust; A knick-knack stall with sparkling stones. Seichii dragged us into the bookstore, then disappeared behind the stacks of shelves like a library spirit. Isamu was about to buy a crystal ball that he said could "see the future" but the seller looked too much like a traveling fraudster, so I dragged him out.

The sun was already high as we sat on the edge of the city's canals, feet hanging over the crystal clear water that reflected the blue sky. Wooden gondolas glide slowly, driven by rowers in white uniforms.

"This..." Isamu leaned back, closing his eyes. “… This is great. I forgot it didn't feel tense."

"Don't be too relaxed," I said, though my voice was soft. "Alexander can emerge from under the water and shout 'PRACTICE' at any time."

Seichii sighed. "If he shows up now, I'll jump into the river and let the current carry me to the sea."

We chuckled. Light laughter. The laughter of the people who just realized they were still alive.

Unfortunately, peace has never lasted long in our lives.

The sound of a bell suddenly echoed from the clock tower. It wasn't an ordinary ctam—three fast, heavy clacks, then stopped. The entire square froze for a moment. The trader turned his head. The dancers stopped. Children are close to their parents.

“… What is it?" asked Isamu, sitting up straight.

Seichii opened his eyes, his face instantly stiffened. "That... A level two alert signal."

"What does that mean?" I asked quietly.

He looked at me. "That something strikes."

Screams broke out from the end of the road. One royal soldier ran, his face pale, shouting, "MONSTER ESCAPE FROM THE NORTH GATE!! ALL RESIDENTS EVACUATED!!"

The atmosphere immediately exploded.

Residents ran around, traders closed stalls, horses squirmed in panic. The sound of the bell alarm kept ringing fast. I stood stiff for a few seconds, my body refusing to move—my brain refused to believe.

"Seriously..." I desist. “… even on holidays?"

Isamu stood up, his wide eyes shining between fear and joy. "Finally... something that isn't a goblin."

"There is no 'end' here!!" Seichii stood up quickly, summoning his wand. "We don't even bring armor!"

"Good," said Isamu. "Let the enemy be deceived. They think we're tourists."

"I'm REALLY a tourist!" I screamed. "Tourists who were forcibly summoned to isekai world!!"

But my legs were already moving.

The three of us ran against the flow of fleeing residents. Smoke billowed from the end of the road, and the sound of metal banging echoed. My heart was pounding hard, but not out of fear.

Because something inside me—the part I was starting to hate—ignited.

The north gate of Valoria is a high stone wall with a watchtower. When we arrived, half of the gates were shattered. Stones are scattered, dust is soaring.

And in the middle of the ruins, stands a... wolf. Giant.

His black fur was like a dense shadow, his eyes were fiery red, teeth as big as a sword. Broken chains hung around his neck, and every breath he took billowed like black smoke.

“... It's not a goblin," Isamu said softly, almost in awe.

"Right," Seichii said, his face pale. "It's Shadowfang. B-class magic beasts. It usually only appears in the cursed forest."

The shadowfang growled lowly, then lunged into the crowd of soldiers. They bounced like puppets, their zira shattered in a sparkle.

"What are we—" my voice broke out. "—really want to—"

"Yes," Isamu cut off, his eyes lit up. "We're three Sacred Heroes, right?"

"We're three corpses walking," Seichii corrected, but he had already advanced as well.

I looked at my right hand. The symbol pulsed slowly, coldly.

I took a deep breath.

"Alright..." I stammered. "The holidays are over."

A black-and-white light gushed out from my symbol. My sword formed in my hand, heavy and familiar. Isamu swings his crossbow, Seichii lights up the tip of his stick with a pale blue light.

Shadowfang raised his head, his red eyes locked on the three of us.

We lock the positions side by side.

"An ordinary formation?" asked Isamu quickly.

"Suicide formation, you mean?" replied Seichii.

"Any formation that doesn't make us die," I said.

The monster roared, and the ground trembled.

The three of us stormed.

The shadow was moving faster than my mind.

"SPREAD!!" I shouted, just before his claws hit the ground where we were standing.

BOOM—!

Rocks fly, dust sweeps the road like a storm. I bounced back, my shoulder hitting the stone wall. The breath came out of my lungs as if it was forcefully expelled.

"I hate holidays..." I stammered.

"At least... This is not a goblin!" Isamu jumped over the rubble, his crossbow already bent. "Holy Bolt Lv1!!"

A light arrow shot out, hitting Shadowfang's shoulder. The light sprayed—burning only a pinch of its feathers. The monster was barely disturbed.

"Seriously? "It's like a Titan!" he yelled.

"THAT'S WHAT I HAVE!!" replied Isamu.

Shadowfang turned his head slowly, his eyes blazing red, staring at Isamu. Black breath dripped from his fangs.

"Uhh... peace?" said Isamu wryly—then jumped back just as the creature pounced.

The ground cracked when its claws hit the rock. The broken chain around his neck swung violently, cutting through the air like a steel whip.

"[Air Veil Lv1]!!" Seichii stuck his stick into the ground, the blue wind swirling around us, spraying away the toxic dust. "Don't inhale the black smoke, it's poison!!"

"I'm more afraid of claws than poison!!" I jumped forward, my black sword glowing gray, deflecting that shadow attack.

My blade hit hard, splashing, but almost bounced off my hand. "IT'S SO HARD!!"

"Yes, he's the size of a buffalo!!" Isamu shot two quick Holy Bolts . "Rapid Load Lv1!!" His crossbow shone for a while, the mechanism rotating itself reloading.

The third shot hit Shadowfang's front leg. The creature growled, turned his head—gave me a gap.

I slashed to the side—my slash left only white streaks on its black fur. Shadowfang turned around, his tail sweeping.

WHAM!

My body slammed into the flagpole. The world is spinning.

"Takeshi!!" Seichii ran closer, then stopped as Shadowfang pounced on him. "Freeze Bind Lv1!!" Ice propagated from the ground, spreading to the monster's legs, slowing down its movements. Seichii's breath hunted, sweat dripping down, but it was enough to hold a second.

Isamu took advantage of the gap. "Holy Bolt!!" A white light hit his left eye. Shadowfang roared loudly, staggering.

"Good!!" I forced my feet, suppressed the nausea, and then stormed. My sword trembled, a gray aura spread. I slashed his shoulder—CLANG!—A shallow wound opened, black blood dripping like hot ink.

Shadowfang jumped backwards, then opened his jaws wide. A black mist clumped down his throat, spinning like a vortex of smoke.

"Oh no... isn't that..." Seichii paled. "That's the breath of shadow!! WOW!!"

I stuck the sword into the ground. "Guard Shift Lv1!!" The gray light formed a thin shield in front of us.

A black explosion spurted. The world went black. It sounds like a thousand pieces of glass shattering at once. My shield shook violently, then shattered into pieces. The three of us bounced back.

I rolled over on a rock, chest like being hammered. Breath won't go in. "Still alive?" I exclaimed hoarsely.

"Because... loose definition," coughed Isamu.

"We need to get it done quickly," Seichii hissed, holding onto his bruised shoulder. "If that breath comes out again, we're done."

I stood shaky. "Plan?"

"Disturb—create a gap—you hit," Seichii looked at me.

"My favorite plan," I said, though my hands were shaking.

We stormed at the same time.

Isamu on the left, shot Holy Bolt quickly to Shadowfang's front leg, forcing him to turn his head. Seichii on the right, "[Spark Lv1]!!" Tiny lightning struck the monster's ears, making him shake violently.

I smashed from the front, my sword burning gray. "Shadow Cleave Lv1!!" My slash crossed the monster's chest, burning a black wound into its fur. Shadowfang roared and slammed his claws.

I jumped back in time. The claw shattered the stone where I was standing.

"He's starting slow!!" exclaimed Isamu.

"Don't breathe!!" Seichii replied. "[Spark] again!!" Lightning struck Shadowfang's face, making him squint angrily.

The monster jumped high, faster than I could keep up. A black shadow exploded from his body, forming five artificial shadows that flew in the air.

"The clone!!" Isamu screamed.

I stared at the symbol in my hand. The pulse was cold, calling out to me. —Use my strength. Split them all.

Not... not now. I held my breath, raising my sword.

"Focus on the shadows!!" I screamed. "The real one dropped the shadow!"

Isamu squinted, then shot two quick Holy Bolts . One of them pierces a false shadow—disappears like smoke. The others slammed into the chest of the original Shadowfang.

Seichii mash the ground. "Freeze Bind Lv1!!" Ice spread from below, trapping the original Shadowfang's hind legs. The monster roared loudly, tearing through the ground.

I jumped from the rubble, slashing from above. "HAAAA!!" My blade split his shoulder, black blood gushing out. Shadowfang roared, writhing off the ice, and then hit me with his shoulder.

I was thrown away, hitting the wall. The world is spinning. My shoulder was on fire. But I stood up again.

"YOUR BODY, NOW!!" I shouted.

Isamu spins, "Holy Bolt!!" A light arrow struck the wound in the shoulder, deepening the crack. Shadowfang lowered, staggering.

"SEICHII!!" I shouted again.

"[Spark Lv1]!!" A small lightning bolt struck the wound as well, exploding black blood.

"I'M CLOSED!!" I jumped forward, my sword shaking gray. "Sword Art—Shadow Cleave Lv1!!" I slashed from above, splitting the wound crack.

A gray light split Shadowfang's chest. The monster let out a final roar—then its body shattered into a black mist that evaporated into the sky.

Silence. Just the three of us breathing. The dust settles slowly.

I fell sitting, my sword vanished into light. Seichii collapsed to his feet, his stick cracking at the end. Isamu collapsed on his back, his red hat out of nowhere.

“… We..." I was breathless. “… win?"

"Technically," Seichii replied softly.

"Physically, I'm dead," Isamu muttered. "But my winning soul is still alive."

We laughed—briefly.

I stared at the symbol in my hand. Still pulsing slowly, cold... like a sneaky smile. I sighed, then smiled a little

"Goodbye, holiday," I whispered.

Our holidays... ends with a small fight.