Prologue: Last Arrow

The streets of Odelgarde Kingdom were overflowing with people.

From the towering castle gates to the bustling market square, every road was packed with citizens eager to welcome the greatest heroes in history. The kingdom's capital, the last great bastion of humanity far from the Demon Lord's domain, had never seen a celebration as grand as this. Colorful banners fluttered overhead, musicians filled the air with triumphant melodies, and countless flowers rained down from balconies as the Hero's Party made their way through the city.

"They're back!"

"The Hero's Party has returned!"

"They defeated the Demon Lord!"

Thunderous cheers echoed from every direction. Men, women, and children called out the heroes' names with admiration, their faces overflowing with gratitude. To them, these five adventurers were no longer ordinary people. They were legends who had delivered humanity from the brink of extinction.

At the front of the procession walked Ash, the Hero of the Sword and leader of the party. His posture remained straight despite the endless attention, and every gentle wave of his hand drew another wave of cheers from the crowd. Calm and composed as always, he accepted the kingdom's gratitude with quiet dignity.

Beside him strode Girard, the Hero of the Shield, whose booming laughter could be heard even over the celebration. Unlike Ash, he embraced every moment of the welcome, waving both hands enthusiastically toward the people as flower petals landed atop his broad shoulders.

Not far behind them walked Robyn, the Hero of the Bow.

His gaze wandered across the sea of ​​smiling faces. Children waved little wooden bows while merchants raised banners bearing the party's emblem. Elderly couples wept openly, thanking the heavens that the nightmare was finally over.

He struggled to believe what he was seeing.

"...We really defeated the Demon Lord... didn't we?" he murmured, almost too quiet for anyone to hear.

Before doubt could settle in his heart, someone stepped into his path.

A young woman with long chestnut hair smiled brightly as she looked up at him, her violet robes swaying gently with each step. 

Emma, ​​the Great Mage of the Hero's Party, folded her hands behind her back before flashing the same warm smile she had worn countless times throughout their journey.

"Of course we did," she said cheerfully. "We're the Hero's Party, after all."

Robyn's eyes snapped open.

His body jolted violently as the rumbling of wooden wheels replaced the cheers of the crowd. The warmth of the dream vanished, leaving only the cold morning air seeing through the gaps of a worn carriage.

His breathing was uneven.

Almost instinctively, his fingers brushed against the rough eye patch that concealed the empty socket where his right eye had once been. Even after all this time, the phantom pain never truly disappeared.

The carriage rocked gently as it continued along the uneven road. Robyn slowly pushed himself upright, his tired gaze falling to the objects resting beside him.

A weathered sword, its once-pristine blade chipped and stained.

A battered shield marked by countless cracks.

And a mage's staff, its crystal head dulled and lifeless.

He stared at them in silence.

They were all that remained of his companions. His fingers tightened around the edge of the staff before slowly lowering his head.

"...That's right."

His voice was hollow.

"We're lost."

The carriage gradually slowed as the dirt road gave way to a small village nestled between rolling fields. A handful of wooden houses stood quietly beneath the afternoon sun, their chimneys releasing thin trails of smoke into the clear sky. Chickens wandered freely across the road while a few villagers paused from their work to watch the arriving carriage.

Robyn gave a small nod before climbing down from the carriage. Once both of his boots touched the ground, he turned back and bowed politely.

The old driver smiled kindly and tipped his hat.

With a crack of the reins, the carriage rolled away, its wheels creaking as it disappeared down the road.

Only then did he adjust the baggage slung over his shoulder.

The worn sword and the mage's staff rested securely inside the leather pack on his back. A cracked shield, too large to fit inside, was fastened behind it with old leather straps, its battered surface bearing scars from countless battles. In his left hand, he carried his bow by its string, allowing it to hang loosely beside him.

He pulled the hood of his weathered cloak lower, hiding the eyepatch and most of his face before quietly continuing on foot.

The road stretched endlessly before him.

It was a familiar road.

Two Years ago...

He had walked this very path with four companions. Only they had been heading in the opposite direction.

A faint smile escaped Ash as he looked toward the distant horizon. "It's only been a week since we left the capital."

Girard laughed, throwing an arm around the Sword Hero's shoulder. "We're really doing this, aren't we? We're actually going to defeat the Demon Lord!"

Emma chuckled at their excitement while adjusting the staff resting against her shoulder. Even Robyn remembered laughing with them back then.

The memory dissolved as he passed the road.

Days slipped quietly into nights.

Through forests, across rivers, over empty hills and forgotten roads, he continued his journey back toward Odelgarde Kingdom. The bag on his back grew no lighter, and neither did the burden in his heart. Every step carried him closer to the place where he would have to deliver the news no one wished to hear.

One evening, as the last rays of sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon, Robyn arrived at a small village.

Something was wrong.

There were no children running through the streets, no smoke rising from chimneys, no barking dogs.

Only silence.

His footsteps slowed.

The smell reached him before his eyes found the source.

Blood.

The village had been reduced to ruins. Homes were scorched black, their roofs collapsed into piles of burning timber. The dirt road was stained crimson, and lifeless bodies lay scattered among the wreckage.

Then he saw it, a towering demon crouched in the middle of the street.

Its massive frame dwarfs any ordinary man, dark crimson skin stretched over bulging muscles as long horns curved backwards from its head. Thick claws tore effortlessly into the corpse of a villager, stuffing chunks of flesh into its mouth while blood dripped from its fangs.

Crunch.

The sound of breaking bones echoed through the silent village.

Robyn froze.

The leather bag slipped from his shoulder and landed heavily on the ground.

Thud.

The demon stopped eating and slowly turned its head, blood-red eyes locked onto him. For several long seconds, neither of them moved.

Robyn's fingers instinctively reached for an arrow. His breathing grew uneven as he placed it against the bowstring.

His arms trembled.

The string felt is impossibly heavy.

He stood once more within the Demon Lord's territory.

He locked in a position where he was about to shoot the demon lord in front of him.

Ash had fallen to one knee, his armor shattered and stained with blood. Girard lay motionless nearby, his shield battered. Emma struggled to remain standing, her trembling hands barely able to grip her staff.

The air itself reeked of death.

Ash slowly turned his head, even covered in blood, the Hero of the Sword forced himself to shouted with everything he had left.

Then he shouted with everything he had left.

"Robyn! Shoot!"

Robyn's heart pounded violently, his fingers began to release the string.

The world snapped back into reality.

"AAAHHHH!"

With a desperate cry, he loosed the arrow.

The shaft cut through the air—

—and missed.

It flew past the demon's shoulder before disappearing.

The demon grinned. In a single step, its enormous body burst forward, the ground cracking beneath its feet.

Robyn's eyes widened.

He abandoned his bow and reached for the sword lying beside his dropped pack. The familiar weight settled into his hand just as the demon's claw descended.

Clang!

The impact was overwhelming.

Pain shot through both of Robyn's arms as the force crushed his stance. His feet slid backwards across the dirt before his grip finally gave way.

The sword spun from his hand.

Robyn was thrown onto his back, the air driven violently from his lungs as he crashed against the ground.

Before he could even catch his breath, the demon's shadow loomed over him.

Robyn could only stare.

The demon towered above him, its jagged fangs bared in a savage grin as it let out a deafening roar that shook the ruined village. Raising one enormous claw high into the air, it swung downwards with enough force to crush stone.

He couldn't move. His exhausted body refused to respond.

Then—

The space behind the demon rippled.

It was as though the air itself had been torn open.

A silent distortion spreads outward like waves across the surface of still water, bending the evening light into unnatural shapes. For the briefest moment, the world seemed to split apart.

A thin black line appears.

Then widened.

Without warning, a deep crimson line spreads across its chest.

"...Guh?"

The next instant, blood erupted into the air.

The massive body slid apart before crashing heavily onto the ground, shaking the earth beneath it.

Silence returned.

"That was close."

A girl's voice broke the stillness.

From the fading distortion, a lone figure steps forward.

She walked leisurely across the ruined street as though nothing unusual had happened. The corpses surrounding her earned only a passing glance before her attention settled on Robyn.

Robyn slowly pushed himself upright, one hand pressed against the ground as he struggled to catch his breath.

As the girl drew closer, he could finally make out her appearance.

She looked no older than seventeen.

Short crimson-red hair framed her face, the soft swaying lightly with each step strands. Dressed in a simple black cloak that fluttered gently in the evening breeze, she looked more like an ordinary traveler. Her slender build and youthful features make her seem almost harmless.

Until he saw her eyes.

The hairs on the back of Robyn's neck stood on end. His instincts screamed before his mind could even process what he was seeing.

Her irises shimmered a deep violet, luminous even beneath the fading daylight, while their narrow, slit-like pupils resembled those of a great predator watching its surroundings with quiet patience. They were beautiful, almost mesmerizing, yet carried an instinctive sense of danger that no human eyes could ever possess.

The moment Robyn looked into her eyes. every instinct he had honed through years of battle screamed the same warning.

He lunged toward the bow lying in the dirt, snatching it up in one swift motion. An arrow was already knocked out before the girl had taken another step.

The bowstring being drew.

Its tip pointed directly between her eyes.

The girl stopped.

"You're a demon!" Robyn shouted.

One year ago—

The Hero's Party pressed onward through the dense forest leading toward the Demon Lord's territory.

The afternoon sun barely pierced the thick canopy overhead, leaving the narrow trail shrouded in shadows. The forest was eerily quiet, save for the steady footsteps of the five travelers.

Then...

Rustling leaves.

Low growls echoed from every direction.

"They're here," Ash said calmly, resting a hand on the hilt of his sword.

A dozen demons emerged from the darkness between the trees.

Some were lean creatures with gray skin and elongated limbs, while others resembled hulking beasts with jagged horns and oversized claws. Slowly, they spread out, surrounding the Hero's Party from every direction.

No one panicked.

Ash's eyes swept across the battlefield in an instant.

"Girard, hold the front."

"Leave it to me!" Girard reply.

The Hero of the Shield stepped forward, planting his massive shield firmly into the ground.

"Emma, ​​prepare your spell."

Emma nodded, "I just need a few seconds."

"And Robyn..." Ash didn't even need to finish.

"I know." Robyn had already knocked an arrow.

The first demon lunged.

Its claws scraped against Girard's shield with a deafening clang, followed by another... and another. The enormous shield absorbs every blow as though it was an unmovable fortress, preventing the demons from advancing another step.

Ash moved.

Like a gust of wind, he slipped past Girard's shoulder and met the attacking demons head-on. His sword flashed through the air in a silver arc, forcing the monsters backward instead of pressing their assault.

"Now, Emma!"

The mage raised his staff. Golden streams of mana gather around its crystal tip, illuminating the forest with a brilliant glow.

Then—

A demon burst from the undergrowth behind her. Its claws reached toward her back.

Emma's heart nearly stopped. But Ash was too far away and Girard couldn't abandon the front line.

There wasn't enough time.

A sharp whistle cuts through the air.

Thwip!

An arrow pierced straight through the demon's skull. The creature's body staggered forward before collapsing lifelessly at Emma's feet.

She blinked in disbelief before looking toward the rear.

Robyn calmly lowered his bow and another arrow was already resting against the string.

"Go, Emma!" he said.

Emma let out the breath she had unknowingly been holding.

"...Right."

She planted the end of her staff against the ground. The gathered mana erupted into a storm of blazing light.

Countless magic circles bloomed beneath the demons' feet before pillars of fire burst skyward, swallowing the battlefield in roaring flames.

The forest shook.

Night quietly settled over the forest.

The crackling campfire became the only source of light beneath the endless sea of ​​stars. After making camp beside a gentle stream, the Hero's Party finally allowed themselves a moment to rest after another day of travel.

Girard raised a wooden mug high into the air.

"Cheers! To another victory!"

The others lifted their cups in response before laughter echoed through the quiet forest.

Girard emptied his drink in one gulp before letting out a satisfied sigh.

"At this rate, we'll be kicking the Demon Lord out of his castle before winter!"

Ash chuckled as he poked at the campfire with a stick.

"Sure, but I want all of us prepared. Those demons can use cunning tactics to attack."

Girard nodded, "True, we almost lost our great mage today.”

Emma folded her arms and pouted, “I’m sorry, what?!”

Girard's confident grin immediately stiffened. "H-Hey! The important thing is you didn't die!"

"Thanks for the concern." She said in sulk voice.

Ash couldn't hold back anymore.

A quiet laugh escaped him, soon followed by Girard's loud, infectious laughter.

Even Robyn found himself smiling.

The atmosphere around the campfire was warm.

Comfortable.

Peaceful.

It almost made him forget they were marching toward the Demon Lord's territory.

Without warning...

Something soft rested against Robyn’s shoulder.

Emma had quietly leaned her head against him, her eyes already half-closed.

"...Emma?" His voice came out noticeably quieter than he intended.

A faint warmth spread across his face.

"I'm tired." She let out a small sigh. "Just... let me stay like this for a little while."

Robyn became completely still, he wasn't sure where to put his hands.

Without saying a word, she wrapped both hands around Robyn's arm.

"You're... a little close."

"I know. I'm comfortable." She replied.

Robyn could only lower his head in embarrassment while the warmth on her face spread to the tips of his ears.

"...Thank you."

Robyn looked at her.

"For earlier."

She gently tightened her grip around his arm.

"When that demon came after me... I knew you'd protect me."

She smiled without opening her eyes.

He slowly lifted his gaze.

Across the campfire sat Ash and Girard, still arguing over whose turn it was to wash the cooking pot.

Emma remained quietly beside him.

A smile naturally formed on Robyn's face.

"As long as I'm behind all of you..."

He looked at each of his companions in turn.

"...I'll make sure nothing gets through."

Time lost its meaning.

The battlefield had become a wasteland of shattered stone and burning earth.

Ash had fallen to one knee, his armor reduced to broken fragments stained with blood. His sword remained planted in the ground, the only thing keeping him from collapsing completely.

Not far away, Girard lay motionless beneath the remains of his battered shield. Deep cracks covered its surface, each one a testament to the countless blows it had endured before finally giving way.

Emma struggled to stay on her feet.

Her staff trembled in her grasp as streams of blood trickled from the corners of her lips. The mana surrounding her had long since faded, leaving only exhaustion and despair.

The Hero's Party...

Had reached its limit.

Ash slowly turned his head.

Through blood-soaked hair, his gaze found the lone archer standing behind them.

His voice echoed across the ruined battlefield.

"Robyn!"

"Shoot!"

Robyn's fingers tightened around the bowstring.

The arrow was already drawn.

This was the opening everyone had sacrificed their lives to create.

His heart pounded violently against his chest.

Now.

His fingers slowly began to loosen.

One more moment...

Yet...

Nothing happened.

His body refused to obey.

The battlefield felt strangely silent.

Even the roaring flames seemed distant.

Ash's expression changed in disbelief.

"...Robyn!"

He shouted again, louder this time.

"ROBYN!"

Robyn couldn't answer.

His lips quivered, his breathing became frantic, and his hands shook so violently that the arrow itself trembled against the bowstring.

“We can't win... We never could.”

Then...

A heavy footstep.

The Demon Lord began walking toward him.

There was no urgency.

Each step echoed like a death sentence.

Robyn looked up.

The towering figure stood before him, its overwhelming presence swallowing the battlefield itself. Looking into those eyes felt like staring into an endless abyss where all hope had already died.

The Demon Lord smiled.

Robyn's fingers finally gave way and the bowstring slipped from his grasp.

The arrow fell harmlessly to the ground.

Clink.

Neither of them looked away.

The Demon Lord simply continued smiling.

And Robyn, he remembers, an unforgettable image of the demon eyes, like a predator staring intently at him.

...

"If only..."

Robyn's voice trembled.

"...If only I had shot that arrow..."

Back in the present—

"You're a demon!"

Robyn's voice echoed through the ruined village as he raised his bow once more.

The arrow pointed directly at the girl's forehead.

She stopped.

For a brief moment, neither of them moved.

"Yes," she answered plainly.

"I'm a demon."

Robyn's gaze remained fixed on the demon girl eyes.

Those deep violet irises...

Those slit-like pupils...

His breathing grew heavier, his fingers trembled around the bowstring, and the memories refused to leave him.

“ROBYN!” Ash's desperate voice.

The demon girl straight looked at him, "I don't mean to harm you."

Robyn's expression twisted.

"Do you think I'm stupid? You expect me to believe in a demon?"

The girl let out a small sigh, "I did just save your life."

She pointed a thumb over her shoulder toward the corpse of the demon she had slain.

"If I wanted to kill you, I would've simply watched."

"..."

"Also..."

She folded her arms.

"Isn't this the moment to say 'thank you' after being rescued?"

Silence filled the ruined village.

Then—

"Huh..."

A quiet laugh escaped Robyn.

It quickly grew louder.

"Hahaha..."

Soon he was laughing uncontrollably.

The sound echoed through the empty streets, carrying far more bitterness than amusement.

"Why..."

He lowered his head.

"...Why should I thank a creature like you?"

A weathered crest engraved with the symbol of a hero that chosen by king of Odelgarde hanging from its chain can be seen on his chest.

"I am the Hero of the Bow."

His eyes sharpened.

"My duty is to slay demons like you."

She stared at the crest.

Then at Robyn.

"You..."

Her eyes widened.

"You are... A heroes of bow?"

"What if I am?!" Robyn answered coldly, never lowering his bow.

Instead of fear...

The girl's face suddenly brightened.

"You're really that Hero?!"

She leaned forward, her violet eyes sparkling with unmistakable excitement.

"I've always wanted to meet one!"

Robyn blinked.

"...Huh?"

Without waiting for permission, she took another step.

"Perfect! Then you're exactly the person I was looking for."

"Stop!" Robyn's voice turned sharp.

She took another step anyway.

"I said don't come any closer!"

The arrowhead remained fixed on her forehead.

The girl's feet finally came to a halt.

She raised both hands in surrender before giving him an awkward smile.

"Right... I'll stay here."

She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composition.

"Ahem."

"I have something I want to ask of you..."

"...Please help me become the next Demon Lord."

She spoke with complete confidence.

A sudden gust of wind swept through the ruined village, stirring the ashes scattered across the ground.

Silence followed.

Robyn simply stared at her, his mind refused to process the words he had just heard.

She waited patiently, tilting her head ever so slightly as though expecting an answer.

"...Ah."

She lightly clapped her hands together.

"I forgot. I should introduce myself first."

She placed a hand over her chest and smiled politely.

"My name is Rosalie."

Her violet eyes met his.

"And yours, Mr. Hero?"

Twang!

The bowstring snapped.

An arrow shot straight toward her face.

She simply raised her right hand and caught the arrow between her fingers before it could touch her skin. The force behind the shot caused her sleeve to flutter, but her feet never moved.

She lowered her hand and looked at the arrow resting in her palm, almost curiously.

Across from her, Robyn had already drawn another.

"You disgusting creature," he said through clenched teeth. "You speak our language as if you belong among us. I'm sure that face isn't even yours. You must have stolen it from the human you killed, just like you stole that name."

His fingers tightened around the bowstring until they turned pale.

"And now you stand before me, asking for my help? You expect me to help a demon become the next Demon Lord?"

Rosalie didn't answer immediately.

She quietly observed him.

"Demons kill humans," he said coldly. "That's all I need to know."

Rosalie said nothing. She simply held his gaze, as though weighing his words rather than taking offense to them.

The tense silence was interrupted by the faint creak of wood shifting somewhere nearby.

“Help… anyone…”

Robyn's expression changed immediately. His attention was snapped toward the ruined house at the edge of the village, every instinct telling him that someone was still alive beneath the wreckage.

"There are survivors," Rosalie said quietly.

Robyn hesitated for only a moment before lowering his bow. His guard did not lessen, but his priority changed. Without taking his eye off the surrounding ruins for too long, he hurried toward the sound, carefully keeping several paces between himself and Rosalie. She followed behind him without asking, her footsteps light towards the dirt road.

The house had nearly collapsed, its roof resting precariously upon shattered support beams. Pieces of broken furniture lay scattered beneath the rubble, and the front wall had been torn apart by enormous claw marks.

Robyn immediately dropped to one knee and began lifting away the broken timbers one by one. Despite the fatigue weighing on his body, he worked with desperate urgency until enough of the debris had been cleared away for a child to crawl free.

The boy looked no older than eight.

Covered from head to toe in dust, he clutched a tattered blanket tightly against his chest as though it was the only thing left in the world. His face was streaked with dirt, and tears had left pale trails down his cheeks. For several moments, he simply stared at Robyn with frightened, unblinking eyes, too shocked to speak.

"It's alright," Robyn said, softening her voice as she knelt before the child. "You're safe now."

The boy's lips quivered.

"H-Hero...?"

Robyn froze.

The single word struck him harder than any blade.

The child looked at the bow in his hand, then at the weathered crest hanging from the silver necklace around his neck. Hope slowly returned to the boy's eyes, fragile yet unmistakable.

"You came..."

Before Robyn could say another word, the distant sound of galloping hooves echoed across the silent village.

It grew louder with every passing second until several horse-drawn carriages emerged from the road leading into the settlement. Armed soldiers rode alongside them, their armor bearing the crest of Odelgarde Kingdom. At the front of the convoy, a middle-aged knight urged his horse ahead of the others before bringing it to a sharp halt near the village square.

He quickly dismounted and surveyed the destruction before him.

Collapsed houses.

Burned fields.

Bodies scattered throughout the streets.

Then his eyes fell upon the enormous demon lying dead in the middle of the road.

"A high-ranking demon..." he muttered under his breath.

His gaze shifted toward the lone traveler standing nearby.

At first, Robyn looked no different from any wandering adventurer. His cloak was worn from months of travel, dust covered his boots, and exhaustion was written plainly across his face. Yet as the knight approached, something hanging from Robyn's neck caught his attention.

A silver crest.

Engraved with the symbol of hero’s crest.

The captain's eyes widened.

Without hesitation, he straightened his posture and offered a respectful salute.

"Hero Robyn."

The soldiers behind him immediately exchanged surprised glances before following their captain's example.

The captain lowered his hand and spoke with barely concealed urgency.

"What is the situation beyond the northern border? Have you returned from the Demon Lord's territory?"

Robyn remained silent.

Instead of answering, he walked past the captain toward the place where his belongings had been dropped during the battle. He picked up the weathered sword first, wiping the dust from its scabbard before carefully placing it back into his pack. Next came the cracked shield, its surface scarred by countless impacts, followed by the mage's staff lying several steps away.

The captain watched each movement in silence.

Only one member of the Hero's Party stood before him.

No one else had returned.

The answer became painfully clear before a single word was spoken.

"...I understand."

Robyn's hand paused for only an instant as she tightened the strap securing the weapons to her back.

The captain took a slow breath before regaining his composure. Whatever grief he felt had to be set aside for later. The village still needed the living more than the dead.

He turned toward the soldiers waiting behind him.

"Split into two groups," he ordered. "The first group will search every house for survivors. Don't overlook the wells or cellars. The second group will recover the bodies and prepare them for burial."

The soldiers saluted at once.

"Yes, Captain!"

"As for the surviving child..." He looked toward the boy Robyn had rescued before continuing, "escort him, along with Hero Robyn, back to Odelgarde immediately."

The soldiers dispersed without delay, each carrying out their assigned task. The once-silent village slowly came alive again, not with joy, but with the determined footsteps of those trying to salvage what little remained.

As the captain was about to leave, his eyes drifted toward the girl standing a few steps behind Robyn.

His gaze shifted back to Robyn.

"Who is this young lady?"

“She is—” Before Robyn could answer, Rosalie stepped forward with surprising confidence and gave a polite bow.

"Hello, my name is Rosalie. I'm a demon."

The captain blinked.

Robyn slowly turned his head toward her, her expression frozen in disbelief.

"..."

The captain suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! That's a good one."

Rosalie tilted her head and she pointed a finger at herself with complete sincerity.

"But I really am a demon."

The captain laughed even harder, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.

"Of course, of course."

Still chuckling, he waved a hand dismissively.

He looked toward one of the waiting carriages and raised his voice.

"Prepare a carriage for the Hero!"

The soldiers quickly moved to obey.

Rosalie watched them with a puzzled expression before quietly looking at Robyn.

"...Why doesn't he believe me?"

Robyn let out a long, tired sigh.