I WAS The Rank–1 Hero

"Warning: This chapter contains some scenes which might not be suitable for some readers."

"Woah there, Elf Queen." The Fallen walked toward us.

His grey fingers reached out, gently lifting Sera's chin.

"You've got a nice figure." He licked his lips. I could smell his breath up this close.

Sera, however, didn't flinch.

I could feel her anger—burning, growing with every second.

The Fallen chuckled. "But it's such a shame." He let go of her face, turning his back to her.

"...'He' doesn't wish for your death. Nor does 'He' wish for you to be harmed."

Sera clenched her teeth, the glowing shackles around her wrists slightly trembling.

"Otherwise…" His lips curled. "I would be enjoying you all night."

He paused for a second and lightly snapped his fingers.

"But instead, He wants you to witness all of this… with your own eyes."

Snap.

Suddenly, something wrapped around Sera's body. It was invisible, but something was squeezing around her.

Her body lifted from the ground.

She was being dragged mid-air.

"N-No, please…!" Sera's voice cracked.

"Anything but that!" She struggled, but the Fallen didn't stop.

He simply smirked.

"Why?" His voice was calm, almost mocking.

"...You are their Queen, no?" His grip tightened. "It is your duty to witness them till the end—no matter how much they scream… no matter how many beg for 'it' to stop."

After hearing those words, Sera went numb. Not a single word escaped from her afterward as she let herself be dragged by the demon.

She gasped for air. I could do nothing, despite witnessing everything she once saw.

As Sera was being dragged through, through her eyes, I witnessed the surroundings. It was no different from before.

Everywhere I looked, bodies were scattered around.

From old elves to small children, they spared no one.

Time passed, and soon enough, we reached a building.

Loud cries. Screams. Begging.

I could hear them from this distance, and I could only imagine what was being committed inside.

"M-My Queen..." A woman crawled on the ground from a lump of bodies. Her body was bruised, she was bare, red fingerprints were everywhere around her. Her legs shook before she mustered some strength to stand up.

"...My daughter, they took them inside..." Her eyes lost all color, but still, she hoped for a miracle to shine.

"This one still got strength left?" The Fallen commented, looking at her. "Maybe she can go for one or two more rounds—"

"P-Please... don't," Sera cut in, begging. "I-I can offer you my body... but please let her go."

I couldn't bear to listen to her talk like this. The image of Sera I once held, that teasing tone, those childish talks... I couldn't bear to see her in this state.

The Fallen let out a long sigh. "Sigh... I really wish... but we can't use you, we can't harm you. That's His command to all of us."

"Ralf!" He called out to someone.

And within a second, another Fallen with black wings and grey skin emerged from the ground, kneeling in front of him.

The Fallen ordered, "That woman on the ground, she still has some strength."

The other Fallen, who was kneeling, stood up and lightly bowed. "Yes, my lord... I will use her well."

"No! Stop!" Sera begged, violently shaking her body.

"Easy there, Elf Queen," the Fallen spoke. "You will harm your delicate body, and we can't let that happen, can we?"

I could only watch.

The elf woman on the ground didn't waver. She stood tall, and with a voice filled with trust, she looked up to her Queen.

"Don't worry about me, Your Majesty! Please, you have to stay strong! We are with you. These filthy demons—"

A spear pierced her throat.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" Sera let out a broken scream. I, too, averted my eyes.

"Annoying little slut." The Fallen cursed before retreating his spear from her throat.

His attention now turned to Sera once again.

"Scream all you want. Call that goddess of yours. Nobody is going to save you..."

"The Elven legacy will end by our hand," he declared.

The Fallen proceeded to walk, dragging Sera with him as we entered the building.

A pungent smell of ammonia reached our nostrils. The screams, cries, and moans intensified as we headed to a room.

The further we walked, the louder the sounds became. Moans tangled with sobs. Ragged breaths mixed with broken cries.

"Ah… we're finally here," the Fallen sighed in satisfaction. His grey fingers held the door's frame before pushing it open.

"Now, dear Queen, your people are waiting."

The moment the door swung open, a wave of suffocating heat rushed out. The stench was unbearable—sweat, iron, and something rotten mixed in the air.

The flickering torchlight barely illuminated the room, but it was enough.

Enough to see the pale bodies tangled together, pressed against the cold stone. Flesh slapping against flesh. The sickening squelch of something wet. Some struggled while others, long gone, remained still.

"S-Stop…" Her voice was barely a whisper. "Please… I beg you."

But the Fallen only chuckled.

Sera squeezed her eyes shut. But it didn't help.

The cries still rang in her ears. The sounds of skin against skin. The muffled screams.

She wanted to run. She wanted to disappear.

But she couldn't.

And I was the same.

No matter how tightly I shut my eyes, I could still hear it all.

And that was far worse.

And then—Darkness once again consumed me.

***

Gasping for air, I opened my eyes.

"Cough...! Cough...! Haaaah! Haaah!"

I was in my room.

My breath came out in ragged gasps. My hands trembled. My body was drenched in cold sweat.

I barely made it to the small sink before I started throwing up.

"..."

I slumped on the floor.

Even after my stomach emptied, I couldn't stop shaking. My head pounded, the image of them still clear in my eyes.

Wiping my face, I activated my skill.

<Ruler>

My mind went into an absolute state of calmness. I could breathe easily now.

'I couldn't save them.'

'I couldn't do anything.'

'I watched them suffer... and I did nothing.'

My gaze shifted to Sera. Her transparent body rested on my bed.

Her voice echoed in my head.

'They called me their Queen... but I—'

'I was not worthy... to be called a Queen, I was not worthy—'

Her voice grew silent every second.

'Not worthy to hold this Authority.'

I was left speechless, words didn't escape my mouth.

'I want to die.'