Chapter: 618
The Hero’s gaze was undoubtedly directed at me, but what he was looking at wasn’t me.
It was the being lurking behind me, the one currently granting me power—the transcendent who once protected the Hero’s back.
The God Armodi. The Hero shot a look of protest at the god, who sat on a throne higher than any other.
“Great God! This is against our wishes!”
It is physically impossible for an ordinary human to endure hundreds of years.
Even if we were to ignore all other constraints, they couldn’t change the fact that human lifespan is limited.
Thus, the Hero pleaded with the God. He wished for the ability to keep the seal.
Usually, this would be dismissed as nonsense by a regular opponent, but in his case, it was an exception.
Since the Hero had sacrificed without expecting anything in return, begging for a mere wish.
The God could have tried to discourage, persuade, or suggest alternative paths, but if the Hero wouldn’t change his choice, what could Armodi do?
“Do not turn your back on our promise!”
Even if this left the Great God with regret and longing, there was nothing the deity could accomplish.
Could there be anyone capable of overcoming the evil that Erginius had forged?
As long as the Hero was trapped here, even talking was an uphill battle.
The Great God knew this fact.
So naturally, they must’ve created that ridiculously difficult dungeon as a mode.
In search of someone who could save the Hero of the past.
“Hey, hey!”
In conclusion, the Hero before me is the very culprit who prevented any sequels, let alone DLCs, from coming out and made me devote my life to a ruined game.
The nemesis of Soul Academy!
I’ll make sure to deal with you! Hero!
“Are you actually regretting it?♡”
“What are you talking about?”
“You thought you made a mistake, didn’t you?♡ Hmm?♡”
“I’ve never thought that! I don’t regret it! This is something I must do!”
“Really?♡ Seriously?♡”
“Yes!”
“Then why were you flustered listening to the sympathy loser’s story?♡ And why were you relieved to know it was just a coincidence?♡”
If this had been the original Hero, he would have rejoiced at the miracle occurring on earth. And when he learned it was just a coincidence, he would have lamented.
If that miracle was intentional, it meant humanity could free itself from the evil god.
“Aren’t you gonna answer?♡”
“That’s… well.”
“Let me just say it since it’s frustrating!♡ You were scared of becoming a fool, weren’t you?♡”
The reason the Hero was flustered and relieved was that he feared his sacrifice would turn out to be meaningless.
Hundreds of years.
Hundreds of years.
The Hero had been trapped in this place for hundreds of years, fulfilling his duty.
In a place where time’s flow was incomprehensible, unable to converse with anyone, facing the darkened walls, he had endured the ages.
Despite this, the Hero’s mental strength that still allows him to smile is miraculous, but his resolve cannot remain steadfast as it once was.
“Was this truly the only method?♡”
“Wait a sec.”
As I approached the Hero, he stepped back one step.
“Did it really have to be you?♡”
“Listen to me.”
Taking another step closer, the Hero faltered.
“Isn’t it possible that you’re mistaken?♡”
“Future generations!”
Taking another step forward, the Hero stumbled and stumbled.
“Was it a hasty decision?♡”
“Stop it!”
Arriving in front of the fallen Hero, I bent down, leaning in. The Hero’s labored breathing brushed against my face.
“Speak honestly♡ You wanted to believe it was unavoidable, didn’t you?♡ You hoped your sacrifice would be noble, right?♡”
The nobility of “something I must do” had turned into a defense mechanism, a source that supported the Hero who looked ready to go mad.
“Ha ha!♡ Just look at your expression!♡ The idiot would be so thrilled to see this!♡ What a totally amusing toy!♡”
“…Don’t test me! Even if you do, my will won’t change!”
“Test you? Ha ha ha!♡ That’s so dumb!♡ How is pointing out the truth a test?!♡”
Now, I’ll tear down that source and force the Hero to face the anxiety hidden behind his laughter.
Without admitting his faults, convincing him is entirely impossible.
“It’s such a pity that the old coot can’t see this!♡ If he were here, his expression would’ve been super hilarious!♡”
While grinning and thinking of what to say next, a chill ran down my spine.
Has the heat finally arisen?
Impressive longevity. Indeed, the Hero is impressive.
As I confirmed the Hero’s fist flying toward my face, I quickly sprang back, giggling.
“Attacking a girl while being the Hero!♡”
“Leaving a rude child unchecked is not the right thing to do.”
“What are you saying?♡ You just don’t want to hear what I have to say!♡”
“…”
“Go ahead!♡ I don’t know if someone as pathetic as you can beat me!~♡”
Sticking out my tongue, I laughed at the blushing Hero.
Hmm. The rush of accomplishment swirling inside me suggests I’ve succeeded in my initial goal.
What now?
Following the warnings invading my mind, I jerked my head away, narrowly avoiding the Hero’s fist grazing my hair.
“Did you throw a punch and miss?♡ Impressive!~♡ As expected!♡ Pfft!♡”
It’s not hard to evade an opponent who’s not giving their all, but they won’t be lenient forever.
With the heat rising in my head, will I even care about controlling the strength of my blows?
If only he would come to accept his faults, that would be fantastic, but if he were that fragile, he would have shattered long ago.
“Are you scared of people after always playing alone?♡ Why do you keep hitting the air?♡”
Ah! I’ve thought of a great idea! What if I break him before he can go all out?
Forcing him to acknowledge his self-loathing takes the danger away from me, and I achieve my goal. Truly, I’m a genius!
“Aha!♡ You were scared you might get hurt, huh?♡”
Continuing to move my lips, I kept an eye on my opponent. I could see familiar movements in the Hero’s actions.
It brought back memories of facing the Hero’s doll while watching through the monitor.
Excluding the timing mishaps, the movements were almost identical.
“How much is piled up?♡ Just a tap and it’ll explode?♡”
The Hero’s movements lacked sharpness.
While the skills they once possessed have not disappeared, the dullness is evident.
After being immersed in darkness for hundreds of years, it can’t be expected to maintain its former glory.
“What should I do?♡ Are you so afraid of being sullied that you can’t touch me?♡”
As the tempo of the attacks grew fiercer, I grabbed the flow and hummed, imprinting my opponent’s movements into my memory.
From there, a clear path ahead began to form in my head.
Shall we start now?
Drawing strength into the hand holding the mace, I advanced forward.
After only retreating until now, it felt like my sudden movement caught the Hero off-guard.
Seizing that gap, I slammed my mace into the Hero’s side, creating a dull thud as the armor crumpled.
Despite the pain, the Hero continued to move, biting his lip.
He spread his arms wide to grab me.
Just as I anticipated.
Dodging by squatting down, I headbutted the exposed chin.
With a staggering daze, the Hero began to stumble back, but I didn’t pursue, allowing it to settle.
If I pin him down without even drawing a weapon, he’d rationalize that.
I can’t give him an excuse.
“How can a pathetic person like you get beaten by me?♡ Just how weak are you?♡”
“…”
“How pathetic these past heroes must’ve been!♡ How hard was it for them to be called Heroes like this~?♡”
As the Hero, who had just closed his mouth, spread his hands, flames erupted from his palms, transforming into a sword.
The heat radiating from the sword filled the space, sending chills through my body.
“How great to be making a fuss over getting beaten by a girl while being such a loser!♡ You’re just a failure!♡ Hahaha♡”
I dodged the Hero’s first swing and timed my movements perfectly.
The heat pouring from the sword stung my skin.
I blocked the second sword swing, adjusting my posture.
With a thunderous sound, the impact sent a shock through my arm, making me tense my jaw instinctively.
Then I charged toward the third swing.
An overwhelming pressure sent chills racing through my body. The heat made my lungs ache. The rage pouring from his crazed eyes was enormous.
It seemed there was no room left for smiles, yet a playful grin remained on my lips.
“Too weak!♡”
With a cheerful sound, the Hero’s sword flew into the air.
The power that had been contained in the blade was massive, and the backlash was just as large.
The current Hero is no different from a training doll.
Knowing this, he prepared himself for the shock that would come, but instead of striking the armor, I let the mace swing fully toward the exposed lower part.
“Gak…!”
Even the Hero who saved the world couldn’t have trained for that area, resulting in a cry of agony as his body crumbled.
“Now do you understand? Right now, you’re a total loser getting beaten up by a little girl.”
I spoke to the Hero, whose face was buried in the ground.
“Get up, loser, and you’ll end up being devoured easily! Makes sense since you’re the leader of all those losers, right? I bet you’re just a pervert, regardless of being male or female.”
The current Hero cannot remain the seal against the Evil God.
In his past immaculate form, perhaps, but the Hero, now filled with confusion, is merely a sacrificial offering celebrating the Evil God’s revival.
“If that’s your thing, I won’t stop you.”
Thus, any further sacrifice becomes meaningless.
“Hey, are you listening? Don’t tell me you’re fainting because you feel too good?”
From the perspective of someone who was once a man, I poked the Hero’s head, feeling guilty, and he suddenly shot up.
The previously fallen appearance seemed like a lie, and startled by the overwhelming presence, I stumbled back, hastily raising my shield.
“Ha.”
Before I could react, a defeated laugh escaped the Hero’s lips.
“I can’t deny it. Even a kid like you could toy with me, so against Agra, it’s not even worth it.”
With a thud, the Hero slumped to the ground and sighed upon seeing my face peeping shyly from behind the shield.
“So, what should we do, future Hero?”
“What should we do? We need to get outside, first.”
“Turns out, you’re the dimmest of us all.”
The answer to the Hero’s question came not from me, but from others.
“…How did you get here?”
Holy Knight Ruel. Knight Garad. The two who were once the Hero’s companions had come through hundreds of years.
“…Old hag.”
“Don’t mention that.”
“Looks like you enjoyed cross-dressing? It suits you!”
“I told you not to mention it!”
Garad. Why are you wearing armor just like mine?
While saying this, were you secretly envious of me?
“For heaven’s sake. Garad. You have that hobby?”
“That’s not it! I don’t have a cross-dressing hobby!”
“Did you get tired of women and decided to lure men? Those words you said back then weren’t just a joke, huh?”
“Ah. Please!”
“I get it. That could happen.”
“Just shut up and don’t comfort me!”
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