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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: How to Become a Hero - 2
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"Ugh?"
Suddenly, the core Kaild was holding began to vibrate.
In an instant, it burrowed into his body.
"W-What is this?"
Kaild writhed in agony.
Blood poured from his eyes, nose, and mouth—from every orifice. Dark red blood.
A few seconds later.
His eyes had turned golden.
And then, in Kaild's voice but with a different tone, it spoke.
"What a boring outcome."
"What the hell are you?"
"Did you think I faked my death just to see an ending like this? I stepped off the stage for a bit to watch as an audience member, but it pissed me off so much I came back."
"..."
"You're all fired. Actors who can't entertain the audience have no value."
Someone muttered blankly.
"Demon King...?"
The Demon King of Lies and Deceit, Idria.
No. But.
Her head was clearly severed...
No, I was the one who said we shouldn't assume she was dead that easily.
But resurrecting?
This instantly?
And she voluntarily stepped off the stage just moments ago?
To watch what a farce we were making?
Was Kaild's scheme and my desperate struggle nothing more than a momentary spectacle?
"Lies must be eternal. A lie that isn't eternal—a lie that's exposed—is no longer a lie."
"..."
"And that guy called Maide? He did exactly what I hate most. He'll have to pay the price. I'm not the forgiving type."
The Demon King of Lies and Deceit, Idria, raised her index finger.
And at the same moment.
Flash.
Something struck my pupils.
Neril hurriedly turned her head and shouted.
"Maide! Dodge..."
She couldn't even finish her sentence.
Her entire body decomposed and vanished in an instant.
Just like the other party members.
Just like me.
Ah. So that's how it was.
Only a hero can kill the Demon King.
But the true hero, Bion Kunze, was dead. Killed by Kaild.
'In other words, from that moment on...'
The continent's future was already decided.
You stupid bastard, Kaild.
If you were going to deceive the entire continent, you should've taken responsibility for it.
If you didn't have the guts, you never should've killed the true hero, Bion Kunze.
Because of you, all my brilliant post-retirement plans went to shit.
'I wouldn't have done it that way.'
[Then how would you have done it?]
'I would've taken responsibility for the deception. I would've killed the Demon King for real. Not just stepping off the stage, but kicking her out of the theater entirely.'
[Oh? But wasn't the Demon King only killable by the true hero?]
'Then I would've become the true hero.'
I burst out laughing after saying it.
Become a hero? And do what, exactly?
A hero is a blessing bestowed by the gods on a human to oppose the Demon King.
A miracle predetermined from the start.
Kaild being an idiot doesn't change, and even if I were in his place, nothing would be different.
But the voice denied my thoughts.
[A very good idea.]
'What?'
[Become a hero. A real one, not some half-baked hack like Kaild.]
...
Uh, but saying this now might sound lame, but.
'Who the hell are you?'
With that thought, my memories cut off.
Whoosh.
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a brilliant flame.
Ah, so it is hell after all.
My eyes can't see the sins I've committed.
I thought I'd lived diligently and kindly enough, but apparently not.
I let out a light sigh.
'Hellfire, huh. Definitely intimidatingly hot...'
It's not?
The flames were weaker than I expected?
This feels more warm than hot.
What's going on.
Is this hell with special consideration for model prisoners?
[It's a campfire. What hell?]
I shot to my feet.
The surroundings gradually came into view.
Deep in the mountains.
Dense trees and underbrush.
Eerily enough, somewhere between autumn and winter.
[Let's talk for a bit.]
And a heavy voice echoing in my ears. Huh?
'W-What's that?'
[Calm down.]
'Would you calm down in my shoes!'
[...]
'W-What's going on?'
[Calm down.]
'Would you calm down in my shoes!'
The voice chose silence.
I spent a while deep breathing and flailing about before finally regaining my composure.
Then I sat back down quietly, crossing my legs.
"Phew. Getting me this worked up. You're no ordinary guy."
[I didn't even do anything.]
"It's been a while since I started mercenary work that I've met someone on your level. As a sign of respect for your skills, let's chat for a bit."
[Even on the brink of death, you won't admit you got excited all by yourself.]
'What the hell are you, anyway? Show yourself first.'
The voice replied lowly soon after.
[Don't you already know? Where my voice is coming from. You're not even speaking out loud to begin with.]
'...'
[Well, take a look at this first.]
I barely kept my expression from crumbling by drawing on every ounce of experience and know-how from my lifetime.
'What the hell is this.'
A translucent screen had appeared before my eyes.
At the top of the screen, it read:
[How to Become a Hero. You can become a hero too!]
[User: Maide Mohan.]
[Level: Beginner]
[Fame Points needed for next level: 120/1,000]
The voice spoke again.
[Didn't you wish for it as your dying words? 'Then I'll become the true hero.']
'...Yeah, I did. But does wishing make it happen? Effort? No way.'
[Why not?]
'No, heroes are chosen by divine oracle.'
[Then how did that halfwit Kaild or whatever become a hero?]
...
He wasn't a hero.
That's why he couldn't kill the Demon King.
[Half right, half wrong. He was a half-baked hero. In other words, half of him was a proper hero.]
'Doesn't make sense.'
[You said heroes need a divine oracle, right? But that doesn't mean the gods of heaven directly grant heroic power.]
'...'
[The oracle's role is just to tell everyone 'that person is the hero,' letting them build 'fame.' The fact that the gods themselves guarantee it turns an ordinary human into a hero.]
Kinda getting it, kinda not.
The voice continued leisurely.
[In short, what makes a hero a hero is the recognition and belief of the people on this continent. I call it fame.]
'So just by people believing you're a hero, you become a real one?'
[Yeah, pretty simple, right?]
'...'
[Of course, it's easy to say, but building that belief and recognition... in other words, fame... is a grueling task. We're talking about a hero, not just some knight captain or general. You need unprecedented fame.]
'...'
[Well, no need to get it all at once. Learn it step by step. For now, just memorize the premise: 'To become a hero, you must build fame.']
Fame, huh.
No sudden "aha" moment.
That's when it happened.
Rustle.
Along with the sound of bushes parting, a voice rang out.
"Heh heh. What a lucky find."
"Tell me about it, boss. Our luck's turning lately."
"Hey, you. We don't want much, so just leave two things: your money pouch and your head."
Before I knew it, over twenty rough-looking thugs had surrounded me.
...
Wait. Déjà vu?
I've definitely seen this scene before.
[Of course you have. It was seven years ago.]
'What's that supposed to mean?'
[It means you've gone back in time. The Demon King of Lies hasn't even appeared in the world yet.]
'W-What?'
[Calm down.]
'Would you calm down in my shoes!'
[That again...]
Anyway, the voice was right.
I definitely remembered this scene.
Seven years ago.
Around the time I was starting to make a name as a wandering mercenary.
When I thought I'd stayed in one place too long and was heading to the next territory, I ran into this.
Simple terms: your run-of-the-mill bandits.
"Kid's scared stiff."
"Don't worry. My bro here'll make it quick. Won't hurt a bit."
"Any last words?"
They sneered as they slowly closed in on me.
Just like seven years ago, I reflexively checked their Blood Letters this time too.
'Hm. My name's nowhere. Obviously.'
[What if it was?]
'I'd dismantle them even more thoroughly and cruelly. I don't forgive those who sin against me.'
...
Wait a sec?
'You know what I mean when I say that? You can see those letters too?'
[I don't know what you're seeing. I'm just reading your thoughts normally.]
'Normal can go fuck itself.'
That's when the most hot-tempered one charged at me.
"Die! Uwaaaaaah!!!"
His laughter turned to a scream.
Boom.
I'd front-kicked him straight in the gut.
He flew and slammed full-force into a maple tree.
Thud. Whoosh.
The tree, already weary from deep autumn's weight, couldn't take the impact and shed its leaves.
It was only when the fifth leaf fell on the fallen guy's face that the bandits snapped out of it.
"Huh? W-What? Dreil?"
"You bastard! What the hell was that!"
I swung my raised leg down smoothly and said.
"I was in the middle of interrogating some random punk. Don't interrupt."
[Me? You talking about me?]
"Come at me all at once. I'm already pissed enough as it is."
When faced with an unreal situation, most people deny it first.
Even after seeing my skill just now, they came foaming at the mouth.
"You bastard! Got some hidden moves? No way! Gahk!"
"Die! Heuk!"
"Cocky! Heuk!"
"Deot!?"
"Het!?"
"Teot?"
"Hoot?"
A chorus of unique screams echoed.
After about five minutes, twenty grown men lay scattered before me.
I dusted off my hands lightly.
The bandits wailed like babies, rolling on the ground.
"Guhhh. It hurts, it hurts!"
"Waaah. Mommy."
"Grandma. I miss you."
"Shut up."
At my final words, their screams stopped as if by magic.
Finally, some quiet.
'Alright. Let's pick up where we left off.'
[Your skills are no joke. Not what they seem.]
'You're being pretty harsh.'
[I said it straight.]
'Anyway, let's move. Not a good spot for deep talk.'
I gathered my gear and went to put out the campfire.
The voice hurriedly stopped me.
[No no. Wait wait. Hold on.]
'I get it the first time.'
[Gonna waste this golden opportunity?]
'Opportunity?'
[Sigh. Looks like even before the regression, you just beat these guys and left. Try something different this time. Your fame before dying was barely 10,000. Nowhere near Kaild's toes.]
'...'
[Live the same as before, and your fame'll hover around 10,000.]
I didn't know if 10,000 was high or low.
But that transparent window clearly said:
[Fame Points needed for next level: 120/1,000]
Meaning my current fame was 120.
If this really was seven years ago, it was when I was making a name as a skilled mercenary.
And yet only 120. Gave me an idea of how insane 10,000 was.
But even that didn't touch Kaild's toes?
[Remember: to raise fame, always think of the maximum number of people's happiness.]
'Getting philosophical all of a sudden.'
[It's practical. Make as many people happy as possible from one incident. That's the shortcut to fame.]
'Easy to say. How do you know what choice makes the most people happy?'
[I don't know the answer, but I can give hints.]
The word "hints" perked my ears up.