The Fake Hero (1)
It’s said that there’s a genre called “isekai romance fantasy” in novels.
Stories where stupid male leads and the female protagonist are dragged into love, but they end up causing nothing but trouble for everyone around them.
The typical plot goes something like this: transmigrating into such a world and acting however you want, bullying the female protagonist, and more.
So, what happens to the original story’s protagonists? Even if they look stupid on the surface, they each have their own stories.
To this question—
“What’s wrong with that! In the end, no matter what I do, the world is going to collapse anyway. What’s the problem if one person selfishly indulges just a little?”
“Isn’t it about time you gave up on that kind of person? Come to me. After all, I’m the real saintess.”
“Anyway, aren’t they all just fake people in the end? It’s not my business. More importantly, where’s the saintess?”
“Your Majesty, the sun of the empire. That throne does not suit you. If you truly care about your people, it would be better to step down at this point.”
They answered that way.
But this world is not a novel, and of course, we are responsible for the results we ourselves have caused.
When those small things are not upheld, the world ultimately collapses.
***
The Asteris Empire.
The east, with its fertile land flowing with milk and honey. The north, where powerful forces guard the continent from the Demon Realm. And the west, the center of art and religion.
The empire that unifies all of this is the true ruler of the continent.
But that was all in the past.
The continent has long been covered by overflowing monsters.
Even the once-radiant empire, which seemed to never set its sun, has lost its brilliant light.
Of course, if it were a complete empire, it would have surely stopped this disaster.
If the fake hero and the saintess hadn’t acted, and the holy sword hadn’t been stolen.
If they hadn’t recklessly charged into the Demon Realm and wiped out the army, or foolishly started a civil war inside.
When the real hero and saintess appeared late, time had already flowed away irresponsibly.
There was another holy sword discovered in the imperial underground ruins, but it was also powerless.
No matter how the Demon King was defeated, everything was already over. There was no hope for the continent.
‘Irene.’
I called out her familiar name.
Irene Anatol, my childhood friend, my fiancée, the noble daughter of the Eastern Grand Duchy, and the saintess chosen by the gods.
It had been a while since I last met her.
Because I suddenly became a hero in the original story, being swayed by the fake hero, pushed aside by the fake saintess, and becoming the excuse for a civil war, my life had been in chaos.
Because of that, there was no progress in other relationships, but at the end, I wanted to see her upright face one last time.
‘I’m sorry for sending you alone. But I have to stay here. May the gods’ blessings be with you.’
Remembering that she had decided to stay in the empire and save the people, I set off for the empire.
The horizon beyond the distance looked as clean as a lie.
The once-bustling city had turned into a dull wasteland. The capital of the Asteris Empire was now a desolate plain.
The ground was entirely covered in smooth ochre-colored earth, which oddly created a sense of the grotesque.
Where had all the traces of those numerous humans gone?
I briefly toured the ruins.
In the wasteland, I found a place where the divine aura felt especially strong.
Using the divine aura as a guide, I moved with heavy steps, carrying a little hope.
The solitary sand wind blew coldly.
How much time had passed? The surrounding silence had stolen even the sense of time. One hour? Two hours? Maybe a whole day?
Fortunately, the destination was getting closer. I pushed my crumbling body a little faster.
The place I barely reached with a tiny foothold was the very spot where the imperial palace had once stood.
Only now, up close, did I understand what the divine aura I had always felt was.
The goddess Alesia, the goddess who governs fate.
She was in the state of possessing Irene’s body.
【It’s been a long time.】
“...”
The goddess lay desolate on the wasteland, having lost her previous radiance.
Her once-splendid appearance was now buried in the surrounding ochre earth, her body becoming severely transparent and pitiful.
“Alesia-sama.”
【Your expression is not good. Did something unpleasant happen?】
She stretched her trembling hand with difficulty to my cheek and gave a smile that looked like it would shatter.
Her appearance made my heart feel like it was about to break too.
I just wanted everyone in the world to live happily. Even the goddess must find it too much.
“What happened to Irene?”
【...As you see.】
It seemed I was late again this time. Maybe it was fortunate that I could still talk to the goddess at the end.
There was a brief silence, and soon we exchanged various stories as if we were turning away from reality.
【I have one last request for you.】
Had time finally come?
The Alesia whose appearance was barely distinguishable barely forced out her voice. The flowing voice was amazingly transparent and elegant.
“...”
【I beg you to go back to the past and stop this tragedy that is about to befall us. It pains my heart to say that you are being burdened with an even heavier burden, but Theon, I believe you can do it.】
What was uttered was a farewell.
And encouragement to the precious hero.
It seemed there was still work left.
How it was possible, I didn’t know, but since she was the goddess of fate, it couldn’t be impossible. But she would surely vanish at the same time as him.
‘But is it meaningful that I regress?’
Regressing is good. It feels satisfying to take revenge on the transmigrators who toyed with fate. But the old me was too weak. Now it’s fine, but what if I go back to the past?
If possible, I want to send Irene to the past. And if I just wish for it, it should come true.
“I failed. Honestly, I don’t know if I can do well even if I go back to the past. Can I... succeed?”
At my weak words, the goddess smiled softly and said,
【Irene told me to. Theon, she always believes in you.】
It seemed running away like this was not acceptable. A true message from her. Thanks to that, my heart was at ease.
“Ugh, that’s too much. Okay. What the hell, let’s try it.”
I held her hand and looked into her eyes, conveying my resolve.
Now, the end was truly approaching.
【Thank you. My dear person. You simply forgot to fly away because you were afraid of the wind. After all, you can fly anywhere. May blessings fill your future.】
The goddess smiled softly, and from her whole body, an extreme light burst forth. The world turned white. The extreme light soon became flames that enveloped the two figures.
【Theon, as a goddess, I command you. Protect fate from the robbers and save the future.】
When the extreme light disappeared, on the wasteland where only moonlight shone dimly, no one remained in the place the wind had passed.
***
“Ugh...”
My head hurts.
It seems I had a dream of something incredibly long. It was distant yet desperate, and also empty...
My eyes started reddening and tears welled up without me realizing.
The stagnant water droplets fell down as rain.
I had no intention of stopping the tears.
My heart swelled at the splitting head, as if my tear glands had broken down.
After the tears came first, memories slowly surfaced late.
“Did I succeed...”
Naturally, a laugh burst out. The upper part was crying while the lower was laughing, and the sight was extremely ridiculous.
I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand, organized my hazy mind, and looked around.
The wasteland that had been full of sight until just now was nowhere to be seen. In its place was my palace office, the 1st prince of the empire.
Looking around the surroundings, I saw a letter that had come from the church on the desk.
Tearing the seal and reading the contents, it said:
[The goddess’s oracle has descended. The saintess and the hero will appear soon. As the great sun of the empire, following the ancient tradition of the imperial family, who are also heroes of the hero family, all princes are to appear at the proving site.]
The exact content that became the starting point of all events.
Fortunately, the regressed time was the very first.
Before regression, the hero’s proof was, of course, not properly done. The 2nd prince, who had bribed the main figures of the church, put on a show to have the qualification recognized and obtain the holy sword.
‘Damian Asteris...’
Yes, it starts with you.
By now, he would be handing over the country’s money to the church’s pigs to take the hero’s place, the imperial throne, and Irene.
This time, it must not be a fake hero, but one I have to acknowledge. To do that, I had to obtain another holy sword through the underground ruins of the imperial palace.
I organized my thoughts and called for a subordinate from there.
“Your Highness, you called?”
“The underground imperial prison. Prepare to go there immediately. It must not be seen by anyone’s eyes.”
My eyes burned with golden light.
I will reclaim my own fate.