God's Choice
The one who drew the holy sword was a freshly awakened academy student.
Among all the challengers in history, wasn't he the most unimpressive?
The saintess couldn't help but feel puzzled inwardly.
He was the one who drew the holy sword that no one could pull, even if all conditions were perfect. Unless he was already complete and possessed extreme strength, it was doubtful he could defeat the Demon King who had appeared at the Black Sheep Salvation Church.
Even so.
"Whoa! He's really holding the holy sword! He is the hero!"
"Look at that radiant armor! What a magnificent hero!"
The young student emerging from the bell tower's door captivated everyone's eyes with his brilliant golden glow.
"I'm still not convinced."
The saintess couldn't commit to a judgment on this hero.
She couldn't sense whether he was strong or weak—nothing at all.
Her head tilted involuntarily.
'At any rate, that guy's undeniably the hero who drew the holy sword.'
The holy sword in the hero's hand was unmistakably the very one she had discovered at age twelve, receiving a revelation that awakened her divine power.
"So that's what it looks like after being drawn."
"Even the blade feels sacred somehow…."
The many previous challengers couldn't hide their awe and envy at the holy sword's blade, which they were seeing for the first time.
"Does this mean a fluffy little brat like that is more suited to be the hero than me?!"
But not everyone was convinced.
Knight Commander Kang Dae-jin, who had proclaimed himself the "Executor of Sacrificial Justice" and endured years of asceticism, simply couldn't accept this situation.
Kang Dae-jin glared obsessively at the holy sword in Kwon Mu-hyuk's hand, grinding his teeth.
He couldn't accept or comprehend that he wasn't the one who had orchestrated drawing the holy sword and earning the bell tower's recognition.
"That guy's a fake! There's no way a punk like that is the hero! My divine power will eradicate him and save everyone from this crisis of corruption!"
Kang Dae-jin surged forward toward the approaching Kwon Mu-hyuk, channeling his divine power to activate his skill Sacrificial Justice.
His thickly accumulated divine power radiated white light, rippling throughout the entire chapel.
The moment he launched himself to enforce his skill—
"Shut up."
Kwon Mu-hyuk muttered in a voice only Kang Dae-jin could hear, flipping him the middle finger. He had cast Silence Out.
"How dare you que—?!"
'To interrupt my cast... Huh?!'
Kang Dae-jin's skill Sacrificial Justice was canceled.
Kang Dae-jin was forced to panic.
Not only was his skill dispelled, but his voice wouldn't come out either.
'Th-this... It's definitely a dark energy skill?!'
To cast a dark energy skill inside the sacred main temple of Gaon of Light.
'He's insane! This can't be the hero—no way!'
Anger, shock, and a sense of crisis flashed in Kang Dae-jin's eyes, but his mouth merely opened and closed without uttering a word.
Kang Dae-jin hurriedly turned back toward Iron-Blooded Pope Cheon Myeong-jin, desperate to inform him somehow.
"Not so fast."
Suddenly, golden wings unfurled from Kwon Mu-hyuk's armor, unleashing a barrage of iron feathers toward Kang Dae-jin.
-Countless feathers pierce his back!
"………!!!!!!!!"
Innumerable feathers pierced Kang Dae-jin's back, erupting in brilliant light and spurting red blood.
Thinking he might as well test his new skill Wrath of Evil Extermination, Kwon Mu-hyuk channeled divine power. His entire body erupted in divine energy, blanketing the chapel in blinding golden flames so radiant no one could gaze directly at it.
"Whoa!! Such a manifestation of divine power!"
"As expected of the hero chosen by God!!"
"Waaaaah!"
The chapel's followers, witnessing Kwon Mu-hyuk hovering midair with iron wings spread and divine power surging, erupted in unison with gasps of admiration and cheers.
At the sound, Kwon Mu-hyuk's form, mid-skill activation, hesitated for a split second.
'Oh, right. I'm a hero now.'
I'd almost harmed someone again, not even three minutes after becoming a hero.
'The path of a hero is long and perilous.'
I nodded solemnly, dispelling the skill and descending to the chapel floor.
"Why attack the hero like that... Tsk."
"Jealousy, probably. Since he couldn't draw the holy sword himself."
"The knight commander acting so disgracefully. Never knew he was like that."
As the whispering crowd averted their eyes, First Knight Order knights supported the bleeding, collapsed Kang Dae-jin and carried him to the treatment room. Iron-Blooded Pope Cheon Myeong-jin approached with the saintess, arms spread wide in welcome.
"Welcome! Hero chosen by God! We have been eagerly awaiting your arrival."
"You are…."
"I am Cheon Myeong-jin, the one called the Iron-Blooded Pope and overseer of this place."
Cheon Myeong-jin introduced himself with a beaming smile, then gently nudged the saintess beside him, who was staring at me with sparkling eyes.
"This is Saintess Jeong Yi-seo. The one who first discovered the holy sword, awakened her divine power through revelation, and became the saintess."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Jeong Yi-seo."
"It's an honor to meet you like this... Truly glad. Saintess, Pope. I'm Kwon Mu-hyuk, who just awakened as the hero moments ago."
"Oh... So the hero's name is Kwon Mu-hyuk. It's too noisy here, so please come up to the main temple building and speak with us at length."
"Yes, hero. I'd like to go to my sanctuary with you and discuss the oracle as well."
The pope and saintess took turns inviting me—even to the forbidden saintess's sanctuary.
The surrounding followers clamored in cheers, waving hands to catch even a glimpse of my face closer.
Surveying them, I was certain.
By drawing the holy sword and spreading my wings once, I was fully imprinted as the hero in their minds.
Just as the bell tower's master had acknowledged me, they accepted me without a shred of doubt as the hero to defeat the Demon King.
Proof: They showed zero concern for Kang Dae-jin's life or death, focusing solely on me.
A complete reversal from just hours ago, when I entered the main temple building.
There was no risk of them discovering my dark energy use here, but if they learned I was the Demon King, this life would be over.
'No way they'll find out.'
I'd only come at my brother's request to attempt re-awakening at Gaon of Light.
Becoming the hero, receiving this welcome—it was utterly unexpected. But backing out now wasn't an option.
'Just prop up some fake guy later and wipe out the Black Sheep Salvation Church cult with him in one go.'
I'd see how the hero quest unfolded, but for now, I'd play the part sincerely.
'To do that, I need to deal with that Kang Dae-jin somehow….'
I could Death Terraform him away discreetly, but as a hero, I didn't want more needless killing.
'...I tried avoiding any connection this life, but no choice, huh.'
Lost in thought as I followed the pope and saintess, the sanctuary's grand sight soon unfolded before me.
The massive circular building featured ornate arched windows and pillars, with diaphanous white satin curtains swaying to emphasize its mystique.
In this age of great apocalypse.
While people like me and my brother repaired ruined homes just to survive, these so-called apostles of God faced the end in such splendor.
I'd lived luxuriously as the Demon King in the Black Sheep Salvation Church, but I'd never known or pondered the other side's lifestyle.
Sitting in the opulent chair the Iron-Blooded Pope offered, I thought of my brother sweating day and night in our cramped room for my sake.
Hiding my tangled thoughts and emotions behind a blank face, I carefully examined them.
Skills
◾ Ultimate Divine Power Lv Max ◾ Holy Revelation Lv 88
Divine power skills at Max level. Fitting for the saintess chosen by God at the Gaon of Light main temple.
I'd never met the saintess directly in previous rounds. She was a battery for extracting divine power, dying two years from now after being used up—unlike me, the dark energy battery.
Among everyone in this temple, she was the only one I owed no debt of conscience to.
In contrast.
Skills
◾ Iron-Blood Sanctuary Lv 899 ◾ Inquisitor's Eye Lv 543 ◾ Iron Judgment Lv 78
As expected.
Overwhelming level and attack power.
If I couldn't use dark energy, this was ironclad proof I couldn't have reached the second quest to face the Heretic Inquisitor.
'Inquisitor's Eye... That was a pain.'
While Shin Yu-ra's Dark Detection simply sensed dark energy use, Cheon Myeong-jin's Inquisitor's Eye directly identified those tainted by darkness.
...Even as a hero, my insides burned for some reason.
Would Cheon Myeong-jin's skill detect me?
He'd brought me to this sacred sanctuary without a word, so he probably harbored no suspicions. I kept any unease off my face.
And becoming a hero didn't mean I'd stake my life on it.
'Worst case, I go full Demon King.'
I let it go.
A relaxed mind brings natural expressions and actions. Right now, not shrinking back was key.
I knew my brother's request came from worry, but I saw no reason to cling to Gaon of Light at the cost of my life.
Thinking I could switch to Demon King mode anytime actually brought calm and leisure.
...That was the moment.
"I see something else about you."
He must have been using a skill while staring into me.
Cold sweat prickled, but my face showed no change.
"What do you see?"
"Hm…."
Staring straight into the Iron-Blooded Pope's eyes with my head held high, I was convinced.
He couldn't see a thing.
He should've detected the dark energy around me by now, but I was a hero brimming with divine power, God's apostle.
Even I didn't know what I was anymore; no way he could tell.
"Daring to question God's choice? You, a pope?"