Chapter 208
Chapter 208
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: Heroes' Night - 4
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Creak.
But the special room door didn’t open.
I tilted my head.
“Why isn’t it opening?”
“Huh?”
“Kaild must have sunk Acteon’s ego beneath the surface. Last time, that’s what opened the special room door…… No way?”
As if confirming my guess, a screen window popped up.
[Acteon has taken control again. The world now recognizes Kaild as Acteon.]
‘Did Kaild yield his body willingly?’
[No way. Acteon woke up on his own. Kaild has an astonishing talent for seizing others’ bodies, but Acteon is no slouch either.]
‘So that’s why the door locked again.’
[Yes. As long as the world sees Acteon, that door won’t open without over 10 million fame.]
I let out a light sigh.
“They’ve locked it tight.”
Everyone’s faces showed they understood what I meant.
Repia spoke up.
“Looks like Acteon’s back in charge.”
“Yes.”
“Might be for the best. Your fame’s around 9.5 million now, right? You said that’s not enough to beat Acteon.”
“Exactly. I’ll need to make up the difference and come back.”
“You’ve got your work cut out for you.”
“No, no. You all did the heavy lifting. Handing over the fame you built your whole lives—that’s no small sacrifice.”
Everyone burst out laughing.
That’s when Adwin spoke up.
“Bro, sorry to bring this up on such a good night.”
“Yeah?”
“No matter how strong this body’s gotten, holding off eighteen heroes is wearing me down.”
“Ah, right. Time’s gotten away from us.”
It was about time to wrap things up.
Before I could say anything, Repia turned to everyone.
“Alright, time for us to head back to the afterlife.”
“Yeah, Maide’s avenged us anyway.”
“Not that I remember much.”
“Make good use of the fame we gave you. Deal with Acteon and protect this world.”
“If I were Acteon, I’d hole up in that special room forever.”
“Who picks a fight with a guy like that? Acteon must be missing a few screws.”
They chattered away, exchanging well-wishes.
While they said their goodbyes, I glanced at Gray, who’d once been Bellosian.
Leon had just said I’d avenged them.
Of course, that was true—but I hadn’t just settled their grudges.
‘Impellium.’
I finished the homework you left behind.
Don’t worry about this world anymore. Focus on yours.
Have some black tea with Serad.
After that, we spent about five more minutes before calling it a night.
The heroes and legends expressed their satisfaction with the evening’s events and returned to the afterlife.
Before leaving, Grade exchanged words with Risel.
“So, you became the Spirit King?”
“Yes. But it’s temporary because of the Branch of Corruption. It’ll go back to normal eventually.”
“Back to normal means half-spirit again.”
“Maide will find a way. Right, Maide?”
I nodded as if it were obvious.
“I’ll make sure you two meet again in the afterlife, so don’t worry.”
“Cheeky.”
“Yeah. I was wondering when you’d show up.”
“But…… thank you, Maide.”
Grade’s eyes were sincere.
“You’re no longer my subordinate.”
“Never was.”
“Take care of Risel.”
He left those words and departed for the afterlife.
Repia jumped in right away.
“Tonight was something you don’t see every lifetime. Even if we’re dead.”
“You’re cracking jokes now too, Lady Repia.”
“Take care of the world. It was yours from the start, so you should protect it to the end.”
“Of course. I promise.”
She left with a gentle smile.
Next, Leon spoke to me.
“Once you deal with Acteon, you take the throne as the world’s master again?”
“Not sure yet.”
Now that I thought about it, I’d just killed the Demon King. Shouldn’t that invite me back into the world’s embrace?
[I can adjust that at my discretion. Shall I invite you?]
‘Don’t talk crazy. Neril might kill me.’
[Understood. We’ll think about it after you handle Acteon.]
Leon spoke again.
“If you can, just die. We’ll meet in the afterlife. I could actually have fun with you.”
“Yes. Thanks for the well-wish.”
“Heh.”
As the heroes departed, the legends followed.
Soon, only our party remained.
Jenia wiped sweat from her forehead.
“Phew. It’s suddenly so quiet.”
“You did great.”
“Nah, I didn’t do much.”
“Facing people great enough for the history books—that alone drains your nerves.”
Adwin chuckled.
“And now we’ll be in the history books too.”
“Hmm.”
“I’m not one to chase that stuff, but it feels weird.”
“I get it.”
I gauged the time roughly.
It was already dawn.
“Let’s head back to the inn and catch some sleep, even if it’s short. Things get busy tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? You’ve got plans lined up?”
“Yeah. First, the Demon King trial. Then off to kill Acteon.”
“Ah, using the trial to rack up that missing 500,000 fame.”
Of course.
But there was more.
“And I need to talk to Idria. Actually, I had a flash of insight tonight.”
“……?”
“Forget it. Needs confirming. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Curiosity filled their faces.
But exhaustion won out, and they nodded.
We returned to the inn.
And went to our rooms to sleep.
Except for me.
I sat by the window, gazing up at the moon.
‘Trail. You asleep?’
No response.
He must be out cold.
Better that way.
I took a deep breath.
‘Bion.’
No immediate reply.
Playing dumb, even though he gets it.
‘I’m calling you, screen window. Not Trail.’
Pop.
A screen appeared.
[What is it?]
‘We need to talk.’
[Go ahead.]
‘Something hit me at the banquet—and while dealing with Bellosian. Is this system really the best?’
No text appeared.
Annoyed? Baffled?
Whatever. I pressed on calmly.
‘In my view, no. The current system has three big problems.’
[……Tell me.]
‘First. It demands too much sacrifice from heroes and legends. They’re big enough vessels, sure, but as we saw tonight, they laugh when happy and cry when sad—just like anyone.’
[They do sacrifice, but they get fitting rewards.]
‘A new world as a gift? Not all heroes wanted that.’
<…….>
‘If you shoved it at me, I’d turn it down.’
The screen went silent, as if I’d hit a nerve.
That “gift” was just groundwork to expand humanity’s domain.
Is handing it off really a reward?
Some heroes might’ve been thrilled.
Others probably accepted out of duty.
I’d definitely be the latter.
……
Even so, I took it.
This world being “Maide’s World” proves it.
Why did I choose that back then?
‘Anyway…… Maybe Acteon was the latter too?’
<…….>
‘Point is, gifting a new world isn’t enough reward. So yeah, the world demands too much sacrifice.’
New text appeared.
[Second problem?]
‘Tied to the first: heroes and legends can fall. Even the greatest buckle under endless burdens. Especially if they took an unwanted gift out of duty.’
<…….>
‘No explanation needed, right? Acteon’s the precedent.’
[Yes. I won’t deny it.]
Even though it was just in my head, my mouth went dry.
I licked my lips needlessly.
‘Third—and the biggest.’
[Yes.]
‘This system makes people rely too much on the hero.’
[What? Isn’t that a good thing?]
‘Too much. After I hit 1.2 million fame, even the emperor bowed to me. They believed the bizarre Bellosian without question.’
[Because you’re the hero.]
‘No. It’s……’
How to explain?
I thought for a bit, then found a metaphor.
‘People in this era worship me like a new heavenly god.’
<…….>
‘Just swapped Adin for Maide—the heavenly god lives on.’
[But that ‘swap to Maide’ is key. You’re not low like Adin.]
‘What if I die? No guarantee my successor, treated as heavenly god, won’t turn out like Adin.’
Bion stayed silent—agreement or denial unclear.
I scratched my head.
‘I have a way to fix all three.’
[Let’s hear it.]
‘Make it so……’
I hesitated.
He might not like this.
He assists the “world,” after all.
Denying the system outright could upset him.
But I had to say it.
‘Make it so no more Demon Kings descend here.’
[What?]
‘No Demon Kings descend. No heroes born naturally.’
<…….>
‘Leave your futures to you all and retire. That’s my goal now.’
The screen stayed blank for a while.
He’s mad, huh.
I sighed.
But the next line proved me wrong.
[Heh.]
‘You deliberately wrote “Heh.”?’
[No other way to express it.]
‘……You’re okay with this?’
[More like, you haven’t changed a bit.]
I leaned toward the screen.
‘You’ve known me a while, huh?’
[Of course. Twenty-seven heroes in your world’s history—and I’ve been with you all that time.]
‘Why’d I lose all memories and get dumped as a baby?’
[Wanted to catch you off-guard, but sorry. Not ready to tell.]
‘Ugh. Just spill. What more do I need?’
The screen tilted slightly.
Like pondering “Hmm……”
Then text.
[Recover your fame from your hero days. Then I’ll tell you.]
‘How much was it?’
[20 Million.]
A headache stabbed me.
Crazy.
I scraped every last bit from past heroes and legends—barely over 9.5 million.
And my hero days were 20 million?
What the hell was old me doing?
‘You’re not telling.’
[Who knows. I thought 10 million was impossible, but you pulled it off creatively. Just 500,000 short.]
[20 million? What’s impossible about that. You got this.]
I let out a dry laugh.
Past stuff later.
Priority now.
‘Back to it—you agree? End heroes and Demon Kings in this world.’
[My agreement’s irrelevant. It’s your world.]
‘You said the throne was vacant.’
[Technically yes, but to me, you’re still the master.]
‘Good. Here’s my concrete plan. Hear my idea first, then judge.’
[Got it.]
‘If I……’
[No.]
……?
I asked, dumbfounded.
‘I haven’t said anything yet?’
[Make no more Demon Kings descend here—but human malice births them. So possess someone who can control malice?]
[Who in this world controls malice? Me. I have to.]
[Lady Maide plans to become the vessel for all malice, ensuring no Demon Kings descend. Right?]
I gaped.
‘How’d you……?’
[Obvious from your nature. You always talk retirement but can’t let go, worrying about what comes after.]
[……Did I?]
[Anyway, that plan’s a no. Keep pushing, and I won’t help one bit.]
The text brimmed with resolve.
I scratched my head.
‘But there’s no other way.’
[There is.]
‘What? What is it?’
[This isn’t for us alone.]
Bion paused, then continued.
[Wake Trail.]
‘Trail? He cooperates, and it’s possible?’
[Yes. Whether he will is another story.]
‘…….’
[You hate dragging others in.]
He read me again.
I replied glumly.
‘Yeah. It’s my greed. Plus, I……’
[Hate forcing people?]
‘Stop reading me.’
[Say that after he agrees. He will.]
I hesitated long, then woke Trail.
He sounded groggy, straight from sleep.
[What. Was having a good dream.]
[Hello.]
[Uh…… hello. What, Maide? You were talking to him?]
[Maide, step aside. I’ll explain.]
Bion then explained calmly to Trail in neat sentences.
The plan to overhaul “Maide’s World” system.
Trail scoffed at first.
Then refused more seriously.
But then showed understanding.
Finally……
[I think it’s the best way too.]
“Wait. Think carefully. No turning back once decided.”
[That’s my line. Why’d you plan to make yourself the ‘vessel for all malice’?]
“Well…… I’m a hero, and this world’s master from the start. I came up with it, so I take responsibility.”
[What happened to all that retirement talk?]
Text appeared promptly.
[He just says that. He has no intention of retiring.]
“I do.”
[Yeah, I felt that sometimes. Takes every responsibility himself—retire? Just talk.]
“No, really.”
[We’re on the same wavelength, Trail.]
“Hey.”
[You’re alright.]
A strange rapport formed between them.
I sighed.
“Won’t regret it? Trail.”
[Eh.]
“Why? It’s my greed and plan. No need for your sacrifice.”
[Hmm……]
He hesitated.
Then spoke awkwardly.
[Just wanna help you, man. That not enough?]
Hearing that, a fleeting memory surfaced.
Probably from Impellium’s party reveal.
I’d thought one word defined Trail.
But it wouldn’t come.
‘Now I get it.’
Unthinkingly, I said,
“Trail.”
[Yeah?]
“You’re……”
Holding back surging emotion, I continued.
“You’re my friend.”