Chapter 1
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Prologue
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A path drenched in the blood of countless monsters.
This path had been carved by the hands of just one man.
Muorat, the high priest of the Demon God Inkra who had plunged the world into terror, gazed down at the man in the black helmet before him with an expression of utter disbelief.
H-How in the world!
Youre wondering how I broke through that monster horde all by myself?
The man, covered in monster blood, turned his helmet to face Muorat directly.
Muorats body trembled.
Even after receiving the Demon Gods power and becoming his proxy, he shuddered at the feat of a single human.
The man with the black helmet concealing his face grinned.
There was no mistaking ithe was smiling.
The man spoke.
They were pathetic.
Weak, so they lost.
That was the mans simple logic.
Shing!
Muorat drew his sword.
Deathbringer, forged from the bones and flesh of an undead dragon.
Countless knights had lost their lives beneath its ruthless, icy blade.
Yet the man merely snorted at the sight.
The man drew his own sword.
A single, ordinary, worn rapierone that could be found anywhere.
But with that one rapier, he had slaughtered the monster horde that Muorat prided himself on.
Muorat charged first, sword in hand.
Black flames flickered along Deathbringers arc.
The so-called Flame of Death.
Anything touched by those flames vanished instantly.
But the man casually leaned back, deflecting Muorats strike with ease.
Muorat swung Deathbringer at the man again and again, but the man evaded every attack with the simplest of movements.
Muorat was one of the foremost Swordmasters on the Redinus Continent.
It was impossible that not a single blow had landed.
Not even a single hair had been touched.
A disgrace for any swordsman.
And the mans attitude only doubled Muorats humiliation.
I thought the Demon Gods high priest might be something special. What a letdown.
You dare mock me?!
Mock you? Youre not even worth it.
Before Muorat could launch another attack.
The mans rapier pierced his heart.
He couldnt even remember when the strike had come.
An impossibly fast thrust, too quick to follow with the eyes.
But it wasnt over yet.
No time. Lets end this.
The man raised his rapier upward, splitting Muorats chest in two.
Thud!
Muorat collapsed to the ground.
The man looked down at Muorats heart, blackened and poisoned by Demonic Energy, visible through the gaping wound in his chest.
Then he crushed it underfoot.
Crunch!
The hearts remnants scattered in all directions.
The end of Muorat, who had shaken the world, was utterly anticlimactic.
The man in the black helmet returned to the palace after defeating Muorat.
Rodri Burnstein, the hero who had saved the Redinus Continent dozens of times over, was half-forced to attend a grand welcome ceremony prepared by the palace.
But not even the gold and treasures bestowed upon him by the king could satisfy Rodri.
The Black Helmet Hero, savior of the Redinus Continent dozens of times, attended a lavish victory banquet hosted by the Delont royal family.
Yet even there, Rodri refused to remove his black helmet.
The king showered him with rewards and treasures, but Rodris voice remained flat.
After the ceremony of gratitude and gifts in the banquet hall.
Dian, Rodris closest friend, asked drunkenly.
Why do you keep that damn helmet on even when youre drinking? Isnt it uncomfortable?
You know why.
Dian shivered at Rodris cryptic words.
Thinking about it sobers me right up. Ugh, whatever. Do what you want.
Dian grimaced and shook his head, then downed two glasses of wine in quick succession.
Rodri, the guest of honor, sat quietly in a corner of the banquet hall.
Even the noblewomen in their glamorous attire showed interest but kept their distance.
Then, suddenly,
Rodri stood and began to walk away.
Time to go.
What? Already? The partys just getting started. Itll be awkward if the star leaves!
Dont care.
Right now, only one thing held Rodris attention.
I finally got it.
The wish of a lifetime.
And the being who would grant it.
It wouldnt be an exaggeration to say Rodri had lived as a hero for this alone.
Back at his mansion, Rodri was greeted urgently by butlers and maids.
Youre back, Lord Rodri.
Helond.
The elderly butler who had served him for years responded to Rodris call.
Yes. What is it?
From now on, no one enters my room, no matter what happens. Understood?
Normally, he might have asked why.
But Helond obeyed without question.
Yes, understood. As you command.
An order went out: butlers and maids alike were forbidden from entering Rodris room.
Then, Rodri entered alone.
He extended his right hand.
A fierce spark crackled from his fingertipszzzt!
At the same time, a sword materialized.
The cursed blade Muorat had wielded: Deathbringer.
Deathbringer wasnt made solely of a dead dragons bones and flesh.
Sealed within was something else entirely.
According to information from Capora, the sage of the great library, it went something like this.
They say a holy relic capable of temporarily summoning Goddess Ashutar is sealed inside.
A relic brimming with divine power, sealed within Deathbringer.
That was why Rodri had resolved to subjugate Muorat, a man hed never cared about before.
He hadnt defeated Muorat to save the world.
He had faced the monster horde alone solely for this moment.
And finally
The moment had arrived.
Rodri held Deathbringer upside down in one hand.
He gripped the blade tightly with his right fist.
Crack
A large fissure formed, followed by the sound of shattering glass as Deathbringer crumbled to pieces.
At last, the holy relic emerged into the world: the Tear of the Moon.
A small purple orb floated at eye level before Rodri.
He seized it firmly.
Then crushed it with all his strength.
The divine power within erupted, filling the room at blinding speed.
The light was so intense that Rodri had to close his eyes.
When he opened them again.
What the hell is this?
An absurd scene unfolded before him.
A pillar of light pierced the ceiling, forming right in front of him.
As the light pillar slowly faded.
Something resembling a human figure appeared.
Rodri instinctively knew this was the manifestation of Goddess Ashutar.
The goddesss manifestation slowly opened her eyes and looked down at Rodri.
The human realm after so long. The situation now is because of you?
For now, lets say yes.
There was a legend passed down on the Redinus Continent since ancient times.
The one who summons a god.
Shall have their wish granted as payment.
Seven hundred years. So much has changed.
As Ashutar spoke, a faint light rapidly flowed through her eyes.
But whatever reaction Ashutar showed, Rodri paid it no mind.
Only his wish mattered.
I heard that summoning a god grants a wish.
At those words,
Goddess Ashutar suddenly curled her lips into a smile.
So thats why you took down Muorat? Not for world peace, but personal greed?
Rodri answered without hesitation.
Yes.
Ashutar grew curious about what could drive Rodri to such desperation.
Tell me.
The curse that had tormented Rodri his entire life.
He slowly removed his black helmet.
His face was finally revealed to the world.
Ashutar, seeing Rodris face, grimaced in what seemed like disgust.
This is hideous.
Regardless of the goddesss reaction, Rodri spoke in a voice thick with resentment.
I want to be handsome!
This was Rodris lifelong wish.
Even one day as a handsome man would do.
Goddess Ashutar began examining Rodris face more closely.
Then she nodded several times.
I think I see why youd wish for that.
From childhood, Rodri had endured endless misfortune due to his appearance.
There were times hed been mistaken for a monster and pelted with stones.
No one had ever reacted to his face without disgust.
Expressions varied, but the conclusion was the same.
Overwhelming ugliness.
An appearance too repulsive to rememberor even register.
Because of it, hed never so much as held a womans hand.
As a young man, hed stayed optimistic. A man wasnt just his looks.
Hed gained immense strength and wealth.
But after seeing a woman whod shown interest vomit upon first glimpsing his face, he gave up everything.
Nothing else matters. Handsome is best.
That was the truth Rodri had learned in life.
No matter how strong or rich.
People gave more attention to the handsome.
That was why Rodri hid his face behind the black helmet.
This was the hidden secret of the helmeted hero.
The goddess posed one question to Rodri.
Did you consult any mages? They could probably fix your looks with magic.
No matter what they tried, for some reason, magic wouldnt work.
The conclusion: this curse transcending humanity couldnt be solved by human means.
So Rodri had chosen this path.
Borrowing the power of the goddess of beauty, art, and grace.
Ashutar chuckled.
Ive granted many humans wishes, but youre the first to ask to become handsome.
It might seem trivial to others, but to Rodri, it was deadly serious.
His life had been ruined root and stem by this ugliness.
Fine. Ill grant your wish.
The goddess beckoned Rodri closer.
As she placed her hand on his head.
Her expression changed.
I see. So youre the one.
She trailed off.
The interrupted sentence irked Rodri.
What do you mean?
Nothing. Now prepare yourself. Im about to grant your wish.
Prepare?
Was that necessary?
So Rodri thought.
But the goddesss words soon proved true.
Do you know the surest way to become handsome?
Rodri had no choice but to shake his head.
If I did, I wouldnt have summoned you.
Heh, fair enough.
The way to become handsome.
It was simple
Be reborn.
With that, Rodri lost consciousness.
An overwhelming dizziness assaulted Rodri.
As if space and time were twisting.
It didnt feel good.
The light faded, and an inexplicable unease washed over his entire body.
Was becoming handsome always this rough?
Someone lifted him, then spanked his bottom mercilessly.
Reflexively, Rodri expelled something from his mouth.
Wah!
Not a pleasant sensation.
Worse, his body wouldnt obey him.
But he forced his eyes open, and strangers peered down at him.
Voices overlapped.
Tell the Baron! Its a healthy baby boy!
Yes, got it!
You did great, maam!
Why isnt our baby crying?
Rodri shifted his gaze to the mother.
The most beautiful woman hed ever seen.
So this is rebirth! They say sons take after their mothers. Finally.
Only then did Rodri realize the goddess had granted his wish through reincarnation.
But unlike Rodri, the lack of crying caused a commotion.
Someone began spanking his bottom again.
Come on, cry.
But Rodri didnt.
Im not some guy who cries over this.
He could handle it.
He even snorted inwardly.
The people were shocked.
Th-Thats weird? Whys he laughing instead of crying? H-Has this ever happened?
Ive never seen it before, so.
Then.
A man burst through the door.
My son! Where is he!
Right here, Baron.
Rodri realized this Baron was his father.
The Baron, Lucas Leyden, scooped up his newborn youngest son.
Lets see, my boy! Haha!
The moment Rodri saw Lucass face.
He couldnt believe his eyes.
What the? This orc!
But that wasnt the end.
Baron! What do you think? Hes the spitting image of you!
At those words.
Waaah!!!
Rodri burst into heartbroken tears.
Ashutar!!!!!!!!
It seemed the goddess had tricked him.