Chapter 195: The One Who Could Not Be Called a Hero
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 195: The One Who Could Not Be Called a Hero
"It was a pleasure. You will lose all your memories of this place. I’m sorry; I feel like I’ve only ever used you."
"It is quite alright. It was an honor and a joy just to be of help."
"Perkus. Between the Saintess and this incident, I find myself constantly relying on you."
"I am happy even with that. If this old man can be of use, please call upon me anytime."
Thank you for saying that.
Next time, let’s not meet for something like this. Let’s just have tea, just the two of us.
Goodbye.
As soon as she finished her final words, Rubenia sent Perkus, who had been standing before her, back.
It was a conversation that had lasted only a few minutes.
Yet, in that brief moment, Rubenia tasted a peace she hadn't known for decades.
Perhaps she felt it even more strongly because of what was about to happen.
"It’s about time he showed up."
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
After bidding farewell to Perkus, Rubenia waited for someone at the table.
There was a mismatch between her anxious finger-tapping and the relaxed way she crossed her legs. She was currently nervous.
"You’re here."
R-r-rip!
The white space tore open like a book, and a being gradually revealed itself.
Layers of thick neck fat and a stumpy, three-part body structure—head, chest, and abdomen. Even his exaggerated fashion, adorned with ill-fitting luxury brands, was a sight to behold.
"Rubenia! What have you done?!"
"You’re here? It’s been a while. So, um... oh, right. You said I should call you Chubby Ahn, didn't you?"
It was the appearance of Chubby Ahn, whose silhouette alone made him instantly recognizable.
Chubby Ahn marched toward Rubenia, his rage palpable.
"Was your promise to cooperate with me a lie?! Did you trick me?!"
"I never tricked you. As proof that I haven't broken the promise we made back then, I still exist perfectly fine, don't I?"
"...You said you would help the protagonist."
"That’s right. I am helping the protagonist."
I suppose our definitions of who the protagonist is differ.
Rubenia spoke with a deliberate, mocking laugh. It was a blatant sneer that anyone could recognize.
"Actually, I knew you’d come the moment Kim Min-su entered Akabellum. Since you two are connected."
Or rather, should I say only the two of you are connected now?
Rubenia stared intently at Chubby Ahn as she finished her thought.
At least I’m glad he managed to pull it out.
After telling Baek Tae-yang to pull the Holy Sword, Rubenia had naturally intended to make arrangements so he could do so easily.
However, Kim Min-su had entered Akabellum at the perfect time, which allowed Chubby Ahn to intervene.
Just as Rubenia had summoned Baek Tae-yang to Akabellum, it was possible for someone with enough power to inversely influence Rubenia from within Akabellum.
And for Chubby Ahn, who had temporarily recovered his strength, it was an even easier task.
"What did you do to make Baek Tae-yang pull that thing?!"
"I told you. I’m helping the protagonist."
With no immediate way to vent his fury, Chubby Ahn could only stomp his feet.
"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!"
As soon as Kim Min-su entered Akabellum, Chubby Ahn had immediately tampered with the Holy Sword.
It was a masterstroke designed to prevent even Rubenia—who had agreed to help the protagonist—from interfering.
He had made it so that only the one with the higher Protagonist Share could pull the Holy Sword.
If that were the case, Rubenia would have no choice but to help Kim Min-su, and Min-su would naturally pull the sword.
"You should have said you'd pull it first! Min-su!"
There was only one variable in this plan: Baek Tae-yang attempting to pull the Holy Sword first.
But he hadn't been too worried about that. He had believed, without a doubt, that Min-su would definitely step up first.
This is the worst.
However, Kim Min-su’s instinct for defeat, carved deep into his very bones, feared Baek Tae-yang.
The imprint of overwhelming violence, a man he had never once defeated since their first meeting, made him instinctively prioritize Baek Tae-yang and shrink back.
"Aaaaahhh!!! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!"
Just how much more are you going to stress me out?
All Chubby Ahn could do right now was glare at Rubenia. There was nothing else.
"The protagonist pulled it, so why are you so angry? Isn't this a good thing?"
Rubenia, knowing this all too well, immediately began to taunt him.
"You son of a bitch! I am a God! An absolute being! I am the Author! I am invincible!"
Unable to endure it any longer, Chubby Ahn raised his hand high. It was a clear act of aggression.
But unlike before, Rubenia didn't even look tense; she watched him with casual indifference.
Flip-flip-flip-flip!
The pages of the book that served as Rubenia’s face flipped rapidly, reaching the final page in an instant.
Written there was 'Hero Kim Min-su.'
Those letters slowly began to vanish into smoke.
"It seems I no longer need to keep my promise."
The oath they shared after Chubby Ahn had shoved Rubenia into Akabellum. The humiliating moments when she had to make Kim Min-su the Hero for no reason and deliver it as a revelation.
It was a past she never had to recall again.
"...W-what is this...!"
"It was exhausting, playing along with your pathetic setting-building from the start."
The childish games are over.
Rubenia’s face began to change slowly.
As if naturally moving on to the next volume once the first is finished, a new book took its place on Rubenia’s face as the final page of the old one ended.
It worked.
It had been a gamble, essentially.
With even the Saintess losing most of her power and facing interference from Chubby Ahn, all Rubenia could do was lend her strength through the Pope.
But what on earth is Baek Tae-yang that he can pull off something like that?
The trick Chubby Ahn had played wasn't something that could be broken so easily. It was like an absolute truth or a law of nature—for instance, the undeniable fact that an apple is red.
He had infused such an immutable law into the Holy Sword, yet Tae-yang had pulled it out in one go.
"But can you really afford to keep huffing and puffing here? You don't have time for this anymore."
Aren't you going back?
Upon hearing those words, Chubby Ahn seemed to realize his situation and immediately turned around.
"Just you wait, Rubenia! You think he can even use it just because he pulled it? I’ll stop him no matter what it takes!"
"We have nothing more to discuss. The book has changed."
After Chubby Ahn vanished while spitting out lines like a third-rate villain, Rubenia let out a deep sigh and drank her tea with trembling hands.
"I’ve done all I can. I’m sorry I couldn't help more."
With that small murmur, Rubenia slowly collapsed. It was the price of using too much power.
*
"W-what in the...?"
As soon as Perkus regained consciousness, his mind momentarily stalled at the sight before him.
He knew he had just had an intense and fresh experience, but he couldn't remember it.
Was it Lady Rubenia...?
His memory cut off from the moment he began guiding Baek Tae-yang and Kim Min-su.
Only the feeling that it had been a very happy time remained, and his heart was about to warm at the sensation, but he couldn't allow it.
"A... demon...?"
A demon was holding the Holy Sword. What kind of situation was this?
Judging by the momentum and the aura of Coercion he felt, it was at least a Lord-class. How could a Lord-class demon, capable of toppling nations, be inside Akabellum?
"Light!"
His assessment was fast, and his judgment was swift.
He didn't know how it had happened, but exorcising the demon came first.
Just as Perkus moved to attempt an eradication, the demon spoke.
"Your Holiness! It’s me! It’s me! Baek Tae-yang!"
"Eh...? What? What did you say?"
Baek Tae-yang? Not a demon, but Baek Tae-yang?
Looking closely, the face was identical.
"This was... unavoidable for a moment."
With those words, Baek Tae-yang returned to the form Perkus recognized.
The smell of acrid coal and the dark golden veins spread across his body—the Eastern kingly attire—vanished as if it had all been a lie.
"I ended up like that while trying to pull the Holy Sword."
"Well, um..."
Before speaking, Perkus first checked if the Holy Sword was safe.
The Holy Sword, which had been pulled out along with the ground itself, was fortunately undamaged. He had worried it might have been corrupted by demonic influence, but it was perfectly fine.
"You can't call that pulling it! The sword hasn't even revealed its true form! Besides, I haven't even had my chance yet! This is unfair!"
Seizing the opening, Kim Min-su immediately spoke up.
His words were reasonably grounded. Just as Perkus was agonizing over how to refuse him—
Thud! Thud! CRASH!
Baek Tae-yang swung the Holy Sword. To be precise, he was carving the rock attached to it.
"Stop rambling. It’s stuck firmly in my hand, so how is this not 'pulled'?
Stop talking nonsense and back off before you get hit by a rock chip.
Kim Min-su wanted to say more, but he was so intimidated by the ensuing noise that he shut his mouth tight.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
"P-please, it is a holy relic after all, so handle it with a bit more care."
Baek Tae-yang handled the Holy Sword so roughly that even Perkus grew worried.
"Phew, now it looks like a Holy Sword."
He had perfectly carved the rock, making it look exactly as if the Holy Sword were tucked into a scabbard.
At this rate, it’s not a Holy Sword, but a Holy Blunt Weapon.
While Perkus was seriously contemplating this, Min-su spoke again.
"How much longer are you going to do whatever you want?! Your Holiness! You have to give me a chance too! Right?"
Perkus, who hadn't answered Min-su's question yet, nodded his head. His thoughts were now perfectly organized.
"See? He nodded! Put it down, Baek Tae-yang! I! I am the Hero!"
"Cadet Kim Min-su, that is enough. You are no longer the Hero."
A childish, toy-like setting. The divine revelation that 'whoever pulls the Holy Sword is the Hero.'
According to that revelation, destiny had now changed.