The hero’s eyes were clearly fixed on me, but what he was looking at was not me.
It was the presence lurking behind me, the one giving me strength now, the transcendental being who had once protected the hero’s back.
The god Armaidi. Towards the god, who existed in a higher position than anyone else, the hero sent a gaze of protest.
“God! This is against the will!”
For an ordinary human to endure for hundreds of years is physically impossible.
Even if all other constraints are ignored, lifespan cannot be changed.
That’s why the hero had made a wish to the god. He begged that he be allowed to continue guarding the seal.
For an ordinary opponent, this would be dismissed as nonsense, but for him, it was an exception.
The hero, who sacrificed for the world without expecting anything in return, made a humble wish.
Even though the god could dissuade, persuade, and suggest another way, if the hero refused to change his mind, was there anything Armaidi could do?
“Do not turn your back on our promise!”
Even if it remained with regret and remorse for the god, there was nothing the god could do.
Was there anyone who could surpass the malice created by Erginus?
As long as the hero stayed trapped here, it was impossible to even speak to him.
The god knew this too.
That’s why the god created that awful dungeon mode.
To find someone who could save the past hero.
“Hey♡ Hey♡”
In the end, the hero standing before me was the culprit who prevented any sequels, let alone DLC, and the enemy that caused me to dedicate my life to this wretched game.
The enemy of Soul Academy!
I’ll kill you, hero!
“Actually, you regret it, don’t you?♡”
“What are you talking about?”
“You thought it was a mistake, didn’t you?♡ Hmm?♡”
“That never happened! I don’t regret it! This is something I have to do!”
“Really?♡ Truly?♡”
“Yes!”
“Then why were you so flustered when you heard the pathetic loser’s story?♡ And why did you feel relieved when you realized it was just a coincidence?♡”
The hero, in his original form, would have rejoiced upon hearing of the miracle that occurred on Earth. And then, upon realizing it was a coincidence, he would have lamented.
If that miracle was intentionally brought about, it meant humanity could escape the evil gods.
“Not answering?♡”
“That’s... well...”
“I’ll speak for you since you’re so frustrating♡ You were afraid of looking like a fool, weren’t you?♡”
The reason the hero was flustered and relieved was because he feared that his sacrifice would become meaningless.
Hundreds of years.
Hundreds of years.
The hero had stayed here for hundreds of years, fulfilling his duty.
In a place where even the passage of time couldn’t be felt, unable to speak to anyone, staring at the walls tainted by darkness, he endured the years.
Yet, the fact that the hero could still smile is admirable, but his mind couldn’t remain as steadfast as it once was.
“Was this really the only way?♡”
“Wait a second.”
As I approached the hero, who asked the question, he stepped back a step.
“Could it have really only been you?♡”
“Listen to me.”
As I took another step, the hero hesitated again.
“Could it be that you’re mistaken?♡”
“Stop it!”
As I took another step, the hero staggered and almost collapsed.
“Did you make a hasty decision?♡”
“Enough!”
I reached the fallen hero, bent down, and leaned my face close. His heavy breaths brushed my face.
“Be honest.♡ You wanted to believe it couldn’t be helped, right?♡ You wanted your sacrifice to become noble, didn’t you?♡”
The nobility of the “I have to do this” mentality had become a defense mechanism, supporting the hero as he was about to break down.
“Hahaha♡ Look at your face!♡ If a fool saw this, they’d be thrilled!♡ You’re such a funny toy!♡”
“...Don’t try to test me! No matter what, my will won’t change!”
“Test? Hahaha!♡ You’re really stupid!♡ How is pointing out the truth a test?!♡”
Now, I was going to destroy that foundation and confront the anxiety hidden behind the hero’s laughter.
If he doesn’t admit he was wrong, convincing him would be impossible.
“It’s such a shame that the old man couldn’t see this!♡ If he were here, your expression would have been even more hilarious~♡”
I grinned, thinking about what to say next, when a chill ran down my spine.
Has he finally lost his temper?
He’s really holding out. The hero truly is a hero.
I saw the hero’s fist coming toward my face, so I quickly stepped back, laughing.
“You, a hero, attacking a girl?♡”
“It’s not right to let such a rude child run wild.”
“What are you saying?♡ You just don’t want to hear what I’m saying, so you’re trying to shut me up♡”
“...”
“Do whatever you want♡ I don’t know if a loser like you can defeat me~♡”
I stuck my tongue out, mocking the hero as I watched his cheeks turn red.
Hmm. The feeling of satisfaction is rising, so it seems I’ve succeeded in my original goal.
Now what should I do?
As I twisted my neck, following the warning in my head, the hero’s fist brushed past my hair.
“You threw the punch first and couldn’t even land it?♡ You’re amazing~♡ As expected, hah♡ hero♡”
It’s not hard to avoid the attacks since the opponent isn’t using full strength, but they won’t always show mercy.
When your mind is clouded with heat, would you be able to focus on controlling your strength?
It’s lucky if he admits his mistake, but if he were someone who could crumble like this, he would have been broken long ago.
“Are you scared of touching me because I’ll get dirty?♡ Why do you keep hitting thin air?♡”
Ah! I just had a great idea! Before using all his power, why not crush him?
If I make him acknowledge his self-loathing, I won’t be in danger, and I can achieve my goal! I’m a genius!
“Aha!♡ Are you holding back because you think you’ll be unable to walk if I touch you?♡”
I kept moving my lips and watched his movements carefully. I noticed things from the movements of the hero that I had remembered when facing his doll on the monitor.
Aside from timing discrepancies, the movements were nearly identical.
“How much has built up inside you?♡ If I just poke you, will you explode?♡”
And the hero’s movements were dull.
He still had the original skill, but it was clear it had been worn out.
He had been trapped in the darkness for hundreds of years, so it was impossible for his movements to be the same as before.
“What to do?♡ You’re afraid of getting dirty, so you won’t touch me~♡”
Amidst the increasing intensity of his attacks, I maintained control of the flow and hummed a tune, watching his movements.
Gradually, a clear path appeared in my mind.
Shall we start soon?
I infused strength into the hand holding the mace and advanced forward.
Maybe it was because I had been retreating until now, but the hero’s reaction was slow.
I seized the opportunity and drove the mace into the hero’s side, making a dull sound as his armor caved in.
The hero bit his lip in pain, but didn’t stop moving.
He spread his arms, trying to grab me.
This content is taken from freёwebnovel.com.
Just as I expected.
I crouched down, dodging his arms, and headbutted him right on the exposed chin.
The hero staggered, seemingly dizzy from the blow, but I didn’t chase after him, leaving him alone.
If I overpowered him without even drawing my weapon, he would rationalize it.
I couldn’t give him an excuse.
“Getting beaten by this loser?♡ How weak and pathetic are you?♡”
“...”
“Poor heroes from the past♡ How hard must it have been for them to be called heroes~♡”
The hero, who kept his mouth shut, spread his hands, and flames sprang from his palms, forming a sword.
As the heat radiated from the sword, the space was filled with a chilling presence.
“A fool getting beaten by a girl, and still acting all high and mighty♡ But you’re still just a failure♡ Weakling♡”
I dodged the first swing of the sword, timing my movements perfectly.
The heat from the sword burned my skin.
I blocked the second strike, making fine adjustments.
The shock that transferred to my arm from the thunderous sound made my jaw tense.
And I charged at the third swing.
The overwhelming pressure that numbed my body, the heat that made my lungs burn, the enormous rage transmitted through his eyes.
There was no room to smile, but I wore a playful smile on my face.
“You’re weak!♡”
With a light sound, the hero’s sword flew into the air.
The force that had been in the sword was huge, and the recoil was great.
The current hero is no different from a training dummy.
The hero himself knew this, and although he prepared himself for the coming shock, I swung my mace, not striking his armor, but delivering a full-powered kick to his exposed groin.
“Ugh...!”
Even the hero who saved the world couldn’t have trained for that, and with a scream close to death, his body collapsed.
“Now you get it? Right now, you’re just a pathetic loser getting beaten by a little girl.”
I called out to the hero, who was trembling with his face buried in the ground.
“If a fool like you gets up, you’ll be eaten alive. You’re the leader of the fools. No matter whether you’re a man or a woman, you’re a twisted freak.”
The current hero cannot become the seal to block the evil gods.
If he were the perfect hero from the past, maybe, but the hero filled with delusions is nothing more than a sacrificial offering for the revival of the evil gods.
“If that’s your preference, I’m not going to stop you.”
So, any further sacrifice is meaningless.
“Hey~ Are you listening? You didn’t pass out from how good it feels, did you?”
Feeling a pang of guilt as a former man, I poked the hero’s head, and he suddenly rose up.
Seeing his previous collapsed form was like a lie, and I stumbled backward, shocked by his overwhelming presence. I hurriedly held up my shield.
“Ha.”
Before I could even react, the hero let out a hollow laugh.
“I can’t deny it. Even in a situation where I’m being played by a child like you, Agra’s opponent is no challenge.”
The hero sat down heavily, and with a sigh, he saw my face peeking out from behind my shield.
“So, what should I do now? Hero of the future.”
“What should you do? Well, first, we need to get outside.”
“You’re the most foolish one among us, aren’t you?”
The voice that answered the hero’s question wasn’t mine, but that of someone else.
“...How did you get here?”
Paladin Ruel. Knight Garad. Two people who had been the hero’s companions in the past came to this place after hundreds of years.
“...Old hag.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Looks like cross-dressing was your hobby? You look good!”
“Don’t mention it!”
Garad. Why are you wearing the same armor as me?
While speaking, were you secretly jealous?
“Unbelievable. Garad, you had that kind of hobby.”
“I don’t! I don’t have a cross-dressing hobby!”
“Did you get tired of women and decide to seduce men? The things you said back then weren’t jokes!”
“Ah, please!”
“I understand. It could be.”
“Don’t comfort me, just shut up!”