Ch.135Our Secret

1.

Asha Mirabel.

The sole survivor of a small village—Mirabel—now burned to ashes.

And,

【Warning.】

【<Abyss(Ex+) – Fusion in Progress> activates its Skill #1 – Annihilation.】

【Annihilation approaches.】

A hero—one of the few beings capable of standing against the impending doom.

In these chaotic times, the usual Asha would have fought against evil using the powers bestowed by the goddess, but,

【Bad Ending 14 – <Fallen Hero> is being set over the main scenario.】

Now, that was simply impossible.

Asha’s gaze wasn’t fixed on the annihilation descending from the sky, but on Hallorand’s back as he walked away.

She fell into despair, unable to even think of grasping her holy sword, and murmured:

“Why… even you…?”

Hallorand.

Her guardian who had embraced her with warmth when everyone else abandoned her.

The one to whom she had reopened her heart after keeping it closed since the Mirabel incident.

The man who always promised to be on her side was now fleeing, revealing that all the affection he had shown was a lie.

【Warning.】

【The <???? ?? ??> implanted in <Asha Mirabel(Ex-)> is taking control of her.】

Asha pondered, ignoring the cold malice blooming in her heart.

‘…Why do these things keep happening to me?’

Thinking about it, it had always been this way.

Asha had always given her trust.

To the Eastern man who asked her to guide him to Mirabel, claiming to be lost and staying nearby,

To Hallorand, who extended his hand to her when she was the only survivor,

To the boy who reached out to her when she was waiting for death at the hero training center,

To the red-haired free priest who seemed suspicious but sincere at heart.

Asha had always given her trust, and the reward for that trust was always betrayal.

“…Hahah.”

A laugh escaped her.

She opened her heart because she feared being alone, yet why was she betrayed each time?

Soon, she reached a conclusion.

It was because she feared being alone.

The fate this world assigned her was to live in solitude.

She fell deeper into the abyss precisely because she dared to escape her destiny.

If so…

If she gets hurt every time she tries to escape.

If escaping is forever impossible.

“…I should just accept it.”

This cursed fate—I should just conform to it and carry on.

Gritting her teeth, Asha’s gaze fell upon the annihilation descending from the sky.

【Warning.】

【<Abyss(Ex+) – Fusion in Progress> activates its Skill #1 – Annihilation.】

【Annihilation approaches.】

That pitch-black thing falling down must surely be a celebration of her fall.

【The hero’s heart is breaking.】

【Warning.】

【If not saved quickly, the <???? ?? ??> implanted in <Asha Mirabel(Ex-)> will fully bloom and contribute to the Abyss.】

As the dark abyss gradually approached, Asha spread her arms instead of raising her holy sword.

Asha just wanted to be happy.

Despite the difficult journey, she believed she would reach it someday.

She wanted to arrive there with the people she trusted, and then live happily, sharing her heart with many others.

But now, having realized it was impossible as her last thread of hope was cut,

If she was going to fall anyway, then rather…

“…Let’s all fall together.”

Isn’t it unfair?

That she alone lives like this.

If fate is an unstoppable force, then let’s all be swept away together.

As Asha resigned herself, she felt something dark blooming in her heart.

Seeing it bloom without any chance to resist, this too must surely be fate.

Asha closed her eyes.

No matter how strong her body was, once her heart broke, it was over.

Within her darkening inner self, a single red something bloomed.

-Let’s overcome this together.

The red brooch she hadn’t been able to discard revealed its presence through her pocket, but Asha deliberately ignored it.

-You can do it.

Yet the red fragment lingered.

The only man who had protected Asha, who had always protected others.

‘…Even he was a lie.’

There’s no need to cling to memories anymore.

Asha felt a surge of anger at herself for still thinking of him despite his betrayal.

‘Even now. He said he’d overcome this with me, protect me, but he’s nowhere to be seen.’

Because I’m not precious to him.

Because he must have plenty of things more important than someone like me.

So…

This is only natural.

【Warning.】

【Collision in 10 seconds.】

The pitch-black force of annihilation finally descended close enough to touch if she jumped.

With everyone evacuated, only Asha remained directly beneath the force of annihilation.

Just as Asha bowed her head in submission, having decided to accept her fate.

【The Possessor Savior Nahan activates his ultimate skill – <Usurpation(Ex+)>.】

【Target: <Yuria(SSS+)>】

【Usurped Skill: <Sacred Domain(Ex)>】

A golden light burst forth beside her, enveloping the entire impact zone of the annihilation.

‘…Holy power?’

Asha opened her eyes at the appearance of a power similar to her own.

She took in the scene at a glance.

The force of annihilation dissipating like shadows in light,

The golden dome-shaped barrier,

The warm energy flowing from it.

And as always—

“…Are you alright?”

A man stood there, concerned for her.

2.

Ian Red.

He was quite a peculiar person.

-Rest well.

He treated her with ease, like a villager, when everyone else found her difficult to approach.

-You don’t need to bear it alone.

He patted her shoulder, saying it was okay to fail.

And that’s not all.

Whenever she was confused about whether she was on the right path, he would invariably approach, take her hand, and whisper:

-I want to become someone like you, Hero.

Of course, all those actions were deceptions, and his true identity was the Black Wolf.

Yet he still worked to save the world, just as he had when he was “Ian Red.”

Considering that everything he did—deceiving her and the Light, the crimes he committed as the Black Wolf, and even now facing annihilation prepared to die—was all to save the world, Asha found herself asking:

Why do you shoulder everything alone,

Enduring everyone’s hatred, sacrificing everything you have—

“Are you trying… to save this world?”

A question asked with a trembling voice.

The Black Wolf answered calmly.

“Because I don’t want to lose anything more.”

“…If you don’t want to lose?”

“I don’t want to be left alone with nothing I could do… like in the previous world.”

“…Previous world?”

While Asha paused at the unexpected answer, the Black Wolf, having completely eliminated the [Annihilation], smiled at her as she sat there.

“The same goes for you.”

“…What?”

“Among the things I don’t want to lose, you, Asha, are included.”

A gentle smile that didn’t match the world’s worst criminal.

“So don’t give up. You have not just me, but the Light as well.”

Faces appeared in her mind at the man’s words.

People who had always been with her, relationships that could have deepened if only she had opened her heart.

People whose faces she pushed away even more because she feared losing them someday.

“I’m someone who only loses things… so I was afraid of opening my heart and losing again…”

Asha Mirabel.

A woman who had always been hurt by loss.

A woman who resolved not to take anything in the first place, fearing the pain of loss.

In the <original work>, she would have lost everything and been manipulated like a chess piece by Eclipse, who dominated the world—an unfortunate woman.

She built thick walls out of fear of being hurt, and no one reached out to her anymore.

But now.

Nahan’s hand had reached Asha, crossing those rusty thick walls.

“I’ll help you. So that you never lose them, Hero. And… so that you won’t be hurt anymore.”

He gently patted her trembling shoulders, and feeling warmth after so long, Asha’s lips parted.

“Is it… okay for me to desire happiness?”

“It’s not desire. It’s your right.”

“Even though my fate… is to give up such rights?”

“No. There is no such fate. And even if there were such a fate…”

He naturally embraced her trembling body.

Stroking the head of the tearful Asha, Nahan whispered softly:

“I will help you escape it.”

“……”

Asha Mirabel.

She was a hero.

She was the Hero among heroes, and thus had lived only to save others.

Therefore, someone asked:

If hardship and adversity were to befall her, who should save her?

People answered:

That would never happen.

She is an undisputed hero.

The Hero among heroes, the King of heroes.

Such a person would never falter.

Thus, no one will know about today’s events.

The Hero among heroes,

The King of heroes.

That she, worn down by endless hardships and adversities, had reached her limit,

“…Thank you.”

“Thank you too.”

And was saved by someone.

3.

【Congratulations!】

【In the Main Scenario – Saving the <Emperor> and the <Hero>, you have achieved the feat of saving <Hero – Asha Mirabel(Ex+)>!】

【Remaining targets to save: 2/2】

【You have completed the first quest!】

【Rewards will be distributed!】