Ch.2626. Birth of a Hero

How did I end up playing this game?

Was it the vicarious satisfaction of briefly experiencing a god’s perspective?

Or was it the smooth action and my affection for my order?

‘It’s a bit more complicated.’

I needed to move toward a more fundamental and primal enjoyment.

Stimulation.

The game I played, “Ragnarok”…

Its difficulty level was actually quite easy.

If you messed up, you could just reset cleanly, and the operation method was simplicity itself.

Why did I choose this game among so many others?

‘This is truly pathetic.’

When I played the game, I looked down upon the world called “Dianon” from the position of a player.

Humans and other races divided the vast land into their own factions.

And within those, they were further divided into sects according to the constellation orders they belonged to.

Right there in the field, people in the data kept dying due to the constellations’ desires and pranks.

Not knowing their turn would come soon, they just lived on, oblivious to everything.

All I did was a single finger touch, and a moment’s attention.

With just that, villages across the world, and even countries, regained peace so easily.

They successfully received protection from the constellations’ forces that had threatened their existence.

The satisfaction from that cost-effectiveness was truly wonderful.

Just like now.

-Screech! Screeech!!

-Grrrr…

Seeing the undead army advancing eagerly toward the kingdom’s forces, despite everything becoming real now…

The emotion settling within me wasn’t the instinctive human fear.

It was the fresh stimulation from the picture I was about to paint.

“Something has definitely changed.”

No matter how obsessively I played the game, I wasn’t unable to distinguish it from reality.

But now, I’m calmly observing the situation as if I’ve truly become a constellation from the game.

「The world still needs your attention, Father God.」

One of the system messages that appeared when I first set foot here.

I don’t know what the ulterior motive is, but for now, I’m willing to play along.

‘It’s fun, after all.’

My brain, already pickled in dopamine, was ready to accept each moment as new entertainment.

Rather than the tiresome power struggles between humans, these primal elements are more interesting.

“Hmm, first.”

In the pure white room where I was looking down at the world, I scanned the map to find the protagonist of this stage.

The invading undead army, and all the materials needed to stop them were prepared.

Undead, Holy Sword, Holy War, experience event.

And the most important keyword and key that should be at the center of it all is…

‘The baby Hero.’

The Hero unit that I had elevated to a higher concept by sacrificing an Elite Summon Ticket.

“There she is.”

After being forcibly taken away by the guards, she was being temporarily protected inside their building.

She appeared suddenly without a guardian.

The guards, at a loss for what to do, had simply placed her in an empty room.

“She doesn’t look well?”

Looking more closely at the girl’s condition, she seems to be suffering as if with a severe flu.

「Child of the Lost Star: When the Hero’s talent manifests, they must be brought into contact with the Holy Sword as soon as possible.」

“What an annoying detail.”

「Child of the Lost Star: Because they might otherwise abandon their assigned mission.」

Ah, so that’s it.

They’ve placed physical limitations to prevent her from running away?

“Creepy bastard.”

When I cursed, no more chat messages appeared.

Seems like even he had nothing to say in his defense.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Creepy bastard!」

Ignoring the Black Sun’s opportunistic comment, I used “Divine Manifestation” again toward the room where the girl was.

-Whoosh!!

The scenery of the white room gradually becomes clearer, transforming into a dreary medieval office.

In this environment that’s gradually becoming reality, the blue-haired girl who was hunched over the desk, groaning in pain, turned her gaze toward me.

“….?”

“Hello.”

When I greeted her with a smile, she looked at me with surprise.

Then, her previously unfocused eyes began to show signs of life.

“Ahah, a handsome… big brother…”

Already delirious from the high fever, the baby Hero welcomes me in a dazed state.

‘Is this right?’

I really don’t like the Star Child’s methods.

What sin has this young thing committed?

“Are you in a lot of pain?”

“I’m sick… hehe. My head is spinning~”

“I see.”

“Yes, and I’m cold. Hey, big brother. Can you hold me?”

The only means she has to ward off the cold is the thin clothing she’s been wearing from the start.

Without a blanket or cooling device, she’s been left alone in this state.

With no one to take care of her, her condition could only worsen.

‘Damn you, Star Child. Is this really okay?’

With an indignant feeling, I opened the skill tab.

“Come here.”

Embracing her trembling, delicate body was just a bonus. I couldn’t do this if she wasn’t a believer, but now that she belongs to our order, I gladly permitted it.

The Hero child, still feeling cold, wriggled and burrowed deeper.

I opened the skill tab and cast a simple blessing to lower her fever.

「The believer casts ‘Intermediate Blessing’ on ‘Hero’.」

What kind of name is Hero anyway?

The more I interact with her, the more pitiful she seems.

“Ah, amazing…”

“What is?”

“When the handsome big brother hugs me tight, my body feels so much better…”

“I see. That’s good.”

“Hehe.”

I checked the condition of the Hero who was giggling adorably for some reason.

Her fever has definitely gone down, and her health bar, which had dropped due to the high fever, is recovering smoothly.

“What’s your name?”

Let’s start with introductions.

“I, I…”

「Believer, would you like to change ‘Hero’s’ name?」

“Elion… my friends called me Elli…”

“Mmm, I see.”

「Believer, ‘Hero’s’ name has been changed to ‘Elion’!」

After changing her name properly—

“Elli.”

“Yes…?”

“Are you feeling much better now?”

Elli nodded in response to my question.

“Yes…! I’m completely healthy now! Thank you, big brother…!”

“That’s good. Now then.”

‘Now it’s time to work.’

Glancing at the map, I see the undead army will soon reach the kingdom’s walls.

They’ll prepare for the siege on their own, but what I want is the critical moment just before the two forces officially clash.

“Elli.”

“Hmm…?”

I made eye contact with Elli, who was contentedly nestled in my arms.

“Would you like to play a game with me?”

“A game…? Yes!”

That’s right. When it comes to children, it’s all about play.

And I happen to be planning a good game.

“There are people in trouble right now. Could you help them, Elli?”

“Me…?”

It might be difficult for a child’s mind to accept, but life isn’t just about relationships of interest.

“Yes, you have the power to save the world, Elli.”

“R-really…?”

Checking the map for location, I see we’re not too far from my temple.

‘This should work.’

I used teleport while still holding Elli.

I felt her startled movement in my arms, but it soon changed to positive curiosity.

That’s a good response.

If she reacted sensitively to every little thing, it would make future progress difficult.

What appeared before us in an instant was…

A freshly fallen meteorite with mysterious divine power emanating from it.

「Conditions met. You can activate the ‘Holy Sword’.」

Not the one I’ve carefully stored away, but this little Hero’s Holy Sword.

“Hmm…?”

Facing the meteorite, Elli expressed confusion at the inexplicable attraction.

“There’s a strange feeling…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

I reassured Elli by patting her, and gradually approached the meteorite.

-Woong.

The meteorite reacted more strongly to its owner’s approach.

More precisely, the holy sword within it recognized its master’s approach.

-Tick.

On the surface of the meteorite, so subtle that you wouldn’t notice unless you looked closely or were aware…

A change that began with a tiny crack continued to manifest.

“Huh…?”

Seeing Elli’s surprised reaction makes me look forward to what’s coming next.

-Crack!

Then.

「’Holy Sword’ has been successfully activated!」

Breaking through the thick, hard shell, the miraculous holy relic that had been sealed inside revealed itself.

“Wow…”

Instead of being frightened by the unfolding phenomenon, the future Hero purely marveled at the physical manifestation of the Holy Sword.

“Would you like to hold that sword?”

“…?”

It might look too big for her small frame, but when it comes to a Holy Sword, things are different.

The moment she grabs it, it’s equipped with a cutting-edge system that adjusts the weight to the wearer and even alleviates the burden.

‘We’re good to go once you’re ready.’

What Elli needs now is just a little courage to officially become a Hero.

“It’s a little scary, but if I’m with big brother… okay.”

“Let’s go together then.”

Is that allowed?

It should be fine. I’m a constellation—who’s going to stop me?

With Elli timidly nodding her head, I approach the Holy Sword gleaming within the meteorite.

The closer we get…

The stronger the pull of the divine power it contains becomes.

And so…

「Believer, would you like to bestow the ‘Holy Sword’ upon ‘Elli’?」

“Ah…!”

The Holy Sword in Elli’s grasp rejoiced at the presence of its master.

-Whoosh!

Divine power announcing the birth of a Hero spread widely around.

It’s only a shame that the environment is so bleak.

Normally, flower petals would be fluttering around, and all kinds of praise would be showered upon her.

「Incarnation of the Black Sun: Eeeek…!」

「Child of the Lost Star: Oh, how beautiful. Oh…」

Only two constellations witnessed the birth of the Hero.

#

With the clash between the undead army and human forces imminent…

Eldritch was simply pleased with the situation about to unfold.

“Today, we shall use their corpses as sacrifices to ascend to a higher level of power…”

Seizing the opportunity that had rolled in.

That was the core of this operation.

Both the constellation and his minion, Eldritch, were watching the situation with satisfaction.

-Whoooosh!!

At the intense divine power and the presence of the Holy Sword piercing down from the sky—

“….?”

Eldritch’s jaw dropped.