Ch.70Hero’s Trial (1)

I listened intently to the Pope’s words while trembling. If I didn’t pay close attention, I felt like I might end up like Agath.

“Do you know what the Hero’s Trial is?”

“N-no, I don’t!”

I’m screwed. My words got tangled. Am I going to be crushed like Agath now?

But contrary to my anxiety, the Pope answered with a gentle voice. Have I survived for now?

“The Hero’s Trial is a test to confirm one’s qualification as a hero. Strength, wisdom, mental fortitude. These three…”

“Isn’t it just checking how strong someone is?”

Leo suddenly interrupted the Pope. The Pope continued with what seemed like an exasperated voice.

“That was an exception because you were a special case. Anyway, I’ll explain the trial of strength first.”

When the Pope operated a remote control, some footage appeared on the wall. The video showed an incredibly diverse number of monsters.

“To pass the trial, you need to defeat all of those.”

“…How am I supposed to defeat all that?”

Every single one of them looked formidable from the outside. And there were piles of them. And I’m supposed to defeat them all?

Of course, I could defeat them if ordered to. But I’d have to be prepared to lose at least three years of my lifespan.

While I was contemplating whether to give up on the trial, the Pope continued his explanation.

“For wisdom, you just need to solve a few problems.”

And a sentence appeared on the screen.

There is a man named Theseus. He gradually replaced the old parts of his ship until eventually all parts were replaced. Can that ship still be called Theseus’s ship?

“Are there also things like Zeno’s paradox in there?”

“…I see you’ll have no problem with the wisdom trial.”

There will be various paradoxical problems there. And I’m confident with those kinds of paradoxical problems.

Thanks to always thinking about answers to paradoxical problems instead of studying during class. That’s finally becoming useful.

Anyway, the Pope looked at me with an expression that suggested he was seeing me in a new light, then continued. Am I really that unreliable?

“The mental trial will be quite difficult.”

“What does that involve?”

“It shows you the world you truly desire. Escaping from that world by yourself—that’s the content of the trial.”

The world I truly desire… A world without Agath and the Demon King? Such a world would certainly make me happy.

Right, in that world, that orange-haired guy would have no interest in Ju-an either. Then it would be a world with absolutely nothing to worry about, wouldn’t it?

Honestly, if such a world existed, I’d want to just settle down and live there. Especially the part about Agath not being there appeals to me.

“By the way, what kind of world did you see there, Leo?”

“Just an ordinary daily life.”

“Then how did you overcome it?”

“Because I had something I needed to do, even if it meant abandoning that everyday life.”

Leo spoke with a somewhat bitter voice. Did I ask something I shouldn’t have?

In the midst of the slightly heavy atmosphere, the Pope looked at me with pity and opened his mouth.

“And the final trial… will be extremely difficult.”

“What’s the content that makes it so difficult?”

“You’ll have to fight an enemy modeled after the previous hero.”

The previous hero would be the hero right before the current one…

“…How strong were you back then, Leo?”

“The strongest hero in history. Do you need any materials?”

“Show me for now.”

The Pope sighed softly and played the video. It showed Leo going through the trials.

For the strength trial, he just brutally defeated everything with pure power.

For the wisdom trial, he smashed through the blocking door to pass.

For the mental trial, he just closed his eyes for about 10 seconds, opened them, and passed.

The final trial ended with him utterly destroying his opponent.

“…Is it really possible to pass this?”

There’s a monster even more terrifying than the Pope right in front of me. I could win somehow. If I expend my entire lifespan, that is.

Honestly, even then, it’s unclear if I could win. But if I’m willing to sacrifice my life, wouldn’t that be effective enough?

“Still, up to four people can participate in the trial, so there’s a chance.”

“Then why was Leo alone?”

“You just saw why, didn’t you?”

Everyone tends to think that way. It would be much faster to do it alone. That’s a typical example of such thinking.

If one person can clear it quickly enough by themselves, why bother recruiting teammates?

“But what exactly is the reward for clearing the trial?”

“One person becomes the hero, and the other three have their supernatural powers enhanced.”

What’s the use of enhanced supernatural powers? No matter how much my ability is enhanced, I’d still be weak.

Though if I got an ability that puts me on equal footing with the opponent I saw earlier, that might be different.

Anyway, I have absolutely no reason to participate in this awful trial. It would be more beneficial to enhance someone else’s abilities instead.

“Can I just give up?”

“If you really don’t want to do it, that’s fine. Then I’ll have to find someone to replace you.”

The Pope showed slight disappointment as he pulled out a stack of documents.

“What is that?”

“A list of people who could replace you.”

“May I take a quick look?”

“I don’t mind.”

I wonder who could replace me? With such expectations, I looked at the list and saw several names.

First, Ju-an, Ha-eun, Tae-yang, and I were fixed entries.

There were also names I knew like Rebecca, Agath, and Leo, as well as numerous unfamiliar names. And among them was the name Philax.

Wasn’t that the name of that damn orange-haired guy?

“I’ll participate after all.”

“Why the sudden change?”

“Because I want to do whatever I can, at least what’s within my ability.”

According to the Goddess, I have the power to change fate. So it’s more beneficial for me to become stronger rather than someone else.

And if my supernatural power is enhanced, it might change into something incredible. We won’t know until we try.

So I’m going to participate. There’s no reason not to in the first place.

When I expressed my determination, the Pope smiled with satisfaction and said:

“Then I’ll visit you tomorrow at lunch. And thank you.”

“It’s nothing. I’m just doing what I need to do.”

“Now the rest of the reincarnated people will come here. So please wait a little…”

While the Pope was speaking, someone flung the door open and entered.

“The great one has arrived!”

Then I saw Tae-yang being dragged in by Parthia and Selene. Tae-yang spoke to Parthia with a trembling voice.

“Boss, I’d like to take this week off.”

“Absolutely not.”

“But what can I possibly do? It’s obvious that even if my ability is enhanced, it won’t be much help.”

“Believe in yourself! You’re already strong enough!”

“Boss, I really don’t want to die.”

“Then survive!”

“Does that mean I don’t have to participate in the trial?”

“Proudly survive and pass the trial!”

Tae-yang still has way too much fear. In this state, he’ll probably try to avoid participating in the trial somehow.

Then someone will need to replace Tae-yang, and that position would be…

“Tae-yang.”

“…What is it?”

“You’re going to participate, right?”

“No. I absolutely won’t partici—”

I summoned a gun and calmly asked again.

“You’re going to participate, right?”

“…Why are you doing this to me?”

“So you’re not going to participate?”

“…I will.”

Tae-yang said with a tearful face. This is how you grow, by gradually overcoming your fears.

And everyone looked at me as if I were some kind of strange person. I just gave him some courage, why are they acting like this?

In the midst of the somehow awkward atmosphere, someone else entered.

“It’s been a while, senior. But come to think of it, it’s only been three days since we parted, right?”

Ha-eun waved her hand cheerfully as she greeted me. But somehow, I find it difficult to face Ha-eun.

Bluntly speaking, with 0 confessions and 1 rejection, how am I supposed to act friendly?

“Uh… yeah.”

“But why didn’t you call me even once after your memory returned?”

“Well… that… I was kind of embarrassed…”

“Wow, I swallowed my pride to confess to you, and you just ignore me.”

Ha-eun continued speaking nonchalantly.

“So when are you going to answer my question?”

“What question?”

“…Senior, I’ll give you 10 seconds to think about it carefully.”

Alright, if I can’t recall what the question was within 10 seconds, I’ll obviously have to listen to Ha-eun’s nagging all day.

Let’s see, what did I talk about with Ha-eun while I had no memory…

My slip about being a woman? Or that crazy nonsense about wanting to marry a man? Or Ha-eun’s confession?

Right, she added something after her confession.

“You’re asking if we can remain close friends, right?”

“I’m glad you’re not foolish enough to forget what you heard three days ago. So what’s your answer?”

Fortunately, I got it right. Anyway, what should I say?

“Um… okay?”

“Alright. But it’s more comfortable for me to call you senior, so I’ll just keep calling you that.”

I managed to get through this somehow. But has anything changed in my relationship with Ha-eun?

I don’t know. I’ll probably find out someday as we spend time together.

As things were resolved well, Ha-eun noticed Tae-yang.

“You’re here too?”

“Senior, you’re here too?”

They asked almost simultaneously.

“Do you two know each other?”

“Yes. Ju-an senior, Tae-yang, and I were at the same academy.”

“…Why didn’t I know that until now?”

“Remember how you always ran away whenever academy talk came up?”

I brought this on myself. I have nothing to say. Anyway, Ha-eun and Tae-yang started exchanging recent news.

“So how have you been?”

“Scared.”

“Your personality hasn’t changed. But you’re not participating in this trial, right?”

Suddenly, Tae-yang glanced at me. And I roughly signaled with my eyes.

Participate.

“I… will participate.”

“That’s unexpected. I thought you’d definitely refuse, saying it’s scary. You’re not being threatened by someone, are you?”

“Come on, how could that be? Right, Tae-yang?”

“…Yes. I’m participating entirely of my own will.”

Didn’t I say before that Tae-yang might have a hard time in the military because he’s so fearful? I take that back. I’m sure Tae-yang would do well in the military.

As the three of us were chatting about various things, someone else finally entered. And I naturally welcomed that person.

“He…llo.”

It was good that Ju-an had arrived. But why did that damn tactless orange-haired guy follow her?

Okay, it’s still fine. I can keep a close watch on him for a week anyway. I just need to prevent that guy from doing anything weird to Ju-an.

As I was glaring at the orange-haired guy, he pointed at me bluntly and said:

“I absolutely won’t lose.”

I didn’t respond to that at all. Whatever that guy tries to do, I’ll ruin all his plans.

Definitely.

“Now that everyone’s here, go back to your accommodations and get some rest. I’ll tell you the details tomorrow.”

As soon as the Pope finished speaking, several nuns entered from outside the door. The Pope certainly has a lot of authority.

For example, he can do things like that, smash walls, beat up Agath, and force a saint to praise God.

…Isn’t that just the Pope being amazing?

Anyway, as we were about to leave, Ha-eun asked the sage:

“Aren’t you coming, Master?”

“I have something to take care of, so go ahead.”

And Parthia also asked Selene:

“Selene? Are you coming later too?”

“Yes, I’ll follow shortly.”

“Don’t worry about me and get some rest.”

“Understood, Miss.”

So we returned to our accommodations, leaving those two behind.

Anyway, from now on, I’m going to destroy all of that orange-haired guy’s plans.

And I’ll do it in the most miserable and cruel way possible.