episode_0010

With Lena’s help, Arienne’s party could enter the dark alley.

They couldn’t bear the urge to intervene in the dark alley where slaves were mistreated and all sorts of illegal activities took place, but they held back.

If they caused a commotion here, they could be driven out before finding the Dark Church.

Amidst the increasingly chilling atmosphere, a tall, muscular Tar asked with a toned physique,

“Where is the Dark Church located?”

Arienne replied,

“We’ll have to start looking for it now. Wherever we have to search.”

Her voice turned cold.

Arienne bit her lip until it bled, clenching her fists.

Only after entering this dark alley did she begin to grasp her true position.

“I am so weak.”

Despite being called a hero, she was easily pushed aside by a fake hero.

She couldn’t even draw a proper Holy Sword.

Due to her lack of strength, she had to turn away from those suffering in front of her without being able to help them.

Simply because she was too powerless.

Arienne despised the current situation where, due to her extreme weakness, she had to turn away from those suffering in front of her since she couldn’t prove her status as a hero.

Ultimately, if she had the power, she could have saved them.

The world revolves around power.

She keenly felt this fact.

Only the strong can possess power and wield authority.

Conversely, the weak are pushed aside by the power and authority they acquire, forced to submit.

Evil thrives while victims cower in fear and compliance.

Arienne once dreamed of becoming a hero and fixing all these injustices.

“A world where all the rotten things are cut out, and everyone can live without struggling.”

That was truly the ideal world she desired.

By eliminating all evils, the world would inevitably become better.

Arienne vowed to achieve this ideal someday.

And to fulfill that vow, she knew she had to grow even stronger than she was now.

To a point where no one could stop her.

Arienne turned to Arell beside her and said,

“Arell, find the location of the Dark Church. As quickly as possible.”

“Understood.”

***

Arriving swiftly at the place where traces of the portal led, I surveyed my surroundings.

“It’s in ruins.”

The area was filled with buildings in ruins.

I didn’t know why I had come to such a place, but I decided to step inside, thinking there might be something there.

I checked around in case there was something, but I didn’t sense anything.

“Was I mistaken?”

However, after checking several times, I confirmed that this was indeed the place connected to the portal.

“There must be something here.”

The problem was that I didn’t know what that something was.

Still, believing there might be some clue, I searched through the nearby buildings, but found nothing.

Coming out of the building, I rubbed my chin, pondering.

“Should I go a little further?”

That’s when it happened.

A creepy sensation ran down my spine.

Feeling an intense presence, I turned my head in that direction.

As I heightened my senses, screams reached my ears.

Convinced of what had happened earlier, I quickly rushed towards the source.

“It must be further inside.”

Since the ruins were vast, I hadn’t been able to survey everything.

Arriving at the scene with the intention of at least rescuing any remaining people, I was left speechless by the shocking sight.

People wearing black masks were shedding blood, staining the ground red.

Even a cursory glance revealed that the number of fallen figures with black masks exceeded a hundred.

And that number was steadily increasing.

All because of a single young man.

Thud!

“Hmm?”

So it was when the black-masked figures had fallen, their numbers reaching a mere 200, blood spilt on the ground.

The crimson eyes of the young man who had dealt with all the assassins turned towards me.

And then.

Thud!

Swiftly, as if to shake the ground, he swung his sword at me.

I immediately drew my sword from my waist and parried the attack.

Clang!

Perhaps he hadn’t expected his sword to be deflected.

The young man widened his eyes.

Seizing the opportunity, I thrust my sword towards his side.

“I can’t avoid this.”

Moments ago, the young man had been surprised by his blocked attack, momentarily showing a gap. Anticipating that some damage would be done through the strike, I was taken aback by the unbelievable reflexes and speed with which he parried my sword.

Creating some distance, I inwardly marveled at the monstrous strength of the young man.

“I sense his level. It’s not too high.”

Comparatively slightly lower than the protagonist, Arien.

Not weak, but considering how he effortlessly blocked my fairly strong attack with such an unbelievable reaction speed, it was right to see him as a superior opponent.

“He might not be stronger than a real sword expert, though.”

In reality, perceiving and fighting him as such wouldn’t be strange.

“But who is he really?”

Judging by his age, he appeared similar to the protagonist, but possessing such power made him truly exceptional.

There couldn’t be such a character in the original work…

“…It’s him.”

The one individual who uniquely rivaled the protagonist in talent.

His name is Elon.

Before meeting the protagonist, he was known as an assassin and slaughterer, but later, after encountering the protagonist, many changes occurred in him.

“He probably became a companion of the protagonist later on.”

Initially moving around as part of a temporary party, he expressed a desire to join the protagonist’s party later, and given his talents comparable to the protagonist, the protagonist deemed him capable of providing significant assistance in battling the Demon King.

“I appreciate most individuals, but…”

He was the only one I didn’t particularly like.

“Primarily because he used to harm people as an assassin and slaughterer.”

Of course, he never harmed innocent people.

Instead, he killed the bad guys.

However, there were times when he couldn’t control his urge to kill, resulting in literal massacres.

He slaughtered everything around him, leading to innocent deaths.

“It got better afterwards, they say.”

Initially, due to him, the protagonist’s party couldn’t take their eyes off him for a moment.

If it had just been that, I wouldn’t have said anything.

From causing accidents to inflicting harm until he regained his senses.

It was utterly mind-boggling to read about.

I even shouted loudly at the protagonist, who couldn’t hear me, questioning why they would associate with such a person.

Because of his nature, I didn’t warm up to him much.

“But he was necessary for the protagonist.”

Regardless of my feelings, he was crucial for defeating the Demon King later on, making him indispensable to the protagonist. Later, the protagonist also relied on him once he got his act together.

“Perhaps they even became lovers by the end.”

Honestly, it wasn’t to my liking, but based on the positive changes he showed later on, I believed he would bring some happiness to the protagonist, so I didn’t harbor any complaints about it.

While there were some negative opinions in the comments, overall, there were more positive ones.

This could be attributed to the good deeds he eventually displayed and his somewhat romantic character.

But what influenced me the most was…

“That damn handsome face.”

It was all because of his appearance, so strikingly handsome that even men would acknowledge it.

Sharp gaze and jawline.

Distinct facial features that somehow accentuated his decadent charm.

Damn it, he had a stunning face.

“When the illustration first came out, the reaction was very enthusiastic. The original work was so popular that many people of all ages and genders watched it. Therefore, since the female ratio was quite high, the response to the illustration of the guy was almost heavenly and hellish levels. Men cursed at the damn good looks, while women cheered for the handsome appearance. Thinking back on that time still made me laugh.

It was one of those times.

‘Weird guy.’

Elon said with a furrowed brow.

Lost in thought for a moment, I then remembered that Elon was right in front of me.

‘He hasn’t attacked.’

If it were me, I would have probably attacked my distracted self. Perhaps he thought of himself as a stronger opponent than he actually was, or maybe he didn’t attack because he realized I wasn’t on the side of the bungling assassins.

‘It doesn’t seem like he didn’t attack just because I said he’s strong.’

Seeing him sheathe the sword aimed at me back into its scabbard, the latter seemed more likely.

I asked, looking at the guy who seemed quite uncomfortable.

‘Why are you here?’

A fact I had momentarily forgotten while lost in other thoughts.

That fact being why this assassin was here. At least, it was quite some time after he revealed himself like this. It shouldn’t be here.

‘Surely the original story wasn’t distorted much.’

Just the timing was pushed forward a bit.

Without interfering too much, helping the protagonist party, there weren’t any events that could distort the story significantly.

‘If anything, I’m still here as a fake hero.’

Just like before.

This wasn’t a big issue for now.

There was still plenty of time left.

‘There’s no specific reason. They just seem like guys who deserve to die.’

A typical answer from him.

‘In that case, so be it.’

Hearing my words, he left as if he had no more regrets.

Watching Elon’s retreating figure, I called him back.

‘Wait a moment.’

Despite giving me a fierce look, Elon listened well.

‘What?’

There wasn’t any particularly special reason for me calling him back.

Since things were going to deviate slightly anyway, I thought it necessary for him to meet the protagonist beforehand.

I handed him a business card.

‘Come here. If you come here, you can achieve what you want. Believe it or not, it’s up to you.’

Elon left without saying a word, but I know.

Eventually, Elon will come looking for me.”