episode_0086

– Kieeek!!

– Kyaayaaah!!

Like fallen leaves being swept away by a storm, the monsters were swept away by his magic.

A month has passed.

The battlefield was a mountain of monster corpses.

On the floor flowed a river of their blood.

At first, there were countless monsters that seemed endless. Now, their number was clearly reduced.

I guess things will be over soon.

“Wizard! The East also needs help!”

Hearing the soldier’s request for support, he rode his horse and rode east.

Over the past month, he has fought countless battles and has grown tremendously.

Magic has reached the 7th circle. Swordsmanship has opened the way to enter the Master stage.

There has never been a single person in the empire’s past who has reached this level of achievement at his age.

But I wasn’t happy at all.

I just wanted to get home quickly.

He cuts down the monsters that keep coming and washes his body with their blood.

As that kind of life continued to repeat itself, my heart gradually became worn out.

Now, no matter how many monsters I kill, or even if my own soldiers are brutally killed, I feel no emotion at all.

I’m neither happy nor sad. I just want to go home.

Did the goddess really grant his wish?

Soon the battle ended in our victory.

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“Wow–!!”

“I love you, hero!!”

“Long live the Karaz Empire!!!”

The road back to the empire.

A large number of people welcomed him by throwing bouquets of flowers at him.

Before he knew it, his nickname was no longer a prodigy, but a hero of the empire.

The emperor promised to grant him the merit he had promised, and said he would grant him the title of marquis under any name he wished.

He, who had never thought of a name, said he would answer later and hurried back home.

Maybe it was because we had been apart for a month. I missed my mother so much.

Surely, when you open the door to this house and enter, your mother will greet you with a smile.

But unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

When he returned home, all he was greeted by was smoky air and the pungent, frowning smell of cigarette smoke.

As I went inside to find my mother with a worried heart, an unbelievable sight appeared before my eyes.

My mother, who always smiled brightly at me.

I was lying in bed with a man I had never seen before.

Having lost half of his senses, he dragged the man out and began beating him as if he was going to kill him.

“Kyaaak!!”

“Ana!! What the heck is this!!”

Even though my mother tried to stop me, I still didn’t stop the violence.

Eventually, the mother, unable to stop herself, raised her hand high.

Crack-

He hit me hard on the cheek.

When I was first slapped by my mother, I was so shocked that I just stared blankly at the floor. My mother used that time to throw the man out of the house.

When I came to my senses again, I asked my mother for an explanation.

The man got angry and asked, “Who is that guy? Could he have touched me at the beginning of the year?”

But she didn’t answer a single one of her questions.

He came to me without saying a word, hugged me gently, and patted my back.

“You’ve worked hard for a month, Ana. I’m sorry Mom couldn’t welcome you.”

“……”

But, while rolling around in the fierce battlefield, I finally saw the kind mother I had been waiting for so long.

For some reason, I didn’t feel happy at all.

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One year since then.

Before I knew it, I was 15 years old.

A lot has changed.

My mother was no longer the kind and warm person I knew.

She was just an ugly woman who was addicted to power and only cared about money and men.

I even heard that he recently got involved in drugs.

It wasn’t just her who changed.

He himself has also changed quite a bit.

It’s all worn away and gone. I can no longer feel any emotions.

Even though I achieved great things through my efforts, I was never happy no matter what I did.

Also, unlike in the past, I didn’t feel sad at all when I saw my mother’s face, whose love had disappeared.

Seeing my mother fall to the bottom to the point where she could no longer be disappointed, I instead developed a hatred for humanity.

She was annoying.

That’s not all.

All the countless expectations and longings directed at me were also annoying.

Why me.

Why do I have to fight like this for humans?

I don’t know.

People took it for granted that he would protect them.

It’s funny.

He has already achieved achievements that are more than enough to repay all the favors he has received from the palace.

There was no longer any reason to fight for these people.

So I quit.

I informed the Emperor that I would now live the way I wanted to live.

He was confused at first, but he accepted my intentions as if he understood.

However, he occasionally made suggestions to help out when something happened at the palace. Since it wasn’t that difficult, I accepted.

I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders.

“Why on earth did you do that!!!!”

A woman with blonde hair just like her screams.

Whether it was because of the drugs or not, her appearance was so ruined that it was beyond words.

He squinted one eye at the loud noise and spoke to her.

I said I quit because it was annoying.

Then she threw a fit and grabbed me by the collar and shook me.

“If you quit!!! Who’s going to pay for the maintenance of this huge mansion!! My jewelry!! My clothes!!!”

Doesn’t this person know how shameless he is? Her disgusting appearance made me feel like I was going to vomit.

Yeah, it’s time to sort things out with you too.

I didn’t want to be tied down to this woman and her family any longer.

He ordered the surrounding maids and butlers to throw her out.

But there was a hint of hesitation in their eyes.

The one who received the title of Marquis was himself.

In the end, they had no choice but to follow his words.

I hope you never thought I would abandon you.

The foolish blonde woman stared blankly at herself with an expression of disbelief.

I wonder if he finally figured out the situation.

She ran to him with trembling eyes and began to apologize again and again.

“Ah.. Ana.. Um.. I’m sorry Mom.. Hey.. I think Mom lost consciousness for a moment.. because of the medicine.”

Phew.

I couldn’t help but laugh at her appearance.

It’s been a long time since I’ve laughed like this, and it’s really weird, but what do you think?

I kicked her away from my arm, throwing her off.

She was shocked by my unexpected behavior.

At my stubborn will, he began to scream at himself, his face distorted like a devil.

“You..How could you do this to your mom!! Who raised you until now!! Is this how you repay your parents’ kindness, which you could never repay in your lifetime?!!”

I didn’t want to talk any more.

After sending a message to the security guard to make sure that I never come near the mansion again, I turned around and walked to my room.

Now that she realized it was too late, she revealed her true, ugly self.

“This heartless, heartless monster-like bitch!! I should have known when she didn’t shed a single tear when her father left.”

She struggled with all her might, shedding tears of blood. But in the end, she was caught by the security guard and dragged outside.

“This unfilial b*tch!!! You will never be happy-”

bang-

As the door slammed shut, the noisy, creaking voices disappeared and a quiet peace fell upon the mansion.

As expected, I felt no guilt at all even though I had abandoned the person who had been my mother with my own hands.

Rather, I felt relieved.

I feel like a heavy burden has finally been lifted.

As I smiled at the feeling of joy I hadn’t felt in a long time, the servants around me started to flinch in surprise.

He ignored them and laughed, enjoying himself.

And the next day.

A significant number of employees have been forced to quit their jobs.

Didn’t you say that you were scared when you saw me happily kicking out even your own parents?

It’s really funny.

It seems like it was only yesterday that he was looking at me with admiration, but in an instant, he changed his attitude as if turning over the palm of his hand.

He let out a snort.

Yes. This is what it means to be human.

Evil from birth.

Weak and selfish beings.

Rely on what you want. Expect what you want. Be disappointed what you want.

The good they do is nothing but hypocrisy.

The praise and admiration they send me will change the moment I disappoint them.

It was just funny to think that I would sacrifice myself for them, as if they were collateral.

Yes. Like this man who suddenly runs up to you and begs you earnestly.

“Ah…ahhh….God…thank you so much…..hero, please save our village..!! The residents are dying from the demons!!”

A middle-aged man, breathing heavily and shedding tears.

I said to him with a mocking laugh.

“Don’t bother me and get out.”

In his own words, his once-full hopes slowly turned into despair.

His darkened face seemed to show resentment towards himself.

Yeah, I guess so.

Ignoring the man who was muttering in vain while looking at the floor.

I walked to the palace.

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“Yeah. So you decided on a name?”

“Yeah.”

The emperor frowned.

I guess it’s because I spoke informally to you.

There was no need to call him by his high honors anymore.

He looked into my eyes quietly for a long time, then sighed and said.

“……Something must have changed.”

“Similar. Why. Does it bother you when a kid like me speaks informally to you?”

“I’d be lying if I said no. But I think a strong person like you deserves it.”

“Ugh.”

The emperor surprisingly answered calmly.

I guess it seems like not just anyone can become a king.

He stretched out his hand toward me and asked.

“So, will you tell me your last name, hero?”

“Kaladbolg. Athena Kaladbolg.”

I answered him without a moment’s hesitation.

“Hmm? Are you planning on changing your name too?”

“That’s right.”

The girl named Ana, who was chasing happiness, is no more.

I looked at him and said with a smile.

“That name is no longer needed.”

* * *

I looked up at the bright white moon.

As I recalled the old memories that I had tried so hard to forget, one by one, all I could do was laugh in vain.

“Like mother, like daughter.”

Just like she did. Using people for personal gain. Hurt them. Broke them.

Am I really qualified to laugh at that woman?

With a hollow smile.

I looked up at the sky and gave up.

This is a punishment.

Punishment for ignoring and trampling on other people’s feelings without permission.

“….Yeah.”

Ironically, when I completely let go of my mind, my heart, which had been aching so much it felt like I was going to die, began to calm down.

This must have been the right answer.

Let’s just let it go now.

Hera.

Even I, who am so disgusting.